Page 42 of Secret Redemption

Zack paced as he tried to get his mind to make sense of things. Walter Hamilton was part of the Chief of Defence’ staff and a personal friend of his fathers. Zack had known him all his life; it didn’t make sense with the man he knew.

“How sure are we on the intel?” he asked and wished he didn’t have to. His men would never have brought it to him unless they had checked it. Dane and Daniel frowned before Daniel answered. “The intel is solid. That’s not all, according to our source, Hamilton has threatened the families of the men that were taken, telling them to let it go or bad things will happen.”

Zack’s head snapped up as the door opened a couple of inches, and Frank looked in. “Sorry, I can come back.”

“Stay. I could use your experience and thoughts on this,” Zack responded, stopping Frank from leaving the room. “Tell him.” Zack motioned to Daniel to tell Frank what he had told him. Zack watched as Frank’s lip curled at the mention of Sir Walter’s name, dislike evident in every line of his face.

“Doesn’t surprise me. The man is a weasel and as shady as they come. Many a rumour has been quashed about him.”

“I need to go and speak with him. See if he is involved in this,” Zack said to his men and soon to be father-in-law. “I need to find out who the other players are. Is he in country?” he asked,

Daniel nodded, “Yep. He is, and he’s attending a Charity Polo event at the Beauregard Polo Club in Gloucester this weekend,” Daniel finished with a grin.

“Well isn’t that a coincidence,” Zack said sarcastically, “because I believe I have a few tickets for that.”

“Really?” Dane said, disbelievingly.

“Really. It’s a charity event for Childhood cancer. I buy tickets every year. But I’m going to need more. I have four already but get Will to sort out four more.”

Zack walked around the room as his mind flew over the scenarios. He didn’t want to leave anything to chance. If Hamilton was involved, this shit storm just got a whole lot more complicated. He needed to brief the whole team on the last twenty-four hours’ worth of developments.

“Call the team in; I want the Fortis team in for a brief in one hour, then call Eidolon and Zenobi and have them join us an hour later. I have news, and some of it is for Fortis ears only.”

Dane and Daniel nodded and turned to leave but as they did Riley came toddling through the door. His men stopped dead, and so did Riley. They looked at Zack, then Riley, then Zack again.

“Wow! He’s a ‘mini-me’ Zack,” Dane laughed, and Zack tried to suppress the grin that fought to curve his lips.

Daniel crouched down to eye level with Riley as Zack approached. “Hey, little man. I’m Daniel. It’s great to meet you.”

Riley walked to Zack and leaned his body into his leg, so Zack bent and lifted him.

“You going to say hello to Daniel and Dane?” he asked, as Riley curled into his neck and stuck a thumb in his mouth. Riley shook his head in the negative. “Yeah, they are a bit ugly, and scary aren’t they son? How about a hi-five?”

Riley tentatively put his hand out palm first to Daniel and then Dane, giving them both a hi-five and small grin.

“Right, well we best get going. We’ll see you in an hour,” Dane stated, and both men left.

Zack walked to the window with his son in his arms and watched his men leave; it’s starting to rain again. Typical April showers. It reminded him that he would need to keep Dane close now. His and Lauren’s babies were due soon, and he had been told twins came early. He always liked to keep apprised of all situations and had even done his research on how that would affect the team dynamic.

Riley cuddled closer, and his forehead touched Zack’s neck. He felt warm, and Zack touched the back of his hand to Riley’s head.

“He okay?” Frank asked as he came to stand next to him.

“He feels warm. I think Ava should look at him, and I think we should perhaps get him seen by a doctor.”

“Probably a cold, kids get ’em for fun at this age. Do you have any kid’s Tylenol?”

“Yes, I think Ava bought some the other day, it’s in the kitchen in a bottle labelled Children’s paracetamol. Can you get it while I go find her?”

“Sure son. Give him here, and I’ll go get him dosed up.” Frank put out his arms and Riley went to his grandfather, cuddling into him too.

“Come on baby boy, Grampie’s gonna get you some of that lovely pink medicine and make it all better.”

Zack took the stairs two at a time as he looked for Ava. He found her making the bed they had slept in the night before.

Ava swivelled as he burst into the room. “Zack?”

“Riley has a temperature” he announced.

“Oh, my poor baby,” she said, as she followed him out of the room and down the stairs.

“I’ll call the doctor,” he said, as they came into the kitchen just as Riley threw up all over his grandad. His poor boy then burst into tears.

“Oh baby,” Ava murmured, rushing, and scooping up her son. “Let’s get you cleaned up and into bed.”

Frank followed her out to shower and change.

Guess I’ll just clean up then, Zack thought ruefully.