Page 29 of Her Fearless Warrior

“I know.”

“When I was approached to come to Syria, I was suspicious. But they also knew that my family on my mother’s side was Syrian. I’m sure that’s why they approached me. I’ve been horrified at what I’ve seen, all the displaced and starving people because of al-Assad. Just growing some food would help.”

Leila could hear Katherine working herself up into tears. She couldn’t let that happen. If Katherine cried, she was worried that she’d start crying.

“How did you hide the phone?” Leila asked.

Katherine gave a hint of a chuckle. “The way women have been hiding things since they created a corset. My bra. No one wants to cop a feel of sixty-five-year-old breasts.” This time, she chuckled, and so did Leila.

It helped. Laughing. If she weren’t laughing, she’d be throwing up in the corner of the truck.

Suit Man knew that Leila had answers and the only reason that she could think of for bringing Katherine along with her was to use her to get Leila to answer questions. They’d hurt this nice woman to get Leila to tell them things. If she did, then four prisoners would not be released. They’d end up rotting in jail. God knows what’s happening to them.

Then there would be the contact or contacts in al-Assad’s government who’d likely be killed, and she couldn’t forget about the man who was to deliver the diamonds.

Fuck!

She began to push her fingers through her hair and cried out in pain.

“What’s wrong, Leila? Dammit, I didn’t check your other cheek. I got caught up in the phone issue.”

“No, it’s not my cheek. I forgot he’d pulled me up by my hair, and like a nitwit I tried to run my fingers through it like I always do.”

“Got it.”

There was silence in the truck. Leila didn’t have it in her to make conversation. She was too upset over her realization that it was up to her to decide who got hurt or possibly killed. She should never have agreed to help Elijah out in the first place. It didn’t matter if he was a good man and a friend of her father’s. He was still CIA, and they played at the high roller table.

Stupid.

Stupid.

Stupid.

“Leila, they obviously questioned Elijah for information and didn’t get it. Now they want to question you even further, right?”

“Yes,” Leila answered slowly.

“Do you think they think I’m in on it?”

Leila considered lying, but they needed to be a solid team. “No, Katherine, I’m pretty sure they know you’re not part of the CIA.”

“So the only reason to take me with you is to use me. To hurt me. If they hurt me, they think you’ll tell them what you know. Do I have that right?”

“You’re smart. I guess that’s why you’re CEO of a large corporation.”

“Founder. I’m a scientist at heart.”

“I’ll up that to really fucking smart.”

“Are you protecting good people, Leila?” Katherine’s voice trembled just a little. “Is it worth it?”

Leila reached out, fumbling until she touched and grabbed her hand. “They’re good people. I promise you, they’re good people.”

“Then we can get through the ugly.”

* * *

Linc smelled the cigarette smoke. He cut his eyes to the left and nodded as he saw Jase had noted the same thing. Jase pointed to another alley. And they were in luck. Two lines of laundry were gently swaying in the night breeze. It was two stories up, but not a problem. Linc even saw one of the hats that men wore, which would help him out because of his blond hair.