Page 43 of Cold Silence
“My gut says yes, but I have nothing concrete to base it on. He just seems slimy to me.”
“After seeing those pictures, I guarantee heisslimy. That doesn’t mean he’s a thief or even that he attacked me.”
“He’s our best lead.”
“Yes, but we still have Kent and Alan.” A smug smile played on her lips. “While you were off playing private investigator, I thought of a way to get their alibis without raising their suspicions.”
“How?”
“I’m giving special presents to the team leaders at the party on Saturday to say thank you for successfully concluding this phase of CATS. We can meet with their wives to get gift suggestions and ask a few other questions while we’re at it.” Her eyes sparkled with enthusiasm for her idea.
Loving her lighter mood, Travis leaned back and relaxed. A notch. Only a notch. He wouldn’t let his guard down until Robb was behind bars. “I thought this whole thing with Robb would bother you more.”
“I’m trying to do a better job of trusting God.” She tapped her Bible, then set it on a nearby cushion. “Can I ask you a question?”
“Sure,” he said, not liking the uneasy look on her face again.
She clutched her arms around her stomach. “I’ve been thinking about when Jeter died.”
Jeter. What in the world?Travis focused on her family photos on the sofa table and tried not to remember that day in her office when he’d learned his buddy had died in an ambush. Not remember the pain. The sharp, gut-wrenching pain.
“You were so broken up,” she continued. “But then you went on like nothing had happened. You even signed on for another two years.”
Because you rejected my proposal that afternoon.
“How can you do that?” Her tone was more accusatory than questioning. “I mean, if I were you, I’d be terrified the same thing would happen to me, and I’d be a basket case on the job.”
Where was she going with this? “I won’t pretend it’s a walk in the park, but there are other teammates counting on us, so we have to move on.”
“Then there’s your family,” she said as if she was speaking her thoughts aloud instead of really talking to him. “I can’t imagine what it’s like for your mom and dad or even your sister. They must worry all the time, living every day knowing the danger you’re in. Wondering if today is the day that…” She jumped to her feet and started pacing.
“Hey.” He went to her and turned her to face him. “What’s this all about?”
She looked at her feet.
He tipped her face up and found concern and—dare he hope?—caring in her eyes. “Are you worried about me?”
“Maybe. If we ever got…” She paused and inhaled deeply. “I don’t know how…”
Had she connected Jeter’s death that day with a potential future with Travis, wondering how she might handle it if he were killed in action too?
He had to clarify even if she shut him down again. “Are you saying, if we were together you wouldn’t know how to handle being with someone who faces danger every day?”
She nodded. “My mom handled it just fine, but then Dad hadn’t deployed to war-torn countries. But you…” She shrugged and looked like she wanted to bolt.
He took her hand, reveling in the fact that she didn’t try to remove it. “I know it’s hard on my family. It’s hard on all military families when a loved one deploys to a dangerous area. But special forces isn’t just a job to me. It’s like a calling. I can’t see the wrongs of the world and not try to right them. My parents made me who I am today, so they understand that.”
“Isn’t there another way?” she whispered. “A safer way to do the same thing?”
“Maybe, but right now it’s a good fit for me.”At least it was until I discovered how much it bothers you.“Plus, it helps that we’re a family of believers. We try to remember God has a plan and trust Him. Then we let it go.”
She stared at him. “You make it sound so easy.”
“Easy? No. There are days when bad things happen, and I question everything. But if I let my feelings change my path, then I’m not walking in what I believe is God’s will for me.”
“I thought I did the same thing. Until tonight.” She bit her lip.
“What happened?”
