“What we’re doing here is classified,” said Tania Kovitz, joining them, followed by Andy and Matt, still several dozen feet back.

Adira looked Tania up and down. “You have about an hour before a squad of terrorists arrive. Good luck.” She began to walk away.

“Adira.” Matt jogged closer.

She spun at his voice, squinting. Like a door swinging open to briefly show warm light, her face softened momentarily, before it swung shut once again. She shook her head. “Professor Matthew Kearns…we live in interesting times.” She suddenly looked around, her eyes wide. “Is he here?”

“No, no, he isn’t,” Matt said, knowing immediately who she was looking for – Alex Hunter.

Her expression dropped. “Of course not. If he were here, those sniper nests would have been obliterated long ago.” She sighed.

Abrams brow creased. “You two know each other?”

Matt grinned. “Yeah, kinda…we met on a mountaintop…in the Appalachians. She gets around.” He stepped closer to the Metsada woman, and turned to Abrams. “And we need her if we’re going to get out of here alive.”

Captain Tania Kovitz kept staring at Adira, but Hartogg lowered his rifle, and nodded to the woman – wary, but more at ease now. Abrams knew the SEAL recognized a fellow Spec Forces warrior…and he agreed with Kearns that she was one they needed.

Abrams grunted. “I agree.” Tania started to object, but he just took his voice up a level. “Adira –”

“Captain Senesh,” Adira said.

“Captain, we need your help. We lost our truck and need to get to the Turkish border.”

“Why?” She stared evenly.

“Because –” Matt began.

“Professor Kearns.” Abrams’s voice carried a warning.

“She can help.” Matt turned back to Adira. “We need to get to Alexandria, in Egypt, and Turkey is the closest friendly place.”

“Where were you hoping to cross, exactly?”

“Reyhanlı, Hatay Province,” Abrams responded.

She nodded. “I know it – on the border – stupid choice. Your information is out of date – it’s now a bombsite. They distrust everyone, and you would be arrested on suspicion of being a spy. This is the Middle East, Major. Nowhere is safe for Americans.”

“Or Israelis,” Abrams pointed out.

She snorted. “But we are used to it, and here, we expect nothing but treachery. Keep in mind that for every single supporter you encounter, there will be a hundred more killers or informants who would sell you out in a second.”

Abrams breathed evenly for a moment, and tried hard to keep his frustration in check. “Well, do you have a better suggestion?”

“Of course. For a start, you must stay away from populated areas. Get to Samandag. It’s in the same province but is less populated and still mostly untouched by the war. It’s also on the coast,” Adira said evenly.

“Then what?” Abrams asked.

“Then, if we’re still all friends, I can have someone meet us. Get you to Israel.”

“We don’t want to get to Israel. We need to get to Egypt, and fast.”