Natesh said, “Why don’t you go talk to Lena tonight after our end of day meeting is over? Let her know what you’re thinking so she can hear you out. She seems like a reasonable woman. I wouldn’t be surprised if she won’t let you just fly back home. Perhaps you can just sign a paper. We’re volunteers, right?”

David thought about his own kidnapping less than 48 hours ago and wondered if they were volunteers or not. If Bill’s wife was dying, he had to get home.

David said, “I agree. Go talk to her.”

A flash of lightning out the cafeteria window caught their attention. A few moments later, they heard the distant rumble of thunder fill the sky.

Bill said, “Maybe I will. Maybe she can help me out. Yeah, you’re probably right.” He smiled.

*****

It was after 11 p.m. when Lena and Bill walked back from the classroom to the Communications building. The group meeting educating everyone on Chinese military and defense capabilities went for almost three hours. When the meeting ended, people were happy to get back to the “hotel” as the consultants were all calling it now. Raindrops began to fall as the outskirts of a thundercloud grazed the island.

Bill had approached Lena immediately after the night meeting in the classroom. She was very understanding and suggested they go sit down and discuss it further. Bill had a good feeling. Women were just better that way. They understood the importance of family. Maybe that was because they bore children. Bill remembered one of his macho-man, hard-ass commanding officers back in the Air Force that had denied his leave chit during Desert Shield. That forced Bill to miss the birth of his second child. That guy was a jerk. But Lena seemed much more understanding.

They reached the Comms Building and Lena went to type her code into the digital keypad next to the door. She looked over at Bill and then typed with her body positioned so that he couldn't see. The keypad beeped and there was a click as the door unlocked. She opened it and they went into a room that reminded Bill of an airport control tower. Rain started coming down in sheets just as they entered. Bill wiped away the rainwater from his hair as he looked over the room. There were several TV screens, all of them off. Three black swivel chairs were placed in front of computer monitors. There was a second door on the far wall that looked like it connected to the rest of the structure. It too had a digital keypad.

Lena motioned for Bill to sit. He took one of the swivel chairs and looked around the room. He wondered where she slept. Must have been behind that door. The computers looked new. When did they build this place? The technology to open and close these doors was pretty sophisticated. Bill saw Lena sit down across from him and cross her legs. She looked relaxed. She really was a nice woman.