Fine. “I did a lot of praying when my dad left for war. I was ten, and I thought maybe if I was a very good girl, my dad would come back. I prayed every night before I went to sleep, and I obeyed my mother, and I did all the things, and still the Navy chaplain landed on our doorstep. God clearly didn’t care.”

“I used to think that way. That if God didn’t answer me, or not in the way I wanted, that he didn’t care or even like me. But that’s not true. I’ve started to see God at work all over my life. Now and in the past. He wasn’t ignoring me. I just didn’t see his work until I wanted to.”

“I felt pretty ignored. I mean, I don’t even know how my dad died. Just one day, gone.” Tae looked out on the water. “At least today, I know what’s going down.”

“And that’s better?” Pete had come out of the house and now walked into the sunlight.

She looked at Noemi’s father. He had a sort of determination, a sturdiness in his gaze that made Tae want to trust him.

“There’s a reason the military doesn’t disclose details to family. Before or after missions.”

“It’s cruel, if you ask me,” Tae said. “My mother spent years trying to figure out what happened to my dad. We never even got his final letter. Just a flag and a gold star pin.”

Pete wore a sorry expression. “That’s a good sign that his death is classified.”

“That’s what we thought.” She glanced up the river. “At least, if something happens to Colt, I’ll know how. And why.”

“He’s going to be okay,” Pete said. “The op is over. They’re on their way home. No casualties.”

Tears bit her eyes, and she gritted her jaw against them. Silly. Stupid. “Did they get the canisters?”

“Yes.”

She wiped her cheeks. “I don’t know how you guys do this. One mission after another, saving the world from disaster.”

Pete looked at Noemi. “It’s not without costs.” Then he walked away, toward the dock, hands in his pockets, limping still from his injury.

“He’s talking about the fact he played dead, right?”

“Maybe. Probably. But my kidnapping scared him to death. That’s why he came to the ranch.”

“I still can’t believe you got away. You’re every bit as tough as a SEAL.”

She laughed. “Hardly. I broke my zip ties and ran through the woods. Not exactly tough guy behavior.”

“You broke through your zip ties? How?”