“What’s that about?” Sam asked.
“Major Hammond wants me to see him in his office.”
Sam frowned. “I’ll wait for you here.”
“Does he need me as well?” Sherlock asked.
Brandon shook his head.
As he walked out of the mess he ran through his activities over the past forty-eight hours, but nothing stood out that would get him into trouble. He zipped his jacket closed as the wind whistled past him. Summer was a long way off down here in Perth. Even after twelve years living south of the Tropic of Capricorn he still hated the cold.
The major’s office was across the field from the mess, so Brandon broke into a jog, partly to keep warm and partly not to keep the major waiting. He wasn’t a patient man and had extremely exacting expectations.
Brandon hadn’t broken a sweat when he arrived in front of the building. He unzipped his jacket as he walked into the heated room and approached the major’s office. His team leader, Lieutenant Colonel Dobson, affectionately known as Dobby, was also there, along with a padre and a woman he didn’t recognise. They all looked solemn.
Shit. This couldn’t be good. He saluted.
“At ease, Sergeant,” Major Hammond said.
The woman clenched her hands together and looked at the padre, who shuffled his feet, but it was Dobby who cleared his throat and spoke. “There’s no easy way to say this, Brandon,” he said. “We had a phone call from your brother, Darcy. There’s been a car accident.”
The breath left his lungs. “Where? Who?”
“I’m sorry, Sergeant,” the major said. “Both your parents were killed.”
“No.” The denial was instant as the bottom dropped from Brandon’s stomach to be replaced by a deep numbing pain. The last clear image he had of his father was his look of disgust when… He squeezed his eyes closed. “I’ve got to get home.” Too late for a flight and driving would take over thirteen hours, but if he left now he’d be there by morning. He turned to go.
“Wait, Brandon,” Dobby said. “The RAAF are flying supplies up to their base tonight. We’ve got some equipment going up for our next training mission. Maybe they can fit you on.” He glanced at the major, who scowled but picked up the phone to call. He hated anything personal getting in the way of the military.
Flying was the fastest way to get there. He should have answered Darcy’s phone call earlier. How was he coping? Georgie would be a mess. Had Ed made it home yet? “My youngest brother’s in Perth, too.”
The major inclined his head, phone to his ear. “Call him. I’ll see what I can do.”
Brandon dialled Ed’s number, but it went straight to voice mail. Shit. What to say? “I just heard the news. Might be able to get a flight with the RAAF to Retribution Bay. Let me know if you need it.” He hung up and noticed the missed call from Darcy was from around midday. Chances were high Ed had got the afternoon flight home.
The padre watched him carefully as if waiting for him to break down. Wasn’t going to happen. He had a mission—to get home as soon as possible. “What happened?”
“Darcy said your parents were heading into town,” Dobby said. “The car rolled and both were dead by the time anyone found the wreck.”
Brandon closed his eyes. The stretch of road between the family sheep station and the main road into the Bay didn’t get a lot of traffic. Had his parents survived the crash and been waiting for help?
Major Hammond hung up. “You’ve got a flight if you can get to the airbase within the hour.”
“I’ll be there.” Brandon saluted and strode out of the building. The cold hit him, penetrating his thoughts, reminding him to focus on something other than his parents trapped in their car. He jogged back, already planning what he needed to take with him and by the time he arrived at his car, he’d packed everything in his mind. Sam and Sherlock were waiting for him.
“Dobby called,” Sam said. “I’m so sorry, mate. I’ll drive you to the RAAF base.”
Sherlock shifted uncomfortably. “I’ll catch you when you get back.” He didn’t do emotions well.
Brandon nodded and jumped in the car with Sam. They detoured past his place only long enough for him to throw some things in a bag and then headed east towards the RAAF base.
“What do you know?” Sam asked.
Brandon stared out at the street, the darkness his friend. “Car rolled when they were heading into town. They were dead by the time someone found them.”
Sam swore. “Call me if you need anything. I can probably get time off to attend the funeral.”
Always had his back. Sam knew how hard it was for Brandon to go home. He was the only one he’d ever confided in. It had been during a moment of weakness on their first tour together when Brandon was certain he was going to die. “Thanks.”
