Page 92 of Into the Gray Zone

Kerry turned to him and said, “Yes, that’s about right. I’m sorry, but like I said, we don’t have any standing here.”

Jennifer said, “That’s bullshit. They took an American, Sledge. That gives us standing to at least be in the room for some sanity.”

Kerry looked at her, then me, saying, “Who the hell is Sledge?”

I said, “Seriously? You’ve never heard of Sledge?”

Jennifer started humming an old rock song, and he said, “That’s Sledge?”

She said, “Yeah, that’s him. And he’s a U.S. citizen.”

Kerry took that in, and Knuckles said, “That’s what we take to the Oversight Council.”

Kerry said, “I get your interest in this. I understand it, but we can’t just go running amok here because you’ve become emotionally involved with one of the hostages.”

Knuckles started to advance on him and I pushed him back, saying, “Whoa, whoa. That’s not helping things.”

Kerry stood up, saying, “What the hell was that? Have you lost your mind?”

Knuckles balled his fists and said, “You’re giving up here. And I’m going after Nadia with or without your vaunted Oversight Council.”

Kerry said, “You keep that up, and I’ll have you on the first plane out of here.”

Jennifer stepped in and said, “Hey, come on now. Stop this. We’re all on the same team.”

Knuckles said, “Are we?”

Kerry looked at me, and I said, “That’s a good question.Arewe on the same team here? You keep saying we don’t have any standing in India, but China is pulling the chain for this entire mess. Surely we care about that.”

Kerry softly nodded, then said, “I believe you, but we don’t have any proof of that.”

“The guy Knuckles captured is the proof. What’s he saying?”

“He’s saying he’s just a bodyguard and had no idea what the head of security was up to. He’s claiming he did what he was supposed to do to protect his asset.”

Knuckles said, “He fucking shot the groom in the head.”

“He’s denying shooting anyone. He’s saying he was getting Thakkar out of the line of fire, full stop.”

I said, “Who’s he talked to? Has he spent any time with the RAW guys?”

“Not yet. Just local police.”

Jennifer was looking out the French doors of the villa. She had a clear field of view to the temple in the center of the estate. It was a tourist attraction opposite the pool but had been turned into an interrogation center. Knuckles, as the man on the ground, had been through it, getting questioned by the police like everyone else.

She said, “He’s going in now. I’m assuming he’s facing the RAW this time?”

We all crowded around the doors, watching the poor bastard getting frog-marched across the grass to the temple. Kerry said, “Yeah, I wouldn’t want to be him. They’re going to apply pressure this time.”

I said, “He deserves it. We should hold off on the Oversight Council meeting until he’s done. I’m sure he’s going to spill his guts, and it’ll involve China.”

Kerry said, “I can’t dictate the POTUS schedule. It’s not something I control.”

I saw the fear on the bodyguard’s face and said, “Maybe this one time we should try to delay. He’s going to start talking. I can see it in his expression. He’s done.”

Kerry watched him walking to the temple and said, “Yeah, you might have a point.”

The bodyguard’s pace was lethargic, as if he wanted to stall what was to come. He had two men behind him poking him in the back and one walking in front. He reached the pool area, the temple to his left, and a crack split the air.

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