“I’m not leaving you, XO.”
“I won’t be able to go fast enough, but you can. You have to get help.” Gwen crossed her arms over her chest. “You’re smarter than them. You can evade them. I’m your XO. My job is to protect you. Go.”
“Remember, you are one of the smartest and bravest people I know.” Kip pulled her to him and kissed the top of her head. “Here, keep Kermit and my bullets too.” He handed her the clip from his gun and slipped into the darkness.
Gwen felt around for a stick, and, using her little light, she covered over Kip’s footsteps. Quietly as she could, she pulled herself onto a low-lying branch and then the next until she was fifteen feet up into the tree.
“Gwenny, don’t make this so hard,” Stacy called.
“Damn it, XO. I missed having fun with you all those years ago. I got to hear the stories,” Billings said. “I want a turn.”
* * *
Troy wavedBrody Garrett toward a more private area of the Chinook. “You knew Cook?” Troy asked.
“Unfortunately, yes. I did my undergraduate with him. Stacy too. From our freshman year, his group of friends acted as if they were the gift to the school and for their upcoming stint as Marines. It was also clear they had no respect for women, cadets, or teachers. Do you remember the showThe Little Rascals? It was like they formed a he-man’s woman-hater club. Another group of us formed a school watch group to make sure the women weren’t sabotaged during PT or on exams. We took pictures and presented evidence to the commandant. His reaction made me think he was a believer.”
“Here’s a blanket release to disclose info. Do you recognize this woman? Think back; it would’ve been 2012.”
Brody Garrett’s eyes glazed over. “No need to think. William Cook’s fiancée. I treated her,” he gulped. “She’s one of the never-forgets. She comes in with Cook. He’s all ‘Poor Gwenny’ over her. She had a ‘black eye from a fall.’” He held up his hands in quotation marks. “She also had pelvic pain. And after some intense discussion with him, he gave her permission to have the exam.
“With a female nurse and he present, I did a full exam. She wouldn’t ask him to leave. It was clear she was engaging in aggressive sexual behavior. I couldn’t call it abuse without her saying something, so I treated an obvious infection and, after making sure there was no brain injury, sent her on her way. Two days later, her test came back positive for chlamydia. I filed the reports with the necessary agencies, and I sought her out while she was at work. I brought her the appropriate meds and gave her a referral to women’s health and a shelter. She told me her fiancé was her only partner.
“I made the call to him. Troy, it killed me to do it. He called her a whore. I told him he needed to get any other partner treated as well. That didn’t go well, but according to women’s health, two privates and a lance corporal were treated. They listed Cook as their contact. Is this why I was attacked?”
“I think so. When Gwen returned to the area, he thought you might make the connection,” Troy frowned.
“Boss, General North is here,” Trask said.
“Troy, you’ll find them.” Brody sat down and dropped his head in his hands.
* * *
Glenn North,dressed for battle, extended his hand. “Ian Chase briefed me. Any updates?”
“We have a tentative location and are waiting for the FAA to open the sky for us. A ceasefire was called. I’m waiting for confirmation. My rapid response squad is waiting for the order to begin search and rescue. I understand you have a Pave Hawk.”
“At your disposal for a joint services training mission. Mr. Holland is a former PJ. Mr. Winslow and Mr. Dupart are both spec ops combat medic-trained. Ms. Ramirez from your Bravo Team is sniper-trained. And it’s always the quiet ones, Mr. Canel, also from Bravo Team, is former Delta Force. Your two pilots are former Coast Guard. That covers all five services plus civilian operators. A thing of beauty.”
“Greece, we’re a go,” Martin announced.
The commanding general joined the group. “Greece?” he asked. Troy nodded. “I’ve got my captain from the 1stMarine division reporting he has Kip Brennan at his location. Can you verify?” Troy nodded. “Put him on.” He handed the phone to Troy.
“Acrobat, identify yourself.”
“You hate horse crap.” Kip chuckled.
“Good enough for me. Sit-rep,” Troy asked.
“Thirteen captors. One tango uniform. Billings and Desmond are the two extras. I think there are more. They’re using an old building tucked into a piece of the mountain. We broke free. Witch has a black eye and swollen cheek. She took a round from a M19 to the right flank, no exit wound. She took that round for me.” Kip’s voice cracked.
“As soon as I clear this call, I’m going back for her. I’ve got red smoke, a medic bag, and an M-4. I’m giving the coordinates for her last location to the captain. Ground is rugged. No landing zone. Hurry, they were circling in on her.”
“Roger, Acrobat. We are taking to the air. Dutch Boy will jump. Greece out.”
* * *
Gwen was neverreligious growing up, but after spending time with Fani, she realized she felt comfort in her words. She had stayed beside Troy as he prayed. And now, alone, she said a prayer, not for her but for Troy and all the men and women who surrounded him.
