NSA Command Center
Knuckles ran toward Uncle Bill.
“I’ve got some information about the . . .” But he stopped and looked across the room at Jana, then continued in a lower voice. “About the murder scene in Spain.”
It was too late, Jana had overheard.
“You people need to quit trying to hide things from me.” She was upset and Knuckles could tell.
“Sorry, Agent Baker.”
“I told you a long time ago to call me Jana, Knuckles. It’s okay. Just don’t hide things from me. I’m a big girl.”
“All right, son, so what’s the big news?” Uncle Bill said.
“The Spanish secret service has determined the cause of death.”
Cade, Jana, and Agent Kyle MacKerron looked at him, then at one another.
“What do you mean they determined the cause of death?” Jana asked. “It was plainly obvious she had been stabbed.”
“Yes, ma’am. But stabbed with what is the question.”
A scowl formed on Kyle’s forehead. “What do you mean? She wasn’t stabbed with a knife?”
Knuckles continued. “Not exactly, no. She was stabbed with a sword.”
The statement hung in space for a moment. It was Cade who first spoke.
“A sword? You aren’t serious.”
“Very serious. The Spanish secret service confirmed it. She was stabbed through the heart with a broadsword.”
“A broadsword. What? Is that a particular type of sword?” Kyle said.
Knuckles was in his element now, his head so full that at times, the knowledge had to spill out.
“Yes. It’s a double-edged sword commonly used in the fourteenth and fifteenth centuries. In fact, the Spanish are saying that the sword even appears to have been an original. In other words, it wasn’t a replica.”
Jana stepped closer.
“You mean someone had an original sword from the fourteenth or fifteenth century? And they used it to kill Gilda? That’s completely insane. Who would do that?”
But everyone knew the answer. The killer, from all accounts, was most certainly terrorist Waseem Jarrah.
Cade said, “Okay, look. This is all coming at us a little fast. I’m going to take Jana down to get something to eat. She just got off a nine-hour plane ride for God’s sake.”
As they walked away, Kyle said, “Watch out for the sausage pizza. I’m pretty sure it’s been sitting on that buffet since yesterday.”
Cade turned back. “Pizza? Kyle, it’s nine in the morning.”
“And?” After the couple was safely out of earshot, Kyle turned to Uncle Bill. “Bill? Got a minute?”
“Sure. What’s up?” he said as he flicked a bright orange crumb off his short sleeved buttondown shirt.
“You know what’s up.”
“Yeah, I know. And I know what you’re going to say about it. Jana’s PTSD is back with a vengeance.”
“You know I love Jana too, right? But Bill, we’re not playing a game of Monopoly here.” Kyle looked around the cavernous NSA Operations Center to make sure no one was nearby. “Lives are on the line. Her PTSD makes her a liability. If Jarrah has resurfaced, we’re going to need all hands on deck, and we can’t have one of them freeze up.”
“You want her removed from active duty,” Bill said as he crossed his arms.
“Jana is one of my best friends in the world. She’s a better agent than I am. But I’m a field operative, Bill. If we get in a firefight, or God knows what else, she could black out, and that could cost lives. No offense, but you work at a place where no one gets shot.”
“I hear what you’re saying, Kyle,” Bill said a little too loudly. He looked around, then lowered his voice. “And under normal circumstances, I’d agree with you. But this is different. This time Jarrah has put Jana in the middle of everything. It’s my belief that he’s going to call again, and every time he calls, we may learn something else.”
“Allowing her to work this case is unsafe. You’re putting people in danger, Bill.”
“No, I’m not!” Bill again looked around himself. “Look, Kyle, of course there’s an inherent risk here. But remember who you’re talking to. I care about that girl as though she was my own blood. If anything happened to her, I don’t think I’d ever forgive myself. But I’m also an NSA section chief. I have a responsibility to the United States and have been working terrorism cases since you were still in diapers. She might be a danger to herself or others, she might not.”
“She may not make it out of this alive.”
“If Jarrah has another nuke, none of us may make it out of this alive. But if he wanted her dead, he would have killed her in Spain. No, this is different. He wants to keep her alive so he can taunt her.”
“Bill—” Kyle started.
“Your request to remove Agent Baker from the active list is denied.”