Micha searched the area, but no sign of Jamal outside.
Colin came up next to Micha. “What’s with the open door? A trap to lure us inside?”
“We were careful, so I doubt he knows we’re here. Unless there’s a hidden camera in the trees.” Micha glanced up, searching nearby trees. “Nothing.”
“I didn’t spot one when we were here last time either, and you know I gave it a good look.”
Micha gripped his pistol tighter. “If we missed one, the open door could very well be a trap, like you said. We need to be doubly careful now.”
Colin gave a sharp nod. “Want me to take lead?”
“Why would I want that?”
“You’re sounding like a scared little girl.” Colin chuckled. “But seriously, yeah. I won’t make a step without your approval.”
Micha eyed his friend. “Hand signals from this point on in case he’s listening for us.”
“Roger that.”
Micha eased toward the house and kept his head in constant motion to scan for a threat. He rested a hand on the pickup. Cold. Jamal had been there for a while. He took one last look to the side and behind. The trees swayed in the heavy breeze but no other movement.
He moved on, toward the light shining inside the house.
He slowed his pace. Creeping closer. Looking at his feet before each step. He didn’t want to trigger any kind of boobytrap.
Step. Look. Step. Look. Over and over. Closer and closer.
He reached the bottom stair. Safe and in one piece. He signaled for Colin to stay put, and that he would climb the stairs. The first one had groaned on their last visit.
He skipped it and started on the second one.
Listened. Took the next one. Waited. Climbed the last one.
Fine.No movement or attempt to take them out.
He crossed the porch to the door. Scanned the frame again. Felt for tripwires. Gone.
He dropped his gaze to the porch floor. No wires. No signs of explosives.
Now the risky part. Penetrating the cabin. Crossing the threshold. But not without taking a quick look.
Prepared to jerk back if Jamal waited with weapon in hand, Micha poked his head inside. He took a quick look around the room.
What in the world? He lurched back and rushed down the steps, the sight reverberating in his brain.
This wasn’t what he expected to find. Not at all.
12
Ava paced the gleaming wood floor at the apartment, and she felt Devan watching her. He’d tried several times to help her forget about the danger, and she had. For the moments he’d entertained her with his humor. But then she pictured Micha at a house that might contain explosives and boobytraps, and she couldn’t remain sitting.
She got up, paced, hoping each step would relieve her stress. She tried to employ her newfound discovery, believing Micha was in the right place for right now. Tried to trust God. But Micha’s life was too big to test her on something she’d only just realized, right?
What might it have been like to know him when he was in the military? To love him when he might be hurt in the line of duty? She could never be a military spouse. Never.
This was showing her that her faith was so weak she couldn’t trust God to keep Micha and Colin safe. Honestly, she wanted God to change this whole situation. Change theright nowpart. Deliver her and Micha from it. But He allowed her to be in this situation for reasons only He knew. It could be as simple as meeting Micha. That God wanted this attraction between them to go forward. She would have to give it some careful thought and prayer.
The door opened, and she flew to the entryway. Micha and Colin stepped in, their expressions both somber.No. Oh, no.Something bad had happened. But what?
