Page 53 of Free Fall (The Quantico Files 3)

“Look, you have to handle this however it feels right to you. No matter what you choose, I’ll support you.”

“I’m not as worried about you as I am about the ASAC and the team leaders who told me I couldn’t tell anyone what was going on.”

Jeff grinned. “So you’re not afraid of me anymore.”

“Oh, I’m afraid. Just not as afraid.”

He laughed, then stood. “I’m going to leave you alone so you can eat and make that call.” He paused a moment before locking his eyes on hers. “Listen, tomorrow you do whatever it takes to stay safe, do you understand? No one’s asking you to sacrifice yourself.”

“I understand.”

He sighed. “I don’t think you do, but I can’t argue with you now. Just come back to us, okay?”

“Yes, sir,” Alex said softly.

Jeff nodded and then left.

Alex pulled out the cheeseburger, took a bite, and did her best to swallow it.

Then she whispered, “Lord, help me do this right. I don’t want to lie, but I can’t allow Logan to get suspicious. It’s for his own good.” She took one more bite, chewed and swallowed it, and then picked up her phone.

Waiting at the door with the upper panel slightly open, Tracy wondered if she’d get dinner after no breakfast or lunch. She was hungry. But at least the other women got theirs. She’d watched to make sure.

Then she heard the wheels on the cart squeaking, closer and closer to her cell until the panel at the bottom of her door slid open and a tray was pushed inside.

“You need to be careful.” She recognized the voice of the blond guy who delivered their food. “He didn’t want you to get anything to eat at all today. Next time I might not be able to help you.”

She didn’t respond. How could he act as if he cared about her or any of the other women here? What kind of game was he playing?

Tracy listened as he proceeded from door to door, stopping first across the hall and then twice more before she heard his keys. He was probably opening Merrie’s cell. “Are you ready?” he said.

She heard Merrie answer him before the door creaked open and then shut. Two sets of footsteps clicked on the cement floor until the sound disappeared. When she heard a door close farther away, she opened the panel near the top of her door. Immediately, she heard the screeching of metal as others responded.

“It’s me. Marla. Merrie left with the blond guy.”

“No surprise,” Amy said from across the hall. “The only time I saw the other one here was on my date.”

“Are you sure she’ll be okay?” Tracy asked.

“I believe so. I came back okay, and Rhonda and Marla did too. Of course, I don’t know anything about anyone who was here before I came.”

Tracy ignored the shiver up her spine. “I hope you’re right. Please pray for her.”

“Prayer hasn’t done any good so far.” A panel slid shut. The voice had sounded like Rhonda’s.

“Forgive her.” Amy sighed. “I’m sure she’s afraid she’ll disappear next. I think she got here after Sarah.”

“Amy, are you certain they can’t hear us?”

“No, but the cameras in our cells only record video. I have some experience with security cameras, and there aren’t any speakers. If they can hear us, they would have to have something in the hallway. When I went out on our date, I looked around, but I didn’t see anything. And even if there was something out there, I don’t think they could pick up our voices clearly. We should probably try not to speak too loudly, though.”

“Okay. I’m going to put off drinking the tea as long as I can so I’m awake when Merrie gets back.”

“Good luck,” Amy said. “You have to drink the tea in front of the camera. If they don’t see you drink it, they’ll make us pay. I just can’t go through three days like that again.”

“I’m getting a little tired of the threats. Have you noticed that the blond guy talks like he doesn’t want us to be punished? Maybe it’s an act. I don’t know.”

“I don’t know either,” Amy said, “but I don’t trust him.”

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