Page 33 of Fatal Mistake
She stood back and stared down at him. “Who are you anyway?”
He chuckled again, and his eyes lit with humor.
“What’s so funny?”
“That look of horror on your face. I’m just a regular guy who learned how to close wounds downrange.”
“Right, regular guy.” She shook her head. “Like regular guys use the word ‘downrange.’ What does that even mean?”
“In the military it often refers to an overseas deployment in a war zone.”
She could see him in a war, taking care of himself and others around him as he snapped out directions. She dabbed the wound a few more times to clean up the last of the blood, then blew on it to dry the skin so the bandage would stick.
He suddenly jolted back and pushed her away with firm hands planted on her shoulders. “Let’s get this done so we can move on.”
Surprised at his terse tone, she stared at him for a moment before she took the bandage from his hand.
He let out a long breath. “Sorry. I’m kind of jumpy. Adrenaline, you know? I’m sure you’re still feeling the residual effects. Which, by the way, will soon make you feel very tired if it hasn’t already.”
She pressed the first bandage at the top of his cut. “I can take a nap on the plane.”
He looked into her eyes. “Does this mean you’ve decided to come back with me?”
“I saw you guys handcuff Hickson and thought it’d be a good idea to avoid my own cuffs,” she joked to play down her decision, maybe lighten up her mood. “So yeah, I’m all yours.”
She expected a nod of acknowledgment if not an outright smile, and she received a frown instead. “About our trip. Our departure is delayed indefinitely. The team needs to remain on site to work the scene.”
Processing the news, she ripped open a second bandage. Not more than a few hours ago, she hadn’t wanted to go to D.C. Now, with Oren or people working with him nearby, she wished she could leave the area as soon as possible. “Delayed how long?”
“Hard to tell. We think there were at least two shooters. Hickson, of course, and if what he said is true, another shooter to detonate the bomb. There could also be a third shooter at the gate or the guy who detonated the bomb had moved over here. Either way, we’ll search for another weapon.”
“Then you think the shooter ditched the rifle.”
“If Keeler was the second shooter, it’s very possible. He didn’t fly cross-country with a rifle, so I’m guessing he stole the weapon he used or it was provided by his ISIS contacts. In either case, if he was in a hurry to escape unseen, he could ditch it to move more freely through the scrub. And if that’s not reason enough, if he was driving home and was stopped by a law enforcement officer for any number of reasons—speeding, taillight out, et cetera—Keeler wouldn’t want the gun in his car.”
“Makes sense, I guess.”
“We’ll get a search started, but we have a large, heavily wooded area to cover. Depending on the resources available to us, that could take days, and we won’t get home for some time.”
“Home? So you’re based in D.C., then?” she asked, despite knowing that posing a question about his private life wasn’t a good idea.
He nodded. “Our team is part of the FBI’s Critical Incident Response Group out of FBI national headquarters.”
She applied the second butterfly strip at the bottom of the gash. “I didn’t realize I was considered a critical incident.”
He scowled but said nothing for a moment, and the air between them sizzled with tension.
“Someone will go for food at some point,” he said, ignoring her comment. “And I’ll arrange a safe house for tonight.” He met her gaze for a long stressful moment, then escaped from his seat and eased past her without touching her. “I hate that you have to sit in here all day, and I’ll do my best to get you out of here as soon as possible.”
“It’s okay,” she replied, though she couldn’t imagine what she might do for the rest of the day in this tin can of a vehicle, but maybe she could concentrate on the pump house and try to remember additional details. “When we do get back to D.C., will it be possible for me to call June and my friend Penny? I’m sure they’re both worried about me.”
“I can arrange for you to see June when we take you to the pump house, but I’m afraid contacting Penny is too dangerous right now for you and her.”
Tara wouldn’t put anyone else in danger, so she nodded her understanding and settled for the fact that she would soon see June.
Instead of leaving as she’d expected him to do, he leaned against the wall and crossed his ankles. “Tell me more about Keeler before your friendship ended.”
“You’ve asked me about him so many times, I’m sure I shared everything that’s pertinent.”
