Leif shakes his head and tells me a few other tidbitsof information he’s gleaned, and we start wrapping up the meeting.
“Call me and let me know what you find out about the airport,” Leif calls at my back.
I throw up a hand and nod. “Diving tomorrow?” I toss back on second thought.
“Yes. Then the range. Check out the weapons you’ll want before you get in.”
A day full of my favorite things. Bonus points for not doing them while my life is on the line.
My truck doesn’t start when I turn the key. Hopping out of the tattered cab, I pop the hood and mess around with the spark plugs I know are on their last leg. Sure enough, a little twisting and the truck rumbles to life. It will be a fun weekend project—something to keep my hands and mind busy. The mundane. Something I’ve only had in insignificant doses over the last decade.
There’s no need for GPS or navigation in Bronze Bay. There’s the waterside and inland. Now that we’re here, we’ve taken up a huge chunk of the waterside, securing government water for our boats and our diving. The beaches are fenced off on either side of our compound. I’m driving inland now, toward May Airport. There’s tall grass growing on the sides of the roads, and the houses are few and far between. I turn down an unpaved roadthat’s half seashells and half dusty rock pieces. The only indication this is where I need to be is the large rectangular sign proclaiming this as May Airport. The font is square and large in a bright shade of red. It reminds me of something you’d see in an antique shop.
The landing strip comes into view, as does a cluster of airplane hangars, one larger than the others. I pull into a spot that looks as if other vehicles have parked before and hop out into a cloud of salty dust. I traded my uniform for my standard black tee and jeans before I left work. Not that it makes me any less conspicuous. The word “outsider” might as well be tattooed on my forehead. The residents know I’m not the standard-fare newcomer. I’m an intruder.
A loud engine roars from somewhere in the general vicinity breaking up the silence.
“Can I help you?” a man calls over the noise.
I turn toward the voice and see an older man wearing a bright Hawaiian shirt. I put up one hand in a wave. “Hi sir, I was hoping to speak to the owner,” I say, approaching slowly.
The man perches both hands on his hips. “Depends on which one you’re looking for and why, but I suppose I fit that description,” he says, grinning while extending his hand in my direction. I don’t miss the way his eyes scan my body from my head to my toe. “What can I help you with? We don’t get visitors very often.”
What he means is he doesn’t get visitors like me.Shaking his hand, I ask if there’s somewhere we can talk with a little less noise. He tells me it’s an airport and I should expect some degree of noise at all times. I laugh, grin widely, and pretend not to be annoyed. It probably doesn’t work well. I’ve been told my smile resembles the Joker, Heath Ledger style.
“Let’s head to the office.” Mr. May inclines his head to the large hangar beside him.
I follow warily, taking note of everything around me. Running an airport has to be tiresome, but I imagine the only people using it are the extremely wealthy or the hobbyists. The light metal exterior of the hangar belies the contents. After I walk through the door, I’m met with air conditioning. That’s the first surprise. The second is that it’s actually really nice inside. There’s an office to the right and a spiral staircase to the left of the office. A door straight in the back ostensibly leads to the portion of the hangar where actual aircraft are stored.
“Right through here, Mr.…” May pauses, waiting for me to offer my name.
“Tyler. Tyler Holiday. It’s nice to meet you,” I say, clearing my throat and walking into the office.
May leaves the door open and walks to the other side of the room, where a small mini fridge buzzes in the corner. “Can I offer you something to drink, Tyler Holiday?”
I don’t want anything, but rejecting hospitality is bad form.
“Sure. Please,” I say, nodding to the bottle of iced tea in his left hand. A can of Bud Lightis in his righthand. After he hands me the tea, he cracks the beer and downs half. “I’m here on behalf of the Bronze Bay Naval Compound,” I hedge.
He nods. “Of course you are, son.” He lowers his chin while staring at me. “The question is, what are you doing at my airport?”
He knows. He must have anticipated something like this. “We were hoping to inquire about the procurement of your fine facilities,” I say, setting the bottle down on a table next to me. I don’t take my eyes off his face, eager to glean any tells he may give. Nothing. “We are prepared to pay you handsomely.”
May laughs loudly, bringing one hand to his chest, covering a smudge of grease marring his tropical ensemble. “I thought you might say something like that. You know this land has been in my family for generations, right? I’m sure you’ve done your research, so that means you’re plumb crazy.” He’s still shaking his head, disbelief washing every feature. I stay silent, as I know he’s not finished. “Rent. I figured you’d come here and want to rent some time or perhaps even a hangar to store a plane or two. Never, in my wildest dreams, did I think you’d come here asking to purchase my crown jewel.”
I told Leif. I knew this would be the outcome. My goal now is to figure out how to sway his mind. “I can assure you, if you sell May Airport to our command, the memory will live on. We won’t change the name,” I say,grasping at straws.
“Sell the airport?” a woman screeches from behind us.
Turning quickly, I see the person from whom the squeal came from.
“Caroline, honey. It’s fine. I’ve got this under control. Mr. Holiday, may I introduce you to my daughter? She’s half owner of the business and property you’re wishing to purchase.” His laughter trips his words, and I’m left feeling like I’m lacking armor and weapons while lying in wait for a killing blow.
“Did I hear you right?” Caroline says, leaning against the doorway, one tan leg propped on the other like a flamingo. Her shorts are short, and her dirty T-shirt is knotted, exposing a sliver of sun-kissed stomach. Several strands of golden blonde hair that escaped her ponytail fall into her face. “My airport? First you take over my favorite beach. The very one where I took my first steps and blocked it off to the public, but now you wantmyairport? I don’t think so. Take your beast body and your handsome offer and leave. There’s not a fiery chance in hell you’ll get your mitts on my family’s airport.” Her face is red, and she’s leaning forward now, like a lion about to pounce on prey.
I hold my hands out in front of me. May laughs, and a vision of a torture device pops into my mind. I hear him drain the rest of his beer. “Are you sure you didn’t mean handsome body and beast offer? Cause that would make a lot more sense. No need for the hostile measures. Icame here in peace,” I reply, using a calming voice.
“Peace?” Caroline nearly yells, stepping toward me, one finger extended. “You represent everything except peace. You’re not even allowed to say that word. Who are you exactly? One of those SEALs?”
