by Grady, D. R.
A sense of calm settled over him after her confession though. “I know it’s hard, but remember, you’re not the only woman to face this.” Hopefully this sense of calm wasn’t a false one.
“No, I don’t suppose I am. And I learned from KC and Janine that there are plenty of men who won’t return at all to their women. Many of them have children who will grow up without their daddies. I guess when I think of the alternative – not having you at all, I’ll take what I can get.” He heard the slight southern drawl in her voice, compliments of her Louisiana bayou upbringing. The drawl only appeared when she was tired or feeling emotional.
He hoped the Cajun flavor came through tonight because emotionally she was attached to him. Not able to bear the thought of Treeny Deveau sliding through his fingers, he hauled her closer, breathing in the scent of her hair. Of her very essence. He wanted more time, but already the clock was ticking.
“The guys will have a good time with my being late.”
“They know their leader should be the first one there, Commander Morrison.”
“Very funny, baby, and its Lieutenant Morrison.” He tweaked her nose before he bent for a quick kiss. Her eyes were sad.
He climbed into his truck and waved as he pulled out. Half his brain, and all of his heart remained with Treeny.
Welby screeched into a parking spot moments before him so they walked to the rendezvous site together.
“O’Riley kicked my butt,” Sam Welby mentioned on the way in.
“How’d he do that?”
“You got called this evening. I got called last evening and have been doing the crash course on all things SEAL Team Eight.” Sam swiped a hand across the back of his neck. “And that’s only after I prepared my office for my absence. At least the admiral is sending in a replacement. She looks capable.”
Ben grinned. He should have guessed the admiral would pull something like an unexpected re-training session for Welby.
“I think he needed the refresher too,” Welby said with a hint of smugness.
“You don’t look tired.”
“I’m not. I can still put myself into REM sleep, which is good, ‘cause I’d be dead otherwise. It helped during medical school and residency, but I slacked off the last few years.” By that time they had entered the conference room where the rest of the squad was gathered.
They would go wheels up in a matter of moments after they formulated a plan, but right now, Ben enjoyed watching the newbies. Observing from the sidelines, he grinned as Riesen and Lessay, the only two SEALs on Team Eight who didn’t know Welby, stared.
“He’s a friggin’ giant,” Riesen declared under his breath to Lessay.
Lessay nodded.
Beaumont, Cox, Shively, Lanford, and Steve Freemont, who was also new to their squad but knew Welby, all gathered around to shake Sam’s hand, and Ben wanted to point out that two of the other team members topped Welby. With Beaumont and Lanford both standing well over six feet tall, they stood taller than Welby, actually.
“He’s bald, and big,” Lessay finally managed to say as they sized him up. Ben couldn’t tell if they were impressed or not.
“And the admiral said he was smart. Even if he’s not, we can just use him for intimidation.”
Laughing, Ben joined them. “Gentleman, I’d like to introduce you to my swim buddy, Sam Welby. Yes, he’s bald, yes he’s big, but please take notice he’s not taller me.”
Sam snorted. “I’m still bigger.”
“He looks scary, but he’s a pediatrician, for crying out loud,” Shively inserted and Sam laughed.
Riesen’s eyes went wide. “I thought they were just joking when they said you’re actually a pediatrician, sir.” He shook Sam’s hand.
“I’m a former SEAL, gentleman, and a pediatrician. Now, let’s get down to business.”
“I told you Welby was a planner,” another voice boomed and they turned to see Admiral O’Riley enter the room in rapid strides.
“Admiral,” some of the men greeted.
They all saluted, which he returned. “At ease,” he said casually. His order changed the atmosphere and O’Riley wasted no more time. He indicated for everyone to sit. Once everyone was settled he started talking. “Some facts we have on our traitor.” He held up his hand and began ticking points off.
“First, we suspect the traitor is male. The female checked out although she could be involved as an accessory. Second, we know the traitor is adept with computers. He hacked his way into some important files—” Beaumont, their computer expert narrowed his eyes and interrupted.
“What were those files doing on an accessible computer?”
“Great question, Beaumont, and part of the problem,” O’Riley answered. “Those files shouldn’t have been on the hacked computer. We’re calling their residence on that machine a coincidence, but we’re not discounting anything yet.”
“Wait, you said the female checked out?” Welby asked. His eyes were also narrowed and Ben was sure his brain was already spinning all this information at a rapid rate.
“Yes,” the admiral replied.
“Who is she?”
O’Riley referred to a paper in his hand. “We have six suspects, all of whom our dead operative compiled. He was certain one of these six or a conglomeration of them, are the traitor.”
Welby’s eyes went wide. “You have names?” He sounded accusatory.
“We have names.” Admiral O’Riley cocked a brow.
“Well, why didn’t you start there? I thought we had to come up with possible names.” Welby tapped the table with a confident finger. All of them, Ben included, turned to stare at him in astonishment. “This’ll be easy.”
Easy? How would flushing a traitor who killed a legendary undercover operative be easy?
“How?”
Sam Welby turned convinced eyes on him. “So easy. We set up a trap. A simple, no fail trap.” And then he went on to explain the trap and Ben’s confidence grew by leaps and bounds.
By the time Welby finished outlining his thoughts Admiral O’Riley chuckled. “See, Welby always has a plan, and as usual, it’s brilliant.”
“Let’s go get us some traitor,” Welby declared. Not only were the newbies staring at him in awe, but every single SEAL in the room had joined them.
***
Treeny wandered into her cottage that evening, glad to have the place looking like a home, but sad Ben wasn’t with her to enjoy their accomplishments. But he would return. Maybe if she kept repeating that to herself, she’d actually believe it. It might even make her feel better about his absence. So far it wasn’t working.
Sure, his job was difficult, but a little voice in the back of her mind had to keep reminding her Ben was a highly trained professional. That fact alone should calm her. The knowledge still didn’t stop her from fearing the worst. The more afraid she got the more distance she could feel herself putting between them. None of her family had been prepared for the news of her daddy’s death. Could one prepare for death? For sudden, unexpected bereavement?
Her father had been a trained professional too.
Unable to bear that depressing, scary thought, she shoved it away and tried to focus on the positives. There were several to choose from and that little thought helped.
She had spent most of the day today with Ben, so now she needed to stop fretting and distancing herself. Instead, she flitted around the cabin, trying to enjoy her time there. Tomorrow she’d pack to return home to her job. So, if she didn’t make the most of this time, she would lose the opportunity.
Trailing up the stairs, she went about preparing for bed. But her mind didn’t stop thinking about Ben. As she stepped into the shower she wondered if he was okay? As soon as the question popped into her mind, she cut it off. She would make herself sick if she wasn’t careful, and she needed to trust him.
Trust his abilities.
Exactly how her patients viewed her. They came to her seeking answers, and she provided them the care they requ
ired using the skills she had learned. Ben was using his skills to aid their country. Shouldn’t she be more thankful for those willing to fight for the United States?
Of course.
Now that she had the understanding part down, Treeny wondered how long it’d take before she had the doing part.
“Are you worrying about Ben, again?” KC glanced at her from the chair where she was feeding Macy.
Treeny nodded. “Why do I keep doing that?”
“Maybe because you love him? Or should I say, are in love with him.” KC’s voice was soft, gentle, and probing.
Feeling her heart flip in her chest, Treeny gave a little start. “I always have,” she said in dawning realization. “I think he’s always been there, that’s why no other man ever interested me. No one could compare to Ben.” Panic welled in bubbles that tried to choke her but she beat them down. She did love Ben. Was so totally in love with him she’d never even been tempted all these years by any other man.
“I suspect he feels the same way. That’s why he’s rarely dated in the past few years.” KC sounded knowing and she looked it too.
Treeny’s heart lurched again. He’d told her as much when he first asked her to date him. “You know that for a fact? That he’s not dated much?” Why did she need this reassurance?
Maybe because her own realization of how in love with him she was made her need to hear he shared her feelings. Did he share her feelings? She hoped so, because she wasn’t doing this alone.
Her friend nodded, and switched Macy to her other breast. “Sure. I’ve never heard of him having a serious relationship since I’ve known Max. They teased Ben all the time about not dating.”
“He told me the guys on his team started to wonder about him.”
KC laughed. “I can’t see that, but it is funny.”
Treeny nodded absently. Seeing KC with a baby made Treeny wonder if she would someday have children. She did want them. Only would she, a doctor, and Ben, a Navy SEAL, have time for kids? Would they even have time to see each other much less children? Why was she thinking about kids when she should be more concerned about Ben, his safety, and his feelings toward her? These thoughts were a surefire way to make herself crazy.
“Max has always said he thought maybe Ben was just waiting for you. Waiting for the right time. Apparently that time is now.”
“Now?”
“Well, he’s finally worked up the nerve to ask you out. Do you know how long he’s waited?”
Dumbly, she shook her head.
“I remember Lainy mentioning to Max about Ben still having some feelings for you before I left for Kuwait.”
“Why did Lainy tell Max that?”
“I think Max was planning to set him up with a sweet woman from work. Lainy told him to nix that idea, and once Max heard Ben still wanted you, he was content to let things simmer between you.”
“I didn’t have any idea Ben wanted me until he showed up at my office.”
“Of course you didn’t. We all thought Ben was being a chicken by not asking you out,” KC said and tapped her lips thoughtfully. Treeny wondered what in the world she was talking about. Ben was the bravest man she knew. “But seems he was merely biding his time.”
“Biding his time?” Great, now she sounded like a mocking bird. But hope soared like a white dove through her mind. If he’d waited for her for so long, then chances were he felt the same way about her, right?
“Yeah. Like a military analyst, he watched and waited for exactly the right time to approach you.”
“How would he know the right time to approach me?” She jiggled a foot in agitation.
KC cocked her head. “Well, medical school is difficult.” Treeny snorted. “But residency is even harder.” She nodded vigorously in agreement.
“But then, after residency, you find a job, and then have to settle into the swing of things there. All those steps take time.”
“Okay, I’ll give you that, but why wait?”
“Because, if I’m right, and in this case I suspect I am,” KC grinned, “I’d say Ben waited until both of you met your career goals.”
Treeny thought about that. “I have reached the place where I’m settled professionally. It’s taken a while.” Her foot slowed to a long sweep.
“Exactly. Now what are you thinking about?” KC inquired and removed her now sleeping baby from her breast. Max appeared and took his sleeping daughter, bent, kissed his wife, and whisked their daughter away.
“I want what you have,” Treeny said, pain coursing through her at how much she wanted a loving husband and maybe someday, a baby.
“Exactly. You’re settled professionally, now you’re looking to settle personally. You want a home, a loving husband, and you’re starting to see babies in your future.” KC adjusted her nursing bra and shirt.
“You think Ben waited until I started looking toward something other than my career?”
“That’s my guess. I imagine he’s starting to look at his personal life, too. He’s Commander of his own SEAL team, he has more than ten years experience behind him. He’s coming up for air and realizes there’s this whole new world to discover. And starts thinking about the one woman he can’t forget.”
“I can’t believe I’m that woman,” Treeny whispered. But she desperately wanted to be. Who was she kidding? She desperately needed to be. And there’d be problems for Lieutenant Ben Morrison if she wasn’t. Women in love were known to do crazy things, after all.
KC leaned over to cover her hand. “Believe it, sweetie. Since I’ve met Max, your name and Ben’s have always come up together. You’re the only woman he’s ever taken into The Closet. Did you know that?”
Mutely, Treeny shook her head. She had no idea. But that thought should keep her warm for the next few lonely days. Hopefully.
She would not let loneliness and despair overwhelm her. Treeny Deveau was not a wimp. She had endured medical school and residency. She had what it took to get through missing the man she loved.
Chapter 23
“You don’t think the information that killed my agent arrived on that particular computer accidentally?” O’Riley asked Welby again.
“No.” Welby referred to a printout in his hand. “Do these potential traitors know we know about that computer?”
“Not that we can tell,” O’Riley responded, his voice sounding confident. “In fact, some strange things have shown up on that machine.”
“Good. Then that’s where we go to snag the traitor.”
“How?” Cox asked.
“We suspect this traitor wants us, Team Eight, right?” All heads nodded, including his. Ben thought he knew what his swim buddy’s plan was, and if so, it was brilliant, simple, and obvious. They would have come up with this solution on their own, he was certain, but it would have taken them longer.
“How about we filter our mission – erroneous, complicated SEAL plans, to the same conduits the dead agent used. Namely, that computer?
“Our false assignment includes us going in to make certain this agent did indeed clean everything up. We go wheels up, and off we fly into the sunset or sunrise, or whatever.” Welby paused and looked around. Ben did the same. Everyone followed Welby’s logic.
“But, after we leave, we also all come back quietly. We have a monitor not only on that computer, but every computer used by the possible traitors. We track their movements, everything they do for however long we need until we have proof of who the traitor is.”
“What if we don’t get that proof?” Lanford asked.
“We’ll get it. This traitor has no idea we know he’s betrayed anyone. The only man who can refute that is dead.” With that statement, Ben noticed Welby send a “glance” at O’Riley, and he suspected his friend wondered who the operative was. “So why should the traitor feel we’re on to him?”
“What if he suspects the agent talked?” the admiral asked.
“Do you believe he’s smart enough to think of that?” Welby’s voice cont
ained much scorn. Ben grinned. Welby was one of a kind.
“No, but what if he does?” O’Riley pressed. Was that worry he detected in their leader’s voice?
“Then he’s going to cover his tracks well. Is there a man here who isn’t a skilled hacker?” Never fear – as usual, Welby had planned for all contingencies. Ben grinned at the satisfaction that crossed the admiral’s face.
“That’s true. While this hacker is skilled, every man here is up to his skills.” Their leader’s eyes roved to Beaumont. “But we’ve got a far better hacker.”
“Monitoring, recording, watching, listening, this is cake for a SEAL.” Welby shrugged.
“What about making certain things are cleaned up?” Cox asked.
“That’s us, the clean-up guys,” Shively replied and mimed a person with a broom.
“Plan A, Part One is to catch the traitor. Part Two will require clean-up, but what I’m thinking...” Welby stared off into space.
“Yeeeessssss?” Shively pressed.
“The traitor and his buddies, or the people paying him, expect SEAL Team Eight, right?”
O’Riley nodded. “From what my operative said, yes.”
Welby continued gathering facts. “We suspect these individuals want us because you fellows worked with this dead guy on a case against them?”
“Right,” Ben said.
“So we know who the traitor’s clients are.” The patience in Welby’s voice told them he would continue this course of thinking until they all caught on.
His eyes weren’t the only ones to snap open. “Of course.” The SEALs and operative had worked to counter a terrorist group well known in the Middle East. They did know the traitor’s clients. This terrorist group was a pretty small faction. Ben realized they’d have all thought of this angle in addition to the trap. Still, it was nice to have Welby getting them to their destination that much faster.
“Any other SEAL team have experience with this group?” Welby asked O’Riley.
The older man’s eyes gleamed with wily intent. “Yeah, Teams Five and Fourteen.”
