Page 85 of SEAL's Promise

A nod. “Ms. Carter.”

“Why were you included in this interview?” Cal asked.

Stokes frowned. “We’re the ones asking questions, not you.”

“Meyer and his friends distressed Rachelle yesterday. That won’t happen again. You have one hour for questions. If Rachelle needs a break, she’ll get one.”

A scowl from Stokes. “I don’t care who your friends are, we have a responsibility to the Secretary of State and Tim Garner’s family to obtain answers. Ms. Carter is the only one who can help.”

“Amy Morales was with Rachelle every moment in Mexico. While a face-to-face interview isn’t possible, she can answer questions via video chat.”

“We spoke to her late last night. Ms. Morales was helpful, but she’s been traumatized enough.”

And Rachelle hadn’t? Cal stared at Stokes whose cheeks flushed. “Be careful how you ask Rachelle questions. She’s here as a favor. If you badger her, the interview ends.”

“You can’t do that,” he snapped.

“Try me.” Cal threaded his fingers through Rachelle’s. “You’re wasting time. The one-hour clock starts now.”

For a moment, the State Department employees froze as though unable to believe he was serious about the time limit. If they tested him, they’d find out how serious he was.

Stokes’s gaze dropped to Cal and Rachelle’s intertwined hands. “Not very professional behavior for a bodyguard.”

“You’ve used two minutes posturing and jockeying for power, Stokes,” Cal warned. “You’re not in control here.”

The other man glanced at Wolf Pack stationed around the room. He frowned, then said, “Ms. Carter, I want to hear what happened while you were in Mexico with Ms. Morales.”

Rachelle drew in a deep breath and began. At various points during the interview, the men asked clarifying questions.

When she finished, Stokes said, “So-called terrorists attacked the hotel the only night you stayed there. When you fled to the hospital with Agent Hoss, the gunmen showed up and killed Agent Garner.”

Rachelle’s grip on Cal’s hand tightened. “Yes, sir.”

“What’s your point, Stokes?” Cal asked, voice hard.

Ignoring him, Stokes said, “Ms. Carter, do you have anything else to tell us?”

“Like what?” she asked.

“You weren’t at Ms. Morales’s side the entire time you were in Mexico. Where did you go when you were alone?”

She frowned. “I walked around the neighborhood in two cities when Amy gave her speech.”

“Walked around the neighborhood, huh?” Stokes reached into his jacket pocket.

Cal and the rest of Wolf Pack had their weapons out and leveled at Stokes in seconds.

The State Department trio froze.

“I’m grabbing a picture from my pocket,” Stokes said. “Your friend patted us down for weapons.”

“Take your hand from the jacket slowly,” Cal said.

When Stokes removed a folded picture, Cal took it from him. He unfolded the paper and glanced at the grainy photograph.

Frowning, he studied the scene that showed Rachelle in a dingy, dirty alley. The photo could have been taken anywhere, including Mexico.

He recognized the man with her. Keeping his expression neutral, he returned to Rachelle and handed her the paper.

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