“Just because I can understand the reasoning doesn’t mean I don’t need some safety assurances of my own.”
“Of course. You’re wondering if any of our intel is trustworthy.”
“Gee, it’s like you’re reading my mind.”
McElroy turned. “Cooper, can you tell Ms. Fazakas to join us?”
Cooper got up and exited the room. Moments later he returned with a dark-haired woman who was a good four inches shorter than Alex and looked Eastern European, maybe in her late thirties to mid-forties.
“Ms. Poe,” McElroy said. “This is Ms. Fazakas. Ms. Fazakas, Alexandra Poe.”
The woman nodded hello, then reluctantly took Alex’s offered hand and shook.
“Ms. Fazakas spent the better part of two years in Slavne Prison. After we’re through here, she’ll give you a thorough briefing, but suffice it to say the contact at the prison is known to her, and was the one who helped Ms. Fazakas get out.”
Alex eyed the woman. She realized now that Fazakas was probably younger than she looked. Whether it was the time in prison or life before that, something had taken its toll on her. She looked worn, tired, and, if Alex was right, a little fearful.
Alex eyed her. “You think this Traz can do it again with me?”
“Escaping a prison isn’t an easy thing,” Fazakas said. “But if Traz says it is possible again, then I assume yes.”
“So how did you get out?”
The woman hesitated. “The prison has high walls and several guards, but security is lax at times. I was able to get out in a hidden compartment on a delivery truck. I doubt you will be going the same way, though.”
“Why not?”
“The compartment was barely large enough for me. As I understand it, there will be two of you.”
Alex looked at McElroy. “Do you know how we’re getting out?”
He hesitated. “Ms. Poe, as I mentioned before, Traz is very concerned about something going wrong, and has insisted the information not be shared with anyone on the actual mission, and I have to agree. If you are caught, it will be better if you have no knowledge of the escape route. That way, if we need to send someone in to rescue you , it will still be open to us.”
“That is bullshit,” Deuce said. “You expect Alex to walk into that prison and not know exactly how she’s getting out?”
McElroy ignored him and looked directly at Alex. “I’m asking for your trust. Everything is in place for when you will need it. And unlike when Ms. Fazakas escaped, you will have help on the outside.” He motioned at Cooper and Deuce.
Deuce opened his mouth to say something again, but Alex put a hand on his shoulder, stopping him. She understood compartmentalizing information. She’d been in the army, after all. And as much as she might have liked to have a clearer picture, she couldn’t disagree with McElroy’s logic.
“Let’s assume I accept, and that there’s an adequate exit plan,” she said. “Can you at least explain how I’m getting in?”
“That’s the easy part. You’ll be arrested.”
She raised an eyebrow. “And then what? Wait around until they finally decide to send me to Slavne?”
“Of course not. We have planned out every aspect of the mission. Your transfer to Slavne Prison is already arranged. You’ll be sent there the same day you’re picked up.”
“Oh, the power of corruption,” Deuce muttered.
McElroy shot him a look. “It does come in handy sometimes. Most of the time, in fact.”
It was nearly half a minute before Alex spoke again. “So you have me in, and you have me out. I still see one big problem.”
“Only one?” Deuce said.
Alex ignored him. “Why me? Why in the world would El-Hashim listen to me?”
“Because the two of you already have a shared connection,” McElroy said.
“My father?”
McElroy nodded.
“Even if I used that, why would she believe me?”
“You’ll be imprisoned under a false name. As soon as the opportunity presents itself, tell her who you really are. She isn’t
“Of course. You’re wondering if any of our intel is trustworthy.”
“Gee, it’s like you’re reading my mind.”
McElroy turned. “Cooper, can you tell Ms. Fazakas to join us?”
Cooper got up and exited the room. Moments later he returned with a dark-haired woman who was a good four inches shorter than Alex and looked Eastern European, maybe in her late thirties to mid-forties.
“Ms. Poe,” McElroy said. “This is Ms. Fazakas. Ms. Fazakas, Alexandra Poe.”
The woman nodded hello, then reluctantly took Alex’s offered hand and shook.
“Ms. Fazakas spent the better part of two years in Slavne Prison. After we’re through here, she’ll give you a thorough briefing, but suffice it to say the contact at the prison is known to her, and was the one who helped Ms. Fazakas get out.”
Alex eyed the woman. She realized now that Fazakas was probably younger than she looked. Whether it was the time in prison or life before that, something had taken its toll on her. She looked worn, tired, and, if Alex was right, a little fearful.
Alex eyed her. “You think this Traz can do it again with me?”
“Escaping a prison isn’t an easy thing,” Fazakas said. “But if Traz says it is possible again, then I assume yes.”
“So how did you get out?”
The woman hesitated. “The prison has high walls and several guards, but security is lax at times. I was able to get out in a hidden compartment on a delivery truck. I doubt you will be going the same way, though.”
“Why not?”
“The compartment was barely large enough for me. As I understand it, there will be two of you.”
Alex looked at McElroy. “Do you know how we’re getting out?”
He hesitated. “Ms. Poe, as I mentioned before, Traz is very concerned about something going wrong, and has insisted the information not be shared with anyone on the actual mission, and I have to agree. If you are caught, it will be better if you have no knowledge of the escape route. That way, if we need to send someone in to rescue you , it will still be open to us.”
“That is bullshit,” Deuce said. “You expect Alex to walk into that prison and not know exactly how she’s getting out?”
McElroy ignored him and looked directly at Alex. “I’m asking for your trust. Everything is in place for when you will need it. And unlike when Ms. Fazakas escaped, you will have help on the outside.” He motioned at Cooper and Deuce.
Deuce opened his mouth to say something again, but Alex put a hand on his shoulder, stopping him. She understood compartmentalizing information. She’d been in the army, after all. And as much as she might have liked to have a clearer picture, she couldn’t disagree with McElroy’s logic.
“Let’s assume I accept, and that there’s an adequate exit plan,” she said. “Can you at least explain how I’m getting in?”
“That’s the easy part. You’ll be arrested.”
She raised an eyebrow. “And then what? Wait around until they finally decide to send me to Slavne?”
“Of course not. We have planned out every aspect of the mission. Your transfer to Slavne Prison is already arranged. You’ll be sent there the same day you’re picked up.”
“Oh, the power of corruption,” Deuce muttered.
McElroy shot him a look. “It does come in handy sometimes. Most of the time, in fact.”
It was nearly half a minute before Alex spoke again. “So you have me in, and you have me out. I still see one big problem.”
“Only one?” Deuce said.
Alex ignored him. “Why me? Why in the world would El-Hashim listen to me?”
“Because the two of you already have a shared connection,” McElroy said.
“My father?”
McElroy nodded.
“Even if I used that, why would she believe me?”
“You’ll be imprisoned under a false name. As soon as the opportunity presents itself, tell her who you really are. She isn’t
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