Clarity (The Admiral's Elite Book 3) (23 page)

“I don’t know, Becca. We’ll have to see where the information takes us.”

A small, broken sound garbled in her chest and Michael’s dead heart lurched.

“Hey,” Ryan sidled up to her and put a big hand on her delicate shoulder. “Maybe we won’t have to resort to letting him in on the big secret. Maybe we can get what we need with a little old fashioned deceit and bluffing. That’s how it’s done here.”

Becca offered him an indulgent smile, wiping wetness from her long dark lashes. “We’ll see.”

The same words in the same tone his mother used when his sister’s cat fell off the roof and lay yowling in pain on the street and she asked if it would be alright.

“We’ll put him on some blankets, see how he does in the night.”

Later that night, Michael saw his father get the shovel out of the shed. He was gone a while, long enough to bury a dead cat far enough away his little girl wouldn’t see the grave when she woke. At breakfast they told her he’d passed in the night. Not a lie, but they’d known the cat’s fate before steel met skull. Like now, Becca knew how this game was played. They would try to keep Ed in the dark about the existence of monsters. But if it came down to it, the lives of many were worth more than the life of one. It was the oath they all gave once upon a time, even Ed gave it, lived by it most of his life. Their contract with Uncle Sam was one with the possibility they wouldn’t get out alive. But to die for a secret felt wrong. Even if that secret kept thousands safe.

Chapter 20

“He’s here.” Gabs turned from the window, the last rays of daylight casting her in a soft glow. “I’ll do the talking.”

“Or the not talking?”

“Don’t pout, Ryan, it’s ugly.”

“Please don’t hurt him,” Becca rose from her seat on the bed’s edge.

“It’s highly possible we won’t need to go down that road.” Michael spoke to all of them, eyes catching Gabrielle’s and holding. “Normal humans won’t naturally go to the impossible. If the senator and Ed’s paths crossed without any indication of paranormal influence then we don’t need to tell him anything that would place him in the crosshairs.”

Ryan and Gabrielle each dipped their heads in a solemn nod. This was family, they understood the potential pitfalls of this interview.

Michael, standing beside the door, reached for the knob and turned it. “Becca, we have to go. If he sees us there may be questions.”

“What about him?” Becca pointed at the wild card in the room. “I don’t want him anywhere near my father.”

Kenneth grinned and winked. “Don’t worry, I’ll behave. I won’t touch him any more than I have to.”

“Keep your hands off my dad, you crazy fu-”

An arm wrapped around her middle before she made it two steps. “Get yourself under control, Becca or I’ll be forced to lock you down.” Michael’s tone shut down her argument though her body hummed with tension. “This is why he’s here, he can tell us what Ed won’t. If he saw something, knows something he won’t give us, Kenneth can take it.”

A pained whimper escaped her though she did not fight further.

Kenneth giggled.

“We’ll be next door if you need anything.” Michael’s voice dropped an octave. “You will control yourself or this will be your last mission. I will retire you permanently myself.”

“Don’t worry about me, Captain. I’d worry about that one, seems pretty unstable to me.” Dark lips twisted in a smirk.

A low growl rumbled the hard body two inches behind her but nothing more was said. The door opened, they walked out, it closed behind them.

Back in their room, Becca went to her side, Michael to his. He pulled a handful of files out of his bag and tossed them on the bed between them. Grabbing one he cracked it and began to study. When she failed to follow suit he looked up and gave her a brief study.

“I can hear everything they say in there, if it sounds like it’s going south I’m in there. You have my word.”

“He’ll recognize you. There will be questions about our involvement.”

Michael shrugged. “We can excuse some involvement, he knows enough to let some basic investigative information slip. Our issue comes only if he starts to ask too many questions or our enemy figures out he’s your dad and go after him.” He offered her a thin smile. “Trust me, I’ve been doing this a while.”

Her return smile was weak. “Okay.” A shaking hand picked up a file and she sat down to examine the less than titillating last year of the senator’s life as told through his speeches, floor interjections, and each vote he cast. This would be the longest evening of her life.

***

Ed Sauter walked up to the room where he was to report and lifted his hand to knock. Barely had skin rasped on cream painted wood when the door opened inward on a large corner suite.

“Um, I’m sorry, I was told I was meeting General Whitcomb here.” He took in her navy sheath dress and coifed hair. “Are you his secretary?”

Gabrielle didn’t react though the idea of being a general’s secretary made her want to laugh her ass off. Like she’d make coffee and remember to send his wife flowers on their anniversary
.
Fuck that.

“Thank you for coming, Sgt. Sauter.” She stepped back. “Please, come in. General Whitcomb was unable to make it but he’s sent some gentlemen in his absence.”

Inside, their guest’s eyes swept the room, pausing on each of the two men seated at the small round table in front of the window. Another chair sat empty between them.

Both men were in plain clothes, though anyone with knowledge could see they were not civilians. Gabrielle watched Becca’s father take in the suite, sweeping for possible other parties, or escape routes. If he was like any of them, he was wondering about potential weapons. To his credit, the change of interviewers was taken in without a ripple. Minor elevation in heart rate and respiration but it was minimal. Must be where his daughter got it. Balls of steel, that girl. The image of her human team member’s now pale, drawn face haunted her. The human hadn’t been with them for a year and already Gabrielle knew she would feel her loss should it come to that.

Focus on now, there’s no time for costly mistakes.

“Please, Sergeant, take a seat.”

“Just call me Ed. Please.” He lowered himself into the chair, the tiniest hesitation hinted the source of his limp stemmed from the hip.

“All right.” Ryan rolled his chair back to face his interviewee. Classic strategy; open body language, be non-threatening, be their friend. “Ed.” He smiled.

Kenneth did nothing. He sat with hands resting intertwined on the table, feet flat on the floor looking completely at peace. It was creepy as fuck.

Gabrielle hovered by the wet bar on the near wall behind Ryan where she could avoid his eyes and keep close watch on Kenneth. If he ate her dad, Becca would never forgive them. If she lived.

After they got to the bottom of who the hell had it in for them she was going to find a way to get the human well again. Even if she had to do it personally.

Ed drummed scarred fingers on the table, the beginnings of arthritis twisted the first digit on each pointer finger.

Kenneth scarcely feigned breath.

Ryan shifted.

Finally when the game threatened to bridge from tedious to inane, Gabrielle rolled her eyes and lifted a foot to step forward, thinking to offer the fools water. Power struggles were thirsty business. These sorts of tactics might be necessary but it could be so much easier to be a woman
.
Give me candles, a drink, and five minutes, I’ll have his social security number, mother’s maiden name, and greatest fear from childhood
.
Life was much more complicated with a penis.

“We all know General Whitcomb isn’t behind this meeting,” Ed broke first.

Ryan’s grin grew. “What makes you think that, Ed?” The accent was heavy on his name.

“Because the general hasn’t called a meeting with just me since my last op and we’ve gone over that plenty, they even videotaped the interview. There’s nothing else they could possibly want from me.” Dark eyes swept over his affable interviewer, then the barely contained psychopath. A twist of his head and he took in Gabrielle in her long grey pencil skirt, charcoal heels, and matched dark grey silk top. She got a second glance. The first was as a subject, the second as a woman. Lips tightened.

“I’m guessing this has to do with Senator Jordan being the target of a car bomb this morning.”

Ryan leaned in. “And why would that bring us to you, Ed?”

“I’m not seeing names so you’re either very bold or you have the proper clearance.” Ed met Ryan’s gaze evenly. “Which is it? Are you with the Bureau? Spooks? Army Intelligence?”

No one answered.

Leaning back, Ed crossed his arms. “I was in way too long to fall for the blank stares and intimidation tactics.” He paused, glanced down for a moment. “Turn the heat down a few degrees? Trying to make me uncomfortable?”

Gabrielle swore she heard a deep chuckle from beyond the wall. Pushing off, she uncrossed her arms.

“Listen, Ed, you were on a few ops with Bill Jordan back when he was a Ranger. We think he was killed because of something that happened on one of those ops.” Crossing behind Ryan she stood directly across from Ed Sauter. “You know, I was in Afghanistan recently. Troubled country.” She tipped her head. “What part were you in again? With the senator? Was it the Faryab province?”

Ed’s California tanned face paled, his throat worked.

“That name ring a bell to you, Ed?” Ryan chimed in.

Kenneth moved, hand flashing out to grip Ed’s wrist where it tipped over the table top.

“What is this? What are you doing?”

The light in Kenneth’s eyes flashed and Gabs could see the crazy from across the room. So could Ed. He didn’t like it any more than she did.

Fast, not preternatural fast, but damn fast for a human. Rising from his chair he grabbed the hand on his and twisted, shoving down at the same time. When Kenneth’s face lay pressed against low nap rose carpet, arm twisted behind him and almost perpendicular to his body, Gabrielle and Ryan started to laugh.

“Fuck you both,” Kenneth snarled.

“You want to quit screwing around and tell me why I’m here and who you people are?”

Ryan sobered though his eyes still held a decidedly amused sparkle he would probably sport as long as Kenneth lay an inch from a dislocated shoulder. “Bill Jordan’s car was blown up to make a statement.”

“Political assassinations are always about a statement.”

“What do you think it says that he had heroin in his car?” All hints of a smile were gone.

The fight went out of Ed Sauter.

Arm free, Kenneth shot up and took one stalking step before Ryan’s very low growl hidden in a one word command stopped him. “No.”

Thankfully, their least reliable member chose that moment to very intelligently determine the folly of carrying out his revenge so close to two werewolves within striking distance. He eased back to sulk a few feet away.

Eyes back to the others, Ed looked sick. “Heroin? Are you sure?”

Ryan nodded once.

Ed fell into his chair now a few wheel rolls from the table. “Any chance there’s bourbon in the minibar?”

Interestingly enough, there was. Gabrielle didn’t fetch coffee or water but a man who asked for his bourbon neat she could respect.

***

Across town a black SUV pulled over, one of hundreds on the streets of Washington, a sight so common no one even saw them anymore. The male figure stood in from the corner, just enough to avoid the glow of the Victorian era gas lamp styled light on the corner. Dark coat aiding in the illusion he needed it to keep away the early summer evening chill. The back window rolled down, a shadow could be seen inside. Waiting.

The male walked up, taking care to step around the light. “Sire. It’s done.” He spoke quietly. No matter, his intended audience could hear even if he hadn’t approached.

“All of it?” The words came on a quiet growl.

“Yes. They found the package, they removed it before they towed the wreckage. I saw it myself.” If he’d been in his other form he’d have been wagging his tail so pleased was he to report how well he’d done his job.

His sire’s response was sharp, quelling some of that pride. “Are you sure? I’ve heard nothing in the reports from the media.”

“I-I saw them. I watched them remove it. Anyone could smell it burn, Sire.” It came out a whine, his human tongue swiped at his lips, head tipping in an act of submission. As in the wild, appeasing the pack leader was critical to a member’s survival.

The shadow waited, considering his options, or perhaps the fate of his underling. “The senator was well liked, had resources who might be protecting him.” He grunted. “Let us make certain this is reported. Leak it. Anonymously.”

Head bowed in supplication as well as relief, sensing he’d been granted a reprieve. “It will be done immediately, Sire.”

The window rolled back up, the black SUV rolled off.

Tugging the lower hem of his coat, the figure was grateful for the garment as it could help hide the urine now staining his trousers. Thankfully he’d worn black. With a shake of his wet sock and shoe he moved off to carry out his orders. It would not do to displease his leader again.

Chapter 21

“Michael?”

Coming back to himself, Michael slowly unlocked and turned to her. “I’m sorry?”

Her file lay forgotten in her lap, anxiety plain on her face. “I asked how it’s going over there. Are things... Is my dad... Is everything okay?”

Genuinely relieved he could tell her their concerns for Ed’s safety appeared to be unfounded, he let his features soften in a human display of compassion. “Yes, my love, Ed has been able to give us what we need without a need to learn our secret.”

The tension oozed out of her with a great sigh, though not entirely. Not until he was far away from Kenneth and his pointy weapons. Still, that Ed chose to share without their having to damage him was a great burden lifted.

“So, what’s he saying?”

Gambling that her father was out of danger, Michael raised his chin. Her color wasn’t great, but it might have been a hint improved. He prayed his desperation had yielded results. “How would you like to hear for yourself?”