Chapter Forty-Three

Thorn

Paris, France

Monday, Zero Six Thirty Hours.

"T horn," she whispered.

"I'm here."

"I want to go down now."

He froze. What did down mean to her?

"I think I need your help. I'm…really tired and shaky. And I can't think of what to do. All those people are down there, and they'll take me away from you."

"I won't let it happen." Thorn called out, "Gage, come up." He never let his focus waver. "My friend is bringing you a climbing harness, so you'll be safe."

"But down…"

"We've been up here for a while. And you were focused on your choices. You probably didn't see that the other teams pulled out as the French police arrived. We're going to get you down and take you right to the airport. Take you straight back to the United States, and take you to the hospital to get you the help you need. You've done great."

Thorn felt pressure on his thigh then a pat at his hip. Gage worked a harness around Thorn to keep him safe.

"Gage is going to go under the arch and swing up behind you. You're not going to pay any attention. You're just going to focus on me and hold my hand like we've been doing. Gage is going to put a harness on you. Then we'll all go down together."

***

"What are you thinking?" Thorn asked.

They were sitting side by side on the plane. Iniquus had booked out the whole first class. Honey was up ahead of them and Gage behind. They'd loaded last, coming through a private door from the airport, and would unload first down a mobile staircase before the airplane came flush to the gangway.

They were almost home. And suddenly Arya had started shaking. Thorn didn't know if that was mental or physical. He tightened his arm around her, as she lay her cheek on his chest.

"They're out there," she whispered. "They weren't arrested."

"You'll be in the United States soon. They can't cross the borders and be here legally. The CIA and FBI are tracking them. The Israeli government has been put on alert and are cooperating. Your hospital is secure."

"But I won't stay there forever," she whispered.

Thorn took her chin between his fingers and tilted her head up so he could read her eyes. He lay a soft kiss on her lips. "The plan in place is that you will stabilize in the hospital, then my team will move you to one of our support houses. Roxanne was vetted. Did you know she'd been an Army nurse?" He rubbed his thumb over her cheek, then brushed her hair back from her face.

"Yes, I've seen her pictures."

"She's been cleared by the FBI and if it's okay with you, she'll be coming to live with you at the house. Her salary is being covered. And you will be getting a stipend. You aren't to worry about finances." He pulled out his phone and pulled up a picture of the Victorian styled house with the ancient oak in the front yard. "It's right across from a clinic that specializes in military rehabilitation. I have a friend from the Strike Force team named Randy who's there. They have a world-renowned trauma-psychology department. We'll get you the best support available."

"DuBois," she whispered.

"Is in custody with the FBI. DuBois was considered a charlatan by the medical teams at this clinic. The FBI, DARPA, and the Pentagon have a lot of questions, so they'll be part of your life, okay?"

She nodded.

"Until things are stable, Iniquus will be providing your security. I'll be living in the carriage house out back." He scrolled to a picture of the back yard and a two-story carriage house.

She nodded. "Those were the things I was the most worried about. What my next steps looked like. How I'd survive without funds. How I could help get these criminals out of society." She stared at the picture on Thorn's phone. "It looks peaceful and quiet." She shifted out of his arms, so she could look Thorn in the eye. "You asked me about peace and quiet, and I told you about the anechoic chamber where I could hear my pulse. But when I was on the bridge and the birds started to sing, I remembered something else. Out in the middle of the Hoh Rainforest in Olympic National Park, there is a small red stone. It was part of a sound pollution project to find a single square inch on the planet Earth that was not obscured by human sound. No traffic, no planes, just pure nature." She turned to look out the little oval window. "I was studying noise pollution in the oceans, and for curiosities sake, I wanted to go there, to see the red stone and experience natural acoustic purity." Arya turned back to Thorn. "Finding peace was really loud, teaming with life." A tired smile tweaked at the corners of her lips. "It was amazing . Hiking back there was a spiritual quest. I remember that when I came out of that glade, I had to sit on a log and sob. Such a miraculous experience. Sound doesn't have to be painful."

Thorn nodded.

"It's interesting, with that one square inch project, airlines started changing their routes to try to lessen the noise pollution. I wanted that for the oceans. It was my life's work. I was fighting for sound peace for the ocean's mammals." She looked down at her lap and swallowed hard. "The whales need me to stop being selfish and get back in the fight for them."

"They do. You will. We'll do this together." He leaned his forehead down and resting it against hers. Then he sat up and reached into his pocket and pulled out the little red stone. "It's kind of funny, to hear your story about the rainforest." He placed the cool smooth surface in her hand. "I found this on the day we met. Just as I was heading from Toulouse to Paris trying to find you."

"Red jade. It's beautiful."

"I picked it up and put it in my pocket for no reason at all." He pressed a kiss into her hair, then laced his fingers into hers. "At that point, there was a lot going on, confusion about you and your case, people coming and going. There's was a lot of noise, but in my brain, in that moment, everything stilled as I reached for the stone. When you were sharing about your experience in the rainforest, I thought yes, that was exactly right ? life can be really loud, and crazy, and confusing, but in the chaos peace can be found."

This is not THE END of Thorn and Arya's story

Join them and the other valorous men and women of the Iniquus World

as they fight for a better tomorrow.

Please, enjoy the excerpt of COLD RED on the next page.

But first, Suicidal ideation (thinking about suicide) is not uncommon. If you read this book, and it has triggered you, or you feel you need support, please talk with someone. A number to call is:

1-800-273-TALK

1-888-628-9454 (Spanish)

Crisischat.org

My very best wishes go out to you.

~ Fiona