“Why was that guy here? What did he want?”
Hannah looked at Ben for help. She didn’t know what she could tell her. He wrapped an arm around her waist and gave her his support. “Hannah has been helping us get information on a mole. Commander Brady is that mole and figured out Hannah knew about him.”
“He told me he was taking me to someone,” Hannah whispered to him hoping not to draw the others attention.
“Did he say who?” Sunshine asked.
Now he cared? Before he couldn’t wait for Ben to get rid of her and now he cared what happened to her? The man had serious issues. “He didn’t say.”
Benpulled out his phone and called the MP’s. They arrived in fifteen minutes and hauled the barely conscious commander away.
“What’s going to happen to him?” Hannah asked Ben.
“He’ll be court-martialed and sent to jail,”Bentold her. He turned to look at Cora. “Do you mind staying with Hannah for a little while? I want to go to base and be there for the questioning.”
“Of course, Ben. You don’t even have to ask.” Cora smiled warmly at Hannah.
Hannah owed her her life. Cora had no reason to risk her life for Hannah and yet she had.
“I’ll stay too,” Sunshine stated.
“That’s not necessary,” Cora rushed out.
Hannah could sense Cora still had feelings for Liam but that didn’t mean she wanted him around. Sunshine watched Cora leave his side and stand next to Hannah. His eyes filled with longing and regret. What was his big secret that kept them apart? It was obvious to anyone they loved each other. So, what was the big secret? Ben seemed to know but wouldn’t tell her.
Sunshine accepted defeat and followedBenout, they followed the MP’s back to base. Commander Brady was first taken to the hospital and had his face looked over. He had a fracture under his left eye and the other was swollen shut. Three teeth had been knocked loose and might lose at leastone of them. The rest was superficial cuts.
Bendidn’t care. Commander Brady had earned his beating. For selling out his country and trying to have two teams killed.Bencalled Hound and filled him in on the situation. Hound was taking Cricket home to heal, and the rest of the team said they would all meet atBen’s house for a debriefing afterBenspoke to the Commander. Sunshine waited withBenuntil Commander Brady was cleared for an interrogation. It wasn’t until the next day they could talk to him due to the inflammation of his face. Cora stayed with Hannah, and the rest of the team waited with them. Sunshine stayed withBen,staying away from Cora.
“Cora and Hannah seem really close,” Sunshine stated.
“Cora is a great lady. What’s not to like?” Sunshine cringed at the dig.Benknew Sunshine’s secrets but promised never to tell. The secrets ate at Sunshine and eventually caused him to lose a great lady. And yet, he still couldn’t bring himself to tell her the truth.Bencould only hope one day he would.
“Yeah, what’s not to like,” Sunshine muttered as they were escorted into the Commanders room.
The commander had half his face covered in bandages, and both eyes were all but sealed shut. One hand was handcuffed to the bed.Bendoubted the commander would try and leave in his present condition. The man couldn’t even see.
“Commander Brady,”Bencalled out.
“Midas,” Commander Brady spat and turned his head inBen’s general direction since he couldn’t see him. “This is an outrage. You attacked a commanding officer. I will see you court-martialed for this.”
“Well, you won’t be seeing much of anything for a while. At least out of a hospital room or a courtroom.”
“You have nothing on me.”
“On the contrary, wehave plenty. Fox.”
Commander Brady lost his bluster and his fists clenched. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“Of course, you don’t,”Bengave his a droll look the commander couldn’t see. “Well, we tracked a large amount of money to a few offshore accounts in your name. Several shipments of weapons have been sent off over the years to countries we weren’t supposed to have dealings in with your signature on them. I suppose you’ll tell me next that your signature was forged?”
The commander fell back against the hospital bed. “You’re right. I made dealings with Alejandro’s men and others of his ilk for the past few years. I’ve sold weapons to terrorists that I fear have killed hundreds of our boys overseas. And I made a lot of money doing it.”
“Why?” It was the only thingBencouldn’t figure out. Sure, the money was great, but there had to be a reason. You don’t just sell out your team on a whim.
“I was looking into retiring a few years back. You know what they told me? Due to changes in the military, they were taking a larger cut of my retirement. It was a pittance of what I should have made. I served my country well all these years for them to give me nothing. A guy I met around that time introduced me to some people that offered me large sums of money to transport weapons and money.”
“So why try to kill my team and Bulldog’s? None of us knew about your dealings.”
