Page 40 of Trapped

“Like what?”

“Your service record.”

“Some of that information is classified.”

“I know. You did some really heroic things. You got the Distinguished Service Cross.”

“I did my job!” he answered.

“Right. And how many guys get the DSC?”

She changed the subject abruptly. “Um-I need to know; did you take any medication today?”

In the darkness, he could hear her draw in a breath and hold it.

“No. A guy named Lopez came to give it to me, and I only pretended to take it.”

“I heard that—over the microphone.”

“Then you were the person who planted it.”

“Yes.”

“Lopez was more persistent when he came back this evening. I’m thinking he got chewed out.”

“Good.”

“Yeah.” He laughed. “I didn’t take it the night before, either. I found the pill under the pillow.”

“I guess you had come to the right conclusions. But your logic was still a little fuzzy.”

“Yeah. But it’s a lot better now.”

“I can tell.”

Another thought struck him. “Let’s hope the guys back there don’t have your GPS. Where is it?”

She blew out air. “It got hit by a falling rock after the explosion. So, I left it where it was.”

“Show me where you put the transponder.”

“Your right shoe.” She knelt and reached under the laces. When she pulled out a small metal disk, he took it away from her and crushed it in his fingers.

As they resumed walking, he kept hitting her with questions so she wouldn’t have a chance to prepare her answers.

“How exactly did you get hooked up with the Decorah people? I mean, why did they come to you?”

“I’m a clinical psychologist.”

“Convenient. So, you’re in a great position to evaluate the escapee’s mental state.”

“That’s not why.”

“But Phil wouldn’t agree to have you bring me out until you gave him a report.”

Her breath caught. “How do you know that?”

“It made sense. And you came looking for me tonight. The leg was just an excuse. It’s about the same as the last time you saw me.”

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