After the Fire (24 page)

He couldn’t move, his hands bound tightly behind the chair he sat on, his ankles tied to the legs. He shook his head to get the water from his eyes, only making the headache worse. “Why?”

“Why what?” Edwin put his hands on his hips and smirked.

“Why did you betray everything?” He struggled to get the words past the lump in his throat and the pain.

“I didn’t. The clues were there, if only you bothered to look. But I’m more interested in Ms. Flynn here.” He moved out of Jason’s field of vision.

“Freddie? If you hurt her, I’ll—” Jason tried to move, freezing as a gun barrel pressed against his head.

“You’ll what? I don’t think you can do anything right now.” Edwin’s voice came from behind him. “Why did you pursue this when you were told specifically to work on other cases, Freddie?”

“Mrs. Rafferty rang to check the progress we’d made. You weren’t available so I took the call. You hadn’t put anyone on the case. I didn’t understand why, so I took it on. Admittedly, you didn’t make it easy, burying it the way you did, but I found it.” Her voice wavered slightly, but she had lost none of the spunk Jason loved so much about her.

“I also told you to come home.”

“Did you? When?”

“I sent both you and Bryant a text. At least he replied, even if it was a no.”

“Oh, I’m sorry. I haven’t had the chance to pick up my messages, yet.” She paused. “I’m not going to explain. My friends don’t need it, and my enemies wouldn’t believe me, anyway.”

Edwin slapped her.

Jason winced at the cry of pain. “Leave her alone. What kind of a coward hits a woman?” He tried to get his hands free, anger rising.

Edwin moved back into his field of vision. “Are you calling me a coward?”

“If the cap fits.” He stared at Edwin. “I wanted to be just like you when I was a kid. That’s why I applied to the company when I got back to England. Now I wish I hadn’t.” He took a deep breath. “Apart from the fact it meant I found Freddie again.”

“I love a happy ending. How about this one? Ms. Flynn and Mr. Bryant, your employment is hereby terminated. You’re fired.”

“Was that Rafferty’s body in the crypt?” Freddie’s voice sounded strange, as if she were struggling to get the words out.

“It was, but I didn’t personally kill him.” He looked over at Nick. “Let’s go.”

“You can’t leave us here.” Jason twisted his head

Edwin laughed. “I can and I will. You have five minutes. Make the most of it.”

Footsteps echoed as the men moved quickly down the tunnels.

Freddie took a deep breath. “What did he mean by we have five minutes?”

“I don’t know.” Jason closed his eyes for a moment, trying to deal with the headache. “Are you all right? Did he hurt you when he hit you?”

“No, he didn’t. I’m fine. What about you? Nick hit you pretty hard.”

“I’ve got a headache, but that comes with being pistol whipped.” He wriggled his hands against the rope. “How long was I out for?”

“Not long. The few minutes it took to tie us up, basically. Can you get free? I never was any good at knots.”

“Did they not teach you that in spy school?” Jason moved his hands. “You should have been a Girl Guide, instead.”

“Then it’s a good job I’m tied up with a Boy Scout, isn’t it?”

“Almost there.” Jason paused as he concentrated on untying himself. “Done.” He pushed to his feet, trying to work out the stiffness. He closed his eyes, fighting a wave of dizziness, before pushing it aside. There’d be plenty of time to be sick once he got her safely out of here. He took a deep breath and knelt to untie her bonds. “Are you a sight for sore eyes.”

“Can you walk, Jace?”

Not letting on how dizzy he was, Jason picked up the pack. “It’s my head that hurts, not my legs. Let’s go.”

He gripped her hand firmly. At that precise moment everything around him exploded in a massive blast of rock, light, and heat. For a terrifying moment he was airborne.

Someone screamed.

Then he hit the ground. Pain soared through him, followed by blackness.

26

Jason opened his eyes and coughed. His face creased in pain as what felt like pieces of glass pierced his lungs and chest. Dust filled the small space he was lying in. He coughed again.

“Freddie?”

“I’m here.” The voice, weak and pain filled, came from somewhere to his left.

He lay still for a moment, doing a mental check. Nothing felt broken or dislocated and nothing heavy pinned him down. He rolled over and cried out as searing pain engulfed him. He closed his eyes.
All right, something’s definitely broken. I don’t have time for this. I have to get to Freddie
.

“Jason?”

“I’m fine...I’m fine…” He lay still, hissing with pain, arms tucked around his chest tightly.
Forgive me for lying to her. Help me find her and get her safely out of here.
“Where are you?”

“Here...I can’t move...it hurts...”

Jason pushed onto his hands and knees, bit his lip hard and crawled in the direction of her voice. He began to shove the small rocks out of the way, adrenaline kicking in.

“Freddie, talk to me, hon. Are you hurt?”

“Yes...I’m scared, Jason.”

She sounded so weak.

“Me, too.”

He crawled to her. Good, an air pocket. He touched her face, his heart breaking as he found it streaked with tears. At least she’d not lost her glasses. “Hey. I’m here. Where does it hurt?”

“Legs...Can’t move.” She slowly raised a hand, crying out as she did so. “You’re hurt...you’re bleeding.”

Am I? I hadn’t realized
.

“It’s just a scratch.” He ran his gaze down her body, his gut twisting as he saw the huge slab lying on her legs, trapping her from the waist down. “Oh, Freddie.” He pulled out his phone.

Good, it’s not dead, but there’s no signal.

She touched his arm, tugging at his sleeve. “Jason...You can get out. You should go.”

Jason shook his head, trying to lift the rock, grunting with pain and effort. “No...”

“No point us both dying. Leave me.”

“I said no.” His voice was gruff with emotion. “I left you once. I am not doing it again.”

“Please...go.”

“No. Not without you.” He heaved on the rock, feeling it move a little.

Freddie screamed, a long heart rending scream. “Don’t! Please...don’t!” Tears streamed down her face. “I’m sorry I hated you...for so long.”

“It’s all right, I forgive you. It’s going to be all right. I’ll get you out of here.” His heart broke as he sat back on his heels. He couldn’t get her out. If she stayed here, she’d die.

“You have...to go.”

“Not without you.” His own tears were perilously close to the surface now. He couldn’t cry in front of her. He had to be strong, even if he wasn’t.

“Jace...You’re hurt. It’s written on...your face. Don’t want...you to die, too.” She screamed as the rocks shifted and settled across her.

Jason closed his eyes.
God, what do I do? I can’t free her, but I can’t leave her either. Don’t want her to die, but without rescue she will
.

He sat there for a moment listening as Freddie’s labored breathing echoed in the small space. Then into his mind came one of his favorite passages, one of the first he’d memorized after his conversion. Psalm one hundred-eighteen.

In my anguish I cried to the
Lord
, and he answered by setting me free. The
Lord
is with me; I will not be afraid. What can man do to me? The
Lord
is with me; he is my helper. I will look in triumph on my enemies. It is better to take refuge in the
Lord
than to trust in man. It is better to take refuge in the
Lord
than to trust in princes.

Jason took a deep breath and then nodded.
OK, Lord. I’ll leave her in Your hands and do as she asks. Just look after her. I don’t want to lose her now.

“Hon, I’m going to get help.” He pulled the pack across from where it lay and opened it. “You brought the Bible.”

“Yeah...” Her voice tailed off and her face screwed up in pain again. “Jace...go. Please. Don’t let them get away with this.”

He pulled the top off the water and offered her some. She managed a couple of sips. “You keep this.” He pressed her inhaler into her hand. He laid the Bible and flashlight on her chest where she could reach them. “Do you want the water as well?”

“No...”

He nodded and put it in the pack. “I’ll take the bag and try to get a phone signal somewhere. Should be able to get one on the surface.”

“I’ll...be...right here, ET.”

“Hon?”

“You’re phoning home...”

Jason shook his head. She was dying and still cracking jokes at him. He reached down and kissed her. “I’ll be back. I love you, so very much.”

“Love...you...” Her voice was fainter than before, yet her gaze held his unfalteringly.

He put a hand on her face, wiping away her tears, praying aloud for the both of them. “Lord, we’re in a mess. I have to leave Freddie here while I go to the surface to call for help. Be with her Lord, protect her, be her refuge. And guide my steps so that I’ll be able to find a way out and get a signal on the phone. Be with us both, Amen.”

A very faint “Amen,” echoed. Glancing down, he saw Freddie had her eyes closed.

“I promise I’ll be back and then I’ll never leave you again.” He kissed her and pushed up. He limped down the tunnel, one hand around his chest, tears blinding his eyes.

He’d gone fifteen feet when another explosion blew him to the ground. Pain erupted through him as he landed hard on his already damaged chest. Rocks cascaded down behind him. He rolled over, hearing Freddie scream, then silence.

“Freddie!” The way back was completely cut off by rocks and debris. Jason struggled to his feet and stood there, tears running down his face.
Not now, please, not now
.

Not even sure she could hear him, he yelled anyway. “I love you. I’ll be back soon, I promise.”

He headed off towards what he hoped and prayed was the exit. Water started to trickle through the side of the tunnel from the blast damage. Soon it was ankle deep. Jason kept going. He had to, for Freddie’s sake.

****

Pain wracked every part of her body. Freddie lay still, unable to move. The flashlight Jason had left illuminated her small space. Since the rock fall it was much smaller than it was before.
My coffin. Being buried alive was my worst nightmare. And here I am.
She shook, her breath coming in gasps.

Where’s the inhaler?
Her fingers moved, not finding it. Instead they found her Bible and knocked it open. The flashlight illuminated a verse on the page.
Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for Thou art with me.

Are you here now, Lord? I feel so alone. I don’t want to die alone... Is that water on the floor?
She raised her hand to the faint light. Blood. She closed her eyes and wiped them on her vest, not wanting to get blood on the Bible. The slight movement sent shards of pain soaring and she screamed.

The scream broke off in a paroxysm of coughing and wheezing. Freddie felt again for her inhaler.
Where is it? Please, let Jason get out of here safely. He needs to call in and put this right. Oh, it hurts. Sorry I hated You for so long. Make it stop, please... make it stop
.

The Bible moved, falling open at 1Kings. The flashlight shifted, shining onto the page. Freddie read the verses
. ...the
Lord
was not in the wind: and after the wind an earthquake; but the
Lord
was not in the earthquake: And after the earthquake a fire; but the
Lord
was not in the fire: and after the fire, a still small voice.

Her eyes closed. She gasped for breath, unable to fill her lungs as much as she needed.

The wind was the first time she was with Jason. The earthquake, the next fifteen years spent alone. The fire was this past week, culminating in lying trapped and dying.
I can see it now. Through it all Your hand has worked to bring me to this point. To bring me to You. You’re here now, Your still, small voice speaking to me, making sense of everything. I wasn’t ready all those years ago. But now I am. If only I could have a second chance. I love him, never stopped loving him. My anger blinded me to that and to You. My Jesus…I love Thee…I know Thou art mine…

The flashlight flickered and went out, leaving her alone in the dark. Alone that is, apart from the arms of love she felt around her. God was in the mine with her, just when she needed Him the most. Just as He promised He would be.

Her eyes closed, her breath slowed.
Save him...take me...

27

Jason staggered through the tunnels, relieved when it became the mine. At least he was going the right way. He had no idea how far he walked. Every step caused pain, but he tempered it with prayer. Finally, he stumbled where lights glowed.

He found a discarded hardhat and put it on, hoping to pass for a regular miner. He was certainly dirty enough. Perhaps no one would recognize him as an outsider. He limped towards the rail track, thinking he’d follow that to the surface. He should come across someone soon. He held one arm across his chest, the other gripping the wall for support. “Hello?”

No answer came. Where was everyone? Had he been below the surface for so long that the shift had ended? Surely they didn’t close at weekends? No…He remembered Archie saying something about evacuating. They obviously didn’t want anyone caught in the blast.
Except Freddie and I.

Jason walked numbly until he came to the elevator shaft. He pressed the button, waiting.
Please, let there be a phone signal at the top or someone to help me. I’ll call the emergency services and tell them where I am and go back down. Perhaps I can shift those rocks myself, or at least make a start on it. I have to get her out of there. She is all that matters
.