“I’ve been wondering that. Why are you here? I mean why are you really here? I’ve gotten a sense from the very beginning that you’re nothing like you appear. I was thinking you were some kind of quality-control person for your company. Maybe they sent you over here to see how things were running without raising any suspicion. Now I can’t figure out why you’re going to go on patrol in the most desolate part of the base.”

Man, was she sharp. Beautiful, sharp, and dedicated. That was a powerful combination. I didn’t answer immediately. I quickly considered the pros and cons of an honest confession. Just thinking about it made me feel better. I had to talk to someone.

I sighed deeply and said, “It’s a really long story. And I doubt you’d want to get mixed up in it.”

She leveled those pretty blue eyes at me. I could imagine many men wilting under her gaze. “We are on an air base half a world away from home. I’m stuck here for a minimum of six months. I have plenty of time. I can also decide what I do and don’t want to get mixed up in.”

“Well stated and fair enough. I didn’t mean to make you think I was being secretive. I just didn’t want to bore you.”

She let out a little growl. “Just tell me already.”

I gave her an abbreviated version. I didn’t go into details about the hidden prison. Just that a contractor here named Rick Jackson had tried to destroy my family. When I was finished, I realized the story was a little far-fetched. Maybe I owed the detectives at the Newburgh Police Department an apology.

Vicki just stared at me like she was trying to make up her mind whether I was crazy. I’d seen the look before. Sometimes my mom gave it to me. I just gave her some time.

Then she surprised me when she said, “I can help you.”

“What?”

“I mean, I have access to all the contractor records. I can tell you exactly where this Jackson guy works and when he’ll be there. Provided he’s on the base at all.”

It was one of the few times in my life I didn’t mind not finishing a meal.

Chapter 29

Chapter 29

Vicki’s office was on the second floor of one of the hardened buildings that had been on the base for many years. These were generally filled by US military personnel and considered a big step above almost any other structure.