"Why would we be interested in this man?"
She raked her best haughty gaze over the unconventional OSI officer's spiky hair and bright yellow polo shirt. "You must really think I am stupid."
The clock on the wall ticked. How much did she know and how had she found out?
More important, who had she told?
Keagan hitched a hip on the desk corner. "Now's the time to prove to us just how smart you are."
She pleated the scarf in her lap faster. Nerves? Or lies? "It is obvious you are here for more than dropping off food for starving locals. Ammar al-Khayr has escaped justice in the States once. I sincerely hope you are here to dispense it now so he cannot appropriate the funds of every orphan who happens to share a distant relative with the man. I am not the first he has tried this with. A simple search will tell you that. As you so eloquently put it, your own unfortunate ambassador here was assassinated. And only because the ambassador's wife was related to Ammar who wanted control over the man's wealth through his children."
She paused, frowning. "Or maybe you already know that."
That and more. Baker's father, the man's wealth and political influence was far spread and well known in the States. The very damned reason Baker and Jack Korba together had been able to land themselves on this mission.
"All I want is to get out of this country. You can listen to what I have to say or not. Your choice, Mr. Keagan."
"What about the hostages in the compound?''
"Who?" Her fingers stilled on the silk. "Which ones? Ammar is always holding somebody. Snatching people for bargaining influence. You seem to think I am making an easy choice in telling you because you can offer me military protection. But you do not seem to realize how far his reach extends. I risk much more by talking than by staying silent."
Finally, Drew let himself ask, "Then why do it?"
She met his gaze directly for the first time since she'd sprawled na*ed on top of his chest. "Because I want people to look in my eyes and see honor."
Damn but she fought dirty. All the more reason to keep his guard up around her now more than ever. She knew him, had used her time wisely to find the chinks in his armor.
A knock sounded. Snipped the tension between them.
Baker swung the door wide to Monica Hyatt standing tall and pissed, Jack Korba scowling just behind her. Both wore rumpled flight suits and barely combed hair.
Apparently, Yasmine had wrecked everyone's sleep.
Keagan closed the door behind them. "Seems we have a situation here."
Hyatt's eyes stayed locked on her sister. "So Rodeo informed us."
"Do you have anything to add, anything that might vouch for her character so we can all breathe easier today?"
That sure snapped Hyatt's attention off her sister. "You're joking, right?"
The OSI officer nodded to Jack and stepped toward a far corner of the room. "How about taking a look at the compound map."
The question of the hour. Was Yasmine's input about the layout genuine? Or a trap. Baker, Keagan and Korba huddled in a corner while Drew did his damnedest to stare at the file in front of him instead of looking at Yasmine and her rose scarf. Because then he wouldn't have to see that slight quiver on a mouth that used to smile at him.
She damned well had reason to be scared.
Hyatt walked with calm deliberate steps toward her sister, stopping. "You little bitch," she said low.
Drew kept his head down. He had to give Yasmine credit, she didn't blink, kept her regal calm and took what her sister doled out.
"How dare you use me, use all of us like that? But then I shouldn't be so surprised. You're no more loyal than the bitch who gave birth to us."
"Please do not hold back your feelings, sister."
Hyatt all but snorted. "I'm not too worried about you. I figure we're pretty much evenly matched, you and I." She leaned closer, controlled rage vibrating through her body and even her voice. "But if you've done anything, anything at all to put Sydney in more danger than she's already in, I swear to God I'll make it my personal mission to ensure you rot in jail for the rest of your life."
"Sydney?" Yasmine's poise slipped.