To Betray a Friend

“Stop with the silence thing.  It’s not getting you anywhere.”

Mindie took a deep breath and slowly exhaled.  She brushed a lock of dark hair of her eyes with a nervous, but surprisingly steady hand.  She needed to say something—soon.  “What if I gave you an offer?  In place of the information that you want—better than the information you want.”

“If there was anything more important than the information we want, do you think we would have gone to all the trouble we did to locate and apprehend you?”

“Look.  I’ll be straight with you.” She then said a sentence that tore her in two with guilt and fear.  A sentence which she knew she must say.  It was one life or many.  One great risk that might, just might turn out ok, or condemn the masses to destruction.  Staying absolutely steady and showing none of the emotions that...