Page 17 of Lethal Pursuit

Cam ducked out. Maya’s gaze landed on the open duffel in the corner and couldn’t help asking what was on her mind. “Are stuffed animals standard on a MEDCAP? Or was that your idea?” A box of Lifesavers candy lying among them solved the mystery of why he always smelled like wintergreen.

He shrugged. “We like to give stuff out to the kids. Just little things like rubber balls and crayons, pads of paper, teddy bears. They don’t have much out here and they always really appreciate the toys.”

She bet they did. And she also bet that the toys had come out of Jackson’s own paycheck and not the military’s budget.

Watching him work with the boy, she was struck again by his genuine kindness. She shook her head, part of her worrying about him. He had so much skill and compassion to give the world. Those were attributes to be cherished and protected. She hated thinking about something happening to him.

They sat in silence next to the boy on the cot, while the grandfather stroked the boy’s hair every so often. When they finally heard the steadywhump whump whumpof the rotors, she and Jackson stood.

“I got him,” he said, bending to carefully scoop the child into his arms. Protective yet gentle. The combination turned her to mush inside. He would make an amazing father. It was stupid, but she couldn’t prevent the little pang in her chest at the thought of him settling down and having a family someday. If she were a different sort of woman, she’d have fought for that kind of future with everything in her. She didn’t regret last night, only the way it hadended. Either way, she’d hurt him, or at least his pride. That hadn’t been her intention at all. She felt badly about it, but there was nothing she could do to fix it now.

Holding the bag of fluids up so it dripped properly, Maya kept pace with him to the Black Hawk. The medic on board helped load the boy onto a stretcher and handed the grandfather in after him, while Jackson shouted the particulars over the noise from the engines.

She and Jackson stood back as the pilots powered up the engines and the helo lifted off, its nose tilted downward slightly as it cruised forward and up into the cloud-studded sky. “Think they’ll operate in time?” she asked him.

“Hope so. That’s one tough little dude. Peritonitis is really damn painful.”

Maya covertly drank in his profile. To her, he was amazing. What would it feel like to be able to help save a boy’s life like that? “If his grandfather hadn’t brought him here today, he would have died. He’s lucky.”

“Yeah. Glad I was here.”

Gah. The man was so unbelievably sweet and humble it killed her. Mentally shaking her head at herself, she pulled her weapon around, holding it across her body with the muzzle pointed down. “Looks like you’ve got another patient waiting.” An old woman stood at the tent entrance. “Better get back to it before the guest of honor gets here to start the dog and pony show—”

The sound of another incoming helo broke the quiet. She gave a sardonic smile. “Speak of the devil.”

“Enjoy the show,” Jackson said with a wry grin.

“You know it.” She got on the squad radio to make sure everyone was in position, part of her concentration on Jackson as he walked away.

After last night, she hadn’t known what to expect from him today, though in hindsight it shouldn’t have surprised her that he hadn’t brought it up or been anything but the consummate professional he was. Had he lain awake after she’d gone, thinking of her? She hadn’t slept worth a damn. Leaving that bunk had been one of the hardest things she’d ever done, but also one of the smartest and most necessary. Because if things had been different—ifshehad been different—she’d have given anything to stay snuggled up in his arms. That, more than the fear of discovery or reprisal for all the regulations she’d broken, was what had driven her back to her own tent.

The incoming Black Hawk finally landed and the star of the show got out, along with the remainder of his personal security team. Glimpsing his dark skin and military bearing, Maya immediately recognized Doug Haversham, the U.S. Secretary of Defense. They’d told her to expect a high-ranking official, but it surprised her they’d send someone this high profile. As one of the men responsible for the war effort in the region, he wasn’t exactly a popular choice for these locals.

That wasn’t her concern though. With her principal on the ground and a serious duty calling, thoughts of Jackson disappeared. “All right, gentlemen, get your game faces on,” she said into her helmet mic. “It’s showtime.”

SIX

HOURS AFTER THEboy had been airlifted to the hospital, Maya stood talking to one of her airmen as the publicity stunt finally started to wrap up. The SF team and the PJs had all packed up their gear in anticipation of their trip back to base. By all accounts, the MEDCAP had been a huge success. That was great, but to Maya, the best thing about the whole day was when Jackson had helped save that kid’s life by diagnosing him and getting him evacuated to base.

All day long there’d been a steady trickle of patients coming by to see one of the “doctors,” Cam and Jackson. Most of them were women and children or old men, and a large percentage had come from neighboring villages, some many difficult miles away. Word traveled surprisingly fast out here among the people. Another reason why she and the others had to stay vigilant. There’d been no incidents of any kind at the security checkpoints, and keeping the Secretary of Defense’s arrival a secret to everyone but the higher-ups made the entire event that much more secure.

Haversham was far off to her right next to a cluster of mud-and-brick houses, wrapping up some photo ops with a small group of local children who were making good use of the toys the PJs had brought along. She hoped he was truly interested in them and what they were playing with, rather than just pretending to be for the cameras’ sake. She hated two-facedness in general, but especially in leaders and officials who were supposed to represent and look out for the best interests of the people they served. If someone was tasked with protecting others, then said person better damn well take it seriously. Including the Sec Def.

“Helos are inbound. ETA thirty-five minutes, Lieutenant,” an army major said over her headset.

“Roger that.” Since she hadn’t slept much last night, she wasactually looking forward to getting back to Bagram and crawling into her snug little bunk between Erin’s and Honor’s. It also meant she’d get a reprieve from having to see Jackson again. All day long, part of her had been aware of him, her subconscious pinpointing exactly where he was at any given time. Right now he was back inside his tent, packing up all his gear and supplies.

It was best for both of them if they simply avoided each other, but part of her still wanted to be near him. He had a calm, confident energy that drew her in. In his presence she now felt admired, rather than annoyed. Deliciously feminine, and maybe even beautiful. She’d never felt that way before. She liked it too much for her own good.

Maya shifted her grip on her weapon and turned her attention back to what was happening around her. Everyone seemed to be relaxed, talking among themselves or watching Haversham with the kids. The Sec Def’s protective detail remained at ease but watchful near the LZ, where the inbound helos would touch down. The SF team brought in for the MEDCAP was near them, the lieutenant and team sergeant talking to a couple of village elders, and she spotted a few Afghan troops mixed in among them. They must have arrived only recently because she hadn’t noticed them before. No one seemed to be paying them much attention.

“Hey, LT, we outta here soon?” one of her airmen called out to her left, at his post beyond Jackson’s tent.

“That’s affirm,” she called back. “Our ride should be here within the next twenty-five minutes.” Looked like there was nothing more for them to do here anyhow. Haversham’s security detail had things under control, and there were only local civilians remaining.

The words were barely out of her mouth when a sudden explosion rocked the ground behind her. She crouched and whipped around in time to see the small fireball erupt into the air less than a hundred yards down the hill from the designated LZ.

“Report,” she said tersely into her mic. The civilians around her were all shouting, rushing their terrified children back into their primitive dwellings.

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