Torn (Deep 8, #5)

6. Roger

SIX

Roger

The sun slices through the clouds, painting the raindrops with a dazzling brilliance, mocking the darkness of our mission. We are on our way to one of the most perilous places on Earth, a stronghold held by the Taliban in Afghanistan.

The air crackles with tension as Harlow and I gather what little we have and head to Bristol Airport, where Sean's black-and-gold corporate jet awaits us. Heavy anticipation hangs between us as we board. The unknown lies ahead, and our survival depends on the skills we honed through rigorous training. Staying sharp and well-rested are our tickets to success.

Once we’re at cruising altitude, we delve into the files left for us on Sean's mission in Afghanistan. His discovery of an elusive mineral called Stellarium, capable of providing endless energy, has put us on this dangerous path. Deep 8 coveted it for world energy dominance, and Afghanistan's inability to exploit its mineral wealth left Stellarium untapped, even by the Taliban.

The dry heat hits us as we disembark, and the small grains of sand swirl around, leaving the taste of chalk in our mouths. Sean waits for us in a Land Rover as we jump in and drive away, our destination shrouded in mystery.

"How was your flight?" Sean asks, but his mind is elsewhere.

"Fine. What have you discovered on recon?" I inquire, my eyes scanning the bustling crowd, desperately trying to reclaim what they have lost.

Harlow bangs on the back of Sean’s seat. "Stop the car! Stop it now."

The Land Rover screeches to a stop and Harlow sprints toward a man beating a woman with a stick in broad daylight. The woman cowers in fear but takes the beating. Harlow grabs his stick and breaks it in half as he yells at her in Dari. Sean and I rush to her side, dragging her away from the escalating chaos.

A crowd gathers as Taliban soldiers close in. Harlow, still seething, resists as I pull her toward the car.

"He doesn’t have the right to do that to her. She is a human being," she shouts.

We toss her in the back seat as Sean locks the doors and revs the engine, heading toward the nearest road out of town. "What the hell is going on with you? You could have jeopardized this entire mission."

Her face is flush, and her hair has lost its way out of her ponytail. Tears crest in her eyes, but her emotions remain unreadable. Sean’s concerned eyes meet mine in the rearview mirror.

She raises her chin. "It’s nothing. I’ll be fine for this mission. I overreacted, that’s all."

"That wasn’t an overreaction. You were triggered by the scene. I don’t agree with it, but it’s common here for women to get beaten in public. You can’t act on it every time you see it, or we won’t get out of here alive," Sean admonishes.

"Understood, sir," Harlow replies, her resolve apparent but fragile.

"As you read in the file, I was here a couple of years ago on a mission. The file sent by Pippa instructs us to go back to the glass house on the hill. I reconned the area yesterday. There are a few Taliban outposts, and it seems one of the Taliban leaders has taken over the house. It’s a loose group without organization. This should be a quick in and out. However, nothing is easy in Afghanistan." Sean briefs us, his stern face gives away his concern.

As we leave the city behind, we navigate the dusty roads and ascend into the mountainous forest areas, filled with trees, babbling brooks, and shanty houses. Harlow retreats into the corner, staring out the window.

"Harlow, you with me?" I ask in a low voice.

"Yes, based on what you’ve said we need to make a plan to infiltrate the house and retrieve the puzzle piece," she replies with a composed demeanor. "You can use me as a decoy to breach the house."

Sean glances at me from the rearview mirror. "According to the file, the piece is in a vault under the house. I wasn’t aware of any vaults in the house when I visited years ago. Harlow, it’s my understanding you’re somewhat of a vault hacker."

A sly smile crosses her face. "That would be correct, depending on the model of the vault. We may have recon to do."

"No, the vault information was in the file. Oddly enough, it’s an older model," Sean adds, setting the stage for the dangerous mission ahead.

"Even easier," Harlow mumbles.

Sean wrestles with the Rover on the rocky terrain, making it a rough ride. "I have a place we can stay. I scouted it out last time for a safe place."

We drive farther into the rocky mountain terrain as we come up on several caves. "We’ll bunk here for the night. I have everything we need in the back." He backs into the cave and switches off the ignition.

"We’re staying in a cave?" Harlow whispers.

"He’s big into geology. I didn’t think he’d take it this far," I whisper back.

We help Sean set up three tents in the cave as the sun goes down in a blaze over the mountains to the west. Sean stares ahead probably thinking about the birth of his first child. Harlow remains quiet after her outburst. I’m left to think about my place in this game we’re playing with Deep 8. Next time they make contact, I’ll demand proof of life.

The sun’s fire sizzles out, indicating the end of the day’s events. Sean turns in, unable to call home without service. We’ll use the SAT phone for emergencies. Harlow says good night, but I follow her to her tent.

"Can I come in? I need to talk to you."

Her face falls and the dark circles return under her eyes. "Yes. We need to talk."

The small tent gives us little room to maneuver as I sit at the end of her sleeping bag. "Do you want to talk about what happened earlier today?"

Her fingers play with a loose string on the sleeping bag. "Not really. It’s a long story."

"I’m all ears."

Her blond hair falls around her face, making her look young and vulnerable. "I’m going to help you get this puzzle piece and then I’m taking the next flight back to London."

The dead air hangs between us. "Why not Australia?"

"I can’t go back," she mutters.

Her fingers shake and I change tact. "We need you on this mission. I need you on this mission. You are essential and have a way of seeing things I can’t see. You react when you see something happening. There are things you know about my father, nuances I’m not privy to. I’m sure you have a list in your head of places he’s been and people he’s seen. Someone once told me the details matter. You know the details."

She slides into the sleeping bag and curls up. "I tend to get myself into trouble. I’m used to working solo. My assignment with your father over the last two years has had its share of ups and downs, but I have been at cruising altitude for a while." She tucks her hands under her pillow, facing away from me.

"Get a good night’s sleep. We’ll have a fresher perspective tomorrow." My hand squeezes her calf, and I can feel the heat, even with the sleeping bag between us.

Her body tightens as if she can sense the chemistry too. Her eyes flutter closed, putting an end to our discussion. She fascinates me with her smart mouth, brains, beauty, and tenderness. She makes me want to unravel her complexities.

Slipping out of her tent, I zip it closed and find my way to my tent. The cold, damp air grips me as a reminder of how deep we are in with this op. I lie down, turning around the questions in my head about my father. Something is unsettling about his abduction, but I can’t put my finger on it. My eyes close willing myself to sleep. Tomorrow may not be as easy as we think it will be.