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  He shook his head, grinning. “Somehow, I don’t think that’s why you’re here in my room in the middle of the night. You’d better state your business now, Miss Clarke, before others get entirely the wrong idea about us. This isn’t the best move for your reputation, you know.”

  “I think I know where Sheila might be!” Lexa blurted out. She thought she’d keel over with anticipation.

  “What? Really?” He tugged a pair of denim shorts over the shorts he’d been sleeping in. “I mean, where?” Sam had the grace to look embarrassed that she was standing in the middle of the room, watching him get dressed. “Do you, uh, mind?”

  She obliged him by turning around as he zipped the shorts. It seemed a moot point after that glimpse of his incredible chest.

  Lexa tried to keep her voice calm. “I don’t know why I didn’t think of it before. Can I please turn back around now?”

  “Go ahead.”

  “I overheard Sheila singing in the shower a few times.”

  “Lots of people sing in the shower.” Sam sat on his bed to pull on his socks. “I’ve even been accused of doing it myself from time to time. Not exactly the most pleasant of sounds,” he told her with a wry grin. “And not exactly a unique character trait.”

  “Sam, please. Be serious,” Lexa insisted. “And, for the record, I’ve heard you sing and you do it quite well. Like you do everything else . . . without much practice, apparently,” she mumbled. “Anyway,” she said, shaking her head to clear her thoughts, “just listen and try to stifle, okay?”

  He mimicked zipping his lips, and she clamped a hand over her mouth when she realized her voice carried and was much too loud.

  “Guess what Sheila was singing?” Sam shrugged, but remained silent.

  “I Left My Heart In San Francisco!”

  He shook his head as he tied the laces on his work boots. “Um, forgive me for being a bit foggy since it is the middle of the night, but I guess I’m not making the connection here. Are you saying you think Sheila’s gone to California? San Francisco?”

  “No, no.” Lexa shook her head and pushed long hair out of her face. “You’re not really going to wear those boots, are you?”

  “Why not?” He stopped tying the second boot.

  She frowned. “Don’t you have a pair of tennis shoes or something? If we end up running around tonight, those boots are only going to weigh you down. Honestly, Sam, you couldn’t keep pace with a turtle.”

  “All right. I suppose you’re right although I’ll have you know I was a pretty good track and field runner in college.” He chuckled. “I can see how impressed you are by that tidbit. Hang on.” Tugging the boots off his feet, he dropped them unceremoniously on the floor beside the bed. Going over to the closet, he grabbed a pair of tennis shoes and held them up. “I trust these suit you.”

  Lexa nodded. “Much better.”

  Sam eyed her as he tied the tennis shoes. “Nice hair, by the way.”

  “Not the time, Lewis.” Lexa bit her lip not to laugh out loud.

  “No, I mean it. It’s all messy and . . . sexy. I definitely like it.” Sam grinned. “And, I hesitate to mention this, but your shirt’s a little cockeyed.”

  Lexa grunted. Picking up a pair of rolled socks from a nearby table, she tossed it at him.

  “Good aim. Next mission, I’m signing you up for the TeamWork softball team.”

  “Come on. It’s not the time to flirt. We have some rescuing to do! I’ve still got the keys for the station wagon. I’ll tell you on the way to the car.” She tossed him the keys as they headed out the door together. “I think Howard’s taken her to one of the missions . . .”

  “The Mission San Francisco de la Spade.”

  “Exactly!” Lexa beamed at him as they hopped in the car. She discreetly righted her blouse and buttoned it.

  “Well, now that everyone in the camp is probably awake and alerted to our departure, shall we head for the mission?” Sam answered his own question by flooring the accelerator. “It’s the southernmost mission of all the missions. I’ve only been there once. It’s beautifully kept,” Sam told her as they headed out of the campsite.

  Lexa rolled her eyes. As if the mission’s beautification efforts had anything whatsoever to do with the current situation-at-hand. “The main thing is, do you remember how to get there or do you have a map somewhere in the car?”

  Sam nodded. “I think I can get us there easily enough. It’s on Spade Road. But why would Howard keep Sheila at the mission? He could be long gone on the way to Mexico by now. What do you think his plan is?” He negotiated a turn onto the dirt road that would lead them back to the main road.

  “I have no idea, but I know one thing. Like you said, Howard wants his daughter, not Sheila. He won’t let Sheila go until he finds the child. Look, I realize I might be grasping at straws here, but I have this gut feeling they’re at the mission. I need to find out if I’m right.”

  “You mean female intuition?” Sam chuckled at her grimace. “Hey, I’ve known it to work pretty well. You women are more in-tune with these kinds of things, I’ll give you that much. Let’s just pray we get there in time,” he added, flooring the accelerator again. “And pray we don’t run into any bored cops along the way. After all, I still have half a reputation as TeamWork director left to uphold.”

  Turning off the lights and coasting a short time later, Sam stopped the engine. The air was still around them, and Lexa shivered, bringing her arms across her body. “Here,” Sam told her, reaching into the backseat and thrusting his jacket into her hands. “I keep it around for damsels chilled by the night air.”

  Lexa smiled her thanks. “You seem to have a bag of magic tricks in that backseat.”

  Sam grunted. “Yeah, well, come on,” he said, stepping out of the car and looking around. “We’ll have to walk from here. As it is, anyone in the immediate vicinity would have already heard this car announce our arrival. It’s just too loud. The mission is about a quarter mile in this direction.” He pointed ahead. “The Spade Aqueduct is right back there. It’s part of the mission’s original irrigation ditch system and dates from around 1740. It’s one of the oldest Spanish aqueducts in the United States. What?” He stopped walking as he caught her incredulous look.

  “I can’t believe you’re giving me a history lesson right now, Sam Lewis!” Lexa hissed. She wanted to laugh, but her nerves were taut. “What if Howard has a gun? What if he’s done Sheila harm? What then? Are we nuts for coming out here in the middle of the night searching for them?”

  “Hey, a good fact to know and tell never hurts,” Sam protested in a low voice. “All right, if you’d rather not know your history . . .”

  “Is this how you deal with stress? You start tossing out little history lessons?” Lexa demanded. “Well, then, I guess it’s a good thing I’m finding out now.” She shook her head in exasperation. “Unbelievable.”

  “You’re the one who brought us out here on a hunch,” Sam groused, picking up speed. “And now, apparently you’re second-guessing yourself.”

  “Am not.” Lexa quickened her pace to keep up with his ridiculously long strides. “How far are we from the mission now?” They’d half-walked, half-run a fair distance in silence.

  “We’re probably almost there,” Sam whispered. “We’d better not talk anymore. Just stay by my side until we reach the mission.” Lexa couldn’t believe she’d dragged Sam off in the middle of the night for a probable goose chase. Still, as she’d told him earlier, she had to know if her hunch was right. After all, it’s what Nancy Drew would do. Didn’t the titian-haired sleuth solve a mystery near one of the missions?

  “Sam!” The mission loomed in view ahead of them, majestic and dramatic against the backdrop of the moon.

  “What?” he mouthed back, putting his finger over his lips.

  He stooped down so that Lexa could whisper directly in his ear. “I saw something from the corner of my eye. Over there.” She pointed in the direction of a far outer wall of th
e mission. Sam nodded and headed in that direction, pulling Lexa behind him. When she hesitated a moment, he looked back, squeezing her hand for comfort.

  Lexa was glad Sam didn’t want to split up as they continued their search of the area. His hold on her hand grew tighter as they neared the walls of the old mission. Lexa couldn’t help but feel awed as she looked up at the imposing façade. Sam stopped, and bowed his head for a moment, closing his eyes. Lexa dared not allow her eyes to close, too, for fear they might be caught unaware. She lifted up her own silent prayer with eyes wide open.

  I know you can hear this prayer, Father. Please watch over us and Sheila right now. Help us to find her and take her away from this place safely. Be with Howard. Give him a calmness so that he doesn’t act rashly and do something foolish. You are a great God, and I know that you have everything in your control, gracious Father. Looking over at Sam, Lexa saw that he, too, had finished his prayer. Together they stealthily proceeded toward the outer wall of the old mission.

  Slowly making their way around the façade, Sam kept his tight hold on Lexa’s hand. She loved how holding hands was so natural for them now. At the moment, it comforted her. “Over there, Sam!” Lexa called to him a few minutes later as they rounded the side wall. “It’s a man, and he’s running!”

  “Can you see if it’s Howard?” Sam started running, tugging Lexa along behind him.

  “No! But I don’t think he’s alone!” she called, no longer worried about being heard. The mere fact they were running was a pretty good indicator they knew they’d been spotted.

  “Stop! All we want to do is talk to you!” They were gaining on the two, slowly but surely. Sam let go of her hand to move ahead with Lexa trailing slightly behind.

  The man looked behind him to judge the distance between them and she saw something gleaming in the moonlight. “Sam! He’s got a gun!” she hollered at the exact moment she heard a loud popping sound. In a sickening instant, Lexa knew it was the sound of the gun going off.

  Chapter 40

  Sam fell to the ground in one swift movement, yelling for Lexa to do the same. Daring to look up a moment later, she saw the man had taken off again. “Come on!” Sam muttered, sounding angry. Jumping back to his feet, he sprinted in the direction of the moving figures.

  “Sam! Don’t be crazy! He’s obviously not afraid to use that gun!” She took off after him.

  “Yeah, but he’s a lousy shot,” Sam called back over his shoulder, not slowing his pace.

  “Is that supposed to be funny?” Lexa slowed her steps.

  “I don’t think he shot with intent to kill. He only wants to scare us. Just run, Lexa! Run!”

  Run she did. Soon, they were gaining on the pair ahead of them. They ran in an open field with no protection should the man decide to use the gun again. Lexa’s heart pounded in her chest but quickened even more when she realized that the second person running with the man was, in fact, Sheila.

  “Sheila!” she called at the top of her lungs. It was an agonizing call of desperation. “Stop! We’re here to help you!” They heard a muffled sound as the man clamped a large hand over Sheila’s mouth. They were close enough now to see that it was Howard. Sheila’s legs dragged the ground, and her husband had no choice but to drop her altogether or slow his pace. Sam reached them, and his hands raised in the air when Howard pulled the gun on him.

  “I’m not afraid to use this, man,” Howard warned in a surly, hoarse voice. “I ain’t afraid to shoot Sheila either.”

  “Then why haven’t you?” Sam sputtered, gasping for breath as he met the man’s hard, cold gaze. Stopping behind him, Lexa leaned forward, hands on her knees, breathing hard. She couldn’t catch her breath and breathed a silent prayer.

  “You don’t know nothin’ about it,” Howard spat, pulling Sheila up by her hair. When she cried out in pain, he laughed. “As soon as she tells me where Angelina is, I’ll let her go. I don’t really want her.” He glanced down at Sheila with disdain. The dark-haired, petite woman shrank away from his touch and looked up at him with big, fearful eyes. “All I want is my girl.”

  “Let’s talk about this like rational adults.” Sam outstretched one hand to Howard. The big man laughed and spat again at him. “This doesn’t have to be violent, Howard.” Sam lowered his hand to his side.

  “Hey! How’d you know my name?” Howard’s voice was suspicious as he looked down at Sheila again. She hid her face in her hands. Lexa made a move to go to her, but Howard raised the gun again, his tone more menacing. “Stay away, girlie, unless you want an arm full of lead.” His gaze traveled back over to Sam. “I don’t think your boyfriend would want you then.”

  “Howard, I hope you know that God loves you,” Sam began before being cut off.

  “Don’t even start in on me with that Jesus junk, man,” he snarled, his voice fierce. “That’s what got Sheila all messed up in the first place. She was fine until she got mixed up with those church people. Jesus ain’t never done nothin’ for me!”

  “He died for you. Wasn’t that enough?” At least it got Howard’s attention for he turned his angry gaze away from Sheila and looked fully at Sam. Sheila lifted her head from her hands and looked up, still half-sitting on the ground in a stooped position.

  “He ain’t never died for me, man.” Howard shook his head in disbelief. “You’re as nuts as the rest of ’em. Now shut up and get away from me or I’ll have to use this thing.”

  “You’re not a violent man, and you know it,” Sam began, taking a hesitant step toward him.

  Lexa’s heart was in her throat. Lord, please help us!

  “Stay away!” Howard took a step back, yanking Sheila along with him, causing her to wince in pain. “I told you, I’m not afraid to use this gun!”

  “All right. Take it easy.” Sam held up his hands again and halted in his tracks. “Sheila, do you think you could arrange a court-supervised visit between Howard and your daughter? That way you’d know she’d be safe and protected.”

  Lexa stared at Sam, incredulous. Oh, that was rational. Howard didn’t seem the type of man to sit and have a calm, quiet conversation in order to set up court-appointed visits with his daughter. No way.

  Sheila looked up at Sam with the most fearful eyes Lexa had ever seen. “All he–he’d d–do is h–h–hit h–h–her li–li–like h–he b–b–beats m–m–me,” she whimpered, cringing again.

  “Sheila, I ain’t never gonna hurt Angelina, and you know it,” Howard protested, tightening his grip on her arm.

  Sheila winced again and shifted her position.

  “She’s my little girl,” he continued, his voice breaking.

  Lexa knew in that moment Angelina was the key to this gruff man’s heart. Everyone has a soft spot, and a little girl by the name of Angelina was his.

  “Maybe Sheila and I can take you to Angelina,” Lexa suggested, finding that inner strength again. It had to come from the newfound confidence derived from her faith. It was empowering.

  Howard focused on her as if seeing Lexa for the first time. “You that broad in the building at the camp?”

  “The same.” Lexa tried to keep her voice as calm and unwavering as possible. Being called a broad was irritating, but she could live with it, considering the circumstances. “We have a car. We can take you to her, can’t we, Sheila?” Lexa glanced over at her, and she nodded as Sheila turned large, frightened eyes in her direction.

  “Sh–sh–she’s ri–ri–right, How–Howard. We–we–we’ll ta–ta–take . . . you t–t–to . . . An–Angel–Angelina.”

  “Now, that’s more like it. I like her. But you watch your step,” Howard warned Sam. He nodded at Lexa. “Tell you what, this little lady’s going to take me to her.” Lexa clenched her fists so tight at her sides she feared something might snap.

  “You and Sheila are stayin’ put,” Howard growled. Lexa’s heart lurched, and she looked over at Sam. Terror filled her heart like never before.

  Sam nodded, but his eyes, too, were wide. �
�Take me,” he offered, stepping toward Howard. “There’s no need to involve her. She’s only here because I dragged her here. I’ll take you to Angelina.”

  Lexa tossed Sam a grateful glance but realized Howard wasn’t buying it.

  “Nah. It’s gotta be one of the women. That way,” he said with an evil-looking, leering grin at Lexa, “there’s more at stake here. You’ll make sure I get my girl, won’t you?” He leaned close to Sam, almost nose-to-nose. “If you don’t,” he growled, “you can be sure you won’t see your girl again.”

  “How–How-Howard, d–do–don’t ma–ma–make th–th–threats.” Sheila sounded more irritated now than scared. She cried out when Howard released her, and fell hard to the ground. Nausea rose within Lexa and she started toward Sheila, determined to help her. In a surprisingly fast move for such a large man, Howard grabbed Lexa by the arm and dragged her with him a few hundred yards. “Wait!” she called, trying to jerk her arm free. Lexa bit her lip not to cry out in pain as he wrenched her arm. Hard.

  “Oh, for cryin’ out loud,” Howard shook his head in disgust. “Get a move on, woman! Don’t make me lose patience with you.” He shot her a look that told her he meant business.

  “I need to talk with Sheila. Privately. For just a moment,” Lexa stipulated, her voice sounding bolder than she felt. “I have to make sure I know exactly where Angelina is.” She was trying to buy time, but considering the fact she really didn’t know where Sheila had hidden their daughter, it was a valid excuse.

  “Two minutes. I’ll be standin’ here with the gun on ya the whole time, so don’t get any ideas, girlie.”

  In spite of her trepidation, Lexa stiffened at the term. It was almost worse than being called a broad. Focus, Lexa.

  “You get over there with ’em so I can keep my eye on all of ya.” Howard waved the gun around for emphasis.

  Sam stepped toward the two women. “Lexa, don’t do this,” he hissed through clenched teeth. “Please.”

  “What choice do I have?” she shot back. “Sam, I promise you, I’ll be fine. I’ll be back.” Shelby hadn’t come back, but the circumstances were different this time. The Lord would keep her safe.