Free Tess Awakening by Andres Mann Page A

Her mother saved my life. I must do what I can to
find her before the General gets to her.”
    Colonel Gardner was getting used to arguing
with Tess; in fact, he did not remember a single instance where she
followed orders without a fuss.
    Time to use official language. “Major, the
answer is no. You have been a prisoner of war; you have not
completed your physical exam or a debriefing. You should apply to
be sent home to the States. You have done your duty. Give it
up!”
    “Colonel, not only did I make a promise to a
dying woman, but the bastards I am going after killed Major
Gardner. I know who they are, and the layout of the palace. I can
get in and do what I need to do in a few hours.”
    “How do you want me to explain this to your
father? That you are lunatic?”
    “Thanks for the compliment, Colonel, but my
father will understand.”
    ***
    Tess and Jake boarded a chopper with a pilot
and two crew members. They took off and made for Amir al-Saadi’s
compound. When they arrived, they saw a lot of smoke but no
activity. The landed at the periphery and a gunner manned his
weapon, looking for threats.
    Tess and Jake walked rapidly toward the
mansion and came upon the bodies of the Fedayeen that al-Saadi had
executed.
    The mansion’s doors were locked, and a
servant told them through them that he was to protect his master’s
house. Jake spoke in Arabic and assured him that the Americans
would most assuredly blow up the place if they were not allowed in.
The servant was persuaded and opened the door.
    Jake grabbed him by the throat and asked
“Where are your master and the little girl?” The terrified servant
divulged that the General had left with the child and several
troops, but he did not know where. Jake tried to get more out of
him until it became evident that he really didn’t know.
    “Jake, he might not know where Saadi went,
but he might tell us a little bit about his activities.”
    Encouraged by an occasional slap and kick,
the servant finally provided some useful information. The general
had an apartment in Istanbul, one in Paris, and an estate not far
from London. He could be in any one of these places.
    Jake looked at Tess disconsolately. “I guess
he outfoxed us. He’s out of reach.”
    “Only if you accept the situation” Tess
countered. “I’m going after him!”
    Jake lost his patience. “May I remind you
that we are both still in the Army? You just can’t walk out
globetrotting all over the place to chase this guy!”
    Tess disagreed. “The Army will not let us
back in action until they do a medical evaluation and further
debriefing. After that, they will allow us to go on leave for a
while. That’s how I plan to chase the bastard.”
    Jake threw his arms up in the air. “You are
crazy!”
    “Thank you,” Tess responded. “I didn’t ask
you to go with me. I will take care of this myself.”
    “The hell you are. You need me around to make
sure you use your head!”
    Tess folded her arms on her chest. “You are
going to squeeze me again? I swear I will hit you with a
brick!”
    Jake smiled. “If you think I am going away,
you are mistaken. I guess I will take a leave and go with you on
this charade.”
    Tess was really annoyed now. “It’s not a
charade; it’s a little girl’s life. I promised her mother I would
take care of her and that is exactly what I am going to do!”
    Jake’s realized that there was no dissuading
her. “Okay, exactly how do you plan to find the General and the
girl?”
    “Simple. You use your contacts and
intelligence sources to help us narrow down where the bastard
is.”
    “Do you want me to use government resources
for your own private project?”
    “I think that the government will be useless
in this case. I am just asking you to use your experience as a
spook to help me find this guy.”
    “I think you are nuts,” Jake observed, “but
you are my nut. Okay, let’s do it.”
    “Thank you for the compliment sir,” Tess
smiled. “Let’s go