No need for that.With Shah in the water, Evan couldn’t be encumbered by a rope, but he said nothing as he didn’t want to raise her concerns. He entered a different elevator car that led even deeper into the earth, and she followed before he could get the door closed. The car jolted into action.
“You’ve done this before, right?” She searched his gaze, hers laced with terror. “Underwater, I mean.”
“Plenty of times.”
“But each time is different.”
“Yeah, that’s true.” He tried to smile but couldn’t manage it. “I’ve got this. I can do it. Trust me. And trust God. He’ll bring us through.”
She frowned and twisted her hands together.
“This is the time to let go of that fear your mother heaped on you,” he said. “You can do nothing about what’s going to happen next. You’ve done all you can do, and it’s time to rest on God’s promises.”
She nodded, but skepticism lingered in her expression, and her body trembled. Aw, man, he desperately wanted to hold her.
The doors opened.
Looking like a drowned rat, Mack was waiting for them in the driving rain with the harness and rope.
Evan sloshed through puddles to lead Mack away from Kiley and quickly explained what he would face in the water and thatShah had come to die and wouldn’t give up easily. “There’s a good chance this thing could blow. You need to take Kiley to higher ground or I’ll be worried about her.”
Mack grimaced, perfectly reflecting Evan’s thoughts. “She’ll fight it.”
“Then tell her about the dive once I’m under so she goes.”
Mack gave a sharp nod. “Be careful down there.”
Back by Kiley, Mack held out the harness.
Evan waved a hand. “That might not be long enough for this dive, and I can’t stop to take it off once I’m underwater.”
Kiley gnawed on her lip. “I hate to think of you diving so deep.”
“I know my limits.” This might be the last time he saw her, and he wanted to kiss her, but millions of lives had to come before his feelings. He put on his fins and mask, then strapped the dive light on his free wrist and put on a headlamp.
He backed to the edge of a ramp and took the plunge into the cool depths. The last thing he saw was Kiley, hand over mouth, her eyes wide with fear.
And when he bobbed to the surface, the next thing he saw was the DWFA with the detcords running into the water.
Shah had started his work.
CHAPTER 30
AS KILEY WATCHED EVAN DISAPPEAR UNDER THE WATER,her heart constricted. She’d never felt such terror. Ever. Not for herself, but for Evan. Tears burned in her eyes, and she had to blink hard to stop them from flowing.
“C’mon.” Mack took her elbow and tried to lead her away.
She shook free. “I’m not leaving here until Evan comes back up.”
“He asked me to make sure you evacuate.”
She shook her head. “I’m not leaving him.”
“He didn’t tell you everything.” Mack frowned. “Underwater devices are different. No timers. There’s a floating board that holds the fuses. Shah still has to be in the water to connect the detcord and then come up to trigger the explosion.”
She spun to look at the water again. “Here? Shah’s here? In the water?”
“Yes.”
