Free Nefarious (The Blackwell Files Book 1) by Mr. Steven F. Freeman Page A

you returning to duty once your physical therapy is complete?”
    Alton sighed almost imperceptibly as the Moskvitch bumped along. “The re-injury changed all that. I’ll always have a bum leg. More than likely, I won’t be able to perform all the physical tasks required for field work. The Army will either shuffle me off to a permanent desk job or send me on my way with an honorable discharge and a ‘thank you.’ Frankly, I don’t find either prospect appealing.”
    “I’m sorry, Alton,” said Mallory. “I didn’t realize it was that serious.”
    For a minute, the only sound in the car was road noise.
    Alton felt a twinge of doubt. How would Mallory feel about having befriended him now? Was she having second thoughts? If so, she wouldn’t be the first. Her cheerful face, though, provided no evidence to justify his concerns, and the trio passed the next few minutes in pleasant conversation.
    As the friends neared Camp Eggers, a pock-marked wall from the bombed-out bazaar jogged Alton’s memory, and the incongruity from the beginning of their drive came into focus.
    He leaned forward. “Did you all notice that the security wall on the street outside Gandamak’s Lodge seemed a little different tonight? A little more beat up than usual?”
    David and Mallory both shook their heads.
    “Maybe there’s nothing to it, but I’m pretty sure there are more holes in it now, the same kind of holes the insurgents drill in concrete to plant the directional explosive charges that wreak havoc with our convoys.”
    “Isn’t that kind of IED firepower normally used against military convoys?” asked Mallory.
    “Yes, but if Al-Qaeda knows a group of US soldiers is departing in a line of cars—even civilian cars—we are a military convoy for all practical purposes.”
    “I see,” replied Mallory, nodding.
    “I think we should have the wall checked out by the EODs,” said Alton. The Army’s explosive ordnance disposal specialists were trained to examine potential bomb sites in order to identify and dispose of enemy explosives.
    “We should use more routes,” continued Alton, “We don’t want to give the insurgents a chance to anticipate our movements.”  He looked at David in the rear-view mirror. “And we need to see if anyone inside the bar is passing along our route plans.”
    “Um…how are we gonna do that?” asked David.
    “I have an idea. I’ll call a meeting tomorrow to explain the plan.”

CHAPTER 18
     
     
    Camp Eggers, Kabul, Afghanistan
    Alton approached General Mooreland first thing in the morning. “Sir, last night some friends and I were returning from Gandamak’s Lodge and observed possible IED drilling in a nearby wall.”
    The general raised an eyebrow, and Alton continued. “I know the site is well outside our normal security perimeter, but since Gandamak’s is frequented by our troops, I recommend we send EODs to check it out.”
    “I see, Captain. I’ll have it looked into.”
    Alton described the details of his observation to the general. “General, if I may make a suggestion, sir.”
    “Yes?”
    “I’d recommend investigating the wall site as discretely as possible and, if possible, replacing any ordinance we find with dummy rounds. We may have a window of opportunity to discover who is planting these explosives, and I’d hate to lose that opportunity because we tipped our hand too early.”
    General Mooreland scratched his chin, then nodded. “Good idea, Captain. Are you interested in knowing what we find?”
    “Of course, sir.”
     
    Later that morning, General Mooreland stopped by Alton’s desk. “You were right. There were twenty charges in that wall. I’m not sure why they weren’t detonated last night.”
    “Perhaps the terrorists weren’t finished setting the charges,” said Alton. “They might have decided waiting one more day wouldn’t hurt.”
    “Guess they figured no one would spot their handiwork in the dark. It’s a damn good thing you did. Nice