Maxine whirled, her eyes narrowing in anger at the intrusion. She recognized the man. It was Raul Jimenez, her stepson’s second-in-command. “How dare you come here? You should be on the base with the rest of the soldiers.”

“I prefer the company of women.”

She took two steps forward and slapped him. “I should tell the General of your impudence.”

“And what would you tell him about this?” He grabbed her smoothly and drew her body to his. He kissed her, and for a few seconds she resisted, but it was too much, and soon she had her hand on the back of his head as her hunger grew.

Jimenez finally pulled back. “God, I’ve missed you.”

Maxine’s reply was to kiss him again, even more passionately. Now that they were alone, all pretense of his shyness around her was gone. They gave in to their desires.

It was much later that they were lying side by side on the hastily spread blanket. She gingerly touched the burn scars on his face. They were still red and looked painful.

“You are no longer so beautiful. I think I should find myself another lover.”

“I don’t think there is another in the regiment who would dare do what we just did.”

“Are you saying I am not worth a court-martial?”

“To me, you are worth death itself, but you forget I am the bravest man in the Army,” he joked. And then a shadow passed behind his eyes.

“What is it, darling?”

“ ‘Bravest,’ I said.” His voice filled with bitterness. “It takes little bravery to gun down villagers or kidnap American women.”

“Kidnap Americans? I don’t understand.”

“That is where your husband sent us, to America, where we grabbed a woman who’s an expert on Chinese ships or something. I have no idea why. I tell you, though, it’s not what I joined the Army to do.”

“I know my husband,” Maxine said. “Everything he does is planned, from eating breakfast to commanding your regiment. He has his reasons. This must be why he took off for Buenos Aires just as you and Jorge returned.”

“We met him at your apartment in the city. He had some men with him—Chinese, I think.”

“They’re from the embassy. Philippe has been meeting with them quite a bit recently.”

“I’m sorry, but I still don’t like it. Don’t get me wrong. I love the Army and I love Jorge, but these past few months . . .” His voice trailed off.

“You may not believe this,” Maxine said, her voice crisp and firm, “but I love my husband very much, and I love this country. Philippe may be many things, but he is not reckless. Whatever he is doing is for the greater good of Argentina and its people.”

“You wouldn’t say that if you’d seen some of the things he’s ordered us to do.”