Page 65 of Close Pursuit

He laughed lightly, and heads swiveled in their direction. Too many heads, and too fast. Everyone in the room seemed to be keeping an eye on Alex. Or maybe it was just that he and she made such a handsome couple. Or maybe Alex wasn’t being paranoid, after all.

André Fortinay, director of Doctors Unlimited’s day-to-day operations, approached them, a jovial and obviously fake smile on his face. He pumped Alex’s hand a little too enthusiastically.

Katie knew Alex well enough to see the sarcasm in his expression as he greeted their boss politely.

“Glad to have you back safe and sound!” André boomed. He was a big, hearty man with an ample girth and down-home personality, completely unlike what Katie’d expected from a Frenchman.

“We’re glad to be home,” Alex replied evenly.

“What the hell happened over there?”

Alex shrugged. “We delivered babies as long as we could. When the rebels came, we had to leave. We made our way out by whatever means we could find, and here we are. Back in modern civilization.”

André’s pleasant gaze went less pleasant for just a moment, and then he went back to his cheerful, bluff self, declaring them brave and lucky as hell.

Katie snorted mentally. Luck had nothing to do with their making it home alive. Alex’s mad skills and favors owed to him were the only reason the three of them were safe and sound.

Speaking of Dawn, if the village her mother came from had been eradicated, that meant the infant likely had no surviving relatives from her mother’s clan. It became more imperative than ever to find the child’s birth father.

“Were there any survivors in Karshan?” Katie asked André.

“None. It was a horrific massacre.”

“The rebels did it, you say?” Alex asked.

“That’s what our sources tell us.”

Alex asked casually, “Did your sources tell you about the high-tech attack drones, armored vehicles, laser-guided RPG’s, and precision airstrikes from choppers?”

“You witnessed all of this?” André asked low and urgent.

“With our own eyes. Since when are the Zaghastani rebels armed like a first-world military force?” Alex bit out.

André looked distracted and moved away quickly.

“He’s not our man,” Alex muttered.

“We’re looking for someone?” Katie asked under her breath.

“Someone from D.U. knew what they were sending us into.”

“Why do you say that?”

“Why else would they send me?” he asked gently.

She frowned, not understanding.

“Think about it. I’m a pariah. Why would they send me in there unless I was expendable?”

“What about me?” Katie asked.

“You’re collateral damage. Not to mention your sincere and naïve desire to do good works is the perfect cover for the fact that I was sent in as bait.”

“To catch what?”

“Or who,” he added. “Excellent question. My continued safety and yours may very well depend on answering it.”

She murmured pleasantly, “When we get out of here, will you please tell me what the hell’s going on?”

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