by Kyle West
Pvt. Guerra crying and yelling screams, “Don’t kill me please! I don’t wanna die!”
An enraged McKenna yells, “Grab him! Get his ass over here!”
Novak returns fire and runs towards Pvt. Guerra to pull him over to safety. It is then when Novak is hit by the heavy gunfire and Pvt. Guerra is shot and killed instantly. McKenna screams to Novak, “Tim! Tim!” Jesse yells for cover as he and Barone rush to Novak to pull him to safety. The three other M.I.C.O. soldiers cover Jesse, Barone and the seriously wounded Novak with a barrage of gunfire. Barone pulls Novak behind a tree as Jesse stands, spraying automatic gunfire on the mystery assailants hitting three.
McKenna runs over to carry Novak on his shoulders and rushes down the hill with Pvt. Esposito assisting him. Jesse and Barone stave off the assailants as the first wave of defense as Starr and Rome fire from the distance. The mystery assailants are now closing in, firing mercilessly on the five soldiers escaping down the hill.
Jesse yells to Barone, “Back! Back!” as both of them rush down the hill following McKenna, Novak and Pvt. Esposito.
The dark inlet is illuminated by the gunfire from the mysterious assailants. Jesse and Barone turn and run into the dark towards a creek.
Jesse yells out to Starr and Rome, “We're moving back! Can’t hold off the front Starr! Reset!”
Starr and Rome are hidden in the bushes covering the right and left flank, exit the shrubbery to retreat keeping a distance between Jesse and Barone. About nine of the mystery assailants survived the gun battle. They cease fire and follow the six commandos deeper into the jungle. They are not able to locate the highly trained M.I.C.O. soldiers. The mystery gunmen walk through the dark jungle talking to each other in Spanish, “¿Dónde están esos cabrones de mierda?” (Where are those fucking bastards?) “¿Usted ve ningún signo de ellos? Ellos no podrían haber llegado lejos?” (Do you see any signs of them? They could not have gotten too far.)
One of the gunmen walk right under the tree Starr is hiding up in without detecting his presence. Other mystery gunmen walk through the creek. McKenna finds a spot behind a stone wall where he and Pvt. Esposito lay Novak down to administer some aid to his wounds.
A suffering Novak tells McKenna, “Dammit. This shit hurts Greg. How does it look?”
McKenna doesn’t want to add worry to his friend tells him, “Not bad Tim. Just don't talk man.”
Novak says, “I can make it out of here though, we can’t be that far from Napo. Damn, they hit us fast.” Sarcastically he adds, “What did we turn into the driveway of the Mantilla drug cartel or something?”
McKenna responds, “Greg don't talk. No Esposito’s GPS and papers were good. No these guys were waiting for us.”
McKenna turns to Pvt. Esposito and yells, “Keep pressure on his chest!”
“Who assigned you to this deployment Private?” A frantic Pvt. Esposito crying and screaming, “Sir, I’m with Airborne 16A out of MacArthur, Battalion #163! I just got here yesterday Sir! I don't wanna die sir!”
McKenna softly snaps, “Quiet. You're with #163? Who assigned you? You have a radio? Where are we? Keep on that wound!”
Novak struggles as he tells McKenna, “That Sgt. Bennett Greg. #163.
Pvt. Esposito responds, “Sorry. Sir I’m just scared sir. Yes I was given this assignment from Sgt. Bennett sir.”
Novak is about to pass out, softly states, “Applewhite, Greg. Are the others okay?”
McKenna is stunned in silence.
Pvt. Esposito is terrified and still crying screams, “I’m bleeding!” It is then when McKenna sees a flashlight flash a code. It’s Jesse and Barone about one hundred yards ahead of them in the jungle.
McKenna tells Pvt. Esposito again to shut up and keep quiet.
He then tells Novak, “It's Jesse. Yea Tim they’re okay. He wants us to continue south towards him. Can we do it? I gotta get you outta here. Tim you’re losing a lot of blood brother.”
McKenna tells Pvt. Esposito, “You help me get Lieutenant Novak up. C’mon.”
McKenna flashes a code to Jesse telling him to keep his light on to guide him through the dark rough of trees.
McKenna, with his AK-47 readied for attack and Pvt. Esposito carry a semi-conscious Novak, sloshing across the wet leaves in the pitch black, isolated and deafly silent landscape.
With no sign of the mystery gunmen anywhere, McKenna steps a few feet ahead of
Pvt. Esposito and Novak who are both laying in the grass. As he reaches a small clearing. Jesse walks out of the darkness to the clearing to meet McKenna.
McKenna quickly asks, “Where are the others? Any of you guys hit?”
Jesse responds, “I’m fine. Everybody made clearance. How’s Tim?” As he sees Pvt. Esposito carrying Novak.
McKenna states, “It’s Applewhite Jesse. Applewhite put us out here. The Private here he’s under Bennett, the motherfucker we met in Applewhite’s office last week remember?"
Jesse looks at Pvt. Esposito as he carefully lays Novak down on the grass and nervously says, “I have it Greg....I fucking didn’t know. I got money from the Virgo-62 project. It’s me man.”
McKenna says, “Money? Jesse what the fuck are you talking about?”
Jesse ashamed, spiritedly responds, “What Greg?!” “Yes! Money! I didn't turn it in! Yes the money! That's what The Brass wants!”
Pvt. Esposito speaks, “Sir I don’t think he’s breathing sir.” He looks down at Novak.
McKenna and Jesse rush over to Novak checking his pulse, his breath, then pumping his heart.
McKenna says, “C’mon Tim breathe! Not here man! You can’t die here! C’mon!”
Pvt. Esposito stands up, takes a few steps back and asks, “Sir is he dead?” Gunfire then rips through Pvt. Esposito's body, killing him instantly.
McKenna and Jesse dive to the ground as the gunfire passes over them at a constant pace. McKenna looks at Novak lying motionless, no signs of life. McKenna takes Novak’s dog tags from around his neck, his pistol and his personal effects from his pockets and grabs Novak’s hand tightly.
Jesse yells to McKenna, “Greg we can’t do nothin’ for Tim here man! He needs us to get them things to his family man! Let’s go!”
Jesse crawls over and removes Pvt. Esposito's personal belongings and continues,
“Tim was a bad motherfucka. Let’s get back and help make him a hero! Greg, that’s all we can do now! Greg we gotta go man!”
McKenna and Jesse crawl under the barrage of bullets as they scatter into the dark of the Amazon jungle.
Back in New Orleans…
7:45 am - Det. Ellis knocks on Vivian’s bedroom door and tells her that they need to leave to go to the police station in fifteen minutes before going to her condo. Vivian comes out to the living room to see Det. Ellis dressed in a gray business suit, ready to leave. Vivian asks him, “Is it possible for me to stay here at the hotel this morning? I have a few phone calls to make to finalize the wake and funeral arrangements. I don’t have much time since the wake is tonight and the funeral is tomorrow morning. Can you give me ‘til noon or so? I need some personal time.”
A flustered Det. Ellis responds, “Mrs. Baylor I need to formally take your statement. We have to go over to your home. You okay?”
Vivian responds, “I’m fine. I’m just not ready to talk about my husband’s death right now. I need to take care of him right now. I have not picked out his coffin and I’m told I need to do this immediately.” As Vivian starts to cry.
Det. Ellis feels her sorrow. He takes a deep breath and tells Vivian, “Okay. We can do this a little later. Take care of your affairs ma’am. But please, do not leave this room okay ma’am? I’m responsible for your safety.” Vivian nods yes and says thank you.
Det. Ellis adds, “If you need to go over to the funeral home I will take you. Oh, did the army, uh Casualty Assistance reach out to you yet?” Vivian tells him not yet, and says she won’t leave the hotel room.
Det. Ellis then says, “Ok then.
I’ll go in and let them know you won’t be available to talk until tomorrow after the funeral right?”
Vivian…wiping her eyes, responds, “Yes. I’ll feel much better tomorrow after I know Jesse is taken care of. Thank you detective.”
Det. Ellis tells Vivian that he will be back in a few hours and for her to call him if she needs anything. He emphasizes that she must stay in the hotel suite until he returns.
Vivian gets off the couch to lock the door as Det. Ellis closes the door.
Vivian immediately calls Insp. Clark to let him know she is on the way to meet him at the F.B.I. office. The Inspector tells her, “I am in a meeting right now and will be finished by the time you arrive. Catch a cab over here. We’ll meet in the cafeteria on the 18th floor, which is where I’m at right now. You sure you don’t want to meet to come pick you up when I’m done here?” Vivian says no and that she is on her way.
Vivian leaves the suite and walks to the elevator which arrives. She cautiously gets on the elevator. She was hoping that no one would be on it but there are two couples on the elevator.
Vivian decides to get on anyway. She doesn’t want to be late for the meeting. For the sake of time Vivian asks the concierge in the lobby to get her a cab.
She tells the driver, “1755 Dauphine.” Vivian marvels at the beautiful but chilly New Orleans morning as she peers out of the window.
Once at the F.B.I. building Vivian makes her way into the lobby. Confused, she heads over to the security booth. Before Vivian reaches the booth a tall, well dressed, man stops her momentarily spooking her and says, “Mrs. Baylor? Hi. I’m David Clark.” As he sticks his hand out to shake hands with her.
Vivian hesitantly shakes Insp. Clark’s hand. The Inspector tells Vivian that he wanted to meet her out front and make sure she was safe. Insp. Clark again offers Vivian his sympathy for the loss of her husband and then asks if she has had breakfast, she replies yes. Insp. Clark leads her to Neyow’s Creole Cafe and comments, “I just ate too actually.” He continues, “I need to get some information from you ma’am and share with you what we know okay? We can do this right here, it shouldn’t take us more than twenty-five, thirty minutes okay?” Vivian nods her head yes.
As soon as Insp. Clark and Vivian walk into the café they head to a table near the window looking onto Canal Street. Insp. Clark tells the maître d who is on the other side of the busy café to bring them two cappuccinos and blueberry scones.
Inspector Clark wastes no time in telling Vivian that Jesse and his former M.I.C.O. commando unit are accused of stealing three hundred million dollars from the U.S government.
Vivian is in complete shock as she almost knocks her coffee cup on the café floor. She stutters in astonishment, “What? Three hundred million dollars?” The inspector coolly responds, “Yes ma’am. That’s is what we are sure all of this about. We’re sure this is what is behind your husband’s death.” As Vivian sits in listening to Insp. Clark as he tells how the F.B.I. now has to prove not just that the C.I.A. is involved with Jesse’s death, but even more difficult, that the three hundred million dollars even existed. The inspector makes it clear to Vivian that this case will be hard to prove but he will get justice for Jesse’s death.
Insp. Clark asks Vivian about Jesse’s outside business interests, bank accounts, recent travel plans, etc. Vivian tells him, “I took care of our personal finances but other than that; I really don’t know about any other business he would or could do. We definitely didn’t see any part of three hundred million dollars, that I can tell you for sure Mr. Clark.” Vivian tells Insp. Clark that she had no idea that Jesse was anything but a career army soldier serving his country, knowing nothing about any commando unit.
Insp. Clark responds, “Well then I guess there is a lot you need to know in regard to your husband and what he did for the military Mrs. Baylor. We’ve been investigating the C.I.A. led branch of the U.S. Army and their abuses of authority. I’m sure that with Jesse’s investigation the department will be indicted from the bottom to the top.”
A wide-eyed Vivian carefully asks, “What? So you think the Army killed Jesse?”
The inspector replies, “Not sure. But there is a strong chance his death is connected to our case. That’s why I needed to talk with you and see if you can help us.”
Vivian stumbles to respond, “How can I help?”
“I just need to know when, and all of the details from the last time you saw your husband.”
“About two weeks ago, I guess. He was coming home soon and we were making plans.”
Insp. Clarks senses that Vivian is uncomfortable with answering questions about Jesse’s death. He reaches across the table for her hand and says, “I know this isn’t easy ma’am. So two weeks ago you spoke to Jesse. What did you talk about? Where was he when he called if you can remember?”
Vivian takes a second to gather her emotions, “I don’t remember. We just talked about him coming home for a week or two and that’s it.”
“Where was he?”
“I don’t know I didn’t ask!”
Clark pushes for answers, “We can’t seem to figure out his whereabouts for the past few weeks.
Vivian again tells the inspector that she does not know. She adds, “All we spoke about was driving to Biloxi for a week, that’s it. Then next thing I know I have police come to my job and tell me Jesse’s dead.” Inspector Clark reaches across the table to hold Vivian’s hand,
“That’s why we’re here Mrs. Baylor. We’re going to find out what is behind all of this. Solving Jesse’s murder is of most interest. You can’t kill one of our bravest soldiers and get away with it no matter who you are. Again, there’s a lot going on here, the Army, the C.I.A., these brainless N.O.P.D., a lot and I don’t want anything happening to you Mrs. Baylor.”
Vivian snaps, “Insp. Clark am I in danger? Tell me!”
“No ma’am. N.O.P.D. has you up in the Marriott. They can’t have anything happen to you while a federal investigation is going on. Now me on the other hand I’m not too sure about! F.B.I.? No N.O.P.D. and the C.I.A. probably want me to be M.I.A. if you know what I mean!”
As Insp. Clark laughs, the waiter comes over to their table to pour more coffee in Vivian’s cup she tells the waiter, “No, thank you. I have to go. I have my husband’s wake tonight and his funeral tomorrow.”
Insp. Clark holds his hand up to tell the waiter to leave, and says to Vivian, “Yes, I’m sorry. I understand. Again my condolences to you and your family Mrs. Baylor. Thank you for meeting with me. I’m in town on this investigation ‘til something comes up. You have my number, call me on my cell anytime, ok ma’am. If you remember anything, please call. Anytime.”
Insp. Clark walks Vivian out to the curb so she can catch a cab back to the hotel. As the cab arrives he pays the driver, "Call me if you need anything Mrs. Baylor. Thank you.” He closes the cab door.
Vivian is so tired and drained from her two-hour meeting with the Inspector that she ends up falling asleep the entire cab ride back to the J.W. Marriott Hotel.
In another part of the city Det. Ellis is driving up Liberty Street, talking on his cell phone, “She has her husband’s wake and funeral tonight and tomorrow so I have her relaxing today. The lady has been through a lot and I know she’s not gonna tell us much today anyway…I don’t know…Yes sir, I’ll keep you posted. Let her take care of her husband.”
As soon as Vivian arrives at the suite she crashes on the couch in the living room. The last couple of days have been nightmarish for her and with Jesse’s wake tonight she doesn’t know if she can keep her emotions in order. Vivian is awakened by numerous calls on her cell phone as family and friends leave messages of condolences and support. She didn’t realize that she had been asleep on the couch for three hours. Vivian missed a call from her mother and sister saying they’re staying at the Extended Stay Studio Plus Suites on the West Bank. Vivian immediately calls over there and speaks to her sister Marie on the phone.
“Vivian, we
’ve been worried about you. Are you okay? Where have you been?”
“I’m okay Marie.”
“Did Jesse's family arrive yet?”
Vivian tells her, “They won’t be coming.” Vivian sighs.
Vivian’s mother overhears everything and takes the phone from Marie. After Vivian tells her mother that she is ok, her Mom curiosity and concerns are raised, “So none of Jesse’s family is coming baby, huh? I was looking forward to finally meeting his side of the family Viv. They think they too good to meet us?” Vivian rolls her eyes as her mother usually over-reacts to everything. It is then when Det. Ellis calls on the suite intercom from the lobby to tell Vivian he is on his way upstairs.
Vivian doesn’t want to have this conversation with her family in front of him so she cuts in, “Mom. Mom. Do you have the directions to the church? I want to make sure you get there okay?”
Vivian’s mother tells her, “Marie got the directions baby, we’ll be there. Remember God never gives us more than we can bear.”
“Thanks Ma. I gotta go. I love you and please call me if you get lost.”
Det. Ellis knocks on the suite door before he unlocks the door and enters. He speaks to Vivian, “Hi. Is everything okay?”
“Yes, I was just finalizing the arrangements for tonight.”
Vivian’s cell phone rings, it’s Ronelle calling. Vivian doesn’t answer the phone. The phone stops ringing for a second or two before Ronelle calls back again and again.
Det. Ellis sarcastically asks Vivian if she wants to answer her phone.
Vivian answers and gets the wrath of Ronelle’s fire, “What the fuck girl! Hell?! I been calling for an hour?!”
“I’ve been busy with this wake and my family is in town now.”
“You scared me. Don’t do that shit to me again, please! Oh, your mom is in town! God I
haven’t seen her or Marie in a while! Look when I call you pick up the damn phone please!” Ronelle tells Vivian that she will pick her up for the wake that night. Vivian tells her that she is not sure if Ronelle can take her since she is in protective custody. Det. Ellis nods to say that he will take her to the church and pick her up after the wake. After Vivian ends her call Det. Ellis asks if she was able to take care of the personal business she wanted to get done.
