Cole let out a laugh. The Russians? Did they have the mafia working for them, too? It didn’t matter. The drive up the mountain sang to his soul and the familiar banter reminded him of his own family. Even Sparky reminded him of Annie with her cheeky smile and penchant for causing trouble.
“Thank you. I’m honored to join the team,” he replied.
“We’ll go over the specifics before you say yes. Why don’t we take you for a tour? We’ll eat lunch and then go to my office to discuss the details,” Leo said, already getting up.
Cole rose with the men. He signaled for Brody to stay in the corner while Scarlett and her dog walked past.
“Why don’t you leave him here? We’ll get a taste of your expertise,” Leo suggested.
Cole felt his stomach plummet as the dog’s mouth opened in an incorrigible smile, as if laughing at him. He signaled for him to stay as he left with the team and silently prayed Brody managed to behave himself until they returned.
CHAPTER 3
At the Winter’s Foundation,Kassie Winters wrapped a sweater around Hannah’s shoulders and placed a blanket in her lap.
“Your hands feel like ice,” she murmured as she slipped Hannah’s arms into the cozy warmth. Kassie stepped back and knelt beside the woman who never uttered a single sentence in eighteen months.
“Come on, Hannah. I know you’re in there somewhere. You’re safe here. Your dad wants to take you to a nursing home closer to them. I’ve done everything I can to try to convince him to leave you here. It’s up to you now,” she pleaded and sighed when Hannah didn’t respond.
She stayed locked inside her body, reliving the terror of the night she and her friends were taken. They tortured five of them, leaving Hannah for last. She endured the pain, praying for her end to come soon. When the Navy SEALs rescued her, she prayed for the same relief as her friends, yet it never came. Instead, she locked herself away, creating her own prison. Her parents visited her at the military hospital. She saw the droop in her father’s shoulders as he listened to the doctor. Hannah disappointed him yet again. Did it even matter anymore?Hannah watched as Kassie placed a vase of monthly flowers on the table beside her and read the letter from her mom.
Hannah,
Another month has flown by, and I continue to pray you’ll one day read these letters with your own hands. I miss you, my sweet girl. Christmas always brings miracles, and I hope you’re among them this year.
We finally went on the cruise to Italy for our wedding anniversary. Your father spent most of his time on deck, talking about his Navy service. We met two veterans and their spouses and hung out with them for most of the trip. I discovered limoncello. The whole time, I thought of you and what you’re missing. Please come back, Hannah. Dad and I miss you. I can’t endure another holiday thinking about you in another hospital with no friends around you. I planned to stay with you this year, but your dad promised to come with me after the holidays. We plan to visit for a whole month. Kassie Winters made arrangements for us at a bed and breakfast in town. I’m sorry I haven’t been to visit sooner. The aches and pains of old age seemed to have crept up on me. Never think for a moment we don’t think about you. Your dad mentioned bringing you home to a facility close to the house. He’s as disappointed as I am about your progress at the hospital. We heard of all the success stories and hoped you might become one of them. There’s still time, Hannah. Fight your way back to us.
Love,
Mom
“I spoke with her this morning. They want to take you back with them and asked me to prepare for your transport. You haven’t gotten a chance to see the mountains properly. You don’t want to miss the fun of winter and then spring will arrive. All the flowers bloom and it’s paradise. I’m a bit biased since I live here, but I love it. I’m not giving up on you, Hannah. My family didn’tgive up on me, and neither has yours. Give me a tiny sign you can hear me and I’ll convince them to postpone the transfer. Nursing homes don’t have the time or experience to help you. Nor do they have the programs to get you back on your feet. We can do this together, one step at a time,” Kassie coaxed.
When she didn’t receive any sign from Hannah, she sighed.
“I’ll be back tomorrow,” she threatened. “We’re not letting you off that easily.”
Hannah watched her leave. She pulled the sleeve down her arm past her wrist. It took her longer than expected, considering she didn’t move much in the room. When the staff came in, she froze like a statue. They brought trays of food in and left them for her. Sometimes she nibbled at it, but everything tasted the same. Her taste buds only recalled eating the stale, moldy bread they threw at her each morning. Rice felt like a luxury she received only when she reached the point of near death. Her mind knew she no longer lived in captivity, but her body refused to let her go.
Hannah glanced outside, waiting for Dr. Claire Meyers to return in the afternoon. Her eyes scanned the lovely view from her window and she wondered what the rest of the mountain resembled as snow floated gently to the ground. Her days drifted between visits from Kassie and Dr. Meyers. A woman named Scarlett recently started dropping by, making the long days seem shorter. Hannah guessed she must be a pistol in real life. She acted like they knew each other before ‘the incident’ and Scarlett merely chatted with an old friend.
Hannah didn’t mind. She liked her. When Scarlett got injured, her husband, Ty, came to inform Hannah. She sat up most of the night, hoping her new friend pulled through. A week later, Scarlett and Ty entered her hospital room. He pushed her in a wheelchair and smiled as Scarlett complained of someone named Patch, who seemed to bug her. Hannah wanted to tellher how much those little exchanges meant but her body refused to release its hold. It kept her safe inside, tucked away from the evils of the world.
Hannah’s gaze drifted back to the window. It seemed with each passing day, the weather grew colder. Winter barely made its appearance, yet Hannah felt frozen inside. Kassie misspoke when she said her hands felt like ice. Hannah’s heart, mind, and soul seemed to freeze a little more each day. If she didn’t find a way to escape soon, would she turn into a block of ice and finally shatter into jagged pieces across the floor?
Kassie glancedup when she heard the knock at her door and Claire entered.
“I got your message about Hannah. What did you want to talk to me about?”
“Hannah’s parents have decided they want to admit her to a nursing home facility close to home,” Kassie broke the news.
“She doesn’t belong there,” Claire exclaimed, pulling out her computer and scanning Hannah’s file. “You have to admit she hasn’t progressed much since she arrived here. Does she still belong here, taking up a bed we can use to help someone else?” Claire asked gently.
“No. She’s in there. When she first arrived, she allowed the nurses to dress, bathe and feed her. It might be small steps, but she now gets up on her own, dresses herself and picks at the food. Thank goodness she lets physical therapy work with her considering Hannah freezes when anyone else enters,” Kassie said thoughtfully. “It’s baby steps, but it’s something.”
“Yes, I’ve noticed it, too. It’s not much for eighteen months, but I’d hate for her to get transferred to a facility which can’t help her,” Claire said, tapping her pen on the table.
“Exactly,” Kassie agreed. “Hannah’s traumatized and you know it takes time to get past things like this. I’ve advocated for her to stay despite the minor changes. I want your take on it.”
