Page 21 of Tango
“Okay.” She checked her watch. “I’ve got to find John in fifteen, anyway.”
I raced toward the stairs and heard Reagan’s laugh and found myself smiling. Mark was extra at times, but he loved this house with all his heart, and his humor was just what they needed.
Frank had the conference room ready to go by the time I joined him and Cole for another run-through of my mission to Afghanistan. We went through everything step by step, minute by minute. We researched local weather, chopper conditions, but when we got to the part about the town, Frank paused.
“What’s wrong?”
“There’s new satellite footage that shows a sudden increase in Taliban presence there.” He clicked the remote, and it showed a lot of activity in the town.
“Shit.” I couldn’t believe what I was seeing. I knew they were there, but this seemed to show they were looking for something. “Any idea what’s going on?”
“I have my suspicions.”
“Which are?”
“I hate to say it, but I wonder if they’ve been tipped off about you going back. Maybe not you specifically, but a word about a U.S. soldier going back there would set things in motion fast.”
“No way.” I shook my head. “Even Hill wouldn’t be that stupid to tip off the Taliban. They’ve been the enemy we’ve fought for years.”
“I’m just saying a sudden increased presence of that enemy would be a good way to have you change your mind about going back there.” Frank shrugged.
“If I may,” Cole got up, “I’ve seen firsthand what a fellow soldier is capable of. How someone can turn and work with the enemy.” Frank shifted uncomfortably. “Hill seems to be unravelling, and he’s probably desperate. It’s obvious he’s hiding something, and if he did tip off the men he spent the last how many years trying to kill,” he made a face, “in my experience that means you must be close to finding the truth, my friend. And whether that means the evidence is over there or here, it just might have him in panic mode.”
We all looked up as Keith walked by the door with John close behind. They both looked wrung out. Cole pushed the door open and called out, but they didn’t hear him and kept walking.
“Logan,” I felt the heaviness of the house flow through the open conference room door, “I’m fine with this new development about the Taliban, but be straight with me. Should I be leaving Shadows? I know I’m new and didn’t know Lexi, but we’re a team, and I don’t want anyone thinking my situation trumps Keith. Because it doesn’t.” Keith suddenly materialized in the doorway.
“Life can’t stop because another’s has, Beckett.” He swallowed hard. “Besides, I’m ready to shed some blood, so go do what you gotta do and get back here, so we can leave for the south. But we’re not leaving without you.” He gave me a tight nod and left.
“I think you have your answer.” Cole nodded with a grim face.
After that, we finished the rest of the mission review then closed up for the day. When Cole mentioned the idea of training on the mountain, Frank advised against it.
“I need you to gather Blackstone in the entryway.” He looked at me. “That includes you and Moore.”
“Yes, sir.”
Frank hurried off toward Doc Roberts’ office.
“What’s going on?” I asked Cole, whose face was unreadable.
“I have no idea.”
I quickly called Moore and met him outside in the driveway. He looked at his phone as he approached.
“Everything okay? You seem to have something going on.” I pointed at his phone.
“Yeah.” He tucked the phone away. “It’s Jay. He called twice but then didn’t pick up when I called back. It’s odd, that’s all. We’ve been trying to hook up.”
Jay, Rowe, and Beam had all gone to work for the Redstone police after we got back from Afghanistan. Redstone had been in desperate need of officers, and when we got back, the three of them had followed Frank’s suggestion and applied to work there. They’d all been happily hired on the spot.
“I want in on that. I’d like to see Jay. Try to make it for when I get back?” At the sound of Frank’s voice, we both turned.
“What’s going on?” Moore asked Mike as we got close.
“Lexi’s body arrived in North Dakota.” His face was grim. “We’re doing this as a family.”
Special Mission Unit Debriefing
