Page 53 of SEAL's Spitfire
“Meghan,” Charlie exclaimed.
“Really, Charlie? You’re a captive of the Taliban and you’re worried about me saying fuck?”
“Yes, because our faith is all we have right now.” Meghan sighed.
“How did you get here? Are there others coming for us? Will help be coming soon?” The rest of the hostages finally realized she was really there, and the questions came too quickly for her to answer.
“How I got here is a story for another time. The government knows you’re here. They will come as soon as they can.” Praying that she was right and that a rescue was already in work, she tried to sound more positive than she felt.
“Are any of you hurt?”
“No, we’re fine.”
“Meggy, I still can’t believe you’re really here.”
“Truthfully? Me either. Remember, no matter what they do or say, you don’t know me. Right?”
“Right, I promise. Do you know why they’re keeping us here?”
“My friend thinks they are trying to ransom you for weapons. It’s probably why they haven’t hurt you.”
“Or God’s been protecting us.” Meghan wasn’t sure about that, but if his faith was that strong maybe it was true. Who was she to doubt anything at that point?
The cell didn’t have much space. A few filthy mattresses were strewn around the cement floor, a bucket, and a small window blocked by heavy bars.
“I’m so glad you’re okay,” she said and then wobbled on her feet.
“Sit down, you look like you’re going to fall over.”
He was right, she was at the end of her rope. The relief at finding Charlie and the others alive sucked all of her energy, and everything she’d gone through in the last twenty-four hours flooded back. Sliding to the floor, she pulled up her knees and wrapped her arms around them. Exhausted and emotionally raw, she leaned on her brother’s shoulder and closed her eyes for a few moments.
The sound of a cell door slamming woke her. “Oh God. I didn’t mean to fall asleep.”
“Meggy, please. You’ve been through hell. You needed it. You weren’t out for long.”
Searching for her pack to grab a bottle of water, she remembered they took it off of her back when they’d tied her hands and feet in the truck. It was probably still in there unless they’d found it. If they searched the bag, they’d find her press credentials and the phone. Once they realized who she was she’d probably be the next news story.
“Why would you risk yourself?”
“You’re my brother. Are you kidding me? I had to do something. I arranged an interview with the local leader. I thought the press coverage might make him want to release you.”
“Did you see him?”
“No. They shot my driver and took me before I could get to Bamyan to meet him. I thought maybe I’d get to see him still, I doubt that’ll happen now.”
The more she thought about it, the more stupid she felt. If they were going to let her interview Azfaar, she would have been taken to him right away instead of being locked up. Chances are they never planned on letting her get near him. When she and Tex had gone over all the possible scenarios, getting captured and killed had been one of them. He made sure she understood the real risks with her decision to go forward. She hadn’t cared, she had to try to save her brother since the government wasn’t doing jack.
If Rafe’s team had been sent to rescue the missionaries, then Tex would have tried harder to talk her out of going. That much she’d figured out on her own. She would never regret trying to help Charlie and the others even if she failed. And if by some miracle they got out of this, she’d have one hell of a story to tell.
There had to be something she could do. Some move she could make. What was the worse that would happen? They’d kill her? That was a distinct possibility anyway. She hadn’t come this far to just give up no matter how scared she felt on the inside. With her mind made up, she got off the floor and pounded on the door.
“What are you doing?”
“Trying to get them to give me my backpack.”
“Are you crazy?” one of the other missionaries asked. “You’re going to bring them in here. You don’t know what will happen.”
“No, I don’t, but I have to try to get us out of here.”
