It was time for me to get out of there. Just as I was about to head for the door, I had to stop and take a closer look at the box that was going to be my casket. I kneeled down next to it and ran my hand across the bottom.

The hidden compartment had been professionally made. It was also lined with lead. As I was about to stand up, it hit me. I suddenly understood what was in Allmand’s backpack.

The sick Pakistani, the hidden compartment, obvious contraband, and the lead lining the hidden compartment told me they were trying to smuggle plutonium. Probably plutonium from Pakistan. They would have plenty of buyers willing to pay big money if they got it out of the country. I shuddered when I thought about what it might ultimately be used for. Anything from a dirty bomb that could be set off in New York to a series of pellets used to irradiate water supplies or something else.

These guys were terrible. The worst. They talked about securing the US and fighting terrorists, but if they could make money, they’d work with them just as easily.

A thick man in western clothing shouted at me. I didn’t know what he shouted, but I pointed toward the back of the house. The man marched right up to me and without warning yanked the pillowcase from my face.

He growled something in Pashto. He turned his head to shout at the people in the other room.

I couldn’t risk him getting help. I swung as hard as I could and caught him right across the chin with my left fist. It was like hitting a light switch. He was unconscious on his feet. I caught him and gently eased him down to the coffin. He was shorter than me, so he fit easily.

I stamped out the flames closest to the coffin. Most of the other little fires looked like they were just causing smoke. One of the men who had been stuck in a cage in the back room ran through the front room. He laughed with two other men running alongside. They never even looked up to see me.

It was time for me to make my escape. Instead of running, I walked out the door as if I was supposed to be there. I didn’t head to the front of the house. That was too obvious. I slipped to the rear.

Now I was on my own in Afghanistan. Great.

Chapter 45

Chapter 45

I knew David Allmand had escaped out the rear of the house. Personally, I didn’t care if I ever saw that asshole again. I didn’t have any real urge to get even with him. All I wanted to do was make sure no one bothered me or my family again. I was pretty confident that goal had been achieved.