Malichai allowed himself to frown. “Are you in some way implying I had something to do with your man Shevfield not returning? It’s a damn big ocean. Why would you think I even encountered him? I swam a good distance and then swam back like I do every morning. It was that simple.”
“You stayed underwater for a long time, Mr. Fortunes. You were under observation.”
“Then your observer would tell you I didn’t encounter Shevfield.”
“My observer was in touch with Shevfield and he was waiting for you. That was the last we heard of him.”
“Then your observer ought to know where he is because I don’t. And why would Shevfield be waiting for me? What the hell do I have to do with your mission?” Malichai inserted a note of belligerence into his voice. “Has it occurred to you that maybe your observer had something to do with Shevfield’s disappearance and is trying to blame it on me? It wouldn’t be the first time someone in a unit made someone else disappear because they didn’t like them.”
He kept an eye on Mills, judging the distance between them. He had the feeling Mills had been the observer Callendine kept referring to and Mills clearly had a bit of a temper. If he came at Malichai again, Malichai planned on taking him down hard.
“Stand down,” Callendine hissed, clearly knowing Mills and that he would take great offense to Malichai’s implication. “The pararescue squads go in where few venture, pulling our boys out when they’re wounded. Is that what you do?”
“I am a doctor,” Malichai admitted.
Callendine was going to keep up with the charade of interrogating him. Giving him a few things wouldn’t get him any closer to what he wanted to know. His contacts at the White House hadn’t mentioned the GhostWalkers or that very secret project. By telling Callendine he was a doctor, he appeared to be somewhat cooperating. Those in pararescue weren’t GhostWalkers. He was stalling, hoping Callendine would ease up and give him something that would allow Ezekiel to figure out who was directing the mission there and just what it was, because no self-respecting Army man would hire a local hit man to kill two women and a child and set an entire bed-and-breakfast filled with guests on fire.
“That means you’re an officer as well.” For just one moment, Callendine shifted his gaze toward first the major, and then Mills.
“Yes, sir, I am.”
“You were wounded pulling our boys out of the line of fire, weren’t you?”
“Sir, I would prefer not to answer that question.”
“Because you were on a covert mission. Do you work for the CIA?”
“I am Air Force. Pararescue.” It was time to at least admit that much.
Callendine looked triumphant.
“Are you CIA?” Malichai asked.
“I am Army. Just as proud of my branch as you are of yours.”
He’s claiming he’s Army, Zeke. Someone higher up has to be directing him. The major clearly has worked with him before. I asked directly if he was CIA and he said no. I believe him. He had pride in his voice when he said he’s Army.
“I need you to tell me who’s giving you orders,” Malichai said.
“You know I can’t do that. I can only tell you the orders are coming directly from the White House.”
“Not the president,” Malichai guessed. The president would never consider a peace conference a problem. Who then? They weren’t there to stop a bombing, not with a hit man employed.
Callendine heaved a sigh. “I know you believe you’re doing the right thing, Dr. Fortunes. It is possible, but improbable, that you’re telling the truth about why you’re here. The fact that my contacts can’t find out anything about you suggests that you’re a member of a covert unit. The wounds you sustained also suggest the same thing. You have to understand, we can’t take any chances that you are here to interfere with our mission.”
Malichai knew immediately what he was going to say. Callendine was going to give the go-ahead to his attack dog.
You’d better come in for the party, Zeke. They plan on making me the main event.
Malichai’s entire body tensed when it was the last thing he wanted or needed it to do. He had to be relaxed, ready to move, ready to defend himself when the attack came—and it was coming. It was inevitable.13I’m giving you one last chance to help yourself out, soldier,” Callendine warned.
He’s got a contingency of soldiers out here, Ezekiel said. Can you handle things in there?
Inwardly, Malichai cursed. He wasn’t about to let that asshole Mills kick his leg again. He was going to have to fight them.
Do my best, I’m not going to lie. My leg is damaged again. I don’t know how long it will hold up, so speed things up out there.
“I’m afraid I’ll have to say the same to you,” Malichai said, shifting his weight subtly. He was going to have to use enhanced speed and strength to get his ass off the ground when his leg refused to work properly.