Page 2 of Minutes to Die
“No. No.” Firuzeh shifted her stance, and her wide-legged pants in a bright paisley print floated with the movement. “If anyone finds out I talked to you, they will kill us. I cannot keep silent. Not with a threat this big. Millions of lives are in danger, Agent Dawson. Millions! But I need to protect my family first.”
Kiley searched Firuzeh’s earnest face, the muscles tight, her eyes wide.
She really believed she was in danger, and Kiley had to help. Question was, how was she going to get WITSEC approval without details? She had no standing with the U.S. Marshals. Shewasa member of the elite Rapid Emergency Deployment team, or RED team, made up of interagency law-enforcement officers, and they had a deputy on their team. Plus one of their team member’s fiancées was also a deputy. Perhaps together they could make this happen.
She smiled at Firuzeh to ease her worry. “Give me a second to make a call.”
Firuzeh clamped her hands together. “Please. Hurry. I am worried about my family. So very, very worried.”
Her panic cut through the quiet night, and Kiley knew right then and there that this threat was real. No question. Firuzeh and her familydidneed to be protected, and it was a matter of urgency.
Kiley dialed teammate and Deputy U.S. Marshal Mack Jordan.
“Mack, good,” she said after he answered. “I need a favor, and I need it now.”
“Hey, slow down.” His rumbling Texas drawl stretched out over the line. “Catch a breath.”
“No time to breathe.” Kiley relayed the Abed family’s situation.
“Millions? Isn’t she exaggerating?” His skepticism was deserved. He didn’t know Firuzeh like Kiley did.
“For anyone else I might say yes, but not for Firuzeh. She’s not a player. If she says she has intel this big, she does.”
“Okay. Let me see what I can do.” His instant trust in her judgment was a hallmark of their team’s support. One for all and all for one, she liked to joke.
“Thanks, Mack,” she said, watching Firuzeh searching the darkness as if she believed someone was coming for her now. “Every minute counts.”
“Trust me. I get it.”
“Maybe I should’ve called Eisenhower.” She hated to sound like she doubted Mack when she didn’t, but as the ICE special agent in charge of the Cyber Crimes Center, their team supervisor had more clout.
“Do it, and we can work this from different angles.” Mack’s lack of offense and steadfast cooperation was typical of his kind and compassionate personality lurking under a He-Man façade.
“I’ll get back to you as soon as I can.” He disconnected the call.
She turned to Firuzeh. “My associate’s a U.S. Marshal. He’s working on your request, and I’ll call my supervisor too.”
“Thank you.” She adjusted her purple tunic edged in gold trim. “I am so very appreciative.”
“If this is approved, I’ll need contact information for everyone in your family.”
“I don’t know the numbers, and I left my phone in the car. I’ll get it while you make your call.” She quickly turned toward the street.
Kiley watched her disappear into the haze and offered a short prayer for Firuzeh and her family’s safety as she tapped Eisenhower’s number on her contact list.
“Barry Eisenhower.” His confident voice rumbled deeply through the phone.
“It’s Dawson,” she said.
A gunshot split the quiet, ripping through the night like a car backfiring in the distance. Firuzeh’s body went limp. Dropped to the ground. Sprawled in an awkward pose.
“No!” Kiley shoved her phone into her FBI windbreaker and drew her weapon.
She searched the darkness, her heart thundering in her chest as she made a thorough sweep to assess the threat.
Firuzeh stirred. Moaned in pain.
No. No. No.Not this.Kiley had to help Firuzeh even if the shooter had his weapon trained on them.
