“Wei is a professional, and our success means his success,” Jean said.“I’ll see you in three days.Contact ends after today.René, coordinate our Chinese team.Claude, you’re still lead on the island.Marie takes lead on the ship.”He turned to his sister.“Use caution.Our success hinges on complete surprise.”
“We know the plan.”
Valiant Voyager, Port of Miami, Florida
The cruise ship Valiant Voyager sailed with much ado and fanfare.They stood on the deck and waved at the Miami dock.All around them, those who chose to toasted the port with a splash of champagne they had brought for exactly that occasion.Jerry stood in a circle with friends, trying to recall the last time they were all together.
Then it came to him.Katangela.Brass had tasked them with the straightforward mission to interfere with the ongoing reign of terror a warlord had imposed on the tribal communities there.The mission took a turn when the then Vice President passed away, and Cynthia’s father took over the office.Cynthia had been serving the locals as a missionary doctor when the warlords took her hostage.Suddenly, the clear path became a very crooked road through a dangerous jungle.They had succeeded in all their objectives, but Bill “Drumstick” Sanders and Phil “Ozzy” Osbourne had come home with bullet wounds and one less limb.
As the cruise ship’s horn blared and pulled away from the dock, they all gathered near the railing, shoulders brushing, their laughter cutting through the sea breeze.In deference to the civilian crowd around them, no one mentioned past missions, but their glances—quick, knowing, crinkling at the edges, sometimes accompanied by shallow nods of respect—spoke of shared secrets only they understood.
In all, eight of the original team had come, not counting him and Osbourne.He knew that spoke volumes about Phil Osbourne’s reputation and their admiration for him as a person.
Jerry caught sight of Waller standing alone at the railing.Osbourne had gone to school with Timothy Waller in Texas.Waller had medevacked Osbourne out of the Jungle, and Waller later moved into Osbourne’s slot on the team, so Bourbon was here, too, even though they had never directly served together on the team.Leanne clearly occupied the man’s thoughts.
Someone slapped Jerry on the back, and he turned to find the groom.“Jerry Maguire in the flesh.Know something?You complete me.”
Osbourne looked good.He had joy in his eyes and sported a healthy tan.Jerry looked him up and down, from the toe of the shoe covering the end of his prosthetic leg to the cap he wore over his blond hair, announcing his status as the groom.
“Well, there he is,” Jerry said, pulling Osbourne close for a hug.“I wondered if you’d missed the boat.”
“Been on board for a minute.Was helping out with some of the details.”
In a crowd like this, mentioning his fiancée’s sister and her witness protection status would lack prudence.“Understood.”He shifted and pulled Olive closer, leaving his hand resting on her hip.“I’d like you to meet Olive.Olive, Phil Osbourne, aka Ozzy.”
The smile lit up her face as she took his hand with both of hers.“We’ve actually met.Back in Germany, when you brought Jerry in with that arm thing.”
Osbourne studied her face and declared, “I remember you.He was flirting pretty hard with you back then, as I recall.”
“Well, can you blame him?”Olive chuckled.“Anyway, I’ve heard a lot about you since then.”
“Really?Probably lies.Mostly lies.”He shot Jerry a sideways glance.“I’d love to sit down and hear what he had to say.In exchange, I promise to tell you some stories about a young Jerry Maguire that are guaranteed to curl your hair.”
An announcement interrupted their conversation.“Good afternoon, everyone, this is your Cruise Director!Welcome aboard our 7-day adventure!Kick off the fun today at 5:00 PM with a dazzling magic show in the Grand Theater, or join our shuffleboard showdown on Deck 12 at 5:30 PM.Don’t miss our live band performing at 8:00 PM in the Ocean Lounge!A quick note: on day 4, all passengers must disembark between 7:00 AM and 11:00 AM to spend the entire day enjoying our private island while the crew conducts mandatory training and safety drills.Check your newsletter for details.Let’s make today amazing!”
As soon as the ship’s crew cleared them to find their quarters, their group navigated to the passage with their cabins.Everyone in their party occupied the same passage, except Rick and Cynthia Norton, who had a VIP suite on the upper deck, and Osbourne’s family, who settled into a spacious family suite.Jerry and Calvin “Hobbes” Brock claimed rooms across the hall from Erin and Olive.Most of the team in one area gave him a sense of security that helped belie the fact that they were unarmed and surrounded by a thousand people.He also liked that, with Olive’s room just across the hall, he could hear her if something happened and she needed him.
“How much time do you need?”he asked as they paused at their doors.
Olive looked up at him, the excitement of embarking making her green eyes shine, and the ring in his pocket suddenly felt like it weighed a ton.He prayed this evening might give him the perfect moment.“Unpacking won’t take long.”
Bill Sanders pressed by them.“Can’t stand boats.This is why I never joined the Navy.We’re going to be huddled together like sardines in this tin can,” he said.
He held his wife Lynda’s hand.She chuckled.“At least we won’t smell like it,” she said.
They stopped at the door next to Jerry’s.Lynda turned toward them as Bill unlocked their door.“Are you two decorating?”
Erin’s black curls bounced with her nod.“Yep.You?”
“Of course!Much to his dismay,” she said with a grin.
“What does that mean?”Bill growled as he pushed the suitcase into the room.“I don’t mind your frilly, girly ways, woman.”
Jerry shook his head.“I’ll be five minutes.I can help.”
Olive brushed her lips against his.He tasted the salt air.“Looking forward to it.”
Jerry tossed his bag on the bed and examined his surroundings.The room had two twin beds, a desk, and a shower that a grown man might fit into if he held his breath just right and left one foot outside.
