There was one other thing Derek had to say.
“This is all new to Ms. Hamilton. The past couple of weeks have been hard on her, and I want to make sure that this doesn’t add to what has already been a traumatic experience. Watch what you say around her. She’s a midwife, trained to save lives, not watch people kill and die. She doesn’t need to overhear your graphic war stories.”
Cruz’s gaze dropped to the table. “Sorry, man.”
“Feckin’ idiot,” McManus grumbled.
Over Thanksgiving dinner yesterday, Cruz had told Jones about a time when his SEAL element had been ambushed, joking about the number of insurgents they had killed. It was trench warfare humor, the kind of thing operators talked about on their downtime, a way of processing what they’d seen and what they’d had to do to survive. But Jenna had overheard and had clearly been upset.
“Any questions?”
When no hands went up, Corbray turned off the screen. “Our mission priority is Ms. Hamilton’s safety. Remember that a firefight would become an international incident that could potentially destabilize the province.”
“Does Kazi know that?” O’Neal asked.
“I think he does. As angry as he was during my visit, he kept up an appearance of hospitality. He knows he can’t afford to lose Washington’s support.” Derek glanced at his watch. “Let’s make this happen.”
“I’m packed up and ready to be bait.” Shields drew Jenna’s gray headscarf over her hair. “See you downstairs.”
Shields would act as a decoy, heading to the airport with Jenna’s bags and a convoy of three armored Land Cruisers to board a commercial flight to Kabul under Jenna’s name. With any luck, she would draw Kazi’s attention long enough for Jenna to board Cobra’s private jet safely. By the time Kazi realized Shields was a Cobra operative and not Jenna, the plane would be airborne and on its way to Istanbul.
Leaving Corbray, McManus, and Cross in the operations room, Derek went to get Jenna. He found her sitting on her bed in jeans and a T-shirt, Kevlar vest in her hands, white burqa on the bed beside her. Her bags had been sent ahead with Team One and checked in by Shields. Jenna would catch up with them in D.C.
“Are you ready?”
She nodded, lines of worry on her face.
“I’ll help you put that on.” He took the vest, strapped her into it, saw that she was wearing Jimmy’s dog tags.
The weight of what they were about to attempt came down on him hard. She was Jimmy’s little sister. He couldn’t fail her.
I’ll do my best to get her safely home, buddy.
He drew her into his arms, held her. “I know this is scary, but we’re going to do everything we can to keep you safe. This isn’t our first rodeo.”
“Just keepyourselfsafe, okay?”
That wasn’t his job description, but he didn’t say so. “I’ll do my best.”
Derek held her cold hand as they walked together to the elevator and rode it up to the top floor. “Time to put that on.”
“I swore I’d never wear a burqa.” Jenna pulled it over her head, white fabric concealing her from head to toe, the green of her eyes just visible through the front mesh. “I must look like Casper the Friendly Ghost.”
Derek couldn’t help but laugh. “Nah. Casper doesn’t have feet.”
The MH-6 Little Bird was waiting, rotors running, ready to get airborne, Cruz, Jones, and O’Neal standing nearby, automatic weapons in hand.
Derek shouted to be heard over the rotors. “Keep low, and I’ll help you in.”
“Okay.” He couldn’t see her face, but her voice sounded small and scared.
Cruz and Jones boarded first, Derek following with Jenna, his arm around her shoulders. It was a big step for her, but she made it. Derek strapped her in and grabbed his loaded M4, which sat propped up against his seat. He buckled in and put on his earphones, motioning for her to do the same.
“This is how we’ll communicate during the flight.”
“Ladies and gentleman, welcome to Little Bird Airlines,” said Fox, their pilot. “Please put your seats and trays in their upright positions as we prepare for take-off.”
O’Neal grinned. “I hope the service on this flight is better than the last one.”