Chapter 26

CHAPTER

TWENTY-SIX

Stephen set down the glass of water he'd begun to drink. Suddenly, hydration didn't seem as important. "So what are we going to do to stop this plan?"

"We believe these men are meeting to discuss things." Larchmont took a sip of his own water.

"Aren't they too smart to be seen together like that?" Heidi asked.

"They think they're untouchable," Larchmont said. "That's going to be one of their greatest downfalls."

"Where is this meeting?" Stephen asked.

"That's what we need to figure out." A new emotion crossed Larchmont's face, one Stephen couldn't read. He had a feeling that whatever Larchmont was about to say was something he wouldn't like.

He waited a few seconds for Larchmont to continue.

As soon as the man's gaze turned to Heidi, the bad feeling in Stephen's gut grew even stronger.

"That's where Heidi comes in," Larchmont said. "We need her to tell Rafferty that she was abducted but escaped. She needs to ask for his help. Then, once she's back in Rafferty's good graces, we need her to find out more information."

Stephen had a visceral reaction to his statement, and his muscles began to quiver. "That's a terrible idea. It's too dangerous. Absolutely not."

Larchmont turned to him. "I appreciate your opinion, but the decision isn't yours. It's Heidi's."

He swallowed his retort and turned toward Heidi, anxious to hear her refuse Larchmont's request—as anyone in their right mind would.

Larchmont's proposal was unthinkable.

Absolutely unthinkable.

Heidi swallowed hard as she let Larchmont's words sink in.

Rafferty had tried to kill her mom. Had hired Heidi essentially to monitor the situation. Now he may have even sent his men to try to kill her.

Only she wasn't exactly sure that was true.

If it was, then why had other men who worked for Rafferty also been killed?

She'd need to put those pieces together eventually.

But right now, all she could think about was Larchmont's proposal.

That she go undercover in order to find out more information.

Information on something that could have consequences reaching far beyond her. Far beyond the people in this house. Far beyond one community even.

Consequences that could affect an entire country. That could shape ideological thoughts. That could ignite the already brewing conflicts in the world.

For some reason, Heidi knew she was the person best equipped to stop this.

The thought was daunting, to say the least.

She remembered Deuteronomy 31:6: Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the Lord your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you.

Larchmont stared at her, waiting for her response.

Stephen sat beside her, his gaze also on her.

Tension crackled in the room.

Everyone was waiting to hear how she'd answer.

Finally, she swallowed hard. "I'll do it."

As soon as the words left her lips, Stephen snapped out of his daze. "That's a bad idea."

"It's the only way." Larchmont's tone contained a new sternness.

"There's got to be something else we can do," Stephen argued back.

"I'm afraid not—and we're almost out of time." Larchmont's expression remained stony.

"He'll kill her!" Stephen lurched forward as he said the words.

Heidi reached out and rested her hand on his back, trying to reassure him.

"We'll put safeguards in place," Larchmont responded. "It's Heidi's choice to make."

Their conversation went back and forth like machine gunfire. She could hardly get a word in.

They argued about her as though she wasn't sitting right beside them.

"Enough!" She sliced her hand through the air. "Stephen, this man attempted to kill my mom." Fire burned through her blood at that thought. "I want to do this. No, it's more than that. I need to do this. Not just for my mom . . . but for my country."