She wondered if she’d been too harsh with him and regretted the mini-argument.
Within moments, he closed his eyes and appeared to go back to sleep. She studied his face. Without the beard, he’d have a firm jawline and smooth cheeks. His grey-blue eyes matched the silver streaks at his temples, giving him a distinguished look. She thought they’d gotten darker with age. As a child, she’d remembered their deep blue color, like gemstones of a rare quality.
When she saw his smile leak through, she worked not to smile back in return. She was sure it was meant for her, but just in case he was secretly watching her, or some other member of the team was onto the tension between them, she kept her face expressionless. It was hard to do. She knew the growing attraction for this man was slowly altering her whole worldr.
Garrett’s arms were scared, and he’d covered over some of them with tats, just like her father had done. Her dad had even lost a joint on one of his little fingers in a battle he never talked about. Studying Garrett, she understood he had those same untouchable spaces that no woman would ever be able to penetrate. Men needed those secrets kept between each other in the arena. Her mother had understood that. And though she thought of his scars and tats as beautiful, she also knew that they were partially intended to be warning signs for any woman who might want to trespass. He was a true warrior.
She wondered again why he’d never married. He was legendary for some of his exploits with women, but unlike many of the other guys on the squad, he never landed a home and family. It seemed somehow sad.
Joshua’s snoring was getting annoying, so she pushed him gently onto Fuzzy, who remained comatose. The Latino former SEAL had said a lot of things in preparation for their undercover caper and she hoped she would remember them all.
The landing at Eugene was hard, jerking her to attention. She stretched and yawned slowly, moving her neck and head, bending and straightening her legs to get rid of some of the kinks.
The blast of warmish fall air hit her face as the bays were opened and they were allowed to file out on portable steps. There was no covered gangway with carpet and nice music. Only a pair of young Navy pilots who shook their hands and wished them luck. To Mimi, one of the pilots apologized for the hard landing.
They were quickly herded into black Suburbans with darkened windows and rushed off the tarmac. Garrett sat up front with their driver while Luke accompanied the second Suburban bringing Tanner and Fuzzy and a lot of Tanner’s equipment.
She eavesdropped on the conversation between Garrett and the driver, Trevor, as they introduced themselves.
“You boys ever get inside his camp?” Garrett asked.
“Never really had reason to. Locals say they’re not into drugs. Maybe a little pot, but nothing like before in Texas. We thought they’d finally settled down.”
The driver was a huge black man, self-identified as a former drug counselor and occasional DEA driver, now working private security enhancement for law enforcement and FBI as needed.
“You look military, Hughes.”
“No, sir, that’s prison coding. And that’s why I can’t join the Bureau for real.”
“You have a history then, I take it.”
“That I do. My little brother was taken from me when I was serving my country—in a different kind of way. When I got out, I tried to get onto the force, join anyone who would have me. I don’t qualify for anything, including being a janitor at a prison or shuffling paperwork for ICE.”
Mimi’s heart broke for Trevor’s life circumstances. Garrett also was quiet and watched the road ahead of them. Blue mountains ringed the valley they were traversing.
“That where we’re going?” He’d pointed to a set of foothills to the right.
“Exactly. They got a day lodge for you, and you’re in luck, you’ve got power. All these were rebuilt after the fires and upgraded a bit. I think you even got mattresses, refrigerators and microwaves. But no heat. You gotsta chop your own wood for that.”
Trevor’s big body bounced with a deep chuckle that gave Mimi chills. She could see he liked to scare people.
“Have you ever met this pastor, Bales?”
“I saw him when I was working the fire line a few months back. Hard worker.”
“So you think he’s okay, then?”
“I didn’t say that. I don’t trust his ass. Something too clean and spiritual about him, you get my drift? Ain’t nobody that perfect, I don’t care how many times they try to show it. There’s something off about him. But he sure is good with his flock. They love him. Especially the ladies.” He followed up the comment with a wink, and then looked over his shoulder, noticing Mimi had been listening.
Garrett was next to notice her.
“I’d normally say this in private, but she’s just his type,” he said, pointing to her with the back of his thumb. “Miss fresh face there. You make sure she’s ready, just in case.”
They rode the rest of the way in silence.
Mimi found her stomach tied in knots by the time they approached the encampment. Along the long, winding road through the foothills, she remembered the pieces of advice Joshua gave her. Twice.
It didn’t get any easier the second time.
Chapter 11
On the way from the airport, Garrett heard Mimi’s cell ping. She dug it out of her purse and checked the screen.
“It’s her.”
He craned his neck so he could view the message. Joshua Lopez and others clustered around her. Tanner was on his cell, informing his contact at the Bureau. He nodded acknowledgement they’d started the trace and triangulation.
Help me.
“Ask if she can talk,” Garrett instructed.
The answer came back, No. Not safe.
“Keep her texting as long as you can,” Tanner whispered after he hung up his call.
Mimi handed the phone to him.
Tanner’s fingers quickly asked a series of questions, including her specific location in the compound, and when she might be outside the gates.
They don’t let me out anymore.
He also asked her if she was in danger. There was a pause before the response came through.
If I’m caught, yes. They know I want to leave. Can you get me out? What do I do to get out? Hurry.
Tanner texted back, Still with Loren?
Again, there was another pause, and then the answer, Should not have trusted. Getting strange. Not safe. Want to leave. Mistake. Help me please. Hurry.
“This is consistent with what I thought,” barked Fuzzy Kinski.
Tanner asked her if she was hurt or injured in any way.
Not yet. But they tie up girls. Some beaten. Not safe.
Several of the men swore. Garrett made his right hand into a fist and then unflexed it several times.
Tanner tapped his ear buds, handing the phone back to Mimi. He stepped out of the Suburban first and walked to the side away from the crowd, in conversation. Garrett had asked him to find a used pickup and an older non-descript motor home they could use for listening, since they needed to be closer than the lodge. Barrett joined him.
Several agents began helping offload the equipment while Mimi and Garrett continued with the communication with Georgette. He helped her out so she could focus on her cell.
“Can I tell her we’re coming?” she asked him. The wind had picked up and her firery red hair had come undone, bright strands flying in all directions. He was glad she was staying so calm.
“Do it. But don’t say we’re here. Ask her if she can hold on for a few days until we find out how to reach her.”
Mimi nodded and sent the texts.
Thank God. I’ll be praying.
Mimi texted back, Is there anyone you can trust there?
Maybe. Not sure. One of the brides I know.
“Brides?” Mimi asked.
“Ask her.”
What do you mean brides?
Big ceremony on Sunday. Girls will be matched up. Not real wedding. I don�
�t think I am. Not sure. I know someone who is. Can you help her too?
We’ll try. What’s her name?
Mallory. I know her from D.C.
From school? Mimi asked.
No. Just friend of Loren’s.
Who is Loren?
Just a friend. I came with him and Mallory. Big mistake. But don’t hurt him, OK? My father will send in the troops.
“Can’t believe she’s trying to protect him,” Mimi scowled.
“He could be in on it or being used too,” Garrett answered her. “Ask if there’s to be any contact with POTUS.”
Mimi nodded, typing, Is this ransom? Will there be demands or communications coming soon? Do they know who you are?
Not sure. Wanted to call them. Said to wait a few days. Then yesterday they told me I can’t leave anymore. So I walked to the store and bought this phone.
Garrett was glad the girl had her wits about her. “She’s smart. I’ll give her that,” he whispered.
“No, Garrett, not smart. Huge lapse in good judgment here. And some rebellion. That wasn’t smart at all. I get that she’s scared now.”
Good girl. Stay calm. We’re coming, but don’t tell anyone. We’re not here to hurt anyone but be ready, okay?
Okay.
Be brave. You can do this, Georgette.
I’m Greta. They call me Greta now.
You’re Georgette and don’t forget it, Mimi answered, biting her lower lip. When can you call next? Can I call you?
No, don’t. I’ll text when I can, maybe tonight.
Great job. Your mom and dad miss you. Just remember that.
After another pause, came the answer, I miss them too. So sorry, Mimi. Tell them.
NP.
The signal turned off. “Dammit, Garrett. What a mess this is. Do you suppose they targeted her, or her dad?”
“Doesn’t matter. But good job staying cool. Time to insert. You ready?”
“I gotta go pee and maybe grab a sandwich or something. I have no clue what I’m doing, but I’m willing.”
“Atta girl,” he said, wrapping his arm around her shoulders, hugging her close to his side. “You’re doing great, Mimi. Really great.”
She shrugged. “Yeah, they never prepared me for this in college. Never knew I needed to shoot and go undercover with a disguise.”
“Hold on, there’s not going to be any shooting unless we have to defend ourselves, or the innocents. Don’t count on holding a gun.”
“Now you’re being smart. I’d probably shoot off my own foot!” she winked at him before starting to jog in place, then dance from side to side.
“Go pee, and I’ll get you a sandwich.”
He watched her follow a young agent to the hangar. Her nice pear-shaped ass would be a feature most people would miss due to her unnatural hair color, which made her look like her head was on fire. But Garrett didn’t miss a single one of her moves as she disappeared into the building.
Chapter 12
Mimi and Joshua Lopez hiked down the dusty road toward the People of God compound. Tanner had obtained the topo maps and pictures of the old compound when it was a terrorist training camp the joint task force shut down two years ago. They’d studied the terrain and the layout of the buildings that had been left behind. The satellite images hadn’t downloaded as of the time they took off.
The plan was to get all the intel they could, make connections with Georgette, and then get out. Garrett had told her she’d be there for one day, two at the max.
The rest of the team hunkered down in an old Winnebago that looked like it had been rolled once or twice. But it ran, despite all the smoke it generated.
The pickup Barrett had purchased in town wasn’t much better. It was a flat black two-door pickup with racks and yellow and orange flames painted from the rear wheel wells to the bumper.
Joshua checked his cell. “Damn, we only got one bar. I hope the reception is better at the top where the camp is. But I know they’ll be able to hear us. I’d feel naked without the phone.”
Mimi confirmed the same on hers. “And I got nothing from Georgette.” She cleared the screen and replaced hers in a zipper pocket on the side of her backpack.
On any other day, the walk would have been pleasant. But today, she hadn’t brought the correct shoes, wearing canvas tennis-styled lace-ups that hurt her big toe and cut into her ankle. That had been her fault, because she didn’t prepare for the mission with a good set of shoes, even if they were new hiking boots. But, Garrett had made that snarky comment about her choice being perfect, which irritated her. That, and the reason for her visit was also anything but pleasant. So, this wasn’t any old walk in the woods.
Damn him, anyway. He’s not the one who’s getting the blisters!
Joshua was talkative and appeared comfortable, which was both helpful and obnoxious at the same time. Mimi was always was more clear-headed when she was alone, or in the quiet, or with instrumental music that couldn’t distract her thought process. But this was the situation she was dealt, and she worked to push aside her frustration because it would be just one more distraction.
She knew their entire conversation was being taped, so she tried to come up with things the team back at the base camp would have a chuckle over. They talked about good-fitting socks and underwear. They talked about movies, deodorant, and cars.
“You ever eat chocolate-covered crickets, Josh?”
“Let’s see, I’ve eaten Mescal worms, snake, goat, and some beetles once in Mexico that gave me the runs, but no chocolate-covered anything, unless you’re talking about body paint, and then, oh yeah, I’ve indulged!”
She wished she could watch their faces as they monitored.
“Remember to call me Carlos,” he whispered.
“I keep forgetting.”
“Just remember, curly Carlos,” he said, wiggling his ponytail.
“You can remember mine because my panties are red today.”
Joshua howled. “You get that, guys?” he murmured.
She scanned the sky. “No drones. Tanner thought there would be,” Mimi said.
Josh put his finger up to his lips. He leaned into her. “I’m gonna tell you one more time to keep it strictly to the conversation we agreed on. You don’t have to see or hear a drone to have them record everything you say,” he whispered.
“So, Carlos, who are these people, exactly? How much religion do I have to tolerate? I haven’t been to church since I was five and that left a lasting negative impression on me.” She adopted their agreed-upon character.
“It’s like they worship the land.”
“Do they read the Bible?”
“I’d say yes. The pastor in charge used to have a church. Now he has a community.”
“How old is this group?”
“No clue.”
When they came upon a pickup parked by the side of the road, they added the planned demeanor of not getting along and her recent fight with her boyfriend back home. Josh thought it would be best if he was the one trying to convince her visiting the hippie commune would get her mind off her worries. And she was supposed to play being extremely stubborn.
Not exactly a difficult part for me.
While they examined the pickup, three girls and a young man materialized through the short scrubby bushes. One of the girls had long dreadlocks, which had attracted leaves and small twigs. All of their feet were covered in the dusty red clay soil residue. Unlike Mimi, they all wore hiking boots. The young male carried a bucket sloshing water and a fishing pole.
“Hola!” Joshua shouted, waving his hand.
The group displayed smiles, but the girls allowed their male companion to step toward them first.
“Greetings, friend. You here to receive the gifts of the land?” He held out his dirty and stained hand. “I’m Rocco.”
He smelled of sweat and old fish parts. Rocco’s hand was sticky with what she hoped was fish blood.
“I’m Carlos, and this here is Red,” said Jos
h.
“Of course she is. Welcome. You just passing through, or are you on a real journey?”
Josh lobbed the answer right back at them, “We’re seekers of the truth,” while Mimi said, “Just passing through.”
The four strangers laughed.
“We met up in town,” Mimi started, her hands on her hips, brushing the sweat from her forehead with her forearm. “He invited me, but I’m taking the next truck I see heading back. As you can see, I’m not exactly prepared for this.” She pointed to her dirty formerly white tennis shoes.
“Well, if you don’t mind riding in back with the ladies, Carlos and I will drive you to camp. Maybe we can find someone there who can help with that request. Right, Carlos?” He winked at Josh and Mimi felt the deception beginning to work.
“Red, if you really don’t want to stay, I’m sure they’ll have someone who can take you back. I just thought it would be a welcome distraction.” Josh added for the newcomer’s benefit, “She just broke up with her boyfriend.”
“Ah, I understand. We’ve got the right spot to start a new life,” beamed Rocco, exposing a canine tooth that was missing.
Josh played the part perfectly. He helped her get into the truck bed where she took a seat with the other girls. It wasn’t hard to act like she felt she was a fish out of water and about to enter a very dangerous game.
Mimi attempted to talk to the girls but couldn’t hear over the sound of the truck motor. One of them lit up a joint, and they passed it around.
“Sometimes you have to make uncomfortable decisions when you’re under cover. You want to be prepared for the unexpected.”
She opted for truth when the joint came to her. “Hey, I’ve never smoked before. I’m not sure—”
The giggles from the ladies sounded like shards of broken glass falling around them. One of them coughed up their inhale and then spoke.
“You just take a little bit, see, like this. You do smoke cigarettes, don’t you?” one of the girls asked.
“Nope. Never have.” It was the truth.
“Okay, well, you’re going to inhale a little bit, not enough to be overwhelming to start. Just suck it in smoothly, like this.” She demonstrated again. “Later, you’ll learn how to take more in. Try it,” she said, holding out the lumpy rolled paper thing Mimi was afraid to touch.
SEAL Love's Legacy (Silver SEALs Book 1) Page 10