Page 60 of Stand Fast

“Wanted you to be the first to hear the good news.”

“What good news?”

“You were right. We found the tunnels.”

“You did?” He could hear the smile in her voice, the joy, and wished like hell he’d been able to see her reaction in person.

“Yep. Along with a big-ass cache of weapons and hash. We even rounded up a few prisoners, including an HVT.”

She gasped. “Who?”

“One of The Jackal’s lieutenants.” He gave the man’s name.

“You got him?” She sounded elated. “Did you question him?”

“Tried. He’s not talking right now, but the chatter around here indicates that The Jackal was here as of a few hours ago. The SEALs are working on finding his trail right now.”

“Oh, that’s bloody brilliant,” she breathed in her cute British accent.

“Yeah.” His girl had done good. “I wanted you to hear it from me.”

“Well thank you for that, I appreciate it. So, how are you?”

“I’m great.”

“No close calls out there, I hope?”

He smiled. “Nah. I’m safe and sound. We all are.”

She let out a relieved breath. “Good. Will you be coming back to Bagram?”

“No. Back to the FOB we launched from, in case we get a lead on The Jackal.”

“Ah. Of course.”

He was damned pleased to hear the disappointment in her voice. It meant she missed him. Hopefully as much as he missed her. He wanted to spend more time with her, get to know her better and prove this was way more than physical for him. “Absence makes the heart grow fonder.”

“Right. They’re uh, moving us back to Kabul tomorrow sometime. Not sure when.”

Disappointment flooded him. They wouldn’t get to see each other, even when his team got back to Bagram. “You’ll let me know where?”

“Yes.”

Hamilton was motioning for his phone back. “I gotta go,” Zaid said, wishing they could have talked longer. Or at least about something more than work. “I’ll text you later if I can.”

“Okay. And, Zaid?”

“Yeah?”

“Thank you. I’m chuffed that you called me yourself.”

Chuffed was good. He was damn proud of her. “You did good, honey. You didrealgood.” Hamilton was giving him the steely-eyed stare now, hands on hips. “I’ll talk to you soon.”

Zaid ended the call and handed the phone to his team leader. As he headed back to where the others were burning the hash, he couldn’t wipe the smile off his face.

****

Fahim jumped out of the dilapidated vehicle that had driven him to the main highway through the darkness and immediately crossed to the one waiting for him at the shoulder. He was furious…and scared.