Page 47 of What is Lost

“Hope it comes out okay,” John said as thedriver disappeared around a corner trailing a big guy wearing a brightly embroideredtaqiyya.

“You hope it comes outokay?” Davila asked. “What are you, ten?”

He shrugged. “Trying to lighten the mood.”

“If you’re in the fifth grade.” Davila’s eyes narrowed. “Seriously, man, you look spooked. What is it?”

“I was...” He chewed over what he ought to say and how that might sound. “Do you wonder how Roni ended up in the Wakhan? I mean, whythere, of all places?”

“To be honest? Not really. I just figured someone snatched her...” Davila looked uncomfortable. “Her remains. Maybe thought they could use them for barter. You know, how they do POW swaps and all that. Why?”

“Because of what Ustinov said.”

“About?” Then Davila’s forehead smoothed as his frown bled away. “The mines?”

“Yes, because mines are dangerous. So, if you’re operating a mine?—”

“Food!” Parviz was there, loaded tray in hand, a grin on his face. “Bottom up!”

Neither of them bothered to correct him.

“You finish?”Parviz unwrapped a stick of mint gum that had been tucked into a napkin. “We need go soon.”

“Almost there.” Davila crammed a last bite into his mouth. “Might want to grab another, though,” he said around burger and bun. “Better than those MREs, and I might get another cup of battery acid...er...coffee, to go.”

Parviz’s jaws worked ferociously. “You no like?”

“Naw,” Davila said. “Although that coffee would’ve tasted better when it was first brewed.”

“Last April,” John said then added, “two years ago.”

“Bingo.” Davila shot him an imaginary bullet. “That’s what I was thinking.”

“I think taste fine.” Parviz looked offended. “Best we got.”

That touched his conscience. People might have cells here, but they were poor. For Parviz, he bet thiswassomething special. “It was fine.” John piled empty food wrappers back onto their tray. “And maybe a burger to go isn’t a bad idea. I could use some more caffeine, too. Parviz, you want another cup? Maybe another burger?”

“Yes, that good.” Parviz cracked his gum. “You get. I go pee.”

The man had a bladder the size of a walnut. “Sure.” As Parviz headed for the men’s room. Johnpicked up their tray of rubbish, turned toward the counter?—

And then,boom.

Déjà vu all over again.

The boy was tuckedinto a corner booth. When their gazes met, the boy’s didn’t waver. Which was…different in all sorts of disturbing ways that made him think of Kabul, the airport, Daniel Driver’s insane plan.

And Roni.Dodging his gaze from the boy’s, John motored for the counter.Roni, Roni, Roni.

“Whoa, wait up. You having some kind of Big Mac attack?” And then, when he didn’t respond, Davila said, “What is it?”

John dragged his voice from wherever it had fallen. “Nothing,” he said, keeping his gaze screwed firmly on the menu board.

“Tell me another.”

He thought about it another second then said, “Kid, about twelve years old. To our left, table at the window next to the door.”

Yawning, Davila made a show of stretching and twisting first right and then left. “Yeah, okay, it’s a kid,” he said, shaking himself like a dog. “What about him?”

---