Page 85 of Trapped With the Secret Agent

Georgia sighed. “Tell whoever is back there to turn on the camera, Agent Barnes.”

He smiled again, and this time, it actually looked genuine. “You just did, Miss Masters.”

Georgia took hold of her emotions and tied them up, stuck them in a cold box in the middle of her head, and shut the lid. She described everything from the moment she heard the first gun shots to arriving at the hospital on the US base. Her report of the terrorist leader was detailed right down to his excellent command of English.

Agent Barnes took his own notes and seemed pleased with the amount of information she provided.

“Thank you,” he said closing his notebook. “I think we’re done for today.”

Leaving the door open for another chat?

“I have a couple of questions for you.”

“Oh?”

“Well, more of a complaint.”

“A complaint?”

For the first time, Agent Barnes looked bemused.

“How did that bunch of terrorists get a hold of a nuclear bomb and invade the embassy without you knowing something about it before hand?”

His smile was only a touch condescending. “Miss Masters, events like this are contingent on a number of factors—”

She rolled her eyes.

“—none of which I can explain.”

“If Peter had been alone, he would have been killed and that bomb would have gone off.” She leaned forward. “There should have been some support in the city outside of the embassy. Especially since embassies have been overrun and taken over before.” She paused, then added, “The CIA did a shit job in Koutu.”

Instead of getting angry, Agent Barnes nodded. “I agree with you. We dropped the ball and if it hadn’t been for you and your willingness to help Mr. Welis and the soldiers who came in to support him, things might have turned out much worse.”

She hadn’t expected him to admit that. Then again, he was a skilled interrogator. “Are you going to do something about it?”

“I’m going to try.” One corner of his mouth tilted upward. “Would you be willing to yell at Congress when it comes time for a funding review?”

“If that will prevent another nuclear bomb from getting into the wrong hands, yes. I’d be happy to yell at Congress.”

* * *

“This is the first boardingcall for Flight 2036 to Kona, Hawaii. Persons with small children or requiring assistance to board please come forward.”

A few minutes later, they called for first class passengers.

Georgia stood and walked toward the flight attendant standing at the gate.

The woman took Georgia’s ticket, read it, then said, “Good morning, Ms. Masters. First class seating is to your immediate left upon entering the aircraft.”

“Thank you.”

Georgia walked onto the plane, settled into her assigned seat, and closed her eyes.

Two weeks. It had taken two weeks for her to wade through all the red tape, interviews, and paperwork in the wake of the terrorist attack. The CIA hadn’t been the only government department or agency who wanted to ask her questions, just the first one.

Two weeks to assure herself that her uncle was going to fine. He’d promised to do nothing more strenuous than operating the TV remote for the next week at least.

Now, she was on her way to Hawaii, knowing darn well Peter might not come. He could still be in the hospital. He might want to put what happened in Koutu behind him.

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