Free Out of the Shadows (Falcon) by Geri Foster Page A

Then a guy named Jake flew us here and dropped us off. While I wasn’t privy to the plan, I think Brody had made contact with someone who set him up.”
    “So Jake flew you here?”

“Yes.”
    A low whistle plowed through the air. “I’m surprised Frank approved that.”
    “I don’t think Frank knows.”
    A.J. shook his head. “That’s never good.”
    “Jake said the same thing . I guess you know Brody better than I do. So you know how hard-headed he can be.”
    “ God, yes, I do. That boy is going to get himself killed one of these days.” He paused, his face solemn. “If they haven’t already taken him out.”
    The door above them banged open , flooding the cellar with light. Two of Oscar’s men tromped down the stairs. Both were dressed in mis-matched military uniforms. Kate wanted to laugh aloud at the absurdity.
    One carried two tin plates of food. Behind him the other balanced a couple of containers of water and a lantern.
    When the two guards entered the basement, the second man set the water down, pulled out a gun and unclipped a set of keys from his belt loop. “Get back,” he commanded, waving the gun.
    Kate moved a foot away, and kept her hands in full view. Without taking his eyes off her, the guard put the pan on the floor by the door. He turned, took the water and put it in her cell next to the food. The sound of a metal lock echoed through the basement.
    They approach A.J.’s cell next. “You know the drill. Get back against the wall.” Oscar’s man with the gun pulled back the hammer. A.J. obeyed cautiously. The anxious guard quickly put the food and water down and then swiftly locked the cell.
    Obviously these men had been jumped before, and while they had to obey Oscar, this clearly wasn’t their favorite assignment. When the man who’d carried the food walked to her cell, Kate hadn’t moved. “Chavez has a special treat for you, senorita.”
    “I can’t wait.”
    The men laughed as they stomped up the wooden stairs.
    A.J. moved closer to his food. “Eat up. You’ll need your strength.”
    “What is it?”
    “Rice and beans. And it looks like our lucky day. They’re serving tortillas. I don’t get these very often.”
    “I think my jaw is broken,” Kate said, rubbing her chin. “There isn’t a place on my body that doesn’t hurt.”
    “Drink the water. It’ll help.”
    Thirst rose inside her like a demon. She cupped her palms in the water and took a long drink. The water wasn’t cold or clear, but she didn’t care.
    With her thirst quenched, Kate lay on her back and covered her eyes with her fo rearm, trying to mentally fight her way out of misery.
    It didn’t take a geni us to know they had no chance of surviving. Nothing good could come from whatever Oscar had up his sleeve. Murder probably.
    “Eat up,” A.J. said. “You leave any food and the rats will start coming back around. I’ve been licking the plate so they ’d know this infested cesspool wasn’t a good food source.”
    “I don’t think I can hold anything down. Besides, why bother?”
    A.J.’s voice sounded louder. “Don’t say that. Never give up. Especially, don’t give up on Brody.”
    “What if he’s dead?”
    “What if he isn’t?”
    “Oscar left him there for the villagers too kill.”
    “It’s been my experience that a lot of people have made the mistake of thinking Brody an easy kill, only to be disappointed in the end. Nothing could be further from the truth. If he’s anywhere around, he’ll find us.”
    “You ’re looking for hope where there is none.”
    “ I’m not going to stop believing until something or someone proves me wrong.”
    Kate propped herself up on her elbows and stared across at the prisoner. The man could barely move, yet his spirits were high. She felt bad for being so negative. He’d certainly suffered a lot more than she had and still he remained positive.
    Suddenly Kate wanted out more than anything in the world. She refused to wait for Oscar to