by Laura Acton
Dan caught Lexa checking him out. He smiled and winked at her.
Lexa hastily turned away and talked to Bram about his daughters trying to cover her reaction and that she been caught gawking at him. Her internal monolog said, Dan’s under my skin—wish I could kiss him again. Dang, I better get myself under control before Boss reads me.
As they finished the workout and started for the locker rooms to shower and change into uniforms, Nick called out, “Briefing in twenty minutes. We have a warrant call today, boys and girl.”
He got a chorus of, “Copy that,” back.
As they walked towards the locker rooms, Dan took the opportunity to ask Lexa in front of all the team. “Hey, Lexa, you ever ride the bike trails?”
Lexa wondered what he was doing. “No, I don’t have a bike. Why?”
Shrugging Dan said, “Just wondered if you knew the trails around here. It’s a fun way to get outside, slow down, and exercise.”
“Sorry, I don’t. Loki, you have a bike. Do you ride the trails?” Lexa asked.
Loki’s eyes rounded with shock. “You daft? The bike trails go through the woods—I don’t go in the woods unless I absolutely have to.”
“Anyone ride the trails?” Dan asked.
Everyone shook their heads no.
“Too bad, it would be fun to have someone to ride with like I had in Ottawa,” Dan said with a sad tone and sighed as he glanced at Lexa hoping she would pick up on what he was doing.
Rob responded, “I have a friend who mountain bikes a lot. He knows the trails. I could talk to him and see if there are any he recommends.”
“Thanks, that would be nice.” Dan was disappointed Lexa hadn’t recognized what he was doing in setting up a cover for them to be together outside of work. He would talk to her about it later.
Too late Lexa realized what Dan did—it was a clever idea even though she wasn’t really into mountain biking. Trying to salvage things, she turned to Loki and asked, “Would you mind if I borrowed your bike sometime, so Dan doesn’t always have to ride alone?”
“Sure, not a problem. I heard what happened on the red trail. We don’t want Wiley E. Coyote out there alone in the woods. He needs a buddy to keep him from taking unacceptable risks on the trails,” Loki teased.
Dan gave Loki a mock glare and a gentle shove before they entered the locker room. “I don’t need supervision,” he groused aloud. However, his internal dialog was vastly different. That was easier than I thought it would be.
Beauty of Life Painted in Sunrise
68
November 19
Lexa’s Home – Bedroom – 4:00 a.m.
Lexa woke to the alarm and turned over to silence the beeping. Four in the morning. The number four rattled in her head as she rolled back and snuggled close to Dan again. This was the fourth time they had been intimate.
Typically, she only slept once or twice with a guy then moved on. Only once had she done this three times. That had been shortly after she joined TRF. She had been surprised to see Duke at one of her first critical calls after a bomb exploded. When they were wrapping up the scene, Duke, one of the firefighters who responded, recognized her. At the time, she was in the midst of dealing with the rawness of being abandoned by her father and brothers. Duke offered her connection to Cold Lake, Alberta—to home.
But after the third time with him, she realized what she was doing and broke it off with him because it felt like she was leading him on. Duke was a nice guy, and she didn’t want to hurt him when to her it was only sex to fill the void created by losing her family. They crossed paths occasionally via work, but they never spoke more than a few words, and it was always professional.
Lexa pushed thoughts of Duke away and listened to Dan’s slow heart beat as he caressed her neck under her hair. Her voice still a little sleepy, she asked, “Is your heart rate always this slow?”
Dan’s gravelly morning voice was low, “It’s not slow … it’s beating rapidly right now.”
Glancing upward, she said, “Sixty-five beats per minute isn’t fast.”
“You counted my heartbeats?” Dan asked incredulously.
Lexa blushed. “Yeah.”
Wow! Dan thought and as his eyes flicked to hers. “Sixty-five is fast for me. Normally, it’s around forty to forty-five beats per minute.”
“Forty to forty-five beats per minutes? Really? That’s low.” When he nodded, it spiked her worry. “Are you okay? What’s got it beating so fast?” She started to sit up.
Dan pulled her back down. “You have my heart racing just thinking about how sexy you are and all the things I want to do to you to make you scream my name this morning like you did last night.”
Lexa’s own heart rate sped up as images of last night came flooding back. Dan was a consummate lover. Her body tingled, sizzled, and burst into flames at his ministrations. Her eyes went doe-soft while the golden flecks sparked to life as Lexa leaned in close to his lips and seductively challenged, “I bet I can make your heart beat even faster and you’ll scream my name by the time I’m finished with you.” Her hand slipped down his washboard abs and circled around him. The rapid intake of air from Dan as she took hold of him made Lexa smile before her lips descended on his.
Thirty minutes later, Dan lay on his back with a solid grin plastered on his face. He watched as Lexa rose and walked toward her bathroom to shower before she had to leave for work. He counted the beats of his heart—eighty beats per minute. Yep, she can set my heart racing.
Mountain Bike Trail – 7:19 a.m.
Dan stopped and straddled his bike at the crest of the hill. He dismounted, leaned his bike against a tree, removed his helmet, and hung it on the handlebars. Grabbing his beanie from his hoodie pocket, he pulled it on his head as he walked to a jutting rock, climbed up, and stood on it. Rob’s friend recommended this trail because of the view from this hill.
As the crisp November breeze gently caressed his face, he noted the clouds were a mix of dull gray and puffy white which indicated it might rain today. He shoved his hands in his hoodie pockets as the sun peeked over the horizon. The rising sun bathed the valley and river before him in a golden glow which reminded him of the flecks of gold in Lexa’s eyes. The breeze rustled the leaves, but that was the only sound he heard as the rays of sunshine painted the clouds purple, yellow, and orange.
As he witnessed the majestic beauty of another day awakening from darkness, his mother’s words came to mind. Stand tall on the mountain you climbed, look out over your dark and painful path, and then gaze up at the sky to see the beauty of life. It’s painted in each sunrise.
Hallelujah! The beauty of life existed for him as Brody promised. Lexa was his beauty of life. His heart and soul knew it. The seed he nurtured had blossomed. He need only be patient until Lexa realized he was her one and their eternal souls which called out to each other would not be denied.
Rio De Janeiro, Brazil – Hostel República – 11:45 a.m. (10:45 a.m. Toronto)
Tired, so tired. Jorge Pletcher slumped in the chair as he finished his meager lunch. He wiped the sweat from his brow caused by the oppressive heat coupled with no wind today. This hostel had no air conditioning. These were not accommodations he normally had but would have to do for now.
Stretching and rising from the small wooden chair, Jorge moved to the side of the window and carefully peeked out. So tired of running. Every time he thought he had lost them, someone would show up and find him. He barely made it out of Makhachkala. Then he had been tracked through Niger, Yemen, Singapore, Australia, Hawaii, Peru, and Latvia to name a few places he had to make tracks out of.
General Broderick’s men were relentless. Pletcher knew without a doubt Galloway was behind tracking him now. He barely escaped Galloway in the last four places. Jorge growled as he looked out the window and saw his nemesis across the street. “How the hell did Galloway find me here?”
Pletcher hurried and grabbed his bag which was never unpacked. As he raced out the back of the hostel�
�on the run again. Damn! I should’ve never gotten involved with Plouffe. Galloway will never give up. Where am I going to go now?
Edmonton, AB – Club Ed Interview Room – 9:30 a.m. (11:30 a.m. Toronto)
Major Plouffe shuffled forward shackled at the ankles and wrists. His wrist cuffs were connected at his waist with a six-inch chain, so movement was slow and awkward. He glared at the guard and stated, “Remove these.”
Corporal Jose Montoya regarded Plouffe with disdain. “No. Take a seat. Your lawyer will be here momentarily.”
Sitting at the table, Plouffe was further incensed when the guard locked a chain attached to the table to his waist. “I’m a major. Unlock me now.”
A sardonic expression appeared on Montoya’s face. “You’re nothing more than a lowlife criminal. One who has proven you need to be restrained. So shut up before I’m compelled to gag you, too.” Montoya finished locking his prisoner and stepped to the door to guard inside until the lawyer arrived.
Montoya disliked this prisoner with a passion, but he maintained his professionalism. His long-time friend Trevor McBride had been in the church when this piece of garbage ranted at General Broderick. Though he didn’t know the Brodericks personally, Trevor worked with Dan Broderick in Toronto’s TRF unit, and it made Montoya angry this clod had tried to kill them.
The door opened, and the lawyer entered using a cane. His step slow and careful. Montoya exited the room, closed the door, and took up a guard position outside the soundproof interview room.
Lieutenant Lazarus Ruellan was the fifth in a string of lawyers for this client. The previous four all recused themselves. He had no clue why—it was all sealed as classified. Ruellan was the low man on the totem pole in the JAG office, and he only tried one case since finishing his degree. It seemed the right change to make after losing most of his right leg when he stepped on a landmine in Afghanistan. He enjoyed working in JAG, but since he was new, he mostly researched to assist the more senior lawyers.
It came as a shock when he was assigned to represent Major Plouffe. When the commander called him into his office and handed the file to him, he was further surprised to find his security clearance had been leveled up so he could work on this case. He listened carefully to the commander’s spiel on what would happen to him if he ever repeated any of what he learned while representing his client.
His client was facing serious allegations. Lazarus signed the non-disclosure documents and numbly made his way back to his desk an hour ago. Then he called and arranged to meet with his client.
Plouffe eyed the new lawyer as the nervous man sat down across from him. All his lawyers had recused themselves when he tried to bribe them to help him escape. They were all wimps—and now they’d assigned him a wet behind the ears infant with a limp. “What nursery did they pull you out of?”
Startled at the venom from Plouffe, the lawyer said, “Sir, I’m Lieutenant Ruellan, and I’m fully prepared to represent you.” Lazarus didn’t like the timorous quaver in his own voice. He would need to remedy that soon.
Plouffe rolled his head around his neck when he heard the anxiety in the man’s voice. Nigel recognized he could likely manipulate this man like he had many others. The lawyer reminded him of Private Abner Yawls. Plouffe changed his tact and used his persuasive voice, “I apologize for my abrasiveness. It is just that this whole absurd, unjust affair is grating on my nerves. I am an innocent man being railroaded to cover for General Broderick’s colossal ineptness.
“This entire thing is manufactured. The previous four lawyers were in Broderick’s back pocket. I dismissed them because they couldn’t fairly represent me.” He lowered his head looking downtrodden. He sighed and lifted only his eyes. “Are you a fan of General Badass? If so you must leave, and I will be forced to endure this humiliation.” He jangled his chained hands. “Until a fair and impartial lawyer can be found.”
Knowing the evidence against this man. Ruellan wondered if the major was sane. Whether he was or not, he must represent him to the best of his ability. “I have never met General Broderick, nor do I have any opinion on him. I can be impartial. Would you like to begin telling me why you believe the general is targeting you?”
Plouffe smirked inside but externally maintained his façade of a victim as he crafted his tale of the general’s incompetence and desire to lay the blame on him after the general’s own staff aide tried to kill Dan Broderick. He knew no recordings existed of what he spouted off in the church. It would be his words against an incompetent general who was framing him to save his own ass.
En Route to CFB Borden - ON-400 N - 12:30 p.m.
On the crisp autumn afternoon, a bright red Ducati zoomed along highway ON-400 N towards CFB Borden. Dan lifted the visor of his helmet to feel the air rush over his face. He needed the calming effect which a fresh breeze in his face always gave him. Dan briefly wondered why it affected him this way, but his mind shifted to the reason he needed the calming.
Dan was on his way to the interview. He spoke at length with his dad regarding the process and what he could share or would be expected to share about missions classified under the Guardian Unit protocols. It surprised him Lieutenant Colonel Bonomi and Major Kenric were made aware of the GUs. His dad explained they had the appropriate security clearances and it was necessary because several of his missions fell into Guardian Unit territory.
Those were some of his hardest operations. Though they always were with Blaze in command. So in his mind, no abuses existed with them even though he and others in the unit had been injured on some of the assignments.
He was fairly certain the investigators would want to focus on his time with other units. That’s when the shit always hit the fan—well, not always. Things went sideways in his missions with Blaze in charge, but Dan knew his brothers always had his six. They never left him hanging in the wind with no backup.
As he rode, Dan reviewed several units he had been assigned to over the years. With a more balanced mindset—thanks to Dr. Tansy—he could now see there were only a few units which caused him significant trouble. Most were apathetic and didn’t care one way or another about him.
Some, he now recalled, were much like Blaze’s unit and Alpha Team. They cared and looked out for everyone—including him. Mason, Galloway, Yankee, Shy, Hammer, Mutt, and Trigger all ran units similar to the way Blaze did.
Dan thought about Hammer’s unit. At the time, Dan was too wrapped up in his own pain to recognize the agony in their expressions when Hammer and his men needed to leave him behind. That was a decision Dan never needed to make—nor did he ever want to.
It was a decision his father was required to make several times for the greater good. Hammer followed the orders for the same reason—one man’s life for thousands. They all knew and accepted the risks, but it didn’t make it any easier to follow those kinds of orders.
As he got closer to CFB Borden, his thoughts turned darker. Plouffe had orchestrated a personal vendetta against his father by using him and trying to kill him for so many years. It still hurt knowing he had blamed his father for Plouffe’s actions. His dad was innocent on that account. Plouffe’s ambitions, greed, and deranged mind hurt so many people. The major ruined careers of many men, and cost several their lives.
Dan wondered if Murphy would’ve done all he did if Plouffe wasn’t there to facilitate him. Would a different man in charge have curbed or stopped Murphy’s actions? There was no way of knowing because Murphy was dead. Dan didn’t know—and would never know—what motivated Murphy’s hatred of him.
He slowed his motorcycle as he approached the base. It had been a long time since he stepped foot on CFB Borden. Not since he finished the Canadian Forces Military Police Academy. Dan smiled as he thought of the great times he and Brody had during their MP training. It wasn’t too much different than his training at the Toronto Police Academy, so he helped Brody and several others study without falling behind himself.
CFB Borden – Entry Gate – 12:50 p.m.
Master Corporal Joachim Theiner eyed the Ducati as it pulled into the parking lot. One sweet ride. Someday he would get himself a motorcycle like that. He surveyed the rider as he strode towards the entry. A broad grin spread across Theiner’s face. “Broderick, I’ll be damned. What the hell are you up to? Haven’t seen you since we were at CFB Edmonton.” Joachim saw the civvies and added, “You get out? Thought Broderick’s were lifers.”
Dan handed Theiner his ID even though they knew each other. As Theiner scanned his ID, following rote procedure, Dan said, “Yeah, I’m out. I’m working with the Tactical Response Force in Toronto now.”
“Cool. I always thought I might do that if I decide to leave the military. What you doing here?”
“Have a meeting.” Dan didn’t elaborate.
Theiner checked the visitor log and noted Dan was on it. He handed him a badge. “I’ll escort you.”
Dan saw Blaze approaching. “Not necessary my former CO is here to escort me where I need to go.”
Theiner turned and noted the tan beret of the Special Forces on the captain striding towards the gate. Directing his gaze back at Dan, he asked, “You were in Special Forces?”
“Yeah. Maybe we can grab a beer sometime. I’ll be here at least a few days.” He thought it would be nice to reconnect with Theiner. He and Brody liked the man and went to the bars with him often when they were stationed at CFB Edmonton.
Theiner nodded. “I’d like that. You ever hear from Hunter?”
Blaze heard the question when he stopped near Blondie. He watched as grief flickered in Blondie’s eyes.
“Brody died a year and a half ago,” Dan replied flatly. It brought back to him how painful today would be. He would be dredging up a lot of memories he’d rather forget.
