Page 53 of Shadow of Hope
“No, and surprisingly they didn’t have security systems, so we were able to do a thorough search.”
“What happened with your visit to my guy Toby?” Dev asked.
“He was cooperative. I owe it to the WWII connection, so thanks for that.” Micha explained what transpired in their meeting. “But I won’t know if he’ll actually follow through on his visit until he gets back to me later today.”
Dev gave a sharp nod. “Toby’s good at keeping his word.”
“I’ll let you all know what he has to say.”
“Any updates on forensics?” Reid asked.
Micha shook his head. “What about Ryan? Was he able to get DNA and fingerprint samples?”
“He came through. Made the guys use disposable cups and marked their names on them for reuse. Then he collected them before they departed under the guise that they couldn’t dispose of them back at the campsite.”
“And they were good with that?” Ava asked. “No questions or suspicions raised?”
“Yeah,” Micha said. “I could see them complain about using things they won’t have access to out in the boonies.”
“Oh, they questioned that aspect, but Ryan simply told them we keep them in our kitchen supplies in case of unforeseen emergencies and they should too.”
“When will they be back to the compound?” Micha asked.
“I expect them back any minute.” Reid frowned. “They complained about the class cut short far more. I’m giving everyone their money back for sure, and I’ll give a free future course to everyone except Buck and Jamal. Even if it turns out they’re not involved, they still won’t be invited back.”
“Good call,” Micha said. “Especially on Buck. I can’t be sure Jamal had explosives at the end of his tripwire, but we can’t be too careful with the safety of our other participants.”
“I can really see now why you do background checks before you allow people to take your classes.” Ava curled her arms around her stomach. “I will never forget the sight of all of those guns. Never.”
Was she worried the weapons would be used against her or worried about the implications of a man possessing such an arsenal? A man who might be unhinged.
Because Micha was. More now than when he’d discovered the stockpile, as the guy would soon be out of the compound and on the move. This raised the stakes to a whole new level, and Micha had to up his protection game.
Colin had gone back to his room to take a call, leaving Ava alone with Micha, who’d been staring straight ahead since he ended the meeting. His behavior, coupled with a downcast expression, had her taking a breath to prepare for more bad news.
“You know,” he said, still not making eye contact, “I was thinking about how you said the patients you care for often ask about your faith.”
What? This wasn’t about their update meeting? “And?”
“And I don’t doubt that they ask because you’re a role model for how a strong Christian behaves. I wish the same could be said of me, but it can’t. I want…” He looked up and shook his head.
Wow.This was coming out of left field. Or maybe not for him. Maybe he’d been thinking about this for a long time and God was working on his heart. It seemed like he needed to open up about this, and she wanted him to. Wanted him to trust her with such important information.
She resisted taking his hands in hers but smiled at him. “I try to live my faith but don’t put me on a pedestal. I fail all the time. Especially when I let my anger get to me over things like insurance and Medicare or Medicaid dictating a patient’s meds and care. As if they know better than the doctors.”
He looked at her then, the anguish in his eyes painful to see. “I’m not putting you on a pedestal. Just being realistic. I don’t see you questioning God like I am. I used to do better. Be better. But my sister…” He shoved a hand into his hair, running it over his head and leaving little tufts standing on end. “I don’t get it. Why did she have to fall? Why did her life have to change this way? Why couldn’t she continue as she was? Happy, and living the life she’d always dreamed of when we were in care, instead of struggling physically.”
“I wish I could tell you how to stop questioning,” she said. “I’ve learned not to ask why, but that doesn’t stop me until I realize it doesn’t help. Second-guessing God is never a good thing, but then, even when I know that, I fall back into it.”
“I don’t want to, you know?”
She nodded.
“But then I see Tristin struggling to learn how to do basic tasks in a wheelchair and how everything is so much harder for her now. Especially in a house that wasn’t built for life in a chair. Then there’re her finances. I give her most of my paychecks—I don’t need much to live on—but she doesn’t want to take the money. She does, for Charlotte’s sake, but keeps a tally of what she has to pay back.”
“I can understand that last part,” Ava said. “I would do the same thing.”
“Me too, but I don’t want her to have to worry about that when I don’t need it.”
