Page 44 of Her Fearless Warrior

“Captain Evers. He’s the liaison with the CIA dicks. So, he’s getting the bullshit information.”

“Why do we want that?” Linc asked.

“I relay it to the others back home, and it helps them see how the CIA is trying to fix Leila’s phone.”

“You mean that shitty piece of metal that did nothing for her? That phone?”

Linc didn’t raise his voice, but the raw anger was palpable.

“Yeah, that phone.”

“She must still have it with her, but I didn’t think to ask for it.”

“And I’m not about to grope her while she’s sleeping to find it,” Gideon said. He leaned over. “Leila.” Nothing. He tapped her shoulder and said her name a little louder. “Leila, can you wake up for just a moment?”

Her big brown eyes opened. “Hmmm?” Then she focused on Gideon. Her brow furled. “Katherine?”

“No. You still have your phone, don’t you?”

“You mean that piece of crap that didn’t do a damn thing? That phone?”

Linc grinned. She thought the same way he did.

“Yeah, that phone,” Gideon agreed. “Do you have it?”

“Katherine does. She’s been keeping it in her bra.” Leila leaned forward and tried to unbutton the top of her blouse, but it wasn’t working. Linc realized it was because the blouse was too wet.

Linc took out his multi-purpose tool and pulled out his knife. “Here, use this. Or I could do it, and it would be easier.”

It would definitely be safer if he did it. The rocking Humvee that they were in would make it difficult for her to use the knife safely.

“Yes, you do it. Just undo the buttons until you get to the top of her bra. I’ll fish out the phone after that.”

“Got it.”

She was so tired and shaky he was going to cut the fabric, whether she agreed to him doing it or not. He sliced through the buttons and pulled back the fabric. Just enough to expose the top part of Katherine’s bra.

Linc watched as Leila pulled back the cup of the woman’s bra, then he turned his head. “You can turn around again. I’ve got it.”

“I want it.” Gideon held out his hand. “If I can make this piece of shit work, we might be able to use this to our advantage,” he said.

Leila sat back in the seat, and Linc saw her eyelids flutter down.

“Gideon, why would we need the phone to work? Aren’t we just headed to the Al Tanf Outpost?”

“Yeah, but you never know.”

10

It was hours before the debrief ended. First, he had to tell his story to Kostya, then there was the Skype call with that jerk Jerry Earnst. At least Kostya sat in on that one, so he could move things along when Good Ole Jer started asking irrelevant questions. What was the most frustrating aspect was the man’s lack of interest in Vugar Gadirov. Now that was someone they needed to stop. When Jerry was wrapping up the debrief, Linc had had enough.

“So, Jerry?” he asked. He saw the man wince. He definitely wanted to be called Agent Earnst. Well, fuck that.

“Yes?”

“Don’t you want more details about Vugar?”

“You described his house and his guards. Did you have any more relevant information?”