Finish the Course (The Barnes Family Book 1) (8 page)

Anna felt a wash of betrayal, “Why?”

“You’re a distraction,” Hanbali was so nonchalant about it that Anna wanted to slap her. “I was upset at first when they chose you as the woman. How could a woman like you attract the good Captain’s attention?

“But then I remembered his reaction when he found out you were the pilot for our trip back into Afghanistan.”

Anna frowned.

Hanbali answered the unasked question.

“Captain Reed was distressed by the news. I wasn’t sure what had happened between the two of us, but I knew I could capitalize on it.”

Anna’s heart sank further. Reed didn’t even want her as a pilot.

“If you had simply gone along with the contingency plan, you could be done with me now.”

Anna glanced down at the man lying on his back to gauge his reaction. His jaw was set, but he didn’t even blink.

She rose and looked down at the other woman. She held out her hands, “Okay.”

Hanbali laughed, “You think I’m putting down this gun to tape you up? No. You must come with me.”

“Leave her,” Captain Reed spoke from his position on the ground.

“It’s interesting, really,” Hanbali looked between the other two, “most men have preferred me over you. Tall, manly, aggressive women may be the military’s type, but I flatter myself that I’m more used to male attention than you.”

She glanced down at Reed, “Except him. He, strangely, prefers you.”

“It’s because she has character,” he surprised Anna by saying.

“Oh,” she laughed, “so it was her character you were admiring while she slept tonight.”

He didn’t respond this time.

Anna wondered if Hanbali was implying that Reed found her attractive.

“Now,” she pointed at Anna, “pick up my bag and get outside with it.”

Anna did as she was told, knowing Reed wouldn’t be long behind her.

Hanbali took the bag once they were outside.

“I know you won’t be able to get back in the building, and it will take Reed at least ten minutes to get out of that mess, so I’m guessing I’m about home free.”

Anna wondered if the woman truly thought she was going to get away.

“I hope you don’t mind,” she held up the pink cell phone, “I took this. I was surprised you had such a girly looking phone, frankly.”

Besides having all her personal numbers and information on that phone, Anna had private military and government numbers stored. They all had some sort of code, but it wouldn’t be too difficult to figure out.

“Of course, I can’t have you following me.”

Anna braced herself for the shot, willing her eyes to stay open.

Hanbali made a sound of derision, “Do you think I would shoot you? Out here? I am not stupid, Captain. I do not wish to bring the local officers into the search.”

She pulled a knife from the folds of her dress.

Anna’s eyes widened, but she didn’t have time to respond before Hanbali crouched and slammed the blade through Anna’s foot.

Anna fell back against the building, holding back a scream. Hanbali shrugged and took off at a brisk walk.

Slater darted from the building just as Hanbali rounded the corner.

“That way,” gasped Anna.

He had started off, but the tone of her voice when giving directions brought his attention back.

She saw the look on his face.

“Go,” she wheezed as she waved at him, “go!”

He was back with Hanbali before Anna could count to ten. The small woman was kicking and thrashing, but she was no match for Captain Reed’s vice like grip. His hand covered her mouth tightly despite her attempts to bite him. He set her down and circled her throat with one hand.

“I’m going to tell you this once, Miss Hanbali. I will crush your throat if you so much as make a squeak.”

He unlocked the door and pushed Hanbali in so he could help Anna with his other hand, “Come here, Anna.”

She leaned toward him.

He couldn’t risk letting go of Hanbali but he needed to offer his partner more support. He dragged her closer and picked her up with one arm. Slater got them both inside and allowed the door to shut.

“You’ve made a huge mistake, lady.”

Her eyes, now wide with fear, told him she recognized as much.

Anna felt like she was going to vomit from the pain radiating up her leg.

Reed managed to assist Anna back to the media room without increasing her pain, but he was none too careful with the other woman

“Sit,” he ordered as he got them back to the media room.

She didn’t argue.

He reached into his bag and pulled out a bottle

“What?” Anna managed one word through her gritted teeth.

“Sleeping pills,” he shook two into his hand and extended them to Hanbali.

That woman shook her head.

He lifted his pistol over her head, “It’s the easier of the two methods.”

She opened her mouth.

Slater waited until she swallowed and then made sure she hadn’t tucked them away in her cheek or under her tongue.

“You want one?” he asked.

Anna began to shake her head, but then nodded.

He helped her drink her water and then stood up, “She dropped the gun and her bag. I have to go get them.”

“Phone,” Anna gasped.

“Yours?”

She nodded.

He covered her with his ACU jacket, “I’ll make sure I find it.”

              He got back quickly, carrying all three, “I need to get that blade out, Anna.”

              Her eyes were already starting to droop, so she could do little but nod. She recognized he was picking up her foot, but she didn’t register any more than that.

              She awoke in the passenger seat of a sedan, “How?”

              Captain Reed smiled, “You feeling okay?”

              She shook her head, “Foot hurts.”

              “It will for a while. All I have for the pain is Tylenol.”

              “No ibuprofen?”

              “You may need surgery, so that’s not a great idea.”

              “Tylenol it is,” she tried to sit up as he handed her the pills he had apparently prepared for her. He had also taken another bottle of water from her bag.

              “What kind of sleeping pill did you give us? My head is still swimming.”

              He laughed, “Yeah, they’ll do that to ya. Luckily, you only took one. She took two.”

              Anna blinked and glanced around, “Where did she go?”

              “Tied up in the back seat,” he indicated the direction with a nod of his head. “I think she’s still out.”

              “Where’d the car come from?”

He grimaced, and she knew it was some poor civilian who would be missing their vehicle come morning.

              “The guy tried to sell me drugs, so I stole his car.”

              Anna’s eyes widened, “You’re making that up.”

              “I’m not,” he assured her.

“He came into the school?”

“No, I went outside for a few minutes, and he was hanging out around the playground.”

“He probably figured you had a specific reason to be there at that time.”

“I wouldn’t have even taken the car because I was afraid he had stolen it himself, but the registration is in his name.”

              “How do you know that?”

              “I stole his wallet too.”             

She smiled and leaned her head back against the seat, “This has been quite a lesson in Green Beret tactics.”

“You need more water,” he urged.

She obliged and then recapped the bottle, “Are you at all curious about what is in her folder?”

“I’m always curious, but I know enough to keep it in check.”

Anna chuckled, “As a kid, it was so hard for me to understand that. I’d hear my dad talking to someone, and he’d catch me and tell me there were things I didn’t need to know. And that I had to learn to accept that.”

“Was your dad upset that you didn’t go into the Army?”

She shook her head, “Not as upset as my mom was that I didn’t go into the Navy.”

“Oh? Is she Navy?”

Anna nodded, “She was JAG. She retired once she hit her twenty.”

His eyes widened.

“She thought I was heading there for sure, but I wanted my own road.”

He nodded, understanding that sentiment completely.

They approached the complex gate, “The folder with our passes is under your feet.”

She reached down and picked it up, quickly finding what he was asking for.

The guard glared down at them, “What is your purpose in coming to Langley?”

Slater held up his pass, “I am to speak to General Merchan about that and nobody else, Sergeant.”

The sergeant eyed the Captain, “You’re Captain Reed.”

He didn’t try to deny it, “I am.”

He shone his flashlight in the car, nearly blinding Anna, “This the tall dark-haired colonel?”

“She is tall,” Slater held a hand in front of the beam, “and she does have dark hair.”

“We’re supposed to be watching for you,” the guard warned.

“And you’ve done a fine job, sergeant. Now, we need to get inside because Captain Barnes has been injured, and I need to deliver this package,” he aimed a thumb at the blanket covered figure in the backseat, “to the General ASAP. I’m already late with it.”

The sergeant sighed and lifted the phone. He spoke for a few minutes to whoever was on the other end.

“You’re supposed to wait here for an escort,” he looked into the back seat. “Is that a girl?”

“If you must know,” Reed was annoyed with the delay, “it’s a dog.”

“And that’s what the general wants?”

              Slater shrugged as if he couldn’t understand it either.

              Anna waited until the guard stepped away to speak.

              “A dog, Captain? Not very nice.”

              “Oh. You’re right. Dogs don’t deserve that kind of slander.”

              It took some time for the guide vehicle to arrive.

              “How does your foot feel?”

“It hurts,” she tried to wiggle around to see it.

“It will hurt more if you put pressure on it,” he warned.

She laughed a little, “Just trying to see if you had taken the blade out.”

He raised his eyebrows, “I’m surprised you don’t remember. You called me a few choice names.”

“Sorry,” Anna winced. “Did I use obscene language?”

It was his turn to laugh, “No. You called me a misogynist, though.”

“Sorry.”

The guide car arrived, so Slater didn’t bother responding.

              She opened her phone, “Do you mind if I make a call now that we’re here?”

              “Go ahead.”

              She dialed a number, “Hi, Dad.”

CHAPTER EIGHT

They reached a building, and the driver from the guide vehicle stepped out and came to Slater’s door.

“If you and Captain Barnes will follow me, I’ll take you to the general.”

              Slater stepped out and opened the back door.

“You’ll have to carry that,” he pointed at Hanbali’s stirring form.

              The man threw back the blanket, “It’s a woman!”

              Slater rounded the corner of the vehicle, “Female if you must, Lieutenant, but I’m not sure the human race wants to claim her as its own.”

              He opened Anna’s door and helped her out. He then reached for the blanket from Hanbali and wrapped it around Anna’s legs before scooping her into his arms.

              He looked at the Lieutenant, “Lead on.”

              General Merchan was waiting for them in his office. Slater set Anna down so they could both salute.

              “Have a seat,” the older man commanded the two captains.

The lieutenant was still holding the other woman.

              “You can put that one on the couch. I’ll figure out why she’s like that in a minute. Then we’ll decide if we should keep her that way or secure these two in like manner.”

              “Sir,” Slater dared to speak up, “we’ve delivered the informant as ordered. My men are sure to be concerned about my absence, and Captain Barnes is in need of more adequate medical attention than what I was able to provide. A bed would be appreciated as well. I ask that you secure Miss Hanbali and allow us to revisit this in the morning.”

              The general thought about it a moment, “Fine, but I cannot allow you to speak to your men. I will have my aide call and assure them you are fine.”

              “Begging your pardon, sir,” Anna spoke up, “but I do not think his men will believe it unless they hear it from his own lips. Perhaps you would allow him to speak if you were listening to the conversation?”

              The general nodded, “You obviously get your negotiation skills from your mom.”

              She smiled.

              The general picked up the phone and dialed Hall’s number before putting it on speaker phone.

              “Hall here.”

              “It’s me, Hall.”

              “Good to hear your voice. You take care of the situation?”

              “Yeah, but I can’t leave just yet.”

              “Man,” Hall swore, “don’t the brass realize you got a duty to your men – to your fallen? Tell those dumb – ”

              “Hall!” Slater laughed, “I’m on speaker phone.”

              Hall swore again.

              “I just wanted to let you know we’re okay. I’ll see you soon.”

              “We?”

              Slater cursed his own loose lips, “Bye, Hall.”

              “What happened to you, Captain Barnes?” the general hung up the phone.

              “I got a knife through the foot, but Captain Reed got it out.”

              “We’d better get you to the infirmary. Lieutenant, can you get a chair?”

              Slater stood up, “No need, sir. I’ll carry her to the car, and we can drive over. Just have someone waiting at the door.”

              The General smirked, “You sure you don’t mind?”

              Realizing he was being teased, Slater did not answer. He helped Anna to her feet and waited while she rewrapped her legs with the blanket.

              “I think I could walk if you lend me an arm, Captain Reed.”

              He leaned over and picked her up anyway, “May as well take it when you can get it, Barnes.”

              She laughed a little, but leaned into his shoulder.

              “They were way off on the description,” he commented as he approached the vehicle, “You don’t weigh much more than my battle rattle.”

              She groaned, “As if weren’t bad enough to have my height and weight broadcast over national television,” she began.

              “The wrong height and weight,” he interrupted as he slowed to let her down, so he could open the door.

              She finished her statement, “now, you’re comparing me to your pack.”

              His answer was a grin.

              He got her to the car and climbed into the driver’s side, “I’m glad they didn’t insist we take Hanbali with us this time.”

              Lieutenant Sharpe knocked on the window and climbed in, “I was told to give you directions.”

              Slater laughed, “Give us directions and then direct us back to Langley, you mean.”

              The lieutenant didn’t comment – simply suggested a route.

              The hospital was only a mile and a half from CIA headquarters. There was a nurse waiting with the wheelchair at the door.

              “We’ll take good care of her, sir,” the young woman smiled as she began backing away.

              “I’ll be making sure of that,” he followed her.

              The lieutenant cleared his throat in disapproval.

Slater turned on him, “Is there a problem, Lieutenant?”

“No, sir,” the young man was not cowed, but neither was he going to argue with a ranking officer who had clearly been having a bad day.

The nurse pasted a sympathetic smile on her face, “You can sit in the waiting room until we finish examining the young lady.”

Captain Barnes almost laughed at Reed’s ferocity.

“I will come with her while you examine her. I’m not leaving her until I know she is safe,” his clipped tones drew the attention of a nearby doctor.

He approached with a benign smile, “Is there a problem, Tracy?”

She glanced at the man next to her, “This man would like to accompany the patient during our exam.”

Anna thought she should speak up, “It’s really okay. It’s not like there is anything private about my foot.”

The doctor looked down at her wrapped appendage, “What happened to your foot?”

“Somebody stabbed it,” she extended her leg slightly as part of the explanation.

Both the doctor and nurse glanced up at Captain Reed.

He glared back but didn’t offer any defense.

“We are obligated to call the police in such a situation as this,” the doctor began.

“Doctor,” the lieutenant stepped forward, “this is a military situation – not a civil one. I would appreciate if you would allow Captain Reed to accompany Captain Barnes while she is examined.”

The doctor looked between them and then agreed.

In the exam room, he unwrapped the foot, “This looks good. Who took care of it for you?”

Anna pointed at the stern looking man in the room, “Captain Reed.”

He twisted it to look at the bottom, “Are you a medic, Captain?”

“No.”

Anna raised her eyebrow at him.

He didn’t budge from his rigid stance.

“Am I going to need surgery?”

Doctor Anderson shook his head, “Considering the blade went in parallel to the bones, I doubt it, but we should do an x-ray to make sure no tendons were harmed. Either way, this is going to take several weeks to heal.”

He put her foot down, “What kind of blade did you say it was?”

She looked at Reed who answered by lifting his leg and retrieving a knife from his ankle.

“It looks like this,” he placed the knife on the table.

The doctor looked at it, “This appears to have blood on it. Is this the knife you took from her foot?”

“It’s a shiv,” he offered.

The doctor frowned, “And who put it there?”

“That is irrelevant,” Reed barked.

Anna glared at him before turning back to the doctor, “Someone who is now locked up, thanks to Captain Reed.”

The doctor didn’t ask any more questions, but sent her to radiology. Slater paced the lobby while they waited for results.

“Would you mind sitting down, Captain Reed? You’re making me dizzy.”

He sat down, but now his bouncing leg was shaking the whole row of chairs.

She kept her mouth shut, not knowing what he would resort to next.

“It shouldn’t take long, Reed.”

“He thought I did it,” Reed sounded like he was speaking to himself.

She laughed softly, “You
were
acting a little suspicious.”

He grunted.

She looked up at the clock. It was oh three hundred. No wonder she was tired.

“When was the last time you had a good night’s sleep, Captain?”

“It was my fault,” he ignored her question. “I should have stayed up a little longer.”

“It wasn’t your fault, Slater,” she reached out and squeezed his shoulder.

“I should have started on the tape two seconds earlier,” he explained, “but I was afraid she would come back in and check on me.”

“And then she would have shot me for giving you that knife.”

He shook his head, “She wasn’t going to shoot you.”

“You don’t know that. She did stab me.”

Slater laughed a little, “When I felt you slipping that knife into my pants, I thought you were getting fresh with me.”

She laughed, “You did not. My fingers do not feel like cold steel,” she paused. “I was going to put it in your hands, but I thought she might see it.”

“It was a smart move. I might have lost it while I was trying to move the cart.”

She didn’t respond.

“Of course,” he continued a couple minutes later, “if you should ever feel the need to do that again, you could just put it between the first and second layer. You don’t have to tuck it in the shorts.”

She looked at him, aghast, “I didn’t.”

He shrugged, “I’ve had worse things done to me.”

She covered her mouth, but a snicker escaped, “I’m so sorry.”

He leaned away from her, staring at her.

She laughed again. Pretty soon, she was laughing so hard she had to cover her mouth with both hands to prevent drawing the attention of the hospital staff.

“I think you must be over tired.”

She nodded, “Plus,” she spoke between bouts of laughter, “this day has not turned out the way I planned, and it has been strange, strange
, strange
.”

Slater was more accustomed to the lack of sleep as well as the strange days. He stood up to get her a drink of water.

She accepted it.

“What were you planning to do today?”

“I was going to get off the plane and go visit my grandmother,” she looked down at the wrinkled mess she was wearing. “Wearing this dress.”

“Do you think she’s panicking that you haven’t shown up?”

Anna laughed, “Nah. She’s so forgetful. She probably assumed she got the date wrong.”

“How did your dad react?”

“I just told him I ran into some problems after I got stateside, but he wants all the details.”

“Where do you go after this?”

She began to answer but the doctor entered.

“Captain Barnes, I have your x-rays.”

“And?”

“I think we’ll wrap it up and let you go. I’d like to put you on an antibiotic, but there doesn’t appear to be any permanent damage.”

“Doesn’t appear to be?”

“There’s still some swelling,” the doctor explained. “She’ll have to be seen again in a couple days.”

The doctor did give her a walking boot and some crutches so she did not have to rely on Slater to carry her.

“Ready to go?” the lieutenant was waiting by the doors.

“Yes,” Slater followed Anna, ready to catch her if she fell.

The lieutenant directed them to their rooms. Slater walked into Anna’s and dropped her bag, then proceeded to check the windows, the closet and the bathroom.

“Is he always this suspicious?” the lieutenant questioned her quietly.

She whispered back, “He’s still alive.”

The lieutenant must have realized he wasn’t necessary or wanted.

“The general will see you at oh nine hundred hours. There is a coffee shop between here and there,” he handed Slater some cash. “I wasn’t sure if you had any since your wallet was confiscated at Andrews.”

Slater thanked the man and watched him leave.

He looked back at Anna, “Will you be able to sleep?”

“Like a baby.”

He slipped past her, “I haven’t had much experience with those, but from what I’ve heard, they tend to stay up all night.”

She laughed and reached for her knob.

He stood in the hall, “Call me if you need me.”

              “Thanks, Reed,” she closed the door, knowing he was going to check it before he went into his own room.