“Yeah. It’s called Safe Haven. Look, there are any number of ways a child can die. I’ve seen some horrible examples. Kids accidentally drowning in a bathtub, for instance. It only takes one distraction, and there are so many distractions these days.”
“You’re right, of course. Itcouldhappen. Does that mean you’re never going to take a risk? Even if it could lead to great happiness?”
Gabe sighed again. “I think it’s time to change the subject. What else have you got?”
As they were trying to think of something else to talk about, he heard a noise. It sounded far away, but it was some kind of rasping sound. It had to be an electric saw.
“Oh, thank God! The cavalry is here,” he exclaimed.
“You mean, the fire department is trying to get us out?”
“Yeah. I told you they would.”
“I guess you’re going to win that bet.”
To say he had mixed feelings was an understatement. He and Misty were just getting to know each other again. With all the ways to do online banking, who knew if he’d ever come up with another excuse to see her?
She had pushed him out of his comfort zone. He wanted to keep things superficial, so why didn’t she let him? He could call in a few days to see how she was doing, but after that?
* * *
After what seemed like hours of the same rasping noise plus a few other additional noises, Gabe had pretty much identified what they were trying to do. It sounded like cement saws were concentrating on the ceiling. They had probably checked the building plans and discovered the weakest spot.
Misty had said the door was the strongest, and he had seen how thick it was when it was open, so he doubted they were even attempting to take off hinges or cut a hole in it. The walls might be as thick as the door.
At last, something broke through the ceiling toward the back of the vault. A tiny sliver of light appeared.
Gabe stood and helped Misty up. Holding her hand, he pulled her back against the door. Unfortunately, dust was starting to fill up the little room. He yanked a handkerchief out of his pocket and handed it to her. “Here, put this over your nose and mouth. It’s clean.”
“What about you?” she asked.
“I’ll use my sleeve.”
As the rasping became louder, they were aware of voices also coming from the ceiling. It was impossible to understand what they were saying, but man, what a comfort to hear the rumbling of humans giving orders and acknowledging them.
“Gabe?” Misty asked.
“Yeah?”
“Thank you for keeping me calm and safe during all this, I guess.”
“You guess?”
“Well, I haven’t seen my coworkers yet. I know you couldn’t have stuffed all of us in this vault, but you did what you thought was right.”
If Gabe wasn’t holding her hand and using his other one to block the dust, he would’ve slapped himself upside the head. He already felt like a jerk, but was she serious? She wished he’d pushed all her coworkers into the vault, knowing the air wouldn’t last a fraction of the time?
“Well, I did what I did. I hope your coworkers are okay, but at least I know you are. If you’d been taken and raped and Parker found out I was right there… Shit. Never mind.” As light began to invade the room from above, he was finally able to see Misty’s outline. “You are okay, aren’t you?”
“Yeah, I’m fine. Are you?”
“Other than feeling like an idiot, I’m perfectly fine.” Gabe laughed, then coughed. “Don’t try to talk. Just breathe through your nose. Keep your eyes closed so the dust doesn’t get in them.”
“They’re already closed.”
She bumped up against him, let go of his hand, and slipped her arm around his waist. He had no choice but to put his arm around her shoulder. Any lower would give her and anyone who entered the vault the wrong idea.
Parker had painted a different picture of Misty than the one he was discovering. Naturally, Parker would see her as his little sister forever, someone naive who needed to be looked after. But the woman standing next to him seemed pretty capable.
