Edge of Valor: A Post-Apocalyptic EMP Survival Thriller(47)

Liam estimated the hostile had an hour before it was lights out. He was already dead. He knew it, too.

“Are you going to torture him?” Bishop’s expression was grim, his complexion waxy. He looked physically ill.

Liam glanced up at Bishop. “We know he’s guilty. There’s no question. This is our only opportunity to glean crucial intelligence. You know that.” He raised his voice. “If he tells the truth, I won’t touch him.”

Bishop raked a hand through his afro and gave a resigned sigh. “What I know in my head and what I feel in my heart are two different things. It doesn’t feel right.”

It felt fine to Liam, but he didn’t say so. He gave Bishop an out. “Why don’t you radio Perez and link up with her reaction force? Make sure we’re clear.”

Bishop nodded, relief on his face. He turned on his heel and marched from the room.

Bishop was an honorable man. A better man than Liam. This moment might haunt his nightmares later, but he could live with that. It had to be done to protect the people he loved.

Liam shifted his gaze to Reynoso. “You in or out?”

Reynoso’s bronze skin looked distinctly pale, but he didn’t waver. The man was solid as a rock. “Do what you’ve got to do.”

Liam returned his attention to their prisoner. “Who sent you and why?”

“I’m not telling you anything—”

Liam leaned forward and poked the tip of the knife into the man’s wounded shoulder.

The prisoner howled.

Liam continued with his work. Within a few minutes, the hostile was writhing in agony.

Liam eased back. “Let’s start a little easier, shall we? What’s your name?”

“Jenkins,” the man said.

“That’s better. Who are you?”

“Security contractor.”

Liam nodded. The hostile’s Sig Sauer M17 and M4 carbine were army-issued. He carried himself like former military.

“How did you sneak past the perimeter?”

Jenkins’ mouth pressed into a thin line.

“How did you get in?”

“Go screw yourself.”

Liam went to work again. The prisoner squealed in anguish. Liam worked harder.

“On foot!” Jenkins said. “By bike on Boone Trail. Then we…we hiked in through the woods to avoid the blockades and patrols.”

It made sense. Fall Creek’s security teams had enough warm bodies to watch the roads, which were the most likely entry points. Liam had stationed a few observation posts in the woods, but not enough.

For anyone truly determined, especially on foot—there were a hundred points of entry to breach the perimeter.

“Who sent you?”

Jenkins refused to answer.

Things progressed for several minutes. Finally, he broke. “General Sinclair! It was the General who gave the orders. We’re acting on government authority!”

“To murder children?”

“Not murder. We were supposed to take her and bring her to the General. That’s all.”

“How did you know which house was hers?”

The hostile winced. “The General knew. He had a map of the town and circled the road and the house. Once we penetrated the perimeter, we surveilled the house all afternoon. I saw the woman bring the baby here. We waited until everyone was asleep and in-between patrols. Then we broke in. Get in, get the baby, get out. Those were our orders.”

“There are two babies. You were after them both?”

“Just the girl. Didn’t know there was another kid. Almost grabbed that one by accident. It was the girl he wanted.”

“Why?”

“How am I supposed to know?”

Liam went at him again.

The hostile convulsed like electric volts were shooting through him. When he could speak again, he said, “The kid is related to him! A granddaughter? Great-granddaughter? I don’t know! Hell, it hurts!”

Shaken, Liam sat back. Cold sweat broke out on his brow.

His mind whirled, cycling through the possibilities, the ramifications, what this meant for them, for Fall Creek and for Hannah.

The General knew.

Rosamond hadn’t shown a shred of interest regarding her blood ties to her granddaughter. Evidently, her father felt differently.

That mealworm scumbag Sutter had told the General about Charlotte. Or else Luther had.

Maybe Luther was playing both sides.

If he was, Liam would find him and filet his skin from his skeleton.

“That’s why the General hasn’t attacked yet,” Jenkins wheezed. His eyelids fluttered. His makeshift bandages leaked thick dark blood. A widening puddle stained the carpet beneath him. “Just…waiting on the…kid. He’s gonna blast you terrorists to hell…”

Once he had the intel he needed, Liam gave Jenkins a quick death, as he’d promised.

He stood slowly, back twinging, and wiped his hands on a towel. He cleaned his tactical knife and sheathed it.

Sickened, he turned from the corpse.

He’d done what he had to do. If it meant he kept his loved ones safe, he would let his soul burn for eternity.

“What does this mean?” Reynoso asked, dismayed.

Liam couldn’t answer him. He needed to talk to his spy. He needed information.