CHAPTER ELEVEN
“Coop? One of your teammates is on the line. A fella named Guy Morgan,” said AJ.
“Yeah. He’s on my current team,” he nodded looking at the men around the table. They started to stand but he waved them to take a seat again. “It’s fine. He’s a good guy.”
“Coop? It’s me, Morgan,” said the voice.
“Hey man, how are you? Still enjoying leave?” he asked.
“I am, or at least I was. I got a call last night from the manager at Iron Anchor near the base. Petty was drunk off his ass mumbling some bullshit he didn’t understand.”
“Is he okay?” frowned Coop.
“I think you need to see the video, brother. Manx and I took him home and recorded him.” The screen switched to a blurry cell phone video, then Jim Petty, rocking his head back and forth, cursing at himself.
“I’m a fucking traitor. A loser. A piece of shit.”
“You’re not making sense, Petty. What’s wrong? How are you a traitor, brother?”
“Don’t call me that, I’m not worthy of being called brother. I-I needed the money. I needed a lot of money. I owe everyone and Kelly left me with debt up to my eyeballs. I had to. Don’t you see, I had to.”
“Petty, slow down. What did you do?”
“Bianca. The chick from the jungle, the one Coop was hot for. They were looking for her. Not just Rodriguez but some guy that claimed he was her father. Except, he’s not her father. He’s her fucking uncle. He needs her to sell the land the village was built on. He needs to sell it to the U.S.”
“You’re not making any sense, Petty. Get some sleep.”
“No! You’re not fucking hearing me. It’s loaded with natural resources. They need it. We need it. The U.S. They need that tract of land to harvest the shale resources and more. They won’t give up. They’ll kill everyone if she doesn’t sign over that land.”
“What the fuck did you do?” asked the teammate.
“I-I told them if she was alive, Coop probably had her. I told them he was special. I-I had to,” he sobbed, “I had to do it, don’t you see. I needed the money.”
“You fucking coward,” muttered the other man. “You sold out your brother for damn cash!”
“It’s not just ‘some’ cash. Ten-million. I got ten-million and I’m disappearing tomorrow. I’ll be gone,” he muttered in his drunkenness. “I’ll be go…”
“That’s it, Coop. He sold you out, brother. We’re so fucking sorry,” said Manx. “We turned him over to the MP’s this morning. He’s been placed under arrest but I doubt that will save his ass.”
“He’ll be dead before he ever faces trial,” said Coop. “Not by me but by Garcia. He won’t let a loose end like that live.”
“Are you safe, brother? We can come to you, and Bianca if she’s with you.” Coop hesitated for just a moment. He trusted these men as much as he trusted those before him.
“Did you know? About me and my family?” he asked.
“A little,” nodded Manx. “We didn’t pry, brother. We knew your anonymity was important to you. We’re all placed on mandatory leave at this point until the investigation is concluded.”
“You could come here,” said Ham staring at Coop. The other man gave a subtle nod, thanking him.
“They’re watching us. We can’t take a shit without them following us and watching what we do. I don’t know how we’d get there, wherever there is.”
“Would you come if we could get you?” asked Coop.
“I would,” said Manx.
“Me too,” said Morgan. “At this point I have to assume we’re all in danger thanks to that idiot.”
“Coop? Is she safe? The girl, is she safe? I’m not asking for any other reason than we all liked her. She was a good kid and helped us in more ways than we damn sure helped her.”
“She’s safe and you guys will be as well. Stay where you are and we’ll let you know when we can come and get you. Don’t say a word to anyone. Don’t bring anything except a pack with your clothes. If you need weapons we’ll provide them for you.”
“Roger that,” said Manx. “I’m sorry, Coop. I’m fucking sorry for all of this.”
“One more thing,” said Morgan. “This feels like it goes all the way up the fucking food chain. The feds have put out a notification on Bianca, description, everything. They’re telling everyone she’s wanted for suspected terrorism.”
“Are you fucking kidding me?” he frowned.
“I wish I were, Coop. This isn’t something where we’ll be able to eliminate the bad guys and walk home. I think the bad guys stretch all the way to the fucking top.”
The call ended, the screen black once again. Coop was furious that his own teammate had turned the woman he loved over to that monster. It couldn’t just be shale resources beneath that land. Why was it so fucking important?
His father reached for his arm and squeezed, staring at him.
“Coop? You have to tell Bianca.”