Page 17 of Near Miss

The same driver as before sped his way through the city and began the climb into the mountains.

Nadia had been a British citizen. The SAS killed his sister instead of letting her return home alive. He’d vowed to make the soldier who’d shot her pay, even as his father urged him to stop making waves in the media.

He would find another way to unmask the identity of his sister’s killer.

An hour into the trip back to Kabul, the phone he’d procured upon arriving in the country rang. The number was local but one he didn’t recognize. “Hello?”

An unfamiliar male voice answered in Pashto. “The man you seek is Lachlan Mackay.”

Chapter Eight

Lachlansathunchedoverhis office computer and studied the files Nathan sent him listing munition shipments flown into Kabul in the last year. A cup of coffee sat cooling on his desk next to the new security contract Jared had asked him to review.

From what he knew of the other firms operating in the same region as his teams, none of the shipments seemed excessive, although he’d flagged two that were possibilities. He’d reach out to his suppliers to see if he could glean any information, although they were likely to be tight-lipped about their sales to other clients. Frustration settled around him like a Bergen kitted out for a mission, weighing down his shoulders. He rubbed the back of his neck to try to loosen the tension.

There was a soft rap before his door opened to reveal Penny, dressed in an ivory blouse and navy skirt, a plant with shiny, dark green leaves in her hands. “Sophia said you need some nature in your office.” Her lips pursed as she held back a laugh. “She asked me to give this to you.” Penny placed the plant on his table, taking care not to disturb the stack of files he and Sophia had been working on the day before.

Lachlan frowned. “Why didn’t she bring it to my office herself?” And why did he need a plant? Was he supposed to take care of the shite thing?

“Probably because she was afraid you’d growl at her.” Penny sent Lachlan a knowing look, conveying a gentle admonishment that reminded him of his mam and made him avert his gaze. “She’s a sweet young woman, and I know you’ll make an effort to welcome her to LAI.”

He grunted, then sent Penny a brief nod and a weak attempt at a smile because his mam wouldn’t approve of his surly attitude either. When his door closed behind LAI’s office manager, he glanced over his shoulder at the files and his new greenery.

Sophia had emailed him earlier, asking when they could pick up where they’d left off with the government report. Before they’d gotten stuck in the elevator.

Before he’d behaved like a twat.

Before he’d fled the building so he could rebuild his defenses.

He clicked on her email to reply. His fingers hovered over the keyboard, waiting for his brain to direct them.

His mobile rang, Ryder’s name lighting the screen.

The government report could wait.

“Any news?”

“I heard from Gilly.” Ryder’s voice crackled over the long-distance connection.

Lachlan stilled. “Tell me.”

“Khan is hosting a wedding for the son of the mayor of Jalalabad at his compound. Rumor is, he’s using the celebration as cover for his weapons auction. No one will launch an assault at a wedding where several prominent members of Afghan society will be present.”

Fuck.Tension coiled at the base of Lachlan’s spine. “When is the wedding.”

“In two weeks.”

Two weeks to try and disrupt Khan’s plans. Lachlan stood, pacing back and forth between his desk and the table to work his leg muscles. Sophia’s plant waved gently in the breeze generated by the supply vent in the ceiling directly overhead. “Do you still have your contact at customs?” He fingered the broad, glossy leaves.

“Sayed? Yes.”

“See what he knows. Don’t tell me what you need to do to get the information.”

“Right.” Ryder paused. “There’s something else you need to know.”

“Burkette again?” Lachlan’s hand left the plant to curl into a fist. His other team leader’s antics were the last thing he needed to deal with at the moment.

“No. Nadia Haider’s brother was in Afghanistan. He met with Khan.”

---