Page 51 of What Remains (John Worthy #3)

The story was close to what Driver said everyone believed. Musa’s Humvee was forced off the road. Unfortunately for them all, none of the boys were skilled fighters. All were young and recently rescued from their owners.

“Musa and I do best we can,” Shahida said. “But they are too many and we give up fast.”

“You didn’t want any of the boys to get killed in the crossfire,” John said.

“Yes. Musa already got hurt. I make one call for help, but I never know if Mac hear.”

“He did,” Driver said. “But by the time he could muster up a flyover, you had disappeared.”

“That’s what he say, but…” She lifted a shoulder and let it fall. “Taliban take over, drive us to cave but leave Humvee there. Then we walk. Maybe two, three days.”

“Staying in the mountains?” When she nodded, Driver said, “Smart. That way, the men who took you hostage could get out of sight if there was a flyover. It also explains why the trail petered out. What then?”

“Then we go to place where they have big truck. They put us in, and we drive to end of road.”

“To Sarhad.” When they all turned a look, Poya said, “Trucks came through the village a lot.”

“All with boys?” John asked.

“Not in the beginning. The trucks started the spring after Kabul fell. At first, all the passengers were men. Afghan Army, I think. But then the trucks started bringing boys.” A shadow of some memory darkened his features. “There was always someone there to meet them and give the driver money.”

“Big black horse, yaqut in gold necklace?” When Poya nodded, Shahida’s mouth twisted in a sour grimace. “That is Sarbaz. He was Taliban, but now he commander in mine.”

“After he paid for the boys, his men would make them get out and walk,” Poya said. “But I don’t remember you.”

“I think we in early group. We no walk. They put us on yaks. Maybe want to get us out of sight faster, too, just in case Mac get good eye in sky.”

“Mac would do that,” Driver said. “So, they hustled you to the mine?”

She nodded. “Musa no work good at first, even though doctor take out bullet.”

“Was he the one who shot you full of antipsychotic?” John asked.

“She. Woman from Kabul.”

“I might have seen her,” Poya said. “The women were easy to spot because they were veiled. I thought from her clothes that at least one looked like a soldier.”

“She do what Sarbaz say in beginning, this doctor, but she…erhm… complain. All time telling Sarbaz want her to look after mens but not give her good medicines. Mens get hurt, but Sarbaz no give her medicines and mens…their cuts, they get…how you say?”

“Infected?” John said.

“Yes, but no medicines to make them better. Mens die and two of my boys.” Shahida’s eyes shimmered. “Get bad cuts from tools and she no have right medicines.”

“I’m sorry,” John said. “Truly.”

Shahida gave a short nod. Knuckling away a tear, she cleared her throat. “Sarbaz say is okay because there always more mens, always more boys to take their place. Then, one day doctor complain too much and Sarbaz shoot her.”

“He killed your 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.”

“ His team,” 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. Then he is there with team again, and we are running.”

“Wait, what do you mean, the first time?” John asked. “Seriously? You came back to 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 about this operation. 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, some history between 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 could still ruin 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 only Mac made it out that time.

” Driver rounded on Shahida. “Then Mac came back to try and get you all out.”

“By himself?” John asked.

“It would be the only way,” Driver said then amended, “knowing Mac. He’d blame himself. Convince the higher-ups that it would be easier to go solo. Not as many moving parts to worry about.”

Or he might have had help for at least part of the adventure. John thought back to Ustinov, how helpful he’d been. Procuring weapons, those rigged money bags which had so tempted Parviz.

“How’d he manage getting you out this time?”

“I make map from here.” Shahida tapped her temple. “As much as I know because this time, we all have to go into mine. I tell to Mac, and he have all on paper and then he put in his head because we got night vision, you know?”

“And then?”

“Map was bad.” Shahida’s eyes seemed to shutter. “Mine tunnels are changed.”

“They would,” John said. “If you got out in early 2022. A lot of time between now and then for them to extend the mine.”

“And why the hell go in winter?” Driver asked.

“Not as many men.” When they all turned, Poya continued, “The mine stops because it’s too cold. They don’t run the generators much at all. Sarbaz usually goes away in winter, too.”

“We got candles. Sarbaz want save money so sends all the men away. Only boys still there.” Shahida paused. “Sarbaz, too. I no know why he there now.”

“You don’t?” Driver hacked a harsh laugh. “ You’re the reason. You came back, you got caught, and the guy wants to know what you know. You worked with a frigging spook, Shahida. That’s why he let his guys shoot you up like that.”

“Me?” Shahida shook her head. “But I no know nothing much.”

That, John thought, was a lot of bull. “So, Mac and his guys come to get you and then? Were you as jacked up?”

She shook her head. “Sarbaz make mens give me shot make me better, not so…” She waved her arms. “Flappy-flappy. I go sleep. I wake up when Mac come. I start having big…” She flapped a hand. “Shakes.”

“Did they give you the shot in an IV or your arm?” When Shahida pointed to her upper arm, John said, “Well, that explains why. You need a good IV dose to come out of it. What then?”

“Mine bigger now. Longer than before. Shahida’s gaze ticked from him to Driver and then away. “I stay with Mac, but we do not find my boys where they used to be.”

“Because they’re further back in the mine by now. The lithium would’ve played out where they were.”

“Mmm.” Shahida’s shoulders rose then fell.

“Mac lose Meeks and Flowers on radio. He give me weapon, say go back out because I not so good and still…” She waggled both arms. “Twitchy. Then I hear shooting, and Mac come running back. He not have his helmet anymore. He said got knocked off in fight and night vision get smashed. So, he kill guard, take his helmet and go look for boys and find Flowers and Meeks.” Her eyebrows pulled into a frown.

“I think he take wrong turn. He get into fight. I hear big shouting and then I hear more guards, and he comes back, and he has…” She made a face. “Big shit. Bad smell.”

“What happened?” John asked.

Shahida shrugged and spread her hands at the same time. “He say small person he have to knock out hit him with pail of…you know.” She made a blatting sound.

“Talk about a shit show,” Driver said.

Shahida ignored him. “Guards come, and he run. I think maybe he found one of my boys.”

“One of your kids hit him with a piss bucket?” John asked.

“Maybe? Sarbaz do that. Separate boys who talk back and put on chain and make them sit in dark cave until they sorry and do what he say. Mac never get chance to tell me because then we are running out. We get some away, but he is shot. Guards chase and then I shoot.” Another shrug.

“Then I find cave where is warm and I drag him inside. And then we wait,” Shahida said. “We wait to die.”