Looking Through Darkness (22 page)

“What?”

“It's encrypted.”

“So, crack it, hacker girl.”

“No way, not without NSA software. The password is fifteen characters long. It'll take years.”

“So we're screwed?” Del asked.

“Yeah, we might as well go back to The Outpost.”

*   *   *

Jo came out of her office into the hallway when Sam returned. “I thought you'd already left. You're working tonight, aren't you?”

“Yeah, but Del and I were curious, so we decided to drive by Total Supply before he went home to print out his term paper. I'm just back to pick up my car.”

“Okay. I'm not going to ask exactly what you mean by curious. See you this evening,” Jo said, shaking her head as she stepped back into her office.

“You're never just curious, Sam. What's going on?” Leigh Ann asked, coming into the hall from the front of the store.

Sam told her what they'd done. “We were hoping to help you out. I know you're in a tight spot.”

“Sam, you shouldn't have hacked into their system! You put yourself in danger. Those two guys are bad news, girl—real killer bad news.”

“You needed help and I know how to hack into anything that's not encrypted, but this … was beyond what I could do.”

Leigh Ann hugged her. “You put yourselves on the line for me, you and Del. I won't forget that.”

“They'll never know I tried to access those files, don't worry. If there's anything I can do, Leigh Ann, just say it. I want to help,” Sam said.

“I know, hon, and I appreciate it.”

As Sam left out the back, Jo came out of her office and joined Leigh Ann. “I overheard,” she said, automatically glancing into the front room. Esther was at the register and Regina was dusting the pottery collection. “It helps knowing we have friends who'll stand by us, doesn't it?”

“Yeah, it does,” she said. “Speaking of friends, how's Rudy doing?”

Jo grew somber. “He and Victoria decided to go back home again, so I paid them a visit just to make sure everything was okay. I didn't stay long, but Victoria was scared and Rudy was acting really guarded, which isn't like him at all. Neither of them would talk about it, though.”

“Jo, maybe I'm to blame. My problem with Wayne and Pierre may have inadvertently spilled onto them. There
is
a tribal connection.”

“Rudy has a lot of patients, but I don't know of any connection that would link the kickbacks to him.”

“You're probably right,” Leigh Ann said, and glancing back at the front, changed the subject. “Foot traffic here at the store is really light today.”

“I've noticed,” Jo said.

“Rachel came up with a good idea I've been meaning to pass along all day.” Leigh Ann told her about the coffee bar with Wi-Fi.

“Here?” Jo said, surprised. “Where?”

“I'm thinking maybe we can get rid of the drinking fountain, customer coffeepot, and the table that goes with it, and set up the brewing counter there. We already have the water supply and drain in place. We'd need to create some space for several bistro tables and chairs, probably up front by the windows. There's enough space there already, where those old wooden benches used to be. If we plan carefully, we'd have plenty of room for a coffee bar in the back, plus seating up front, via the center aisle.”

Jo considered it. “It could work. We'd still have our traditional trading post, plus the kind of place that's in tune with the new generation. We're already licensed to serve sandwiches and coffee. Purchases could be made at the rear cash register, so the coffee bar only has to be big enough to prepare and serve the drinks.”

“It's worth a try, particularly since it wouldn't require any major remodeling,” Leigh Ann said, looking around, rearranging things in her head.

“I've been considering another idea, too. Since we can't compete with the warehouse grocery prices, or the inventory superstores offer, I thought we should expand the line of merchandise we're currently offering online, maybe do a little targeted advertising, too.” Jo took a deep breath, then let it out slowly. “When Tom ran this place, things were a lot simpler.”

“Maybe not,” Leigh Ann said. “We've never had such a clear, behind-the-scenes look 'til now.”

“I'll talk to Sam about all this. It's time we did something to attract new, younger customers—ones with money in their pockets. A coffee bar with Wi-Fi might just be the way, and we're already using wireless connections between the server and terminals.”

“As far as products, we should experiment with different coffee blends and come up with our own signature brew,” Leigh Ann said, now excited about the prospect.

Hearing the bells over the entrance jingle, they both glanced over and saw a tall, dark-haired Army officer in uniform walk into the trading post.

Leigh Ann's heart sank. She turned to Jo in time to see her face go deathly pale.

 

— FOURTEEN —

Jo was frozen to the spot. Forcing herself to move so she could buy Jo a little time, Leigh Ann met the officer. “Hello, how can we help you?” she asked, hoping he was just a drop-in customer.

“I'm First Lieutenant Michael Donahue, United States Army National Guard. I'm looking for Josephine Buck. I understand she's the owner.”

“That's me,” Jo said, her voice thin.

“Ma'am, I'm Mike Donahue, assigned to the 226th Military Police Battalion in Farmington.” He shook her hand briefly. “May we speak in private?”

“Of course,” she said with a nod, but her knees buckled as she started down the hall. Jo caught herself in time, but by then Leigh Ann was at her side. “Let me go in with you.”

Jo nodded, her eyes already moist with tears.

Once inside, Leigh Ann remained beside her, standing, as Jo sat. Although she tried to give Jo an encouraging smile, Jo appeared not to notice.

With a wave of her hand, Jo offered the officer a seat. “You can speak freely. We're family here.”

“You're listed as Sergeant Benjamin Stuart's PNOK, primary next of kin, and I have news the service requires us to deliver in person.”

Jo's eyes were wide, brimming over with tears, but she didn't move a muscle.

Leigh Ann swallowed the lump at the back of her throat and placed her hand on Jo's shoulder.

“Sergeant Stuart's missing in action, ma'am. According to the report I was given, his medevac helicopter came under fire and was forced down in a remote location. His team was on a recovery mission, evacuating wounded soldiers.”

“
Missing,
not dead or wounded?” Jo said immediately.

“Yes, ma'am. Radio contact was made with the downed chopper, then lost. The exact location of the helicopter is still unknown, but an active search is underway with air and ground units. Unfortunately the situation is fluid at this time and no more details are available. No soldier is ever left behind, ma'am. We'll find Sergeant Stuart and the other crew members.”

“So there's hope…”

“Yes, ma'am. I'll stay in touch and provide you with updates as I receive them. In the meantime, our CAO, a casualty assistance officer, will be contacting you within a few hours to see what support or resources you might need.”

“That won't be necessary. What I need is every bit of information you can gather, Lieutenant,” Jo said, her voice thick.

“Understood, ma'am. I'll keep you informed every step of the way. All available resources are being utilized to find Sergeant Stuart and those who were aboard the medevac helicopter. Here's a number where I can be reached anytime, day or night.”

“Thank you,” she managed, taking the offered card.

Leigh Ann patted her on the shoulder. “If that's all, I think Ms. Buck needs time to process this. Can I see you to the door, Lieutenant Donahue?”

Leigh Ann led the way out, and as she entered the main room saw Ambrose speaking to Esther. She cocked her head, signaling Ambrose to go see Jo.

As soon as the lieutenant left, Esther and Regina hurried over to Leigh Ann.

“What's happened?” Esther said, her hand curled around the cross at her neck.

“Is he…” Regina's voice trailed off as she found herself unable to finish the thought.

“The medevac helicopter Ben was in went down and a search is underway, but the officer either didn't know or wasn't sharing any more details. They probably want to keep it all under wraps for security reasons, since they're trying to find Ben and the others with him.”

Esther took a shaky breath. “Then there's still hope, thank God.”

“Yeah, there is, but the lieutenant wasn't exactly upbeat about it.” She glanced back at the office.

Esther exhaled loudly. “Talking to Ambrose will help. Jo trusts him and Ambrose is one of Ben's best friends. That link will give her some comfort.”

“You didn't see the fear in her eyes…,” Leigh Ann said.

“I don't have to,” Esther said. “I know what it's like to wonder and worry if the person you love will ever be there for you again.”

“I'm sorry,” Leigh Ann said, and gave her a hug. “We're all here for you, too. Lean on us anytime.”

*   *   *

When Ambrose stepped inside the office, Jo was sitting perfectly still, her face pale.

“I just heard,” Ambrose said.

“I'm fine,” Jo said, automatically, her eyes on the wall.

“Sell that to someone who doesn't know you.” He lifted her to her feet and wrapped his arms around her. She didn't pull away; instead she rested her head against his shoulder and cried silently.

“Ben's tough. He'll be all right.”

“You don't understand. If he doesn't come back, I may be to blame, at least in part.”

The last sentence was barely a whisper, but he heard her. “Your fault? How could you possibly have had anything to do with his helicopter going down?”

“No, not the helicopter.” she said. “I know in my heart that he survived the crash, but to make it out of there he'll need to stay focused. I told him what happened to Rudy, and if he thinks I'm in danger, like I was after his dad was killed, he'll worry about me instead of watching out for himself and his men.”

Ambrose tilted her chin up with one finger. “We both know Ben. If he's worried about you, or thinks you need him, he'll fight even harder to survive. What you've really done is ensure he'll do whatever it takes to come back home.” He met her gaze. “You
know
I'm right.”

She gave him a shaky smile.

“Ben loves you, he always has. He'll walk through hell itself if that's what it takes to make it home.”

Jo nodded slowly. “No matter how tough it gets, Ben won't give up.”

“Of course not. He thinks that's for pussies—his words, not mine.”

She smiled hesitantly. “Yeah, that sounds like him.” Jo stepped away from him, and stared out the window, lost in thought. “He's in trouble, Ambrose, but at least he's alive. I can feel it. What connects us is hard to explain, but it's a fact.”

“Then hold on to that.”

She nodded. “Fear's my worst enemy right now. Not knowing what's going to happen next is like a shadow I can't outrun.”

“You've got to shut the door on those thoughts, Jo. Ben will come home to you—know that. In the meantime, he needs you to run the business and look out for yourself.”

She took an unsteady breath. “Speaking of that, I've got to go see Rudy and find out what's going on there,” she said, and explained.

“I'll go with you,” Ambrose suggested.

“Right now, Leigh Ann's in more trouble than I am, Ambrose. Stick with her. She's scared.”

“I gave Ben my word I'd be there for you. Leigh Ann has Rachel and Melvin.”

“All right, but I need to talk to her before I go,” Jo said.

“I'll go get her,” Ambrose said.

Leigh Ann walked into the office a moment later, Ambrose right behind her.

“You okay, hon?” Leigh Ann asked.

Jo nodded. “Ben isn't the only one fighting enemies, Leigh Ann. We've got to cover our butts here, too, and protect the trading post. That witchcraft pouch the creep left here would have really upset some of our customers if I hadn't found it first. That's one of the reasons I'm moving into Ben's house for a while. He wanted me to do that when he left, or at least stay in the hogan. I put it off, but now I want to be here in case there's another problem,” she said, then added softly, “I'll feel closer to him there.”

“Stay in the house, not the hogan. There's no door, just the wool blanket over the entrance,” Ambrose pointed out.

“Good point. You'll be within county jurisdiction here, too, and the deputies will have a shorter response time. At your Rez home you'd have to depend on the tribal officers and they're few and far between. It's still dangerous at night, though, particularly for a woman alone,” Leigh Ann said. “The closest house is what, a quarter mile away?”

“How about I move in, too, the house, not the hogan,” Ambrose suggested. “I think he'd approve of us sharing his place. We could also put in a few motion-sensor lights around the outside like you have here at the trading post. If anything larger than a jackrabbit approaches the house, he'll find himself in one helluva spotlight.”

“That's a great idea. We'll amp up the lighting. But you don't have to babysit,” Jo said with a smile. “I can take care of myself. You've got your own life.”

“Which means I can choose where I live it. I'll bring my supplies over and work in the garage. It's not like you use that space for your truck,” he added with a laugh.

“What about you, Leigh Ann?” Jo asked. “Are you sure you'll be okay at home, just you and Rachel?”

She nodded. “Rachel's going out of town for a few days. Her boss is sending her to a real estate sales conference in Albuquerque. I was planning to lock my doors and just sit tight, but when I told Melvin, he thought that was a lousy idea.”