Siren in the Wind Book One of the MIT Series

Chapter Twelve

"Before I begin, I'll need a cup of tea." Abby made a move to get up and Max's solid form caged her in. How fast did the guy move?

"Sit. Down."

"Relax, Flash Gordon, it's just tea."

"You think this is a joke?"

Abby spoke slowly. "It's been a long day. I'm tired and thirsty. If not tea, would you get me a bottle of water from the fridge."

"On it," the fourth man answered. Stubble and a goatee made him look dangerous, yet he looked like the quieter one in the group. His movements were measured. Efficient. Abby was sure he was the brownnoser of the team. Not that he looked any less dangerous.

"Donnie, get me the rest of the files at the same time."

Mr. Goatee unlocked her sliding door and moved out silently.

"Umm. The water?" Abby asked.

"He's getting it."

"Max, there's bottled water in the fridge. You've seen it."

"You'll have your water shortly. Sit down."

They were getting water from somewhere else. Another apartment? A car?

She tried again. "Why don't you just grab—"

"Sit. Down. Please."

Abby persisted. "I just don't understand the difference between the water in the fridge and bottled water from wherever—"

"Jesus!" Max swore violently, and Abby jumped.

"Why so chatty all of a sudden. Do what I say and sit the hell down!"

That must be his "I'm the commander of the world" voice. Max felt formidable, crowding her back into her seat. John—or whatever his stupid name was—gave Max an odd look.

John then turned to her. "We won't allow you or any team member to touch food or water in your residence."

Abby looked confused, so John elaborated. "Explosive devices can come in tiny packages, and then there's the possibility of hidden toxins in the fridge..."

It took her a moment to register what he was saying, her mind swirling with the implications. Tainted water. Suicide by poison.

"Who does that?" she wondered aloud.

He raised an eyebrow. "Ever heard of kill pills'? Cyanide capsules?"

Mother of God. People did that. These men thought that she was capable of ambushing them in that way or sucking it down herself.

Max moved through the house. They seemed antsy, as if they expected to be ambushed at any second. John never took his eyes off her. Abby sat dejectedly, waiting for her water, wondering if this would set a precedent for the rest of her life. Sitting in a holding cell surrounded by armed men, begging for water between interrogations. These hardened warriors had to help her. She walked a thin line but would tell them as much of the truth as she could. The rest she'd hold close.

***

Pausing in her bedroom, Max ran his hands through cropped hair as he repeated his motivational mantra. She's nothing to me, just a bitch who betrayed her country. There was a history between Khalid and Abby—her name tagged in numerous interceptions meant something. She was a means to an end—capturing the Sandpiper fucker who'd murdered his teammates. Keep your head in the game and control the interrogation.

Johnny stepped in behind him. "Everything okay, bud?"

Max smiled coldly. "Never better. Got her just where I want her. I take it the boys are back." He turned to push past—the searching look in his friend's eyes pissed him off.