“Who’s the partner?” she said. He could see in her eyes she was thinking about what happened to his last partner.

“I haven’t met him yet.”

“Why don’t they just have the military police do this?”

Luke shook his head. “It’s not an issue for the military. Like I said, it’s a police matter. The contractor is technically a civilian. They want to make the difference clear.”

Luke thought of all the things he was leaving out. The restive nature of the region, and the fierce fighting going on there. The atrocities Parr had committed. The team of badass operators and remorseless killers he had accumulated around himself. The desperation they must feel right now to get out alive, unscathed, with all their loot, and without being captured by the law. The dead men, decapitated and burned, and hanging from a bridge.

Abruptly, Becca started crying. Luke put the beer down and went to her. He kneeled by her chair and hugged her.

“Oh God, Luke. Tell me this isn’t going to start up again. I don’t think I can bear it. Our son is coming.”

“I know,” he said. “I know that. It’s not going to be like before. It’s not a deployment. I’ll be gone three days, maybe four. I arrest a guy, I bring him home.”

“What if you die?” she said.

“I’m not going to die. I’m going to be very careful. I probably won’t even have to draw my gun.”

He almost couldn’t believe the things he was telling her.

She was shaking now from the tears.

“I don’t want you to go,” she said.

“I know, honey. I know. But I have to. It’ll be very quick. I will call you every night. You can stay with your folks. And then I’ll be right back. It’ll be like I never even left.”

She shook her head, the tears coming harder now. “Please,” she said. “Please tell me it’s going to be okay.”

Luke squeezed her tight, mindful of the baby growing inside her. “It’s going to be okay. It’s going to be fine. I know it is.”

CHAPTER EIGHT

May 5

3:45 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time

Joint Base Andrews

Prince George’s County, Maryland

“You’re the boss,” Don said.

He was a couple of inches taller than Luke, and quite a bit broader. With Don’s gray hair, and his size, and his age, and his experience… well, Luke always felt a little bit like a child next to Don.

“Don’t let them forget who’s in charge. I’d be coming with you, but I’m stuck in meetings. You’re my representative. As far as this trip is concerned, you are me.”

Luke nodded. “Okay, Don.”