Page 58 of Operation: Return

“I’m going. I’m tired of feeling like I’ve done nothing. Pete is my son. I can’t just sit here anymore.”

“Let’s keep looking through these pictures to see if he came back this way.” Brendon turned back to his computer screen. “He doesn’t know we’re on to him yet. He’s safest if he can get back among our ranks and see what’s going on, probably with some story about how Artemis got that lump on his head.”

Dominic nodded and reached for his phone. “Spenser. Update.”

“I’ve found Artemis. I’m bringing him back to the cabins.”

Erica tensed next to him. “Cabins? Like the one’s I’m in?”

Cole covered her hand with his. “The RVs were too small to house all the men once they got here. They are the only housing we have here at Wayside besides the few rooms upstairs. If you’d feel safer here in the house, I’m sure we can arrange it.”

She shook her head. “I’m sure I’ll be fine, I just . . .” She looked away.

“You could stay in my cabin. I’ll sleep on the couch.”

Edwyn stood and leaned on the desk. “Let’s not worry about sleeping arrangements right now.”

“Yes, let’s worry about this.” Brendon pointed to the screen and the image of a man filled the entire surface. Brendon zoomed in and though his face was grainy, it was visible.

“That is the man I know as Frank,” Dominic said. “Does that mean he’s headed back to Wayside?”

Edwyn took charge. “Yes, and he appears to be alone, which means Pete is still with the men at Lakely. Since you saw no vehicles there, we have to assume they are still there. Cole and Erica, I’ll trust you to go and distract Frank. Do not let on that you are aware of who he is. If you think you can’t act, then you can’t. We’ll find someone else.”

“We already sent the police home. It’s probably better that way,” Cole snorted. “I’m not exactly a by-the-book guy anymore.”

“I can do this.” Erica stood. “We’ll tell him we were just out looking for Pete. If he asks what we’re doing in his area, I’ll tell him that I wanted to check for myself along that path because it was Pete’s favorite.”

The story was as good as any he could come up with and Cole wasn’t about to let her go alone. “We’d best move quickly. He’ll be nervous since Artemis wasn’t where he left him.”

“Cole, you know what you need to do.” Edwyn gave him a weighty glance and quick nod.

He did. He had to protect Erica and make sure Frank was distracted long enough for someone else to go in and rescue his son. In many ways, it was unfair. He wanted to be Pete’s hero, especially since he hadn’t been able to at any other point in his life and he could’ve been robbed of the opportunity.

“I’ve got another idea.” Cole’s mind threw together a plan that was sure to work. “Brendon, you are, and always have been, our secret weapon. No one expects strength from you. What if Dominic and I go after the group at the ranch. Erica, you and Brendon distract Frank with some kind of issue with the file. Maybe tell him there’s been a mistake and see what he says.”

“I have no reason to be here for a misrepresented file. He’ll know it’s a lie.” Erica crossed her arms, challenging him to take her along.

“Lacy would be here for that and you’re doing Lacy’s job right now,” Brendon stated. “I can protect you.”

Erica hesitated and glanced between him and Brendon. He wanted her to see him as someone who would protect her and he was glad she wanted to be with him. But when it came to rescuing his son, he couldn’t leave that up to anyone else.

She frowned. “I’ll stay, but you’d better be careful and bring Pete back.”

He wanted to kiss her so she would feel how invested his heart was in this, but now was not the time. If he made it back successfully, there would be plenty of time for kissing.

* * *

Erica resistedthe urge to grab onto Cole as he left and not let go. His departure felt permanent, and dread sliced her worse than a knife. Throughout the hours Pete had been missing, she’d felt deeply that her son would return. Her hope had been strong. Now, with Cole, it wavered.

The moment all the other men had left, and she and Brendon were alone, she moved closer to his desk again. Brendon threaded his fingers in front of him as he leaned on the desk and bowed his head.

“Father, we ask for your protection over Pete, over our men, and over all the people this will touch. I ask that no harm would come to anyone if possible and that all the people trying to harm those we care about would be caught without injury.”

Erica felt a nagging in her soul. She’d wished harm on the men who’d taken her son and felt justified for it. Weren’t there plenty of instances where Godly people asked for retribution for sin against them? It seemed like half of the Old Testament was one person repaying another for something they did wrong. This was wrong. She had a right to want them to pay for it. Didn’t she?

Brendon finished his prayer and glanced up at her. “I often find that in the middle of a battle, when we need to pray the most, we don’t think about doing it. Or we hope that God can hear what’s going on in our hearts. He can, but vocalizing it is prayer. It’s action. God likes action.”

She nodded. “I hope that you’re right, that these men will be arrested. But I hope they pay for what they’ve done.”

---