“You’re making excuses for her, which means the threat could be still present.” He held up his hand. “But I’m not uneasy about her intentions any longer. Gilroy said that everything about Masenak’s camp and the situation there was just what she said it was. And she brought you Baldwin, an action that speaks louder than words.” He smiled. “I’ll even admit I’m beginning to have a guarded liking for her. It’s hard to dislike anyone willing to risk everything to save those schoolgirls.” He paused. “Even though I realize that there’s every possibility she’s going to get in your way. Those questions to Baldwin about Jubaldar were too pointed not to mean that you might be going in that direction.”

“Not if I can help it,” he said. “But I have to be prepared. I don’t know enough about Jubaldar Castle, but I will before this is over. Has Gilroy started questioning Baldwin yet?”

Vogel shook his head. “Just preparation. He spent the past hour with Baldwin listing all the information he wanted him to spill, and what he would do to him otherwise. He was very explicit, and Baldwin believed every word. Then he left him alone to think it over and went to take a nap.”

“No one can say he’s not confident,” Korgan said dryly.

“There aren’t many people who aren’t intimidated by Gilroy when he makes the effort. Baldwin isn’t one of them. He’ll be sweating blood by the time Gilroy comes back. He can be a wonder on a job like this.” He shrugged one shoulder. “But you know that. Why else would you choose him?” His gaze narrowed on Korgan’s face. “Do you want me to wake him?”

“No, let him sleep. Just send him to me before he goes back to Baldwin. I might have something else for him to do.” He turned and moved toward the munitions shed. “Right now I want to check out those drones and make certain the targeting sensors are adjusted correctly.”

“They’re correct.” Vogel followed him quickly. “I checked them before we loaded them in the helicopter. Give them a path and they’ll blow their way through anything around them.”

“One more time,” Korgan said absently. “I trust you, but it won’t hurt to be careful. It might make a difference…”

*  *  *

Masenak’s Camp