Today’s
excerpt is from Baghdad Butcher, Book #1 of the nine-book Janitors Series. Jim and Holly agree she’s going to Iraq with
him. Enjoy and have a wonderful day.
m.j.
“I know,
Holly. Don’t blame you in the
least. Wouldn’t have blamed him if he had
said that he wasn’t going to cooperate.
Now, young lady, we have something to discuss.”
“I know. What to do with me.”
“Your daddy
didn’t raise a stupid daughter. Holly,
somebody obviously wants one or both of us dead. My guess is both. So we have two choices, as I see it. As soon as I wrap things up here in Los Angeles,
you can go stay with your dad for safekeeping, or I can send you home with
Billy. He and Sally would love to have
you around for a while.”
“Or there’s a
third choice. I can just stay with you
and go along for the ride, as it were.
Don’t tell me I couldn’t be of assistance. I’d feel safe with either my dad or
Billy. But I’d also feel safe with
you…and damn sure more useful. Plus, I’d
hate to drag dad or Billy into this.
Well, Billy’s already in, but who knows that? Nobody that will ever say anything.”
“Holly, I’m
going into Iraq to kill the most powerful man in that region. Getting out may be a bit dicey.”
“Posh. I bet you already have it all figured
out. You do, don’t you?”
“Well, not
entirely. But if I can get an old friend
to help out, I think it’s a doable job…to coin a phrase.”
“An old friend
who owes you big time, I bet.”
“I don’t know if
‘owes’ is the right word.”
“Israeli? Mossad?”
“My, my. Aren’t you the little crystal-ball gazer.”
“Not
really. Dad told me that ten Fox Team
guys went in and eleven came out. The
eleventh was an Israeli Mossad agent who was in the wrong place at the wrong
time and one Jungle Jim Scott pulled his bacon out of the fire.”
“Partially correct—though
Ben would be a bit upset at your ‘bacon’ reference. That’s a strict no-no for practicing Jews,
which he is—in spite of his rather bloody track record. But you’re more or less on the right
track. If Ben will help out, it will
make life a lot easier. Our dirty bird
in Washington doesn’t know we’re alive.
So from now on I want no further contact in that direction. Which means we’ll need help from another
source, such as Ben.”
“And you think
he will…help out that is?”
“Yes, I’m sure
he’ll help us.”
“You said,
‘us.’ I take it you’ve decided to let me
stay with you then?”
“Had before we
started this conversation.”
“What! What was all this ‘two options crap’?”
“Just wanted to
make sure you wanted to stay with me.
Wanted you to have some other options.
Actually, I want you around so I can keep you alive. Not that your dad or Billy couldn’t. But if you’re with me, then I know you’re
safe.”
“You care?”
“Holly, you’re
fishing—but I do care. I love you, and
would be devastated if anything happened to you.”
“Well, at least
you didn’t say you love me like a sister.
But I noticed you said you love me, not that you’re in love with
me.”
“How astute you
are, Miss FBI Agent.”
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