Prologue
d’Artagnan Dugan
“D?” Cathy’s voice breaks before she can finish saying my name.
I lean forward onto the table, scanning the room. It’s a habit every SEAL has when the hair on the back of your neck rises because you sense something isn’t right. You check the area.
The team members are preoccupied with other things. Jocko is bouncing the ball off the wall for Lucifer. Crockett is cleaning his weapon. The other members of Bravo are playing cards. Each is within earshot, but they are focused on the task at hand, giving the man using the satellite phone in the common room at least a semblance of privacy. We are in-between missions at the moment and just hanging out waiting for the next crisis that only special warfare operators can correct.
“Catherine, what’s wrong?” I ask. The weight that settles on my shoulders deepens the tone of my voice. I’m halfway around the world from her in a base camp that doesn’t technically exist.
“Nothing.”
I take a deep breath as the weight shifts from my shoulders to my heart. Cathy is five years younger than I am and graduating from college in a week. I know it’s an emotional time for her since Dad died last year. She’s alone with only our stepmother, Tiara, who is a real piece of work. Nothing at all like our mother was, who passed away when I was ten. She was warm, sweet, kind, and loving. What Dad saw in Tiara is beyond me. She is cold, manipulative, selfish, and hateful. But it is what it is, so Cathy and I know we are all each other has.
She continues, “I’ve been binge-watching all the surprise homecoming videos. I wish you could be here to share my moment, but I know that’s not going to happen, is it?” Her voice rises and hangs on the end with hope for the impossible.
I tell her the truth. “You know I would if I could.”
She sighs, “I know. It’s just not going to be the same without you being here.”
“I’m awfully proud of you, and Mom and Dad would be too.”
She clears the emotion out of her throat. When she continues, her tone is lighter. “Tiara’s throwing me a graduation party. At least, she’s good at that. She’s invited everyone we know. She’s teased that she has a really big gift to give me. I can’t imagine what she’s dreamed up, but I’m sure I’ll be shocked.”
“Humph,” slips out before I ask about our stepmother, “She’s playing nice right now?”
“I’m not sure, to be honest.” Cathy says, “She’s hinted that I’m going to love it, but she’s just making sure I understand how I’m supposed to behave in front of everyone.”
I smirk. “Hang in there, kiddo. The day I’m released from the Navy will be the day that her reign to come to an end.”
The commander walks in and says, “Wheels up in fifteen. We got the green light.”
My voice lowers as I tell my little sister, “We’re rolling out. I’ll check in when I can. Keep your chin up. Don’t let her see you sweat.”
“I won’t. Stay safe, bubba. Love you!”
“Yep. You too.”
One week later…
Rapunzel Robinson
“Zella, why do you think Mr. Schmitt has called a meeting?” Jeri asks.
I shrug, “I have no idea.”
“It can’t be good news.” She shakes her head.
I wait with the other ten women who work the little corner boutique at the back of the store for the owner to arrive.
“I bet he’s selling.”
“He would be crazy not to. The real estate this store is sitting on is worth five times what the store is worth.”
“But Schmittville is an icon.”
“That’s dying a slow death.”
