Page 36 of Emi's Hero

The photo was of a young man, not her little brother.

Though sad she’d missed so much of his coming of age, Emi’s heart swelled with pride for her brother’s accomplishments.

Swede and Kyla’s faces reappeared on the monitor.

“We’ll keep looking through satellite images,” Swede said.

“As soon as you have anything, no matter how inconsequential it might seem, let us know,” Kyla added. “We’ll be here, day or night.”

“Thank you,” Emi said. “For everything.”

“If that’s all, I’m out here,” Swede said.

Hawk nodded. “We’re done.”

Swede’s face disappeared.

“Out here.” Kyla’s face blinked out, leaving a blue screen.

“Are you okay?” Hawk asked.

Emi nodded. “I will be.”

“I’m sorry if that was too soon,” Hawk said.

“No,” Emi looked up, holding her chin high. “Really. It’s okay. I know exactly how my parents felt, losing their daughter. If anything, it makes me even more determined to find and free Sara. Is it noon yet?”

Hawk grinned. “Not yet, but Kalea’s friend will be here soon.”

Emi prayed hypnosis would bring out something Swede and Kyla could use to locate Fallon Vance or whoever the hell the bastard was.

She turned to George. “What now?”

“I don’t have any plans for the morning. What would you like to do?”

Emi pushed back from the conference table and stood. “I’d like to go outside, breathe fresh air and plan how much I’m going to hug my daughter when I see her next.”

George stood with her. “How about a walk?”

She nodded. “Perfect.” Emi smiled at Hawk. “Thank you for helping.”

Hawk gave her a crooked smile. “We haven’t done much yet.”

“You’re trying, and you’ll—what was the word?” Her eyes narrowed as she thought back to what Ule said. “Oh, yeah. You’llHo’omau.”

Hawk grinned. “That’s how we saved Kalea and how we’ll save Sara.”

George led Emi out of the war room through the hallway into the tack room, finally exiting the outbuilding into the sunshine.

Emi raised her face to the sky, letting the sun warm her skin. “We’ll find her.”

“Damn right, we will.”

After waiting eight years to be rescued, Emi could barely stand to wait a few hours until the hypnotherapist arrived. She straightened and looked around, determined to push back the anxiety building inside. “Where to?”

“Why don’t we go look at the horse that recently gave birth? Then we can check out the horses in the pasture.”

Emi gave him a tight smile. “I’d like that. Maybe fresh air and open spaces will help free my mind for when Sachie arrives.”

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