Page 8 of Fighting for Family

“You lose me, and you won’t have to worry about steaks,” She threatened, smiling. “I’ll kick your ass at the first opportunity.”

Saint chuckled. “I have to make the call home this evening. Doc and Bear will be there. I can’t stand saying the same thing over and over. We have no leads. It’s like he vanished in thin air.”

“Then maybe he found a way to survive,” Sparky suggested. “He’s biding his time. Maybe one of the enemies took the opportunity to grab an American.”

The men glanced at one another before Patch spoke. “He didn’t walk away. The blood loss indicates he died instantly or shortly after. Whoever took his body did it for spite. The one small speck of blood we found a few feet away proves he didn’t walk or run on his own. Leo didn’t carry any blood packs. We’ve covered every scenario, every village, and traded everything but the guns, and no one knows anything.”

“We still need to figure out who set us up at the base and who’s involved with stealing the weapons and medical supplies. We know my good buddy, Sergeant Ford, has his bloody fingers in the pie. Who else has something to gain from this?” Cole asked from the cave’s entrance.

“I’m thinking we need a visit with Sergeant Ford,” Shadow said, pacing the cave. “He’s not smart enough to act as the mastermind. From what we gathered, he’s an order taker. His wife left him over the affair. He leaves the K-9 unit and returns in time for Rutherford’s death, and another shipment gets hijacked.”

“Hollywood, you and Ragu watch him. You both say he never leaves the base,” Taco said slowly. “Why? Even the other airmen come over for beers on Friday night when they’re off duty. Why not our murderer?”

Cole sat up. “Maybe we’re going about this the wrong way. What or who’s coming into the base? They’ll want to keep him removed from this scandal. Out of sight, out of mind,” Cole muttered.

Saint pulled out their surveillance records. “Every Tuesday and Saturday, Hollywood and Ragu noted a vehicle entering the base. It appeared an officer visited. We know it’s not Rutherford’s replacement. Then who?”

“May I take Hollywood’s assignment?” Cole asked. “I know most of the people on the bases out here. I can identify the vehicle and hopefully the person visiting.”

Saint frowned. “What will you do with Striker? He can’t spend hours out in the heat.”

“Hollywood can handle both dogs while I do surveillance,” Cole explained. “Leo’s death has to mean something. He’d want us to find out who did this to him and all the others. Good men have died because of these greedy bastards. I know I’m new to the team and not part of his original group, but Leo gave me a life worth living. If he didn’t offer me this position, I might’ve never met Stormy or any of you. Even in this freaking hell hole, I’d rather be here with you than with a bunch of scum bags I can’t trust.”

“I second his stance,” Sparky joined his argument. “Leo gave me a job when anyone else might’ve avoided the blind woman like the plague. He’d want us to solve this. Maybe we don’t find him, but we’ll avenge him.”

“The only easy day was yesterday,” Knight said. “Leo meant it for all of us. It doesn’t matter whether we’re from Team Hawk or the Alpha Team.”

Saint rose and stared at his men and Sparky. “You’re right. Leo hired each of you because he saw something in you. With each passing day, our chances of finding him grow slimmer. Hell, we nearly died when we lost Whiskey and Ragu. They thought we perished in the helicopter crash, and somehow, we made it out. Leo got his call sign because he lay in wait for hours for his enemy to appear, exactly like a lion. We need to honor his name and figure this out. On this team, we have no division. We’re family. As much as we want to find our brother, we need to avenge him first.”

Saint held up his canteen and scanned his team. “For Leo,” he said softly.

Taco and Shadow held up theirs first, and the others followed. “For Leo.”

CHAPTER 5

One Month Later…

Dr. Greene checked Catherine’s blood pressure and weight, frowning the entire time.

“Catherine, your blood pressure still reads high. You’ve lost weight again since I saw you two weeks ago,” she said, concerned. “I know you’re grieving. If you want this baby born healthy, we need to increase your intake and find a way to lower your stress.”

“I’ll do better,” Catherine promised. “I don’t have any appetite with this one. It might help if Kassie allowed me to return to work.”

“Absolutely not,” Kassie said, shaking her head. “You barely sleep or eat. I’m not allowing you to work the floor in those conditions.”

“At least let me work in my office,” Catherine pleaded. “The more I sit at home, I see Leo everywhere. I can’t stop thinking about him. You think it’s helping me, but it’s only making things worse.”

Kassie rose and turned Catherine to face the mirror behind the door. “Do you see the bags under your eyes? What about the thinning jawline and gaunt appearance? How can you work under those circumstances?”

“Because it’ll stop me from thinking about him,” she confessed. “Every time the baby moves, I want to call out for Leo to feel it kick. When Melody won the spelling bee, I took out my phone to text him. When I sit at home, Mom cleans and cares for the kids. She tells me to rest. I close my eyes, and I see him,” she whispered.

Dr. Greene placed a hand on her knee as Kassie held her tightly. The two women shed some tears as Dr. Greene handed them tissues and dabbed her own eyes.

“I wish I knew how to take the pain away,” Kassie said. “Maddie drove me nuts when Chase and I separated. It’s not the same thing, but I see your point.”

“Since nothing else has worked, I suggest we let Catherine return to work with stipulations. She can start at nine and work until five. She must stay off her feet as much as possible, and I want weekly weight checks,” Dr. Greene said sternly. “Someone will drive you to work and home.”

Catherine sighed. “I’ll do it.”