We rolled in the brush, and I fought him, trying to get to that family. To those kids.
"Stop it, damn it," Angel said, pinning me down.
I kicked out and tried to claw at him again.
"They're okay, Janey. They're alive."
"What was that sound?" I asked, frantic.
"Mrs. V dropped a pan. The bad guys got mad. They're okay."
I stopped struggling and lay in his arms, trying to calm my breathing. Then I realized how stupid what I'd just done really was. I could've gotten them all killed. I put a hand over my eyes as they stung with emotion.
Angel pulled me tighter. I let him.
Now I had another big fat dilemma. I'd gotten too close to the house. If they hadn't seen me already, they very well could when I got up. At the moment, I was hidden by the tall vegetation, but I couldn't stay there until nightfall. I needed to get them help.
"Are they okay?" I asked Angel. "Even the kids?"
"They're alive."
"If only I had a way to -" My eyes flew open. I had a phone. I could call … who? I didn't have anyone's number, and it wasn't like there was a directory for cell numbers. Not that I knew of.
We were close enough to the house to hear yelling. I cringed when a man's voice speaking Farsi wafted toward me.
"I don't know what to do, Angel."
"Me neither."
Just when the voices in the house quieted down, my phone rang. At first, I didn't recognize the sound. Then I realized my pocket was ringing. I scrambled to answer it, hoping the captors hadn't heard. Who would be calling? No one had this number.
"Hello?"
A woman spoke into the phone, her voice calm, soothing. "Janey? What are you doing?"
I blinked in thought. "Um, nothing."
"You're not lying by a cabin that may or may not have the Vandenbergs held hostage inside?"
I bolted upright, but Angel tackled me to the ground again. He was right. That was a bad move. Damned reflexes.
"Agent Carson?"
"The one and only. And where are you supposed to be?"
It took me a moment, but I answered, "Anywhere but here?"
"Brava. You get to move on to the bonus round."
"Where are you?"
"In a very well-thought-out covert position. Unlike, say, you. I had two units that were ready to move until you showed up. I can guarantee, you will also be arrested the minute I can get my hands on you." She was so testy.
"What do you mean, ready to move?"
"They were getting ready to do covert surveillance so we could get eyes in there."
"In broad cloudy-with-a-chance-of-rain daylight?"
"They're very good. It's what they do."
"Just hold on. Angel, where exactly are the Vandenbergs being held?"
"They're all in that corner bedroom," he said, "except for Mrs. Vandenberg. She's cooking for them."
"Is there a guard with the family?"
"No. There are three men. Two in the living room and one in the kitchen. The family is tied up, so they aren't going anywhere."
I nodded. "Look, I have inside information." I told her what Angel said. "If we can distract them somehow once Mrs. Vandenberg is finished cooking, we can get them out. They aren't guarding them."
"How do you know that?"
"I saw it. Through my binoculars."
"What binoculars?"
"The ones I dropped. And no longer have."
"Well, thanks to you, the first thing we have to do is try to get you out of there so you don't get everyone killed."
Guilt ate through the lining of my stomach. "I know. I'm so sorry."
"Can you see them now?"
I was just about to say no when Angel nodded. Of course, he could be my eyes.
"Yes. Yes, I can."
"Do you think you can get out of there if we provide some kind of distraction?"
"No!" I whisper-yelled at her. "No, two distractions in one day? It isn't like they're not a tad suspicious already. They're bad guys. They were born suspicious. I can see them."
Angel gave me a thumbs-up, then disappeared.
"I'll know when to run."
"Janey, if you are wrong and they spot you -"
"I have this. Just get ready to move."
"What? What do you mean?"
"You said your guys were ready. Are they or aren't they?"
"They are, but this isn't a game, Janey."
"I have this. Once the Vandenbergs are all in that back bedroom, I'll provide a distraction, and you and your men secure that room and get them out."