Away From the Dark (The Light #2)(96)

“No!”

The sharp pain in my neck transported me back to the parking lot in Detroit, just before my world went black.





CHAPTER 35


Jacoby


I landed the small plane in Anchorage a little ahead of schedule; however, as we rolled to a stop along the runway, my mind wasn’t thinking about the time or even about the blur of commotion on the tarmac. My mind was in Bloomfield Hills. The raids should all have been started if not carried out, and I wanted details. I needed to know Sara was safe.

“Thank you.” Benjamin’s voice came through the earphones, reminding me that I wasn’t the only one worried about a wife. “Jacob, I mean Jacoby, Raquel’s pulse is weak, but she still has one. Thanks to you. I know if you hadn’t . . . she wouldn’t . . .” His voice trailed away.

I turned and, with a strained smile, nodded in his direction. “They’re waiting on us. They’ll have her in surgery soon.”

Though it was after ten at night, the airport where I’d been told to land was alive with activity. Just as Special Agent Adler had promised, there was an ambulance, and as I unbuckled my seat belt, it was moving slowly toward the plane. I opened the hatch door and lowered the steps before going back to help Benjamin.

As I reached for Raquel’s seat belt, Benjamin grabbed my hand. “I don’t know if she’ll make it, but I know she wouldn’t have made it up there. I owe you. Anything. You’ve got it. You can count on me.”

“Right now, concentrate on Raquel. Until we know how the raids went and what’s ahead for us, listen to the FBI. They’ll keep her safe. They know what we’re dealing with better than we do. I’ll do my best to convince them to let you stay with her, but . . .” I shrugged. “Honestly, you were on the Assembly. There’s a case against you. You knew things. You worked in the lab, but really your future is up to you.”

Benjamin took a deep breath. “It’s up to me, like we told followers. Nothing was up to them, and I have the feeling that nothing’s really up to me now either.”

“It is. I’ll talk to my handler. I’ll do all I can to persuade them to allow you to stay with Raquel until she’s no longer critical. If you want more time than that—”

Benjamin looked away, his red-rimmed eyes downcast. “I want forever. Is that too much to ask?”

“No. I want the same thing. You just need to talk to the agents—be one hundred percent honest with them, be willing to turn state’s evidence and testify. That’s what you can do to get back to Raquel.” I patted his shoulder. “I’m behind you. I hope you know that you’ve got my support.”

We turned as paramedics made their way into the fuselage.

“What about Abraham?” Benjamin asked in a hushed tone.

I shook my head. “You should get a damn medal. You also saved my life. I’ll tell them what happened.”

“What about her?” he asked, looking at Raquel as the paramedics lifted their gurney. “Legally, I mean. Is there a case against her too?”

“It’s not up to me. It’s all up to the FBI, but I’ll tell them what I know, which is, as far as the Assembly wives are concerned, from my knowledge they were all blissfully unaware. They were never informed of the workings of the Assembly or Commission. I’ll be truthful in everything.”

“Sir, is this your wife?” the young female paramedic asked, looking to Benjamin.

Benjamin looked at the paramedic and again at me.

“We,” I said to Benjamin, “were married under The Light. I plan on using that legality to find Sara. Until it’s disproved, your answer is yes.”

Benjamin nodded and turned toward the young woman. “Yes, she is.”

The woman’s eyes widened as she scanned Raquel’s injuries and looked back to Benjamin, seeing his bloodstained shirt.

“Miss,” I said, attempting to derail her obvious train of thought. “I’m Agent McAlister of the FBI. This woman was attacked and beaten by someone who has been dealt with, not by her husband. I’ll testify to that.”

“Yes, Agent. Sir,” she said to Benjamin, “please come with us. They’re waiting for us at the medical center.”

“Miss”—I read her name tag—“Kellogg, this woman’s husband and another agent need to stay by her side.”

“Agent, they can follow—”

“No, they will be with you.”

“Yes, sir,” she said, tightening the restraint and securing Raquel on the gurney. Without another word she and the other paramedic wheeled Raquel down the stairs toward the ambulance.

I handed Benjamin the burner phone. “I’ll get one from the bureau and call you. I plan on heading east immediately.”

He nodded and tucked the phone in his pocket. “You know, the last time I accepted this phone . . .”

I shook my head. “I know. I’m sorry.”

“No, Raquel was right. She wanted to help. Just find Sara.”

I took a deep breath as Benjamin stepped through the doorway and followed his wife.

As I descended the steps, the weight of three years lifted from my shoulders. I’d done my part. The Light was behind me. Looking out at the sea of faces, I searched for ones I recognized. When my eyes met one man’s, that of an agent probably fifteen to twenty years my senior, a weary smile graced my lips. I’d spoken to him, but I hadn’t seen him in over three years.