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least bit surprised. “And what was its purpose?”
    Payne answered as Jones hopped off the table. “To record interrogations.”
    “Heavens! You two
are
good.”
    Jones ignored the flattery and studied the black cable that ran along the ceiling to the rear of the cave. It stretched into the corridor from where Sheldon had originally emerged, which meant this facility continued beyond the current chamber. Possibly much deeper. What had the SUV driver told them?
The longest lava tube on the island is more than eight miles long.
    “That camera is next-generation American technology. Definitely military. Expertly placed. And since these walls are way too thick to transmit to an outside source, that means the recording device has to be …”
    His words hung in the air as he followed the wire into the next room.
    Unprepared for what he was about to see.

8
    Halfway down the path, Kia sat on a tree stump, her head perched between her knees. Breathing was still difficult, but no longer because of the bile that had risen in her throat. Now it had more to do with her behavior than anything she had just seen.
    Good Lord,
she thought.
Did I really just run out of the cave?
    In all her life she had never been more embarrassed by her actions. Sure, she’d talked a good game, bragging that she wasn’t squeamish, pretending she could handle anything, but all it took was one look at the crime scene and she started running. Of course, the good news was that she followed through on one promise to Payne. At least she didn’t vomit on any evidence.
    Kia untied the surgical mask that hung around her neck and tossed it down the rocky path. Her booties came off second, followed by her surgical gloves. With a rubber snap, she flicked them into the air. Even if she was ordered back to the cave, there was no way she was going in. Not with all that blood. Deep down inside, she knew her stomach wouldn’t allow it.
    “Nasty scene,” said a voice from behind.
    Kia whirled around so fast she almost fell off the tree stump. Her lack of grace caused the driver of the SUV to laugh as he emerged from the trees.
    She apologized. “Sorry about that. I didn’t mean to disturb you.”
    “Don’t worry about it. You weren’t the scene I was talking about.” The driver wore thick gloves and carried a bag labeled Medical Waste. He used it to collect her garments. “Remember what I said when I gave you these? I’d been inside the cave, and once was enough for me.”
    She nodded, no longer quite as mortified.
    “All of us have our limits. And all of us have a specialty. My guess is you
weren’t
selected for forensic work or combat. You were brought in for another purpose.”
    “Is it
that
obvious?”
    ‘Then why’d you go in the cave in the first place?”
    She shrugged, not really sure of her answer.
    “Let me guess. You were trying to fit in, weren’t you? Trying to impress your squad leader. Trying to show him how tough you were.” He laughed, the sound of someone who had been in her position and had made the same mistake. “Listen, I know this is going to sound pretty simplistic, but I’ll let you in on a little secret I learned long ago. The
best
way to impress your boss is to do your job. That’s it. That’s the key to getting ahead in this world. Do what you’re supposed to do and you’ll get noticed.”
    “Too late. I think I already got noticed.”
    He grinned. “Yeah, sprinting out of the cave probably wasn’t your best choice.”
    “Probably not.”
    “In that case, may I suggest Plan B?”
    “Which is?”
    “Do something that will make everyone forget about Plan A.”
    “Such as?”
    The driver glanced into the trees. He knew they were being watched by several snipers, all of them ready to pull their triggers over the slightest indiscretion. Still, he wanted to assist Kia. Lowering his voice to a whisper, he said, “There’s a village nearby, filled with several people who probably aren’t very good with English. As