She heard the three men gasp. Troy’s arms wrapped around himself.
“I was transferred to Walter Reed after that. I met Jack Parker there. I couldn’t walk. I had no skin on the bottoms of my feet. I did see him again when Tango Team transferred that major.
“As my head started to clear, I knew I’d never return as an active-duty Marine. The looks on people's faces—disgust. I was MIA. Others said I was on a UA and was a disgrace, a traitor and a whore. There was nothing left. I resigned my commission. I was good at what I did.” Droplets fell from her full lashes.
Troy swiped his face, then reached for her hands. “I’m sorry. Youaregood at what you do.”
Gwen wished he would hug her, but she’d take the strength in his hands. “There's more: after my discharge, I was treated at a private women's center to repair the damage to my body. My family arranged for me to be treated by a wonderful psychiatric team too. About a year later, I was well enough to apply for my position at Chase Security.
“The medical directors know. It’s hard to hide on a physical, and they receive monthly reports from my therapist—and Remy Mirouette. Remy walked in on me one night while I was changing. He called medical, worried about whether I was fit for duty. He was asked to send in reports too. Most of the scars I manage to hide with a special makeup, but he caught me coming out of the shower.”
She absorbed the touch of Troy’s hands, unable to move, fearing she’d never feel them again. “Hmmpf, that was the first time I cried. I'm sorry to all of you. I had ample chances to tell you, and I didn’t.”
* * *
Troy addedbricks to his emotional wall. He resisted every instinct to pull her against him. He had more questions he needed answers to.
Gwen sighed, let go of him and stood.
Troy also stood, a cautious, professional demeanor in his eyes. “This wasn’t your fault.”
Gwen reached again for his hand, and he reluctantly let her take it, stiffening when their skin touched, his work side taking over. She’d suffered so much. But she’d also lied.
“Mr. Bailey, Mr. Dupart, Mr. Bremen, I deceived the company when I applied and took the job. I deceived you when I accepted the assistant position. After my failure to supply the whole truth, I can’t see the company wanting me. I betrayed all of your trust.”
Troy kicked himself. This was Gwendolen. She needed his support, not his judgment. Who the hell was he to judge her? He knew how hard this was for her.
“The focus has to be on you and your mental health. I will go with you to the health center. I want Russ or Ethan to give you a thorough physical and arrange for a psychological exam. Based on the evaluation, we will go from there. Gwen, you are not alone. Let me help you,”Troy whispered.
He caught the expressions of his two devastated friends.
.
Chapter 13
Troy dropped Gwen off at medical and returned to the executive offices. Rejoining Martin and Julian, he sat heavily in a chair across from Julian and opened his phone. “Seton, you’re on speaker. Julian and Martin are here.” Eric Seton was the facility director for San Diego medical.
Troy advised, “Trask spoke with Jessie Brooks' doctor and one of the nurses. The doctor believes, under the right conditions, she’s safe for transport. A non-committal committal. He said the psychiatrist is adamantly against her being moved. The nurse told him her mother tossed out NCIS and someone from the military police. They said, after confirming her name, she stared off into space and said nothing.”
“I got a full statement. They flayed her. Sodomized her. According to her, one cut her between her legs. According to the records her dad provided, they removed a piece of her clitoris and cut her nipples off,” Troy advised. “I ordered a team on her door. As soon as we get her out of here, she needs a full rape kit. I will follow up on her clothing and anything else recovered from the scene. I want our forensics team to get out to where she was found and look around.”
“We’ll take care of the rape kit and any other treatment she needs. Troy, Leslie Booth, one of our psychiatrists, will perform the psychiatric exam as you ordered on Gwen North. Russ and Trish will perform the medical to start,” Eric said.
“Thanks, Eric.” Troy ended the call. Blowing out a breath, he stared at Martin and Julian.
“You look shittier than when you walked out of here with Gwen. You feel alright?” Martin never minced words.
“No, I don’t feel well. How can anyone feel well after hearing that?” Troy leaned heavily against the table. “The case is a shit show. What’s going on with Gwen is a shit show.”
Martin said, “One thing at a time. Jule told me about your NCIS meeting. We signed off on your budget request for Jessie Brooks. Winslow reported you looked upset leaving the hospital. How was the interview?”
Troy harumphed. “So much for having a second to work through my thoughts. She was in agony, but she talked to me. And she gave me permission to record it.” He shook his head.
“After hearing Gwen, the more I think about things, Martin, I believe someone sanitized a couple of pages of Gwen’s records for my eyes. Major William Cook is her former fiancé. There was no way we missed that. Boyle and Stacy were attached to her investigation. Since we missed her capture, we’d miss them.” Troy raised a brow. “But, damn, if that’s the truth, I owe her a huge apology. And so do all of us. I can’t function if I know you have doubts about my ability to perform my job. Please stop second-guessing every decision based upon whether it will upset me. That would upset anyone. Will I have issues? Yes. And I’m working on them.”
Martin rubbed his eyes. “Troy, we’re concerned about hurting you, but none of us would hide pertinent information from you. We’d talk it through. Jule and I were talking about this too. I agree things were sanitized, but not by me, or Mike. There are not many non-government groups around that can handle that type of rescue. The news accounts say the Israelis found her, but not with the volume of information that would come from a major rescue. I have a call into Ian, waiting to hear if we brought her home.”
Troy blew out a harsh breath. “Jessie Brooks’ story is eerily similar to Gwen’s. Jule, you brought home a stack of files. Are there more similar stories there?”
