CHAPTER FIVE
“So, let me get this straight. Your editor thought it would be wise for you to chase down this story that he heard from someone about trained military men killing, looting, stealing, and torturing locals in Bolivia and you gladly did it?” frowned Brooks.
“Not gladly. I did it because he promised me a promotion and raise. I’ve been working at the magazine for ten years now and I’m still doing nothing except feel good stories.”
“Newsflash, lady. Feel good stories don’t get you killed,” said Brooks.
“Hey! I don’t need your damn judgment. I’m terrified. I didn’t want to do this but he insisted. I couldn’t afford to lose my job. I don’t get to surf all day long and buy big, huge beach front homes and fancy cars.” Mitchell raised a brow at the woman, laughing. “Is that funny?”
“Well, kind of,” smirked Mitchell. “We’re not surfers, other than for fun. We’re Navy SEALs.”
“Oh, God,” she whispered. She started to stand but Brooks put a hand at her shoulder.
“We’re not with them. We’re actually retiring in just two days.”
“You’re so young. How can you afford to retire and afford all of this?” she asked suspiciously.
“I don’t know you well enough to share my portfolio, Lennon but I can assure you we’re able to retire.
Our family owns a business that we’ll be joining.
Listen, none of that matters. What matters is that I heard Bora talking about coming for you and I think he saw me, which is why you heard him mention my name.
“The problem is he thought Mitchell was me and I think he tried to run him over. I can’t allow that to happen, so I have to figure out what the fuck he actually did in Bolivia.”
“I don’t know it all. Not yet. I’ve spoken to two people who gave me vague accounts of what their relatives said happened. When I went back to speak with them again, they were gone.”
“Gone? Like gone back to Bolivia?” asked Brooks.
“Gone, like no one would admit to knowing they even existed. Like I said, I’ve tried to call my editor for three days in a row and I get no answer on his cell phone.”
“What about his office?” asked Brooks.
“We’re an online magazine trying to compete with major publishing houses. We don’t have a brick-and-mortar business. Everyone works from home, including him.”
“Okay, where does he live?” asked Mitchell.
“I-I don’t know. I’ve never had to meet with him face-to-face. We only communicated via video calls.”
“Fuck me,” growled Brooks.
“Hey! I get that this isn’t ideal but it seems like we’re both in the same boat.
The only problem for me, is that you guys know how to build and row the boat.
I’m just over here like a sitting duck. I don’t know who to call or where to go.
I’m exhausted, I’m scared, and I’m hungry. I’m really, really hungry.”
Mitchell gave his brother a grin.
“We can fix a few of those things,” he grinned. “I’m going to order food.”
“No! If they know where you live they’ll be looking for that,” she protested.
“We actually gave up our apartment three days ago. This is a house that our family owns. No one knows it belongs to us. And as for tracing our credit cards, we have ways around that.”
“I don’t understand,” she said quietly, shaking her head. “Who are you guys? You’re not like any SEALs I’ve ever encountered.”
“Probably not,” said Brooks. “But I assure you, we’re SEALs.
In fact, our entire family are former Special Forces.
We now own a private security and investigation firm.
The best in the nation. That’s why Bora doesn’t want me to know anything.
He knows we’d come for him and unfortunately for him, that’s exactly what we’re going to do. ”
“You’re crazy,” she said shaking her head. “I saw him shoot that young Navy officer in the forehead. He said he was going to dump him in the pacific.”
“What was his name?” frowned Mitchell.
“I don’t know. He said that he worked in command and that he ‘hears everything’. I don’t know what that means.”
“Dunbar,” they said in unison.
“Call command,” said Brooks to his brother. He nodded at him, then looked at Lennon.
“You’re safe here, Lennon. We promise you. Food is on the way.”
She watched him walk away, thinking how handsome he was. Yet when she looked at the brother, Brooks, it felt as though the entire world tilted and her feet and hands were on fire. Her heart sped up, her face felt hot, and all she could do was stare at his handsome features.
“You okay?” he asked staring at her.
“Hmm? Oh. Yes. Sorry, I was just thinking how much you and your brother are alike, but not.”
“Really? No one seems to be able to tell us apart.”
“I can,” she said nodding at him with embarrassment. He continued to stare at her as she fidgeted in her seat. Finally, he spoke.
“I guess that’s the reporter’s eye in you.” She nodded nervously and he grinned. “You have an unusual name. Your parents were fans of the Beatles, I assume.”
“Well, sort of. One liked Lennon, the other liked McCartney and fortunately for me, my father’s last name was McCartney. My name was a compromise. I was a late in life, oops baby.”
“I see. Are your parents still living?” he asked.
“They are but they’re in their eighties now, living in an assisted living facility. They’re both doing well but I’m seeing signs of them slowing down and struggling.”
“That must be hard,” he said frowning. “Our parents look like they could be our siblings. Mitch and I have a triplet sister, Marilisa and we have younger triplet brothers.”
“Holy hell,” she muttered. “Don’t drink the water at your house.”
“You have no idea,” he laughed. Mitchell walked in the room smiling.
“What did I miss?”
“Nothing. Everything good?” asked Brooks.
“All good. Chinese food will be here in thirty minutes, commander knows the story and is starting the process on his end, chopper will be here at midnight.”
“Chopper? Wait. Where are you going?” she asked.
“We. We are all going somewhere safe until we can find out more information,” said Mitchell.
“No. No, I can’t just leave,” she said shaking her head.
“I think you need to leave, Lennon,” said Mitchell.
“They found your editor about three hours ago. Dead of an apparent drug overdose in his backyard. The problem is, he’s never had a history of drug addiction according to neighbors, friends, and his ex-wife.
His computer is missing, his phone is missing, and his house is ransacked. ”
She stilled, unsure of what to say or do. Turning, she looked up at Brooks and nodded.
“I guess I’m going.”