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Shoshana tracked the route on her computer and said, “Next intersection, take a left. You’ll see the river and a golf course. Parallel it, and follow the signs for the Maseru Bridge crossing into South Africa. You’ll run right up to the front gate.”
Jennifer said, “Okay, time to win an Oscar. How are you doing back there, Alex?”
From the back seat, Alex said, “I don’t think I’m going to have to do any acting.”
“Hang in there. The embassy will have a doctor on staff and a medical clinic. You’re almost home free.”
Jennifer saw the golf course on the left of her SUV, and Shoshana said, “Five hundred meters.” The golf course peeled away, and she saw a cutout with metal barriers, then the United States flag.
Shoshana said, “That’s it, that’s it!”
Jennifer whipped into the turnout, and two US Marines in full combat gear, complete with M16A2s, came barreling out from behind a barricade, holding their hands up in the universal sign to stop.
Jennifer did, and the first Marine trained his weapon on her while the second came to her window. Acting hysterical, she rolled it down and shouted, “There’s fighting going on! They’re shooting people! They shot my friend!”
The Marine said, “Whoa, wait a minute. Calm down. Who are you?”
“I’m Jennifer Cahill. I’m a US citizen. We work at the Baylor Children’s Hospital downtown. They’re shooting all around it, and my friends are still there. You need to help us!”
He looked at her passport, with Jennifer holding her breath that he didn’t inspect it closely enough to realize she had no work visa for Lesotho. He did not. He turned and shouted to the gate, “Metz, Blashford, get out here and give me a hand!”
Twenty minutes later they were inside the embassy compound, with Jennifer spilling her tall tale about hostiles threatening US citizens. A man in business casual attire appeared, looking like he was going to attend an embassy briefing, except he was wearing a Kevlar helmet and had a pistol on his hip.
He said, “My name is Ian Tesler. I’m the regional security officer here. What’s going on?”
Jennifer was surprised. She’d figured it would take ten minutes of screaming to get him to appear. She had to feign ignorance of embassy operations, but the RSO—the man from the Diplomatic Security Service charged specifically with the safety and security of citizens overseas—was the one person who could create the visible presence Pike needed.
She repeated her story, ending with, “You have to get some Marines over there right now. Protect the people at the hospital.”
She knew there was no way Ian would release the Marines, as their specific mission was protecting the US embassy from harm or takeover, but it was her first step.
Ian said, “That’s not the reporting we’re getting. The fighting is localized to specific areas. Very surgical. In fact, it looks like it might just be a gang war or something like that.”
Jennifer pointed to Alexandra, now on a stretcher and being treated with an IV. “Does that look localized? She’s shot, for God’s sake.”
Ian held up his hands and said, “Okay, okay, please calm down. I know the hospital you’re talking about. It’s not near any shooting that we’re tracking. We’ve sent out a Warden message for people to remain in their homes, and we’ve had no calls from the hospital.”
Jennifer faked being incensed. “Maybe their phones are out. Did you think of that?”
Ian said, “Look, I don’t have the forces to secure a hospital. All I can do is ensure the word gets out. My advice is simply to hunker down and let this pass.”
She pointed at the Marine to her left and said, “What is that?”
“That man is dedicated to the US embassy.”
“So you get protected while my friends die? Why the hell am I paying taxes?”
Ian said, “Ma’am, those Marines have a mission. There’s only so much we can plan for. If—”
Another man entered their circle, cutting his speech short. He was dressed in civilian clothes but draped in military kit, and Jennifer knew he was who she’d been looking for. Take away the body armor and weapons and he dressed just like Pike. A shirt with a thousand pockets, and pants made to carry magazines of ammo. The clincher was his beard, a lumberjack thing that Pike would have made fun of. He might as well have put on a nameplate that read OPERATOR, DAMN IT.
The man said, “Ian, you need us to do anything? Can I tell the boys to stand down, or what?”
Looking aggravated, Ian said, “Yes. Just keep them in the break room. Nothing has happened to require an armed response.”
Shoshana took one look at the man, then surreptitiously bumped Jennifer like she was trying to get her to introduce them for a date. Jennifer glared at her, letting her know she understood, and said, “Who are you?”
The man glanced at Jennifer as an aside, not worthy of his consideration, then did a double take when he took in who was asking. He became polite, saying, “My name’s Clint. Clint Carnegie. Was that your friend who was just evac’d?”
Jennifer said, “Yes, it was. And she’s not the last. We need some help. Americans are dying.”
Clint looked at the RSO, asking, “What’s she talking about?”
“Nothing that we can confirm. She just arrived.”
To Clint, Jennifer said, “We need help! They’re in danger!”
He said, “Danger how?” His head flicked between Jennifer and Ian, and she knew she’d just earned a seat at the table.
Ian said, “No danger that we can see. The danger is driving around. If everyone stays put, they’ll be fine.”
“Doesn’t look like she’s making it up.” He turned to Jennifer and said, “What’s going on?”
Jennifer felt the first tendrils of shame, knowing she was lying. She said, “I don’t know. All I know is that our hospital is in the line of fire of whatever’s happening out there. We need some protection.”
Ian said, “Wait, wait, your friend got shot on the way here, not at the hospital. You can’t say that. You don’t know.”
Clint looked at Ian and said, “That girl was shot? In a gunfight?”
“Yes, yes, but not in a threatening sense.”
“Not in a threatening sense? What the fuck does that mean? Was she shot or not? I thought she was in a car wreck or something.”
Ian drew up and said, “She was, but just on the street on the way here. I’ve given the Warden call. We can’t save everyone.”
Jennifer said, “But you can save my friends at the hospital! You can do that!”
Three men dressed like Clint appeared, draped in kit and bristling with weapons. One said, “What’s going on, boss?”
He said, “I don’t know.”
Ian said, “You cannot leave here without my authorization. You’re working here under my command.”
Jennifer pulled the pin on her verbal grenade, hoping it was enough. She dropped it at their feet. “This is just like Benghazi. You guys are going to sit here protecting yourself while my friends die.”
The words echoed in the courtyard, the men of the SF team looking at their commander. She felt Shoshana pinch her, meaning that little devil had read the reaction of the team, and Jennifer had won.
Ian said, “Wait, wait, this isn’t Libya, and you guys aren’t going anywhere.”
Clint said, “It isn’t Libya yet, and I don’t fucking work for you. I work for SOCOM.”
Jennifer hid a grin. Shoshana bumped her with her hip again.
Ian said, “Nobody leaves here. Nobody goes out into the street. You could make this so much worse if an American is killed. Let it play out. This isn’t Benghazi.”
Jennifer knew he was absolutely correct. But also that his order would cause their plan to fail. She said, “Screw you guys. I’ll do it myself. I’ll be back with whoever I can save.”
She turned to the gate, and Ian said, “You’re not going anywhere. You said it yourself: Being on the street is dangerous. I can’t let you go.”
Jennifer gave Clint her most plaintive stare, and he said, “Fuck this. We’re going.”
Ian said, “You will not go!”
Clint said, “That’s the last thing that shithead in Benghazi said. I’m not going to sit here while Americans are slaughtered.”
He turned to leave, and the RSO stood in his way. “You do this and I’ll fucking fry your ass.”
Clint pushed him out of the way, shouting, “Timmons, load up the team!”
Embarrassed for the RSO, Jennifer caught Clint’s sleeve and said, “Our vehicle’s outside. I’ll lead you to the hospital.”
Clint nodded, and Jennifer glanced at Shoshana. Shoshana raised her eyebrows and whispered, “What are we going to do when there’s no threat at the hospital?”
Jennifer followed the team, all shifting weapons and positioning kit like they were about to assault the Islamic State in Mosul.
She said, “I don’t know. Sexual favors?”
The comment actually made Shoshana chuckle. “I don’t think Aaron would agree with that.”
They loaded their SUV, waiting on the team vehicles to appear through the gate. Jennifer said, “Neither would Pike, but it would serve him right for making up this stupid plan.”