"My name is Captain David Sloane. I'm a member of Military Police Investigations. I came to Las Flores two days ago because of you two. Things got a little off track."

"It sure as hell did." Harrison put his elbows on the table and rested his head in his hands. "Jesus, I thought when we were brought here it was as bad as it got, and then the earthquake hit. This shit just keeps getting more and more real."

Riggs let out a nervous laugh.

"So you're Robert Harrison, and you're James Riggs?" David pointed to each man in turn.

"I'm Bobby." Harrison held out one hand as best he could in handcuffs. David shook it.

"I'm Jim," Riggs said, doing the same.

"Okay, so Bobby, I know you were only giving name, rank, and serial number. I think I know a little bit of what was going on. The cop that you decked was corrupt. He was probably forcing underage kids to sell drugs for him, was knocking them around for money, and you got involved trying to protect them."

David watched as both of their mouths fell open.

"I'll take your looks of disbelief as confirmation. Look, I don't have time for the little happy dance we would normally do. We have thousands of people dead. We have a worthless police force that is on the take, probably a corrupt warden, and forty-six prisoners still on the loose. Just tell me what the fuck I need to know to get you guys cleared of the charges."

"It's complicated," Harrison began.

"I'm good at complicated."

"Some people could get hurt."

"I won't let them," David promised.

"How do you know that? They've already been hurt."

"I'm not going to tell anyone what you tell me in confidence if I think it will get them into trouble. I promise you. I'm just trying to understand. Your keeping quiet only guarantees that you're going to stay in prison. That helps no one. Trust me, the government has bigger fish to fry right now. So tell me."

"We're staying at this little hotel, down near the beach. This is the second year I've been here." Harrison said.

"It's my first. I came to sketch. Bobby's here because of Lola."

"I want to marry Lola."

David nodded.

"Lola's little brother and her cousin are both thirteen. They've been selling drugs in the capital city, San Marcos. I promised Lola I would get them to stop. When I confronted them, they told me that their boss had been threatening them. He's been saying that he would kill Lola if they didn't do what he told them. I said they should introduce me to him. I didn't realize he was a cop."

"What happened when you were introduced?"

"At first, we weren't. We hung around the bar having a beer. The kids were in the back playing pool. The age rules aren't as strict." Harrison let out a half laugh. "So we're at the bar having a beer and the next thing I know Jim gets hit with a pool cue."

"Was it the cop?"

"No, it was Lola's brother. I turn around, and he's standing there, beaten to shit, blood, tears and snot streaming down his face. I knew it was the drug dealer that had done it to him, and who had made him hit Jim."

"Jim, I assume you're on the ground?"

Jim nodded.

"What did you do, Bobby?"

"I took the cue from Eduardo and put him behind me. I asked who did this. He was crying too hard to tell me. But up pops Juan, and he points at the cop. He says it was Felix. When I turned to Lola's brother, he nods and points to the cop. He says, 'Yeah, it's Felix.'"

"I confront the asshole."

"What did you say?"

"I ask him if he's the motherfucker who uses children? He takes exception to the way I phrased the question. He pulls his gun, but doesn't point it at me, he points it at Juan. That's when I hit him with everything I had."

"Good for you. Where are the kids now?"

"They're with Lola, at their grandparent's farm in the country. I pray to God they're safe."

"Sounds like you did the right thing."

"Except for assaulting a cop in a foreign country," Harrison said as he sank lower into his chair.

"Well, it seems like you might have a friend in that government."

"Yeah, who?"

"The acting chief of police."

3.

Sarah Kyle. The ash blonde hair with streaks of gold had been a kick in the guts. God just seeing her for five minutes at the airport, and almost five years had been stripped away.

Four years, five months and sixteen days.

What?

Shit, he'd been counting?

He hadn't even realized he remembered the date of their last night together. April seventeenth.

David shoved out of the shower stall and dried himself off. He braced himself on the sink as he examined his thigh. He grinned. This bruise was the winner. Even beat the one he'd had when he fell off his cousin's motorcycle.

He yawned, and went to the bed where he had upended his duffel bag, which contained all of his miracle gear. It still amazed him that it had been totally untouched by falling debris in the earthquake. He snagged his shaving kit and went back into the bathroom so he could brush his teeth and shave. Maybe he would feel human enough to get some sleep.

Since there had been two significant aftershocks, David decided to sleep in sweats instead of naked, in case he needed to get out of bed quick. Same reason his gun belt was on the nightstand. He yawned. He set his phone four a.m. His stomach growled as he yawned again. Well, his stomach would just have to damn well wait, now wouldn't it?

He groaned with pleasure as his head hit the pillow. The sheets even smelled good. April seventeenth. It was his last thought as he drifted off to sleep. To dream.

Four years earlier...

Damn, he was supposed to have four months.

"Face it, Sloane, you're a hot commodity. They're always going to move your ass once you have something slightly under control." Rick loved being right, he'd called it yesterday, and his grin was huge.

"But we don't know if the case is actually going to be closed like I said it would be," David protested to his friend and current partner as they walked down the hallway to the exit.

Rick laughed.

"Quit your damn laughing. How were you so sure yesterday? Why are you laughing anyway?" David demanded as he opened the door, and then grimaced at the rain. It was constant at Fort Lewis. At least it wasn't the same as at Benning, where it came down in torrents, this was like being under an actual warm shower. Sarah said it was Mount Rainier giving you a hug.

"I'm laughing because you still don't see yourself clearly. You're good, Sloane, and the brass knows it. When you say a case is coming together, they know it's in the bag."

"Come on, Rick, it's both of us. You're my partner."

Rick snorted. "I'm just along for the ride. I know it. I'm learning a lot. I don't mind. It's David Sloane and his partner what's his name."

"That's not true," David jumped in.

Rick just looked at him.

David sighed.

"David, I was the one who asked to be partnered with you. This last year working with you has been like four normal years on the job. If I have to be in your shadow, it's a small price to pay. So let me continue oh exalted one. You told them the case was almost cleared, so you're on to another assignment."

"It's not even close to being done," David protested.

"Yes, it is. We know Allen is our perp. We know who we have to squeeze. This is something I can finish up. Your part is done," Rick called out as they went to their respective cars.

Fuck!

"I'll see you tomorrow, Sloane." David watched as Rick got into his car. He checked his watch. He had an hour before he was supposed to meet Sarah for dinner, and it was now going to be their last date, instead of their fourth.

Fuck!

She took a sip of her root beer float, and then looked up at him. "David, why did you want to go somewhere else? I thought you loved the burgers at this place."

"I do. But someplace near the water or downtown Seattle sounded nice."

"We have to be at work tomorrow," she reminded him gently. "If we had done that we would have spent all of our time driving. This way we have more time to talk." Her smile was normally contagious, but he felt time slipping away.

"Hey, what the heck is going on? You haven't been yourself all night. Do I have lettuce in my teeth? Did something go sideways with your case?" She asked both questions in a soft and caring tone. That was Sarah, soft and caring. It must be why she got into nursing in the first place.

"No and no."

"Then what? Something is definitely going on."

"Are you sure this is just our fourth date? You sure have gotten to know me pretty well in a short amount of time." He watched as she sat back from the table, and folded her hands in her lap, her expression going blank.

"I'm sorry, I didn't mean anything bad by that," she said quietly.

What the hell? He'd somehow managed to step on a landmine. He placed his hand on the table, palm up. "Would you give me your hand, Sarah?" She looked at him with her big gray eyes. She bit her lip, he could see both want and hesitancy in her expression. He decided to help.

"Sarah," he said in his command voice. She unclasped her hands and for long moments held her hand over his, before it finally came to a soft landing like a butterfly. Just as carefully, he cupped his fingers around it, showing her she had made the right decision. He watched her and saw her shudder.

"You're right, I'm upset." She tried to jerk her hand away, but he was ready for it, and his hold was gentle but implacable. "I have my orders to leave in the morning."

"Oh no," she said before she could censor herself.

"My feeling exactly. I thought I had at least another month. I actually was counting on four months. This is a complicated case."

Sarah sighed. "That's what happens when you're good at your job."

"You should know."