Page 94

Seconds, then minutes slid by before he looked up.

His expression was grim.

“Maguire, shut the door. All of you, sit down.”

They sat.

Black said nothing.

More seconds ticked away.

Dec had training in interrogation techniques. They all did, which meant they all knew what their CO was doing: He was reinforcing the facts. He was in charge. They were essentially powerless. Whatever took place next was under his control.

Still, knowing all that didn’t much help.

Dec was uncomfortable. He knew the other guys were equally uncomfortable. It was that old routine of waiting for the other shoe to drop.

The one difference was that they were all well-trained. They knew how vital it was to wait for that shoe to drop. Black knew it too, which meant it was a relief—a very small one, but still a relief—when he finally made a move.

He pushed back his chair and rose from his desk.

The men from Unit One started to shoot to their feet. Black held up a hand and motioned them back.

“I’m told your flight home was uneventful.”

Nobody responded.

“I’ve read the debriefing reports on the firefight.”

Still no response.

“Twenty-eight insurgents killed. Four wounded. Half a dozen got away. No problem. Let them tell their boss how lousy they are when dealing with a STUD unit. Nicely done.”

Silence.

“And the princess extracted. Again, nicely done.”

No one so much as blinked.

“I do have some questions. Not a lot, just some—but we can get to those another time.” Black strolled to the window and looked out. “Right now, I have another topic to discuss.”

A faint, ever so faint shuffling of feet.

“It’s about what went down a few days ago. Your removal of the princess and two others from the camp where they were being held captive.” Black turned to look at the men, arms folded across his chest. “To be more specific, I’m interested in what happened at the point of extraction. Maguire. Sullivan. Spanos. Olivieri. Romano.”

“Sir!” Five voices barked as one.

“All of you managed to get on the Black Hawk that had been sent to extract you. All five of you, plus the ambassador and his wife. Is that correct?”

“Yessir.”

Black turned his gaze on Dec.

Dec drew a long breath into his lungs. Here it was. The entire purpose of this meeting.

“And then we come to you, Sanchez. Somehow, you and Princess Anoushka just couldn’t get to the bird all of your compatriots managed to reach. Am I correct again?

Dec exhaled. Raised his chin. Looked directly at his commanding officer.