Page 47 of Fear No Evil

Boris gestured for the others to step close to him.

Glad not to have to move Jake, Maggie placed a hand on his shoulder while Marquez switched on his radio, held down the button on the side, and spoke into it.“Habla.”

When a voice responded, the commander handed Arias the device and walked away.

Maggie’s blood began to thrum at the prospect of hearing her former colleague’s voices. She would need to keep quiet, on the off chance they recognized her voice and blew her cover.

“Hello?” Arias began the conversation tentatively, in English.

“Yes, hello!”

The familiar tenor of Jay Barnes’s voice hit Maggie like a blow to the solar plexus. His normally robust voice sounded weak, but the prospect of getting to go home clearly excited him.

Boris, who sat next to Arias, leaned toward the radio, speaking in English with just the faintest German accent. “This is Boris Mayer from the United Nations Department of Peace Operations. We are currently situated on El Castillo negotiating for your release.”

“Oh, thank God.” Jay’s voice cracked with emotion. “Please, I appreciate whatever you can do to help.”

“I appreciate,”he’d said, notwe.

Jake lifted his head to catch Maggie’s eye. He’d picked up on the telling pronoun, too.

“How is your health, Mr. Barnes?”

“Fine. I’m weak, but my health is…it’s okay.”

“You make no mention of your companion,” Boris pointed out.

“Oh, he’s…he’s here. He’s not doing so well, though.”

“Is he ill, Mr. Barnes?”

“Yes, yes, he’s terribly ill. Cranial malaria, I think.”

Maggie fought to keep her dismay from showing. Cranial malaria was deadly. The thick emotion in Jay’s voice made her own throat close. She fought to keep her expression neutral.As far as the present company was concerned, she didn’t know much English, so why would she be moved to tears?

Boris asked Jay, “Can Mr. Howitz speak? We need to know he’s alive.”

“Uh, yeah. I’ll hold the radio for him.”

“Hello? Mr. Howitz?” Boris called.

An unintelligible grunt followed.

“Are you Mike Howitz?”

Every team member leaned in, hoping to hear Mike’s reply.

“Yes,” rasped a voice.

Maggie cocked her head and frowned down at Jake. It didn’t sound like Mike.

“Mr. Howitz, my name is Boris Mayer, from the United Nations. Can you tell me where you’re from?”

“Charleston, South Carolina.”

Boris brightened. “Yes, can you tell me the date of your son’s birthday?”

A muffled whisper followed the question.