“Cook, you always said she was stupid; that’s funny.” A man stepped from the circle toward her. “How are you XO?”
“Billings,” his name passed Gwen’s lips like a curse. “Remy and I should have pushed to have you fired.”
Kip glared at the former Tango Team operator.
“Um, good to see you, Mr. Brennan. Do you idiots realize you have Kip Brennan, Executive in Charge of Facilities Management for Chase Security, in custody? Hmm, we can make a tape of him and sell a fortune.
“And, Gwen, it came down to me or you. I did my time abroad and then came home and walked into a great job on Tango Team. I never met you until then. I almost had a heart attack when it was announced that the XO position was being filled by an operator from Hotel Team, and it was a woman. And there you were. Bitch. There’s no room for women in charge.
“And then, I thought Mirouette was one of the guys, so I tell him what I learned in Silverton. Piece of shit writes me up. He fucked me over. I got transferred to Lima Team. What a hump Collier is. But it worked out. That is, until you went gaga over Bremen. Guys, that’s a helluva story, one impotent freak with another. I get summoned to San Diego to take responsibility for my actions. Bremen and Winslow shredded me. But I guess I showed enough remorse,” Gerald Billings said.
“You’re the one who takes delight in carving women up?” she asked.
“Nah, I scouted for them.” Billings smiled.
“That means we’re up to fourteen? Bastard. If it’s not you, which one of you cowards is the one?” Gwen demanded.
“Those high-achieving women who have no place ordering men around and couldn’t handle their men at home. All of you went to Eventide Harbor.” Dr. Mitch Ackers, a psychiatrist, stepped into the circle. “Lieutenant North, you arrived at Pendleton a babbling idiot. Having conversations with yourself. I gave you meds that should have turned you into a mute zombie. Instead, you got better. Your father and brother shut us down. Your aunt put the final nail in our attempts. They took you away. And we thought you were gone for good.”
“Youare the one carving up the women.” When she looked at his hands, a shiver ran through her. “You are the one who took his time carving me. Why?” she screamed.
“We needed to make you less masculine. Freud said we must take away your clitoris to make you feminine. A clitoris is manly in nature,” Dr. Mitch Ackers said.
“You sick son of a bitch. Freud’s theories on sexuality were discredited. You maimed all those women because you’re afraid of women in leadership roles.” She shook her head. “Why rape the men?” Gwen cocked her head. “Need? Guilt?”
“Why would any of us feel needy?” Harry Desmond asked.
“Because you get no satisfaction from women, and you feel guilty because you desire the men. Stacy and Ackers hurt the women. But all of you take turns, two per victim. Or maybe you take care of each other?” Gwen goaded them, adrenaline rushing through her veins.
“You think you know everything?” One of the other men punched her in the gut. Once on the ground, he kicked her.
Gwen’s anger helped dissipate the pain. Gritting her teeth, she was sizing up her next move. Troy had taught her a lot about doing things on her terms.
Kip snapped his flex cuffs and flew at the man who kicked Gwen. “You animal.” Another man raised his weapon. Kip rolled, using the man as a shield. The bullet struck the man, creating dead weight in Kip’s arms.
Her body thrummed with energy as she knelt, grabbing the other man’s gun. Kip dropped the dead attacker and lifted her to her feet. Together, they ran into the mountainous land, shots firing behind them.
Kip pushed her harder, and they picked up speed. Until they got higher, the scrub pines were sporadic and gave them little cover.
The shots continued. Her body tensed as fatigue started to take over, and her legs were heavy from the injection and the last kick. Shoving Kip ahead of her, she stumbled, and he tossed her over his shoulder. “Gwen, I know Troy will figure this out. We just need to keep moving until he does. Hang on.”
“I won’t quit, I promise.”I can do this.
Chapter 41
The helo rose with the team onboard. Troy worked over the satellite view, scouring the potential areas that could match the descriptions from Jessie Brooks and James Richmond.
The co-captain buzzed his headset. “Greece, I’ve got Hornet on the line. He has emergent information.”
Troy to Co-pilot: Connect.
Ian to Troy: Do you read me?
Troy: Go.
Ian: I spoke with Lincoln in Denver. Lima Team’s leader filed an insubordination complaint against Billings. Suspended him. I had Caleb run him again. Billings was a transfer student, originally attending Georgia Military College, but he transferred to Samuel P. Carter. Caleb is already trying to figure out why it didn’t pop on our system.
Troy: We now know where the film came from. He must have grabbed it during the last prison raid in Silverton. He knew my call name, Greece, my cell number. Where Gwen was, and about my surgery.
