Sisco (Lighthouse Security Investigations Montana #2)

Chapter 1

1

“Are you ever going to leave Montana long enough to visit? My kids are going to think you don’t love them!”

Sisco swallowed a chuckle. “Juanita, you sound just like Mom, knowing how to pour on the guilt?—”

“Well, God rest her soul, she would probably light a candle for you in church, thinking you had forgotten all of us.”

He lost the ability to hide his humor and laughed out loud. “You’re right, she would have. And I promise I haven’t forgotten anyone. Getting the new career going has just taken a lot of time. I promise I'll plan a visit as soon as I can. Of course, you’re in Oregon, while Carlos and Hank are in North Carolina. You all had to move to opposite sides of the country, making it hard to try to see everyone. And even Julianne is in Pennsylvania, so at least she’s also on the East Coast. Looks like you and me are the odd ones.”

She sniffed. “Hang on.” There was the sound of a car door, then “Don’t leave your trumpet in your locker. You’ve got your private lesson after school. And you—don’t panic over the spelling test. We practiced, and you’ve got this. Okay, now get out of here and have a good day. Love you!” More car door closings were heard in the background.

“Okay, where were we?”

“You sound like you just dropped off the kids for school, and you were haranguing me about visiting.”

“ Haranguing … listen to you.” His sister laughed. “I need to learn how to spell that in case it ends up on my daughter’s spelling list. She’s trying for spelling bee champion of the county.”

Now, he laughed as he remembered their mom getting them off to school, shouting orders and reminders, then following up with a hasty “love you” before they disappeared into the buildings.

“Back to you visiting…”

He shook his head. As the older girl in the family, Juanita took her duties seriously. Sisco rubbed his chin. “Well, with Hank’s wedding in a few months, we can all be together then.”

“You’re right,” she huffed. “You're a typical middle child… always sneaky to get what you want.”

Laughing again, he retorted, “How do you think I got anything? Sneaky was the way to go!”

As though knowing she’d lost the argument, she changed directions on him. “How’s the new job? From what you told me, it’s not a lot different from when you were a SEAL, which is scary and dangerous.”

“It’s security, Juanita, and not dangerous.” He only partially lied to his sister, knowing that since their parents’ deaths, she had taken on the role of matriarch, including worrying about everyone.

“If you say so, but I’ll still say another prayer, just to make sure you’re safe.”

“That’d be good. Listen, I have some training to attend, so I’ll talk to you soon. And we’ll all plan for a big gathering at Hank’s wedding.”

“Sounds good, Sisco. I love you,” she said, her voice now soft and still reminding him of their mother.

“Love you, too.” Disconnecting, he allowed a moment of nostalgia to wash over him, then climbed from his vehicle.

As Sisco Aguilar approached the hospital in Great Falls, the automatic doors slid open with a soft swoosh, ushering him into a blast of the heated air that contrasted sharply with the chilly northern Montana morning. Despite his imposing stature and thick beard, he relished the cooler outdoor temperatures. He now begrudgingly accepted that he would have to spend the morning in paramedic recertification classes held in overheated rooms.

As a trained medic when he served as a Navy SEAL and then a paramedic for a large city, he had a thirst for knowledge to learn new procedures and information. But on such a beautiful day, he would much rather be racing up the mountain with his fellow employees at the Lighthouse Security Investigations Montana compound.

He'd lucked out a couple of years ago when a former SEAL team member, Logan Bishop, looked him up, finding Sisco still living in El Paso. Sisco had relocated there after his stint in the Navy to be close to his parents since his siblings were scattered across the country. But within a year of being back home, both parents had died—his dad from a heart attack and his mom to a sudden illness that had taken her quickly.

He'd been stunned to open the door one day to find Preacher, the call name they'd given Logan, standing there. They'd spent the day talking, reminiscing, catching up, and then Logan had talked about his life's new direction. While Logan had spent his years out of the Navy flying tourists over the Montana mountains, he'd also planned a few dark ops for the government. And when opportunity knocked on Logan’s door from a man who operated a security company and wanted to expand, Logan decided to take him up on his offer.

Mace Hanover ran Lighthouse Security Investigations based out of Maine and had already expanded with the LSI West Coast office, headed by Carson Dyer. Both were filled with men and women of former military special operators, known as Keepers, as a tribute to the lighthouse keepers of old who served to guide others to safety and protect.

Logan had extended the tempting offer to Sisco for the unique opportunity to help him build from the ground up. With nothing tying him to Texas anymore, he eagerly accepted, grateful for the opportunity. Relocating to Logan's sprawling Montana property had given Sisco a fresh start. The compound now included the large house that Logan lived in with his wife, Vivian, as well as their secure compound, several smaller buildings, and a large bunkhouse for some of the Keepers. The area also included mountain trails that snaked through the landscape for training and exercise.

And right now, a group of the Keepers were charging up the rugged mountains, not only racing but working in teams to get to the prize Logan had undoubtedly hidden. Last time, the prize had been a weekend getaway to Las Vegas.

Sighing heavily, Sisco accepted that those activities weren't on his day's agenda. Instead, he walked to the hospital's security desk, presented his driver's license, and stated his reason for being there. The older woman sitting behind the desk offered a pleasant greeting as she smiled at him.

“Oh, we've had a whole bunch of you coming in for this training. Nice to have you here, Mr. Aguilar.”

He returned her smile, but his gaze shifted to the young man sitting beside her. Dressed in an oversized security uniform, he barely looked as though he was out of his teens. Inwardly scoffing, Sisco doubted the kid’s ability to handle any serious threat, let alone someone with malicious intent.

Affixing the visitor's sticker on his shirt and sliding his driver's license back into his wallet, he turned and walked down the corridor, following the receptionist's directions.

The surroundings looked like any other hospital Sisco had ever been in, except the military hospitals in the field. Some of those were rudimentary on the outside but held equipment and trained medical professionals that could rival any other temporary hospital in the world. Of course, a few were as rugged on the inside as on the outside.

But what mattered was ensuring he had the medical knowledge to care for any of his LSIMT coworkers. For him, the ability to provide immediate care in critical situations was not just a duty but a lifeline for those he worked alongside.

His boots echoed his purposeful steps on the polished tile floors as he navigated the hospital corridors, following the directional arrows until he came to the classroom. This was not the first time he had been recertified since making the job transition from El Paso city paramedic to working for a private security company. A few familiar faces greeted him warmly, bridging the gap of unfamiliar surroundings.

He exchanged handshakes and introductions with those he hadn't met before, settling into the room as the instructors entered. The following hours passed in a blur of lectures and practical demonstrations, reinforcing his medical knowledge crucial for his role as a Keeper.

Four hours later, as the day's sessions concluded, several others suggested lunch at the hospital cafeteria before leaving, extending the invitation to Sisco. He didn't mind hanging out with them longer, but the idea of hospital cafeteria food held little appeal. Yet the prospect of grabbing a takeout burger to eat in his truck on his way back to his home in Cut Bank held an even smaller appeal.

Following the others, he retraced his steps down the brightly lit hospital corridors, the gleaming floors reflecting the sterile brightness of midday. Entering the small cafeteria, he noted that the lunch rush had already passed, leaving the space relatively quiet except for a few scattered conversations among hospital staff and visitors. His group quickly moved through the line, selecting their warmed-over pizza slices and sodas before easily finding an empty table.

Surveying the unappetizing offering on his tray, he sighed inwardly but dug in nonetheless, readily acknowledging he had endured far worse during his military days. One of the many things his parents had instilled in Sisco was a deep gratitude for the food on his plate and a warm bed to sleep in. His childhood had been modest, but his parents had always seen to his basic needs, and their love had been a constant presence in his life.

After eating, his attention was drawn to a nearby table, where a lone woman sat with an unappetizing salad. Her beauty captivated him with her dark hair hanging in flippy waves that brushed the tops of her shoulders. The front strands were held back from her face with a clip. There was nothing extraordinary about how she dressed, yet she made a long-sleeved pale blue T-shirt and jeans appear elegant. Her feet were clad in simple flats, and it seemed as though they were chosen more for practicality than style.

Her eyes were closed, and her face was illuminated by the sunlight streaming in through the nearby window, casting a gentle glow that reminded him of a Madonna statuette his mom used to have on the mantel. Peaceful. Serene. Ethereal.

He sighed softly, allowing the air to flow easily from his lungs as he unabashedly stared at the vision before him. Then her eyes opened, and her face changed as she picked at her salad, moving it around the plate more than eating. Worry lines bracketed her mouth, and she appeared lost in thought. He supposed that expression was not unique for someone eating alone in a hospital. He couldn't help but wonder who she was worried about. A spouse? A quick glance showed no wedding ring. A parent, perhaps? He hoped that if she were having health issues, she would get good news.

Shaking his head slightly to dislodge the strange thoughts from his mind, he turned back to his lunch companions, who had broken out into laughter. He hadn't caught what they said, and his attention instantly jumped back to the woman when she looked up sharply and glanced in his direction.

He was struck with blue eyes that matched the clearest Montana day he'd ever seen. The bark of laughter from his table must have caught her notice, but then her gaze drifted toward him and halted.

Their eyes stayed locked, and he could've sworn everything else in the cafeteria faded away to nothing. For all he knew, the Earth stopped spinning, time halted every clock, and no one existed other than the two of them. Her gaze washed over him, covering him in a sensation of peace.

Then as suddenly as it occurred, her eyes widened slightly just before she jerked her chin down to stare at her uneaten salad.

Sisco had no idea what had just happened. Not a man to wax poetic, he inwardly scoffed that whatever had happened between the woman and him during those few seconds was nothing more than just paying attention to details. Details that he had to admit included how beautiful she was. For those few seconds, she didn't look sad and concerned, but simply offered a pure gaze.

He returned his attention to his companions, who were finishing their meal and conversation. In his peripheral vision, he saw that the woman stood, walked over to the trash receptacle, and dumped her tray contents before setting the tray on top. She lifted her purse strap over her shoulder and started toward the door. She slowed and glanced over her shoulder toward him. Not willing to miss another shared look, he turned his head, but their eyes only met briefly before she looked forward again and hurried out of the cafeteria.

Wondering why the woman had held his attention so much, he turned to the companions at his table as they stood. Taking to his feet, he also carried his tray to the trash and left the cafeteria. They walked toward the front doors leading to the parking lot when he stopped to say goodbye.

“Got someone here I need to see. The barman at the place I visit in Cut Bank had surgery. Told my boss that I'd make sure to check on him.” Saying his goodbyes, he shook their hands and then headed to the elevator.

He found the room easily, and Tom was surprised to have a visitor.

“Sisco… never expected to see you here.”

“I told Logan I'd stop by to see you. I had paramedic recertification here this morning.” He sat in the chair near the bed and made small talk for a few minutes.

“I ought to be out of here tomorrow,” Tom said. “But my wife says I can't go back to the bar to work for a couple of weeks.”

Sisco chuckled. Tom was married to a sweet woman who ran the bar with him, and he figured she was more the boss than Tom was. “Well, she's got good help at the bar, so it would make sense to listen to her.”

Tom snorted but nodded. “Yeah, you got that right.”

They chatted for a few more minutes until a nurse walked in. Sisco used her entrance as an excuse to leave and, after saying goodbye, walked down the hall toward the elevators. Two men stood outside a door down the hall, one speaking while the other walked away. The younger man moved to the elevator before Sisco could get there and didn't hold it for him.

With a narrow-eyed glare, he stared at the now-closed elevator doors, frustration simmering beneath his calm exterior. Pressing the button, he noticed the sign for the hospital chapel across the hall. It had been years since he'd set foot in a church—not since his parents had passed and his siblings had gathered for the funeral. His eyes lingered on the colored-glass door, bringing back memories of the stained glass windows from his childhood, which had always held his attention much more than the priest's sermons.

Without hesitation, he ignored the now-open elevator doors and walked across the hall. Easing the door open in case there was a grieving gathering inside, he was met with silence. Stepping inside, it was as though he'd crossed a portal into a different world. No harsh, bright lights. No gleaming polished tile. No neutral beige or white walls.

Instead, his footsteps made no sounds with the deep burgundy carpet underneath his feet. The room was illuminated by brass wall sconces that cast soft light against the rose-colored walls. Wooden pews in rows faced a heavy wooden table covered with a white cloth in the front. A large bouquet sat in the middle of the table. It didn't resemble his childhood church, but it was a place that instantly offered peace to anyone who sought refuge from the hospital halls and rooms.

A slight movement caught his attention, and his head swung to the side. His breath caught in his throat when he saw a single woman sitting in a pew near the front—the woman from the cafeteria. She sat quietly, her hands folded in her lap, appearing lost in thought or perhaps prayer. The soft light accentuated her features, casting her in an angelic glow. Taking a deep breath, he walked slowly down the aisle, each step bringing him closer to the enigma. She embodied a serene Madonna one moment and a worried hospital visitor the next. And he was intrigued by both visions of her.