Page 48 of Lethal Game

“I trust him.”

This time the general allowed disapproval to take up residence on his face. “Just like that?”

“No, not just like that. He’s the first soldier Max has tried to partner me with who treats and talks to me like an equal. He was there when I needed him and he let me cry on his shoulder afterward without making me feel like I was being a wuss. I slept in his room and he didn’t try anything remotely inappropriate.” She transferred her gaze to Max’s face. “You wanted to find me a partner I could trust and work with, right? Well, he’s standing next to me.”

Stone shook his head then stood and said to Max, “I’m not in favor of this because it sets a bad example, but we’ve got an information leak, and I can admit that the situation is a unique one.” He turned his attention to Con. “Are you keeping your head in the game?”

“Yes, sir,” Con promised in his deep baritone.

General Stone stared at him for a couple more seconds, then looked at her again and angled his thumb at Con. “Rumors will, without a doubt, go around. Can you deal with that?”

“I can deal with that better than getting kidnapped.”

Stone sighed. “Max, I thought you were being paranoid, but last night has changed my mind. I’m going to ask for help profiling Akbar. The FBI’s Behavioral Analysis Unit might have some insights into what he might do next, or at least come up with a short list of possibilities. We have to get ahead of this maniac before he starts World War Three.” He nodded at everyone and left the office.

“He thinks Akbar is involved in that kidnapping attempt?” Sophia asked, her voice rising in surprise.

Max waited until the door was closed again before saying, “Sophia, there are only two women on base who match the physical description of the woman those men were paid to find and kidnap. The other person has no special skills or knowledge, whereas you’re a one of a kind asset. Akbar knows about the Biological Rapid Response Team. He was briefed on the BRRT at a time when he was a trusted adviser. He may see us as the biggest barrier to getting what he wants.”

“What does he want?” Connor asked.

“Revenge, pay back, inciting terror, whatever you want to call it. He blames the United States for the death of his family.”

“Is he right?”

“They were killed three years ago in an Islamic State attack in Syria.”

“That doesn’t answer my question.”

Max ran a hand through his hair. “After nagging for a full report of that incident, it turns out the strike was done with American weapons and ammunition. No one publicly took credit for the strike. Military Intelligence says that the Islamic State blames the USA for it.”

“He was a trusted adviser after this?” Con asked.

“He claimed to blame the extremists. He’s also highly educated and politically connected in Afghanistan as well as Syria. He gave us a lot of good intel.”

“Until he didn’t,” Connor said in a disgusted tone.

Max nodded slowly. “I need you both to write a report for that second event last night. Then I need you to prepare for a last-minute departure.”

“Are you thinking of sending me somewhere safer?” Sophia asked, stomach churning at the idea of being taken out of the field.

“No, I think Akbar is planning to use another biological weapon soon, maybe in more than one location and I also don’t think he’s done trying to mess with us.”

“To stop us from responding to an outbreak?”

“Yes.”

Sophia’s stomach twisted harder. “It makes sense in a sociopathic sort of way.”

Con snorted, but didn’t comment otherwise.

She fixed her gaze on her boss. “I don’t want to go through another night like last night, Max.”

“Agreed.” He looked at Con with one eyebrow raised.

“I won’t let her out of my sight.”

He sounded so uptight Sophia couldn’t help but say, “Why don’t you microchip me while you’re at it?”

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