Page 18 of Bullets and Dandelions

That’s when I noticed Stone’s team and Lieutenant Moss were listening to our conversation. “Yep, eight times.”

Stone grimaced in disgust. “Roberts was trying to break you.”

“He tried.” I rubbed my aching forehead. When had I turned into Chatty Cathy? Stone might be a jackass, but for some odd reason I trusted him.

Lieutenant Moss asked, “What was Captain Harris’s role in this?”

I flinched when Tex injected my wound with a painkiller. “Facilitator. My father or Roberts would send him the mission details and he’d put me on a chopper.”

“What did they promise Harris?” A muscle twitched in Lieutenant Moss’s jaw.

“A promotion to Major and three hundred thousand dollars. He wasn’t in his office when I returned, and I doubt he’ll cooperate with you.”

Lieutenant Moss grimaced. “We found his body two hours ago. He had been beheaded.”

“Roberts knows I have the microdot and he’s killing anyone who can expose him.”

Sergeant Stone’s sat phone beeped. “Don’t go anywhere. He stepped away to take the call.

Tex bandaged my arm. “All done.”

“Thanks.”

“They’re sending a helicopter for us. You’re being evacuated to Kuwait for debriefing,” Stone advised.

I nodded. “I need my guns.”

“We can provide any weapons you’ll need,” Stone countered.

“I’m not leaving without Bertha.”

Stone’s eyebrows rose. “Bertha?”

“Bertha is my modified sniper rifle. She’s the only thing keeping me alive. Please.”

“Modified, huh?”

“My father’s upgrades are one-of-a-kind.”

“I just bet they are.” Stone gestured. “Let’s go.”

Chapter Six

I entered Captain Harris’s office and came to an abrupt stop. The air reeked of bay rum aftershave. “Stop! Roberts has been here recently.”

Everyone stopped and looked around.

Johnson wrinkled his nose. “Damn, what is that smell?”

“Roberts always bathes in bay rum aftershave. He thinks it’ll hide his stench,” I answered.

“Booby trap.” Rodriquez pointed to a trip wire.

Sergeant Stone knelt and examined it. “Pipe bomb.” He quickly disarmed it. “All clear.”

“Roberts likes his little games.” Walking carefully over to the armory door, I checked it for any more surprises, then typed in my password into the keypad. When it clicked open, I took Bertha off the rack.

“Let’s have a look.” Sergeant Stone held out his hand.

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