Chapter 15
Saint paced the new base, furious with everyone. How did Leo deal with all this? Ragu dropped the computer, shattering the screen. Each of their phones needed charging, and one of the cells they used got misplaced. They needed food and fresh water.
Glaring in Shadow and Sparky’s direction, he called out to Ragu. “We need to get to the stream and replenish the water. Grab the canteens and hydration packs. Taco, you and Shadow stand guard.”
“Yes, sir,” Taco said, glancing in Shadow’s direction.
Shadow rose and grabbed his gun. “We need food. Do you want me to go to the market tomorrow? I can take Sparky, and hopefully we’ll overhear something. It might be a good time for us to double back and check the area where Hollywood got shot.”
“Do you run the team now?” Saint asked angrily. “I gave you one damn order. Put Sparky and Hollywood on the plane. You can’t even do that.”
Shadow approached his teammate and brother, feeling the anger radiate around Saint.
“Listen, we always acted as a team. Leo may have acted as leader, but he always considered our input,” Shadow said slowly. “No one defied you outright. You weren’t there to make the call. Do you not trust us?”
“We’re down two good men,” Saint railed. “No matter how you phrase it, I know you’re not stupid.”
“Sparky made a good point. What if we’re missing a clue? What can it hurt to check it out?” Shadow insisted.
“You want us to risk our lives over a damn rattle, which Hollywood rambled about while shot up with morphine,” Saint said, disbelieving his teammate’s excuses.
“He seemed convinced,” Sparky offered.
Saint pointed his finger in her direction and then realized she couldn’t see it. “You will stay here and do as I say. I will deal with you when we return home. You directly disobeyed my orders.”
Cole groaned. “Here we go again,” he muttered.
Sparky threw the empty canteen on the floor.
She faced Saint’s general direction. “Yes, I did. You’re acting like a stubborn asshole, Saint, and no one else has the guts to tell you.
I have nothing to lose since you plan on canning my ass as soon as we return to the facility.
We’ve stayed holed up here for days, and you’ve sent Cole and Taco to recon Sergeant Ford.
We’ve already done this. You’re out of ideas, and the clock keeps ticking. Why can’t we return to the site?”
“Do you all feel this way?” Saint dared his team.
“Yeah, I kinda do,” Shadow admitted. “We realize you’re filling some big shoes. The pressure of us leaving doesn’t help. We’re a team, Saint. You’re our leader. You’ve carried out missions without Leo before and never let us down. I don’t understand the problem.”
“Leo’s not here,” Saint said brokenly. “By now, he’d have us located and planned a rescue.
We have run in circles for months and have come up with nothing.
I hate seeing the devastating expression on Catherine’s face.
Damn, Melody tears my heart to shreds. It’s like she went from nearly ten years old to nearly an adult overnight.
I can’t imagine the stress this has put on them.
How can I return home and watch them bury an empty casket?
They’re crying out for closure, and I have nothing to give them. ”
Sparky rose from her spot, feeling along the wall. Apollo walked beside her, watching her every move.
“You didn’t let Leo down or us,” she said quietly.
“I disobeyed the order. I know you’ve lost your best friend.
One of the best things about this team is how we work together.
This doesn’t feel like teamwork anymore.
It feels like you expect us to overthrow you at any moment.
We need you to lead us. Leo’s gone. We may not be able to help him, but we can make the bastards who killed him pay.
Someone didn’t want Hollywood near the area.
He saw the rattle. What else might be there? ”
Saint hung his head.
“I can’t let Leo down,” he said quietly. “This thing has turned into a shitshow.”
“Then let’s stop fighting one another and get on to business,” Sparky said gently. “If we put our heads together, we can take them down. You’re our leader. It’s time you take your place.”
“Let’s go back to the site. We’ll search for the rattle. Then, we need to figure out who’s visiting Sergeant Ford. Cole, did you get notice when someone of higher rank planned to visit when you worked there?”
Shaking his head, he answered, “No. Once we put the dogs in their crates for the evening, we went to our bunks. Four people watched them at night, plus the outside security. Colonel Rutherford visited, and they usually alerted us the day before. It gave us time to make sure everything appeared spic and span.”
“Then who visited in the evenings?” Taco said, thinking out loud.
Sparky smiled. “Cole, how did Sergeant Ford have an affair on the base? It’s remote. How many women did you see there?”
Cole considered her question. “We’ve housed two female trainers. One discharged about two years ago, and the other requested a transfer six months into her assignment.”
“Why?” Sparky asked.
Shrugging, Cole shook his head. “I don’t know.”
“Do you recall her name?” she asked.
“No. I worked mainly in the field or went with a unit when needed. Sometimes we observed a K-9 in the field if the handler experienced any issues,” Cole explained. “Wait. I think her first name was Cora.”
Sparky glanced at Saint. “Can we ask Bear to find the woman?”
“It may take him a while,” Saint said, watching Ragu charge another of their phones.
“Do you think Cora returned to the unit and carried on an affair with Sergeant Ford?” Shadow asked.
“No. We need to know why she requested the transfer. Cole said he enjoyed working there and everyone got along until the months leading to his discharge. What if someone pressured her?” Sparky pondered.
“Did you have a high turnover rate? I imagine someone with your skills must be valuable to a team. What did she bring to the fold?” Saint asked, excited they seemed to have a lead.
“We didn’t. People vied for a position there,” Cole said. “We didn’t have colonel breathing down our necks. We became close with one another except for a few.”
“Let me guess, Fucker Ford didn’t,” Taco said, disgusted.
“When I first arrived, he seemed amiable. He didn’t seem to have a problem with me until Brody brought me the photos of his affair. I never said anything,” Cole explained.
“I imagine they have cameras in the facility,” Sparky surmised. “You say he gave you crap after you returned the images. Did he have access to the cameras?”
“Most likely. He headed the unit for the most part,” Cole said slowly, piecing together Sparky’s questions.
“Bear will reach out when he has the information. He’s contacted Tex to expedite the information. He sends his condolences and will let Ghost and Wolf’s teams know,” Saint informed them.
“If you saw the pictures again, do you think you’d recognize the woman?” Sparky asked.
“I didn’t gape at her,” Cole said uncomfortably. “I noticed her long black hair. On her right shoulder, I saw a tattoo of a flowery moon with a star.”
“Don’t worry, Cole, we won’t tell Stormy,” Taco teased. “If you saw it again, can you identify it?”
“Maybe,” he replied.
Saint dug into his pack for paper and a pencil. “Can you draw it?”
Cole took the paper and drew a delicate, flowery moon with a star. “I’m not an artist, but it seemed like a rose inside the moon and the leaves.”
“It’s a Muslim sign. It usually appears like this,” Saint said as he drew a similar picture.
“Yeah, it’s close,” Cole said. “What does it mean?”
Sparky’s lips firmed. “Why does Ford’s lover have a tattoo of a Muslim sign when she works for the US?”
“Let’s play devil’s advocate. What if she got it while she worked here or converted to the religion?” Shadow asked.
“I’m betting if she’s involved with Ford, we’ve found our traitor,” Sparky said confidently. “What shall we do about it, boss?” she asked, turning her head toward Saint.
“It appears we need to catch them in the act. The base has increased security since we broke Ice out and stole a few supplies. I hope to hell Leo made a written agreement with his secret contact, or we may all end up in Leavenworth,” Saint said.
“Pack it up. We’re going on a stakeout. We can hold our heads higher if we go to Leo’s funeral knowing we took down the people responsible for his death. ”
“Let’s get it done,” Shadow said, grabbing his pack and helping Sparky with hers.
“Thanks, I got it,” she said, brushing his hand away. “I have a system.”
“You have candy, and I’m stealing a piece,” he teased.
Sparky grabbed his arm. “That’s it, Shadow. I’d bet my left butt cheek she’s stealing more than supplies. She’s stealing plans and routes. It’s crippling the unit from within.”
Shadow patted her back. “Good job, Sparky. I think you’re on to something. Come on, we’ll ride with Saint, and you can tell him what you know. It’s a long drive. Maybe he’ll even let you have another go at the wheel.”
“He’s still doubting if I saw trees,” she giggled.
“I heard you, Sparky,” Saint chastised. “Get yourself to the truck.”
“Freaking traitor,” she mumbled. “You might’ve told me he heard us.”
Chuckling darkly, Shadow said, “What’s the fun in that? Welcome to the team. One minute you get bitched at and the next, we’re fucking with ya. You gotta learn how to roll with the punches.”
She held her hand out until he tucked her hand in the crook of his elbow and she signaled for Apollo to come. When he stood beside her, Shadow guided her to the vehicle. As they stopped, she gave him one, right in the arm.
“Shit, you packed a good one,” Shadow said, rubbing his arm.
She cocked her head to the side and grinned. “Stop acting like a baby, Shadow. Ya gotta roll with the punches.”