Page 90 of Over the Edge

“The kids are singing a song they learned from a man in a cage.” She sang Twinkle, Twinkle with the amended lyrics.

Trevor swore under his breath. “That clever bastard. Kenny taught the kids the song. Country star. That would be him. We would know he’s a wannabe country music singer.”

She nodded. “Up east of the cold divide. Zagistan is east of here. But the cold divide?”

“North of here, there’s one really remote pass into Zagistan that’s snowed in almost year ‘round. It’s only passable for a few months in the summer. I don’t know if it’s open now. Could already be frozen shut. If that’s how Haddad went into Zagistan, it jives with the intel you got that Haddad is in northern Zagistan.”

Their gazes met, both leaping with excitement. Bless Kenny for leaving them a clue to finding him.

“How long ago did the man in the cage come through here?” Trevor asked eagerly.

“I don’t know. I’ll ask the children.”

“Ask the mom. She may be more accurate. She should know when the kids started singing the English nursery rhyme.”

Anna nodded. “Are you picking up good information?”

“Nothing that dramatic, but Haddad runs heroin through here. It’s how he finances his terror operations. Some of the locals are loyal to him because being drug mules is a good source of income.”

“Keep talking. I’ll see what I can find out from the mom.” Anna headed back inside the home.

She and the woman of the house chatted haltingly in their not quite identical dialects, and Anna finally worked the talk around to asking, “When was the last time Abu Haddad came through here?” Anna asked innocently.

The woman thought for a moment. “About six weeks ago.”

Anna picked up another plate. “Your daughter said there was a man in a cage with Haddad.”

“An American. He wore soldier’s clothes. He was in bad shape. Haddad’s men weren’t feeding him or giving him any water. An orphan slave of Haddad’s seemed to be the only one caring for him. A few of us snuck the man a bit to eat and drink.”

“Thank you for that,” she said quietly.

“The Qu’ran says to feed the poor and slaves, and to treat all human beings with dignity.”

“Indeed.”

The family settled down to go to bed not long after that, and Anna retreated to the barn with Trevor. There was a bit of a flap with their host insisting that Anna and Trevor sleep at separate ends of the barn with a blanket hung between them. As if that would protect her virtue…but whatever floated the guy’s boat.

As soon as the last light went off in the house, Anna felt Trevor ease down to the straw beside her. Dang, that man was quiet, even for a SEAL.

She lifted the edge of her sleeping bag, which she’d spread out tonight like a blanket. He slipped underneath it and spooned against her back, big and warm and strong. She lifted her head and he slipped one arm under her ear, while the other looped over her waist.

“You feel so good,” he murmured.

“So do you.” She snuggled back against him. “What’s the plan for tomorrow? The Khyber Pass and your contact?”

“Affirmative.”

“We need to hurry. The wife told me Kenny was in bad shape and not getting fed or given water by his captors.”

Trevor’s arm tightened around her. “We’ll get to him in time.”

“I hope so,” she replied soberly.

* * *

Head’s so damned heavy.Can’t hold it up. Gotta sing. Croak, more like…

“Baa, Baa, black goats

---