Page 9 of Sinner's Salvation

Evan grunted and turned his attention to the two people on the surveillance camera. Making contact with them was priority number one.

The woman and agent weren’t speaking. He was sitting on his chair with his face in his hands while the woman seemed content to rest.

“Just to clarify my priorities,” Evan said. “The goal is to turn her into an asset? Destruction only if that can’t be attained?”

Ledger hesitated long enough for Evan to wonder if the guy had any kind of a game plan at all. “Yes.”

“What are we willing to do or offer to gain her trust?”

“She gets to stay alive,” Ledger said, his voice so cold Evan was surprised there were no icicles on him. “Her little boy toy too.”

Evan sighed. Great, this asshole didn’t have the first clue how to negotiate with dangerous people. Politicians made for poor leaders of soldiers and law enforcement.

“Sir, in order for her to trust us, we have to offer a life worth living. Threats and leverage are only useful as short-term tools to maintain compliance. If that’s all we’ve got, she’ll turn on us at the worst possible moment.”

Ledger seemed to consider that for a few seconds. Finally, he said, “You’re right, we need to think long term. Which means I need to talk to the Secretary...”

“Before I can start my job,” Evan said. “I need more information. I’d like an opportunity to question both of them alone.”

“No.” The word shot out of Ledger’s mouth, powered by hostility and fear.

Evan just waited.

It took the man a moment to regain his composure and clear his throat. “We really can’t take them anywhere right now. There’s nowhere secure enough.”

That was why he wanted to question them now. Nowhere was secure enough. Still, they were inside the medical wing at the Fort Hamilton base. The current situation was as secure as it could get.

Evan studied Ledger’s face. The other man was sweating, and his gaze darted around the security office like he was looking for an escape route. It didn’t take much to get him jittery.

The stink from the situation was getting worse by the second.

Evan was going to have to manage Ledger the same way he managed informants in-country. Very carefully.

“I can question them where they are, and you can watch via the security cameras,” Evan said, in a casual tone. “I won’t be asking any substantive questions. My main goal with this first interaction will be to establish a rapport with her. Nothing more.”

“Yes...that makes sense.” Ledger nodded, his gaze focused on a point about a foot in front of his face. “Very well, proceed.”

“Thank you, sir.” Evan didn’t salute, but he did come to attention before taking his duffle bag and stashing it between a couple of the workstations in the room. Then he turned on his heel and marched out.

He didn’t stop to arm himself, not yet. No, he needed to go in looking non-threatening. Or as non-threatening as a guy his size could look confronting a woman who only came up to his shoulders.

When he entered the corridor where the holding room was located, he found the knot of soldiers who’d appeared on the security video standing about ten feet away from his destination. They stared at the doorway to the occupied exam room like it was thedoor to doom.

“Sir,” the unit lead said. “Where do you want us?”

“Actually,” he said slowly, as if giving the question a lot of consideration. “I’d like you guys to be out of sight and hearing. I don’t want her to feel threatened. At least, not yet.”

“Yes, sir.” He flashed a hand signal to the rest of his team, and they quickly filed out of the hallway.

He continued to the door of the holding room and noted the simple deadbolt lock. And no way to unlock it from the inside. That was fine, as far as it went, which wasn’t very far. She could probably yank the door open, lock or no lock.

He knocked on the door.

A woman’s voice called out, “Come in.”

Shit, she sounded like she was in a hotel room, waiting for room service.

He unlocked the door and opened it, neither too fast nor too slow.

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