WARRIOR (CROSSFIRE SEALS, #5) by Gennita Low

playing the strange foreigner talking about poisons and potions. He’d probably spooked half the people in this room. Back at Center, he was known to be the quiet but mostly sane one. Sully would probably have had a good laugh at seeing how his attempt at small talk had devolved into too much interest in another man’s little flesh wound.

CHAPTER SEVEN
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    “C hange of plans, Kit.”
    Kit looked up from the dictionary and translation she was trying to decipher. “Why?” She adjusted the mic in her ear. “What’s wrong?”
    They were in separate vehicles, getting ready equipment and notes before meeting with the girl. Sound checks, video feed, battery, foreign phrases, things like that. Then she and the female interpreter would put their head scarves on and make their way to the women’s side of the camp to meet with the worker from Save The Children and the camp comptroller. Meanwhile, Sean and his photographer would walk around and take some photographs and interview those who ran the camp. Then once they’d gotten permission, they would meet at a public place to get few pictures of the girl.
    The refugee camp was one of the poorest in the area, so they had prepared bags of clothing, food and toys as a gesture of goodwill. Kit was looking forward to finding out more about the displaced people here. Her research had shown Afghan refugees in Pakistan, especially around the borders, were the highest in the world. Yet, most media had only concentrated on the war and the politics, not about the plight of the homeless inhabitants here. She would like to know more, first-hand.
    “Minah is being sought by her relatives and she’s in hiding. We can’t interview her in the open.”
    “I thought she was getting help from a few of her relatives.”
    “Yes, I thought so too, but according to the camp comptroller, things didn’t go according to plan. A runaway from one camp to another was one thing, but a runaway from a swara while the ceremony was taking place is humiliation to her family. Everyone’s out looking for her.”
    “Where is she?”
    There was a pause. “Alone?”
    “Yes.”
    “Take Joanna with you to the back of the camp. The comptroller sent someone to lead you to Minah. I’m on the other side of the camp and will come behind you with another guide. We have to take it slow and easy, as if nothing is wrong.”
    Kit pulled up her backpack from under the seat and began stuffing things she thought she might need. “We’ll bring some of the gift bags to distribute. That way, it would look as if we were just moving among the women.”
    “Good idea.” Sean said. Then, he added in a quiet voice. “Be careful, Kit. The comptroller warned that the relatives looking for her are armed.”
    A shiver of alarm went through her. “They aren’t...going to hurt her, right?”
    Another pause. “I don’t know. You have to get that information about the groom before anything happens. Do you follow?”
    Kit frowned. A young girl’s life was hanging in the balance and all the man cared about was information about the groom? The guy the girl hated so much she was actually running away from him and his family?
    She opened her mouth and then closed it. There was no time for debate right now. She had no idea what she was going to do but was determined to save Minah, wherever she was.
    Joanna was also a seasoned photo-journalist, snapping pictures and making her way through the small crowd of women as Kit handed out the little bags. The ladies, some of whom spoke English, were gracious, thanking them for the packages. In spite of the need to hurry, Kit felt good at the small sparkle of delight she caught in the women’s eyes when they looked inside their bags. There were even some squeals from the accompanying children when they saw the toys. Joanna recorded some of those moments with her digital camera.
    One of the women tugged at her sleeve, pointing in one direction. “There are some children