by J. M. LeDuc
Brent’s remarks brought a smile to Lucille’s face. She poured them all a cup of hot coffee and showed them out of the kitchen.
Twenty minutes later, the rest of the squad and their wives joined them and Lucille called them all to the table.
As the food was served, Brent noticed somebody was missing. “I think we’re missing a couple of warm bodies.”
“They were still up at four this morning. I doubt they’ll make it down for breakfast,” Maddie said.
“Yeah, they woke me at 4:15, laughing like a coupla hyenas,” Seven said.
Just as he finished his thought, Joan and Charlotte waltzed into the dining room. They practically danced to their seats, as if neither had a care in the world.
“Well, look at you two,” Chloe said. “I’m guessing you hit it off as roommates.”
“We discovered we have quite a bit in common, “Joan said. “I hope we didn’t keep anyone awake. I’m afraid we got kinda loud.”
Maddie elbowed Seven as he was about to say something. “I was in the room next to you and I didn’t hear a thing,” Maddie said. “How about you, dear, your room is on the other side of theirs.”
Seven rubbed his side. “I didn’t hear a thing. I slept like a baby.”
As breakfast ended, Brent made an announcement. “We’ll have a squad meeting in the den in fifteen minutes. Everyone else, you have assignments, and you’re dismissed. There is a lot of work to be done before we can track the Butcher. We’ll meet you at HQ after the meeting.” His attention shifted to Charlotte. “I need you to remain seated. We have some unfinished business.”
Charlotte answered Brent with new respect. “Yes, sir.”
“Would you mind if I stayed with her?” Joan asked.
Before Brent could answer, she added, “Charlotte told me everything. I promise not to interrupt. I just want to stick around for support.”
Outmaneuvered, Brent answered, “Very well, but one word, one sarcastic comment, even one weird look, and you’re gone. Understood?”
Joan nodded her agreement and sat down.
Lucille winked at Joan and freshened everyone’s coffee.
“Thank you, Mrs. Conklin,” Charlotte said.
“Sweetie, around here, I’m just Lucille.”
Charlotte smiled, “Thank you, Lucille.”
Brent kept his eyes glued to Charlotte. He intentionally wanted her to feel uncomfortable, rattle her a little. Her attention seemed to be on everything but Brent. She could feel him looking at her and it made her nervous. Joan squeezed her hand in a gesture of support and she finally made eye contact with him.
“You’ve been through a lot of changes in the past thirty-six hours,” Brent said. “The Butcher’s escape and having to leave your home. I know it must have been difficult to trust total strangers with your life. Then the flight. And finally, this.” Brent opened his arms wide as a descriptive gesture. “That’s a great deal for someone, anyone, to handle. How are you feeling?”
“To be honest, I haven’t been this good in a long time,” Charlotte said. She looked at Joan and then at Brent.
“When we said goodnight, that wasn’t the case. Would you care to elaborate on what’s different now?”
Charlotte hesitated to collect her thoughts. She didn’t want to sound like a blubbering idiot. “I kinda memorized a speech to give you about what’s different, but I think I’ll just speak from the heart.”
“I’ve always found that to be best.”
Nervous, she looked at Joan for encouragement. Joan smiled and gave her a slight nod.
Charlotte turned back towards Brent. “I was still angry with you when we parted last night. I mean, the rational side of me understood, but the emotional side was still pretty mad. Joan and I started talking, not just about that, but about life. We found that we have a lot in common. The same likes and dislikes, and that kinda stuff.
“We talked about how we dealt with our, um, situations. She told me what she’d gone through with her stepdad and I told her about my kidnapping and the torment the Butcher caused. We found we went through similar emotions after our experiences. Denial, and blaming ourselves, thinking we deserved what happened. Then, fear and anger. The thing is, I could see that Joan didn’t still have those feelings. So I asked her how she got past them.
“She told me how you took her in, but gave her space.”
Charlotte paused, drank some water, taking her time to put her glass down.
“She confided that some nights she would lie awake and hear you scream in your sleep because of your nightmares. She said when she talked to you about them, you didn’t seem fearful or angry and she didn’t understand why. She said when she asked you about it, you took the opportunity to talk about your faith in God and the strength you get through Jesus.
“She told me how you put all your troubles and fears at His feet, and that you had faith He would take care of them.” Wiping a tear, Charlotte continued. “Joan told me of her own conversion, about the day she followed you to church and asked Jesus into her life. She said the weight of her anger and regret was lifted off her shoulders when she accepted Christ as her personal savior.
“I told Joan what you asked me to do last night, you know…to pray, but I didn’t think I knew how. So I asked her to pray with me…”
“So,” Joan said with excitement, “we prayed and soon our prayers turned into tears, and then our tears turned into laughter, and then…”
Charlotte smiled. “As I prayed, I started to feel my burdens lift. For a moment I could feel God’s presence in my life.”
“For a moment?” Brent said.
“Brent,” Joan said, taking Charlotte’s hand. “It was the most amazing thing I’ve ever seen. I swear I could see Charlotte’s face, her entire being, change.”
Brent sat back in his chair. Taking in all that he heard.
“You said, ‘for a moment’, what do you mean?”
Charlotte looked away from Brent for the first time. “When I prayed, it felt right. I felt God’s presence, but as I continued to pray, memories of the Butcher, memories of the pain I endured, memories of the past seven years kept coming into my head. Those memories brought doubt and…” Charlotte shrugged her shoulders. “…and, I don’t know. I can’t sit here and tell you that I have a renewed faith, that I’m okay with God, but I can tell you that it felt good to pray and I want to keep doing it.”
Brent leaned across the table and squeezed both girls’ hands.
“I’m proud of you, both of you. I know what you did wasn’t easy. It took me a while for my faith to feel natural. For me to see Satan for what he truly is.”
Brent hesitated long enough for Charlotte to digest what he was saying.
“What is he?” she asked.
“Good question,” Brent said. “God will give you the answer when He’s ready—or when you’re ready.” Charlotte was about to say something else, but he cut her off. “Thank you for your honesty. Sometimes it’s easier to tell people what they want to hear and not what’s honest.”
Charlotte nodded and again looked into his eyes. He sat motionless, waiting to see if she would bring up the other half of their bargain, or if she had changed her mind about becoming a member of the squad.
As if she’d overheard Brent’s thoughts, she asked, “Have you given any thought to the other thing we spoke about last night?”
He maintained eye contact and leaned closer. “Are you sure this is what you want? You realize that if, and it’s a big if, you become a member of the Phantom Squad, your life, the life you know, is over. It will belong to the U.S. government and to the squad. Your personal interests will take a back seat to God, country and the Phantom Squad. Are you sure that’s what you want?”
Charlotte countered Brent’s move and leaned forward. With a fierce confidence, she said, “I’ve never been more c
ertain of anything in my entire life. After we prayed last night, I continued to pray, alone. I prayed for guidance and for a sign. To be honest, I wasn’t sure until you just spoke, but I now know this is where I am supposed to be. This is my destiny.”
Brent leaned back in his chair and sighed. “I have to meet with the rest of the squad. This decision needs to be made by the unit. I’ll present your case. That’s all I can do.”
“That’s all I ask, Colonel.”
CHAPTER 28
Brent joined the Phantom Squad in the den. He explained what had taken place the night before and now this morning. He explained how he’d been having dreams about the squad and in his dreams there were five members and one was female.
“So that’s the story,” Brent said. “I want to know your thoughts on the subject.”
“I’ll begin, Colonel,” Fitzpatrick said. “I don’t know why, but I’ve been thinking the same thing. I don’t know if Charlotte’s the one, but I do think we could benefit from having a female in the squad.”
“I thought that’s why we have you,” Jefferson cracked.
“Not now, Malcolm. This is serious business.”
“Sorry, Colonel, may I speak next?”
Brent nodded.
“I don’t know what to think. We work so well together. It’s like we can read each other’s minds. If she joins, it won’t be an easy transition, but, I’ve got to say, when I first saw Charlotte in the light of the tunnel, it was like she was supposed to be there. Those feelings were pretty intense.”
Brent thanked both of them for their comments and all three of them turned to Seven who was quiet, taking in their comments. He was sitting on the edge of his seat, his elbows resting on his knees. He was rubbing his forehead, as if he had a headache.
“What are you thinking, Sev?”
“You know how I feel about women, Colonel. It’s always been hard for me to communicate with them. Heck, the only ones I’m even comfortable around are the ones in this Inn.” He looked around and eyed his compatriots. “I trained you guys. I know what you’re capable of. That’s not so with Miss Dupree. But I admit, there are times when I’ve thought a female squad member would be a huge help.” Seven reached in the back pocket of his jeans and pulled out his dip tin. Tapping his fingers on the lid, he shook his head. “I just don’t know.”
Brent was about to say something when Seven added, “And let’s not forget; she is the President’s daughter.”
Brent stood up. “There’s a great deal to consider. It sounds as though you all have thought about this possibility before now. So, here’s the deal. I’m going to give each of you a piece of paper. When you’ve made your decision, write a ‘Y’ or an ‘N’, wad it up and drop it in the ashtray.” Grabbing the pen, he scribbled a letter on a piece, folded it and placed it in the crystal ashtray and sat down to wait.
“Like all decisions that affect the Phantom Squad,” Brent said, “this must be unanimous, or it’s a no-go. The tally will be kept anonymous, no questions asked.”
Jefferson placed his vote in the ashtray. Fitzpatrick was next. Seven grabbed a pen from the coffee table, scribbled something on one of the napkins, crumbled it and tossed it from across the room. No one doubted it would land, softly, in the middle of the ashtray.
“All right, let’s see what we have,” Brent said. He dumped the wadded papers on the table, unfolded each one and placed them face down.
He called off each vote. “Y, Y, Y and Y with asterisks. So much for, no questions asked.” He looked at Seven. “Care to explain?”
Seven stood to answer. “My vote is conditional on the grounds that she undergo and pass the same training the three of you did.” Everyone nodded their agreement.
“If no one else has anything to add, I’ll call in Miss Dupree.”
Brent found Charlotte and Joan sitting at the dining room table where he had left them, heads bowed, eyes closed. As he neared, he heard Joan pray, “Lord, I ask you to lead the squad in making the right decision. I pray that Your will be done in this, and in all aspects of our lives.” Both girls said, “Amen” in unison.
“Charlotte, please follow me,” Brent said. He held up his hand as Joan stood.
“Sorry, Joan, this is squad business. I have to ask you to stay here. You’ll know of our decision when we’re finished.”
“But…”
“No buts. Not this time.”
Before Joan could utter another word, Brent escorted Charlotte to the den.
Fitz, Jefferson and Seven were talking amongst themselves when Brent opened the double doors. “Gentlemen, you all know Charlotte and you all understand the gravity of the matter at hand.”
Wordless, they nodded.
Brent left Charlotte’s side and joined the rest of the squad on the other side of the room. Her heartbeat quickened as she saw their expressions change from pleasant to…nothing. They were expressionless. She looked each one in the eye and was stunned by the transformation. She started to sweat. Her palms felt clammy.
“Miss Dupree, before I give you our answer, I’m going to ask you again. Are you absolutely sure, without a shadow of a doubt, that this is your destiny?” Brent took several steps toward her. “Are you willing to put all else aside when you are called? Are you ready to lay down your life for your squad and for the sake of a completed mission?”
He continued to walk toward her as he spoke. Mere inches from her. He was so close that she needed to look up in order to keep eye contact. She looked into his eyes, and saw nothing. They were void of life.
Joan had called his eyes a window to his soul, but at this instant, Charlotte saw only the darkness of a windowless room. She looked over at the other squad members and saw the same blank stare. They were no longer looking at her, they were looking through her. Fear and bile began to build. She had to concentrate to keep both inside her. She knew if she became part of the squad, she, too, would learn to have that same look.
She drew her attention back towards the Colonel and answered without hesitation.
“I’m sure.”
Brent remained expressionless and walked back to the other squad members. “We took a vote. For you to be in, the vote had to be unanimous. Before I tell you what that vote is, I have to tell you there are concerns and reservations.”
Charlotte’s shoulders slumped. All the blood in her head seemed to settle in her stomach. She was nauseous waiting for the words she expected to hear. She swallowed hard, trying to retain her composure.
“I understand, sir,” she said, trying not to sound defeated.
“I’m sorry to tell you, Miss Dupree, that the four undesirables standing before you are now your brothers. Welcome to the Phantom Squad.”
Charlotte looked into the eyes of the squad members and saw they’d changed back into those of the caring, compassionate men she had broken bread with. Filled with emotion, she could not hold back. She screamed with joy, as she ran into the arms of the four men who would now and forever more, be part of her life.
“You won’t be sorry,” she said as tears of joy spilled onto her cheeks. “I’ll make you proud. I promise.”
While Jefferson and Fitz hugged Charlotte and congratulated her, Seven gave Brent ‘the look’.
“Charlotte,” Brent said.
“Yes, sir?”
“You first have to undergo complete Phantom Squad training. If, at any time, you voluntarily drop out, or if your instructors feel you would be a detriment to the squad, all this is moot. Understood?”
With a confident air, Charlotte said, “That won’t happen, Colonel.”
“In that case, open the doors and let everyone in.”
“Huh?”
Before Charlotte could move, the doors opened wide and Joan almost tackled her with a bear hug. Chloe, Maddie and Lucille waited their turn to congratulate her. Maddie was the last t
o welcome her into the squad.
“You now work for me, young lady,” she said. “All your orders come from me through Colonel Venturi.”
“Yes, Madame Director, I understand.”
Maddie’s stern expression softened. “Now give me a hug. Welcome to the family.”
Her words warmed Charlotte’s heart.
After the congratulatory hugs, Maddie called a brief meeting.
“There is still an ongoing investigation and I have new information to relay.”
Everyone seemed to hold their breath while she opened the file she’d been carrying. “The Butcher struck again.”
“Where?” Brent asked, hoping his intuition was wrong.
“He breached the Secret Service perimeters and killed two people in Charlotte’s neighborhood. By the time they found the bodies, he was long gone.”
“Do you have pictures of the victims?” Brent asked, knowing his intuition was spot on.
“I do. It’s the same scenario. A husband and wife were found naked, an upside down cross burnt into their chests and the same symbols etched into their flesh.”
“Do you know their identities?” Charlotte asked.
“Yes. They were your neighbors,” Maddie said with reluctance. “Daniel and Luanne Spelnic.”
“Oh, my God,” Charlotte said.
Everyone expected her to break down. It didn’t happen. She closed her eyes and inhaled to compose herself.
Brent’s voice broke the tension. “All right, people. This doesn’t change anything. We knew he would go after Charlotte first. As good as the Secret Service is, the Butcher is that much better. He’ll try to make his way south, so we need to move quick.
“Seven, you’ve got two hours to get your team together and rendezvous at the airstrip. The SIA jet will be fueled and waiting.”
“How about the warrants?” Seven asked.
“I’m on it,” Joan said, moving to the front of the room with her laptop. “All of the warrants and subpoenas you’ll need are being sent to Chloe’s printer as we speak.”
“I’ll get them,” Chloe said.
