Operation: Enduring Angel (Shepherd Security #19)

Alpha

Private Richard Burke stood proudly at attention on the parade grounds at MCRD Parris Island, just as his father, oldest brother, and grandfather had before him.

Just thirteen weeks earlier, he’d stood on the yellow boot prints at the beginning of his training, which had been life-changing for him, as was the case for most recruits.

But for him, with the weight of his family legacy on his shoulders, his completion of boot camp and the awarding of his Eagle, Globe, and Anchor brought tears to his eyes, which he stifled. Marines didn’t cry.

He’d also received special recognition awards for outstanding performance in physical fitness, rifle scores, and leadership.

His platoon, with the highest overall scores, also received special recognition.

He had been selected by the Drill Instructors as the Platoon Guide early in the training, and he’d excelled at leadership.

The feather in his cap was that he’d been awarded a Meritorious Promotion to Lance Corporal.

He’d been informed of the awards following the Crucible and the Warrior Breakfast several days before.

His new rank of Lance Corporal already adorned his uniform.

His parents were proud of his achievements, but not surprised.

They knew what their son was capable of.

The day before the graduation ceremony had been Family Day, and after a motivational run, as was traditional for graduating recruits, he’d spent the day with his parents and his next oldest brother, Army Captain James Burke, who flew Apache Helicopters.

His oldest brother, Gunnery Sergeant Thomas Burke, U.S.M.C.

had perished three years earlier in the Middle East.

That had been the proudest day of his life, second only to being accepted to MARSOC three years later and then graduating just over a year after that from the Marine Raider Course, his MOS changing to CSO, Critical Skills Operator.

No one in his family had been a Marine Raider.

That was a distinction he was proud to have.

He served with honor and performed his duties with dedication, courage, sacrifice, and integrity.

His leadership skills were solid. He personified what a Marine Raider was in every way.

His unit interfaced with other Special Operations groups, which was where he served briefly with then-Lieutenant Colonel Sam Shepherd.

He was very surprised when, several years after Shepherd had taken a position in D.C.

, to be paid a visit by the newly promoted Colonel Shepherd.

He was even more surprised to be recruited onto a special team that Shepherd was putting together, a quasi-black ops team.

He didn’t hesitate to accept the offer, and within days; he was stateside in civilian clothes at the secret headquarters of the Shepherd Security Team in Schaumburg, Illinois.

He was assigned to the four-man Charlie Team and knew he’d found a permanent home.

Burke’s alarm on his watch woke him from a dead sleep.

He was in his bed at his small, one-bedroom condo, a place he rarely slept.

It was dark. It was zero four thirty. He was due at the Shepherd Security office at zero five thirty for a mission briefing.

His team would be deploying on a mission right after the meeting.

After he had showered and dressed, he grabbed his backpack and stepped into the hallway.

Out of habit, he approached the door of his teammate, Carter ‘Moe’ Tessman, forgetting that Tessman wasn’t there.

Though he still owned the place, he now spent all his time across town at his girlfriend’s house.

Farther down the hallway, the door to the unit of his other teammate, Mike ‘Powder’ Rogers, opened. Rogers chuckled. “I can’t tell you how many times I’ve done that. I’m still not used to him living at Becca’s.”

Burke pointed to a door across the hallway from Tessman’s. “I finally got used to Wilson not living here.” Wilson had sold his unit and bought a townhouse about a mile away with his fiancé.

The four members of Charlie team had bought condos on the same floor of the building. It had been newly built when they were all recruited for the team, and it made sense for them to all live near each other. But now, two of the team members lived with their girlfriends.

“I suppose you’ll be next,” Rogers said. “When you finally get Donna to move here, your place won’t be big enough for three kids.”

“It’s not like that,” Burke insisted as the two men headed down the hallway towards the parking garage.

“What is it like?” Rogers asked as they pushed through the door into the much colder garage, reminding them both that it was the middle of December in northern Illinois.

Burke had been saying that for the last year, and he’d never defined exactly what kind of relationship he had with Donna Saxton, the sister of Laura Lee ‘Lah-lee’ Saxton, one of their teammates.

“Whatever it is you’ve got going with her, it’s been going on for over a year. ”

Burke just threw a smirk his way and didn’t answer. He clicked the button on his key fob to unlock his octane red Dodge Durango. The two men climbed in for the fifteen-minute drive to the office.

“I’m just saying, you’ve been playing daddy to her three kids,” Rogers pointed out as he fastened his seat belt. “Something with the mom has to be going on.”

“What happened to that flight attendant you were seeing?” Burke asked, changing the subject.

“What do you think happened? Between her schedule and mine, we never saw each other. Plus, she was looking for something serious. I saw her as a fun distraction when we were both in town. What about you and Donna? Is she on the same page with you regarding whatever it is you’ve got going on?”

“Look, I don’t expect you to get this, but when I’m there with her and her kids, it just feels right. I like playing with the kids and teaching them things, being a good role model for her sons. It’s chill and I can just be me, no pressure.”

“You’re right. I don’t get it. With three little ones, how can it be chill? I was stressed out at our Thanksgiving dinner with the team because all the kids were screaming and running around.”

Burke laughed. “When I step into her place, it’s like I’m stepping into another role, another place, maybe another time in my life. I don’t know. It’s comfortable.”

“You’re right. I don’t get it and don’t think I will.”

“That’s okay. You don’t have to.”

“But what about Donna as a woman and the sex?” Rogers asked. “It’s one thing playing dad, another being a man to the woman.”

Burke wasn’t sure how to explain that part of it to Rogers.

His friend would think he was crazy if he told him that he wasn’t sleeping with Donna Saxton.

Advancing the relationship beyond what it was could not happen.

No matter how much he cared about her, no matter how much he enjoyed being a father-figure to her kids, sex was off the table.

And it wasn’t because he wasn’t attracted to her.

He was. They’d shared a few kisses, and they’d been very arousing.

“You’re smiling,” Rogers pointed out.

Burke didn’t realize he was. “A gentleman doesn’t kiss and tell.”

“Since when are you a gentleman?”

Burke flipped him the bird but didn’t reply.

Burke pulled into the parking garage beside the ten-story office building on the ring road surrounding the large Woodfield Mall.

Their headquarters occupied most floors in the building, with several legitimate businesses or medical providers on the lower floors.

They drove deep into the garage, through a security gate and two secure garage doors, which required a security pin code and a palmprint scan to enter.

These security measures separated the private Shepherd Security parking area from the rest of the garage.

Jimmy ‘Taco’ Wilson, Charlie’s team leader, had just parked his blue pickup truck across from the elevator and entrance to the stairwell. He was crossing over towards the elevator when Burke’s SUV pulled in. He stopped in front of the door to the stairs and waited.

The two men grabbed their backpacks and then joined Wilson at the door. “Hey,” Burke greeted as they approached. “It’s nice to have our team back together for this mission.”

The organization had been growing and taking on new types of cases over the last year, and many of the teams, including Charlie Team, had been split up to work with other team members for cross-training purposes.

Plus, many of the new cases required six people to adequately carry out, and it seemed as though Charlie Team was the team most often split to staff those cases with other teams.

Wilson nodded. “Yes, it is, but the training we’ve all done has been beneficial, and it’s optimal to the organization to have a more flexible team structure.”

Burke led the way to the door. He entered his code and pressed his palm to the scan pad.

They entered and went through the landing area of the stairwell, and then through the back hallway.

From there they entered the Team Room to find the fourth member of Charlie Team, Carter ‘Moe’ Tessman, was already inside, gathering his gear from his locker.

Tessman glanced up as the three men entered. “Hey,” he said with a nod. “Good timing. Wilson, do you know what will be approved besides sidearms?”

Wilson shook his head. “I assume rifles given the mission.” He saw that Tessman already had the bag with his body armor out as well as extra ammo.

“I’d say we pack them. We can always return them to our lockers if Shepherd doesn’t authorize their use.

We have ten minutes before we’re due for our briefing.

I’ll bring one of the SUVs up near the door to pack. ”