THIRTY-ONE
Cooper
Mr. Sorenson stared at me from the other side of a wooden table. A mirror took up one wall of the otherwise barren room. I hadn’t said a word since they brought me in.
“We can do this the easy way or the hard way,” he said.
I stayed silent.
“Okay. We’ll bring the woman in too.”
“No,” I said, slamming my cuffed hands into the table.
“Ah, so you can talk.”
“Look, I don’t know where you’re getting your information, but I’m not involved with Max, Jeffries or any of them.”
“Jeffries?”
Fuck.
“Would that be Captain Jeffries, your CO at FOB Cobra?”
“You guys said you know everything, right? Have you seen me involved in any way since we got back?”
“No, but that doesn’t mean anything. You could be really good at what you do.”
I laughed at the insanity.
“Don’t I get a lawyer? Let me talk to an attorney. I have the money to hire one.”
“You’re a national security threat, and you don’t get access to a lawyer.”
“That’s bullshit.” I moved my hands, the chains connecting my cuffs to the table clanging against the wood. “I’m a U.S. citizen, and I have rights.”
“Not until you help us, you don’t. Patriot Act, my friend.”
“Fuck this. That should have expired years ago. Let me go.”
“Or what? You’re not in a position to be making demands.”
I bit my tongue to help control my emotional response. The more I acted out, the more they could learn about me. If they wanted a game, I would play it.
The military had taught me how to get through torture well because they knew it would likely be used against soldiers who found themselves captured during the new, 21st century wars.
“Have you settled down?” he asked in a cocky tone.
I felt like reaching across the table and punching him in the throat. That would have wiped the smirk off his face.
“Here’s the deal. We need someone unknown and not in the military to take the fall. If you’re willing to give up the journalist, we’ll let you go free and clear.”
“Give up the journalist? What the hell are you talking about?”
“You know exactly what I’m talking about. As a soldier, you follow orders and get things done no matter what it takes.”
“She’s not involved,” I said.
“You must not know her family very well, do you?”
“Her father is a traveling salesman, and her mother is dead. I don’t see what that has to do with anything.”
“You are a dumb grunt, aren’t you? No wonder the Marines or Air Force didn’t want you.”
“Hey, I chose the Army on purpose.”
“You’re even more of an idiot than I thought.”
I lunged toward him then pulled myself back, causing him to flinch.
“You better fucking watch it,” he yelled.
“I’m not saying anything else until I get an attorney.”
He shook his head.
“If that’s the way you want to play it.”
After standing, he left the room. I stared over at the mirror, making sure they knew I was mad as hell.
* * *
When someone came back into the room, I looked at the nameless man with rage in my eyes. He undid the handcuffs. I slid the chair back and stood abruptly, causing him to take a step back and put his hand on the gun in a holster on his side.
“I’m not doing anything,” I said, raising my hands. “Where are you taking me now?”
“We’re setting you free?”
“You’re kidding, right?”
The man shook his head nervously.
“I’ll be talking to my attorney about this.”
“You can do whatever you want,” Mr. Sorenson’s voice said through a speaker.
I glanced up at it then over to the mirror.
“You’re fucking with the wrong man.”
“Yeah? Get used to it. We’ll have our eyes on you.”
I bet you will, I thought, glaring at my reflection.
“Let’s go,” the man in the room said. “I’ll escort you out.”
I stepped toward the door.
“Oh, Cooper, one more thing.”
“What?”
“Stay away from Jade. If you go near her, we’ll bring you in and throw the book at both of you. Do you understand?”
“Yes,” I muttered.
“Good. It’s just until we get all of this resolved. Thanks for understanding. Have a nice day.”
I walked out of the room and down a nondescript hallway devoid of life. They treat me like this? After I served my country in Afghanistan?
Memories of everything that had gone on in connection with the smuggling filtered through my mind, images and sounds rushing past my consciousness at a high speed as I walked.
One step in front of another took me to the elevator. After a ride down to the lobby, I went outside, stopping to look up and soak in the fresh air. Determination took hold of me. No matter what happened, I had to contact Jade. She was all that really mattered in my life.
If one person could help me see her without getting caught, it would be Logan. They were likely listening to my phone, but I didn’t want to destroy it. Instead, I bought a roll of aluminum foil from a corner store and wrapped the phone in it, cutting off the signal.
Jade might call me and not be able to get through, but the feds couldn’t track my movements as I went to find Logan, the man who had made my time served in Afghanistan tolerable because of his humor and friendship.
I hated to drag him into the mess, but I had to have someone trustworthy watching my six. Logan fit the bill to a T. I respected no other man more than him. As I headed toward his apartment, taking back alleys, I thought more about my next move. What to do, what to do…