SEALed With A Kiss: Heroes With Heart

by Low, Gennita

  Chapter Twenty-Six

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  Brett tossed the remote control onto the coffee table. “I can’t stand this one minute longer, Zoe.”

  Zoe drew a deep breath. She didn’t want to go where he was leading the conversation. She had to get him out of the house or he’d explode and she’d have to respond to that and she’d end up in tears. They’d both end up feeling bad. “Why don’t we go for a drive? We’ll go to the beach and you can get some sun.”

  “God damn it! It’s been two days, Zo.” He rubbed his hand over his head, roughing up his fine blond hair and then fingering the scar on his scalp left from the surgery.

  “Tell me where you want to go, Brett, and I’ll drive you.”

  “It isn’t that. It isn’t about that. It’s about you. I love you. You know I do. And Hawk is one of the best friends I’ve ever had. But seeing you like this, watching you pace the floors and—grieve—”

  Zoe slumped into one of the dark blue chairs. Worry weighed on her like an anchor, dragging her down, and draining her reserves. She’d tried to hide the worst of it from him, but evidently she’d wasted her time, he knew her too well.

  “Do you think it’s any easier when it’s you, Brett?”

  “Jesus, Zo. I don’t want to hear about it. If you tell me, I’ll think about it and it will make it—We try not to think about how you guys feel. Hell, how we feel. If we did, we wouldn’t be able to do what we do.”

  “Compartmentalize.” The word sounded so cold. Hawk and her brother were anything but that.

  “Yeah. Thinking too much can get you killed.”

  Doc’s agony over his girlfriend and what he’d viewed as his failure came to mind. “I hope Hawk doesn’t think of me for even a moment then.”

  A frown creased his forehead and bracketed his mouth. “You always said you’d never marry a guy in uniform.”

  “Things change when you care about someone.”

  “Jesus, it’s weird. You slept with my boss. What were you thinking, Zoe?”

  That I’d finally found someone who could love me despite my flaws and imperfections. Brett’s deprecating tone made what they’d had sound cheap. Hot color stormed her cheeks and her anger ignited. “Are you being an asshole because you’re upset about that, or because you’re bored and just want a fight?”

  His mouth fell open then he laughed. He leaned back and tilted his head back against the top of the chair. “All right-all right. I’m bored out of my skull.” He rubbed the top of his head again, making his hair stand up. “But it’s more than that and you know it.” His brows furrowed. “I should be with them, Zo.”

  “You will be soon.” She picked up the stack of photos with labels stuck to the back. “Let’s work on your cards,” she suggested. She had been over the photos so many times she could recite the names of the weapons in the pictures herself. Learning about the weapons and equipment had helped alleviate some of her anxiety.

  She held up the first one.

  “Nine millimeter Sig Sauer handgun,” Brett said.

  She raised the next one.

  “Closed Circuit Daegar UBA.”

  Reaching the twenty-fifth card she paused as he hit a blank spot. Zoe watched as his eyes narrowed in concentration.

  “M-m-m 88 sniper rifle,” he said. He looked away but not before she saw the fear in his eyes.

  “What does UBA stand for?” she asked so he wouldn’t have time to dwell on the stumble.

  “Underwater Breathing Apparatus.” He shot her an impatient look. “Don’t humor me, Zo.”

  “I’m not. I just think you should concentrate on how much you’ve accomplished in the three weeks you’ve been out of the coma and not dwell on these little glitches. Think of your brain as a computer. And you’re running a program that still has a few bugs to work out.”

  His jaw tightened. “Bugs huh?”

  “That sounds creepy, doesn’t it? Bugs in your brain,” Zoe wrinkled her nose. “Ewww—”

  Brett rose and moved to the couch to sit next to her. “I know I’m being a pain the ass. I just can’t seem to get past this. And not being able to remember what happened doesn’t help any.”

  From her own experience, it was better that he couldn’t remember. Especially if it had been, in some part, caused by one of his teammates. “Lots of people don’t remember the moment they suffer a trauma, Brett. It wouldn’t help you heal any faster even if you could.” She stacked up the cards and set them aside.

  Brett laid a hand on her arm, and she glanced up. A look passed between them and she knew he was remembering the flashbacks and nightmares she had suffered. She returned to their conversation. “Maybe the doctor will release you to take a class on post. You could take one you’ve already aced and review, and test yourself. You only seem to have problems with picture identification. You know what each thing is used for and how to use it. You just stumble over the name. That will come back once you’ve imprinted that information back into your memory.”

  “I suppose so. I just can’t afford for this thing to linger on, Zo. I need to be on top of things so I can return to my unit.”

  He put his arm around her shoulders. She leaned into him and hugged him tight.

  Even after being in a coma, he wanted to go back. Why? Why would he want to put himself in harm’s way again?

  She wanted him to get better, but if he got better he’d be sent back overseas. If he didn’t get better he’d lose a part of himself, a sense of his worth. She’d felt less than worthy for so long. She didn’t want that for her brother.

  He had to make his own way, whether it put him in danger or not. She had to accept his decisions, just as she had to accept Hawk’s. “I understand,” she murmured her arms tightening around him. Pain sparked a need for Brett’s comfort, as much as he needed hers.

  “I know you do. I’m sorry I’m being a pain in the ass.” Brett brushed her forehead with a brotherly kiss and gave her a squeeze. “How about you take me to the base so I can do some target practice? Maybe I’ll work off some of the mad I’ve got going if I shoot something.”

  There was only so much she could do for him. He had to work things out for himself. And shooting wasn’t so physically taxing he’d wear himself out. “All right. Call the base and schedule it and I’ll take you.”

  An hour later, Zoe pulled into the parking lot he directed her to in front of the shooting range. Brett got out and she dipped her head to watch him as he walked around the car and paused at the driver’s window.

  “I’m trusting you with my baby,” he teased as he patted the side of the candy apple red Mustang.

  Zoe rolled her eyes. “Men and their toys. Call me when you need a ride home.”

  “I may be able to catch a ride. I’ll call you and let you know.”

  “I’d rather you called me, Brett.”

  A smile crept across his face. “All right, Mom.” Shaking his head he turned and walked down the concrete sidewalk toward a group of buildings, a navy blue gym bag swinging in his grip.

  Zoe turned to back the car out and her cell phone rang. She put the car back in park and rifled through her purse for the phone.

  “Hey, Zoe,” Marjorie’s voice came across sounding strained. “Would you have time to meet me for lunch?”

  “Sure, I can do that. I’m on North Island and it might take a few minutes. Where would you like to eat?”

  “I’ll meet you half way.” Marjorie named a seafood restaurant close by. Zoe grabbed a notepad from her purse and wrote down the directions.

  It took only fifteen minutes to reach the place. It was early and the restaurant had plenty of empty tables. Zoe paused at the hostess’s desk to allow her eyes to adjust to the change in light. Marjorie, her face partially obscured by sunglasses, rose from her seat in the corner and motioned to her.

  A sinking sensation struck her midriff. Something had happened.

  A waitress preceded Zoe to the table and, after she was seated, gave her a menu.

&n
bsp; “Thank you for coming, Zoe.” Marjorie’s hands shook as she rearranged the candle, a glass dish lined with packets of sweetener, and the salt and pepper shakers.

  “I just dropped Brett off at the base, so I was free.”

  “I’m leaving Derrick.”

  Relief and sadness tangled together inside Zoe and she reached for Marjorie’s hand. “He’s hit you again, hasn’t he?”

  “Yes.” Marjorie’s hands clenched into fists on the tabletop.

  “I’m so sorry. Do you need me to take you to a doctor?”

  “No, I just—I need—” Her lips trembled and it was several moment before she regained her composure. She clung to Zoe’s hand, her grip almost painful.

  “I’m afraid to go home and get my things,” she said.

  Why would she be afraid, he was gone wasn’t he? “He shipped out yesterday with his unit, didn’t he?”

  “Yes, but he came home sometime this morning. It was some kind of homeland security thing he couldn’t tell me about. They flew back this morning.”

  Why hadn’t Hawk called her? Was something wrong? Zoe’s anxiety spiked and she bit her lip. She dragged her attention back to Marjorie when she spoke.

  “I went over to a girlfriend’s house to spend the night. I was upset about him going wheels up.” Marjorie’s lips quivered. “When he came home and I wasn’t there—He met me at the door when I came in at eight to get ready for work—”

  “You don’t need to go back to the apartment without police protection. I know you don’t want to report this, but you really need to take out a restraining order and have him picked up, just to be sure. The police will call Derrick’s commanding officer and have him detained there if he’s on post.”

  Marjorie nodded. “Will you come with me?”

  “Yes, of course.”

  “I love him so much, Zoe. But I’ve been so afraid.”

  Zoe moved to sit next to Marjorie and placed an arm around her. Marjorie trembled against her. Anger built inside Zoe in a wave. Damn Derrick Armstrong for doing this. “You don’t have to be afraid anymore. Do you think you can eat something, or would you rather go to the police station now?”

  “I don’t think I could eat anything. You’ll stay with me, won’t you?”

  The fear in the woman’s voice, the way she trembled, triggered feelings of pity and protectiveness. “Yes, I will.”

  The waitress returned with filled water glasses to take their order just as she and Marjorie got to their feet.

  “My friend is feeling ill and we’re going to have to leave,” Zoe said.

  “Oh. I’m sorry. Is there anything I can do to help?”

  “No, we’ll be okay.”

  Zoe gathered her purse from the back of her chair and slung it over her shoulder. She looped her arm through Marjorie’s and guided her out of the restaurant. “You can leave your car here in the parking lot. We’ll come back for it after we go to the police station.”

  “All right.” Marjorie began to cry. Zoe hunted for some tissue in her purse and handed it to her. She got Marjorie settled in the car and went around and got in. Murmuring words of encouragement and comfort, she pulled into traffic and turned onto Broadway where she knew police headquarters was located.

  *

  Hawk swore beneath his breath as he hung up the phone. Damn, Flash. He’d gone AWOL before they’d reported for the shortest deployment on record. He’d either known he was suspicious, or something had happened to him.

  Captain Jackson strode out of his office and Hawk rose to his feet. “I need to speak with you, sir.”

  “Has he been found?”

  “No, sir. I’ve sent MP’s to his apartment and he’s not there. My guess is he’s in the wind.”

  “God damn it.” Jackson’s brows slammed together and he scowled. “Come into my office Lieutenant.”

  “Did you see this coming?” Jackson asked as soon as the door shut behind them.

  Hawk clenched his teeth in frustration. He’d thought of the possibility but without proof he couldn’t have had Flash picked up or held. And when he hadn’t reported to duty after the call had come in, he’d sent a detail out to find him, while the rest of the team caught a plane for Houston Texas.

  “Sir, all I had was circumstantial evidence and speculation. It’s in my report. There’s no hard evidence that he attempted to kill Ensign Weaver or that he smuggled archaeological artifacts into the country. But Weaver’s mother saw the cylinders when she unpacked his belongings. Weaver’s sister, Zoe, was attacked by someone who broke into the apartment and took the artifacts, without leaving any trace. A flash bang was set up to go off in my house and a warning left for me to back off. All those things fall within our skill levels.”

  “You don’t think Weaver was involved in this?”

  “I’ve looked into all the men’s finances, sir. There’s been no unusual movement in anyone’s accounts but Lieutenant Carney’s. Carney and Ensign Armstrong packed Weaver’s belongings. I believe that offered him the opportunity to slip the cylinders into Weaver’s bag.”

  “Before the last mission, another team member heard them arguing. He said Carney told Weaver to mind his own business. I believe Weaver was trying to council Lieutenant Carney and get him to reconsider his course of action. Weaver knew about the gambling problem and suspected the money problems.”

  “So where do you think Carney is now?”

  “He’s painted himself into a corner. He’ll be somewhere close to a casino trying to recoup his losses. I don’t think he’ll go to Vegas. He’ll know we’ll be looking for him. Atlantic City possibly.”

  Jackson rubbed his jaw and moved around the desk to sit down.

  “I had hoped to settle this in house. It looks like we’ll have to go outside and turn this over to the criminal division.”

  Hawk nodded, relieved. He hadn’t relished the idea of bringing Flash in to face charges. By taking the investigation out of his hands, Jackson had also removed the probability of his men thinking him a snitch for turning in one of his own men. The investigators would follow the trail of insurance fraud, and other things, and draw their own conclusions.

  “I’ll take care of it, Lieutenant. You’re dismissed.”

  “Aye, sir.” Hawk saluted, turned and left the office.

  Hawk drew a deep breath and returned to his office to complete another report. “There’s a phone call for you, Hawk,” Lang said as he passed him in the hall. “I think it’s Zoe.”

  He’d attempted to call Zoe and tell her they were back several times and each time he’d been interrupted. God, he wanted to hear her voice. He’d wasted so much time sitting outside the apartment complex keeping an eye on her. He could have been with her instead.

  He jerked up the receiver and pushed the button to connect him. “Yes.”

  A silent pause had him drawing a breath. Had she hung up?

  “Hawk, it’s Zoe.”

  Something in her tone sounded—Concern pumped up his heart rate and he frowned. “Are you all right, Zoe?”

  “I’m at the police station with Marjorie.”

  Those few words kicked him in the gut. Jesus they’d barely landed five hours ago. What the hell had happened? “How bad is it?”

  “She wouldn’t let me take her to the hospital. A policewoman is taking photos of her injuries now. It looks as though she has some bruised ribs and a black eye. He punched her in the face first, and when she was down, he kicked her.”

  Bile rose in Hawk’s throat. “Jesus.” He took several breaths. “I’ll call the MP’s right now to alert them and have him brought in if he comes on post.”

  He flinched. Could he have done more? He’d queried Derrick weekly on his progress with the shrink. And kept an eye out for any sign he was getting stressed.

  But Jesus, they were all stressed. He’d been working hard to get back to a hundred percent himself before deployment. And nursing his own pain over the break-up. Had that caused him to miss something?

&n
bsp; “You couldn’t have seen this coming,” Zoe said.

  “How did you know what I was thinking?” Stupid question. She knew because she knew him. At times, they were so in tune with one another, all it took was a look or a touch to know what the other person needed. God, how he’d missed that. Could they get it back?

  “Marjorie didn’t even see it coming,” Zoe continued. “For the last month he’s been doing great. No blow-ups, no mood swings. He’s had insomnia for the last few weeks.”

  Hadn’t they all? Hawk rubbed his hand over his face and got to his feet to pace the office as far as the line would allow. “Are you going to stay with her?”

  “Yes. She doesn’t have any family close-by. I convinced her to call her mom and she’s on her way from New Mexico, but it will take a while for her to get here. I’ve told her she can come home with me after we’re done here.”

  His gut tightened. What if Derrick showed up at Brett’s apartment?

  Brett was there, he’d watch out for Zoe and Marjorie. He had to talk to Jackson again. He was going to go ape shit over this. “She’ll need to come here first to take out an MPO. That way the MPs can pick him up for assault.”

  “She isn’t his wife. Will a military protective order still apply?”

  “I don’t know. I’ll check with my commander.”

  “She’s pretty shaky. Just going to the police was a huge step for her. She may not want to do that today.”

  “If you go back to the apartment, be careful. Lock up tight and stay there with Brett until I can get there.”

  “Brett’s at the shooting range.”

  Shit. Anxiety hugged his ribs like a tight band. He sat down behind the desk again and leaned forward to place his elbows on the blotter.

  “He was going to do some target practice. I’ll call him and tell him I’m coming to get him,” Zoe said.

  “I’ll send someone to the range to pick him up. You come here and get him before you go home, Zoe. Don’t go to the apartment alone, okay?”

  “All right.”

  “Be careful, baby. Stay alert.”

  She’d be all right. She’d come and get Brett and they’d hole-up at the apartment until they could find Derrick.