“We have a plan for that too,” Chad said. “We’re going to call everyone who will talk to us. Reporters, representatives—”
“And friends who are still serving,” Noah jumped in. “Josie’s talking to her dad right now and seeing if he can help even though Caroline has already been handed over to the military police. Ryan is jumping at the bit to do you one helluva favor after what you did for Helena. Once we tell him what we need, he’ll do it.”
“We’re going to get her out of there before anyone lays a finger on her,” Dominic said. “You can count on it.”
Josh stared around the room at all the determined faces and his fear slipped away. He wasn’t going to let her down. He couldn’t fail—not this time—because if he tripped up there would be someone—friend or family—waiting to pull him up. They were all on her side.
“Where do we start?” he asked.
Chad grinned. “How do you feel about pouring out your heart on national TV?”
“Whatever it takes,” Josh said firmly. “Whatever it takes.”
This will work.
He just hoped Caroline had enough faith in him—in how much her cared for her—to hold on.
Chapter 19
CAROLINE WALKED OUT of the barracks and silently cursed her surroundings. She’d been here for a handful of days and still hated everything about the base. She stared straight ahead and wondered if the California sun was playing tricks on her. She raised her hand to block the powerful rays, fully expecting the mirage to disappear. But he was still standing there, one ankle crossed over the other. His shoulder rested against the wall of her temporary home.
“Noah?” she said. “What are you doing h
ere?”
He pushed off the wall and gave a small shrug. “I thought you could use some company on your day off. You’re not working today, right?”
“I’m not but—”
“Join me for lunch.”
“You drove all the way down here to take me out to lunch?” She narrowed her gaze. “There’s not much around here. We’re hours from the ocean.”
And civilization, she thought.
Or at least she thought they were. She hadn’t paid attention on the drive, slipped back into numbness.
“It took me twelve hours to get here. So I’m not dying to get back in my truck. I have a couple of sandwiches that I picked up just in case you had a break. Want one?”
“Sure.” She followed him, feeling as if she’d traveled back in time. She was wearing her uniform and walking beside Noah. “What are you doing here?” she asked.
“Checking up on you,” he said. “Seeing how you’re holding up with all that’s going on.”
She stopped beside his truck. “Noah, I don’t have a clue what is happening. I’ve been here for four days and I keep expecting a court-martial. According to every rule and regulation, I should be in a military prison right now.”
“You should.” He opened the driver’s side door and retrieved a brown paper bag from the driver’s seat.
“Instead I was assigned a room in the barracks and a desk job.” She followed him to a nearby picnic table and claimed one of the benches. He sat on the other side and opened the bag.
“Hard work?” he asked as he handed her a six-inch sub.
“I don’t have any responsibilities. I report for work and I sit there.”
“And you have no clue why you’re hanging out at a desk?” he challenged.
She shook her head.
“Didn’t trust Josh when he said he’d find a way out, did you?” he asked.