Andrew Peterson: Forced to Kill

“I’ll call you from the air with an exact ETA. Count on around twelve-hundred.”

Nathan ran the calculation in his head. They’d have to leave Sac Exec by no later than 0700 hours. They weren’t getting much sleep tonight, if any. “We’ll be there, echo four and me.”

“You’re both invisible.”

“Understood.”

“Twelve-hundred.”

Nathan looked toward Holly’s sedan. No doubt she and Harv would be talking about him, and understandably she’d be feeling some apprehension-probably more than some . His own apprehension reached much deeper. He didn’t know how this development would affect him, and he desperately wanted to avoid slipping back into the fractured state that had nearly driven him to suicide. He’d moved past that years ago. Had it not been for Harv’s unyielding friendship, he would have ended his life. Harv had given him purpose. Started their security company. Invested their money. Protected him. He owed Harv more than he could ever repay in ten lifetimes.

He closed his eyes. It was one thing to be tortured in private, but publicly? In front of women and children? For days on end? Juan Montez de Oca had been especially twisted in his methods. He’d gathered dozens of local villagers to witness the interrogations. One day, while Montez watched with casual indifference, one of the mercenaries who fancied himself an expert with a bullwhip had demonstrated his skills. During the unthinkable pain and blood loss, Nathan had discovered a dark side of himself, a savage part of his psyche that he’d come to call the other , for lack of a better term. This hate-filled personality had made it possible for him to cope with the pain and humiliation of being brutalized in front of an entire village, including women and children who’d been openly sobbing. Nearing death, Nathan had lost count at twenty-eight lashes.

Now, fourteen years later, he felt an uncontrollable impulse to scream into the night until his throat bled.

No. I won’t do it. It’s not who I am anymore.

Nathan relaxed his hands and slowed his breathing.

He couldn’t allow Montez to ruin his life, his friendship with Harv, and everything he’d developed with Holly. He’d imagined going after Montez many times, but never tried. As far as they knew, Montez had dropped off the face of the Earth more than a decade ago, apparently exiled from his own country, never to be heard from again.

But if Holly’s photo was authentic, Montez had returned. And not only returned, he’d become active again, torturing and killing another victim-and probably more than one.

Nathan couldn’t turn his back on this, but going after Montez involved considerable risk. He knew Harv would demand to be part of any operation against Montez. Could he risk that? Harv had a wife and two sons.

One thing was certain, Montez couldn’t be allowed to operate like this again. On that, he and Harv would strongly agree. So be it. But first things first. Montez had to be found.

Holly looked toward the hangars. “How long will he be out there?”

“If he were by himself,” Harv said, “it could be hours. But he won’t keep us waiting that long. He’s going through all kinds of scenarios in his head right now. If-then scenarios. If this happens, I’ll do this. I’d also be willing to bet he’s making a phone call.”

“To whom?”

“General Hawthorne.”

“The Marine Corps commandant?”

“Yes, our old CO. He helped us with the Bridgestone case, looked into the DOD records for us.”

Holly remembered. “What can you tell me about Nicaragua? The man who did this.”

Harv sighed. “We called him Monty Goose, but his full name is Colonel Juan Montez de Oca. Oca means “goose” in Spanish. Nathan made up the nickname to antagonize him. Montez hated it.”

“Why would Nathan want to anger his interrogator?”

“Despite the physical pain, interrogation is a mind game more than anything else. A strong-willed victim can turn the situation around on his tormentor, but it usually comes at a very high price.”

“Are you saying Nathan purposely made it harder on himself?”

Harvey joined her in the front seat. “What I’m saying is, he could have made it easier, but didn’t.”

“Montez didn’t break him?”

“Not entirely. Nathan kept changing his story. Montez never learned the real truth, or even extracted Nathan’s real name. Even if he had, he couldn’t have verified anything. We were off the books. No paper at all. So in a sense, Nathan broke Montez, not the reverse. At the end, he was torturing Nathan purely out of frustration and anger.”

“I can’t imagine what he went through.”

“Few people can. Nathan is the ultimate unsung hero who will never, ever , be publicly acknowledged for his sacrifice to his country. He is the finest, most honorable man I’ve ever known. I’d give my life for him, and he’d do the same for me. And you.”

Holly thought back to the first time he’d spent the night at her house. Nathan had insisted on sleeping on the floor. That was odd enough. Then came his horrible dream. The way he’d jumped off the floor when she’d yelled his name. The expression of rage in his eyes and the paralyzing sense of danger she’d felt. Almost as though he’d been someone else for a few seconds.

Some thing else.…

Nathan walked back to Holly’s sedan. The longer he stayed out here, the more it would worry her. To avoid startling them, he approached from the front of the vehicle, then came around to the passenger’s side and climbed into the backseat.

“I trust my absence hasn’t spooked either of you irreparably?”

Holly turned in the front seat to face him, concern in her eyes. “You okay?”

“I needed to clear my head. Sorry.”

“You’ve got nothing to apologize for. What you went through.…”

“It’s okay.”

“No, it’s not okay .”

He forced a smile. “Can’t say I like it much. We’re pressed for time, but let’s grab a bite. Anyone hungry?”

“There’s an all-night coffee shop about a mile from here,” Holly said.

Harv climbed out. “I’m gonna lock her up and grab our bags. Be right back.”

Nathan stayed in the backseat and an uneasy silence ensued. He knew she didn’t want to break it, so he spoke first. “You look great, Holly.”

“I don’t feel great. I’ve gained ten pounds since the bombing. It’s this damned cane. I can’t exercise like I used to.”

“You look fine.”

“I’ve really missed you.”

“Me too.”

“Will you stay with me tonight? Harvey too. I mean-”

“I know what you mean. No problem.”

“You going to sleep on the floor?”

“I like sleeping on the floor.”

“You’re the most unusual man I’ve ever met.”

“You don’t get out much.”

“Is Harvey a light sleeper?”

“I’m afraid so. The man can sleep with his eyes open. It’s the damnedest thing you ever saw.”

“I’d like to sleep next to you tonight, even if it’s on the floor.”

“You can’t.”

“I’m willing to risk it.”

He took her hand. “But I’m not.”

“Think I’ll ever be able to?”

“Probably not. I’ll never lead a normal life, Holly. Montez stole that from me. All I can do is be the best person I can to you.”

“You’re one of the kindest men I’ve ever known.”

He nodded toward the helicopter.

“Is he coming?”

“Harv knows the score. Don’t worry about him, and don’t let him insist on staying in a hotel tonight.”

“I won’t.”

Harv placed the bags on the seat next to him and slid into the front. “We’re good to go. Listen, you two should be alone tonight. I don’t mind roughing it at the Hyatt again.”