by Sommer Smith
Keilani began by giving him something for the pain and treating the external wounds, but the damage went below the surface. She used the sonogram machine next to determine how extensive the internal injuries were. After a thorough examination with the device, she declared him very fortunate.
“It doesn’t appear to have caused him any major trauma to his internal organs. We should be able to see him healthy again in a week or so.” She gave Micah a teary look.
“This isn’t your fault, Keilani.” He put a hand on her shoulder.
“Of course it is. It’s a message. Someone wants me to back off.” She turned away.
“You can’t blame yourself. These men—they’re just ruthless. And besides, you’re going to help him.” His expression brooked no argument.
Keilani nodded. “He’s going to be okay. But he should never have had to go through this.”
“That’s true, but one thing SEAL life has taught me is that there are evil men in the world and we can’t shoulder the responsibility for their actions. Their choices are sometimes intolerable, but those choices are theirs alone. All we can do is try to prevent them from hurting anyone or anything else the best we can.” The steely-jawed expression she was becoming familiar with was back on his face. “And what you can do is help me make sure they are caught so this never happens again.”
She could only nod at him in reply. Her throat was too thick with emotion to squeeze any words past.
They continued to work with the dolphin, named Gus, for another couple of hours without a break.
Even as they sat at Gus’s metaphorical bedside, Keilani wondered about how her attacker kept managing to elude them. No matter where they were or what the situation was, the wet-suit clad figure always seemed to disappear into thin air. The one guy that always seemed to be involved was the one they could never catch. She knew it was the same man because of his build and mannerisms.
“It’s like he’s a ghost.” Keilani hadn’t meant to speak the words aloud, but for once she was glad for the slipup, because Micah was looking at her like she had just solved a riddle.
“You might be onto something.” He pulled out his phone and did a web search without further comment. She watched him until finally he showed her an article.
“Navy SEAL subgroup known as Ghosts infiltrate a top-secret enemy organization in Afghanistan.” Keilani read the first line aloud, then looked back at Micah. “Would any of those men have been stationed here?”
“I’ll have to see what I can find out. The names of the men should be in military records. I’ll have my friend on the investigation team see what he can find out.” Micah sent a quick text to Paul, including the article link and explaining his theory.
It was several minutes later that Micah received a text telling him that Paul would see what he could find and send him the information in an email. The waiting was brutal, but finally he got an email with some photos, names and a little bit more information.
“It doesn’t look like any of them are still active. But one man used to be stationed here. We just need to find out where that man is now.” He brought up a picture and enlarged it.
Keilani looked it over. “Bax Jarnigan? Wow, that’s a unique name.” Keilani shook her head. “And he looks...well, frightening, to say the least.”
“Some former SEALs have trouble moving on after active duty. They’ve seen things and it’s hard to get over. But it doesn’t explain how he could still have such complete access to the facilities.” Micah kept searching.
“You think he’s working with someone who’s still active now?” Keilani peeked over his shoulder.
“As much as I want to deny it, I’m afraid it’s very likely. I don’t know how else to explain it. Even a former Ghost couldn’t get complete access like your attacker has done. He knows how to breach the walls around the outside of the dolphin enclosure, he has no trouble accessing the security footage and he always knows where we are.” Micah kept searching. “We just have to find the link.”
The sound of someone coming in the door of the marine mammal care unit drew their attention. A man Keilani vaguely recognized from seeing him once or twice around the base stuck his head in. Micah tensed.
“Lieutenant Kent, your presence is requested in the admiral’s office.” The officer looked Keilani over with a blank expression.
“What for? This dolphin is in critical condition.” His annoyance was apparent in his stance.
The other officer shrugged. “Something about the incident today. Can’t Dr. Lucas take care of the dolphin? Isn’t that why she’s here?” His eyes narrowed for a split second, but he recovered so quickly she thought she’d imagined it.
“She’s under protection and shouldn’t be left alone.” Micah cut her a strange look. She couldn’t be sure what he was thinking, but his hackles were definitely up. “Someone will have to relieve me first. Someone I trust.”
“Take it up with the admiral.” The man ducked back out the door.
“Does he always have that mammoth chip on his shoulder?” Keilani made a face.
“More so lately.” Micah frowned, clearly musing over the thought. “Petty Officer Taggert has been through a rough time, though. His family has been struggling, and I think his wife has just left him. He’s never told any of us for sure, just distanced himself. I try to give him plenty of space until he’s ready to talk or move on. He seems to be handling it well most days, but we are all afraid he might be a little volatile.”
“I would, too. But hey, if you need to see what this is all about, I’ll be fine by myself here with Gus for a little while. It seems safer now that the admiral has increased security.” Keilani adjusted the line on the dolphin’s IV.
Micah scoffed. “No way. If the admiral wants me to sit in on this meeting right now he’ll have to send someone else to stay with you. Someone I trust.”
No one else came, though, and Keilani grew more suspicious as time passed. “Do you think it was just some kind of ploy to separate us?”
Micah shook his head. “I had the same thought, so I sent a text to Emmett. He confirmed that the admiral asked for me, but he also had no idea about Gus at the time. He had just assumed you’d be coming with me. I didn’t know you were thinking the same thing, though.”
It was only a few minutes later when the admiral himself walked in. The men exchanged salutes. “How’s the patient, Dr. Lucas?” He stopped beside the care unit and peered in at the dolphin. His eyes widened when he saw the full extent of the animal’s wounds.
“He’s doing okay, but it’s a bit touch and go still. As long as he doesn’t worsen overnight, he should improve greatly by tomorrow.” Keilani began to explain the extent of his treatment.
When she had finished, the admiral nodded. “I’m sure you’re doing a fine job. I just want you to know we are increasing the guard around the dolphins to keep a closer eye on them. Apparently, our earlier efforts were insufficient. I have some surveillance specialists checking out the feed for loops. I intend to see these men stopped right away and we will do whatever is necessary to apprehend them.”
He didn’t go into great detail about the operation, but Keilani felt confident he wanted it over just as much as she did. Once again she was reassured that the rumors of the navy mistreating its animals were entirely fabricated.
When he left, Micah squinted at her. “The admiral likes you. That’s quite a compliment. He doesn’t like many people.” Then he winked.
Keilani felt her cheeks warm. “Why would you say that? That he likes me, I mean.”
“He complimented you. And he went to the trouble of telling you about his plans. The admiral doesn’t explain himself to anyone.” He turned back to the dolphin. “So he’s still pretty critical?”
Keilani nodded. “His vitals are fluctuating. He just isn’t very stable. I won’t feel confident in his ability to fully recove
r before tomorrow anyway.”
“Keilani, tell me why you are so nervous around anyone in a military uniform. I noticed you eyeing all the insignias on Admiral McLeary’s uniform. But it isn’t just high-ranking officers that bother you, is it? Does it have something to do with your fear of small spaces?” He dropped down beside her in a chair.
The unexpected question caught her completely off guard. “How did you know? I mean, I thought I was getting better—about concealing it, at least.”
“You withdraw, almost imperceptibly, but there is a stiffness to your demeanor when anyone in a uniform gets close. I’ve noticed you are more relaxed around me when I’m not in uniform, and it isn’t just naval officers. You did the same with the police.”
Keilani was quiet, not wanting to open up, yet knowing she owed him something. Maybe she could tell him enough to satisfy his curiosity. “It was my stepfather. He’s the reason I eventually moved in with my grandparents.”
“He was in the military?” Micah’s eyes softened, all the invitation she needed to capitulate.
“Yes. The air force. And he was ruthless, both at home and in the service. I eventually learned he had been discharged under questionable circumstances.” Keilani winced, hating the guilt that swamped her at the satisfaction she felt at the thought that he had gotten what he deserved.
“When you say he was ruthless...”
She closed her eyes, letting out a small burst of breath before she continued. “He abused me. He beat my mother first and I tried to intervene. He used his fists to convince me their relationship was none of my affair.” Keilani shuddered at the memory of his merciless beatings. “He took great pleasure in locking me in small spaces for hours at a time. I eventually learned how to get out. It was like a game to him to see if I could escape each new trap he put me in. One day I escaped an especially terrifying dark space and I decided somehow I would just have to get out for good.”
“How did you manage to get away?”
“I tried to convince my mother to leave for years, but she wouldn’t. I finally decided after that particularly frightening ordeal, preceded by a brutal beating, I had to leave without her. She would have to make the decision on her own. I snuck out late one night while he was in a deep sleep, probably drug induced, I realized later. I managed to contact my grandparents, and they came to get me and took me in.” Keilani bit her lip. “He wanted to come after me when he found out where I was, but my grandfather threatened to press charges if he did, so he backed down.”
“Did your mother ever get out?” Micah looked as if he already knew the answer.
“No. Last I heard she was still with him. I’ve lost all contact with her now.”
* * *
Micah struggled to digest all that Keilani had just revealed. No wonder she didn’t like feeling confined. His stomach turned over at the thought of Keilani’s mother living with the constant abuse as well as losing all contact with such an amazing daughter. But Keilani was right. She couldn’t force her mother to make the decision to leave.
“How old were you when your mother married this man?” He had to wonder how much this had affected her life.
“I was ten. I managed to escape and go live with my grandparents at thirteen.” She blinked at him. “I tried for years to keep in contact with my mother. He forbade it until I graduated from veterinary school.”
“He was interested in you reentering their lives once you could contribute something to him.” Micah scowled.
“Exactly. Since then it has been my choice not to connect with her.” Keilani tried to keep him from seeing the pain in her eyes by lowering her lids. He didn’t miss it, though. She regretted cutting her mother out of her life.
“What happened to your biological father?”
When she winced, Micah wanted to take back his question. “I’m sorry. I’m asking too much of you.”
“No, no. It’s okay. He chose not to be a part of my life. He left my mom when I was around four years old. I have only seen him three or four times since.” Her voice broke.
“Wow. That was really dumb on his part. That must have been tough growing up.” Micah wanted to take her in his arms when her face crumpled, but he didn’t dare risk it. Already, she was getting under his skin. He couldn’t take a chance on her burrowing in even deeper. It was already going to be difficult on them both to part ways when the time came.
Her nod finally registered in his brain and he tried to construct a reply. But his throat was tight, and he wasn’t sure how to offer the appropriate condolences.
She saved him just in time. “When my stepfather used his fists on me he was usually in uniform, so the sight of it gradually became conditioned in my mind as a warning of imminent danger. And then his son, who was quite a bit older than me and also in the military, followed in his footsteps when it came to mistreating me, so it only worsened matters.”
“You had a stepbrother?”
“Yes, and he was horrible. Fortunately, he didn’t live with us long, but I had suffered enough trauma by the time he moved out that it stuck with me.”
Before Micah could reply, one of the sensors monitoring the dolphin’s vitals began to emit a series of high-pitched beeps. Keilani quickly began to check the monitors as Micah moved closer to Gus to see how the dolphin was looking. Gus was completely motionless.
“His blood pressure is dropping. His temp is lower than normal, as well. We’ve got to get him stabilized.” Keilani began working on her patient with quick, efficient movements. “He’s going into shock.”
“What can I do?” Micah felt helpless, not a feeling he dealt well with.
She instructed him on how to increase the dolphin’s IV fluids while she administered norepinephrine. The treatment tank was equipped with a heating apparatus, and Keilani asked him to increase the temperature. The dolphin remained unresponsive, but Keilani didn’t give up. Micah watched her, amazed, as she calmly continued to work on the dolphin, taking action almost by instinct, until at last he started to show some slight signs of improvement. He breathed a sigh of relief when Gus’s vitals began to normalize.
“He’s going to have a rough night.” Keilani readjusted some of the wires attached to the monitoring equipment.
“Poor little guy. He’s fortunate to have you.” Micah tried not to lock eyes with her, but couldn’t help it. Surely, she would see that the dolphin wasn’t the only one he felt was fortunate to have her right now. Even so, he couldn’t let her get the wrong idea. He still planned to remain single after what had happened with Jade. He had been ready to give up his career for her before she betrayed him. That would have been a huge mistake. So it was better that neither of them get attached in any way.
“I don’t know that I can help him enough to save him.” Keilani’s eyes spoke many things her words did not. “We’ll just have to wait and see. He’s experienced some shock and lost a lot of blood.”
* * *
Micah could tell Keilani was fading fast. It was somewhere in the neighborhood of 2:00 a.m. and they had experienced three more scares with Gus, taking every bit of energy they had left. As if the unplanned swim hadn’t been enough to physically exhaust them, Gus’s condition took a mental and emotional toll, as well. Combine that with the recent drain on their adrenaline supplies and it was a recipe for complete exhaustion—something Micah had been trained to overcome, but Keilani had not. He didn’t know how she was still functioning.
This was the ideal time for the enemy to strike. Knowing that, he upped his own mental game. SEAL training had taught him to fight mental exhaustion as well as physical exhaustion. It was the only way SEALs could do their job. He would need to protect Keilani right now more than ever.
She was fighting to remain alert. Micah wasn’t about to relax his vigil, so he offered her the opportunity to rest. “Keilani, why don’t you sleep for a little while. I can wake you if anything come
s up with Gus. He seems to be doing okay for now.”
He almost expected her to protest, so he was relieved when she agreed. “That sounds wonderful, actually. Are you sure you don’t mind?”
“No. You need your strength. No telling what tomorrow will bring. Until we catch these guys...” He trailed off, wishing he hadn’t brought it up again. He wanted her to rest, not worry.
“You’re right.” She had stiffened somewhat. “Wake me if you need me.”
She was asleep almost immediately and he was alone with his thoughts. It was a dangerous place to be, considering the vulnerable way her face relaxed into sleep.
He shut out thoughts of Keilani and his attraction to her. He needed to focus on protecting her and apprehending her attacker right now. He had considered every possibility, but he still came up short on answers. No one on their team seemed capable of betraying him this way. True, SEALs learned to be the toughest and most hardened breed of men in times of battle, but they were not without honor by any means. That honor began with loyalty to country and their brothers, so walking around base like nothing was wrong while aiding and abetting smugglers and trying to kill innocent people was inconceivable.
Micah mulled over every single man in the unit. Of course Emmett and Xavier could be dismissed from suspicion, not because they were his roommates and best friends, but because they had been with him and Keilani during nearly every attack.
He knew if he could find anyone with a link to Bax Jarnigan and the Ghosts he would probably have his man, but the truth was, a link like that was hard to pinpoint. SEALs came from all over the United States and they could have met anywhere at any time. And then, there was also the motivation he had to consider. It would take a great deal of persuasion to make any of his brothers turn on the rest of the team.
There was Trace O’Reilly, whom he had known since they both joined the navy ten years ago. Trace had lost a brother to narcotics and was vehemently opposed to drug use. He was quite vocal about his desire to put an end to the drug trade.