SERENITY: A Path Home (Beauty 0f Life Book 6)

by Laura Acton

  “Thanks, though you don’t have to do that. I can take a cab.”

  “I want to. Call me! Talk to you later.” Scott hung up knowing Dan would contact him for a ride.

  Right after Dan hung up with Scott, his cell phone began ringing again. He looked at the caller ID and recognized the ship to shore number. “Hey, Squid.”

  Kyle groaned. “Okay, seriously quit calling me Squid. Gotta make this quick, told my CO I was going to the head so I could call. My leave is approved.”

  “That’s great, but your brother already told me, Swabbie.”

  “Swabbie? Oh, come on! At least give me a cool nickname.” Kyle kept an eye out for his CO as he talked to Dan from the rec room ship-to-shore phone.

  Dan laughed. “How about Sharkbait?”

  “You suck at naming. Crap! Gotta go. My hard-assed CO’s coming.” Sharkbait is what I’ll be if my CO catches me. Kyle swiftly and quietly put the receiver down, making a stealthy exit before his CO spotted him.

  The call ended before Dan could say goodbye. When it rang again he sighed and glanced at the ID. “Mudbucket, you’re the third call this morning.”

  Jeff laughed. “Just called to tell you Kyle is going to be there and offer to pick you up from the bus station but need to know when you arrive. And by the way, if you have to call me anything other than Jeff make it Rock.”

  Dan snickered. “I like Mudbucket better. Thanks, but Scott’s already offered. I have to get back to working out now. Talk to you soon.”

  “Yeah, give me a call tonight. I want to run something past you.”

  “Will do. Later,” Dan said and hung up.

  He got the phone all the way to his pocket before it started ringing again. Dan pulled it out. “I’m aware Kyle’s leave is approved. I arrive at two, Scott is picking me up. I swear we need a better way to communicate.”

  “Well, hello to you too. Though, I was calling to tell you I found what you were looking for. I obtained six of them,” Adam said.

  Dan grinned. “Excellent! That should be fun.”

  Adam leaned back in his chair sipping his coffee. Yes, it will! About damned time we all had fun together at Christmas. Too many years without you. His CO walked into his office, and he acknowledged him with a lift of his chin then said, “Gotta go. Be safe out there, Dan. See you soon.”

  “Will do. Thanks for locating them. Talk to you later.” Dan stared at his phone and waited, now expecting a fifth call. This year is going to be fantastic. I can’t wait to spend time with the entire family. So much is different than last year. As predicted, his cell rang for the fifth time. “Hey, you’re slacking. You came in fifth this time.”

  Zach busted out laughing. “I’ll work on that, but remember, the best is always saved for last. Wanna cut your commute to an hour? I asked Bella if I could borrow her plane. Her pilot is visiting family in Ottawa, so the plane will be here, and I can fly down and pick you up.”

  “I was planning on taking the bus but, yeah, that would be cool. I’m finishing up at Mayfield around seven. Will eight work for you?”

  “Perfect! Meet me at the airfield.”

  “Will do. Thanks.”

  Zach was happy he could do this for Dan. When he found out his cousin was working thirteen straight days and then had to sit on a bus for four hours, he contacted Bella. She was glad to help. His mind shifted directions to his brother’s teasing. “Hey, Adam said you had another surprise but won’t give me a hint to what it is. Care to share?”

  “Nope. You’ll find out soon enough,” Dan said with a huge grin.

  “Fine,” Zach grumbled with humor. “See ya on the twenty-fourth.” Zach ended the call as he wondered about the surprise. Is Dan is bringing a girlfriend? Nah, he wouldn’t do that unless it was serious and he would’ve told me when I offered to fly him up to Ottawa. He pushed his thoughts away and began dressing for the day.

  Jon quipped, “Done with calls, Broderick? Or do I need to become your personal assistant so you can get a decent workout in?”

  Dan grinned. “I’m done.” He picked up the pace.

  As Loki ran on the treadmill, he tried to come up with the fifth verse of his TRF Christmas song. How can I change five gold rings to fit in the style of the song? Dan’s phone just rang five times. Perhaps I can do something with that. Five personal calls? Nah, dumb. Five phone rings? Meh, not good enough. Loki called out, “Dan, who called?”

  Rocking out to his music, concentrating on increasing his heart rate, Dan didn’t hear Loki.

  Hopping off the treadmill and wiping the dripping sweat off his face, Loki headed over to Dan and popped one of his earbuds out. “Who was on the phone?”

  “Nosey much?” Dan chuckled.

  As she did bicep curls, Lexa grinned and said, “Inquiring and bored minds want to know.”

  “My cousins. Most called to inform me Kyle managed to arrange leave. He was the last of the bunch, so everyone will be there. And Zach offered to fly me up to Ottawa on the twenty-fourth.”

  Bram’s grin increased, glad Dan’s Christmas would be different from last year’s. Dan now had real plans and real people to spend the holiday with. Not that visiting Brody had been a bad thing, but part of him was glad Dan had been hit by the teenage driver because it meant Dan spent the day with him and his girls instead of being alone. “Allie’s going to miss you on Christmas morning, but it sounds like you have something fun planned.”

  A grin played on Dan’s face. “Can’t wait to surprise Mom and Dad. It will be the first time since I was eight that the entire family gathered for Christmas day.”

  Ray said, “Happy for you. I bet your mother will love that.”

  Dan nodded as he grinned, so would he.

  Loki’s mind switched back to his verse for the day. Hmmm maybe, five cousins ringing, or perhaps five golden cousins.

  Outside Circles Training Center – 7:15 a.m.

  Jayna worried her lower lip as she gazed at her father. “Do you really think I have a shot at it?”

  Victor Gullringer smiled at his golden blonde daughter, a sweet, loving, and talented child who he loved with all his heart. “Yes. You’re the best right wing I’ve seen play. The selection committee would be idiots not to choose you. Let’s go. You can’t be late. You only have fifteen minutes to get dressed in your gear. Anyone not completely ready and on the ice by seven-thirty won’t be given a chance to try out.”

  “Thanks for believing in me, Dad.” Smiling, Jayna hopped out of the truck when her dad did. Victor closed the door, locked it, and grabbed his daughter’s hockey bag and stick out of the bed. They swiftly headed in for the Junior Olympics trials.

  Victor was confident his daughter was a shoe-in. Jayna lived and breathed hockey from the time he first laced up her hockey skates when she was only two. He liked to tell his friends that Jayna could skate before she walked—it was nearly the truth.

  He had been involved in Jayna’s hockey career from the moment she was born. Victor even named her after one of Canada’s most famous women hockey players. She would be one of the youngest ever to make the team. Jayna deserved it. She worked very hard for this.

  As Victor strode into the training center, he glanced back at his vehicle. He had a twinge of uneasiness as he realized he left his hunting rifle on the rack inside his truck. Pressing the fob on his keyring, Victor heard the telltale beeps indicating the doors locked. Then turning his attention back to Jayna they hurried inside to the registration desk.

  TRF HQ – Loki’s Tech Room – 1:00 p.m.

  Dan sauntered into Loki’s tech room. Fortunately, it had been a slow day with no calls so far, allowing him to rest his muscles. All the team had done was inventory, a bit of cleaning, and some training.

  He declined to do long-range target practice with Lexa and Jon to avoid the jarring of recoils. Bram only smiled at him when he turned down the offer to train with him and Ray on one-handed combat skills. He ducked into the locker room when he saw the boss with the negotiation skills b
ook.

  Negotiation wasn’t his favorite cup of tea, and he basically sucked at reading cues. He got lucky the few times he had to do it, but that had been connecting with soldiers, and he understood their mindset. Dan knew he had weak skills which made him uneasy negotiating when people’s lives hung in the balance. One wrong word could escalate a situation resulting in death. It was better to leave the talking to Boss and Lexa.

  Nick found him a few minutes later. Apparently, he didn’t hide his dismay well enough when Boss asked him to study techniques with him. Dan was still unsure what changed the boss’ mind, but after committing to sign up for the Crisis Negotiation and Suicide Prevention class next month, Boss let him off the hook. Boss’ parting words were ‘We all need to talk the talk, and I have faith you will hone the skill given time and opportunity.’ Dan wasn’t as confident.

  With nothing else to occupy his time, Dan sought out Loki for some training on computer stuff, because the only part of his body it would strain would be his brain. Dan found Loki in his tech room looking lost in thought. “Hey, Loki, what ya thinking so hard about?”

  Loki glanced up with a consternated expression. “Having trouble with the fifth verse. Nothing’s happened today that makes a decent line.”

  Sitting down on one of the high stools, Dan said, “That’s a good thing. A slow day isn’t bad. I kinda like it.”

  Loki rolled his eyes. “You just jinxed us!”

  “No, I didn—”

  The klaxon alarm sounded, and Tia called out, “Alpha Team critical call. Circles Training Center. The head security guard called it in. The center is full of kids, the girls’ Junior Olympic hockey team trials are being held there today. A man with a rifle is threatening one of the coaches because his daughter didn’t make the team. They were able to move the coach to a safe location, but the man is now storming around inside searching for him.”

  Nick approached Tia’s desk. “Tia, have uniforms contain the scene.”

  “On it. Officer Gredzeni is senior officer on scene,” Tia responded.

  As Loki and Dan rushed to gear up, Loki said, “See. You did this!”

  Dan said, “Well now you might figure out a verse. Olympic trials … you know five rings in the Olympic logo.”

  Loki grinned. “Yeah, I just might.”

  Outside Circles Training Center – 1:20 p.m.

  Alpha Team rolled to a stop in the parking lot. A man dressed in a security uniform was speaking with several uniformed officers and another man. Nick headed directly for them.

  Jon, Bram, Dan, Loki, Lexa, and Ray geared up at the back of the SUVs. The team had reviewed the blueprints on the way to the location. They needed to get inside quickly based on Tia’s information from the 911 call. At last report, dozens of girls ranging from thirteen to seventeen and many adults were still in the building with an angry armed man on the loose. According to the guard who placed the call for help, the people inside had scattered when the man entered the rink with the rifle.

  “Bram, Lexa, in through the east entrance. Loki, Dan, take the west. Ray and I will go in the north while the uniforms cover the south exit from outside,” Jon instructed.

  “Copy,” all said as they trotted off in the direction of their assigned entry points.

  Nick muted his headset as he approached the security guard and senior police officer on scene. He needed information for the team but didn’t want to distract them until he had useful details. He stopped at the group.

  The lead patrolman said, “I’m Constable Gredzeni this is Mr. Oro Bullion, he’s in charge of security.”

  Nick nodded and said to the officer, “My team will need you to secure all the exits. Please monitor channel one. They may need assistance to remove civilians.”

  “Yes, Sergeant.” Gredzeni stepped back a few paces and radioed the uniformed officers coordinating their deployment and TRF’s instructions.

  Nick opened his notebook. “Mr. Bullion, I’m Sergeant Nick Pastore. What can you tell me about the subject?”

  “Not much other than his name. Mr. Taper got into a verbal argument with one of the coaches,” Bullion said.

  “What was the argument about?”

  “He believed his daughter should’ve been selected for the junior team. He was agitated when Jayna Gullringer was chosen for the last open spot. Taper claimed nepotism and went after her father, Coach Gullringer. Verbal insults and accusations were hurled by Mr. Taper. It attracted everyone’s attention including mine.

  “I escorted Mr. Taper and his child out and told him he needed to leave. I remained outside as he stormed off, got into his car, and peeled out of the parking lot. After I was certain he left, I went back inside. That happened a little after noon.” Oro sighed. “Taper returned shortly after one—armed and out for blood.”

  Victor Gullringer stepped forward as he ran his hand nervously over the back of his neck. “Please, my daughter Jayna is in there still. If he doesn’t find me, he might go after her.”

  Nick asked, “You are Mr. Gullringer?”

  “Yes, Victor Gullringer.”

  “Do you know Mr. Taper?”

  “Yes. Mallory Taper is the father of Charlene, who is on the hockey team I coach. She’s been on the Ringers for the past two years. He can be a hothead, but I don’t understand why he snapped like this. Charlene is talented, but the competition for the Junior Olympic team is tough. She didn’t make the final cut. A lot of excellent players didn’t make the team.”

  His face showed his deep concern as Victor explained, “Mallory blamed me because Jayna was selected. He accused me of not spending enough time with Charlene to prep her and believed I had influence over the committee. None of that is true.

  “The ballots are secret, and I’m not part of the selection process even though I was chosen to be the coach of the junior team this year. Plus there is the fact that Jayna and Charlene play different positions. Jayna’s a right winger, and Charlene’s a goaltender. Please find my daughter. Please.”

  Nick made notes and then said, “My team will do all in their power to keep everyone safe. Can you give me a description of your daughter and where you last saw her?”

  Victor rubbed his neck, a nervous habit. “She, Jenny, Hayley, Becky, and Kim were at the food court having lunch. Jayna is about five feet two. Her hair is long, golden blonde, and worn in a ponytail. She has hazel eyes, and she’s wearing the Ringer’s uniform.” He pointed to his gold and black jersey.

  His eyes teared up at the thought of his daughter or any of the other girls being harmed. Victor hastily wiped them. Tears won’t help, but the TRF officers will. “All the girls I coach are wearing their jerseys. I’m worried for all of them. Her friends are about the same height, and all have long blonde hair they wear in ponytails too.

  “Jayna will be in a bunch who all look very much alike. I call them my Five Golden Ringers. Those five girls are some of the best players I’ve ever coached. They all have a shot at going pro someday. You must keep them safe. If any of them are harmed, I …” Victor trailed off unable to complete the painful thought.

  Nick put a hand on Mr. Gullringer’s shoulder. “We will do our best. Excuse me for now.” Stepping a few feet away as he unmuted his headset, Nick relayed the information to the team. He thought for a moment and comprehended he needed insight into Mr. Taper should the team need to negotiate with him. “Tia, locate Mrs. Taper and have uniforms bring her here.”

  “On it, Boss,” Tia replied.

  Jon asked, “Boss, with all these kids in here, it would be better if we knew what type of rifle the subject is carrying. Big difference between single bolt, semi-auto, or full auto.”

  “I’ll try to find out for you,” Nick said then muted again heading back to talk with Mr. Bullion.

  Dan’s Good and Loki’s Golden

  17

  December 16

  Circles Training Center – North Side – 1:25 p.m.

  After getting Nick’s information, Jon instructed, “Dan, Loki, t
he food court is on the west side. Be on the lookout for the girls and move them to safety as soon as possible. The rest of us will focus on locating Mr. Taper.”

  “Copy,” replied the team.

  Ray had taken point when he and Jon entered the north door of the center. They cleared the long hall until they came upon the locker rooms and stopped outside the changing room door.

  When Jon motioned to Ray, he moved to the opposite side in a crouched position. Ray tested the knob. “Unlocked.” At Jon’s nod, he swung it open, and they swiftly scanned the four quarters. They entered and found a group of ten adults sheltering twenty-five frightened girls with their bodies.

  Jon lowered his MP5. “Are there any other entrances to this room?”

  A man stepped forward. “No, only the door you came in.”

  “Lock it when we leave and stay here until an officer comes to tell you it is safe to exit.”

  The adults nodded feeling dumb they hadn’t thought to bolt it before. The man followed Jon and Ray, securing the steel door after they left.

  Circles Training Center – East Side – 1:25 p.m.

  Lexa and Bram entered the east door with their weapons up. They moved forward at a careful pace scanning for signs of the subject. The first thing they encountered was fifteen girls cowering in the corner of an alcove. The girls screamed when they first glimpsed the submachine guns, but then it registered with them that Bram and Lexa were police.

  One brave girl pointed down the hall. “The man went that way.”

  Lexa said, “Jon, we have a group of girls who are exposed with no place to hide. They indicated Taper headed towards the food court. We need to move these kids out of here.”

  “Do it then meet us there. Dan, Loki, heads up,” Jon responded.

  Bram motioned to the girls to stand as he said in his soft calming voice, “We’re taking you out of here. Come with us and remain as quiet as possible.”