Page 44 of Fear No Evil

The officers’ quarters was way too risky, especially after Lena’s close call the other morning. His gaze continued to roam. Too many kids cycled through the lean-to that housed them.That decrepit shed way on the other side of the camp had bats and hornets in it. He kept searching only to reconsider the shed a second later.

Well, why not? Because hornets in equatorial regions carried stingers with twice the venom as those in North America, that was why. And the bats were bound to be vampire bats whose spit contained an anticoagulant that kept blood from clotting. By day, though, they usually slept. And Jake could handle a hornet sting or two if it meant getting through to the JIC.

It couldn’t be any worse than Hell Week at SEAL BUD/S training or the waterboarding training they’d put him through at The Farm. With a deep breath of resolve, Jake rose from the stump by the firepit, wondering the best way to get himself into trouble.

Guilt pricked him as he glanced back at Lena. How many times had he lectured her on the importance of keeping her partner in the loop? In this case, though, telling her would put her in harm’s way, as she would insist on getting into trouble with him. Since his first job was to protect her, not let her risk her life along with his, he had to keep this plan to himself.

Sorry, Beautiful.

Crossing the camp slowly, he hunted for the best way to vex themondowithout going too far and being shot by the man. Gallo stood in the field by the bull’s-eyes, surrounded by the eight young male rebels. As Jake drew close enough to see what they were doing, he realized Gallo was teaching the boys how to bury mines. Talk about a sorry education.

Feeling Lena’s eyes track his progress, he cast her a reassuring smile and a wave.Better come up with a plan quickly, Iron Man, because it won’t take Lena long to put two and two together.

A solution presented itself in the form of the antique AK-47 Chucho had left propped against the trunk of a tree, in lieu ofcarrying it on his shoulder. Meandering toward the tree, Jake watched Gallo, who was down on one knee, take a mine from a box‍—hopefully a dud. He handed it to a boy Jake didn’t know yet, ordering him to put it in the ground and cover it up.

Where were the FARC getting these mines, anyway?

Arriving at the tree, Jake reached casually for the eighties-era rifle and then picked it up. As he turned it over with the air of a man who’d never held one before, he sensed Lena’s riveted stare from clear across the camp. Better act fast.

Hearing a rustle overhead, Jake made eye contact with a long-haired spider monkey peeking down at him. He said in French, “I would move if I were you.” With a final glance at Gallo, who’d caught sight of him, Jake surreptitiously thumbed off the safety before firing straight up into the tree and missing the monkey by a mile.

Crack-crack!Bullets strafed the branches, raining down leaves and splinters.

“¡Estúpido!”Gallo sprang to his feet and stormed Jake while whipping the pistol from his holster. “Drop the weapon!” He thrust his pistol into Jake’s face while calling him a string of unflattering names.

Feigning chagrin, Jake placed the rifle carefully back against the tree, leaving its safety off and hoping Chucho promptly reset it.

Lena and Boris Mayer were racing toward him, but not before Gallo transferred his pistol into his left hand and pulled back his right fist. Jake could have sidestepped Mondo’s wild swing, only he wasn’t supposed to see it coming.

Ouch, that actually hurt.Putting on an expression of wounded innocence, Jake pressed the back of his hand to his swelling lip. But it wasn’t over yet. Gallo swung him around, shoved him face-first against the rough tree trunk, and thrustthe point of his gun between his ribs. “You idiot!” he raged in Spanish. “Were you trying to kill my soldiers?”

“No, no!” Jake fretted that he may have overshot his goal. In mangled Spanish, he explained his intent. “I-I-I pretended to shoot the monkey and thearmawent off.”

Lena’s feisty tone cut into the conversation. “He wasn’t even aiming at your soldiers, Mondo. It was an accident. Leave him alone.” She tried pulling Jake away from Gallo, who rounded on her.

“¿Accidente?There is no room foraccidentesin this camp. He could have killed someone. He must be punished!”

“Comandante.”Boris stepped between Lena and Gallo, addressing themondoby a title calculated to flatter him. “Please excuse Jacques. He knows nothing of weapons, and his eyesight is poor. I’m sure he meant no harm.”

“You are sure?” Gallo turned back to Lena and Jake. “Well, I am not. I have watched these two. They are not like the others.”

His comment struck Boris dumb. He divided a troubled look between the French couple.

Lena propped her hands on her hips and scoffed. “Are you scared of peacekeepers, Mondo?”

She seemed determined to get into trouble with Jake.

“Let it go, Lena.” Speaking in French, Jake tried to convey his intent with his eyes. “I made a mistake, and I’ll accept the punishment. Just stay out of it.”

“Stay out of it?” Her passionate nature got the better of her. “You’re my husband, and you want me to stay out of it?”

Jake winced as her tone alone demanded,“Whatever happened to teamwork, buddy?”

Boris placed a large hand on Lena’s shoulder. “I am sure when Commander Marquez arrives, he’ll resolve the matter at once. He should be here today.”

Gallo very deliberately released the safety on his pistol, causing all three of them to fall silent. Lena tried to step between him and Jake.

“Back up!” Gallo snarled, and Boris hauled her to safety.

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