by Regan Black
“No,” Matt answered in kind. “I need the situation resolved.”
“Working on it, brother.”
Neither of them spoke again on the long walk through the eerily quiet halls. The only sounds came from their breathing and soft footfalls. It was all Matt could do not to break into a run as nerves clamped his shoulders. Finally, they turned into the corridor and Alex pulled open the door to the general’s suite of offices and motioned for Matt to go first.
To Matt’s surprise, General Knudson wasn’t alone. His parents were already waiting. “How did you get here first?” he asked after greeting his boss.
Ben smiled easily as Patricia wrapped Matt into a warm hug. “It’s good to have friends in high places,” he said. “Wish the reason for our visit was better.”
Matt wasn’t fooled. His father could win tournaments with his poker face if he was so inclined. His gaze moved from Alex to Knudson and back. “What’s going on?”
Knudson extended a hand to the coffee service just inside the door. “Help yourselves and have a seat. Major Gadsden will have us ready to go in just a minute.”
“Caleb and Bethany aren’t with you?” Patricia kept one eye on the door even as she hugged Matt again.
“No.” Bewildered, he aimed a look at his father. “I promise you’ll meet him.” It wouldn’t be here, on government property, if he could help it. They’d spent enough time here lately.
His mom leaned back and studied him, her shrewd, X-ray gaze going right through him. “Oh, my sweet boy,” she murmured. “I was furious with you for holding out on me.”
“So you said.” Uncomfortable, Matt glanced over her shoulder and saw the others were giving them some time and space. He straightened his shoulders and braced for another lecture on his failings.
“I’m so, so sorry.” She hugged him close once more, and then held him at arm’s length. “I shouldn’t have jumped down your throat when we found out. Once I had some time, it dawned on me. Oh, just look at you.”
“Mom?” She didn’t get flustered. It was so out of character, it worried him. “Do you need a coffee?”
“In a minute. Matt, you’ve paid such a steep price all these years.” She moved toward the coffee service now, pouring a cup and pressing it gently into his hands. “I can see it now all over your face. You’ve wanted to be his father all this time.”
All Matt could do was nod and wait for the world to right itself.
“Is he wonderful?” she asked. “Do you have a picture?”
“I, um.” Matt floundered for the right response. Then he remembered what Caleb had given him only a few minutes ago. “I brought you a set of pictures. Bethany put it together.” He still wasn’t sure how she’d managed to put together something so nice with the limited supplies in his condo.
Tears welled in Patricia’s eyes. “Gimme, gimme,” she said on a watery laugh.
Matt reached inside his coat and pulled out the square, accordion-folded album of Caleb’s pictures. “A highlight reel,” he explained, handing it over reluctantly.
She opened the cover and, seeing the first picture from the hospital, she pressed her fingers to her lips, just staring. In fanciful lettering, Bethany had written all the stats, including his full name: Caleb Matthew Trent.
At her small gasp, Ben was instantly at her side, his arm around her shoulders. “Look, Benny. Our first grandson.”
“He’s a dead ringer for you, Matt,” Ben observed, his voice rough with suppressed emotion.
Patricia turned the page to the next picture and chewed on her lip the way she did when she wanted to prevent a flood of tears. She leaned into her husband while Matt tracked down a tissue. Together they admired each of Caleb’s pictures, murmuring when they found something that reminded them of Matt or one of his siblings.
“Pardon me, General, Mrs. Riley,” Alex said from the inner office. “We’re ready when you are.”
Patricia closed the little scrapbook and tucked it over her heart. “Thank you, Matt.” Still tucked up close to Ben, they moved to the office to address the real reason they were all here.
Knudson closed the door for privacy and they all sat down in guest chairs, which were arranged so they could see the display screen Alex had set up on the corner of the general’s desk.
“I’ll let General Riley start us off,” Alex said.
Matt’s gut churned, but he held his questions.
Ben curled his hand around Patricia’s and something deep and serious passed between them. “After your recent rash of trouble and what happened to Grace Ann last night, General Knudson, Major Gadsden and I decided it was time I got involved.”
“Grace Ann?” A chill trickled down Matt’s spine. The older of his two younger sisters had followed in their mom’s footsteps and joined the Army as a nurse. She was currently stationed in Maryland, at Walter Reed Hospital, and had a good reputation helping soldiers recover from serious, often career-ending injuries.
“She received her official notice of the security breach earlier in the week, just like you did,” Ben continued. “Last night her car was vandalized in the parking garage.”
“How?” Matt feared he already knew.
“Someone tagged it with the words ‘you will pay,’” Patricia said. She nodded toward the display where Alex had brought up the image from the parking garage.
“Currently, we have zero evidence from the security footage,” Alex explained. “We’re just getting started.”
“So this is bigger than Bethany, Caleb and me?” His mind was already ticking through how that altered the situation.
“Seems to be.” Ben nodded. “I believe whoever is behind this is trying to get to me, by hurting my children. Whoever it is started with you and is implying Grace Ann will be targeted next.”
“That theory supports the witness video and heavy media coverage of the drive-by in New Jersey,” Alex said. “Along with the other disconcerting pictures sent to General Riley.”
Matt’s stomach had settled a fraction when he realized his parents weren’t frantic with worry over his sister. Now it felt caught in a vise as his worry shifted to his dad. It made sense, in a sick, vengeful way. “Why?”
Knudson spoke up. “Career officers make hard choices, decisions that other men carry out. Some of those men become enemies.”
Matt knew all of that from watching his father, his other superiors and through his own experiences leading soldiers. “Yes, sir.” It was all he could do to sit still. “But it has to be a short list of people with a grudge worthy of the resources that have been demonstrated. Just sending the threat to Bethany on official letterhead took significant planning or bribes.”
“Your father and I will be working with investigators throughout the day to compile a suspect pool,” Knudson said.
Matt’s gaze snapped to Alex. “I need more information.”
With a restrained acknowledgement of what Matt wanted to know, Alex took over the briefing. “My team has found evidence that you were tailed,” he explained. “In New Jersey and prior to that trip.” Various images filled the display. “General Knudson gave us your itinerary for the last two weeks, and we reviewed every accessible security camera system along your normal route.”
Matt swallowed an oath, out of respect for his mother’s presence, and started to apologize to all of them for being complacent. His lack of vigilance had nearly gotten his son killed. Afraid he might vomit, he fisted his hands and breathed carefully through his nose until the sensation passed.
“Matt,” Patricia murmured. “This isn’t a war zone and your post here is hardly a combat assignment.”
To his surprise, Alex and the general added their voices, backing her up.
“On top of that,” Alex continued, “it’s a small team. Two, possibly three, men. They’re well-trained and epitomize nondescript. Picking them out of the background required experts who knew where to start looking. Two of the men were near the park during the laser sight incident as well, though I
can’t give you any proof that those particular men were actually behind the sights aimed at you and your family.”
“Three lasers,” Matt muttered. That meant three nests. Hard enough to get one such spot in a city like Washington. Processing all of this would take time. His priority would be figuring out how to get this threat under wraps so Bethany and Caleb could return to their normal routine.
That routine most likely wouldn’t include him, if last night was any indication.
“Yes.” Alex continued. “Facial recognition has yet to give us anything. General Riley doesn’t recognize our targets, but we remain hopeful.”
“How hopeful?” Knudson asked.
“Well, until Grace Ann’s car was trashed, very hopeful,” Alex said. “The investigative team will be working around the clock to tie any one of the men who trailed Matt to her area.”
That caught Matt’s attention. “You’re suggesting we didn’t find them yesterday, didn’t have any further trouble because they moved in on Grace Ann?”
“I’m suggesting the possibility,” Alex clarified.
Enduring his friend’s hard look, Matt knew Alex was thinking about him standing on the balcony last night, daring anyone to light him up.
“It wouldn’t take much to know when and where to find her, either,” Patricia said. “You’re both in quite visible positions right now.”
Ben squeezed her hand. “And we’re working to shore up any vulnerable spots, sweetheart.”
The understated confidence in the exchange, the way his mother visibly relaxed under his dad’s touch and words made Matt ache all over. That was what he’d always wanted. Trust, affection, connection and security. It was what he had been willing to work for and build with Bethany when she’d told him she was pregnant.
The shock of her news had been short-lived, suffused so quickly by the sheer wonder and joy of it. And she’d taken that dream right out of his hands, claiming she didn’t need him.
Or to be more accurate, claiming he and the Army were the more appropriate team. He’d tried, in every way he knew, to convince her both of them could have it all. Family, love and satisfying careers.
Since Caleb’s birth, Matt had found it almost painful to be around his parents, to know he hadn’t been enough for Bethany the way his father had always been enough for Patricia. What would it take to show her that relying on him, letting him in, wouldn’t impair her precious independence?
“I’m not going to sit around waiting for the next attempt,” Matt said. “Let’s make a plan.”
* * *
He had them on the ropes. It was a beautiful thing, watching Major Riley rush to the Pentagon with his friend, worry stamped on the rugged soldier’s face. Riley the younger held himself like his father, walked with the same arrogance, a fresher, stronger version of the man who had asked too much of him and tossed him aside.
His spotters had informed him of General Riley’s arrival at the Pentagon and, even without any actionable options within the building, he felt giddy as a child on Christmas Eve. Only one reason to bring in the retired general: they were going to investigate the bastard at last, searching for motives and suspects.
Good.
Let them search, he thought gleefully. Pick apart the general as he had picked apart the many good men and women under his command. Dig up all his secrets, pull back the veil on all the risky orders and shine a spotlight of truth into the murky shadows.
They would find his name, eventually. They might even find his compound here in the desert. It changed nothing.
He’d learned a great deal about planning, contingencies and deniability under General Riley’s command. The plans were set and every possible iteration of events for the days and weeks ahead had been accounted for. The teams, organized into compartments for everyone’s protection, could operate autonomously if needed.
His timeline and his endgame remained intact. Each day gave him more momentum. He estimated that within the next sixty days the plan would be as unstoppable as a runaway train.
“Whatever you do, wherever you go, you’re at my mercy now,” he said to the darkened window.
The desk phone rang, interrupting his thoughts. Smiling, he picked up the receiver. It could only be good news. “Yes?”
“The location is ready,” the man on the other end of the line reported.
He turned to the wall-mounted display and selected the appropriate image from the various options shown. Indeed, the location was ready and the live feed was coming through clearly.
“Well done,” he said. “Make sure our guests arrive safely and, by all means, make them comfortable.” He replaced the receiver and poured himself a drink.
The real show was about to start.
* * *
Bethany had been awakened by the sound of Caleb munching on cereal at the kitchen island. To her great relief, he hadn’t asked any difficult questions, merely explained that Uncle Alex had taken Matt out for an early meeting and would call when they were back.
Embarrassed and relieved, she hurried to the bathroom for a shower to clear away the fog in her head. With luck, by the time Matt returned, she’d feel steady enough to look him in the eye. She had no confidence that she would know what to say or how to rectify last night’s blunder.
Dressed in jeans and a loose sweater, she paced the condo, unable to settle, her mind wandering through the minefield of possible explanations for the meeting.
At last a phone rang. Caleb’s phone.
“It’s Matt,” he announced, answering the call. “Hey, Matt. You’re on speaker.”
“Your mom is there?”
“Yes.” Caleb turned his face away from her. “She woke up on her own an hour ago.”
“Good job.”
She could hear a whisper of a smile in Matt’s reply. “Everything okay?” she asked tentatively.
“Getting there,” he answered. “Go ahead and pack up,” he said. “We’re going to the beach for fall break.”
Caleb let out an unholy whoop of delight and punched a fist into the air, but Bethany wasn’t as excited. He’d called on Caleb’s phone. Did he mean to include her or cut her out for some overdue father-son bonding? “Matt?”
“All three of us are going.” His exasperation was clear. “Together. I’ll be there in an hour or so.”
They’d packed their belongings and she puttered and cleaned to keep her hands busy. When Matt walked through the door in his uniform, looking somewhat weary and just a little grim, she felt awful. The beach would do him good.
It wasn’t until the Camaro was loaded and he turned south on the interstate that she realized they weren’t going to one of the beaches in New Jersey she and Caleb frequented on short school breaks.
At her query, Matt coolly explained they were driving down to North Carolina to see his parents at their new beach house. There was more to it, plenty more, that he was keeping from her. She could see it in the way he gripped the steering wheel, the hard set of his jaw and the consistent way he monitored his mirrors.
Her desire for a full explanation was eclipsed by the sudden flurry of questions from the back seat. Caleb wanted to know everything about the grandparents he was about to meet.
It was almost a relief when they arrived several hours later, though Bethany had no idea how she would survive the Riley family gauntlet that was surely waiting for her at the end of the long driveway.
Caleb leaned forward between the front seats, his eyes as big as saucers as he checked out the house. She felt the same way. When Matt had said his parents retired to a beach house, this wasn’t at all what she’d envisioned. She’d pictured a small, quirky cottage or even a high-rise condo. She expected to find herself in tight quarters with Rileys pressing in on her from all sides, judging her and demanding to know why she’d kept Caleb to herself all these years.
This house could never be the setting for that kind of hellish scene. On stilts, the two-story home was stunning and likely boasted all kinds of elbow
room. A low, three-car garage faced the road and Matt followed the driveway around it, coming to a stop closer to the house.
Even more impressive than the house was the area around it. The house stood back from its neighbors, perfectly framed by native palms and grasses. She could already hear the ocean and she hadn’t even opened her car door.
“Cool!” Caleb launched himself from the car as soon as Matt was out of the driver’s seat. He jogged toward the dunes and back again, stretching his legs. “Can we surf here?” he asked Matt.
“He acts like he’s never seen the ocean,” Bethany said to Matt and then turned to Caleb, “You do realize this is still the Atlantic Ocean?”
“Well, yeah.” He came around to help them unload. “But can we go surfing?”
“It’s not like surfing the Pacific, though I’m sure Grace Ann has some gear stored here.”
“That’s your sister?” Caleb asked.
“The older of my two sisters,” Matt replied. “She told me she’d try and come down while you’re here.”
Bethany felt her smile slipping. He was shoving his family at her, or rather at Caleb, on purpose. “I thought it would just be your parents.” His jaw clenched. “It’s fine,” she said quickly, “I only meant—”
“I get it,” he said. “Rileys can be an overbearing force even in small doses.”
“That wasn’t—”
“Welcome, welcome!”
Bethany turned at the interruption to see Matt’s parents waving from the first landing on the wide stairs. When she’d met them during her first year at West Point, she was already infatuated with Matt and she’d instantly fallen in love with the frank general and his exuberant wife. They were warm and kind and, above all, friendly to everyone they met.
She wondered if any of those characteristics would still be in play, or if she’d have better luck in front of a firing squad. She caught the subtle movement as Patricia leaned into Ben, squeezing his hand as if she needed support. Bethany felt a whisper of longing move through her over that trusting, unified moment. She’d destroyed her chances of sharing that sort of intimacy with Matt.
