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“No, that’s it, isn’t it? You don’t want me to file this report because you’re afraid it will look bad coming from the daughter of Henry Barret, ex-commanding officer, and you’re trying to make me doubt myself.”“Alison! I wouldn’t do that, and you know it. I’m just saying you should think before you act, that’s all.”
“And you’re assuming I haven’t thought about this, right? You’re assuming I’m in such a hurry to prove my worth to the bureau that I’m just rushing through this, filing a report at the first sign of anything being wrong.”
“Well, are you?” Dad asked.
I shook my head, even though I knew he couldn’t see me. “I can’t believe you’re even asking me that. You know how I feel about the SEALs. You know I didn’t want to find anything. Some asshole’s been stealing money, Dad. That isn’t my fault. And I’m not going to let it continue.”
I hung up the phone before he could speak again. I didn’t think I could stand to hear any more of this.
Between him and Brian, I would lose my mind if I kept trying to justify my actions. And at the end of the day, I didn’t care what either of them thought about what I was doing—I knew this was the right thing.
And they were wrong to suggest that I was trying to create a grand-standing event to advance my chosen career. Iwastrying to do that, but I could have turned in a clean report just as easily. I would have done that if it had been the truth. I didn’t need to fabricate a crime to make my mark.
I was following through with reporting this because it needed to be reported. Because the Navy SEALs were my childhood heroes, I needed them to be the good institution they had always been because the country deserved that every bit as much as I did.
And even though it was hard for my father and Brian to admit it, hard for them to see it right now, this was best for them too. They had always been proud to belong to the SEALs. If people like Jack were allowed to tarnish that, it would be something to be ashamed of, not to take pride in.
They might not like it, but I had to ensure the honor of the SEALs remained intact. And I would have to hope that, eventually, they would come to appreciate what I had done and would thank me for it.
Right now, that seemed like a lot to hope for—but I would hope for it anyway.
I turned my attention back to my report. Somehow, the conversation with Dad had motivated me, and now I was eager to work. I started to write, the words flowing out of me like water. It was easy now. I was finished in less than half an hour.
I reread the report twice and made sure I was confident about everything I’d written, and when I was sure, I hit send. With a whooshing sound, the email with my report attached flew away to Grummond’s inbox.
Now there was nothing left but to wait and see what he thought of my report—and to see what the repercussions would be for the SEALs and Brian in particular.
But whatever they were, I was ready to accept them. This had been the right move, and I was glad I’d made it. And now I wasn’t going to brood over it anymore.
I closed my computer, got up, and went to draw a bath. I’d been through enough stress recently.
It wasn’t until I took off my clothes that I realized I still hadn’t showered since the last time I’d been with Brian.
His scent was still on my skin.
Chapter sixteen
BRIAN
Icouldn’tbringmyselfto stay in the house. I was too fired-up about everything Alison had told me. I thought about heading to the bar, but I had just enough restraint to realize that drinking wouldn’t be a wise idea right now. I needed to find some other way to blow off steam.
As was usual for me, I ended up at the gym.
I always kept some of my things in a locker here. This was the nicest gym in town, and my platinum-level membership was one of my indulgences. I changed and walked out to the track.
I didn’t have headphones, unfortunately, so I wasn’t able to listen to music during my run. That was a shame because it would have helped me clear my head, and as it was, my thoughts ran around and around as I looped the track.
She was going to accuse Jack of stealing money.
She was determined to bury the SEALs in scandal. Depending how this plays out, it could be years before we recovered from this.
And what was I going to do? Stand by and watch Jack be arrested?
It wasn’t like I needed to work. I could retire. I could end my career tomorrow and walk away from the SEALs forever, and by the time the story broke, the organization would be in my rearview. I wouldn’t be a part of the stories that would follow. No one would say it had happened on my watch.
Although it would look suspicious that I was leaving right before the scandal broke.
But would that matter? If I was out of the organization, I could just settle into retirement and ignore what people said about it. It wouldn’t be my problem.
