Page 82 of Lucky Charm
She frowned at him. “Oh, this isn’t for me. This is for you. For frame of reference. May I continue?”
Hunt glanced at Scott to his left and shook his head when the man started to speak. Having seen the drawings, he had an inkling where she was going with her story.
Stocker growled. “Sure. Let’s have a picture show.”
Cait raised a brow at his curtness. “I draw. It’s a stress reliever and has been since high school. After the Lieutenant and Petty Officer Evans cleared the house, Evans – or Carter as he’s called – and I prepped for surgery. I examined the boy to determine what was needed. I won’t bore you with that part. It’s not relevant. It was a legitimate injury, and while I suspect he had help when he fell, I don’t believe it was a setup.” She handed the men a drawing of the boy’s face. The pain in his expression was evident.
Stocker sat back in his chair and crossed his arms. “We don’t need supposition, Captain.”
“It’s not supposition. It’s an expert opinion. At any rate, I went to wash my hands to prep for the surgery. Outside, two men argued.” She sorted out the drawing of the argument; its rough composition made the violence of the moment more evident. She passed the paper across the table.
Mackey and Scott both leaned to see the drawings.
She didn’t stop her commentary, giving Stocker no room to interrupt her. “I accelerated the washing process to get done and back to Carter when thetwo men came through the door. You’ve read that part of the report, I’m sure. I didn’t know who he was at that point.” She handed off the drawing of IQS. Hunt had a moment where he could imagine how threatening that sight had to be, more so when she found out his identity.
“IQS.” Stocker shifted the drawing on the table to Reynolds. “I find it strange you can’t identify the DOD most wanted.”
Cait sighed, exasperation barely contained. “I’m here to care for service members after injury and get them home, not to fight terrorists.”
Mackey looked from Hunt to Cait. “How did you figure out who he was?”
Cait modified her tone for a fellow Army officer. “My commander decided, after the mess I got into on the mission, that everyone would be required to review the security book. Pictures of all the local most wanted were included. I even had to review it. That’s how I found him.”
“Continue.” Scott ordered.
“I dried my hands and backed to the dining area doorway. The mother was there and stopped me. She was concerned for her son.” She slid a small drawing of the woman across the table. “The man with her stepped up to translate to English what she wanted. He wasn’t there long. Haquiri barreled through, started berating her. The man disappeared through another door. I never saw him again.” She handed the picture across to the men. It was the last one she had.
“Anyway, Haquiri maintained his ranting at the woman. He was surprised we were there and very angry. Not that I have words to that effect. He was speaking a dialect I’d never heard. I don’t know where IQS went. He didn’t follow Haquiri into the dining area. Carter came to me and pulled me to the surgical area in the living room. The lieutenant arrived. Haquiri stormed out. He didn’t return.”
Stocker set aside the last drawing not looking at it.
Hunt couldn’t let him do that. “You should look at that drawing. I know who it is, and I think you do, too.”
Cait closed the cover on her drawings and sat back. She glanced at him. He could sense her gaze, but he kept focused on Stocker.
“This all has been entertaining,” Stocker started.
Mackey straightened and elbowed him. “Reid.”
Stocker’s conceited mask dropped. “What?” He pulled the drawing back to him. “What the hell?”
Mackey looked at Cait. “Can you fill in more detail?”
Cait shrugged. “Sure, find me a pencil.”
Scott rose and went to the door, ordering someone on the other side to find a pencil. He turned back to the table, giving Hunt a censoring eye.
Hunt spoke what he’d figured out on the return trip to the compound. “Your man was there and dodged us. Even unidentified in the clothing we wore, he had to know we were friendly, especiallywith the doctor. In fact, he may have even seen Quaid whom he knew.”
“We should continue this conversation without the Captain,” Stocker growled.
Cait slid her drawing book under her arm. “I’m fine with that, but I’d like to state two things. You co-opted a medical mission for your own purposes without explaining that to my command. And the next time you want to question me, my Commander is present.” She reached across for the drawing and rose.
Hunt stood, too. “I’ll show you where you can work.”
“It doesn’t leave the building,” Stocker ordered. “All these drawings are classified. Now.”
“Understood, Captain?” Scott glared at Stocker, then tempered his tone. “We need to keep this close until we find him.”
