Striking Distance by Pamela Clare Read Free Book Online Page B

both the U.S. State Department and the Swedish Ministry for Foreign Affairs, but she’d opted to go through the Swedish government, believing that its more cordial relationship with Islamabad—and its more stringent privacy laws—would serve her better. It was just after eleven in the morning in Stockholm, early enough for her to catch Erik at his desk. Her call was answered on the second ring by a woman whose Swedish carried an unpleasant Skåne accent.
    “Foreign Affairs.”
    “Erik Berg, please.”
    Her call was put through, Erik’s deep voice answering.
    Laura set her mug aside, sat up straighter. “Good day, Erik. It is Laura Nilsson. How are you? How are Heidi and the girls?”
    Erik loved to talk about his twin daughters, Stella and Anette. He and Heidi had tried for years to have children before turning to in vitro. Now four years old, the girls were his life, and he and Heidi were talking about trying in vitro again or adopting. “We are all doing well. What are you doing calling at this hour? It must be two in the morning.”
    “I couldn’t sleep.”
    “I understand. We’ve been following the story. I’m glad testifying is behind you. When is the trial expected to conclude?”
    “I was the last witness. They’re making closing arguments today.” Then they’d have to wait for the jury’s verdict. After that, only the sentencing hearing would remain. “I just wanted to check in. Have you heard anything?”
    “It so happens that I have good news. I’d planned to call you later today.”
    Laura’s pulse skipped.
    He paused for a moment, as if she needed the added drama. “Pakistani officials have finally admitted they know where Klara is. They say she’s with Al-Nassar’s wives at his brother’s compound outside Islamabad.”
    Oh, thank God!
    Klara was alive! They’d found her!
    She fought to control the emotion in her voice. “Wh-what happens now?”
    “We’re hoping to arrange a welfare check. We’ve asked to be allowed to send in representatives from the Swedish consulate along with a doctor to check on Klara’s well-being, and, if we can manage it, to collect DNA to compare with the sample you left with us. We’ve only begun negotiating the details, but I hope to have an answer within the next few weeks. I’ll forward the communiqués to you in an e-mail.”
    “Many thanks. I am so happy to hear this.” She found herself smiling, tears welling in her eyes.
    “You must remember that this doesn’t change anything.”
    Her joy dimmed. “I understand.”
    “Traditional courts are quite strict about these matters, and you, as an unmarried woman, foreign national, and non-Muslim, are in the weakest possible position. As we told you during the initial briefing, your chances of getting the ruling you want are slim to nonexistent.”
    Laura heard Erik’s words but refused to accept what he was telling her. “I will do whatever it takes. I won’t give up. I
can’t
give up.”
    If she did, she would never be whole again. And poor little Klara . . .
    “Klara is as much of a victim in this as I am. I will
not
abandon my daughter to be raised in a den of terrorists.”
    As she finished the conversation and hung up, a voice whispered in her mind.
    You already did.
    * * *
    JAVIER RODE SHOTGUN in Nate’s Ford F-150, a load of hay bales in the back, the sun barely up, the temp fifteen below. “Are you sure the cows are going to be awake?”
    Cowboy hat on his head, Nate grinned. “These are steers, not cows.”
    “What’s the difference?”
    Nate raised an eyebrow. “Seriously, bro? Cows are female. We breed them to grow our herd. Steers are castrated males grown for beef.”
    “So first you cut off their nuts, and then you fatten them up and eat them.” That was a hell of a life. “I shouldn’t have asked.”
    Nate laughed.
    “You think there’s any real chance Laura Nilsson will come to this barbecue you’re having?”
    Nate eyed him. “You nervous?”
    “Hell, no,