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“Because if he has a problem with you, he’ll let the Taliban take care of it.”
Rachel narrowed her eyes. “Delgado has intentionally left other soldiers unprotected so that they’re injured or killed by the enemy?”
“That’s what the guy said.”
“Which guy?”
“Just a guy.”
There was no way I was going to give up the soldier’s name, and she knew it.
“Have you reported this?” she asked.
“No.”
“Why not?”
I shrugged. “There’s no proof. It’s just something he heard from someone back in Spain.”
“That’s a serious charge.”
“Yes, it is.”
“But you’re not going to report it,” she said accusatorily.
“If I go to Command, they’ll ask for proof. I don’t have any. Then they’ll bring in the guy who told me. He’ll deny he said anything. And even if he doesn’t deny it, he doesn’t have any proof, either. And if it gets back to Delgado, then we’re both on his shit list.”
Rachel smiled in a decidedly unfriendly manner. “So… you decided to spread a little gossip instead.”
That annoyed me.
“I was just trying to help,” I said coolly.
“Like Delgado was ‘trying to help’ by suggesting I stand down?”
My voice became even colder. “I came to you in private.”
“I guess I should thank you for trying to undermine me in private, then, instead of in public,” she said sarcastically.
I frowned. “I’m not trying to undermine you – I’m trying to warn you. You just publicly humiliated a man known for stabbing other people in the back – ”
“I can handle Delgado, Henriksson,” she said curtly. “But thank you for your input.”
She turned away, effectively dismissing me.
Now I was irritated.
“How much combat have you seen?” I asked.
She looked back at me with a flash of anger. “Oh, so now you’re questioning my credentials? You’re right, you’re not like Delgado at all.”
“I’m wondering if you know how important it is to thoroughly trust the men you go into battle with.”
“I know this: I’m tired of men presuming to know what’s best for me.”
“I was just trying to help – ”
“Don’t. You worry about yourself; I’ll handle Delgado. You stay out of it.”
