sent compared to the video posted on the Internet looked legitimate. The trick had been getting Major Nathan to agree to Rapp's release. The major ran Rapp through a series of tests, most of them involving balance. To the doctor's surprise, his patient fared very well on the tests. Nathan still thought it was too early for Rapp to be up and moving around, let alone flying off on a mission that might involve more concussive blasts. The doctor never really agreed to release Rapp, but he was forced to reluctantly admit that he had no authority to keep Rapp against his will. He did add, however, that if Rapp left and came back wounded he would do his best to make sure he ignored his medical needs.
The metal gate was open and Zahir was waiting for them in the driveway. Rapp and Coleman paid him no attention and instead approached the commander for the assault team. "Chief," Coleman said, "what's the status?"
"Perimeter is secure and the handler just sent in his dog." The senior chief looked at the local cops. "They look pretty nervous."
"Yeah, well, if twenty-one of our boys had just been greased two days ago we'd be pretty nervous, too."
"Good point."
"The dog have a camera?"
"Yep . . . handler's looking at that, as well as the brains back at JSOC. When the big brains give us the go-ahead the bomb guys are going to send in their robot."
Rapp asked, "How long is that going to take?"
"Twenty to thirty minutes."
Rapp frowned. "I don't want to wait that long." He looked over at Zahir. "I've got a better idea."
After the dog came back out they asked the handler if he had seen anything unusual. Other than the two dead bodies in the basement, everything looked pretty normal. While the bomb techs unpacked their equipment, Rapp told Hayek to stay put and approached Zahir with Coleman. "Commander, you and your men didn't happen to find any booby traps while you were in there?"
Zahir was very unhappy that the Americans were playing this game with him. He shook his head and refused to speak.
"Good," Rapp said, "so you're willing to go back in with us and show us what you've found."
Zahir nodded, waved for them to follow, and then marched past his men and into the house.
"You sure about this?" Coleman asked.
Rapp figured he could spend the rest of his life worrying that there was a bomb around every corner or he could get back on this horse. "You read the report on Zahir. Suicide isn't his deal. Too narcissistic. If he's willing to walk in there, we're safe."
"I hope you're right." Coleman looked over his shoulder, "Chief, we're going in. When JSOC starts freaking out, tell them Mr. Cox made the call." Having served in the military, Coleman didn't want the guy getting reamed for something that wasn't his fault. As he started walking, he called back, "You can still send in the robot if you want."
Zahir led them through the first floor.
"Anything worth seeing up here?" Rapp asked as they reached the stairwell.
"I'm sure you're going to want to take this house apart piece by piece, but I didn't see much." Pointing down the staircase, Zahir said, "The important stuff is down there."
Rapp had Zahir go first and followed him down the steps with his M-4 rifle pointed at Zahir's back. Halfway down the stairs the stench hit them. Zahir pulled out a handkerchief and covered his mouth. At the bottom of the stairs was a table with a computer monitor, keyboard, and mouse. Zahir led them through the open door and the stench became almost unbearable. Rapp and Coleman were both covering their noses with gloved hands as they looked around the rectangular room.
The first thing Rapp noticed were the two bodies on the floor. They looked like the men in the video. The sheets were covering the walls, and attached to one of the floor joists was a metal hook with a length of knotted rope.
"This one here," Zahir pointed at the larger of the two men, "is Shahrukh Ahmad Wazir. He's Taliban."
"You're sure?" Rapp asked.
"Yes."
"And the other one?"
"I have no idea, but we will find out. Very likely he is Taliban as well."
"God, it stinks down here," Rapp said. "What is that smell? These guys don't look like they've been dead long enough to smell like this."
Zahir pointed at a puddle between the two bodies and a little closer to where they were standing. It was