Then I heard a woman’s voice in the outer office. I listened for a minute and realized it was Vicki Jensen.

I was saved.

Chapter 35

Chapter 35

I felt a burst of adrenaline as soon as I recognized Vicki’s voice. She stepped into the office with Jackson. She shot me a quick look in the cage, then followed Jackson over to his desk.

She looked official, in uniform and her hair pinned up. She frowned as Jackson talked to her by his desk. They started to argue in low tones. Then Jackson stepped into the back of the holding facility and left us alone for a moment.

Vicki casually stepped over to my cage. She leaned in close and said, “Are you okay?” She reached through the bars and gently took my chin in her hand. She turned my head in each direction, checking for any sort of marks. She wanted to be sure I hadn’t been beaten.

When she was satisfied I hadn’t been mistreated—obviously mistreated—she sat on a hard wooden chair near my cage. She scooted it in close.

Vicki said, “I’ve never been inside this place before. It’s nothing like I imagined. More cramped and messy.”

“This is just the administrative office. The real prisoners are held in the back.” I couldn’t wait to ask questions. I knew Jackson could come back at any moment. “Who else is coming to help you?”

Vicki ignored my question and said, “Did you really release a bunch of Jihadis from a jail in upstate New York?”

I almost couldn’t comprehend the question. All I could say is, “What?”

“I asked you if you released men being held at a jail. It’s a yes or no question.”

A little panic crept into my voice. “When are you getting me out of here? This guy is crazy.”

“I think you’re probably where you need to be. I’ve had friends killed both here and in Iraq. Having someone like you, with no clue about what we’re doing, release potential terrorists is dispiriting. It’s bad enough that no one even thinks about the military and the risks we take without people actively hurting us.”

I just stared at her.

She sighed and said, “Mitchum, I’m not getting you out of here. You shouldn’t even be in Afghanistan.”

Just then, the door from the back opened and Jackson strolled back into the office. He barked at Vicki, “Get away from there.”

She jumped from the chair and backed away from me.

I had hoped she was going to go off on this asshole. Now I realized I was alone. I waited but they just talked quietly. I couldn’t even pick up what was said. Then Jackson handed Vicki an envelope. Even from across the room I could see the cash when she opened and checked the contents.