Page 82 of Casualties of War
Then there was the story Minnie had told her about how the two of them had met. Téra had seen the photos in the newspaper, of course. Everyone exclaimed about Nick betraying his own people by taking up with an American, while Téra studied the grainy long-shot photos and the passion the two of them clearlyshared.
Nick had lost a country because of her. Now he was being told he couldn’t win that country back, not if he wanted to save her again.
Téra turned away from the window. “Nick’s back,” she told Minnie and Chloe, who were pouring over Chloe’s satellite pictures. They both looked up as Téra slid past them. She moved into the corridor and along it to the empty sunroom, to wait.
Nick lookedup as he pushed the door opened. She saw his shoulders straighten. “Téra…you’re up early.”
“Or late,” she said with a small shrug.
“Is no one sleeping here?”
“I guess it’s been that sort of day. Night. Days,” she corrected herself.
Nick’s smile was grim. “They tell me you saved Rubén Rey’s life. Good for you, Téra.”
“It was nothing,” Téra said. “He gave me directions. I followed. I wantedto tell you…” She hesitated. “Calli was brilliant, Nick. She shot one of the Insurrectos and kept everyone safe. The only way they got her was with a sucker punch, when she rushed to help Rubén.”
Nick’s face tightened. His eyes seemed to darken. “Thank you for that.” He rested his hand on her shoulder and gave it a small squeeze. He looked up over her shoulder.
“Oh, Nick!” It was Minnie’s voice.
Téra turned to see Minnie standing on the top step of the two steps down into the sunroom.
Minnie held her arms out to Nicolás Escobedo,El Leopardo Rojoand the recent Presidentpro temof Vistaria. He moved to her and hugged her. Hard.
Because Minnie was two steps up, their heights were similar. Minnie made soft shushing sounds as Nick rested his head on her shoulder and closed his eyes. Hisshoulders shook.
Téra eased past them and up the corridor to the back stairs and sat on the bottom step, where neither of them would see her through the railings. Nick wouldn’t appreciate knowing she had seen him at his most vulnerable.
The silence stretched for long moments. Nick gave a heavy sigh and cleared his throat. “I thought I could sneak in before anyone woke. Téra says you haven’tgone to bed.”
“That’s a slight exaggeration,” Minnie said. “We’re winging the sleep bit. A few hours here and there. There’s too much to do and now we’re shorthanded.”
“Good,” Nick said, his voice low. “Tell me what I can do to help. Give me work, Minnie. The more of it, the better.”
Minnie was silent.
“Don’t look at me that way,” Nick said, his voice dropping lower. “I’m not asking to runthe joint. Duardo made it clear I have to stay away from decision making. I’ll go crazy sitting and waiting, though.”
“Can you cook, Nick? Because we’re down to survival mode now and anything else requires command decisions.”
“I burn toast,” he said. “There must be something you need. What are you doing right now?”
“Looking at satellite photos,” Minnie said. “I have Chloe to help me.”
“Whyare you looking at satellite photos?” Nick said, with a tone that told Téra his curiosity had been pricked.
“No, Nick,” Minnie said shortly. Gently.
“You said you were down to survival mode, yet you’re looking at satellite photos, a low priority in the grand scheme of things. Something has happened,” Nick said.
“I think you should head upstairs and get some sleep, Nick. You’ve had a long night.”
Silence.
“Minnie…” Nick began, his tone reasonable.
“Don’t make me make it an order,” Minnie said, her tone still soft. Téra felt the hairs on the back of her neck stand up at the iron note it contained.
