by Laura Acton
Their plan of getting him out of here in two or three days had been adjusted to five days. That frustrated him, but he behaved like a compliant patient and followed Dr. Larsson’s instructions to the letter. He smirked at that thought. Well, to be honest, being compliant was easy since he slept most of the day away. Had he been awake he would’ve been agitated at the delay.
Dan looked forward to the shower promised to him. He hoped his energy didn’t wane too fast. Jerry would be here soon to help him. Lily left a little while ago because he would be showering. Before she went to grab breakfast, she told him Scott and his dad were busy with arrangements for tomorrow.
Someone was typically in the room with him, so this little interlude of solitude felt nice. The nurse removed all the monitors this morning, so his room was devoid of the annoying beeping. Another bonus … his hand was no longer encumbered with the pulse oximeter. The nurses only checked him on their rounds with the portable one.
It would be nice to be rid of the IV at some point, but until he was eating properly and all meds he needed were available in oral forms, the doc said the IV stayed. He was fine with that because Dr. Larsson promised him he wouldn’t have to see a single needle—ever. The nasal cannula oxygen annoyed him, and he wanted the damned thing gone, but obeyed and kept it in place.
Dan’s phone vibrated on the table. He glanced at the table wondering if he should try to reach for it. When it buzzed a second time, he pushed himself up and grabbed it. Not recognizing the number, he answered, “Broderick.”
“Hey Blondie, great to hear your voice. Hang on a sec,” Winds said and then yelled to Blaze. “I got him. Got a connection. He’s on the line.” Returning to the line Winds rattled off, “Hey, we’ve been outta range for so long. Not sure if you tried to call Blaze. How ya doing? Blaze has been beside himself after Jon’s call.”
Sounds of running in the background followed by skidding feet on gravel and a thump. “Blondie, how are you?” Blaze urgently asked after the grabbed the phone from Winds and put it on speaker so the both could listen.
Dan chuckled. “I’m good … letting me … go home … with the general … tomorrow.”
“Wow! You’re escaping the hospital fast. Great news. Must be doing well otherwise they wouldn’t let you go,” Winds said happily.
“Going home with the general? Gotta feel quite odd to you, but I’m so glad you’re open to it. With you in Ottawa, we’ll have more opportunity to visit you too.” Blaze was ecstatic Blondie said good.
“Yeah, well … the general made … it happen … Otherwise … I’d be … stuck in … here a … long time,” Dan said with a voice laced with depression. Getting a hold of himself, Dan changed the subject and said with cheeriness, “Patch … asked Heather … to marry him. … She said … yes.”
“No way! You’re making that up. Patch is a confirmed bachelor like Blaze and me,” Winds responded incredulously.
“No, really! … Saw … with my … own eyes. Did … it in my … room here.” Dan haltingly related the entire event. Blaze and Winds laughed heartily by the time he finished. “Hey, guys … one thing. When … you see … or talk … to Patch, … call him Jim. … He’s moving … forward.” Dan knew he didn’t need to explain the reason to them—they would understand.
As much as he wanted to speak to Blaze and Winds, the mere act of taking tried Dan out. The strong desire for a shower meant he needed to end the call to reserve enough energy.
“That’s excellent news. About time we all did. Winds and I gotta finish this mission first though. Kind of personal,” Blaze replied. Then he mentally kicked himself for letting that last bit slip. Will Blondie catch it? Yeah, it is Blondie, he will. Damn!
“What … do … you … mean … personal?” Dan struggled to say as his breathlessness left him drained.
“Blondie, I’m surprised. You know better than to ask me. Can’t tell you a thing about a mission. Though, I’ll be happy when we accomplish this one.” Changing the subject, Blaze said, “The rest of the guys wanted me to say hi for them. When we get back, we’ll check in on you. Say hi to Jim for us. You sound winded. We’re gonna let you go now. Keep moving forward. See you soon,” Blaze ended.
“Bye.” Dan wanted to say so much more. He wanted to dig for information. What mission would be personal? A strange comment for Blaze to make. Further contemplation flew out the window when Jerry walked into the room and asked him if he was ready to shower. “Absolutely!” he answered.
Afghanistan – Remote Base – 4:00 p.m. (7:30 a.m. Toronto)
“Blaze, was that Blondie?” Hal asked as he walked up to the command tent.
A huge smile on his face, Blaze replied, “Yep. Sounds winded, but in good spirits. That team of his pulled him through. Can’t wait until we finish up here and I can go visit him. I got a few people to thank. Did we get the intel we needed yet?”
Hal shook his head. “No intel yet. Glad to hear Patch is moving forward and Blondie is doing well.”
Winds and Blaze talked for several minutes marveling Patch was getting married, and Blondie actually decided to spend time at home. The conversation turned serious about moving on. Both agreed they needed to complete their blood oath and then they too would put the hurt behind them and move forward. This they owed to Blondie.
Angus listened in as he finished cleaning his weapon. He was glad Blaze and Winds were happy. The past few days were rough on them not knowing if Blondie survived the night. He was glad that Blondie did, too.
The entire unit looked up when a squeaky voice said, “Sir, Captain Blain.”
Blaze observed a young blond-headed private jump out of a jeep and approach him holding a folder. His mind raced back to the first day he met Blondie as he watched the kid striding toward him. Warmth flooded his heart. Thank God, Blondie survived. Cold ice then washed through his veins as the reason for this mission reentered his mind. He promptly shook the image of Blondie’s chained, naked, battered, and bloodied body from his head. “Yes, Private Vyne.”
“Sir, we have the location. Recon confirms the targets are there,” Vyne said waving the folder at him.
Blaze and Winds shared a rock hard single-minded look and Blaze said, “About damn time. Ready to go mete out some justice for Blondie?”
“Been ready for six long years. Glad we finally found some of those fucking bastards,” Winds responded.
They grabbed the location information and their weapons then raced for the Humvee with Hal, Russ, Duncan, and Angus.
CFB Halifax – 5:00 p.m. (3:00 p.m. Toronto)
Kyle Broderick let his mind wander as he cleaned the latrines for the umpteenth time. Chief Petty Officer Foccard expressed his rage about the extended leave, with by assigning him continuous grunt work in addition to his normal job. Regardless of his outcome, Kyle would make the same decision if he had to. Anything was worth being there for Dan and his cousins.
He only wished he could’ve been there when Dan woke. No one quite knew how Scott managed more leave with no fatherly intervention, but they were all glad he did. Scott provided them nightly updates except on August third, but Uncle Will arranged for a conference call the next night with the all the guys.
Scott explained he could only bear to repeat what he had to tell them only once. He didn’t go into much detail, but they all could tell it was bad. Normally, his brother is steady as a rock. That threw Kyle for a complete loop when he heard the breaking emotion as Scott tried to retell a portion. The only reason Scott told them was Uncle Will felt Dan needed their support during recovery and they would need to understand what to watch for. His uncle said Dan is a tough man, but very fragile at the moment.
That had been four days ago. The reports since were better though Dan still struggled to speak and he tired easily. Kyle like to focus on the positive, his cousin would be going home soon.
As he finished, his CO appeared in the doorway. “Seaman Broderick.”
Kyle immediately came to attention. “Yes, sir.” What the hel
l am I gonna have to clean now?
“You have orders to report to the Special Forces Base in Ottawa by zero nine hundred tomorrow,” Chief Petty Officer Foccard said.
“Sir. Yes, sir. Do you know the reason?”
With disdain, Foccard said, “Orders come from high up. Some Joint Special Task Force you are assigned to. You’re to report to Colonel Sutton. Transport has been arranged. You leave at zero three hundred.”
“Yes, sir.” Kyle took the sealed envelope his CO handed him and watched as Foccard turned and left. He stared down at the blank envelope. He broke the seal and pulled the single sheet of paper from the inside. No details were written other than when, where, and who to report to. The code name of the JSTF mission was Recovery. This perplexed Kyle.
It wasn’t stamped top secret, so Kyle pulled his phone out and called his brother. “Scott, I received orders to report to Ottawa for a Joint Special Task Force tomorrow at zero nine hundred. Bizarre. No details. Why would they want me for a JSTF mission? I’m just a low-level naval communicator. Do you think I should contact the general?” Kyle asked with anxiety in his voice.
Hearing the unease in his brother’s voice, Scott said, “Settle down, bro. Not sure what this is about. But you’re the third call I got about this. Jeff and Zach called me only a few minutes ago. They received the same orders. I agree this is strange. Hang on, my CO is calling.”
Scott switched calls. “Broderick.” He listened to his CO. “Yes, sir. Any details, sir?” He listened again, and his CO said he would receive details tomorrow. “Sir. I was due to help transport my cousin home tomorrow at sixteen hundred—” Scott was cut-off by his superior. When his CO finished, he said, “Understood, sir. This takes priority. I’ll be there.”
He switched back to the call with Kyle. “I’ll be damned! I just received the same orders. I was supposed to help get Dan home tomorrow. Gonna have to notify Uncle Will of my change. I’ll tell you what Uncle Will says after I talk to him.”
His voice confused, Kyle said, “This is too weird. Four of the five of us getting the same orders.”
“Hang on again. Got another call its Adam. Bet it’s five of five.” Switching calls Scott said, “Adam, let me guess, ordered to report tomorrow to Special Forces Base in Ottawa for JSTF Recovery.”
“How the hell did you know?” Adam responded.
“All five of us got the same exact orders. I’m going to talk to Uncle Will. Call you back if I find something out. Got Kyle on the other line. Need to calm the kid down, this is freaking him out.”
Scott hung up with Adam and switched back to the call with Kyle. “Yep, make that five of five. I agree this is peculiar. I’ll call you when I have something to share. If I don’t call back, I’ll see you tomorrow. Later bro.”
“Later.” Kyle hung up wondering what the hell was up.
Edmonton, AB – Club Ed Solitary Block – 2:30 p.m. (4:30 p.m. Toronto)
Corporal Merrill sat in his cell. The small room only one tiny window in the door contained a bunk with a thin mattress, a toilet, and a small sink. The walls were painted a dull gray, and the single fluorescent light above flickered annoyingly. He wasn’t allowed anything in his room, not even a book or magazine. So all he could do was lay on his bunk and ruminate.
I should’ve popped off Plouffe’s head when he first found out about my hobby. If I did that, then I would still be the general’s number one staff member. No one would’ve learned my hobby. I could be out there collecting more bobbleheads.
Merrill sat up on his bunk when the lock clicked, the door opened, and the guard stepped in with a set of cuffs. “Your lawyer’s here.”
Edmonton, AB – Club Ed Interview Room – 2:40 p.m. (4:40 p.m. Toronto)
Merrill entered the interview room, sat at the table, and placed his cuffed hands on the top. The guard went to handcuff him to the table and the lawyer, Lieutenant Clyde, waved him off. “No need for that.”
The guard looked askew. “You understand he’s in here accused of murder?”
“Accused is not convicted. Now leave us.” After the guard left, Clyde said, “If I’m going to defend you, you’re going to have to help me. I need something I can use to because your case doesn’t look good right now.”
“I want a deal. I’ll testify against Plouffe. This is all his doing. In exchange, I want little or no time at Club Ed or any other prison. It is only attempted murder. I didn’t kill him. I want out of solitary. A larger cell with a window to the outside. I want a TV and access to a computer.”
Clyde shook his head. “Are you nuts? That’s not going to happen.”
“You’re my lawyer. Make it happen. I’m sure they want details of Plouffe’s activities—all of them. I’m small potatoes in comparison.”
“You don’t understand. You shot and nearly killed the general’s son. They are amassing evidence against you for many unsolved murders.”
Coming unglued, Merrill surged for his lawyer’s neck as Clyde screamed.
Merrill’s body jerked violently and fell to the floor as three sets of the taser electrodes hit his back. His body continued to twitch as he lay on the ground.
Clyde was shaken. Merrill seemed so meek. As he gathered his files, one guard said, “Now you understand the need for protocols—never assume they’re harmless.” Clyde nodded and rapidly left the room.
Wow! So That’s Mason
51
August 8
St. Michael’s Hospital – Room 1030 – 5:00 p.m.
Relieved all the tests were done, Dan languidly stretched as he woke. He glanced up at the clock surprised to find he basically slept another day away. Today’s tests were all easy but worn out from the exertions of showering he fell asleep during the first one as he lay on the table for the CT scan. He was so out of it that the poor technician became worried. It took two orderlies to help him from the table to his bed. Luckily, they left him in his bed the second test, and he fell asleep during the ultrasound, too.
For the third one, they gave him a little sedative via the IV port and told him he would be out for about an hour. He thought that sounded fine but wondered what the procedure was. Dan figured it out when he woke up and found the IV in a different location and a tell-tale cotton ball taped tightly to his inner arm.
Dr. Larsson was true to her word that he would see no needles—they put him under for the simple tasks of moving the IV and drawing blood. Dan felt like a complete wimp, but he loved the doctor. Perhaps someday he could handle needles without freaking out, but that day was not today.
His mind wandered back to his conversation with Blaze. Just what type of mission would be personal? Missions were never personal. They were always cold, calculated, and necessary for national security. His stomach growled as Lexa walked in the room.
“What is it with you and not eating, Broderick?” she said with a light laugh. Lexa pressed the call button when she saw no food in the room for him.
“What are you … doing here? Aren’t … you still on shift?” Dan asked.
“Nah, Boss and Jon let us go about an hour ago. They and Bram are selecting a replacement for your temporary replacement.”
“Why?” Dan wondered what happened to Brewer.
Lexa sighed. “TRF isn’t the right fit for John. We had a bad call yesterday. He took his first—and probably last lethal. Shook him up bad.” Lexa didn’t elaborate on the call.
“You and … the guys okay?” Dan asked with concern.
She nodded. “Yeah, always tough when it doesn’t go the way we want.”
Dan could see something flash in Lexa’s eyes. A hurt and sadness. He patted the bed next to him. “Talk to me.”
Sitting on the bed, Lexa opened up to Dan about the call. It felt good to talk to someone who understood what it was like—the pain of not saving someone when you tried so hard.
He listened to Lexa and laid his hand on her knee offering silent support. Such a waste and a sad call—only fourteen.
She finished as she sa
id, “Loki is doing better today, but Ray insisted he and Loki hang out tonight and watch some oddball movie at the theater. The showing started at six. So they won’t be coming by. Neither will Jon, Bram, or Boss since they need to pick another temporary. All the guys said to say hi if you were awake. We stopped by yesterday, but you were sound asleep.” Lexa realized it was selfish, but she was thrilled the rest of the team wouldn’t be stopping by tonight. She wanted time alone with Dan.
“You okay?”
“Yeah, I’m fine—okay. Thanks for listening,” Lexa said with a grin.
Dan smiled as Lexa changed fine to okay. He could see the team adopting his definition like the unit had. “The other … choices? … Any … good?”
“Two of the five seem to have all the necessary skills. Both ex-military. The Boss and Jon are going to decide tonight.”
A nurse popped in, and Lexa asked for food for Dan.
“What are … their names … I might know … them?”
“Hank Maslyp and Robert Tanger. I think Hank was Navy and Robert was an MP in the Army. Ring any bells?”
Dan shook his head.
Scott walked in after taking a quick break to grab dinner in the cafe. “Did you just say Hank Maslyp?”
Lexa turned to Scott. “Yeah, you know him?”
Scott shifted a chair, so it faced both of them. He took a moment then shared, “Yeah, didn’t really get on with the guy. Bit of a jerk. Kind of full of himself. Think he left service several years ago. Not sure why, maybe not his cup of tea. Why? How do you know him?”
“He’s one of the … finalists for … my spot. … Anything the team … should be … aware of?” Dan gave Scott a sharp look that asked ‘will he protect them?’
“Nothing I can think of. Hank tended to run his mouth when he shouldn’t is all. Hey, Dan, I stopped by to tell you I won’t be with you and Uncle Will tomorrow. Been ordered to a meeting at nine tomorrow. No idea how long I’ll be.” Scott didn’t want to worry Dan, so he didn’t tell him all the cousins were called in. He still hadn’t been able to talk to Uncle Will. “Has your dad been in this afternoon?” Scott asked lightly.
