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  “The bomb.” Tessa spoke so softly that it startled Chase. “What kind is it?”

  Chase glanced back at the oncoming terrorists. They were nearly in the middle of the eighteen-wheeler. “Could be radioactive, Mrs. Scott.” He watched her closely. She opened her mouth but nothing came out. Licking her lips, Tessa tried again.

  “We probably don’t have much time then. This was ticking earlier when I found it.”

  Chase nodded. “That’s right.”

  “Up ahead there’s a steep ravine. This time of year it’s still flooded. The water makes its way into the Yuba River but there’s a series of small earthen dams on this end that will help contain any contamination and maybe the explosion won’t hurt anyone. The government owns twenty miles on either side of the ravine.”

  “What are you saying, Mrs. Scott?” Chase took his eyes off the road to examine Tessa’s terrified profile as she stared out the windshield.

  “If we make it that far, get out and I’ll drive over the cliff.” Tears spilled down her cheek as she slowly turned her face toward the mysterious man. “I don’t want another 9/11.”

  Chase tore his eyes away from the pretty face of his unsolicited heroine and began speaking loudly to some invisible presence. “This thing is counting down!”

  “Okay, Hunter! We have your location. Leave that puppy in the vehicle and send it over the cliff into the Yuba.”

  “Negative! Mrs. Scott has got her finger stuck in it. She’s volunteering to do the deed!”

  Silence dropped like a hammer on the connection then static roared it back to life.

  “You heard them, Mr. Hunter! Stop this car now! Save yourself! I promise I’ll have God send angels to protect you from now on. Please. Stop!” Tessa gripped the dashboard with her one free hand. She realized those words didn’t make any sense to her either. “Do it before I lose my nerve.”

  In the rearview mirror Chase watched the trucker swerve his powerful machine into the passing terrorists as they sped up alongside him. With startling impact the eighteen-wheeler slammed the rusty van off into the gravel causing it to wobble then roll awkwardly down a steep slope. He could hear the screech of rubber against pavement as the eighteen-wheeler tried to stop. One problem solved.

  The Yuba River stretched out lazily meeting the horizon. In that moment he knew Mrs. Scott had been right in choosing the location for possible detonation. Quickly, Chase slammed on the brakes as he slid into a roadside park. A cloud of dust surrounded them and slowly pushed into the broken window, making Mrs. Scott cough. She fanned the brown air away in an irritated fashion as if she were on a Sunday afternoon picnic and had just discovered a mosquito buzzing her head. Chase reached across and tried unsuccessfully to remove her finger. There wouldn’t be time to cut off Tessa’s finger to save her life.

  “Mrs. Scott,” Chase left the truck idling as he put in park. He’d driven to an area where the ground slopped down nearly twenty five feet before dropping another one hundred feet into the ravine. “I don’t know who you are but you’re the angel in my book!” Chase could see that the time left on the digital read out was three minutes. “When you’re ready touch the brake with your foot. Can you reach it?” She nodded bravely. “Good. At the same time pull this down,” he pointed to the gear shift, “into drive. Got it?”

  “Yes!” she nodded anxiously like a little child being told what to do.

  Chase didn’t know why he suddenly reached over and pulled Mrs. Scott to him. Something in her eyes made his chest hurt. The blond curl falling over one cheek made him wish he’d met this woman earlier. Before he could stop himself he pressed his mouth against her trembling lips. The taste of dust and fear mingled with his own sweat and regret. Her eyes grew wide with surprise as he pushed away and out the door. “Tell the big guy I want you as my angel, Mrs. Scott.”

  He shut the door and hurried to the passenger side to reassure her if needed. But the time of reckoning had captured Tessa. She no longer saw him as she looked down at the bomb once again seeing the time had moved to one remaining minute. With a deep breath, Tessa’s foot stretched to reach the brake. The shift was moved into drive.

  Strangely, she showed no fear, only sadness as the truck slowly inched forward. Sadness that she’d not see her children grow into accomplished adults; sadness that she’d never hold another baby in her arms or know the love of her husband’s body against her own. Maybe her faith in God would give her peace, knowing that someday she would be reunited with all those she loved.

  The ravine was coming closer.

  The cell phone in Chase’s pants pocket vibrated. With annoyance, Chase retrieved it as he began walking faster alongside the truck. He knew he should stop. The explosion might still kill him. Some kind of regret pushed him along as he watched Mrs. Scott snuggle the bomb to her breast.

  “Thank God, Hunter! We lost contact in the truck!” Chase said nothing. “Good news! Mrs. Scott doesn’t have the bomb. Whatever she’s got her finger stuck in isn’t the bomb.”

  Chase Hunter threw down the phone as he began to run toward the truck.

  Chapter 4

  L ake Tahoe shimmered in the early summer sun. The wind blew gently across the crystal-clear water. It sent shivers across the bare arms of the Scott children as their father finished unloading luggage and supplies from the SUV. He paused a few seconds to look at his children staring at the lake and noticed them hugging their arms. A smile came to his lips as he saw his oldest, Sean Patrick, put an arm around his baby sister to keep her warm. She leaned into his side then circled his waist with her cubby arms, hugging him tightly. Daniel tosseled Heather’s curly hair playfully as he bent down and whispered something in her ear. Both boys were very tender and loving toward their little sister. Something about Heather made others want to comfort her.

  She missed her mother, Robert knew. Those two were tight. Heather was Tessa’s shadow. She would cry sometimes when Tessa would go out to lunch with friends or to the grocery store without her.

  Robert often heard Heather tell her mom, “You’re my best friend, Mommy! I really love you.” He sometimes wished Heather felt the same about him. It was obvious she preferred Tessa over him. Even the boys would ask Tessa’s advice before approaching him.

  But then again, he knew he’d caused that ugly reality by being obsessed with work and making a future for his family. Being an interactive father was difficult after working twelve hour days several times a week. All he wanted to do was watch Monday night football sometimes or relax with a good book. What was wrong with that?

  The children turned slightly to look at their father. Robert gulped at seeing their distrusting expressions. All he’d ever really done with them on his own could be counted as chores. Unless Tessa took charge, there rarely had been much fun involved. He just didn’t know how to let go.

  Tessa now had given him a chance to change all that. If she’d come along there would already be activities, hotdogs on the grill and wildflowers on the table. There would be laughter and teasing with the promise of an afternoon nap for him. But now he would have to make the magic happen. It would be his biggest accomplishment. Today Robert would acquaint himself with those beautiful children Tessa had given him. How hard could being the hero parent be?

  Timidly, Robert sat down the heavy, blue cooler packed with delicious meals his wife had so lovingly prepared for their trip. He sucked up his courage then exhaled just before pushing himself into a casual stroll toward the kids. They seemed to move closer together, expecting some kind of reprimand. How had he ever let this thorny crevice separate his life from those he loved? Could he win them back?

  “Wow! That’s some view, huh kids?”

  They nodded then turned their eyes back toward the lake.

  “What’d ya say we carry the gear into the cabin? Then we’ll make a fire by the lake and cook some dogs!”

  Sean Patrick sighed. “There’s no open fire, Dad. Fire season is starting.”

  Robert bit his lip. This was
going to be harder than he thought. “Okay! We’ll eat those peanut butter and jelly sandwiches your mom made for us when we go out in the boat. I think I saw some chocolate chip cookies too.”

  All eyes looked up with hope. “Boat?” they said in surprise.

  “Yep!” Robert found a magic word apparently. “I’m renting a boat and we’ll have a picnic on the lake! Sound fun?”

  “Yeah!” they cheered. Little Heather smiled and moved to her father without any hesitation. He lifted her up into his arms. Her little arms circled his neck just as he felt a wet kiss on his cheek. He could feel his heart warm at her little touch. The boys patted their father’s arm and began talking excitedly. Maybe this would work after all. If only Tessa could see him now!

  ~ ~ ~

  Chase Hunter scrambled after the truck like a madman. He caught hold of the door handle only to feel his feet start to slip out from under him. The acceleration made opening the door impossible. “Open the door, Mrs. Scott!” He yelled waving one arm wildly.

  Tessa turned her head to stare in bewilderment at him who managed to drag her into this mess. She glanced at the fast approaching cliff to the ravine then quickly back at Chase. Something had gone terribly wrong! But what? With her free hand Tessa grabbed the door handle only to have it come off and clank to the floor.

  Chase’s eyes widened in horror at seeing the dilemma. He felt the door rattle beneath his hand as it slipped away. “Kick it open, Mrs. Scott!” He shouted as he stumbled nearly to the ground.

  Tessa appeared confused at what she may have done wrong, but absorbed the new instructions, leaned away from the door and kicked three times with a force that surprised him. As the door flew open, Tessa raised up in time for Chase to reach in and grab her shirt. It began to ripe away as her body became airborne through the open door.

  ~ ~ ~

  The ground flew up at her as the sound of crunching metal and falling rocks reached her ears just seconds before the impact of Chase’s truck hit the rocks below them. At the same time Tessa felt the wind burst from her lungs when he landed with all his weight on top of her.

  The momentum of the landing and the steep grade of the hill spun them into a roll toward the edge. Tessa could feel Chase digging his heels in to stop their plunge and she instinctively began grabbing at vines growing along the ground. Just as her body began to slip over the edge a scream tried to escape, but there was no wind to expedite the terror. Suddenly Tessa felt her legs dangling in thin air and strong arms pulling her hack to safety. She could hear heavy breathing and grunting as her movement continued upward.

  “Are you alright, Mrs. Scott?” Chase panted as he removed vines from her hair and a dirt clod from her face. When she opened her mouth to speak and grabbed her chest he appeared to realize he’d knocked the wind out of her during the extraction from the truck. “You’re alright, Mrs. Scott. There’s no bomb. Just try to breathe. Relax.” He rubbed her arms gently as she fought to a sitting position.

  A gasp of dusty air filled Tessa’s empty lungs. Waves of coughs spasmed her body as she felt the stranger thump her on the back. Collecting her confused wits, Tessa pushed his hands away and tried to stand up only to be assisted by Chase. Strangely, his firm touch made her feel uncomfortable.

  “What is going on!” she demanded with a choke stepping away on wobbly legs. “The bomb!” Tessa looked down at her hand that no longer contained the mini nuke. “I’ve lost it! Dear Lord!” She began to look around the area. “It must have come off when you pulled me from the truck!” she choked, now on the verge of tears. “You saved my life!”

  Chase’s stern eyes searched the perimeter as he casually pushed Tessa aside. He walked with a quick determination toward a flashing object tangled in some brush nearby. Bending down he jerked the once menacing object into the air. Moments before it had been stuck on Tessa Scott’s finger. “This is a child’s toy.” He examined it after reading the toy manufacture’s name on the side.

  “Looks like a bomb,” Tessa said covering her mouth with a scratched and bleeding hand. The loose dust mingled roughly with her tears and formed a patchwork of thin, muddy streaks. The realization dawned on that her life had nearly been sacrificed for nothing.

  “The bad news is the real one is still out there.” He threw the toy against a tree in anger. The shattering caused Tessa to flinch and step back from this suddenly menacing man.

  Chase’s attention turned to the eighteen-wheeler stopped on the main road. The large man exiting from the cab now carried a sawed off shotgun. As he came around the front of the truck he pulled up his sagging jeans with one hand and lifted the gun to his shoulder with the other. When he saw Chase running toward him with the scarecrow of a woman close behind, he nodded a greeting like a four-star general.

  He appeared proud of the work he’d just done, although he couldn’t possibly understand what it was he’d saved. “Some dispatcher told me to intervene for you. Looked like youthis athletic nearly ran over the cliff. Lucky you got out.”

  “Where are they?” Chase never stopped as he ran past the trucker to the edge of road.

  The trucker pointed with his gun then returned it to his shoulder.

  Tessa hurried to Chase’s side in time as he slid down the hillside toward the upside-down van that appeared to be smoldering.

  “Get over here and help him!” Chase wondered that was her mom voice she used on the truck driver.

  He caught a glimpse of the trucker’s compliance as he opened the cab door and carefully placed the shotgun back inside. Chase noticed it took both his hands to pull up his sagging jeans just before he cautiously edged down the hillside to join Chase. Even now he tried to forget the scent of sweat and greasy onion rings which clung to his clothes. The man lumbered down toward the van and appeared relieved when Chase raised a hand for him to turn around.

  Tessa pushed pass the trucker and awkwardly side stepped down the embankment.

  Chase circled the crushed van cautiously. Unaware of her presence, he pulled out a Beretta from the back waistband of his jeans. Quickly, he knelt down to look through the shattered windows. One arm dangled out through the windshield.

  The driver pinned underneath the front of the van was visible as Tessa approached. The sight of so much blood and exposed bone caused her to wretch. When she slid her ripped shirt sleeve across her mouth, Tessa watched him check for a pulse on each man, all the while keeping his weapon pointed with intent. Then he heard the moan of yet another person from the rear of the van.

  Chase quickly ran to the back of the van with gun aimed for deadly contact if necessary. The rear door had been ripped off during the crash. The back end, although badly damaged, tilted upward having landed on a large flat rock. Just inside the twisted van lay the fourth terrorist that had invaded the Scott home. He reached toward Chase with pleading eyes. Blood streaked his face where glass had torn at his brown skin. A gash above his right eye gushed over an already bruised cheekbone. Half of one ear lay open and bleeding down his neck.

  “Help me,” he cried weakly in his Middle Eastern accent. It was Jamaal, the man who had threatened Tessa in her home.

  Chase did not lower his weapon. “Who are you with? Essid?”

  “Please,” he moaned.

  “Where’s the bomb?” Chase growled the demand.

  “I don’t know,” he coughed a blood splatter that landed back on his face. “Please!” he cried. “Help me.”

  Chase reached inside the van. Grabbing the man’s collar he roughly dragged him out across broken glass and twisted metal. The scream of pain punctured the silence around them.

  Tessa gasped at his cruelty when he threw the injured man on the ground. Jamaal screamed again when Chase jerked him to his feet like a rag doll. He shoved him forward where his friends lay trapped in the van.

  “I need answers,” Chase yelled in the man’s ear.

  The man cowered as he felt the butt of the pistol hit him upside the head. “Now.”

  Tessa staggered in t
rying to turn her legs around but continued to stare at the scene before her. People like her probably had never witnessed such brute force.

  Chase stepped away from the injured man and lowered his gun to inside the van. “Where’s the bomb?”

  Nothing.

  Chase fired three rounds into the man inside the van. With callousness, Chase shoved his prisoner against the van. “Your buddy on the hood isn’t going to make it without medical help. Give me what I want or …”

  “I do not know!” he wept.

  “Fine!” Without looking, Chase extended his arm and unloaded his gun into the man on the hood. “Their blood is on your hands! You’re next unless you start talking!”

  “Yes! Yes! Whatever you want!” Tears burst from his eyes like a punctured dam. “I-I need medical help.”

  Chase jerked him around then shoved him toward the embankment. Suddenly his eyes fell on Tessa. The horror in those pretty blue eyes troubled him. The overpowering urge to comfort her unsettled him more than wrestling with terrorists bent on killing thousands of Americans.

  “What the hell!” Chase snarled, disgusted at himself for such a feeling of tenderness. “Get up there!” he commanded.

  Tessa tried to scramble up the hillside only to slip and fall to one knee. She felt the rock bruise her bone but quickly regained her footing as Chase continued to push the injured man upward with the gun.

  They reached the top at the same time. The trucker had witnessed the scene below. He quickly backed away from the oncoming injured man who gasped for air while Chase’s breath seemed almost normal.

  Chase extended his hand to the trucker and told him he’d single handedly saved the state of California from a very dangerous terrorist cell. The chest of the trucker puffed out like a proud peacock. He tilted his greasy John Deere hat back with a finger that resembled a large sausage. The toothy smile followed by a loud obnoxious laugh grated against Chase’s nerves. The obvious patronization of this man was meant to buy his patriotic silence. Hopefully the woman wouldn’t notice an oncoming cover-up.