“There are more than three-hundred of us back home,” smiled Adam.
“Three-hundred?”
“Most of our family and friends are retired Special Forces or government agencies. We own a security company, private investigation, that type of thing. This is what we do for a living.”
April dropped her fork, staring at the table full of beautiful faces. She pushed back slightly, her face a bit a pale.
“April? Honey, are you okay?” asked Elena.
“Security company. Lots of people,” she said robotically. “D-do you know a man by the name of Colonel Tom Lewis?”
“I do,” nodded Major. “He was in charge of some of the first troops headed into the middle east. One of the finest military strategists I’ve ever known. How do you know him?”
“He’s my, he was my grandfather,” she said staring at Major. “He died a while back but he told me stories about all of you. He kept saying, ‘if you’re ever in trouble April, find them’. I had no idea how I would find you if I needed you but I guess he knew you’d be there no matter what. The name of your company is REAPER-Patriots.”
“It was,” nodded Patrick. “When my grandfather started with the original team, it was REAPER. Over time, we had other teams join us. We became REAPER-Patriots and then Voodoo Guardians. Now, our team is called Shadow Warriors.”
“I would have never found you,” she said. “Can this all be coincidence? Me being here, you finding me?”
“Mama Irene would say nothing is coincidence,” laughed Finn.
“Who is that?”
“We’ll explain later,” smiled Margo. “For now, at least you know that you’re in good hands and we’ll figure this out for you.”
CHAPTER FIVE
While the girls chatted, taking care of the dishes and discussing dinner plans – always discussing dinner plans – the men gathered in the library to speak with the team back home.
“We sent two men to her apartment,” said Ham. “It was ransacked big time. The landlord already called the police when he saw her sliding door wide open and there was a sofa overturned. Police didn’t find any blood or anything but said the whole place was a disaster. They’re looking for something.”
“And the other flight attendant? Jerry?” asked Quinn.
“Dead. He was found dead in his car at the airport. Didn’t show up for his flight rotation and they got worried. Said he was always on time. It looks like an assassination. Shot through the windshield into the forehead. We’ve got men trying to get into the employee lounge at the airport now to get to that bag. We might have to get creative. Give us a little while.”
“And Greg Jones? What about him?” asked Patrick.
“Alias. No Greg Jones that we can find anywhere with that description or age range. He sure as hell doesn’t live in Miami or hasn’t been a guest in Pensacola in the last few weeks.”
“Are we thinking smuggling?” asked Major.
“Possibly. At this point it could have been trafficking as well.”
“What makes you think that?” asked Quinn.
“The other guy, Jerry, didn’t live in a one-bedroom apartment on the beach. He lived in the penthouse of a luxury condo building on the beach. Place was easily worth two or three million. He had expensive artwork, luxury brand shoes and bags.”
“Handbags? April said he was gay,” said Adam.
“You’re showing your age, brother,” laughed Ham. “Many men carry bags now. Luxury, women’s handbags.”
“Are you fucking with me?” he growled.
“It’s true,” said Finn laughing at the older man. “I never saw a guy on the teams carrying one but there were a lot of other men in the Navy and in other branches that used them. To each his own.”
Finn shrugged and Adam just shook his head. He wondered if the large Italian leather tote bag his wife carried would work as his first aid bag.
“Don’t even think about it,” smirked Major. “I know what you’re running through your head. Your wife will kill you.”
