The SEAL’s Surprise Mission (Special Forces: Operation Alpha) (Rache)
Page 4
“I never thought I’d see you so happy to be married and settled down.”
“I didn’t, either, but we do well together. You should try it.”
“You mean marriage?”
Heath laughed. “Yes.”
“No way. I’m staying single. My brother and sister gave my parents several grandchildren. I don’t need to marry.”
“Time will tell. Most of us said that and a number of us are married now.” Heath stood. “I’m going to get us another cold one.”
“You know the way.” Hawke stretched out in his chair and tried not to think about the only woman he’d ever wanted to know better. After his experience with her, he’d concentrated on building himself up and getting into the SEALs. Three years after he enlisted, he made it.
Chapter 5
Vi had hidden out in her apartment since getting home. She had an appointment this morning with some high-level officers regarding the information on the destroyed USB. Once she met with them and worked with an artist to help draw up the face she’d memorized, she planned to fly home to the small town in Montana where she grew up.
She drank two cups of tea trying to settle her nerves. Last night she’d attempted to draw a picture of the man on the USB. It wasn’t as good as she’d like, but the experienced sketch artist could get an idea and do much better. She glanced at the clock. Time to leave if she didn’t want to be late.
I’m tired, physically and emotionally. I won’t let my mother or sister know I’ve arrived until I feel strong enough to face them. I’ll hide out at Emma’s apartment until then.
She glanced at the suitcases, packed and ready to go. Hopefully, I’ll be on a plane to Montana tonight.
Captain Buchanan ushered her into his office. “Thank you for coming. I have only a few more questions, and then you’ll meet with Frank, our sketch artist, and work with him.”
“I’ve attempted a drawing myself.” She handed him her drawing.
Captain Buchanan walked to the window and held the picture up to the light. “This is good. We won’t need Frank. I know this man, but I’d never have believed he was our traitor.” Buchanan sat down and lowered his head.
“Are you, all right? Can I get you something?”
He smiled sadly. “No. In this job, we are sometimes surprised and saddened by what we find. He was smart. Of all the men I’ve known, I’d never had suspected him. We need to get you out of town.”
“I’m leaving for Montana in about five hours.”
“I won’t let anyone know what you’ve given me. I’ll tell Frank and several others that because of what you went through, you lost all memory of the man’s face. I need to call and see if Glenn looked at the USB or grabbed it and ran. I doubt he looked, or he’d have told us when he was released.”
“I’m glad you know who it is. I’m going home to rest and decide what I want to do with the rest of my life.”
“Leave your address. We may need to have you protected.”
“I’ll be fine. It’s a fairly small town, and I always put on forms that I’m from Bozeman.” She smiled. “I didn’t want people to know I was from such a small town. I’m glad I did. It won’t be easy to find me.”
“Give me your address and phone number anyway.”
“All right. Then I have to get home and get my things to go to the airport.”
She’d started for the door when Captain Buchanan stopped her.
“I’m sorry about what happened to you. From what I hear, you did exceptionally well. If you are interested in joining the FBI or any similar services, I’ll put a good word in for you.”
“Thank you, but I’ve had enough excitement to last me the rest of my life. It took everything I had in me to survive. I’m proud of myself, but I’m ready to settle down and do something less dangerous.”
He grinned. “Let me know if you ever change your mind.”
Vi waved and headed out the door. She was headed home, but would home be an answer? It hadn’t been before.
Hawke received the okay for a two-week vacation. He’d decided to leave as quickly as possible and had reached for his cell when it rang.
Captain Buchanan said, “I’m glad I caught you in time. Bear told me you were going on vacation, but I hadn’t realized until now that you and our reporter are from the same small town.”
“I thought she looked familiar, but wasn’t sure she was the person I knew from back home. She’s changed.”
Buchanan laughed. “So have you.”
“True. I’m headed to the airport in a few minutes, unless you’re calling to cancel my vacation.”
“She’s helped us discover who our enemy is here in the States. I was shocked, and I fear she might be in danger. I’d like you to keep an eye out for any suspicious characters you might see around town. I’m going to call her and tell her how to reach you, in case she sees someone and feels in danger. Take your other phone with you. I know you like your privacy and don’t want me to give out the number we’re talking on now.”
Hawke almost groaned. Now he’d be forced to see and interact with Vi. “Does this mean I’m on assignment and I can save these two weeks for later?”
Captain Buchanan laughed. “Let’s say it’s an assignment. If nothing happens, I’ll give you one week back, but if more problems occur, such as you must protect her for a period, then we’ll call this a special assignment. You’ll have your whole vacation time back.”
“Sounds all right to me.” It didn’t, but he’d never refuse an assignment or stand back when someone might be hurt.
“Well, get on your way. She notified me she’s already home.”
“I’m on my way.” Hawke grabbed his duffle bag and headed over to Ranger’s house. He was driving him to the airport.
Once on the plane, Hawke put his head back and closed his eyes. In his mind’s eye, he pictured Vi the last day he’d seen her before he left town. It was right after she stood him up and her friends were making sassy remarks. He glowered at them and didn’t look at her until he started to walk off. She had a strange expression on her face. He hadn’t let himself think about it.
Her expression had shown a mixture of sadness and embarrassment. Was the embarrassment because they’d had one date and her friends had teased her, so she stood me up, or for some other reason?
Hawke opened his eyes and let his gaze roam around the plane and people nearby. I’d better start thinking of myself as Taylor or Ty. He smiled, realizing no one in town knew anything about Hawke. He hadn’t told his parents he was a SEAL. He didn’t want them worrying.
The only person who knew his real position in the Navy was a cousin who worked on the local police force. As far as his sister and brother were concerned, Ty was in the Navy and doing well, but he gave them few specifics about what he did.
Going home meant for a few days, he could relax if he didn’t have to get involved in keeping Vivian safe.
After he landed in Bozeman, his sister and her four-year-old daughter, Lily, ran to greet him. “It’s so good to see you,” Sissie said as she hugged him.
Lily pulled at his pants leg, and Hawke leaned down and picked her up. She kissed his whole face, and he had to swallow the lump in his throat. Home, where normal people went on with their lives, and young babies like his niece weren’t starving or getting shot.
“Are you all right, Ty?” Sissie asked.
He took a deep breath. “Yes. It’s so good to be here with you and Lily. You’re right. I’ve been away much too long. Let’s get going. I can’t wait to see Mom and Dad.”
Sissie glanced at his duffel bag. “Is that all you brought?”
“It’s all I need. I’m sure Mom has had my good suit cleaned and ready for the party.”
“Oh, yes, and she’s been baking and cooking all your favorites. They’re in the freezer. I thought we might stop on our way home and have a late lunch. Lily will be hungry, and I am, too.”
“You haven’t changed. Just as slim as ever.”
/> “I’ve added a few pounds, but I have good genes.” She looked him up and down. “You don’t look anything like you did in high school, Ty. Some people will have trouble believing it’s you. I still do. You’re not fat, just solid muscle.”
“It took a lot of work.”
“But why?”
“I’ll tell you someday.”
“I know, but the town still talks about the changes in you.”
“Let them talk. I’m up for food.” They arrived at her car. “Will you drive or me?”
“I wouldn’t dare let you drive,” she teased.
At the restaurant, after they’d eaten and sat watching Lily enjoy her ice cream, Sissie turned to Hawke.
“I have some news. I hope it won’t bother you, but Vivian is back in town. No one’s seen much of her. She’s staying with a friend and doesn’t go out often.”
“Why do you think I’d be bothered? My crush on Vivan is long gone.”
His sister tilted her head. “Others may believe you. I don’t. You haven’t had a serious relationship since high school. I know I’m the only one in the family who realized how much her behavior hurt you.”
“It annoyed me.”
“No, it hurt.”
“Whatever. I probably won’t see her.”
Sissie laughed. “In our hometown? Right.”
“Clean Lily’s face. I’m anxious to get home and see Mom and Dad.”
On the ride home, he kept his sister on other subjects, mainly about all the other family in town.
“Bruce Bartlett is the Chief of Police now. He got elected this past year.”
Hawke was happy for their cousin. “Good for him.”
“He came up through the ranks. People like and admire him.”
“What about Jewel?”
“She’s on the police force and got promoted to Detective before her brother became the Chief.”
“Well, their Dad and Mom both worked in law enforcement, so I’m not surprised,” Hawke said. He was glad Bruce already knew about his real job. He’d warn him Vi might be in danger.
Sissie called ahead to let their parents know they were close. “They’ll be waiting for you on the porch. How long has it been since your last visit?”
“Almost two years. I’ve been very busy with my work, but that’s no excuse. I plan to return more often after this visit.”
“Good. We all miss you, and Mom and Dad aren’t getting any younger.”
“I know. I promise. How’s Randy and his family?”
“They’re doing great. Randy’s auto shop is always busy.”
“He always did like to work on cars.” Hawke laughed. “Remember when Dad bought a new car and he found Randy tinkering with it? That’s one of the few times I’ve seen Dad angry.”
“But then when he realized how good Randy was with cars, he never again took his to a repair shop. Randy always fixed it.”
“True. How are the kids? I have a difficult time keeping up with their ages.”
She snorted. “Samantha is thirteen and becoming a teenager. You know, acting out a bit. Mark is ten and he’s all boy. He loves cars as much as his Dad. May is a lot like Mom. I think that’s a marriage that will last.”
“You haven’t mentioned Sid.”
She sighed and looked into the back seat, where Lily was paging through a picture book and singing to herself. “I was waiting until you got here. We’re getting divorced.”
“Why? You met in college and seemed a happy pair.”
“It’s one of the reasons I wanted you to come home. Mom and Dad are upset about us, and I hoped when they saw you they’d be happier.”
“How long has this been coming?”
“We separated a year and a half ago. We tried to make it work, but Sid wants to go to the big city and make lots of money. I love where I live, and I guess I didn’t love him enough to make the change.”
“I’m sorry, Sissie.”
“Don’t be. We rushed into marriage, and I think this would have happened earlier, but I got pregnant with Lily. We tried to fix what was unfixable. We’ll share custody, but I imagine Lily will be with me most of the time.”
Hawke took a deep breath. “So many changes. I shouldn’t have expected the little town I grew up in would stay the same and the people wouldn’t change. Somehow, I guess I did.”
Sissie laughed. “Wait until you see downtown. It’s bigger than it was on your last visit. Not huge, just right.”
Hawke stared through the window at the rolling hills. Part of him felt it the instant the vehicle crossed the property line of the Bartlett ranch.
“Home,” Hawke whispered. He rolled down the window and took a deep breath. “Thanks for calling and getting me back here.”
“My pleasure.” She glanced back at Lily, who’d moved on to another song and traded her book for small toys that kept all her attention. “She’s a good little girl.”
“She must take after you. Randy and I were the ones who gave Mom and Dad their gray hair.”
Sissie made a right turn toward the ranch house and laughed. “Mom said the same thing the other day. Now she says she mainly worries about you.”
Chapter 6
Vi stared out the window of Emma Trace’s apartment. Vi had spent time at the library picking out books she hoped she’d read, but since returning to the States, she found it hard to concentrate on anything.
After arriving at Emma’s, she’d woken her friend twice with her screams. Maybe the medical people are right, and I need to get counseling. I am such a mixture of happy to be home and angry about men who are so mean and destroy so much. If only I had someone to talk with who understood. Maybe I’d get back to my old self.
A knock on the door startled Vi. She checked the peephole to see who was there. Seeing her sister, Bella, she opened the door reluctantly.
Bella breezed past her and sat on the sofa. “Mom and I wondered when you’d come to see us, but after being here several days, I decided to brave the lion’s den.” Her sister threw out her arms dramatically to indicate Emma’s apartment.
“I wanted to be alone for a while.”
“What was it like being in the Middle East?”
“What are you talking about?”
“Oh, come on. Mom found where you’d gone and knew the name you used on television.”
“I won’t talk about my experience and please don’t go around telling everyone what happened to me.”
Bella smirked. “I don’t have to. Mom has already let everyone know who you pretended to be.”
“You and Mom always did love the dramatic.”
“Whatever.” Bella sank back against the soft sofa. “Mom’s cooking a welcome home dinner for you tonight.”
“I don’t want to come.”
Her sister glared at her. “It’s the least you can do. Poor Mom, after all she tried to do for you, and you snub your nose at her.”
Vi figured a change of topic was in order. “How’s your husband?”
“We’re fine. Leroy makes lots of money being an estate lawyer. I like money.”
“I know.”
“Well,” Bella said and stood. “Are you coming? Leroy and Sharma will be there, too,” she said, referring to Vi’s niece. “You can see Dad. He hasn’t seemed himself lately.”
“I’ll come to see Dad, and I’ll bring my friend, Emma. She always liked our father.”
“Whatever. Be there at six.” At the door, Bella stopped and turned back. “By the way, your old boyfriend just landed in town.”
Vi pretended not to understand. “What old boyfriend?”
“You know, the boyfriend Mom and your friends didn’t like. They managed to make it look like you’d been stood up.”
“What? You mean I wasn’t?”
“Nope and I think he may believe you did the same to him. Mom is clever. She only wanted you to have the best.”
“You mean the richest.”
“That is the best.” Her sister winked and s
ashayed out the door.
Vi groaned and sat down on the nearest chair. Why did I ever think coming home would help me? How could my mother and the girls I called my friends betray me in such a horrible way? But Taylor’s arrived, too. Is it too late to try and remedy a long-ago injury?
“You invited me to go along to dinner?” Emma asked.
“Please. I need your support. I know you work tomorrow. It’ll give me an excuse to leave early.”
“If you weren’t such a good friend, I’d say no. I’ll get a quick shower, and we can head out. At least your Mom was always a good cook.” Emma grinned at Vi. “Something you didn’t learn from her.”
“I know. I love eating, but I hate cooking.”
“Just remember we can’t stay too late.”
“Thank goodness.”
Hawke walked around the ranch with his dad. They’d had dinner, and this was something they always did when Hawke lived at home.
A cool breeze blew across the corrals and around the barn. Hawke tipped his head upward and took in a deep breath of home.
“You seem different, Taylor,” the older man said.
“In what way?”
“Like you’ve learned to appreciate your home. After high school, you couldn’t wait to join the Navy and you were clearly restless your first few visits home.”
“You’re right, Dad. I’m sorry. It had nothing to do with you and Mom, but I’ve learned some good lessons since my last visit.”
They stopped at the first corral and climbed up to sit on the fence. “What kind of lessons?”
“How lucky I was to grow up in a good home with wonderful parents, and how small-town values stay with you when you live in the big world.”
His father chuckled. “You’ve become quite the philosopher. Have you been reading some of my books?”
“Not necessarily yours, but similar, and life teaches you things you never knew and made me appreciate what I had.”
“You sound sad.”