Two hours later, Kip walked Gwen back to her office to gather her purse so her backup could take her home. “Kip, thank you.”
Kip tilted his head. “For?”
“Understanding. I didn’t think I would turn into this babbling wreck.” She looked down.
“I think your decision to do some more in-depth work to help yourself and to lessen your workload is a good choice. I will advise Russ to let me know if he thinks we should adjust your workload further.” Kip walked into her office and sat on the corner of her desk.
Gwen unlocked her desk drawer and grabbed her bag. “I feel horrible dumping more on Janice and Blake.”
“The good thing is Wes, Zach and I are around to help.” Kip’s eyes narrowed. “Are you sure you brought me up to speed on everything?”
Gwen dropped her chin to her chest. “I got a call from Will Cook on Friday. He said he had something for me. I told him he could stop by at 1400 hours and go to the reception desk.”
“And your visit to Jessie Brooks. I bumped into her family in the hall.” He pressed his lips together.
Gwen took a deep breath. “I think Will and his friends are involved in the attacks. Jessie said the man held a heavy black pen with red around it.” She opened the link for the Samuel P. Carter Military Academy on her computer. “The pen.”
Kip shook his head. “Gwen, this can’t keep happening.” He sighed. “My heart aches for what happened to you. You’ve been victimized multiple times. I hate that this happened to you, and if I had a choice, I’d send you into Troy’s arms.” His voice was velvety smooth.
Gwen swallowed and nodded, fingering her necklace.
“You and I are in an unenviable position, and I hate this even more. As your boss, what you’ve kept to yourself has caused delays in the case. We were able to confirm every female victim was an Eventide Harbor client. They also were corporal or higher. We all work here based on trust. I need to be able to trust you as a work partner. As my XO, you’re my second pair of eyes and ears. I can’t split my attention wondering whether you’ve told me everything. And if you’re distracted, can I trust you with my life?” He tapped his finger against his lips.
“I understand. I will strive to do better,” Gwen said. “No, Iwilldo better. You can trust me with your life.” She stood a little taller.
“This conversation stays here. If there is another incident, we will have to have a broader discussion. Now heads up, XO. Mind in the game.” Kip snapped the order.
Gwen’s phone rang. “North. Yes, hold him there.” She looked at Kip. “Will Cook is here.”
“I’ll come with you.” Kip held the office door for her.
* * *
Gwen and Kiptook the elevator to the lobby and walked to the reception desk. Kip whispered to her, “I’m a regular operator. Your XO, clear?”
Gwen nodded.
Will Cook, in uniform, stood waiting for her. She chewed her cheek at the sight of a level-three operator standing beside him. The operator gave no indication that she was called to augment desk security because Will Cook triggered an index of suspicion from the reception desk.
Gwen thanked her and waved Will over to a corner of the lobby. “Will, this is my XO, Kip.”
As they walked, Will ignored Kip, trying to put his arm around her and embrace her. “Wow, you get to be a boss. You always wanted that,” Will sneered.
Reactively, she shrugged him off. “Will, what do you want to tell me?” She stepped away from him to create distance.
Taking a seat, Will said, “Gwenny, I meant what I said at the NCIS office—you look great.”
Kip remained standing, his expression unreadable.
“Anything has to be better than lying near death in a hospital bed. Why are you here?”she snapped.
Will leaned toward her, his palms together between his knees. “The details remain unclear, but when you were returned to the US, you had a specific pattern of injuries.”
“Returned? I wasn’t an unwanted product. I was abandoned by my country and left to die. And pattern of injuries? I was tortured,” Gwen spat.
“However you want to label it, you were the first case we know of. I don't know what they're covering up, but there is a cover-up. Every time I try to develop evidence, I'm either shut down, or the materials disappear. I have an envelope in my car; I made copies of some of the things withheld from the case files we gave to Dupart, as well as pictures of evidence. I’m glad I did, because when I went back looking for more, other original documents disappeared from the files. It was the only way I could try to figure things out.
“I think this is a group started early on in their careers, and they’ve continued since they became officers. I don't know who—believe me, I would tell you—but there are at least sixty cases since you. Three files document deaths. Three more were suicides. I'm not as bad a guy as you think. I do owe you an apology for how things ended between us. I hope you can forgive me.”
