CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE
“How did our soldiers do?” asked Nine.
“They all made it home in time for delivery but in the chaos it was discovered that they had a traitor,” said Code.
“A traitor? On the team?” asked Gaspar.
“We’re not sure yet if it was on the team or part of the base group. Someone wasn’t delivering messages to the strike teams. We’re trying to trace it through all the lines, although I have to say base command has been highly cooperative with us.”
“That’s at least a little bit of good news,” frowned Alec. “Damn. I hate when we hear shit like this. As someone who was tortured because of a traitor, it makes me ill and brings up memories I’d care to not have.”
“Good morning,” said Tara walking into the office.
“Good morning, Tara. How are you settling into the cabin?” asked Miller.
“Cabin? That’s a lodge,” she laughed. “I’m not sure what kind of home you’re used to but that place is amazing. And thank you for helping me find a needy family for my home.”
“Of course, you’re very welcome. What can we do for you?” asked Angel.
“Well, Kari and Code, it is Code right?” Code laughed, nodding his head.
“Sorry, just an unusual name. Anyway, they asked me to review some of the correspondence between the team that you all rescued and their base command. As a paralegal this was a big part of what I did at the law office, reviewing testimony, communication files, text messages, that sort of thing.”
“Text messages? There shouldn’t have been text messages,” said Code.
“There was,” she said nodding. She put the sheet on the table and pointed to several highlighted lines.
“They’re sort of buried in the e-mails. Someone was using the e-mail to divert to their phone, which then sent the e-mail into a text, if that makes sense.
I’m not the expert but I think when you do that it makes it easier for someone to hack into the system. ”
“You are an expert,” smirked Code. “I can’t believe we missed that.”
“Well, it’s pretty simple so you were probably looking for something more complicated,” she said, blushing.
“Anyway, the diversions happened with this man. Corporal Jorge Jaguari. I did some digging and found out he was born in Mexico City but lived in Venezuela for fifteen years. He received his citizenship by volunteering for the Army.”
“Well done, Tara,” smiled Miller. “Well done.”
“Thank you,” she smiled. “Oh. Um, can I ask you a question?”
“Anything,” they said in unison, chuckling at themselves.
“Hawke. He’s very nice and I know he’s single. I’m just curious. Why?”
“Why? Why is he single?” asked Gaspar.
“Yes. I mean, he’s smart and funny, and he’s a great listener. He seems to be very observant. He’s asked me to dinner but I’m very cautious about having dinner with someone I work with and, well, there’s Gideon. I’m careful about who I expose him to.”
Nine nodded his head, smirking at the others.
“Tara, Hawke is one of the best operatives we have. He went through something fairly traumatic as a young man. He should tell you that story. What I can tell you is there is no one that would protect you and Gideon better than Hawke. He’s a good man and deserves a happily ever after.”
“I can’t believe you just said that,” laughed Gaspar. “You sound like my mother.”
“Is your mother alive?” asked Tara.
“Uh, no. And, yes.”
“No and yes? How is that possible?” she asked.
“Tara, this place is different,” said Alec. “My family has lived here for generations and the secrets of this land are only now being revealed to us. Our parents, they were, are different. One of the gifts they gave all of us was the ability to see, speak to, and touch ghosts.”
Tara laughed at them, then sobered when she saw their serious expressions.
“G-ghosts,” she whispered. “God, they’ll scare Gideon.”
“No, no,” said Gaspar. “They’re not those kinds of ghosts. They’re here to help us, guide us, protect us. My mother and father had tremendous gifts that we didn’t understand. Finding men and women that should be a part of this family was their biggest.”
“Are you saying they found me and Gideon?” she asked.
“My father told us to be at the flea market the day we found Gideon,” said Miller. “He said we’d know why when we got there. They just know things, Tara.”
“Knock, knock,” smiled Hawke.
“Well, speak of the devil,” grinned Alec. “We were just talking about you.”
“Good things, I hope,” he smirked looking at Tara.
“Very good things,” she smiled. “I’d like to take you up on the offer of dinner.”
“Good. But first, may I show you something? In fact, perhaps everyone would like to join us.”
Tara nodded as they walked outside to see Sniff holding a massive bald eagle. His leg was wrapped and he was tethered to his arm.
“Oh, wow!” said Tara. “He’s magnificent.”
“He is,” smiled Sniff. “He was also shot by someone who obviously didn’t realize it was illegal to shoot eagles. They also must not have realized that eagles have great memories. They see all and remember it.”
“What does that mean?” asked Tara.
“Tara, I have the ability to place myself in the eagles head. Sort of. I mean, I see what he sees. Damn, this is harder to explain that I thought.”
“Let’s just show her,” said Sniff. “I’m going to release our friend and he’ll return because he knows we’re here to help. But he’s going to search for the man that shot him and Hawke will be able to see that.”
“You’re joking,” she said in disbelief.
“Afraid not.”
Sniff released the massive bird and they watched as he spread his majestic wings, flying above them. He took off over the bayou and Hawke seemed to follow him with his head. His eyes were dark, almost black and the others were mesmerized watching him.
“He’s headed out toward the big river,” said Hawke. “No. He turned. There are a bunch of hunters.”
“It’s not hunting season,” frowned Gaspar.
“I think we found our man. He just took a massive shit on his boat. A small bateau, green, the man is young, brown jacket, dark brown hair with white waders on. He’s near Poirrier’s Bait.”
“We got him,” said Tailor running toward the docks with Alec.
A few moments later the massive bird returned, settling on Sniff’s arm. But as he did, he turned and stared at Hawke who reached out to stroke his head.
“That’s it boy. You know I won’t hurt you.” The others held their breath, knowing that the bird could take a finger or two if he wanted.
“You really can see what the bird sees. Is that why your name is Hawke?”
“Ironically, no. My parents named me Hawke. In fact,” he smirked, “my full name is Hawke Gideon Butler.”
“No, shit?” smirked Nine.
“No, shit,” he laughed.
“Well, now I have to go to dinner with you,” she smiled. Hawke took her hand, leading her toward the cafeteria and then she turned. “Thank you. All of you.”
“No, thank you, Tara. We’re going to have a conversation with Corporal Jaguari.”