Page 33 of Sinner's Salvation

Ah, yes, her bloody and burned clothing. Her hair was tangled, frizzed from the heat, and bloody from the gunshot earlier. She certainly looked the part of a woman who’d been badly hurt.

She raised a shaking hand to give everyone a little wave.

“Ms. Breznik,” Brian called, pushing his way to her side. “Are you all right?”

“I have burns and possibly a concussion,” she said, in a small voice. “At least the bleeding has stopped.” There was dried blood in her hair, so that was realistic.

Brian crouched next to her and put a hand under her elbow. “We should get you to a hospital, have you checked out. Those kinds of injuries are dangerous.”

“Thank you, Agent Stettler.” She forced a fake moan out of her throat. “But I’ve had enough American hospitality to last me a decade or two. I’d prefer to go straight to my embassy.”

She let Brian and Evan lift her to her feet.

A couple of guys put their hands on the butts of their guns. “Not so fast, we need to question her. Someone brought a bomb into a secure military facility.”

She sucked in a breath and raised her chin, even though it wavered a bit. “I would be happy to answer your questions. After I see a doctor, shower, rest, and contact the State Department regarding this egregious violation of my and Slovenia’s diplomatic standing.” She wobbled, as if her legs were about to give out.

“I assure you,” she said, as if her tongue had gotten three times too big for her mouth. “I have a great deal to say about this inci...” She rolled her eyes into the back of her head and let all her weight fall against Evan.

He scooped her up like a bridegroom.

***

Evan adjusted Anna’sbody slightly, curling her into his chest so her head rested on one of his pecs. She hardly weighed a thing.

“Shit,” someone from the group of Homeland Security agents said.

“Bring her this way,” one of the others said, waving at him to follow.

He didn’t move.

It only took a few seconds for the Homeland Security agent to realize Evan wasn’t following. “I gave you an order, soldier.”

Evan wanted to sneer at the moron, but kept his face flat. “She was clear in what she wanted to do next, and having anything to do with you assholes was way down on the list.”

“It wasn’t on the list at all,” the baby agent said.

“Who are you?” the Homeland Security agent asked Evan, striding up to them.

“Ledger invited me in,” Evan said. “To interrogate a possible terrorist. Only the terrorist turned out to be a foreign diplomat.”

“But who are you?”

“I’m a United States Army Intelligence officer, and I don’t take orders from you.” He glanced at Brian. “Are you with them?”

“No, I’m with the FBI.”

“I take it you know this lady?”

“Yes,” Brian shot a glare at the Homeland Security agents. “We were kidnapped together.”

“That is not true,” another Homeland Security agent said. “Ledger said—”

“A gun was put to my head,” Brian shouted back. “I was told that if I didn’t cooperate, I’d be killed and dumped into a hole.”

That shut them all up. For about three seconds. Then the whole group started yelling at each other.

“Hey, kid,” Evan said to Brian in an irritated tone. “There’s a cell phone in my thigh pocket. Call for backup.”

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