Page 36 of Tango (Hunt Brothers Search & Rescue #4)

Alice

M y apartment was once a safe haven for me. The place I’d wind down from a long day at work. I would sit at the table every morning, Bible open in front of me, sipping from a cup of coffee while the sun rose over the mountains in the distance.

Now it’s just a place where I used to live. Where my life was predictable, my days planned out to the very hour when I would lay my head down on top of my pillow.

I place my jewelry box inside a moving box then lean down when a photo strip flutters to the ground.

Bending over, I lift it and feel a familiar grief settle in my chest. Ramiro and I took these photos a few months ago when we went bowling with some of our other friends.

Both of us are smiling and happy, making silly faces in each of the three prints.

Who would have thought, less than a year later, he’d be trying to kill me.

Tears burn in my vision as I toss it into the trash bag beside my dresser then turn to survey my room. Bed stripped, dresser empty, closet bare…everything in boxes.

“Hey, Ali, you ready?” Dad peeks his head into my room. “Hey, are you okay?”

“What? Oh, yeah, just remembering the past.” I smile then seal up the top of the box containing my jewelry box, journal, and a few other special items I wanted close by for the move.

He comes into the room then looks down into the trash bag. “Ahh, yes. The past.” He pulls the plastic strip, tightening the bag. “He was your friend at one time. Regardless of how it turned out, it’s normal to grieve.”

“I know. But I don’t want to anymore. I want to move forward, one step at a time.”

We leave my room together, and I set the box down on top of the stack already prepped for the movers who are coming first thing in the morning. Dad sets the trash by the door then turns to survey my apartment.

“You know, I remember when your mother and I helped you move into this place. Logan was there too, if I remember correctly.”

Logan. “He was. Dropped a box with some pictures and broke the glass on every single one.”

Dad laughs. “He was mortified.”

“Replaced them all too. Somehow, he managed to get into the apartment when I was at the gym, so when I got home, I was surprised by all the new frames.”

“That’s sweet.”

“He was.” Even if we hadn’t been a fit romantically, I will always appreciate Logan for the friendship we maintained even after we’d broken up.

And I’m not sure I’ll ever be able to forgive myself for putting my trust in Ramiro when Logan was the one who deserved it.

“You ready to go?” Dad asks.

“I am. I could use an entire pizza in fuel too. I’m exhausted.

” I retrieve my purse, and Dad laughs while he hauls the garbage bag out of the apartment, leaving it beside the door for the trash pickup in the morning.

After locking the door behind me, we make our way down the steps.

His Subaru is parked in the spot right beside my apartment, and as I climb inside, I breathe in the familiar scent of his cologne.

After everything we went through, I knew I couldn’t come back to this apartment. A fresh start is exactly what I’m looking for, and that can’t be found when everything around me reminds me of the past.

“Hey, can we swing by the cemetery before heading home?”

“Sure thing, honey.” Dad reaches over and closes his hand over mine, squeezing it gently.

My phone dings, so I withdraw it and smile when I see a text from Lani.

Lani: Everything is ready for your arrival!

There’s a photograph of an empty living room right beneath the text.

Nerves twist in my gut, but more than that is excitement. Joy. Because my fresh start is coming as soon as noon tomorrow when my flight lands in Dallas.

Me: I can’t wait. Does he suspect anything?

Lani: He’s a guy…so no.

I laugh.

“What’s funny?” Dad asks, casting me a smile.

“Lani. My apartment is ready to go. I asked her if Tucker knew, and she said no because he’s a guy.”

My dad barks out a laugh. “Us guys do tend to be rather obtuse at times.”

“At times,” I reply with a smile.

“Speaking of Tucker—how is he doing?”

“Better. Lani cleared him to start walking up to two miles a day and some bodyweight exercises, so he’s happy about that.”

“That’s good.”

“Yeah. I thought so. Dylan is picking me up at the airport tomorrow so I can surprise him.”

Dad is quiet for a moment. “You know, your mother and I are so proud of you, Alice.”

“Why? Because I’m moving away?”

He laughs. “No. Well, not just that, anyway. You’re following where you feel God calling you, and that, my dear child, is wonderful.”

“Did I tell you that the CEO of Web Safe offered me the director position?”

“What? Seriously?”

I nod. “I wanted to know what I was going to do before I told you guys.”

“Alice, that is amazing.”

“It would have been—a few months ago. Even if I set aside my feelings for Tucker, I wouldn’t ever want to go back to that place. It just wouldn’t be the same. Everything would be a reminder of what I lost.”

“Something I understand quite well. You should know that your mother and I have been talking, and—well—we don’t think Texas would be a bad place to live for two old folks on the verge of retirement.”

Joy blossoms in my chest. “Really?”

He smiles. “We can’t do anything right now, but within the next year or so, I think we might be able to swing a move like that.”

“Dad, I would—but your life is here.”

“You’re our life, Ali. And if this thing with Tucker pans out, there might be some grandchildren in our future?”

Heat burns my cheeks. “Dad. I haven’t even told him how I feel yet. I’d say grandchildren are a ways away.”

He laughs again then turns into the parking lot of the cemetery. After pulling into a spot and turning the engine off, he turns to me. “Even still. You are our life. Our everything. And we’re so proud of you.”

“Thanks, Dad.”

“You’re welcome.” He withdraws what he refers to as his “car book” from his console and removes his seat belt. “Now, you go do what you have to do. I’ll be here when you’re ready.”

I let out a light laugh and climb out of the car, then head down the aisle toward where Logan was laid to rest last week.

Every step I take feels heavy, but I need to say goodbye one more time. One final bit of closure before I can end this chapter and move into the next one.

LOGAN TARMAC is carved into cool stone, along with a pair of combat boots and dog tags. I kneel beside his grave then gently run my hands over his name.

“I haven’t had the chance to tell you how sorry I am.

” Tears sting in the corners of my eyes.

“I should have trusted you when you’d told me that there was something about Ramiro you didn’t trust. I thought you were just being jealous, and maybe on some level you were, but—I can’t help but believe, if I’d have just trusted you, then you wouldn’t be dead right now.

” I close my eyes, shoulders shaking. “I’m sorry, Logan.

You deserved better. I should have been a better friend to you.

I should have never brought you into this.

” My throat burns as I try my best to keep from completely losing it to the guilt.

“I pray you’re resting in peace with the angels now. ”

“I imagine he is.”

I glance up, the familiar voice bringing a whole slew of emotions running through me. “Samuel?”

“Hello, Alice.” He’s older now, his hair more white than gray, and there are fresh lines around his eyes.

“You—how are you here?”

“I travel around here and there.” He takes a seat beside me, and a familiar peace settles over me. “I am truly sorry for the loss of your friend.”

I continue staring at him. We’re in a totally different city than before, a brand-new area. How is this possible? “I don’t— Thank you.”

He smiles sadly at me. “You’ve suffered greatly in your young life, yet there is still so much light in you. Just like that first time we met. You remember?”

“Of course I remember. I looked for you after that, but no one knew who you were.”

He chuckles. “I was around. Aside from this tragic loss, I take it things have worked out? On the family front?”

“Yeah. Two amazing people adopted me right after we met the last time. They’re wonderful.”

“That’s good. I’m glad to hear it.” He studies me. “There’s more. You have the spark of love in your eyes.”

I laugh. “You could say that.”

“He a good man?”

“He is. I just have to see if he feels the same.”

“I wouldn’t worry too much about that. Bright things are in your future, Alice. Bright things.”

“Thanks. I’m honestly not quite sure what I’m going to do next. But I’ll pray about it until the path becomes clear.”

“That’s all any of us can do.” He smiles at me.

I keep staring at him, half expecting him to sprout angel wings or disappear, but he continues sitting beside me beneath the sunlight, the chirping of birds all around us. “How are you here? Coincidence doesn’t seem to cover it.”

“Like I said, I travel a lot. Going where I’m needed.

” He turns toward me. “But I don’t get the sense you’re going to need me anymore.

I’ll continue to pray for you, Alice Sterling, and for your future.

I imagine God has great things in store for you.

” He pushes to his feet, so I do the same.

“Keep your eye on the future, and follow where He leads.”

“Always. I— Wait, I never told you my last name.”

Samuel simply smiles. “Goodbye, Alice.”

“Goodbye.”

With a smile still on his face, he turns and begins walking back toward the trees. I lose sight of him near the edge of the cemetery where the path curves behind the chapel.

Tears fill my eyes, and I wrap my arms around myself. “Thank You, God. Thank You.”