Clearing his throat from the backseat, Ted said, “Boss, I want to nominate her for the team.”
“Well, let’s see how she pulls through this,” Bruce said, pulling into Hope.
“What? I don’t understand, Boss. There are almost three women here for every man. Why do they have to rape someone?” Carl asked with misty eyes.
Calm broke over Bruce as he hit the wave. “I have no idea, Carl,” Bruce replied in a bland tone.
“Gamma and Omega are almost half and half male to female. The Praetorians are three-quarters female; there are women everywhere,” Ted chimed in.
Wanting to ride the wave and not answer questions, Bruce said, “Men, I have no idea, but we will stop it here,” as he pulled up to Center Three. In Hope, the areas were set up in units, housing seven to ten thousand with two centers per unit and one rec area. Center One was at the farm. Getting out of the SUV, Bruce slung his rifle as Bill trotted over.
Stopping in front of Bruce, Bill held out his hand, holding two Tasers. “Bruce, we may not have seen eye to eye on how you treated prisoners, but she was one of ours. This better not be the time you want to try to rain down,” Bill said.
Ted snorted. “Bruce rain down; are you kidding?” he said, looking at Bill as Mike and the others came over.
With his face set in stone, Bruce took one of the Tasers and gave the other to Mike. “We will see what they have to say and the evidence against them; then, I will pass judgment,” Bruce told Bill.
Satisfied with that, Bill asked, “Can I carry it out?”
“No. You enforce the clan laws, not the punishment. Mike, you and I will now just walk up to them and taze their asses,” Bruce said, looking at Mike. Mike just grinned as his cellphone rang. “I like those things sometimes, but other times, I want to throw the damn things away,” Bruce said as Mike answered the phone.
Mike looked up at Bruce. “Nancy says Angela and Stephanie had the roving patrol go in to eat. They have three weapons on them now.”
Not liking others running plans along with his, Bruce said, “This is my op, not theirs.” He turned around. “Carl, go in first and tell everyone that the leaders of Omega and Gamma are here to wish everyone a Merry Christmas. Tell them to remain seated. We will walk around and talk to them,” Bruce said, and Carl jogged to the door.
Mike put his hand on Bill’s chest. “Wait here till we get them. If they see you, they might panic,” Mike said as Bill handed him some flex cuffs.
“I will, but I want to put them in the vehicle,” Bill stated.
Checking his weapons, Bruce said, “Don’t get too carried away, Bill. They are innocent until proven guilty.”
“How long is this due process going to take?” Bill shot off.
“Oh, the trial will be tonight or in the morning,” Bruce replied as he heard Carl announce them and a cheer erupted inside. Bruce walked in with Mike to everyone clapping. Bruce put on his earpiece for his phone and dialed Jake.
Jake answered, “To your right, second table from the wall. They are sitting beside each other with three others, and both have pistols. Their rifles are on the wall. Look at your phone. I sent you pictures,” Jake said. Really starting to like his phone, Bruce lifted it and noticed Mike doing the same. Seeing the pictures, Bruce glanced where Jake told him they were and spotted them.
Leading Mike to the right, Bruce started shaking hands and talking to people as he eased toward them. In five minutes, he was beside their table. Bruce looked at both of them and could see the girl hadn’t gone down without a fight. Oscar had a swollen lip, and Gage had a swollen eye. As Mike and Bruce walked over, Oscar and Gage stood, holding out their hands. Mike and Bruce raised their Tasers. “You two need to come with us,” Bruce said, and Gage’s arm twitched. Both Bruce and Mike squeezed triggers, sending darts into their chests.
The two locked up and fell back, hitting their heads on the chairs behind them. Everyone in the mess hall fell silent as the two were put in cuffs and searched. Bruce turned to the crowd. “I’m sorry to interrupt, but a girl was raped a few hours ago and named these two. Gage moved, so both were incapacitated. They will be tried, and if guilty, punishment will be passed. If they are innocent, then they will be freed. Please listen to the radio and TV for instructions,” Bruce said, turning to Mike. “Ready?”
Grabbing Bruce’s shoulder, Mike said, “Bruce, we still need to go around and shake everyone’s hand. We can’t just come in here like this,” Mike said. Caught off-guard, Bruce just stared at Mike. “Bruce—” Mike started.
“Alright, Mike, you’re acting like a damn politician,” Bruce grumbled, turning around. He started working the tables. As the two walked around shaking hands, Bill and the others took the two outside, not being gentle either. Everyone was happy to see Bruce and Mike, and all asked questions, but they were told to listen to the radio or the TV station. It took them an hour and a half to see everyone and leave.
Walking outside, they saw Oscar standing in his underwear beside Debbie’s SUV. Getting closer, Bruce saw several red areas over his chest and a bite mark on his shoulder. “Bill, did you do that?” Bruce asked, walking over.
With an uncharacteristic dark look on his face, Bill cracked his knuckles and said, “Haven’t touched him yet.”
Nodding, impressed, Bruce said, “That girl put up a fight.” Bruce looked at Oscar. “Oscar, you better do some serious thinking on the way back to the farm. I’m going to talk to you there. If you lie and are found guilty, a very long and painful death awaits you,” Bruce said.
“Sir, I didn’t do anything—”
Bill slammed his fist into his stomach. “Never once did he say speak,” Bill said, grabbing him by his hair. “That is rude,” Bill said, pulling him up. Everyone looked at Bill in shock.
Feeling cheated that he didn’t get to hit Oscar, Bruce asked, “Where’s the other one?”
“He wanted to kick, so we tied him up and threw him in the back of Mike’s ride,” Bill said.
“Bill, go to their rooms, and search them. As commanding officer here, I authorize it,” Bruce said. They looked at the other. “Alright, let’s do this,” Bruce said, jumping in.
On the ride back, Bruce tried to relax and leave the wave so his judgment wouldn’t be clouded, but it was proving difficult. Pulling up to the back at the house, Bruce told the guards to watch them as he went inside. He found the entire command group waiting on them. Walking to his spot, Bruce sat down. “Jake, what do you have?” Bruce asked, laying his rifle on the table.
Not even looking up from his computer, he replied, “They are so guilty it’s not even funny.”
“Son, evidence first,” Bruce replied, shaking his head.
“Well, okay,” Jake snapped. Looking at the main monitor on the wall, he gave a playback. “This is a camera on the outside of the main gate in Hope of them walking out with her,” Jake said, and everyone saw the girl between both of them, and there was no denying it was them. “Now, we have cameras on every road inside the base and a micro UAV flying over the inside in an oval pattern, watching for inside attacks. We have them taking her to the house where she was found but not actually taking her inside,” Jake said, showing several different camera angles then a UAV shot of the three heading toward the house, but their visual was lost.
Jake hit some keys then looked up. “This is two hours and seven minutes since they were last seen. Luckily, the UAV caught them perfect,” Jake said as the video played. They saw the two leaving the house laughing and passing a bottle back and forth. As the UAV continued overhead, it caught shots of the two heading back to Hope. Jake fast-forwarded again, and the next shots were of a Hummer pulling up to the house with troops around it. Then, the video went blank. “Like I said. Guilty,” Jake finished in a singsong voice.
Leaning over the table, looking down a Jake, Angela asked, “Just curious, how did those troops know to show up?”
Angela asked.
Jake looked up from his laptop. “Someone was jogging by, Burt Ryson, and heard crying. The UAV didn’t catch him. He went inside thinking it was a cat and found her then called in the roving guard.”
“We will do the interview with the victim first then each of the suspects. They are not to be near each other for any reason nor is anyone except guards to be near them. Leave them in the vehicles, and hog tie Oscar like his friend,” Bruce said, standing up.
Offended, Ted jumped up. “What? You think we would just leave his ass with only his hands bound?” he challenged.
Bruce shook his head. “Thank you, Ted. Someone get a video camera please, and Jake, rig it so it can be seen on your laptop. Only Stephanie, Angela, and I are going inside to talk to Bonnie,” Bruce said as he trotted up the stairs.
As they crossed the yard, Bruce continued to take slow breaths to calm down, even stopping on the patio of the infirmary. Giving up, he led the others into the school house/infirmary and waited on Jake as one of the doctors came out. “She has asked for you, Bruce,” she said, walking over.
Bruce closed his eyes and took a deep breath. “How is she?” he asked as everyone crowded around.
“They did a number on her; that’s for sure. Left forearm broke. I can’t tell how many broken ribs or facial bones. She is passing blood in her urine, and we had to put in a chest tube because she dropped a lung. I’m running labs now, but I need to get her to the main hospital in Hope. The CT is up, and she needs one.”
Looking over his shoulder, Bruce said, “Steve, get my chopper up for an airlift.” Mike keyed his radio as we walked outside, and Steve took off running.
“It’s not that far,” the doctor told Bruce.
“My chopper will be here before the ambulance. I need to talk to her,” Bruce said, moving past the doctor.
“Okay, but please keep it short,” she said, following them.
“Who’s with her for family?” Bruce asked.
“Her roommate. She has no family; they are dead.”
Stunned, Bruce stopped abruptly and looked at the doctor. “How fucking long have you been here? Do you listen to anything that goes on here? We are her family. That is why I come down hard on those that break the clan laws; you are hurting family. This clan is one big ass family, woman,” Bruce snapped.
The doctor stepped back. “I’m sorry, Bruce, but this has shaken me,” she said.
Studying the doctor for a few seconds, Bruce then glanced at Stephanie, nodding toward the doctor. Knowing what Bruce wanted, Stephanie closed her eyes for a minute then opened them. “Stance Cooper, doctor of Veterinary Medicine University of Arkansas, joined us from Little Rock. That’s all I can remember right now,” Stephanie said.
Impressed at Stephanie’s memory again, Bruce gave her a smile then turned to the doctor. “Stance, this has shaken all of us, but it will be dealt with tonight.” He looked at Angela. “Tell Mike to ride with her to the hospital.”
“What, you don’t think a vet can take care of her?” Stance shot at him.
Pulling his shoulders back and narrowing his eyes, he glared at the doctor. “Shit, woman, my own dad trusted the vet who came to the farm more than a doctor. He said vets were smarter, learning hundreds of animals where doctors only had to learn one. I’m sending Mike because he has read thousands of human CTs; how many have you read?” Bruce snapped back.
Seeing the anger on his face, the doctor stepped back. “I’m sorry again, Bruce. I just thought—” Stance started but stopped.
Relaxing, knowing he had no reason to be mad at the doctor, he said, “I’m sorry as well. You’re doing an excellent job; now, let me do mine.” Bruce walked into the same room his grandchild was born in. Lying in the bed was a body with its face wrapped up in gauze. The nurse in Bruce started looking at monitors and IV drips, seeing what was going on. Before he knew it, his hands were moving to do his exam, but he stopped and remembered he was a different caregiver now. Reaching out, he placed his hand on the patient gently.
“Bonnie, it’s Bruce. Can I talk to you?” he asked in a low voice.
Bonnie’s eyes fluttered open, and she tried to smile under the gauze but stopped. “Hey, Mr. Bruce. I fought as hard as I could,” she said in a weak, dry voice.
“I know you did, Bonnie. Why did you go with them?” Bruce asked as tears started welling up in her eyes. “Bonnie, it’s not your fault. I just need to know before I question them. I have both tied up in the back of some trucks,” Bruce said, fighting back his own tears.
Grimacing as she took a breath. “Oscar said we could go and have a drink where he would give me a Christmas present,” she said with tears running into the gauze on her face. Bruce leaned over, looking closely at her eyes and could see the retinal hemorrhages from the attempted strangulation.
Unable to help it, tears ran down Bruce’s face. “How did it start?” he asked.
Sobbing, she said, “When we walked into the house, they passed me the bottle, and I took a drink. Then, I asked where the present was. They both started unbuckling their pants, and I tried to run, but Gage grabbed me. I fought as hard as I could, kicking, biting, hitting and pulling their hair, but they were just too strong.”
Reaching over, Bruce took one of Bonnie’s hands in his as his other hand caressed her hair. “I’m only going to ask this once just for the record. Did they rape you?”
“Yes. I don’t know how many times because they kept knocking me out because I tried to fight them off when I woke up,” she answered in a whisper.
Leaning down over her face, Bruce said, “You have nothing to be ashamed of.”
As tears ran out of her eyes, she said, “I lost; they won.”
“No. You may have lost that battle, but you won that war. You survived. That is the first goal. Then, you live to complete your victory for the war. If you think I have never had my ass kicked, think again, Bonnie. Everyone gets a beat down in life. It’s what you do after is how you’re judged. Stand tall, and walk proud you fought; you didn’t give up; you refused to be dominated. That is what a true warrior is. Someone who never stops,” Bruce said and rubbed the bandages on her head.
“Thank you, Mr. Bruce,” she said with a smile.
Pulling his face back, he asked, “I hear you applied to Omega?”
A small smile appeared under the exposed gauze. “Yes sir. I want to help you. I remember the day you and your family rescued me and how Omega fights for us. I want to do that,” she said.
“When you’re better, come and see me. I have a spot open, and if you’re walking tall and holding your head high, I have some patches for you to wear.”
Trying to sit up, she cried, “Really!” then grimaced in pain as spasms shot through her chest.
Easing Bonnie back down to the bed, Bruce said, “Yes, but now, be still, and get better.” He heard a chopper landing outside. “My son, Steve, is flying you down to the hospital in my chopper,” Bruce said, kissing her on the forehead. Then, he looked up at the lady beside the bed. She was in her thirties with her hand on Bonnie’s side. “Watch her, and if you need anything, call me. I don’t know my number, but call the Command Center, and they can send you to me,” Bruce said, and she nodded.
Walking out, Angela turned the camera off and wiped tears from her face. “Bruce, I want the card from the camera on your hat also,” Stephanie told him, wiping tears off her face.
“Okay,” Bruce said, stepping out into the waiting room. Everyone was crying as he headed outside, getting hit with the rotor wash from his Blackhawk. Pausing to wipe the tears off his face, he stood there until Bonnie was carried to the chopper. When she was loaded, Bruce turned and went into the house, headed down to the command bunker, and dropped down into his chair. Stephanie grabbed his hat, taking out the memory card. She put another one in then put his hat back on. Nancy was in the corner, talking with one of the g
uards.
Closing his eyes, Bruce tried to control his breathing, feeling the rage return as Angela and Stephanie sat down. They reached over, grabbing his hands and squeezed, bringing him back. Opening his eyes, he smiled at them and had to remember it was Christmas. Nancy walked over and sat down in Mike’s chair.
“Bruce, there’s a woman outside wanting to talk to you about Oscar. She’s his aunt,” Nancy said.
“I’ll talk to her later. Have her wait in the Center with one of the guards,” Bruce said.
“Oh, I got it, Nancy,” Ted said, walking out and taking a guard with him.
“The aunt has her husband with her,” Nancy said.
“I really don’t care,” Bruce said as one of the technicians came by and put a bottle of water in front of him. “Bring Oscar down, and sit him down at that end,” Bruce said, pointing at the other end of the table between Marcus and Willie.
Excited, Willie jumped up and said, “Oh hell yeah; I’m the bailiff.”
Marcus just smiled. “I’m the long arm of the law then,” he said, pulling out a knife.
“Everyone, keep your emotions in check. I want to hear what they have to say. If you keep on, I’ll call Cook and ask for my bags,” Bruce said then drained his bottle of water. Looking over at Angela, he saw her talking on the phone. When she hung up, Bruce asked, “Was that Mike?”
“No,” she replied and turned around, grabbing her laptop.
“Checking on the kids?” Bruce asked.
“I did that already. They are with Susan upstairs in the bedroom. The twins put makeup on PJ and were trying to do it to Cade,” she answered, tapping her keyboard.
Smiling and shaking his head, Bruce asked, “Just who were you talking to then?”
Looking up, she asked, “Are you jealous?”
Caught off-guard, Bruce stopped to think about it as Angela waited on his reply. After a few minutes, he answered, “I don’t know, but I think I am a little bit.”
Blue Plague: War (Blue Plague Book 6) Page 15