EXFIL by Anthony Patton (best books to read non fiction TXT) 📗

is the going rate these days? What did I get for all that?”

He was part joking but also half earnest; he couldn’t seem to recall a thing.

She tilted her head and pursed her lips. “OK, you were the one who insisted on my friend joining us today, and all the liquor and drugs.”

He opened Facebook on his phone and denied her friend request as she smirked.

“Look, why don’t we just say goodbye and avoid Facebook?” he asked.

“Tell me again why you are here?” she inquired, as if he’d said nothing.

“Business,” he said. “An investigation…nothing that concerns you.”

She tapped her cell phone and played a video from her point of view, looking down at Johnson on his back while having sex. “Colonel Reed is in deep shit for what he did to Captain Howard.” There was moaning and laughing.

“You like to fuck me?” she asked. “Oh yeah,” he said, “I could fuck you all night.”

Johnson tapped the cell phone to stop the video. “What the hell’s going on here? What do you want from me?”

Jewel set her cell phone on the table and looked him in the eyes.

“There is no investigation of Colonel Reed, got it? You talked to me and the other girls at Club Ecstasy and you got no information, got it?” She gestured to a nursing textbook on the table. “Colonel Reed is a good man. Taught me to believe in myself—I will be a nurse by next summer.”

“Look, I don’t know who the hell you think you are…”

“I am the bitch who is going to send this video to your wife on Facebook,” she said. “Colonel Reed did nothing wrong to Captain Howard. He fucked half of my friends, all on his own.”

Johnson wanted to teach her a lesson in respect, but it was clear that this dancer from Bangkok had him by the balls. They exchanged glares as the door opened, and turned to see a beautiful young Thai woman wearing a short red dress.

She gave Jewel a kiss on the cheek and sat between them.

“Who is she?” he asked as if the newcomer wasn’t there.

“She’s my friend,” Jewel said, “the one you paid extra last night to meet.”

The friend took his hand, her face bearing naughty schoolgirl eyes, and gently slid his fingertips down between her legs—no panties, a smooth shave.

“Already paid?” he asked, instantly aroused. His hand had needed little coaxing.

“Do we have a deal?” Jewel asked.

He nodded and leaned back as the woman unzipped his jeans.

Jewel rolled her eyes and grabbed her phone. “In the bedroom, please.”

◆◆◆

Johnson, dressed in a sport coat and tie, waited in the lobby of the U.S. Embassy with his luggage, sipping an energy drink.

He opened his Facebook account on his phone, searched for Jewel, and checked his email.

Sullivan entered the lobby, checked his watch, and raised his hands. “Dude, where the hell have you been?” They stood to shake hands. “Holy shit—your eyes.”

Sullivan gestured to the Marine behind the security glass, heaved the armored door after the click, and led Johnson to the men’s room, where he handed him eye drops and turned on the faucet.

Johnson splashed cold water on his face, applied two eye drops to each eye, and snatched a paper towel.

“Tell the general you were conducting interviews this morning,” Sullivan said and slapped him on the shoulder.

Johnson leaned closer. “What happened last night?”

Sullivan looked at him, unimpressed. “We were having drinks at Club Ecstasy and talking to some of the girls. I had to go home because it was running late and you said you had to use the bathroom.”

“Then what?” Johnson asked.

“Don’t want to know,” Sullivan replied. “You said you wanted to talk to Jewel, so I called her for you.”

Johnson blinked and wiped the sweat from his forehead as he walked to the elevator. His heart thumped as they entered the DAO spaces, but he couldn’t tell whether it was because of the hangover or his fear of seeing Brigadier General Williams in this condition. Sullivan knocked on the door and gestured for Johnson to enter when Williams gave the go ahead.

Johnson sat and waited as Williams reviewed a document, signed it, and removed his reading glasses. He looked up and exhaled, clearly displeased with Johnson’s appearance.

“Look, I don’t know what you were doing last night or what time you got home, but I want to know only one thing—has your investigation surfaced any pertinent information?”

“No, sir,” Johnson said.

Williams folded his hands on his desk. “No?”

“As you know, General, the security tapes for the three relevant days are missing,” he said. “I spent most of last night and this morning talking to girls at the club who might have known Captain Howard.”

“And?”

“Some recall seeing him a few times,” he said, “but nothing about sleeping with any of the girls. In my experience, without the threat of legal action, most dancers don’t kiss and tell.”

“What about Colonel Reed and his…friend, Jewel?”

Johnson took a deep breath and cleared his throat. “She said Colonel Reed took some of his contacts to the club and gave her good tips to keep his friends happy, but she insisted they never had an intimate relationship.”

“And you believe her?” Williams asked with raised eyebrows. “The rumor around town was they were spending a lot of time together.”

Johnson shrugged. “I can only tell you what she said, General. To be honest, she’s studying to be a nurse, so I think she’s dancing to pay the bills.”

Williams nodded. “I give her credit for trying to further her education. What happens now?”

“I have to catch a flight back today,” Johnson said. “The only thing I’ve been able to confirm is that Colonel Reed and Captain Howard were seen together at Club Ecstasy.”

“Not too bad, all things considered,” Williams said. “I understand that you’re not at liberty to discuss all the details, but when will we hear from Captain Howard?”

Johnson shrugged cryptically and excused himself. He exited the embassy and approached the street to hail a taxi. He tossed his luggage in the trunk,