understand.
“At this point, Miss Grant, we can only assume that he plans to lure you into some kind of trap using a child as bait.”
Just when she’d thought she had reached her limit for feeling fearful or anxious, a new kind of terror detonated inside her.
“You’re saying that a child is in danger right now. Because of me?”
This was her fault.
Her actions had set off this insanity.
All the pain and emotion from six years ago came barging in to combine with the mix of fear and worry she suffered here and now.
Hadn’t she done the right thing back then? Hadn’t she done the same yesterday at the school? Could she have acted any differently and ensured her sister’s survival? Or Peter Reimes’s survival from a cold-blooded terrorist?
“This isn’t your fault, Miss Grant. This is about a terrorist. An animal capable of unimaginable atrocities. You saved the lives of your students. You didn’t do anything wrong.”
Confusion as to what to believe joined the already volatile mix of emotions. She wanted tobelieve Krueger was right. But if a child was harmed today because of what she did…
“He said I would die.” She mentally reviewed the initial call she had received from Abdul Nusair. “Over and over again.” She didn’t actually get that last comment but she definitely understood the part about dying. “He doesn’t have to bring anyone else into this.” For the first time since this nightmare began she felt a sense of comprehension and determination. “If he wants me, he can have me.” Her gaze locked with Krueger’s.
“That’s very noble of you, Miss Grant, but remember, we have no choice but to play by his rules. He set this game in motion.”
She made up her mind then and there. If Nusair called again she would tell him as much. He didn’t have to play this game with her. There was no need for anyone else to be put in danger. Whether Krueger agreed with her or not, she understood what she had to do.
A calm fell over her and she resigned herself to that fate. Her actions yesterday had been her decision. She would face the consequences.
“Miss Grant,” Krueger said when she’d been quiet for a couple of minutes, “it’s my job to see that you don’t get hurt. Don’t give up on me already.”
Claire searched his face and those unusual green eyes. She sensed that he was feeling theweight of guilt now as well. Guilt for what he had proposed to her today. Guilt for what he knew he possessed no power to control. In that way he was just like her…they were in the same boat.
“Your job, Agent Krueger, is to stop Abdul Nusair. I know where I stand in this particular pecking order. I just want to make sure that no one else, especially a child, gets caught in the crossfire.”
To her surprise he looked away. She wondered how it was that a man like Krueger, one who had no doubt seen the worst of the worst, could still feel remorse for collateral damage. To her surprise that idea made her admire him all the more.
Respect, she amended. She respected him. Admired was a little different. She had to remember that…for the next few minutes. After that it probably wouldn’t matter one way or another.
The driver, Agent Holman, took the necessary turns that led into the mall’s jam-packed parking lot. Agent Talkington directed him to the exit nearest their destination. Hundreds, maybe thousands, of people had been evacuated and moved well away from the entrance on this side of the mall. A wall of Seattle’s finest as well as temporary barricades were in place for crowd control.
Claire’s heart rate started to climb once more. She clutched her cell phone in her hand and prayed that Nusair would call back before anyone washurt. She had to convince him to take her and forget all this staged drama. The circus wasn’t necessary. This was between her and him; no one else needed to be involved.
His son was dead because she had gotten in the way of his plan. As much as she cherished human
“At this point, Miss Grant, we can only assume that he plans to lure you into some kind of trap using a child as bait.”
Just when she’d thought she had reached her limit for feeling fearful or anxious, a new kind of terror detonated inside her.
“You’re saying that a child is in danger right now. Because of me?”
This was her fault.
Her actions had set off this insanity.
All the pain and emotion from six years ago came barging in to combine with the mix of fear and worry she suffered here and now.
Hadn’t she done the right thing back then? Hadn’t she done the same yesterday at the school? Could she have acted any differently and ensured her sister’s survival? Or Peter Reimes’s survival from a cold-blooded terrorist?
“This isn’t your fault, Miss Grant. This is about a terrorist. An animal capable of unimaginable atrocities. You saved the lives of your students. You didn’t do anything wrong.”
Confusion as to what to believe joined the already volatile mix of emotions. She wanted tobelieve Krueger was right. But if a child was harmed today because of what she did…
“He said I would die.” She mentally reviewed the initial call she had received from Abdul Nusair. “Over and over again.” She didn’t actually get that last comment but she definitely understood the part about dying. “He doesn’t have to bring anyone else into this.” For the first time since this nightmare began she felt a sense of comprehension and determination. “If he wants me, he can have me.” Her gaze locked with Krueger’s.
“That’s very noble of you, Miss Grant, but remember, we have no choice but to play by his rules. He set this game in motion.”
She made up her mind then and there. If Nusair called again she would tell him as much. He didn’t have to play this game with her. There was no need for anyone else to be put in danger. Whether Krueger agreed with her or not, she understood what she had to do.
A calm fell over her and she resigned herself to that fate. Her actions yesterday had been her decision. She would face the consequences.
“Miss Grant,” Krueger said when she’d been quiet for a couple of minutes, “it’s my job to see that you don’t get hurt. Don’t give up on me already.”
Claire searched his face and those unusual green eyes. She sensed that he was feeling theweight of guilt now as well. Guilt for what he had proposed to her today. Guilt for what he knew he possessed no power to control. In that way he was just like her…they were in the same boat.
“Your job, Agent Krueger, is to stop Abdul Nusair. I know where I stand in this particular pecking order. I just want to make sure that no one else, especially a child, gets caught in the crossfire.”
To her surprise he looked away. She wondered how it was that a man like Krueger, one who had no doubt seen the worst of the worst, could still feel remorse for collateral damage. To her surprise that idea made her admire him all the more.
Respect, she amended. She respected him. Admired was a little different. She had to remember that…for the next few minutes. After that it probably wouldn’t matter one way or another.
The driver, Agent Holman, took the necessary turns that led into the mall’s jam-packed parking lot. Agent Talkington directed him to the exit nearest their destination. Hundreds, maybe thousands, of people had been evacuated and moved well away from the entrance on this side of the mall. A wall of Seattle’s finest as well as temporary barricades were in place for crowd control.
Claire’s heart rate started to climb once more. She clutched her cell phone in her hand and prayed that Nusair would call back before anyone washurt. She had to convince him to take her and forget all this staged drama. The circus wasn’t necessary. This was between her and him; no one else needed to be involved.
His son was dead because she had gotten in the way of his plan. As much as she cherished human
Similar Books
