Chapter 12 #4
“Shane ‘Bull’ Beyer. He was on my SEAL team. Everyone on the team got the same tattoo one night after an especially gnarly mission. We were as close as a team could get…but as the years went by, something happened in Bull’s head.
He became reckless, then out of control…
then dangerous. It got to the point where I had to write him up and report him to my commander.
After a psych eval, he was kicked off the team and ordered to go to therapy.
He refused and was given a ODPMC discharge. ”
Stuart whistled low.
Monica frowned. “What’s that?”
“Other designated physical and mental conditions discharge,” Baker said. “It’s used when someone doesn’t qualify for a disability discharge, but still has a condition that interferes with the performance of his duties.”
“He wasn’t happy about that,” Stuart said. It wasn’t a question.
Baker chuckled, but it wasn’t a happy sound.
“No, he definitely wasn’t happy. I tried to get him help once he was out, but he told me to fuck off.
That I’d already helped him enough. I kept tabs on him for a while, but eventually he dropped off my radar.
I’m assuming that’s when he started using false identities. ”
“So now what?” Stuart asked.
“Now I go on the hunt,” Baker said.
Monica shivered at the threat in his tone.
“If I’d known he was capable of stooping as low as he has, this would’ve been taken care of before now. I’ll call Huttner and have a chat with him, tell him about my suspicions.”
“Don’t you need proof?” Monica got up the nerve to ask. “I mean, how do you know it’s him and not any of the other guys on your team? Or someone who just happens to like dragons and got a tattoo?”
“I’ve read your description of the man you saw,” Baker said.
He didn’t pace. He didn’t look agitated.
His stillness as he stood in front of her and explained himself somehow made him even more scary.
“It fits Bull to a tee. So much so, I should’ve guessed it was him before now.
But it’s been years since I’ve heard from him. A decade at least.”
“What’s his end goal?” Stuart asked.
“Who knows? To cause as much disorder as he can? To stick it to the United States? He probably gets off telling women he’s a SEAL, then terrorizing them. Maybe his way of ‘getting back’ at the organization he feels sold him out.”
“I want in,” Stuart said.
Baker shook his head immediately. “No fucking way.”
“I have a stake in this,” he argued.
“I realize that,” Baker said, his gaze flicking to Monica’s before looking back at Stuart. “But you’re also still active duty. I’m not going to let you do anything that might get you in trouble. Besides…this is between me and Bull.”
“Baker?” Jody asked.
And just like that, Baker instantly got control of his anger. His shoulders visibly relaxed and he took a deep breath before turning to the woman sitting at the table. “I’m sorry, Jodelle,” he said.
She shook her head. “I don’t know what’s going on, but I’m guessing you’re going to be gone again for a while?”
“It’s possible,” Baker told her.
“Just be careful,” she said softly. “I can’t lose someone else I care about.”
“You aren’t going to lose me,” Baker reassured her.
Monica almost felt as if she was intruding on a very intimate conversation. There was definitely more between these two people than what either of them would probably admit.
“I want to be informed about everything you find out,” Stuart told Baker. “And now I’m thinking since Mo is the only one who can ID this guy, she could be in serious danger if he figures out you’re on his trail.”
Baker shook his head. “No offense to Monica, but I doubt he’s going to care about her.
He’ll be overjoyed to know he’s gotten under the Navy’s skin.
And mine. He’ll be positively gleeful when he realizes I’m on his trail.
It’s a game to him. Probably is pissed he hasn’t been identified yet and has purposely let himself get sloppy. ”
“He let Monica see him?” Stuart asked.
“Yup. And I wouldn’t be surprised if there are other clues that will seem obvious now. I don’t think your woman is in any danger,” Baker said.
Monica didn’t have time to process the “your woman” thing when Stuart countered with, “Is yours?”
The two men stared at each other for a long moment, before Baker sighed and said, “I’ll keep you in the loop.”
“Good. You ready to go, Mo?”
She glanced at Stuart. He did not look happy. The relaxed vibe he’d had when they arrived was gone. She’d done that—and she hated it.
She simply nodded in response.
Stuart put a hand under her elbow and as soon as she was upright, he wrapped his arm around her waist. It felt good. Comforting. Monica knew she should pull away but felt the need to absorb as much of his support as she could for just a while longer.
“It was nice to meet you,” Monica told Jody.
“You too.”
“I’m sorry about how all this turned out,” she couldn’t help but add.
“Why? From what I understand, it seems to me that the entire reason why you’re here on our beautiful island to begin with was solved in the last ten minutes or so.”
She was right. Monica had no reason to stay any longer. She could call up her employment agency and tell them to get her a new placement immediately.
Two weeks ago, she would’ve jumped at the opportunity. Now, she wasn’t sure what she wanted anymore.
“Later,” Stuart told Baker with a lift of his chin.
“Later,” Baker returned.
Monica looked back as they walked toward the parking lot and Stuart’s minivan, and saw Baker sitting on the bench next to Jody. He lifted a hand and smoothed back a lock of her hair, an intimate gesture that proved there was more to their association than simple friendship.
And despite everything that had just happened, Monica had to admit that Elodie, Lexie, and Kenna were right. Baker was a fine specimen of a man…even if he did scare the hell out of her.