Betrayals (Black Cipher Files series Book 2) Read Online Free Page B

deny any sort of responsibility.” Even as he spoke, he knew that wasn't fair. Jordan resisted the urge to smash the flat of his hand up into Frank's nose and break something. It wasn’t Frank’s fault politicians worried more about covering their asses and did whatever was politically expedient rather than acknowledging that someone had made a mistake.
    “Well it doesn't look good to have American civilians and registered voters worried about traveling.” Frank grimaced, but then he forced a smile. “Even if the Travel Warning from the State Department has recommended avoiding Afghanistan for years.”
    He knew that. He'd begged Staci not to go.
    “Although...that region should be safe.” Frank stirred sweetener into his coffee.
    Jordan watched the spoon go round and round, the clink of metal against ceramic tink-tink-tinking to the rapid beat of his heart. He wanted to wrap his hands around Frank’s throat and shake him until he spit out whatever he wanted to impart.
    Frank did that--paused for dramatic effect--as if he could make people hang on his words. Most of the time Jordan ignored the tactic. But today, Jordan needed the information Frank had and if he didn’t get it soon, Jordan would be forced to ask again. He couldn't show undue interest, but he needed any information he could get on Staci's death.
    “This particular area is basically controlled by our military. They are part of Operation: Rebuild. After the fiasco of just plowing under their fields, now we pay the warlord villages not to grow opium and we give them supplies.” Frank sipped at the coffee, then lectured, “Then we foot the bill to replant the fields with orchards, whatever, so they still have a way to make a living. The Franklin Group suggested the program.”
    Jordan's stomach clenched. “So if that's true, why did they imprison her?" Jordan tried to make his voice sound interested in an offhand manner.
    Just me wondering about this ‘obscure and tragic but unimportant in my world’ situation. Instead of the truly cataclysmic event it was. Staci had been in the wrong place at the right time and that had cost her everything. And him too. He couldn’t even mourn in public. Because she'd kept their relationship a secret, he couldn't chance that somehow he could damage her reputation posthumously.
    “Our intelligence indicates she was turned in by a local warlord for inappropriate dress. Usually they’re a little more lax about the dress code but with the recent resurgence of Taliban in that area, some of the natives have reverted back to the customs of keeping the women robed."
    “Why the hell wasn’t she wearing her burkha?” Jordan bit out. She knew better. They’d discussed it loudly. He’d seen her pack the damn thing himself.
    "There's no hard intelligence on the exact circumstances of her capture. And her murder is being blamed on the prisoners during the riot." Frank said, "The situation feels a little funny, but I can’t put my finger on what’s wrong.”
    As annoying as Frank was, his analysis was usually dead on.
    “Want me to take a closer look at it?” Jordan offered casually and prayed Frank agreed. Otherwise he would have to make a copy of the report when the office cleared out.
    “You wanna write the position paper, go for it. You've got more background experience with the country anyway.” Frank shrugged and took a gulp of coffee. “We’ve been told there’s no official analysis needed on her death, but it wouldn’t hurt to work up a short post-mortem. Especially since we advised on this region. If the politicians change their minds, we’ll be on top of it.”
    “Sure.” Jordan curled his fingers around the sheath of papers. If there was anything unusual in her capture or death, he’d find it.
    He might not be able to claim Staci, but at least he’d be able to avenge her.
    “One thing doesn’t make sense.” Jordan mentally scrolled through all of the information he’d read on Afghanistan since