Chapter 25

CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE

J asmine should feel nothing but relief at having delivered Rabie safely to Basma. And she was relieved. Thank God He'd kept them safe and reunited them.

But things had forever changed between her and Derrick.

It was too loud in the concourse and on the street to talk. In the parking garage elevator, she asked, "Basma's cousin lives in New York? You never said."

"I don't know." He leaned against the opposite wall, the car moving slowly and dinging with each floor. They were alone going up. "She took the train in this morning, and they'll head back to…wherever. I saw you hand her a note. What was it?"

"A new email address. I set it up this morning so we can stay in touch."

He straightened. "What? Why would you?—?"

"Otherwise, I would never speak to her again." Jasmine turned toward the doors as they reached the proper floor. "I won't tell her where I live. I won't take risks. But she is still my friend."

"I don't like it."

Which was why she hadn't told him in advance .

The doors opened, and they passed a throng of people waiting to go down.

Nearing the car, she said, "I can drive, if you like."

Derrick shot her what might be considered a smile—by someone who didn't know him. "New York drivers would eat you alive."

"I can do it. I had a good teacher."

He didn't react to the compliment. "I got it. Thanks, though."

He clicked the button to unlock the doors. Often, in the past, he would open her door for her, but he walked straight to the driver's side and climbed in.

He put an address in the navigation system while she buckled her seatbelt.

"How long will it take?"

He backed out of the space. "Five, five and a half hours, depending on traffic."

That would give them time to talk. Perhaps they could find a way to restore their friendship. Was it too much to ask that they be friends again?

Perhaps it would be kinder to let it go, let him go. But the thought of losing him…

She couldn't bear it.

Was it selfish to want to stay close? Knowing how he felt about her? How she felt about him?

She would need to ask God how to proceed.

Derrick was winding down the narrow aisles toward the exit when one of the burner phones rang, too loud through the speakers.

They reached for the volume at the same time, and their fingers touched.

Derrick yanked his hand back as if she'd scorched him.

Doing her best to hide her sadness, she adjusted it lower while he pressed the button on the steering wheel.

"It went fine," he said. "No problems."

"Good." Michael sounded relieved. "Jasmine listening?"

"I'm here."

"I got a call this morning, and… There's no reason for you to worry, but I wanted to let you know…"

Oh, no .

"Khalid Qasim's face was picked up on a camera at a Metro station—that's the subway in DC—a couple of days ago."

Her hand flew up, covering her mouth. "He was there when we were?"

"We don't know when he got there," Michael said, "but if I had to guess?—"

"Where is he now?" Derrick was squeezing the steering wheel.

"No idea."

"How did this happen?" He sounded furious, as if it were Michael's fault.

"No idea. We're trying to figure out how he got into the country. The border's porous, he could've just walked across."

Derrick paid the parking fee, turned onto the busy road, then pulled over. He shifted into park, glaring at the dashboard as if his brother were right there.

"I'm waiting for a call back from a contact in Mexico, who might be able to shed some light on that, not that it matters how he got here. The point is?—"

"Can't be a coincidence." Derrick looked her way, his expression grim. "That he was in DC."

"I don't believe in coincidences." Michael sighed. "Sorry, sis, but I don't think there's any doubt now. He and Dari Ghazi are working together. I think this was all about smoking you out."

She lowered her head and covered her face with her hands. She was such a fool. Khalid had set a trap for her, and she'd walked right into it. Or almost had. She had escaped only because of Derrick's quick thinking and Michael's help. Otherwise, Khalid would have her. She would be back in Iraq. Captive. She would never have another opportunity to escape.

Derrick asked, "Any more good news for us?"

"Bryan said he's been trying to reach you but you aren't answering. Did I give him the wrong number?"

Derrick grabbed the cell he'd left on the console, tapped the screen, and lifted it to his ear. "What does he want?"

Jasmine didn't hear Michael's answer now. He must've disconnected from Bluetooth.

"Fine," Derrick said. "If he can work it out… Yeah, I will." He ended the call, tossed the phone, and shifted into traffic.

"Is Bryan okay?"

"Yup." Derrick focused on the map and the busy street.

The city passed outside the window, and Jasmine told herself to take everything in. She might never be back to New York. If Khalid caught up with her…

She couldn't think about that.

At least she was getting to see this in the daylight. Funny, though. Unlike where they'd been the last few days, this city would be just as pretty, if not more so, at night. Greenery draped around doorframes, and wreaths decorated lampposts. Store window displays were alive with movement and color and lights.

"The decorations are beautiful. Is it always so festive at Christmastime?"

"Lots of tourists this time of year."

"I'm glad Leila got to see it. I wonder if they had fun. Did Michael say?"

"Nope." Derrick stopped at a light, his fingers drumming a rhythm on the steering wheel.

"What is your favorite thing about Christmas?"

"I don't know," he said. "The food, I guess."

"What kind of food? What are you most eager for?"

He shrugged. "Mom's roast."

She thought of a handful of follow-up questions, but obviously, Derrick didn't want to talk.

The burner phone rang again, though not through the speakers.

Derrick snatched it and answered. "Yeah?"

His lips pressed closed.

Her heart rate kicked up. Was something wrong?

"Fine," he said. "We'll have to return the car… Less than an hour, probably… Fine." He ended the call.

"What is it?"

"Bryan's at Teterboro."

"What is…Teterboro?"

Derrick pulled over and changed the address in the car's navigation. "It's an airport. He picked up the Cessna this morning and flew in. That's why he was trying to reach me."

"We will fly home?"

Derrick angled back onto the road. "Yeah. Well, not home. We're going straight to camp. I guess your sister packed you a bag, and Bryan packed one for me. Everyone's headed up there today for the big family party tomorrow."

She'd known about the party, an early Christmas celebration. All the Wrights would be there, including their extended family. She realized now… "This includes the family that owns the cabin where we stayed? They are coming?"

"Yup."

"I am to go as well?"

"Of course." He sounded surprised by the question. "Why wouldn't you?"

"I am not family. I knew Leila would, but?— "

"You're family, Jasmine."

For the first time, he didn't seem pleased by the prospect.

"I can go home, Derrick. If you would prefer?—"

"Just…don't. It's… I want you to go." He took a breath and blew it out. "Sorry. I'm not mad at you. I'm tired, that's all."

"It's good, then, that you don't have to drive all the way home."

"Yup."

He should be happy to be rid of her sooner. But by the tightness in his jaw, the little muscle twitching in his cheek, he wasn't happy at all that Bryan had flown in.

So much for her hope that they could rebuild their friendship on the drive home. She gave up trying to make conversation, and they finished the drive in silence. After dropping off the rental car, they made their way to the private terminal at the airport.

As soon as they stepped inside, Bryan spotted them and crossed toward them, leaning on his cane. "You made it."

Hauling both their bags, Derrick barely glanced at him as he passed. "Are we ready?"

If Bryan was surprised by Derrick's attitude, he didn't react. He gave Jasmine a quick side-hug. "Glad you're here."

"Thank you for coming."

"Of course. Come on."

They followed Derrick across the pavement to the small plane. She couldn't help remembering the other two times she'd been on his jet. The first, she'd practically run up the stairs, terrified Khalid would catch up to her. At the top, Derrick had met her, smiling in that welcoming way he had. She'd known Michael a little, and she'd met Bryan already. They both had short hair, trimmed beards, tidy clothes. They were serious and intense.

Derrick had surprised her. Shoulder-length, unruly hair, beard slightly longer, wide smile. Though she'd never met him, he'd felt instantly familiar. Most men made her nervous. Most men made her want to shrink away, to hide, but Derrick had felt like an old friend. Even then, after everything they'd been through, he was…happy. Just genuinely happy.

She'd never known anyone like him. She'd liked him from the first moment. And in their time together, she'd only grown to like him more.

The second time on his plane had been Monday. Had it only been four days? He'd insisted she sit in the cockpit with him. When she'd worried she'd push a button or press a lever and cause them to crash, he'd laughed, the sound lighthearted and full of joy.

"Don't worry, sweetheart. I got you."

Now, he stood at the bottom of the steps, lips pressed closed, nearly white.

When she approached, he managed a tight "After you."

"Thanks."

She climbed the steps, sat in the first forward-facing seat, and stared out the window to hide her tears.