Page 11 of The Forgotten Wife

There was a gruff response from within. Beside him, Allen answered with the guttural broken French Nick had heard the locals use.

They flattened themselves against the rock face as the soldier removed the barrier and stuck his head out of the cave. Nick yanked him out, slammed his elbow into the rebel’s neck, and silenced him before he could utter a word.

With a hissed warning, Allen pulled the pin from the small device in his hand and lobbed it inside the cave.

Belle jerkedfrom the troubled sleep she’d fallen into as a loud, piercing sound shattered the silence of the cave. The harsh strobe flashes of light that lit up the dark cavern a second later completely blinded her, even after she shut her eyes against the painful intrusion. After several seconds of intermittent bursts, they stopped. Heart thundering, ears ringing, she lurched from her bed and wondered if she was dreaming.

Edda’s terror-struck face from a several feet away told her she was still enmeshed in the nightmare.

Dizzy and momentarily blinded by the flashes, she stumbled forward. What was happening? Had she given herself away somehow? Had Mwana decided they weren’t worth keeping after all and blasted the cave, burying them alive? Curiously though, the walls of the cave remained intact. She blinked a few times to dispel the blindness. Nothing happened.

Something brushed against her, and she bit back a scream.

Were they being rescued? Her spirits soared, then plummeted.

Who would rescue them? Only Liz knew her whereabouts, and her best friend wouldn’t give it up that easily. Besides, Belle wasn’t due to make her weekly phone call to Liz until Monday, so she wouldn’t guess Belle might be in trouble until after she failed to make the call.

As for Father Tom, having lived and run the mission in Nawaka for the last seventeen years, he wouldn’t be missed back in his native Scotland. And if somehow Edda and Hendrik didn’t make it out, then…who knew?

The Nawakan government had enough on its plate dealing with the very real dual threat of its gold and diamond mines being looted and bracing for Charles Mwana’s inevitable takeover to mount rescue operations of kidnapped foreigners.

Rescue was not an option.

The only other conclusion she could reach was that another rebel faction had caught wind of the Mwana’s bounty and intended to claim it. One rebel group often seized another’s hostages if they could profit from it. Sometimes rebels within the same group rose up against each other. Was that what was happening here? Had Mwana’s subordinates staged a coup?

If so, she and the other hostages had to take advantage of the gunfight.

“Father, I think we should make a run for it. This may be our only chance.” God, she prayed she was right, and they did have a chance.

He gave a nervous chuckle. “I’m with you, lass, but unfortunately, these old eyes cannot see a thing at the moment. I think I’ve gone blind.”

She stopped herself from telling him she was suffering the same predicament, although she could just about make out shadowy images. She fumbled for his hand and grasped it tight. “It’s all right, Father. Just hold onto me, and I’ll guide you. Keep

your head down. Hendrik, Edda, are you okay?” “Yes,” Hendrik responded.

She took a deep breath and edged forward, her hand clamped around Father Tom’s. They’d travelled only a few feet when a bullet slapped the cave wall beside her. Small rocks struck hercheek, and she cried out. Fear strangling her, she crouched down beside Father Tom, eyes shut.

“We have to keep moving,” Hendrik urged from behind her.

She opened her eyes and thankfully, most of her vision had been restored. But what little she saw stilled her heart. Since whoever was attacking the rebels was doing so fromoutsidethe cave and the guerrillas were defending themselves from inside, there’d be no way to escape without being caught in the crossfire.

Another bullet whizzed past her and struck a kerosene lantern on the far side of the cave, knocking it over so it shattered. It ignited, sending a huge plume of acrid smoke billowing up toward the craggy ceiling of the cave.

Their situation had just worsened a hundred-fold.

If the bullets didn’t get them, the smoke and fire would. There was enough bedding, ammunition, and lamps to set the place ablaze in minutes.

Abruptly, the gunfire ceased.

“Come on,” she whispered desperately to Father Tom. “We need to go, now!”

She grabbed his arm and pulled him toward the entrance of the cave, trying not to let the sight of bloodied bodies paralyze her. She focused on the discarded guns instead. If they could arm themselves, they’d increase their chances of escape considerably.

As she reached for the nearest rifle, she heard the crunch of feet approaching.

Another burst of gunfire. Then silence.

Through the smoky light, she saw a figure, tall and male, enter the cave, followed by two equally formidable-looking men. In silence, the trio advanced toward them. Her throat closed up, fear completely seizing her. She turned to Father Tom, gripped his hand in hers, and tried to shield him with her body.

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