Page 77 of No Man Left Behind

When the staring contest resumed, Marcus decided to stir things up. He’d got information back from the car rental outfit and had found out a lot more about Aazar Mullah. “I’m betting your Uncle Faadir didn’t sanction your little side trip here to Phail, did he, Aazar?”

The man reacted like one of Elina’s comic strip characters. Huge eyes, open mouth. He even backed up a step at the news. Did he really not realize they’d get his name from the rental car agency? Or was it Faadir’s name that surprised him? Had he forgotten he’d mentioned the name before?

Marcus kept pressing. “You’ve already screwed up twice with the people of Suraih. Faadir doesn’t have a reputation for tolerating stupidity or incompetence. Maybe our best bet is to send you back home and let him deal with you.”

Aazar’s demeanour changed again. Terror flashed through his eyes, and he backed up, knocking against the cot in the cell. He turned to the back of the room and ran his hands through his hair.

“You went rogue here in the States. Faadir isn’t going to like that, is he? You’ve not only got yourself caught, but now you’ve put him and his operation at risk. We know you’re part of an opium smuggling ring. I found trace evidence in your rental car. Once the lab confirms, I’ll be adding drug offenses to the list of charges. And I’ll be sending everything along to the FBI. We’re going to take down Faadir’s operation. Guess who he’s going to blame for that?”

Aazar’s body shuddered, but he didn’t turn around or speak. Figuring it was best to give him time to think about the implications, Marcus left him and closed the door behind him. By his estimation, he’d have a full confession by morning.

Elina couldn’t take her eyes off the screen on Marcus’s desk. She couldn’t hear anything, and she wasn’t going to intrude by checking for an audio button, but she had to watch.

This man had terrorized her more than once over the years. He’d threatened to harm Owen. He looked different in the cell. Less, somehow.

He puffed up his chest and tried to intimidate Marcus, who barely blinked. As the conversation moved along, the man got more nervous, and then truly afraid.

Marcus hadn’t moved a muscle, hadn’t spoken all that much from what she could tell. Whatever he’d said had been effective.

She didn’t move from where she sat when Marcus returned. She wasn’t going to pretend she hadn’t watched.

He frowned when he saw her. “You don’t need to see him anymore.”

She shrugged. “I actually think it helped. When the memory of the knife at Owen’s throat returns, I’m going to replace it with this image. I think it’ll help me sleep.”

Marcus nodded. “That makes sense. Let me show you how to control the audio in case you want to hear it next time.”

They watched for a few more minutes, but Aazar sat down on his cot and stared at his hands.

She had to ask. “Can you tell me what he said? If you’re not supposed to, that’s okay.”

He shrugged. “He didn’t say anything that we didn’t know or suspect. He’s afraid of his uncle, and I’m convinced Aazar is doing this on his own. Faadir will be furious that Aazar has brought attention to Faadir’s drug empire. I’m going to loop in Shanice Williams. She’s the lead FBI agent over in New Hampshire. We’ve worked together a few times now, and she’ll know who best to involve from there. Once they take the reins of the drug smuggling case, they’ll probably take Aazar with them.”

All of that made her feel better. “I’m glad you’ll have support with him. Because you haven’t hired new personnel yet, do you need to remain here until the FBI comes to take him?”

He nodded, and she made an instant decision. “I’ll be with you.”

His eyes softened, and he leaned over to take her hands again. The gesture made her feel treasured every time. He rubbed his thumb over her fist. “Thank you. I know it’s safe, but I’ll feel better if you’re within sight.”

She grinned. “Good. I thought you might argue.”

He lifted her hand and kissed it. “And miss time with you? Not a chance. Why don’t we call Branna to see if she can bring some food over for us? We’ll need to feed Aazar as well.”

She looked back at the screen, but the man hadn’t moved. If he was the one who had kidnapped her, he’d let her go without food for almost a week.

“Hey. What are you thinking?”

She tuned back into the present. “Sorry. I was just thinking that he might be the one who didn’t allow me food or drink for days.”

Marcus frowned. “I think the probability is high that he was part of that group.”

She shuddered. “I don’t want to be like him.”

Marcus smiled and leaned forward to kiss her. “You’re nothing at all like him. Not in any way. You’re unfailingly kind and thoughtful. You believe in people and in their potential. Even after what you’ve been through, you assume the best in others. I’ll call Branna and get us some food.”

Her heart filled with his words. While she wasn’t sure she lived up to them, she wanted to. And he was right. No matter what, she couldn’t let the man go hungry.

Twenty minutes later, Sean appeared with a selection of rice bowls. “Branna wasn’t sure of the asshole’s dietary restrictions, so we made them all vegetarian.”

---