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“Hekilledyour only doctor?”
Shahida nodded. “I think he want excuse to shoot her. She had big mouth, all time yap, yap, yap, like little dog, complain, complain. But when she is killed, he do what she say. Let boys start coming outside to sit in sun, breathe good air. They say new doctor, Sarbaz like more, listen to. Or maybe Sarbaz just like.”
“Another woman?” Driver asked.
Shahida nodded. “But I no see her. Sarbaz guard her. Old womens, aunties come feed, they say he want to take her. You know, like mens do with womens. But he saves her for to use.”
“Saves her for…?” John frowned. “I don’t understand.”
“Worthy,” Driver said, “use your imagination.” To Shahida: “Go on. What happened? Mac got into the mine and that’s how he snatched you?”
She shook her head. “Tunnels are very dark. Need night vision to see good. Taliban like to punish by putting you in dark, so you no can go anywhere.” Gathering up her right trouser leg, she pushed down a sock and angled her foot to reveal a darker and shinier band of calloused skin. “Chain you up. I was lucky,” she said, pulling up her sock. “When Mac come for me, I was outside and no chained.
“How long after you were captured did he come for you?” John asked.
Shahida held up three fingers. “Three months. Then Mac and his team come get me.”
“Histeam,” Driver repeated, but John cut in. “What happened, Shahida? How’d you get out?”
“First time, I go for water. Long hike to spring but always two guards. Next thing I know, I hear bodies fall. I look back and they are down.” Shahida drew a line across her throat. “Cut so they no scream and it all be quiet. Thenheis there with team again, and we are running.”
“Wait, what do you mean, the first time?” John asked. “Seriously? You camebackto the mine after you got out?”
She nodded. “Mac and his team and me. To try get my boys and Musa.”
“There’s that word again,” Driver said. “Team.Just who, exactly, was on this team?”
“I…you did not know?” Shahida put a hand to her lips, swallowed then said, “I wonder why you not there. But now I understand Mac did not tell you.”
Driver’s voice shook. “Did you ask?”
So, that’s what happened.This explained why Driver had a new team and hadn’t known aboutthisoperation. But there was something else Shahida had just said that jarred. “Why would they take away your team, Driver?”
Driver’s mouth worked as if he were tasting something foul. “Error in judgment. If you want to get technical.”
“Error in…” John echoed—and then he got it. “My God, you told them. After you dug yourself out and Mac picked you up, you told him what happened, why I went back for you.”
“Yeah.” Driver’s gaze fell to his hands. “Kinda dug my own grave. I think Mac could forgive Flowers because he could still function. But me, nope. Plus, there was, shall we say, somehistorybetween my guys and Shahida here and…” Driver seemed to think better of what he’d been about to say and amended. “Let’s just say there were other considerations.”
Considerations.He thought back to the story Flowers shared on that long drive to the defunct aqueduct:About two years ago, we were given this little no-nothing of a mission to this little no-nothing village to burn the hell out of their poppy fields.
The mission where Driver and his men decided to take matters into their own hands. The mission that resulted in them being booted out of the Raiders.
And straight into Mac’s lap.
This also meant that Shahida had a lot of power. If not for Shahida to supply a cover story, Driver and his team would’ve ended up in a military prison for life. She couldstillruin them, if she chose.
Which explained Mac’s power over Driver and his men. Yes, there were plenty of clandestine operations done by soldiers who were nothing but squeaky-clean.
But there were yet other soldiers—men like Driver and Flowers and Meeks—who had done something morally right but lawfully wrong. Mac and his kind lived for the Drivers of the world, because people with dark secrets were easier to control.
“Shahida, you said this was the second time.” John spread his hands. “What happened?”
“Things fall apart.” Shahida shook his head. “We not even get close.”
“Meaning?” he asked, but Driver cut in. “I know what she means. I know exactly what happened. Shahida and Mac went back with Meeks and Flowers to try and get Musa and her kids. Only they didn’t. In fact, I bet onlyMacmade it out that time.” Driver rounded on Shahida. “Then Mac came back to try and get you all out.”
“By himself?” John asked.