by Mike McNeff
The admiral looked at his glass. “We did the same in SEALs. I've killed in the same way and you're right, we can't consider ourselves heroes for those kinds of acts. But in a very short period of time, your team has prevented large scale violent acts and probably prevented a nuclear war. At the very least, stopping Picushkin saved hundreds of thousands, if not millions of lives. That makes you a hero in anybody's book…it's just no one will know, except a few. I'm lucky enough to be one of those few. I salute you.” The admiral raised his glass again.
Robin smiled and touched the admiral's glass with his. “Thank you, Admiral.”
“Now, the president has asked me to convey to you his deepest apologies and he wants you to know he was told lies.”
“But why? Who would do that?”
“Apparently, there was a rift in the CIA that reached to the White House staff. The new CIA Director felt threatened by Jordan Yates and William Grassley and I guess, especially about the existence of your team. The director had close supporters on the White House staff. They concocted the story that your team are rogue traitors and that Yates and Grassley couldn't control you.”
Robin chuckled. “Well, to be honest Admiral, there's a grain of truth in the idea they couldn't control us. The rest is bullshit.”
It was the admiral's turn to laugh. “Yes, you were described to me as an, ‘independent son of a bitch’.”
“Well, I'm probably guilty as charged.”
“I have no doubt. The president also wanted me to tell you your status has not changed in any way. Suffice it to say your team is still activated…and according to the president, desperately needed.”
“I hope you won't be offended if I take all this with a grain of salt.”
“Not in the least. I would too, if I were you.”
The two men touched their glasses again and finished their whiskey. “If you don't mind, sir, all this is catching up with me and I'm ready to drop.”
“I understand.”
FORTY-SEVEN
ROBIN SAT NEXT TO RICK as Fatboy winged its way back to the United States and home. He was played out. Admiral Ellison authorized a flight for Robin to fly to Mumbai International Airport in India where Fatboy picked him up. Then they immediately flew to Taipei to pick up Rick, Lucy and Maria. Maria sedated Rick for the move and now Robin sat patiently waiting for Rick to regain consciousness, his mind replaying the last month in a constant stream of chaotic images and recalled conversations. All of this was overlaid by a desperate longing for Karen, his children and the peace of their home.
Ernie came into the cabin and sat down.
“How you feeling, Rob? You've been pretty quiet since we picked you up.”
Robin drew a tried breath. “I'm still trying to process everything that's happened in the last month. It all seems like a crazy, confused dream.”
“Well it wasn't a dream, but it sure as hell was crazy and confused!”
A groggy voice interrupted them. “Don't you assholes have better things to do than keep me awake?”
Robin stood up and stepped next to Rick. “How are things, Rick?”
“Not worth a damn, Rob. I heard you guys talking. I guess I missed a lot.”
“We just decided to get into a bunch of shit to see if we could do it without you.”
“Oh, well I guess you did then.”
“No, we learned we need you and Mark on every op. Otherwise things get just a little bit too hairy!”
“Why did you say Mark? Is he all right?”
“He got hurt pretty bad, but he's recovering. He's like you. He'll be okay, but it's going to take a while. Everyone else is okay.”
“Except for you, Rob,” Ernie interjected.
“Oh, I'm doing fine, Ernie. Cut the shit.”
“Maria says you need rest and you need to have your injuries tended to. The injury to your back is getting infected.”
“Jesus, Mary and Joseph, you guys must have had a rough time!”
“You got it the worst, Rick. Other than Mark, the rest of us are just fine.”
Ernie rolled his eyes and gave Rick a knowing look.
“How did you get shot up so badly?” Robin asked Rick.
Rick started to laugh, but it turned into a cough. “I got to the door of the engine room and came face to face with a bad guy with an AK-47. I knew Emmett and Doug were concentrating on setting their charges and weren't paying attention to the engine room. So, I couldn't let the bad guy get through the door. He had to reach for his gun and I figured I could draw and nail him before he could get it gun up…and I did! I just didn't count on his reflexes pulling the trigger. As he fell back, the damn gun cranked full auto and came right at me. That's all I remember until the hospital in Taipei.” Rick took a deep breath. “I'm feeling pretty sleepy, Rob.”
“Go back to sleep, Rick. I just wanted to say hi to you.”
“Thanks, Rob. Make sure Lucy's okay will you?”
“She's doing fine. Maria gave her something to help her sleep and she's doing just that. You do the same.”
Rick nodded and closed his eyes. Robin and Ernie walked out of the cabin. “By the way, Ernie, thanks for throwing shit into the CIA's game with the threat to go public. You probably saved my life.”
Ernie put his arm around Robin's shoulders. “If I let anything happen to you, a whole lot of Marlettes and Jacksons would kick my ass!”
“It's pretty interesting that we started out as friends and now we're family.”
“Yes it is, Rob and a growing family at that. I'm pretty damn proud of that fact.”
“Me too, Ernie. Me too.”
Karen, Laurie and Eddie all held tightly to Robin at the front door of their home. It was a tearful reunion. Robin hurt inside for all the worry and fear he'd caused his family. Karen recovered quickly, however, and didn't let the family dwell on their worries and fears. She immediately put Robin to work on the barbeque and made sure he had a glass of wine in his hand.
As Robin looked out over the Strait of San Juan de Fuca, he felt a calming effect seeing the setting sun casting an orange and golden glow over a peaceful sea. The weather was cooling and Robin thought how he hoped the world was cooling also. He wanted to be home.
Eddie came out on the deck and Robin started to pay attention to the salmon on the grill.
“Hey, Dad, I need to tell you something.”
“Sure, son, what's up?”
“I got suspended from school two days ago.”
Robin couldn't believe what he just heard. “You…suspended from school! Eddie, how did that happen?”
“I got into a fight.”
“Over what?”
“There's a girl at school whose…well, she's kinda slow and she's in special ed classes. I saw some guys making fun of her, so I went over there and told the jerks to cut it out. They just started mouthing off and I was moving the girl away from them, when the main guy shoved me from behind.” Eddie took a breath at this point.
“And…?”
“Well, I was already mad, so I turned around and sort of hit him.”
“Explain ‘sort of hit him.’”
“I knocked him on his butt.”
“That's it? That's what you got suspended for?”
“Well, not exactly. After I hit that guy, his buddies jumped us…”
“Whoa, who's ‘us’?”
“Ilya and me.”
Robin looked at his son. “Did Ilya get suspended too?”
“Yeah.”
“Wonderful. Go ahead.”
“Well, Ilya and I took them all on.”
“How many?”
“Six, including the first guy I hit.”
“Did you win?”
“Yeah, none of them really knew how to fight and they gave up pretty fast.”
“What have I told you about getting into fights?”
“Never to start one, but always finish the ones I do get into.”
“Was the shove hard enough to warrant the punch?”<
br />
Eddie looked down. “No, not really. I was just mad.”
Robin put his arm around Eddie's shoulders. “I'm proud of you for sticking up for the girl. Next time wait until the other guy tries to hit you or hurt you before you kick his ass.”
Eddie smiled. “Yes, Sir.”
“And don't tell your mother this, I'm also proud you won the fight. I doubt if they will be bothering you again.”
Eddie laughed.
“What's so funny?”
“Mom said the same thing, only she said not to tell you!”
Later in the evening, Robin and Karen were sitting in the reading alcove in their bedroom. Karen looked up from her book.
“I met with the principal about Eddie.”
“How'd that go?”
“I agree with part of what he said about not tolerating brawls on campus, but he seemed more concerned about that than the harassment of the poor girl.”
“That's not right.”
“No it isn't. He went on a rant about violence and when I asked about the girl, he said they try to prevent harassment, but they can't be everywhere.”
“Are you serious?”
“Of course, I'm serious. The whole conversation is still bothering me. They suspended the other boys for fighting too, but no one was disciplined for the harassment.”
“We need to talk to the Superintendent.”
“I'm doing something better. I'm going to run for the school board.”
Robin looked at Karen. “My wife is becoming a politician?!”
“Yes, I am. The school board makes policy and there needs to be some policy changes in this district.”
“Well, I guess we better get our election machine up and running! Who is going to be your campaign manager?”
“Laurie, of course. Do you know anyone more organized than our daughter?”
“No I don't. Good choice.”
Karen got up and sat on Robin's lap. “Are you going to stop loving me if I become a politician?”
Robin put his arm under her legs and stood up cradling her in his arms, carried Karen to their bed and laid her down. “I will never stop loving you. I love you more today than I did yesterday and I didn't think I could love anyone as much as I loved you then…and I will never stop wanting you.” Robin turned out the lights and laid down next to Karen.
“Rob, I'm scared to death.”
Robin didn't reply. He just put his arms around his wife.
“Are we going to get through this? Are you going to make it out the other side alive?”
“What do you want me to say? What we do is dangerous…necessary, but dangerous. All we can do is the best we can.”
“That's not a damn bit reassuring, Robin Marlette.”
“All we can do is follow one of the truest mottos of all time.”
“What's that?”
“One day at a time.”
Silence followed and they fell asleep in their clothes.
FORTY-EIGHT
KAREN CURLED UP AGAINST ROBIN as they lay in front of their fireplace. Rain beat against the windows and the wind surged across the Strait of Juan de Fuca with a dull roar in the darkness. The grandfather clock chimed midnight. She pulled herself closer to him as if she wanted to meld her body with his.
“It's so good to have you home. I can't believe it's been three months without you going anywhere.”
“It's very nice, honey, especially being with you. I'm beginning to feel myself unwind.”
“I'm enjoying not worrying about you.”
“I know you worry, but you shouldn't.”
Karen sat up. “I shouldn't?! You were nearly killed several times in these last operations. Our own country tried to kill you! Mark and Rick were seriously wounded. How can I not worry?!”
“It's just that worrying doesn't do any good. There's no getting out of this anytime soon. We know what we're doing and we do it well. That's about as good as it gets.”
Karen laid her head back on Robin's chest. “It's as good as it gets as long as politicians don't interfere and you know they will.”
“Probably, but at least this president learned a good lesson.”
“I'm not sure any politician learns lessons unless the lessons get them reelected.”
“Why don't we talk about us and how wonderful it is to be married to the person you truly love.”
“Is that a signal you want me to be quiet?”
“No, it's a signal we have a nice fire in a nice home on a stormy night and I'm with the most beautiful woman in the world. I want to enjoy it.”
Karen laid her head back down. “I saw Rick and Mark walking yesterday. They seem to have developed a close bond.”
“Yeah, they've really been good for each other. So far Maria says they'll fully recover, which is miracle if you think about it.”
“Speaking of miracles, how is Tim doing?”
“It didn't take long for him to get things under control. Pat was right. The man probably is a genius. The only problem we have left is hiring dock workers.”
“Can't you hire disabled cops and soldiers?”
“Not for that kind of work. There's a lot of heavy lifting and other physical work.”
“Oh, yeah, I see what you mean.”
“Well, I set Burke and Rocky to work on the problem. They'll get it solved.”
Karen snuggled closer. “I love you, Robin.”
“I love you, honey.”
They became quiet listening to the fire crackle against the stormy night and enjoying the closeness of each other.
Robin and Bill Grassley sat on the deck of Robin's boat at the Cap Sante Marina in Anacortes. The conversation was a rambling one with Robin wondering why Bill had come to visit.
“Bill, do you want to tell me why you're really here?”
“Two things. First I've waited patiently for you to come clean about the Russian battle plans.”
“What about them?”
“I know what you told Admiral Ellison, but I also know you. I don't believe for a minute you didn't look at those plans.”
“I never said I didn't.”
“True, but you never said you did.”
“I don't think it matters anyway.”
“Why? Those plans could mean the difference between victory or defeat if war broke out.”
“I doubt it. I think the Russians would've changed the plans just to be safe.”
“You don't know that for sure.”
Robin looked at Bill. “What would you do?”
“Change the plans, of course.”
“Thanks for making my point.”
Minutes of silence passed between the two men. “Okay, Bill, let's say hypothetically, I had the plans memorized or I even took notes. I still believe in the balance of power, but if it looked like the Russians were going to launch a war, I'd give them to you…hypothetically speaking.”
“Of course…hypothetically.” Bill smiled at Robin.
“What's the second reason?”
Bill looked at his watch and then at the marina entrance. “Ah, I think the second reason is just now coming into the marina.”
Robin looked over and saw a Nordhaven trawler coasting in. He watched, a little confused, until it hit him…Picushkin's yacht! A large man came out of the bridge and saluted. Robin recognized Alex and jumped up.
“Well, I'll be damned.”
The yacht headed for one of the empty berths where a fishing boat used to moor. Robin hurried over to the slip in time to catch a line from Alex.
Alex's deep voice boomed. “Good afternoon, my brother!”
“It's very good to see you, brother!”
Ahmed came running to the bow. “Robin!”
“Hello, Ahmed.” Ahmed's brother came out behind Ahmed and waved. Robin waved back. When the boat docked and the engines turned off, First Sergeant Setchinko came out of the bridge. Robin and Bill boarded the yacht at midship.
Robin and Alex hugged each other and then Ahmed
embraced Robin tightly. He rubbed Ahmed's head.
“How are you doing, my young friend?”
Ahmed's face beamed. “I'm doing very well and even better now we are here with you.”
“That's good to hear.” Robin reached over and shook the brother's hand. Setchinko walked up warmly and greeted him.
Bill Grassley spoke up. “Let's go into the salon and talk.”
When everyone was seated, Bill spoke. “Rob, as you know the Soviet Union is collapsing. The country is broke. Many government employees aren't getting paid…no retired government employees are getting paid.”
Robin looked at the First Sergeant. “Does that include you?”
“Da.”
Bill continued. “Yosef contacted me and asked me if I could get First Sergeant Setchinko and the boys into America. The boys have gone through hell and now First Sergeant Setchinko has no way to support them. I thought you might have a position for the First Sergeant.”
“Are the immigration issues resolved?”
“Yes, like we've done before.”
Robin stood up. “First Sergeant, will you please come with me?”
Bill gave Robin a questioning look.
“Job interview.”
Bill shrugged his shoulders.
Robin and Setchinko walked out onto the deck and leaned over the rail. “Sergeant, I never learned your name.”
“My name is Nikolaj Setchinko, but I am called Nikky.”
“Please to meet you, Nikky. How do you feel about this?”
“I really have just been going along with the tide. I have no money and there is no work in Russia, especially for a used up soldier. I have to take care of my boys.”
“You're well aware of what our company does. How does that sit with you?”
Nikky shrugged. “You impressed me when you helped Russia stop Picushkin. You did not worry about ideology, you just wanted to stop a greedy madman.” Nikky turned to Robin. “We are not much different, you and I. Yes, I was a soldier for my homeland for many years and I was a good soldier. But I never hurt innocent people, no matter where they lived or what country they came from. As Spetsnaz I was ruthless with our enemies…but only enemies, not innocents.”
