Troy’s eyes narrowed as he entered the room. Trask and Janice, both former members of Bravo Team, and Blake and Caleb stood and stepped up to attention. “Okay, I know Trask and Janice are noodle heads, but Minor and Paulsen, cut the crap. All of you sit.”
Julian tried and failed to subdue a laugh. “Alright, everyone, I’d like to welcome Gwen North and Troy Bremen to their new home,” he started the meeting.
“Troy and Gwen, we have a quick check-in every morning, when possible, to touch base with what’s extra on our plates. Caleb, you can start.”
“We are seeing more intense hacking attempts on some of our corporate clients. Us too. We’re doing our best to keep up,” he said.
“What’s the but?” Troy asked.
“It’s not sufficient. Three people just retired from Homeland’s Cybersecurity Department. I’d like to potentially offer them positions.” Caleb swallowed hard.
“Paulsen, you saved how many words?” Troy asked.
“Bring them in for interviews. Next.” Julian rolled his eyes in Troy’s direction.
“The latest range inspection went well,” Janice reported. “I know we changed the filters not even a year ago, but the training tempo is high. We need to do it again. Trainers report continuing issues with the attention span of some of the twenty-somethings.”
“Wes Crockett had similar issues. We instituted a warning, two-mile timed run, pay dock and, finally, suspension with potential loss of seniority. We never made it past the run.”
Trask tapped his finger against the desk. “I spoke with Troy on a personal level about James Richmond yesterday. I’m having some trouble coping. He hasn’t said a word since he was found wandering the Pacific Highway.”
Troy subdued Julian’s concerned face with a raised eyebrow.
“This morning, I took an intake call from Commander Bryan Brooks,” Trask continued.
“Wow, Trout? It’s been a long time since I heard his name,” Julian said.
“Didn’t Kieran punch him out?” Troy laughed.
“Yeah, Ian had to fly from Coronado to Little Creek and back in a day to save his brother’s ass and make a deployment. I’m sorry, keep going,” Julian chuckled. “You served with him too?”
“Yeah.” Trask blew out a breath. “I dated his oldest daughter before I met my wife. He asked for our help. His youngest daughter, Jessie, a twenty-eight-year-old corporal at Pendleton, was beaten and sexually assaulted while on maneuvers at Twentynine Palms. She has barely spoken since the attack.” His voice cracked, but he kept his composure. “The initial exam documents a brutal attack. According to Commander Brooks, there is a six-hour period she was unaccounted for.”
“Anyone else unaccounted for?” Blake Minor asked.
“They never looked. That’s why the commander called us. He said he’s receiving no cooperation.” Trask shook his head.
“Do we have an NCIS contact?” Troy asked, making a mental plan to tackle the case.
“NCIS Special Agent Davidson Boyle,” Trask read off the file.
Troy asked, “Two more military sexual assault cases in a few days—is there a coincidence?”
Gwen released the brakes and rolled the chair back. She held her hand to her mouth. “I… I…”
Trask was on his feet. He lifted her from the chair and rushed her into Julian’s bathroom. Bent over the sink, she shook hard as she vomited. A few moments later, a hand reached over her and handed her a damp paper towel.
“The antibiotics. They upset my stomach,” she bluffed.
“Coming inside,” Trask’s voice came from the doorway.
“She thinks it’s a reaction to her antibiotics.” Troy moved to let Trask into the bathroom.
Trask lifted her up and placed her on Julian’s couch. Troy sat beside her, resting the back of his hand against her forehead while Trask, using a medical bag stored beneath the sink, took her vital signs.
“No fever,” Troy said. “I think you are pushing too hard, but I’ll leave it up to you. Do you want to come back to the meeting?”
“I’m good,” Gwen answered, and Trask offered her a cup of water.
