Page 1 of Two Hearts' Ploy

Prologue

July 2021

Afghanistan

Dust and debris littered the remains of the Afghan settlement, where Lieutenant Jeff Callahan, along with a former U.S. interpreter and his wife, had been scheduled to be transported from Afghanistan via chopper. Unfortunately, this location was no longer an option since members of the Taliban were returning to take control of the country at an extremely rapid pace, even before the scheduled U.S. withdrawal in August. Since the settlement was exposed and no longer had cover, an incoming chopper would easily be visible.

Despite the time and expense that had gone into recruiting and training an Afghan army, once the Taliban forces had begun to return, many of the recruits hadn’t even attempted to defend themselves, choosing instead to surrender or join forces with the Taliban.

The three of them were moving on foot since the Taliban had already begun setting up roadblocks on every incoming road they’d traveled.

As Jeff stared grimly at the rough terrain ahead, he wondered yet again how he was going to get this couple he was escorting to safety. It was going to be a challenge hiking through mountainous terrain to reach the second transport site on his list. Serving over ten years as an interpreter for a U.S. Army general who’d been stationed here in Afghanistan, Ahmad was one of hundreds of Afghan civilians who needed to be evacuated. Supposedly,Ahmad had been invaluable not only as an interpreter but at providing intel about various terrorist organizations operating throughout the country, undoubtedly responsible for saving numerous lives.

Jeff studied Ahmad’s wife, who wasn’t exactly dressed for the heat or battling rough terrain.

It was if she could read his thoughts when she dug deep into the bag she’d hoisted over her shoulders when they’d left Kubal, digging out a pair of socks and boots. After unwrapping the skirt from around her waist that had covered the pants she’d been wearing, she leaned on a pile of rocky debris, slipping off the thin-soled shoes and replacing them with her socks and boots. He should have figured that she’d been playing the part of a traditional dutiful wife for appearances sake as they’d traveled.

Jeff nodded his approval, silently motioning Ahmad and his wife toward a path that led upward, away from the settlement. Along with the Taliban, there were several ISIS insurgent organizations still operating in the region. At least there was less chance of them being exposed if they were no longer out in the open.

If he succeeded in getting them out, they would eventually land at Ramstein Airbase in Germany where they would have asylum while being processed to travel into the U.S.

Originally, Jeff had been traveling with a fellow officer, but they’d been forced to split up after discovering multiple roads had been closed.

Jeff breathed a sigh of relief as the three of them finally reached the secondary pick-up point. Although Ahmad was an experienced climber, his wife was not, so it had taken an additional five hours to arrive as opposed to four. Luckily, Jeff had learned about the demolition of the settlement long before they’d arrived there earlier and had been able to communicate with command via satellite phone to set up the secondary pickup site along the route so they wouldn’t have to backtrack.

As Jeff’s eyes searched the flat open space, he grew concerned. Although they seemed to be in the clear, you just never knew for sure how advanced the technology was of any possible insurgents who could be operating nearby. Now they’d just have to be patient since the chopper wasn’t due to arrive for at least another hour, at dusk. But they’d have to be on high alert.

It seemed like they waited forever as they sat under cover in silence.

When the chopper finally arrived, hovering above, Jeff sensed trouble when he noticed a flashing reflection from an elevated perch in the rockyterrain. Someone had weapons, and they were most likely being targeted, he decided as the chopper landed nearby.

Quickly rushing the couple over to the chopper and practically shoving them inside, he spun around with his rifle in hand, zeroing it in on the small band of insurgents who came running from behind a rocky outcrop above.

He felt the pain in his leg as he was being dragged onto the chopper, glancing down at the blood gushing from multiple wounds.

“Uh, oh. Damn it. That can’t be good,” he muttered as the chopper took off.

He got off a few more shots, noticing that all three insurgents were down.

Before he passed out.

* * *

Apparently, Jeff had spent a large chunk of time in a haze, probably drugged as his injuries were tended. He remembered asking about Ahmad and the condition of the chopper when he’d first arrived. He’d been relieved to hear that Ahmad and his wife had made it aboard safely. When he finally woke from the haze hours later, this time feeling somewhat alert, Jeff glumly tried to assess the damage to his legs when he realized he was lying flat in bed, apparently in a hospital somewhere. It was obvious that his right leg was gone.

Despite what appeared to be burns covering sporadic regions of his body, amazingly, both of his arms along with his hands seemed to have escaped any extensive damage. At least his career as a communications and electronic expert probably wouldn’t be at risk.

But he wasn’t as certain about his future as an Air Force officer.

At that moment he realized that he’d kind of considered himself invincible. Despite having numerous friends and even a brother, as well as a brother-in-law, who were dealing with severe disabilities, Jeff never really thought that something like this would ever happen to him.

Talk about being an idiot.

“Good. You’re awake,” a nurse said softly, entering the room. Coming closer, she started checking his vitals while asking him several quick questions regarding any pain he might be experiencing.

Apparently satisfied with his answers, she nodded her approval as she rested his arm back down on the bed.

“Well, Lieutenant Callahan, I’m going to send for your doctor so he can go over all your injuries with you as well as answer any questions. Alright?” She pursed her lips. “Meanwhile, your father is apparently on his way here to Germany from the States. He’ll be able to see you as soon as he arrives.”

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