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As the months passed； Danilo…she never called him Patrick…became more convinced that he would be found。 She refused to believe this； especially given the meticulous steps he took to avoid his past。 He worried more； slept even less； talked more about what she should do in this scenario； or that one。 He stopped talking about the money。 His premonitions were haunting him。
SHE WOULD STAY in Aix for a few days； watching CNN International and reading what she could find in American newspapers。 They would move Patrick shortly； take him home and put him in jail and file all sorts of hideous charges against him。 He knew he would be locked up； but he'd assured her he would be fine。 He would cope； he could handle anything as long as she promised to wait for him。
She'd probably return to Zurich and tidy up her affairs。 Beyond that； she wasn't certain。 Home was out of the question； and this weighed heavy on her mind。 She had talked to her father three times； always calling from airport pay phones； always reassuring him she was okay。 She just couldn't e home now； she explained。
She and Patrick would municate through Sandy； but weeks would pass before she would actually see him。
HE CALLED for the first pill just before 2 A。M。； after waking with a sharp pain。 It felt like the voltage returning to his legs。 And the cruel voices of his captors were taunting him。 〃Where's the money； Patrick？〃 they chanted like a demonic chorus。 〃Where's the money？〃
The pill arrived on a tray carried by a lethargic night orderly who forgot to bring cold water。 He demanded a glass； then swallowed the pill and washed it away with warm soda from a leftover can。
Ten minutes； and nothing happened。 His body was covered with sweat。 The sheets were drenched。 The sores burned from the salt in the sweat。 Another ten minutes。 He turned on the television。
The men who had tied him down and burned him were still out there； looking for the money； no doubt fully aware of where he was at this moment。 He felt safer in daylight。 Darkness and dreams brought them back。 Thirty minutes。 He called the nurses' station； but no one answered。
He drifted away。
At six； he was awake when his doctor entered； smileless today； all business as he poked the wounds quickly； then declared； 〃You're ready to go。 They have good doctors waiting for you where you're going。〃 He scribbled in his chart and left without another word。
Thirty minutes later； Agent Brent Myers sauntered into the room with a nasty smile and a flash of the badge； as if he needed to practice its delivery。 〃Good morning；〃 he said。 Patrick didn't look at him but said； 〃Couldn't you knock first？〃
〃Sure； sorry。 Look； Patrick； I just talked to your doc。 Great news； man； you're going home。 You'll be released tomorrow。 I've got orders to bring you back。 We'll leave in the morning。 Your government is giving you a special flight back to Biloxi on a military plane。 Isn't that exciting？ And I'll be with you。〃
〃Could you leave now？〃
〃Sure。 See you early in the morning。〃
〃Just leave。〃
He bounced from the room and closed the door。 Luis was next； arriving quietly with a tray of coffee and juice and sliced mangoes。 He slid a package under Patrick's mattress； and asked if he needed anything else。 No； Patrick said； thanking him softly。
An hour later； Sandy arrived for what he thought would be a long day of digging through the past four years and finding answers to his countless questions。 The television went off； the shades opened； the room brightened up as the day began。
〃I want you to go home； immediately；〃 Patrick said。 〃And take these with you。〃 He handed over the package。 Sandy sat in the only chair； flipping through the photos of his naked friend； taking his time。
〃When were these taken？〃 he asked。
〃Yesterday。〃 Sandy made a note of this on a yellow legal pad。
〃By whom？〃
〃Luis； the orderly。〃
〃Who did this to you？〃
〃Who has custody of me； Sandy？〃
〃The FBI。〃
〃So； I think the FBI did it to me。 My own government tracked me down； caught me； tortured me； and is now hauling me back。 The government； Sandy。 The FBI； Justice Department； and the locals…the D。A。 and the rest of my weling party。 Just look at what they've done to me。〃
〃They should be sued for this；〃 Sandy said。
〃For millions。 And quickly。 Here's the plan： I'm leaving in the morning on some type of military flight to Biloxi。 You can imagine the reception I'll get。 We should take advantage of it。〃
〃Take advantage？〃
〃Exactly。 We should file our lawsuit late this afternoon so it'll be in the paper tomorrow。 Leak it to the press。 Show them two of the photos； the two I've got marked there on the back。〃
Sandy shuffled until he picked out the photos。 One was a close…up of the burns on Patrick's chest； with his face visible。 The other showed the third…degree burn on his left thigh。 〃You want me to give these to the press？〃
〃Only to the Coast paper。 That's the only one I'm worried about。 It's read by eighty percent of Harrison County； where I'm sure our jury will e from。〃
Sandy smiled； then chuckled。 〃You didn't sleep much last night； did you？〃
〃I haven't slept in four years。〃
〃This is brilliant。〃
〃No； but it's one of the few tactical advantages we can spring on those hyenas circling my carcass。 We broadside them with this； and we soften up the sentiment a bit。 Think of it； Sandy。 The FBI torturing a suspect； an American citizen。〃
〃Brilliant； just brilliant。 We sue only the FBI？〃
〃Yes； keep it simple。 Me versus the FBI； the government…for permanent physical and psychological injuries sustained during a brutal torture and interrogation session somewhere in the jungles of Brazil。〃
〃Sounds wonderful to me。〃
〃It'll sound even better when the press gets finished with it。〃
〃How much？〃
〃I don't care。 Ten million in actual damages； a hundred million in punitive。〃
Sandy scrawled notes and flipped to the next page。
Then he stopped and studied Patrick's face。 〃It wasn't really the FBI； was it。〃
〃No；〃 Patrick said； 〃it wasn't。 I was delivered to the FBI by some faceless thugs who've been chasing me for a long time。 And they're still lurking out there somewhere。〃
〃Does the FBI know about them？〃
〃Yes。〃
The room went silent； as Sandy waited for more and Patrick became tight…lipped。 Nurses could be heard prattling in the hallway。
Patrick shifted his weight。 Three days on his back； and he was ready for a change of scenery。 〃You need to hurry home； Sandy。 We'll have plenty of time to talk later。 I know you have questions； just give me some time。〃
〃Okay； pal。〃
〃File the lawsuit with as much noise as possible。 We can always amend it later to bring in the real defendants。〃
〃No problem。 This won't be the first time I've sued the wrong defendants。〃
〃It's strategy。 A little sympathy won't hurt。〃
Sandy placed his legal pad and the photos into his briefcase。
〃Be careful；〃 Patrick said。 〃As soon as you're identified as my lawyer； you'll attract all sorts of strange and nasty people。〃
〃The press？〃
〃Yeah； but not exactly what I had in mind。 I've buried a lot of money； Sandy。 There are people who'll do anything to find it。〃
〃How much of the money is left？〃
〃All o