She leaned on her elbow. "I graduated from Annapolis as a second lieutenant in the Marine Corps in 2012. I was assigned first to Parris Island. Two months later I was in Kuwait as a logistics and embarkation specialist. Four months of frisking and interrogating women and riding in supply and troop convoys for hearts and minds patrols…”
Zach’s eyes never left hers. She saw the intensity of his expression and resisted the desire to squirm. She had reflexively told a lie. It was her protective wall.
“Gwen, no one in this room, in this company, wants to hurt you. We are only seeking answers. Wes and I heard and read all your statements. From our next question forward, no more lies,” Zach ordered.
Gwen nodded. “Yes, sir. I was born at Weed Army Military Hospital. My mom was a doctor there, and my dad was assigned to Fort Irwin. My brother followed two years later. When I was ten, my mom was diagnosed with a brain tumor. She fought so hard, but... Then it was the three of us.” She looked away.
Zach Wentworth oozed command and control. She thought a moment. Troy did too. Another thought crossed her mind: Will commanded through abuse.
“I had a fairly sedate childhood with lots of friends and a big family,” she sighed. “My dad encouraged us to work hard in school. The Silver Valley Unified School District offered prep classes for the aptitude tests. That and thanks to my military family and a California senator, I got my appointment to the Naval Academy. My brother Scott, also a graduate, is a captain serving as a Beef Eater flying F-18 Super Hornets aboard the Nimitz.”
“We’ll introduce him to Mike Johnson. He’s a flyboy too,” Wes commented.
Wes’s kinder demeanor soothed her, but after working with him in Virginia, she was under no illusions he was a pushover. “My dad is still serving at Fort Irwin, Lieutenant General Glenn North. He’s my living Army connection.”
“That’s a helluva connection. Does he know you’re working for a Navy guy?” Zach asked.
Gwen smiled. “Yes. He met Troy, Wes and Kip when I had my surgery. Aunt Georgia is still serving in the Navy at Walter Reed. She’s a major and a BSN. Uncle Lloyd is a Navy major at Little Creek. My other uncle is a Navy commander at Langley. That’s the Navy side. Then there’s the Air Force side.”
Wes laughed. “Family parties must be an adventure.”
“I have to say, Scott and I had a lot of support when my mom passed,” she said wistfully.
“I didn’t mean to minimize your pain,” Wes added.
“I know. It’s been a long time since I talked about family to anyone.”Except Troy.
“Gwen, your uncle at Langley, are you close?” Wes asked.
“Commander Levi North, my dad’s baby brother. When my mom died, he became a co-parent with my dad. Scott and I had a ball with him. He still makes me laugh. Why are you asking about Uncle Levi?”
“Putting the pieces together,” Wes offered.
“I wish it were that easy,” Gwen sighed.
“Gwen, let’s go back. We need to talk about the assignment to Kuwait. Tell me what happened while you were over there before you were kidnapped. And, if possible, do you remember the names of the group you served with?”
She repeated the story she had told Troy about the special operation there. She also was able to recall the Marines she served with on that operation and her fellow Marines in the logistics area, as well as her commanding officer.
“Two agency guys approached you. Did they show you ID and tell you their names?”
Gwen scrunched her brows. “I never saw ID. Clark…um…Patterson. Early forties, over six feet, built, olive skin, blond hair, blue eyes. And the other man...Daniel Feldon. He had rough edges. He is about six feet with light skin, gray hair and brown eyes.”
“You don’t seem sure,” Zach followed up.
“I don’t know. There was something familiar about each man. I can’t…”
“We will keep going and circle back if necessary. You told us about Emily, your bobblehead, her grandparents had intel. I’ll use that. I like ‘bobblehead.’ Do you know what the intel was?” Zach asked.
“No, sir,” she replied, drifting into a subordinate role in her mind—the way Will made her feel. She saw Zach flash Wes a hand signal but missed what it was.
“Could someonethinkyou knew what intelligence they had?” Zach continued.
Gwen played with a stray wisp of hair. “I don’t think so. But I guess it’s possible.”
“Tell us about your service before you were sent to Kuwait,”Wes asked.
“I met Will Cook in Quantico when I attended Basic School for Marine officers. He was a first lieutenant leading some of the training. At the time I thought he was polished, sweet, and funny. I was in training, so there was not very much free time. We managed to share a meal or two. But nothing else.
