“Doc? What is it?” Nash asked.
“The names… All SEALs, right? Martinez, Landon, Limerick and Wollworth were KIA in the mission they’re saying we ran rogue on. But Caulleou… He didn’t die over there. I triaged his wound from that mission, and personally submitted the official complaint against him,” Stone recalled.
The complaint that got him pulled from the teams, investigated, and dishonorably discharged from the Navy.
“I remember,” Seb nodded. “I signed off on it. Asshole was nowhere to be found as soon as we hit the bunker.”
“So, what’s his name doing there with those guys? Where does he fit?”
His teammates sat silent. Nash scrubbed at his chin, Hawk rubbed at his temples. Sebastian grabbed a bottle of water and took a long drink from it. But none of them said a single word, lost to the same thoughts as Stone.
“All of their obituaries were attached to the message,” Gage finally spoke up.
“What do you mean?” Surely notallof their obituaries. He’d seen Chris at the Shop and Save just the week before. He wasn’t sure of it until his name was listed in that text message. But if his obituary was attached before Stone was even shot, how the hell could he have just seen him?
“Here, see for yourself.”
Stone read over the detail on the screen, his heart sinking with each and every word.
Life after the Navy.
Struggled with his demons.
Took his life…
“You’re sure this is real?” he asked.
“Yeah,” Gage answered. “He’s gone. Why?”
“My mind is playing tricks on me.”
“Care to elaborate?” Sebastian asked.
“I thought I saw him. Last week, when Mae and I were out shopping.”
“Here in town?” Gage asked, clicking away at his keyboard.
“Yeah. The night before we all got together for my homecoming. The night before…”
Mae had her miscarriage.
Fuck.
“I’ll pull the video footage from the security cameras and see if there is anything on the feed.”
“Someone’s blaming me for all of their deaths.” Stone shook his head. “That’s what this is. That’s why they came for me. Were there more messages?”
Gage nodded.
Unknown:
Can’t get anyone to fix this for you.
Unknown:
Will that pretty brunette you’re always holding hands with leave you once she finds out you’re a killer?
On and on the messages went, and Stone’s head spun as he tried to figure out where the hell Gage had found them.
