Chapter 82

The next morning saw Gwen and Kate arrive in the kitchen quite early to find their mother already making coffee. They immediately sensed that something was wrong. Paula’s face was tight and she looked extremely upset.

“You both need to watch the news from Iraq this morning! A bus with seventeen kids on it was hijacked yesterday. They were international students. All of them were children of western diplomats, mostly European. There’s hell to pay. The kidnappers have demanded a ransom, or they’ll kill the children,” stated Paula very seriously.

“Do you think that has something to do with Steve having to report in last night?” asked Gwen as she moved in front of the television to better see the story.

“I’m afraid so,” replied Paula grimly. “He’s the ransom they’re demanding.”

Gwen suddenly became light-headed. She quickly sat down as her mother’s words played over in her mind. “Steve’s the ransom? Do you mean they want the government to swap Steve for the kids?