Page 78 of Casualties of War
Adán smiled. “Your nose is twitching.”
She glared.
“Even more now.” His smiled grew.
Parris grabbed the laptop and put it on her knees. “What happened after that?” she demanded.
Adán took her through the runinto the beach and being interrupted by the guerilla villagers, who took him in for the night, then sent him on his way to Pascuallita the next morning.
“Everyone loves a hero,” Parris said, when he finished.
“Are you going to shove a gun in my face and tell me to stay put, while you do whatever you’re doing here?”
She cleared her throat. “We’re…assessing.”
“Bullshit. You don’t want to beslowed down. You told me and you told your C.O. almost the same thing. Timing is an issue. You have a deadline you’re trying to meet.”
“It’s not a deadline,” she admitted, “but timeiscritical. Which is why we have to drag you with us. I can’t spare the time to get you off the island.”
“What is so critical?” he asked.
“I can’t tell you.” She grimaced. “I’d be breaking so many codes and lawsif I even hinted, Adán. Including, I think, the Homeland act, because you’re not American.”
“Homeland?” he repeated, surprised. He frowned. “You’re not here because of the war, are you? I mean, you are, but there’s something else. Something to do with terrorists.”
She stared at him again.
Adán sighed. “Okay, I got it. You can’t talk about it.” His eyes widened and his mouth parted. “Sweet Marie…”he breathed. “Is this something to do with the hospital?”
She jerked. “What?” she said, her heart screaming. Her mouth felt numb with shock.
“The hospital bombing,” he repeated. “I can tell by your face that I’ve nailed it.”
“Wait,” she said, lifting her hand. There were too many people sitting within hearing distance. Her men were good at pretending a sound proof wall was between her and themwhen she was busy in her “office”. This, though, was not something they could hear.
She got to her feet. “Follow me,” she told Adán.
