Chapter 22
T om had committed the address of Jamal’s contact to memory and managed to locate it without much trouble.
There was a sense of urgency on the streets, with people going about their business quickly and silently, not stopping to chat or socialize.
No one wanted to spend too much time out in the open.
Shops were boarded up, and residents had nailed anything they could find over their windows to protect them when the shelling began. This was a town on the brink of war. It felt as if everyone was holding their breath, waiting for Hakeem’s armed forces to attack.
Their location was a narrow double-story house in much the same state of disrepair as most of the other residences in town.
He knocked, and they waited.
Jamal opened the door a crack, and they passed through. He thumped Tom on the back. “I’m glad you made it, brother.”
He gave a nod. “Likewise.”
“You sure you weren’t followed?”
Tom shook his head. “Lost them several clicks back.” He’d made sure of that, taking a roundabout route and doubling back twice. Not that any soldier who valued his life would follow them this deep into rebel-held territory.
He led them into the sparse living area. “Good. This is one of our safe houses. We can rest up here for a while.”
Tom noticed the bloody bandage tied around Jamal’s upper arm. “You’re injured?”
Jamal waved it off. “Just a graze. The important thing is we made it. Our plan worked.” He lowered his voice so Hannah couldn’t overhear. “Now we can join Abu-al-Rashid and his army and prepare for the imminent attack.”
“I wish you luck.” Tom cast a glance at Hannah. She stood at a respectful distance, letting them talk.
“You can use the spare room,” Jamal said, nodding down a narrow hallway. “I can only spare the one.”
“We’re just grateful to have a place to sleep,” Tom said with a grateful nod. Jamal had put himself out enough for them.
“Stay as long as you need.”
“Thanks, but we’ll be heading off first thing.” He nodded in Hannah’s direction. “We don’t have much time.”
“You’ll need transport,” said Jamal, matter-of-factly. He was a strategist, first and foremost. Tom remembered that about him. Always the man with a plan. That’s how he’d known to come to him for help.
He pulled out a map and placed it on the scratched coffee table. Tom beckoned for Hannah to come over. “It’s at least another ten miles,” he told her.
She gave a nod, but he saw the weariness on her face. She was done in.
“Why don’t you get some rest?”
“What are you going to do?” She was spooked too, he could tell. To be fair, the events of the day would freak the most stoic civilian the hell out. She’d done well to get this far.
“I’ll be right here,” he said, forcing a smile.
Jamal glanced between the two of them, a knowing look on his face.
Tom ignored him. “It’s okay. We’re safe here.”
She gave a tremulous nod, then disappeared down the hall.
“Don’t—” he warned, as Jamal opened his mouth.
His buddy laughed. “I was just going to say I’ll see if I can arrange some transport for you.” He patted Tom on the shoulder. “Rest up, my friend. I think she would feel better if you were with her. We’ll talk again later.”
He was about to argue, then noticed Jamal rubbing his arm. “Okay, you get that seen to before it gets worse.”
Jamal gave a half nod. “On it.”
He found Hannah sitting on a mattress on the floor, her back to the wall and her knees pulled to her chest. She swiped at her eyes as he walked in. “I’m not crying,” she said, with a sniff.
His lips quirked. “Didn’t say you were.”
She might be disheveled and exhausted, but she hadn’t lost her spark. That was something, at least.
“You haven’t told him about me, have you?” Her gaze was almost pleading. He could see how frightened she was but trying bravely to hide it. His heart nearly broke. He longed to take her into his arms and tell her everything was going to be all right, but he’d be lying.
“Of course not.”
As good a friend as he was, Tom didn’t think Jamal would be as accommodating if he knew what secrets Hannah held. Just being here was insanely dangerous, but the alternative was worse.
“Why not? You’re obviously close.”
He straightened. “Because I wouldn’t do that to you.
And because if that kind of information gets out now, it could spark something we can’t control.
” He paused, weighing the cost. “Taking down Hakeem and Anwar will be a win, yes—but only if it’s done right.
If we act recklessly, we create a power vacuum. And that’s when extremists step in.”
He’d seen it happen.
“We get the intel out, let the international forces act, then help local leaders stabilize the country. Jamal and his people have to be part of the solution. That’s the only way this holds together without more bloodshed.”
One more night, and he’d get her out. They could risk that. She needed to rest and recover. While he could have kept going, she desperately needed sleep. Even now, he could see deep purple shadows forming beneath her eyes, and lines of exhaustion marking her forehead.
“So they don’t know about the impending attack?”
He shook his head, guilt slamming into him. “He knows they’re mobilizing, just not when it’s going to kick off. If there’s time, I’ll tell him once we’re safely on a dhow away from here.”
“Do you think we’ll make it?” she whispered, hugging herself. Her vulnerability tore at him. It took all his willpower not to stride over to the mattress and take her in his arms and kiss away the tremor on those beautiful lips.
“It’ll be close, but yeah.” An attack might be just the diversion they needed to get out undetected, but he didn’t say that. She was scared enough.
She nodded, but he could tell she wasn’t convinced.
He sat down on the only wooden chair in the room and removed his shoes. He needed a shower, food, and some sleep, in that order. “Jamal says we’re safe here for the night.”
“Jamal is a rebel leader, isn’t he?” she asked, quietly.
He glanced up, wondering how much to say.
She’d worked out most of it anyway. Hard not to, under the circumstances.
“More of a faction leader. He’s a member of the opposition party, led by a man called Abu-al-Rashid.
There are a few rebel factions, but these are the guys the allies would like to see in power once this war comes to an end. ”
“This Abu-al-Rashid, is he one of the good guys?”
Tom tilted his head. “He’s better than most—and Jamal is a good contact to have. We wouldn’t have gotten this far without him.”
“How did you two meet?” she asked.
He’d known this question would come. “We served together,” he said, opting for the simple answer.
Her eyes widened. “He’s American?”
“Half. We trained him, and now he’s here fighting for freedom for his country.”
She stared at him, then nodded. “I can understand why he’d want to. I thought Prince Hakeem was a good leader. That he was making positive changes in Syman, but I was na?ve. He’s a monster, just like Abdul Anwar.”
Tom didn’t comment.
“All those innocent people—” She stopped and shook her head.
“Don’t think about that now. The best way you can help them is to get some sleep, so we’re good to go tomorrow. The sooner we get off this island, the sooner we can put a stop to Hakeem’s rule.”
She gave a weary nod, but didn’t move.
“I’m going to take a shower,” he said, but when she tensed, he added, “I’ll be as quick as I can.”
A little sigh, and she gnawed nervously on her lower lip. He suddenly found he wanted to do the same.
Shit. What was wrong with him?
A shower would clear his head. He’d better make it a cold one.