Page 111 of Airborne
“Have you thought of a name?”
“Yes.”
“The one you wanted before we were married? Levi McCoy?”
Thank goodness, he couldn’t see the tears. “The same.”
“Solid, Heather. Biblical, too.”
What had he said?
“I have news.” He paused. “God and I are on the same page.”
She couldn’t stop the flow of emotion. “Chad, I’m thrilled. How did this happen?”
He relayed the lecture, the books and Scripture he’d read—the whole experience. “Fought God until He won.”
She digested his new faith and the chances he was taking to clear his name. Blessings in the middle of uncertainty.Thank You.So many issues to work through. Jumping back into married life without the benefit of talking through the dysfunction was a detriment to both of them. But faith held their hands.
“I’m sorry for all those times I’ve hurt you. Remember when I said you hadn’t made me happy for months? It was never your job to make me happy. I’m sorry, Heather. The faith thing has me excited and a little afraid.”
“We never learn it all. I’d like to shout this around the world.” She sighed. “But we can’t, not yet anyway.”
“Right. It’s dangerous for you and risks your part of the investigation. Do you mind if I tell Jordan?”
“He’ll be overjoyed.” She watched gray clouds move closer. “You’re in too deep with your personal investigation, and I’m concerned it’s too late for you to simply stop. The consequences of attempting to solve a crime solo can have serious repercussions. You. Andy. And a woman was murdered here. Reality is her death has to be connected. No one’s been arrested. No apparent motive.”
“What kind of man sits by while others are suffering?”
“Selfishness was never an attribute I admired, but it might keepyou safe. File this away—I never wanted to be protected. I wanted my husband. When we said, ‘I do,’ we promised to walk through the good and bad together.”
“And we will work out our differences and honor our vows. I can tell you what I’ve been up to, but are you sure you want to hear it?”
“All of it. ASAC Mitchell told me you’d attempted a blackmail call to Thomas Powell.”
He told her the things he’d done. She held her angst, but fear for him tore through her.
“There you have it,” he said. “Javier has my findings. I told Powell I’d be leaving for Uganda in a week to take a position for Doctors Without Borders.”
“Chad, this isn’t a problem you can split like a cell. Go to a safe house until the FBI makes an arrest. There’s no reason to take an overseas job.”
“I’ll do anything to help bring justice to all those who’ve been affected by the virus and keep you safe. My eyes are in the rearview mirror.”
“Promise me you’ll be careful.”
“I have to do this.”
“Is Andy aware of our discussions?”
“Nope. He’s convinced you and Powell are in this together.”
“Loyal Andy. And your decision to follow Jesus?”
“We haven’t discussed it. I’ve asked him to use my burner phone when we talk. Powell and his cohorts must have followed him to find out he’d met with Trey’s ex-girlfriend.” He hesitated. “I want the new man in me to be real, not a phase that wears off. Strange, but the time alone during the virus scare has given me hours to evaluate myself as though God was preparing me to meet Him... as though the accusations against me were for a reason. Does that make sense?”
“Definitely. I’d hoped the FBI’s announcement of your lab’sinitial clearance and the fake photo of you and Taversty would make your life easier.”
“Not yet. I’ll breathe easier soon. In the meantime, I keep digging.”
