Page 66 of Ace

She smiled. As she scanned the area, the tightness in her chest relaxed. Everything seemed normal. Perhaps the village was remote enough that it was being left alone. Rosamie stepped out of the school building and waved, a large smile filling her face.

As soon as Gi was close enough, she embraced her friend. The woman clung to her. “Are you well?”

When they pulled apart, Rosamie wiped the tears from her eyes. “We are well, but I am glad you are here. At times, I don’t know what to do.”

“Come, let’s talk.”

As soon as they were in the kitchen and the staff had joined them, Gi shut the door. “This will be hot, but we must have some privacy for a moment. Have the Mantukese come up to the village?”

“No. But there is talk of another facility.”

‘You know about the weapons warehouse in the south?”

“Yes. Everyone knows. They pay the islanders well to work in it. Some are confused about who are the good guys and the bad. Even people here are saying if they bring another up close, they will work in it. We are hungry.” Rosamie looked apologetic. “But I would never.” She stood taller.

“You are a strong woman, my dear friend. What have the president and the government been saying?”

“They are silenced. We hear only from the Mantukese now.”

Gi nodded. “What do they want here?”

“We don’t know. Probably just a place for these weapons. There is talk of resources?”

She looked at each one of her staff. “I’m here to destroy the building.”

Rosamie sucked in her breath.

“If I don’t, outside governments will. And I don’t want any of you hurt.” She rotated her shoulders. “No matter who destroys it, I’m going to try and evacuate the civilians who will come with me.”

The staff looked at each other and back to Gi.

“You want to send them up here.” Her cook frowned.

“I do, but only if you welcome the idea. They can come as far as below the village and still be safe.”

Rosamie put her hand on Cook’s arm. “We can welcome them. How could we not when our motto is to turn no one away?”

Gi’s heart clenched. “But if you cannot house them or feed them without the children suffering, then you must make those kinds of hard decisions as well.”

They nodded. Then she turned to them one at a time. “I will head down to the city now. You still have that phone I left?”

Rosamie nodded.

“Keep it charged and ready.”

* * *

Gianna studiedthe warehouse night and day. And after a full twenty-four hours, she knew the risk of casualties if the place were to be bombed. She went to a relative of Rosamie’s in the closest town. She wished she could have carried any other news from her cousin when the woman’s face washed of color. “My son. He works in that building.”

“I came to ask you to move everyone away from here. Go. Go north. Tell your son.”

She had been resourceful, and the next morning when Gi walked through the town, fewer people were out. Stores were closed.

The best time of day, when the fewest workers were present, was the early hours of the morning, between three and five. She sent a message via satellite to Dex. Then she continued probing around. Tonight she would act.

Chapter 24

Dex had spent the rest of the afternoon on the phone. When at last he’d been free, he called Gi and left her a message. “I have news. Come to my room.”

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