Ricochet's Rogue (Agent of Mercy, Book Three)

by Miller, Robin Leigh

  “Afraid not. If Ricochet hadn’t come out I would have been a victim.”

  “You kicked his ass, sir?” Pearson asked with hard eyes.

  “No, I didn’t. She did. I was just there in case she needed me.”

  “Good for you, Ronnie,” Nelson said raising his bottle in the air.

  She smiled at him clinking her bottle to his. “What’s the matter, Pearson? You think less of me now that I was almost raped?”

  “No, Ronnie, not at all. I wonder if I could have stopped at just kicking his ass if I was here. That kind of thing don’t set well with me. I have five sisters. I was raised to respect women, not violate them.”

  “Control kid. That’s the key,” Ricochet said twisting his bottle on the table. “Somethin’ you’ll learn in trainin’.”

  When they left, they all walked out together to Ronnie’s car. Ricochet noted silently that she chose to drive herself this time, not walk late at night. Lesson learned. When she drove away, they split up and went their different ways. He went home feeling like he’d made progress with her. Maybe, just maybe she was beginning to understand that teamwork meant more than working together.

  Chapter Eight

  The next day Cannon informed Ricochet and Boomer they would be sharing Sam’s workload. They didn’t mind, they just didn’t want Sam taking her anger out on them.

  “Don’t worry guys. She seems calmer today then she was yesterday. What will happen tomorrow, I can’t say,” he told them.

  “Hannah said they had a long talk last night. Maybe that helped. She wouldn’t tell me what they talked about.”

  “I hope so, Campbell.”

  Ricochet and Boomer decided to combine explosives, shooting and hand-to-hand together in a mock suburban layout. They even pulled in the other recruits to help out. Their directives were given and then they began.

  “Civilians are wandering this town,” Boomer told them. “You have to decide who is a civilian and who is a target. Be quick, be precise and be smart.”

  Instead of using live rounds they were given paintball guns. Some of the rookie recruits were civilians, some were targets. Ricochet positioned them around the barracks and instructed them on what to do. Boomer set up small explosions to throw them from time to time.

  Pearson took lead, followed by Veronica and then Nelson. The first person they came across Pearson handled just fine. He questioned him, frisked him and then sent him on his way. The next person they encountered pulled a gun and was quickly taken down by the three.

  “Okay, Boomer, it’s time to take it up a notch,” Ricochet said into his radio.

  A loud explosion sounded. Pearson ordered his team to take cover until he was sure things were safe. When they began moving again Ricochet sent four men out to confront them. Things got hairy for a moment. He thought his rookie team would choke but once again Pearson pulled their asses out of the fire by using his head.

  They questioned them, frisked them and took one into custody. Another loud boom followed by flying debris shook their confidence. From the sidelines he could tell Veronica was becoming agitated. She wanted to move on her own. Waiting for orders from someone else wasn’t working for her.

  This time he sent seven to confront them. Pearson used his head, ordered Nelson to cover three and Veronica to cover the rest while he checked for weapons. He was on the second target when one bolted. Veronica took off after him.

  Boomer cursed to himself as he watched the other two get ambushed by the remaining targets. He allowed it to play out. They were here to learn and by God they were going to see exactly what happened when you worked alone.

  She followed the target around the barracks shooting wildly at him. Boomer sent one recruit out as a civilian to see how she’d react. The well-placed shot to the heart took him down instantly.

  “Damn. She’s shooting anything she sees,” Boomer said over the radio.

  “Let her go, keep sendin’ out men. She wants to hang, let her hang good.”

  Boomer sent out two more men that she took down without thought. Ricochet had enough. It was time to stop this farce. He made his way to where the recruit was to hide after he ran.

  “Hit the road, kid. I’m gonna finish this,” he said taking his paint gun. He pulled it up, rested the butt against his shoulder and waited.

  He didn’t wait long. The door flew open and he was confronted with wild, crazed eyes.

  “Boom,” he said placing the barrel of the gun to her forehead. “You’re fuckin’ dead. Get your ass back to base.”

  She glared at him, huffing and panting. Her finger flexed on her trigger as she bared her teeth.

  “You wanna take me on? Go for it,” he snarled.

  Her muscles tensed and she took a step forward. He thought she was going do it. He thought they were going to go head to head right there. But she backed down.

  “Move,” he barked making her jump.

  That was it. She turned and ran back to the mock base. He followed only two steps behind. Boomer joined him, running by his side. They said nothing to each other or her until they reached the base.

  “Line it up,” Boomer bellowed.

  The recruits lined up behind the rookie team.

  “Can anyone tell me what the fuck happened?” Ricochet yelled throwing his hands up in the air. “Does anyone know what blew the whole operation?”

  No one answered. Oh he could see a few wanted to speak up but they wouldn’t. Boomer paced behind the young team.

  “Pearson, what happened when one of your teammates abandoned ya?”

  “We were out numbered and ambushed, sir,” he answered in standard shouting.

  “Come here, Pearson,” he told him and then pushed the young man in front of Veronica. He pointed to the paint mark in the center of his forehead. “You see that, Holter? You might as well have put your gun to the kid’s head yourself and pulled the trigger. He’s dead, a bullet to the brain. Back in line, Pearson. Nelson.”

  Recruit Nelson stepped forward. Again Ricochet pushed him in front of her. He grabbed him by the chin and turned his head.

  “You see that. Execution.” He said showing he the paint mark at his temple. “Back in line.”

  “Now I know you don’t give a rat’s ass about teamwork, Holter. You’ve made that perfectly clear. Two men are dead thanks to your way of thinkin’. But what about the civilians you killed? You gonna tell their families your own personal agenda came before their lives?”

  He backed up away from her. “Let this be a lesson to all of you. You cannot successfully complete a mission,” he yelled, and then put his face only an inch away from hers, “with your head firmly planted up your ass. This is not a game. People will die. You will die. If you can’t understand that then you need to get the hell out. Is that understood?”

  Every recruit answered except her. She stood there looking into his eyes. Hate filling them. That was okay, he was sending back his own fury with his gaze. He had hope for her. She had skill, she had a knack, but her lack of concern for anyone other than herself was her downfall. Because of that she was a risk to anyone she worked with.

  “Is that understood, Holter?” he said in a hushed voice still only an inch from her face.

  “Understood, sir,” she answered hissing between her teeth.

  “You damn well better.” He backed up and nodded to Boomer.

  “Dismissed,” Boomer ordered the recruits.

  When they were gone he and Boomer stood before their team.

  “Ya did well, Pearson,” Boomer told the kid. “You kept your head, thought through the situation and made sure the safety of your team was first and foremost. My report to Cannon will reflect that.”

  “I echo those remarks, Pearson. You impressed me today. That isn’t easy. You’re dismissed.”

  “Thank you, sirs,” the trainee responded and then took off.

  “Nelson, you followed orders without attitude or ego. You had your leader’s back the entire time. Those attributes will s
erve you well and save your life in a real mission,” Boomer said slapping him on the arm. “Your leadership abilities will grow with time.”

  “You were quick on your feet, Nelson, and the fact that you took down three of the targets before losing your own life says a lot about your willingness to keep focus. You did well today. Dismissed,” Ricochet commended.

  “Thank you, sirs,” he responded and left.

  Boomer stood in front of Veronica, folded his arms over his chest and blew out a breath. “I don’t even know where to begin with you. From the start you were jittery, edgy and reluctant to work with your team. You have skill, Veronica, but skill doesn’t mean shit if you go off half cocked. Ya know, all this time I thought Ricochet was being too hard on you. But he was seeing what we didn’t want to see. I hope you survive out there, I really do. I also hope you don’t ever need to back someone up.”

  With that Boomer walked away leaving him alone with her. He paced back and forth. Was there really anymore to say?

  “Dismissed,” he said and then walked away himself.

  “That’s it? You aren’t gonna hurl more insults at me? I told you I didn’t have a team. I’m not military. I have no interest in working with anyone else but you had to throw me into the situation didn’t ya? Well that’s what you get for thinking you know everything there is to know about someone. Your high-and-mighty attitude doesn’t scare me like it does these kids you bark at. I’m not a recruit. I’m here for training and that’s it.”

  She had to do it. She couldn’t walk away and let it go. No, she had to get her say. Well he was going to have his as well.

  “You think your actions will have no affect on anyone? You think you can take the world on by yourself? You got another think comin’, little girl. Talk about someone thinkin’ they know everythin’ there is to know.”

  He fisted his hands as his muscles tensed and bunched. She had him so angry he was afraid he’d swing at her.

  “This isn’t all about workin’ with a team, Holter. Every time you take on a job you become part of somethin’ bigger than yourself. What you demonstrated today was your ability to get someone killed, includin’ yourself. Just because you go into a job alone doesn’t mean you come out alone. You’re a rogue, Holter, and rogues are dangerous to everyone around them. I’ve seen it, been on the receivin’ end of it and by God I won’t be a part of trainin’ you to get someone killed.”

  “Get off your high horse, Ricochet. You stand there and look down me but you’re the one who runs around here getting off on authority. Barking at those kids the way you do. This isn’t the military, Ricochet, but that doesn’t matter does it? You want them groveling at your feet.”

  Rage boiled in his veins, coursing through him out of control. He stepped up in front of her, nose to nose. “Authority has nothing to do with it and if you pulled your head out of your ass long enough you might see that. These kids are learning respect. When they leave this base they will approach anyone they meet with dignity, holding their heads up and speaking clearly with respect. If you have a problem with that then I suggest you find some place else to do your trainin’. Dismissed,” he said walking away and leaving her standing alone.

  She stood there enraged to the point of not being able speak. He criticized her, insulted her and basically told her to leave. Then he had the nerve to turn his back and leave her standing.

  “What the hell does he know?” she muttered kicking at the gravel. It wasn’t like he was the only person on earth who knew anything about combat.

  He didn’t want to train her, fine. She didn’t need his training. She was an ace shot as it was. Hell she was top of her class back at Quantico. She didn’t need his help. Kong, Boomer and Sam would help her with the rest and then she was gone.

  A bead of sweat rolled down the side of her head. She wiped it away and looked up the gravel walk they used as a training course. She replayed her movements through her mind. Boomer was right. She was edgy about taking orders from someone else. But that was why she chose to work alone. She knew her limitations and hoped she could overcome them here. Obviously she couldn’t.

  She could still hear Pearson and Nelson yelling for her to come back when she opted to go after the runner, but she chose to ignore them. Why? Because it isn’t in me to be apart of a group, she thought to herself.

  Ricochet was right about one thing. She’d screwed up royally and it rubbed her like sandpaper to admit it. Now that things were quiet and she could think about it, Pearson was a good leader. He had the head for it. He and Nelson worked well together.

  Guilt grew in her belly. She’d not only caused them to die in a mock exercise, she’d messed up their training. This was their chance to prove they had what it takes and she blew it for them.

  “Damn it, Ronnie,” she scolded herself. Feeling like the dirt she walked on, she made her way toward the parking lot.

  As she passed by the barracks she could hear the guys inside talking. She paused outside the door and listened.

  “Man, she is dangerous,” one said.

  “You should have shot her in the back for going AWOL,” another said.

  “Give her a break. She’s not used to working with anyone, from what I hear.”

  That was Nelson’s voice. She inched closer to the door.

  “It’s not like any of us are perfect either. How many times have you blown a training exercise? We’ve all done it. That’s why we’re here to learn. So unless you can walk on water get off her back.”

  She heard rumblings from the rest of the men before the conversation turned to another topic. She’d never had anyone stand up for her before. She was always alone since her mother’s murder. Even her fellow FBI agents wouldn’t come to her side when she lost her badge. They’d treated her like she had the plague.

  Walking toward her car she mulled everything over in her head. It was nice knowing someone had her back. When she thought about it, Pearson and Nelson would never have abandoned her the way she did them. There was no doubt in her mind. Did it matter in the end? When she finished here she’d go back to working for herself. So was it so important that she learn how to work with a team?

  She crawled into her car, shoved the key into the ignition and brought the motor to life. She looked around. This place was great. Surrounded by woods, away from civilization and full of people she had something in common with. Back home there wasn’t anyone she could talk with about work. No one wanted to hear it.

  Cannon, Sam, Kong and Boomer were always friendly to her. Asking about how she was doing, answering her if there was anything she needed to ask. They were all so tight, like a family. Of course, Ricochet was part of that family. Oh well, every family has a dysfunctional member. He was theirs.

  Still, it was better than what she was facing at home, loneliness. Funny she never noticed it before, or cared. Glancing out her window she saw Kong and Sam talking behind Cannon’s office building. He was caressing her cheek with the back of his hand. She was gazing up into his eyes.

  That was something else she was missing out on—tenderness, caring, a real relationship. She came here hoping to find some of that with Ricochet, but those plans were flushed away. Suddenly everything she thought she wanted she wasn’t sure about anymore.

  She shook her head, put the car in drive and pulled out. Maybe it was time to rethink her life. She’d been so focused on finding her mother’s murderer that it directed everything she did. Would she have joined the FBI if her mother was still alive today? Probably not. Would she be a private investigator, or training at W&S? Not likely.

  She couldn’t even remember what it was she wanted to do with her life when she was a kid. She sighed, rubbed her throbbing temple and steered her way out of the parking lot.

  Listen to your heart, Ronnie. You’ll never go wrong if you listen to your heart.

  The sweet tender voice of her mother echoed in her ears. After all this time she was still giving her advice. She didn’t always listen to it but it was nic
e receiving it.

  “I wish I could, Mama, but my heart doesn’t know what it wants.” She spoke aloud.

  If anyone heard her talking to imaginary people they’d think she was crazy. Especially Ricochet. He’d have her committed in a second. But it was her mother’s voice she always heard when confusion and turmoil surrounded her. It had been that way since she viewed her mother’s battered body in the morgue.

  A psychiatrist would say it was her subconscious dealing with horrid images she saw at such a young age. Hearing her mother’s voice helped her deal with her passing. She wasn’t sure what it was and didn’t care. All she knew was when she needed her mother, she was there inside her head.

  Your heart knows, baby, you just aren’t listening.

  And then sometimes what she heard made no sense at all. Like now. If her heart knew what she wanted then she’d know what she wanted.

  She rubbed at her temple again. A dull throb was hammering away behind her eyes. She was tired of thinking. What she needed was some loud music to drown out the voice and some liquor to push away the pain.

  * * * * *

  Ricochet walked into the club alone, strolled up to the bar and ordered a beer and a bag of peanuts and then found an empty table. He thought about calling a friend to join him but decided he’d had enough of women for the day. Veronica Holter had stretched his patience as thin as it could get before breaking into a million pieces. All he wanted tonight was to be surrounded by strangers and drink the day’s aggravation away.

  Halfway through his second beer he realized that wasn’t going to happen. No matter how hard he tried, he couldn’t get her out of his mind. She was so damned talented and would be such an asset to any team, but no. She had to be a loner. What a waste.

  She’d end up dead one day from her careless actions and that would be another tremendous waste. He glanced around the bar and clenched his jaw when he spotted her sitting in the same spot she’d been sitting in the first time he saw her here.

  She held a wine glass in one hand while she rubbed at her temple with the other. Her long, straight black hair hung loose down her back, not crimped and curled like before. She wore a faded pair of blue jeans, sneakers and tight black v-neck top. It looked as though she had the same idea he did. A few drinks to soften the day’s events.