Page 2 of Light on Love
A few days later, back in her office again, Laurel sits chin in her hand, reviewing her updated presentation when there’s a knock at her door. She looks up to see Ray, Captain Ken Ireland,and the captain’s assistant, she thinks his name is Harrison, who she has noticed at the captain’s side much of the time.
“We need a few minutes of your time, Dr. Montgomery. May we sit?” The captain motions for the armchairs.
Laurel nods in agreement, mentally taking note of how her body has stiffened and how her heart begins to race. Laurel had never had a group come to her like this before. Now seated, Captain Ireland continues, “the work you do is important, valuable. But we’re here to talk to you about your interrogation earlier this week.”
A flush creeps up her warm beige skin as she wipes her increasingly clammy palms on her legs under the desk.Something isn’t right, this isn’t about renewing the grant, she thinks.
“Yesterday it came to light that there has been a leak of confidential information. Your profile from the critical threat interrogation this week was among the information shared with our enemies, including your name. We have had this terror organization on our radar for some time now, and they seem to be growing and becoming more lethal at a rapid pace. Your information helped save a countless many civilians from their most recent planned attack, but it seems now they have shifted to targeting our team, this base, and the players involved in thwarting this attack.”
Confusion envelopes her thoughts, unable to process what he’s saying. “Who are they attacking now then?”
“Specifically, you.”
Laurel’s lungs suddenly constrict, heaviness settling into them. “I don’t understand, why would anyone target me? I don’t pose a threat to them!”
“You do. You are the one who figured out what they were planning. Without you, we can’t send these guys,” Captain Ireland says, motioning at Ray, “to stop them.”
Ray, who had hovered by her desk rather than sitting with the other two men, leans over at her side. “I’m so sorry,” he whispers, concern filling his eyes when she looks up at him.Was this really happening?No, there’s no way, she determines. Laurel turns back to Captain Ireland. “Are you sure?”
“Very, doctor.”
“Do we know how this happened? There must be a way to double check this or… how do they even know about me? And what happens now?”
She had always been an action driven person, someone who was comforted by a solid plan. This situation was very different though. And try as she might, Laurel is having a hard time steadying her breathing. In fact, the room is starting to look a little blurry.
Captain Ireland doesn’t seem to notice though as he begins to shift to discussion of a solution.
“We are working on it, but we haven’t found the leak yet. The next step is to keep you safe, being a civilian, until we can put together an operation to contain the threat.”
“Sure, that sounds simple enough,” she says drily. Then realizing who she’s talking to, Laurel flushes, now terrified and embarrassed. “I am sorry sir. But… how do you plan to keep me safe?”
Laurel notices her question is met with silence and shared glances between the men.She twists her fingers in her hair, her stomach twisting as well.They don’t think they can keep me safe, she thinks.
“I have an idea.”
Every head in the room turns to Ray.
“Hayes. We send her to stay with Brett Hayes. He’s the most decorated, most deadly war fighter this decade has seen. And he made protecting his command an art form. Name one other SEAL who took on the most dangerous operations and walkedaway with as much mission success as he did. Not to mention he now lives in a remote area; she’ll be off the grid.”
“He’s a wildcard and took on those dangerous operations because of arrogance. He’s as much of a risk as the terrorists. You seriously want to send thatcowboya civilian to guard?” Harrison cuts in.
“Arrogance? Hayes is not arrogant! He was the best at considering the risk and seeing the big picture in every operation,” Ray snaps. “I, and all of Delta, owe him our lives a hundred times over.”
Captain Ireland rubs his shinning bald head, processing the idea. “Hayes is one tough son of a bitch. I don’t think he was ever a risk himself though. The guy is stubborn. Ruthless for sure. But he’s reliable and skilled beyond anyone we have serving right now. He would be ideal, there’s no one more adept,” the captain says. Turning to Ray then, “You say his location is ideal?”
Before Ray can respond, Harrison interrupts again with a question of his own for Ray. “What makes you think he’ll agree to this? He’s not a friendly guy.”Laurel watches as Ray tenses his jaw before answering, angered by Harrison’s comments about his old team lead, she assumes.
“Hayes spent every day serving by the Navy’s core values, honor, courage, and commitment. As a veteran that doesn’t change. I was his second in command and I am still his friend, I know he’ll do this.” Ray turns to Laurel. “Sure, he wasn’t the golden retriever of the unit by anyone’s standards. But you won’t be in better hands anywhere else.”
“Do you have a different idea, Harrison?” the captain asks.
Harrison shakes his head, frustrated but remaining silent. Laurel sits back, still twisting her hair in her hand. She could feel Ray believed this was her best option, and it’s not like the other guys had any ideas to counter this. It’s not like she had any ideas of her own for that matter, her mind had gone utterly blank.
Captain nods and looks to Ray. “Lieutenant Mitchell, make the call and prepare Dr. Montgomery.” Then turning his attention back to Laurel, says, “you have a choice here. Accept this arrangement for protection or stay and continue as you are, taking your chances on base. Whichever you decide, I’d like you to work this case with us, reviewing reports and building profiles. If you help us nail this threat, don’t worry about the grant renewal. I’ll make your position permanent.”
And with that, he signals to Harrison and the two men stand to leave. Laurel’s head is spinning with the news. Why would staying on a military base be a risk? Shouldn’t she be safest here?
“Wait! Captain, I’m sorry but… how long do I have to decide?”
