Jungle Inferno (18 page)

“If we get a map can you show us where you were?” Dan asked.

“Yeah. Only… I know they moved Mark.” He nodded toward the water again and Troy lifted the straw to his lips. “The place where they met wasn’t their permanent camp.”

“That’s enough for now.” Troy gave Joey another sip of water, then waved everyone out of the room. “You too, Rick. This little bit has drained him.” They could see that, despite his fierce need to tell them everything, Joey’s strength had waned. The meds kicked in and his eyes slammed shut. Troy eased him back down to the pillow.

“Let’s talk.” Dan led them out of the room and they settled around the table. He took the lead, a grim look on his face. “We’ve got to get details,” he said, giving voice to what was in everyone’s mind.

“When Joey wakes up again I’ll get some nourishment into him,” Troy told them.

“Then we’ll let Rick handle the rest of the questions. Everyone okay with that?” They all nodded.

“Let’s figure out what we need to do and divvy it up.” Dan reached behind him to the counter and snagged a pad of paper. “Rick and I will work with Joey on the map of Peru. We’ll have to try to figure out where the tangos moved Mark to. Where their permanent base might be. That will be the hardest.”

“It won’t be that far from the meet,” Mike pointed out. “They were walking, remember.”

Dan shook his head. “We don’t know that. They could have had their vehicles concealed.”

“And we need to keep in mind,” Mike pointed out, “that by now Mark could really be dead.”

Heavy silence dropped like a thick fog.

“Someone needs to talk to John Gregorio,” Dan said at last.”Find out what the fuck is really happening.”

“I’ll do it.” Rick’s voice was harsh. “I served under him and he’s the one who called me about Joey. He’ll open up to me. If he can.”

“Rick, you need to call that Wilding woman back too,” Dan told him. “Just on the wild-ass chance she’s somehow connected to all this.”

Rick lifted an eyebrow. “How would that even be possible?”

“Don’t know. It’s just a strange coincidence that she pops up out of nowhere while this is all going on. Meanwhile I want to check the security setup again. Mike, take a walk outside and make sure everything smells all right.”

“Okay.” He pulled the scrap of paper from his pocket where he’d written down the number and punched it in. He listened, frowned and disconnected. “This time I got her voice mail. She said to leave a message.”

“Then do it,” Arsenault told him. “Get her to call again.” Rick made the call and left the message before setting the phone back on the table.

“I’m going to check on my brother again. If she calls back, come get me.”

* * * * *

At the moment, however, Faith was focused on other things. She’d rented a car at the airport, debated calling Major Gregorio to let him know she was on the way then decided against it. Why give him a chance to shut her down? Now she was at one of the gates, drumming her fingers on the steering wheel impatiently while the sentry called to verify her appointment.

Through the windshield she saw men and women in camouflage and others in uniform hurrying from place to place. Cars sped along the roadways, joined by occasional motorcycle. Overhead she heard the roar of engines as planes took off and landed. She knew Fort Bragg was a large, busy place—Mark’s Delta Force unit wasn’t the only one based here—but the sheer size of the place was overwhelming.

“All right, Miss Wilding.” The sentry handed her identification back to her. “You’re cleared to Major Gregorio’s office.” With concise words he gave her directions. “Oh and thirty miles an hour, okay?”

“Thank you. I’ll try to keep my lead foot off the accelerator.” She stashed her ID, waited until he lifted the gate and rolled slowly onto the base.

She considered herself lucky that she found a parking place right next to the building and a Ranger who looked too young to be in the Army who could direct her to the office itself. Too young to go out and die, she thought. Then she realized he wasn’t much younger than Mark when he’d enlisted.

John Gregorio was polite but far from welcoming when she entered his office. He extended his hand but she could tell it was ingrained courtesy and not from any real pleasure at seeing her. He was immaculate in his uniform but his face was lined with worry and fatigue. His eyes were cold as they assessed her and there wasn’t a hint of a smile on his face.

“Thank you for seeing me, Major.” She tried to make her voice as conciliatory as possible. “I know you’re a busy man.”

“When a member of the committee overseeing the Armed Services makes a request it isn’t good form not to grant it.” He gestured toward the wall behind her and she was startled to see another man standing there.

“I’m sorry.” She was confused. “If I’m interrupting something…”

“Colonel Frank Ryan.” The man held out his hand but like Gregorio, there was no welcome in the gesture. “Major Gregorio reports to me.”

Faith’s pulse sped up and she had a sinking feeling in her stomach. This wasn’t really going to be quite as easy as she’d hoped. Did they already know what she wanted? No. That was impossible. Something was up.

“Thanks to you too,” she said, hoping her sudden attack of nerves didn’t show. “I know you must have better things to do than spend your time with me. Especially when I’m just looking for background information for a new book I’m writing.”

“Why don’t you have a seat, Miss Wilding.” Ryan moved forward and held out a chair for her.

Faith dropped into it and busied herself pulling out her notepad and pen. “I’ll try not to take too much of your time,” she began. “I believe Senator Winslow explained I’m working on my latest book and wanted information about Delta Force and Special Ops.” She tried out a smile. “I like to make sure what I write is as authentic as possible.”

“Let’s just cut to the chase,” Gregorio said, his eyes like ice. “We know who you are and I’m not just referring to Faith Wilding the author. You’ve called a dozen times and left messages for me in the past two days. As soon as the senator called to wave his privilege in front of my nose I checked you out.”

Ryan pulled up another chair and sat next to her. “What we want to know is why at this particular moment you’re asking questions about Delta Force, the branch of the Army that your friend Mark Halloran’s in. What’s your role in all of this?” Faith just stared at him. Now what did she say?

Faith wet her lips. “I don’t understand what you mean. I just—”

“Cut the crap. You can forget about this story you’ve dreamed up. I know you and Halloran have been friends since childhood. What is it that has your tail in such a crack you’re pestering me with calls and using influence to force me to see you?” She didn’t know what to say. There was no way she could tell them the truth. These hard-eyed men would never believe her. But she had to tell them something. They didn’t look at all as if they’d let her just get up and walk out.

“I…” She stopped, swallowed and began again. “I’m just trying to get some information about Mark. I haven’t heard from him for a long time.”

“You could have called his parents,” Gregorio pointed out. “I understand you’re very close to them.”

Well. They had done their homework after all, it seemed. “Mark doesn’t tell his family very much.” No. That was the wrong thing to say.

Ryan lifted an eyebrow. “And he’d tell you things he’d keep from them?” This wasn’t going well at all. She drew in a breath and let it out slowly. “All right.

Please don’t think I’m an idiot when I say this but I think Mark’s in great danger.” Both men did their best to control their expressions but she’d hit a nerve. Something flickered in both pairs of eyes, although it was quickly blanked. Neither spoke for a moment. Gregorio broke the silence first.

“Exactly what makes you think that? Has someone told you something?”

“Not… No, no one.”

“Not what?” Ryan asked. “There’s something you’re holding back and I think you need to tell us.”

“But I… That is…”

“Miss Wilding.” Gregorio leaned forward. “We’re in a somewhat delicate situation here. If you’re as close to Mark as you say you are, then you know his missions are as covert as they come. So how in the hell would you have any idea what’s going on with him at this particular moment?”

Faith twisted her hands together. The situation was rapidly deteriorating.

“I’d hate to have to detain you,” Ryan told her. “But if you have information not available to civilians, I want to know what it is and how you got it.” Her shoulders slumped and she leaned back in the straight chair. “All right. You’ll probably think I’m crazy but I’ll tell you.” She screwed up her courage and sat up straighter. “Are you aware that Mark is a telepath?”

The two men stared at each other. “How the hell do you know about that?” Gregorio finally asked. “Who have you been talking to?”

“No one.” She spread her hands before her. “Are you telling me you know about this? That you don’t think this is some kind of insanity?” Ryan looked as if he was choosing his words carefully. “I can only tell you that the military has been aware for years that some people have…special abilities. That there are ongoing projects to determine how to refine them and best use them. We’ve been able to tap into Mark’s…talents on a few occasions when it saved our bacon.” Faith just looked at them. “So you believe me.”

“Let’s say we don’t doubt you,” Gregorio answered. “How exactly do you know about it? And are you trying to tell us you have the same ability?”

“Mark and I discovered when we were in high school that we could communicate with each other this way. We’ve done it ever since then.” Her lips twisted in a tiny smile. “It beats the telephone, especially when you aren’t close to one.”

“Go on,” Ryan encouraged. Obviously from his attitude he knew about Mark’s special talent but his voice was still far from friendly.

“I have an aunt who has the same abilities. She introduced me to The Lotus Circle and its members have helped me hone my skills.”

She went on to explain about TLC, about all the conversations she and Mark had telepathed during the years. About their relationship, which she still was at a loss to define. And about the messages he’d been sending for the past few days.

“He said someone betrayed him,” she told them. “I think all of his men were killed except for him. He’s in terrible pain. I think they’re torturing him to find out how you knew about whoever these people are.” She turned and looked Ryan square in the eye.

“I came here to see if you knew this and what you were doing to find him.” Her throat tightened. “I don’t think he can hold on much longer.”

For the next hour both men questioned her so intently she began to feel like a bug when it had been skewered.

At last Gregorio sat back in his chair and looked at Ryan. “What do we do with her?

We can’t let her run around loose.”

“I don’t think you want to try detaining me.” She jutted out her chin. “If you believe in telepathic communications, you know I don’t need a telephone or computer to send messages no matter where you hide me.” She glared at Gregorio. “And you wouldn’t be happy with the people I’d contact.”

If looks could kill, she’d have been dead right then.

“You’re playing with high security here,” Gregorio continued. “What guarantees do we have that you won’t make this public the minute you walk out that door?”

“I don’t think Miss Wilding will be running to any newspapers,” Ryan said. He gave her his hard stare. “Am I right?”

“I’m only concerned about Mark,” she cried, anger and desperation in her voice.

“Why do you think I went to so much trouble to get here? I just want to make sure someone goes after him. That you aren’t hanging him out to dry.” Ryan’s lips thinned. “I take the welfare of my men very seriously.”

“Do you even know where he is now? He said they moved him. Are you already planning a way to rescue him?”

“Miss Wilding,” Gregorio began in his frigid voice.

“Don’t patronize me.” She was spitting fire. “Why haven’t you gone after him already? What’s holding you back?”

The men exchanged glances but said nothing. A light went on in her brain. “You’ve been told not to. Right?” She slammed her hand on the desk. “God damn it. I don’t believe this.”

“Listen.” Frustration was written all over Gregorio’s face.

“Let me,” Ryan interjected. “We have, let’s say some challenges with this situation.

That’s the reason I’m here instead of sitting behind my desk at MacDill in Tampa. But whatever we do, we have to do it right.”

“Right? Right?” She stood up, eyes flashing. “There’s only one right way. Go in and do it and politics be damned.” She started toward the door.

“Stop.” Gregorio’s voice was like a whiplash.

Faith halted in mid-stride.

“I will not let Captain Halloran down. Colonel Ryan and I are looking at some alternatives at this very moment.”

“The best thing you can do for Mark now,” Ryan told her, “is to go home and let us take care of things.”

She fought to get her temper under control. “Fine. Thank you for your time, gentlemen.”

But as she started her car and headed toward the gate, her mind was already churning with options, convinced that Mark’s only real opportunity for rescue lay with her.

* * * * *

“You won’t like what I found.”

Trey Winslow didn’t like getting the call, never mind what he was about to hear. It could only be news of the worst kind. “What is it?”

“First of all, you know for some time the military has been investigating the value of psychic abilities, especially with reference to covert ops. And other…specialized missions.”

Winslow grunted. “Yeah but I don’t believe in all that junk.”

“You’d better believe in it.” The voice was hard and sharp. “It’s been proven too many times.”

“So what does that have to do with us?”

“Halloran was one of the men tested for a special program. A psi program, they’re calling it, dealing with paranormal abilities.”

“So? Get to the point.”

“It means, you idiot, he can send messages through mental telepathy. He and the Wilding woman have been friends for years. Telepathy is direct transference of thought from one person, called a sender or agent, to another, called a receiver or percipient, without using the usual sensory channels of communication. Do you get that?”