Midnight Sun (29 page)

Authors: Basil Sands

BOOK: Midnight Sun

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The
parade
of
emergency
vehicles
stopped
and
medical
crew
poured
into
the
wreckage.
A
woman
in
a
smart-looking
skirt
suit
jumped
from
the
news
van
and
briskly
walked
to
the
edge
of
the
site,
turned
her
back
to
the
scene,
and
waited
as
her
cameraman
hoisted
the
device
to
his
shoulder.
Kharzai
maneuvered himself out of view of
the
camera
,
raising
his
fingers
to
his
eyes
and
wiping
away
the
all-too-real
tears
that
continued
to
rise.
Normally
in
a
situation
like
this,
he
would have acted
a
part
very
similar
to
what
he
was
doing
right
now,
but
the
fact
that
he
was
unable
to
control
this
flood
of
emotion
angered
him.

“
Well,
there
’
s
nothing
we
can
do
here,
”
he
said.
“
I
’
ll
go
back
to
the
car.
”

As
Kharzai
walked
away,
Farrah
suddenly
realized
the
camera
was
pointed
at
him.
The
cameraman
gave
a
signal,
and
the
lady
reporter
started
talking.
As
the
camera
panned
the
scene
of
the
accident
Farrah
discreetly
repositioned,
cursing
himself
for
not
getting
out
of
its
direct
view
quicker.

“
I
will
need
to
see
your
ID.
” Lonnie
motioned
towards
Kharzai
before
he
got
far.
“Y
ours
and
those
other
two
men
as
well.
”

“
I
really
don
’
t
know
anything
more
about
this
unfortunate
situation,
”
Farris
started.

“
Since
your
friends
entered
the
accident
scene
and
touched
what
is
potentially
evidence
in
criminal
investigation,
I
must
insist,
”
she
said.

“
Oh,
well,
we
certainly
don
’
t
want
any
trouble
in
that
regard,
Trooper,
”
Farris
replied.

He
produced
his
wallet
and
removed
a
driver
’
s
license.
He
called
out
to
the
other
two
men
in
a
language
that,
judging
by
her
expression,
the
pregnant
trooper
did
not
understand.
She
took
his
card
and
waved
over
one
of
the
police
officers, who made
his
way
through
the
mess.
The
other
two
men
approached,
fishing
out
their
ID
cards
as
they
walked.
When
they
drew
close,
Lonnie
caught
a
whiff
of
body
odor
that
smelled
like
vinegar
and
stale
bread.