Page 42

Worried eyes meet mine, and then Dillan Knot rocks my world. “A warrant has been issued for Hosfeld’s arrest.”
My legs go weak, dropping me into one of the guest chairs across from the executive. “What for?”
“Aaron’s being charged with treason.”
“Treason?! Is this some kind of a joke? On what grounds?”
“I wish it were. Aaron’s being accused of working with Iranian nationals for the attack on the raid team and treasury agents.”
“That… that’s impossible. It’s not only impossible, it’s insane!”
I push back upright again and begin pacing. “What possible reason, possible evidence could they have pointing to Aaron?”
“I don’t know, but it must be convincing… Sadie.”
I freeze mid-step and turn my head, locking eyes with my boss and friend. “It doesn’t look good that he didn’t show up today.”
Knot’s simple statement shakes me to my core. “You don’t actually believe that Aaron could have anything to do with this, do you?”
“I don’t want to believe it, but treason is nearly impossible to prosecute. Someone with a big enough ax to swing must think they have a solid case, or they wouldn’t be coming after him. I need to know where he went for those few hours in Shindand and where the hell he is now.”
“I plan on finding out both.”
I turn for the door and hear, “Stop.”
Knot’s elbow is resting on his desk, and his fingers are at his temple when I face him again. “I know what you’re about to rush out that door to do. I’ve been where you are enough to know that I won’t be able to stop you. All I’ll ask is that you don’t shut me out. I have to protect the people in this company first and foremost, but every one of my resources is at your disposal.”
“Thank you.”
I turn to leave again, but Knot stops me one more time. “Sadie.”
Dillan Knot is hesitant, which worries me more than anything else I’ve seen or heard so far today. I take a seat again and wait for him to lay out what’s bothering him. “This fight with Gates… Hosfeld doesn’t lose control like that.”
Knot’s got something eating him, but he doesn’t want to spit it out. We’re well past that point, and furthermore, we don’t have time for that shit. “What are you getting at?”
“Hosfeld is acting way out of character lately. If there’s any chance at all he’s done this, you searching him out could be dangerous.”
I’m on my feet, leaning over my boss’s desk in the next millisecond. “Aaron did not do this. I’d stake my life on it.”
Knot nods solemnly. “I hope it doesn’t come to that. I’m placing you on special assignment because you’ll quit if I don’t. But dammit, Sadie, my terms are non-negotiable. You follow them, or it’ll be your ass out that door. I won’t let you risk your life for this. Are we clear so far?”
“Crystal.”
He nods, only slightly less skeptical than a minute ago. “When you’re not here or at home sleeping, I want you checking in every three hours. And Sadie, be careful. Whether this is Aaron or someone setting him up, you could be walking into a buzz saw.”
“You have my word. Every three hours.”
He finally releases me, and I walk from the executive offices to find the Afghanistan crew hanging around the executive floor lobby.
Chelsea is the first to spot me and rushes over ahead of the others, “Sadie, what the hell?”
As I close the door, I motion for the group to follow me into a secure conference room and take a deep breath. Everyone around the table is focused on me, but I hesitate to tell them what I’ve learned. Somehow, repeating the words out loud makes them real. “The attack on Heathman and his men is being pinned on Aaron.”
The news is met with angry, disbelieving shouts. Chelsea leaps up from her chair, knocking it over. “Who the hell came up with that bullshit?!”
Everyone starts up again, which isn’t getting us anywhere. “Hey! Knock it off and listen. I get it. We all know Aaron could never do anything like this. Y’all also know that what we think doesn’t matter.”
“What does Aaron say about all this?” Zach asks.