by Ali Vali
“How many people could have made that shot?” The branches of the military all had a Carl Greenwald, but Carl’s special operations unit was the best by far. His recruits were the ones they sent in when a problem had to be eliminated without leaving a trace.
“Have they narrowed the position where the shot was taken from?” Carl crossed his legs and placed a binder he’d carried in on his knee.
“The FBI’s working on it, but the preliminary report said it was quite a distance.”
“Factoring in the time of day and distance, I narrowed it down to eight, but my top pick is a nonstarter.” He stood and handed over the folder. The name at the top of his list matched the report Jonas had sent.
Major Wiley Gremillion, code-name Black Dragon, had more confirmed kills than anyone else on the list and had retired a few years before to her hometown of New Orleans. She lived with Aubrey Tarver and her daughter Tanith, and was now a professional artist. It was an interesting career choice for someone who’d spent years in a sniper’s nest, but from every report, Wiley was successful at it.
“Why a nonstarter?” she asked.
“Wiley’s father is career military, as was Aubrey’s father, so they all believe in the code and honor of why we serve. Besides, it’s hard to be two places at one time. Major Gremillion was in New Orleans with her family.” Carl tugged his jacket down and lost his smile. “She’s no more a traitor to her country than I am.”
“Do you think she’d meet with me?” Olivia moved to the next name and their statistics.
“I’ll contact her if you like. Would you like my team to recon the area and find the nest?”
“General, please don’t be insulted by what I’m going to say, but I can’t put my complete trust in too many people at the moment. From what’s happened, we can assume Chandler has more than enough people in the military to continue to cause us problems.” She looked him in the eye as she spoke and was glad when he nodded. “If you trust Major Gremillion, I’d like to talk to her and pick her brain.”
“Good choice, ma’am.”
“Thank you, General, and thank you for your loyal service. I need as many good guys as I can muster.”
“Whatever you need, ma’am.” Carl stood when she did and offered his hand. “I never thought I’d see a woman commander in chief in my lifetime, but I’m glad I have.”
“Do you have your phone?” she asked and almost laughed when the older man shyly nodded. “Let’s take a selfie, and you can send it to your granddaughter with an invitation to visit whenever she likes.”
“That’ll definitely up my cool-grandpa status.”
“Ma’am, I hate to bother you, but we’ve got a situation,” Maggie said, entering the office.
“Tell me,” Olivia said, leaning against the desk when Maggie told her about the Jefferson and what had happened to Berkley. “It’s like a waking nightmare.”
“Yes, ma’am, and it’s time we ended it,” Carl said.
Chapter Eight
“You and Captain Levine made a good call,” Commander Mike Dyer, Aidan’s deck leader said a few hours later. “We found two devices that most probably wouldn’t have sunk us, but they would’ve crippled us for at least a month.”
“Has anyone spoken up?” Aidan asked as she squeezed the back of her neck. They were meeting in the conference room between her quarters and Berkley’s, and considering the reports of her senior officers, it was amazing the Jefferson was still all in one piece. The realization of how close they’d come to real damage was giving her a headache.
“No, ma’am,” Devin said. “The most vocal guy claims they’re prisoners of war, and if we don’t let them go—”
“It’ll spell our doom,” Berkley said, wiggling her fingers when she came in. Both her eyes were black, and a line of stitches went from her temple into her hairline, but she hadn’t lost her sense of humor. “One of your guys down there told me he thinks he might recognize one of the prisoners, Devin.”
“Who is it?” Aidan asked, thinking she’d have to call her parents, so they wouldn’t worry and cancel their plans.
“Jeffery Chandler,” Berkley said, and Aidan shook her head. “If he’s right, we’ve got one of Dicky’s kids in custody.”
“Excuse me, everyone,” Aidan said and stood. “I’ve got to make some phone calls if that’s even possibly true.” She stepped into her office and asked for a secure line to Drew. It took a few minutes to find him in the White House.
“Aidan, is everything under control?” Drew asked, and she could hear voices in the background. “I’m going to put you on speaker with the president and the Security Council.”
“We’ve removed two explosive devices from our hull, recovered twenty-two bodies, and have another eighteen locked below deck. One of our crew believes one of the men captured is Jeffery Chandler, Dick Chandler’s youngest child.”
“Calvin.” Olivia’s voice came on next. She was addressing her national security advisor. “We need to know for sure, and if it is Jeffery, we need to drop him in a hole. If Chandler has any other loyalists at the Academy, they’ll do whatever it takes to get him back.”
“Between our people and Jonas’s guys, we’ll take care of it, ma’am,” NSA Director Calvin Vaughn said.
“Naval Command and the coast guard are also setting up patrols to help secure the Jefferson,” Drew said.
“Captain, you did an excellent job today, and you’re free to fire at will if fired upon. It pains me to end American lives, but not at the expense of anyone on that ship,” Olivia said.
“Yes, ma’am, thank you. I’d appreciate a heads-up if you plan to move any or all the prisoners, but I’d like them off my ship. They’re responsible for one dead and a few injuries today.”
“Trust me, they won’t be there long. I want you to concentrate on what you have to do, and we’ll take care of the rest,” Olivia said. “How is Captain Levine?”
“She looks like she was kicked in the face by a mule, but she’s okay. It’s been a strange day for sure.”
“Unfortunately, it most probably won’t be the last one,” Drew said. “I’ll call as soon as we make arrangements.”
“Thank you, and if possible, Captain Levine would like an update on what happened today. She’d also like to know if Captain Umeko is okay.” Berkley actually hadn’t asked for either thing, but she’d most probably want to know.
Aidan stepped back into the conference room and briefly glanced at Berkley. “Are they coming for these guys?” Devin asked.
“Eventually, so make sure our watches are up for the remainder of the day, and they’ll continue until I say otherwise,” Aidan said. “If anyone approaches you without radioing first, blow them from the water—don’t take any chances.”
“Yes, ma’am,” everyone said and left, leaving her alone with Berkley.
“NSA and the FBI will coordinate getting these assholes off my boat, and I asked Drew to update us about the idiot who tried to take you, and about Jin Umeko.”
“If she’s a plant sent here to kill or undermine us, my instincts are way off,” Berkley said, rubbing her temples. “What’s this going to do to our schedule?”
“It might delay us for a few days, but I’m planning to sail as soon as we get the go-ahead. Not everyone on board might be loyal to us, but it at least narrows the field of misguided assholes.” Aidan locked the door and put her arms around Berkley. She pressed her ear to Berkley’s chest and listened to the steady and comforting beat of Berkley’s heart. “Let’s go save the world, Captain, and then we might be able to go home and live happily ever after if we’re lucky and do a good job.”
“Ma’am,” a man’s voice came over the intercom.
“Yes,” she said, not moving away from Berkley.
“There’s a call for Captain Levine, ma’am. Someone named Captain Umeko.”
“Patch it through.” She held the phone out to Berkley and wondered again if Berkley perhaps had placed too much faith in someone who was
literally a stranger.
“You can lose your frown, sweat pea. I’m not that naive.”
“Naïveté has nothing to do with it, baby. It’s your heart I worry about.”
Berkley smiled and kissed her forehead. “I’m not worried. My heart’s in good hands.”
“God, you’re sappy.” The tease broke the tension, and she exhaled deeply. “Let’s see what fresh hell awaits us.”
* * *
Dick Chandler gripped the satellite phone so tight a muscle in his upper arm started to cramp. His New Horizons soldiers were some of the most elite the United States had trained, but he’d chosen some because of their fervor for the cause. The fanatics were sometimes necessary because they were so willing to die to advance their fight.
He was willing to sacrifice as many of them as necessary, but that did not include his children, especially his sons. “Do whatever you have to, but get me some information. How in the hell did this happen?” His screaming brought his wife Ruby into his study with her hands up as if in question of what was going on.
“Do you want to risk the few people we have inside?” Rachel asked, her voice devoid of emotion. Of his three children, Rachel was the most like him, and he’d never been able to instill the same ruthlessness in his boys.
“Did you order him to be in the first boat?” This was supposed to have been an easy exercise with minimal casualties.
“We reviewed the plans incessantly, so there shouldn’t have been any confusion about what his position should’ve been.” The way Rachel sighed made him think she was losing patience with him. “We also didn’t think that bitch would open fire, since cadets were on board those vessels, but from Kelly’s report, we lost a majority of our men.”
“Call our contacts and find out about Jeffery. Don’t disappoint me.” He severed the call and swallowed the urge to scream.
“What about Jeffery?” Ruby asked.
“Our plan didn’t go off like we wanted so he’s either injured or in that bitch’s brig.” He had to believe his beautiful boy was only hurt, since the alternative would rip him to pieces.
“You had to send him, didn’t you?” Ruby’s voice was, as always, like ice. She wasn’t taking the heat and isolation well and blamed him daily for taking away their nice life. “You had to use my son to prove what a big, brave man you are. Where were you in the fight when it was your turn?”
“They’re as passionate about our struggle as I am,” he said softly, trying to shut her up. “I’m doing all this for them. After we win a Chandler will be in charge of the country forever.”
“You did this because of your ego, Dick, and nothing more. Let’s not delude ourselves now, and your big master plan has made us outcasts.” Ruby wiped her forehead to clear away the sweat, and her hand came down in a fist. “You and your friends just want to go back to a world that doesn’t exist. We’ve evolved from the forties and fifties, darling, and there’s no going back no matter how hard we try.”
“You don’t want to understand out of stubbornness, but what’s wrong with what I’m fighting for? People like Khalid are leading us to a place where the entire world will crush us for our weakness.”
Ruby laughed at him like she always did when he preached, as she loved to say. “We evolved because we all weren’t born white men.” Her constant mocking had slowly fired his temper. “All you’ve managed to do was exile us in this fucking country run by a guy who likes to feed his family and enemies to his dogs. What you don’t understand, or refuse to, is eventually it’ll happen to us when he realizes you can’t and won’t win.”
“That simple asshole knows better than to try anything here.”
“Remember this conversation then, and I’m leaving the first chance I get. Sitting in a cell is better than this, so don’t talk to me unless it’s about the children or how I can get the hell out of here.”
“No one’s leaving until I command it.”
“Find my son,” Ruby said and left him in peace.
His time in the vice presidency had been filled with changing the world around him as much as he could get away with, but it hadn’t been enough. After people lost their patriotism and belief in the war in the Middle East, his vision had changed. He’d spent the last two years funneling money out of the defense budget and recruiting those who would be loyal to him.
Followers had been hard to find at first, but the biggest motivating factor had been Khalid’s election. Once he took office and promoted women like Aidan Sullivan over much more deserving men, the offers to join had been hard to keep up with. Sullivan’s father was a legend and a hero, but his daughter should’ve known her place, and that was nowhere on a US carrier unless it was in the mess hall or the secretarial pool.
His pilot entered and saluted sharply. “Sir, this just came in from the Pentagon,” he said, handing over a piece of paper.
The message contained only a website, a username, and a password. When he opened it he smiled at the sight of the mission the military was pursuing to capture him. The idiots weren’t even looking in the right hemisphere.
“Man the phone and come get me if you hear from Rachel.”
“Yes, sir. Where will you be?”
“In my quarters teaching my wife some manners.”
* * *
Army Major Wiley Gremillion led her partner Aubrey and their daughter Tanith through a martial-arts warm-up exercise, enjoying the early morning. Her two loves had finally come back to her, even though she was to blame for walking away to keep Aubrey safe. Letting Aubrey go had ripped holes in her soul, but the girl she’d met very early in her life had never given up hope for them. Aubrey’s faith and love had brought them back together, and as a bonus had included Tanith in her life.
“Mama, rotate your hips more,” Tanith said.
“My hip rotation’s fine. I haven’t had any complaints in that department, thank you,” Aubrey said and winked at Wiley. “You two experts finish, and I’ll start lunch.”
“None for me,” Tanith said, bowing to Wiley. “I’m going to the movies with Tiffany, remember? Her mom’s taking us for pizza first.”
“Go shower then, and don’t forget about tonight. Your grandparents are coming for dinner, so don’t be late.” Aubrey opened her arms to Tanith before the kid turned and embraced Wiley. “How hungry are you?” Aubrey asked her, stepping into Wiley’s arms once they were alone.
“I’m starving, and I think your hip rotation is exquisite, if you’re wondering.”
“See, and you think you’re not romantic.” Aubrey laughed. “You want a sandwich or something hot?”
“Something hot, but I can’t have it until the kid leaves for pizza and a movie.” She kissed Aubrey, and even though they had been back together for more than a year, the feel of Aubrey’s lips still made her pulse race.
“Come on, and I’ll make you some coffee while we wait.”
The old warehouse Wiley had converted into a three-story home was something she’d been willing to part with, but Aubrey and Tanith loved the large space and location, so they’d stayed. Being an instant parent to a now nine-year-old had been tricky at first, considering she didn’t know what the hell she was doing, but she spent so much time with the kid she wished she’d been there from the beginning. In her absence, Aubrey had chosen a donor with a lot of Wiley’s attributes, so the kid looked a lot like her from the first day, and she often wondered what it would have been like standing next to Aubrey the day Tanith was born.
“Mom and Dad want to treat us to dinner tonight. Is that okay with you?” Aubrey moved around the now-stocked kitchen and smiled. That initial trip to Williams Sonoma for pots, pans, utensils, and a variety of gadgets had surprised her, but she’d dutifully carried everything to the car. She still didn’t understand why they needed so many pots, but she wasn’t complaining.
“Sounds good to me, and it’s our turn to treat.”
“You and Daddy can fight over the bill later.” They both glanced at the stairs as
Tanith charged down like she was an Olympic alpine skier, the buzzing intercom stopping any reprimand they had.
“Here.” Wiley took three twenties from her wallet and handed them to Tanith. “Be careful and good.”
“I will, and thanks. Love you, Mom.”
Wiley never tired of hearing that phrase, and she cherished her new title. “Love you too. Come on. I’ll walk you down.” Tiffany’s mom gave her their itinerary and promised to have Tanith back by four that afternoon.
The domesticity of all this made her laugh since her life was the complete opposite of when she was simply the Black Dragon. It had been her code name in the army before she retired as the most successful sniper to date. She still did the occasional job for the military and for herself, which quelled her sense of justice, but for the most part, she was an artist who enjoyed the peace of creating canvases.
“If you don’t hurry, I’m starting without you,” Aubrey said as she stripped off her T-shirt.
Wiley took the steps two at a time and scooped Aubrey into her arms. “Don’t make me get rough with you.” She kissed Aubrey softly and carried her into their bedroom.
“You don’t scare me.” Aubrey kissed her neck. “You’re nothing but a teddy bear.” The room was bright, and Wiley loved being with Aubrey when it was freeing to show Aubrey every bit of herself and how she felt.
“You definitely softened me up.” She bent and put Aubrey down to strip her clothes off.
“You’re kidding, right?” Aubrey poked her in the abdomen with her toes. “Finish getting undressed and get in here—”
The phone rang before Aubrey could continue her teasing, and they both stared at it. Wiley didn’t get a lot of calls on that line, and she wanted to ignore it. “They can wait,” she said, dropping her shorts.
“If it’s Don, he’ll just keep calling until he wears my sanity down to nothing, so answer it. Maybe they’ll eventually leave you alone.”
