Part 15 (2/2)
”And?” Stan's dark eyes, lit as if from the inside, told her what she needed to know: that he understood, that he was with her.
”And...” She blinked when one stubborn tear threatened to spill out. ”I found out G.o.d does hate sin, but he loves people.”
The men shared a quick smile, then Stan added, ”Wise woman.”
She lowered her gaze, suddenly uncomfortable with their easy acceptance of her. Didn't they see who she was, how she'd spent her days...and nights?
Stan slipped one rough knuckle under her trembling chin and lifted it, forcing her to look at him. ”Rae, G.o.d sent us to San Francisco to save lives. It seems he's already started with yours.” The sincerity in his eyes was unmistakable. ”Is that the way you see it?”
She tried to look away, but Stan's grip on her chin was too firm. ”I...I want...I mean...” She made herself say it. ”Y-yes.”
His grip on her heart was tighter still. She felt it breaking open without a word, only a warm gaze that told her what she longed to hear. You are loved, Rae. You are forgiven.
Hot tears stung her eyes until they slipped down her cheeks, burning a path toward the very center of her soul. How many years had it been since she'd cried? Five? Ten, maybe?
It felt awful. It felt wonderful. The voices in her head were shouting a long-forgotten refrain that sounded like joy.
She gulped a much-needed breath of air. ”Why...?” It was all she could do to keep herself from falling utterly apart. These men didn't know her, couldn't grasp what she'd been through. Better to focus on their needs, not hers. Not now.
She started again. ”Why are you two here in the city? I mean, other than chatting the time away on a prost.i.tute's roof?”
The men looked at each other, then back at her, reluctance plainly stamped on their features.
She waited, patting her cheeks dry while thoughts of her family-her mother and father, her younger brothers and sisters-swirled through her mind. If trouble was coming, she wanted them safe. ”Earthquake scientists on a mission can mean only one thing, fellas.”
John s.h.i.+fted in his chair. ”If you mean the Big One, we've lived with that possibility since 1906.”
”No. You know something more than history.” Rae leaned forward. ”You know G.o.d. Did he tell you when and where it will hit?”
”Yes.”
”No!”
The two men glared at each other. Clearly they hadn't agreed on how to explain themselves.
Stan broke the lengthy silence first. ”For your sake and ours, Rae, you can't breathe a word of this to anyone. Not until we find a way to safely break the news publicly. Promise?”
She arched one carefully drawn eyebrow. ”I saved your hides, didn't I?”
”And we're grateful for that, believe me.” John's hand dragged through his wiry, short hair. ”It's like this: Stan and I have been working on an experimental piece of equipment that measures seismic activity with greater precision than anything we've used to date. Our calculations predict that a significant earthquake-7.0 or better on the Richter scale-will hit the Bay Area in the next four hours.”
”What?” She collapsed against the back of the chair. ”Are you sure about this?”
”No.”
”Yes!”
Stan elbowed his partner. ”C'mon, John. Truth is truth. Numbers and equations are predictable. The earth is not. When we prayed about what we should do with this information, G.o.d said, 'Tell them!'”
”So?”
”So, we did.” John shrugged. ”They dismissed us as a couple of Caltech kooks. Told us to keep our mouths shut. Ranted and raved about the World Series going on this week and how such an announcement would create a major-league panic.”
Stan added, ”We threatened to go to the media with our findings, then stomped out the door. Ten minutes later we were being chased by a quartet of plain-clothes cops. Without your help, well...” He slipped his hands lightly around hers. ”Some people would rather risk death than admit they're wrong, Rae. I'm glad you're not one of them.”
Heat rose in her cheeks. Blus.h.i.+ng, of all things! What's happening to you, girl? Her words came out in a rush. ”Look, you two should head for the hills, p.r.o.nto. Those cops will be back, and they won't take my word for it next time.” She ducked her head, willing away the warmth in her face, wondering if she dare ask for their help. When she looked up, Stan's eyes were filled with empathy, as if he knew what she was going to say. ”Will you...will you come back for me? Before the quake comes, I mean? I haven't got a car, and anyway the streets...”
He squeezed her hands, then gently released them. ”You bet. We'll be monitoring the seismic activity every second. I promise, we'll get here in time to get you out.”
Her grin was wobbly but genuine. ”Better bring a big vehicle. I want my family spared too.”
”How many people are we talking about?” John was obviously the numbers man.
She counted on two hands and flashed him the total.
John groaned. ”It'll be a tight fit. Where do they live?”
”The Marina district.”
He groaned even louder. ”The soil is so water-saturated there, it could be the hardest-hit place. Yeah, bring 'em here and we'll manage. And for heaven's sake, keep everyone inside. The street is the worst place to run in an earthquake.”
”Gotcha.” Rae exhaled in relief. ”We'll be waiting. Anything else I can do?”
John stood and rolled his shoulders. ”Is there a fire escape we can borrow?”
”Sure.” She angled her head toward the rear of the building. ”What else?”
Stan was staring at the sun, a hazy globe above the urban skyline. ”Paint a big, red X on your roof.”
”A wh-wha-”
He turned to her, his face filled with concern. ”No more questions; just do it. And be ready, woman.” He rose to his feet and looked down at her, compa.s.sion and conviction mirrored in his eyes. ”It's hard to say precisely when we'll be back for you this afternoon, but know this: It won't be long.”
”There it is!” Stan shouted above the whir of the blades. ”Can you land there?”
”Legally?” the pilot hollered back.
”Look, when this thing hits, no one will remember seeing a Jet Ranger in North Beach, got that? Just put it down.” He glanced at his watch. Almost five.
”She'll be ready. I know she will.” Stan's voice cut through the deafening sound. ”This shouldn't take two minutes.”
The pilot circled the rooftop bearing a large X, then hovered into position and dropped down on the flat surface. Hunched over to avoid the lethal blades, Stan followed John in a straight path toward the metal exit. Two steps short of the threshold, they were nearly knocked over when the door flew open with a thunderous bang.
Raven-haired Rae stood in the doorway, a small knot of people behind her, their faces full of apprehension. Her own face was triumphant. ”See, everybody? I told you they'd come!”
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