“Please.”
She watched his bare back as he made his way over to the lamp. Kate and Libby were transfixed. Her sister’s eyes were the size of saucers.
Trace wrapped the nightgown around his neck like a scarf and returned. “Take it off me,” he said with a wink.
Gretchen had to address their audience, so changed the subject. “Coffee’s good, ladies.”
Libby approached and said quickly, “We’re about to have a whole room full of people here in just a few minutes.” She grabbed Gretchen’s nightgown and handed it back to her. “Why don’t you two take a shower before all the hot water is gone? The twins are not up yet, so now’s your chance. Trust me on this. I’ve traveled with them before.”
Gretchen donned her gown quickly and helped Trace fold the bedding and tuck it into the hall closet. They climbed the stairs together, but found the sole bathroom door locked.
“I’ll be out in a minute,” Linda said behind the door. They could hear sounds of a shower.
“Trace, you go downstairs and use the other one. I’ll wait until Linda’s done. I’ll meet you back down there for breakfast, okay?”
He reluctantly agreed. She knew if she let him, they’d have spent an hour fooling around and would miss breakfast entirely.
Not that it was a bad idea. But Gretchen felt like it was time to come up for air and start living in the real world.
Trace worried as he listened to Gretchen take a call from her oldest daughter. Everyone stopped eating and watched her happy expression turn from distress to outright fear and panic. Whatever was being communicated, it wasn’t good. He could barely hear the sobbing pleas for help.
“Clover, calm down. How did this happen?”
He could not make out all the words until he caught Clover’s words, “Three men showed up at the school while I was waiting for Joanie after practice, and they took me in a van.”
Kate flew to Gretchen’s side, holding the sleeping baby. The two sisters stared at each other in shock.
“Do they have all three of you?”
“No. Angela and Becky are with Gramma.”
Although Gretchen let out a sigh of relief, she was still very pale, and Trace thought she might faint. Then he heard a man’s voice come on the line. Trace grabbed the phone from her hands. Gretchen fell into Kate’s arms, and the baby awoke, startled.
“—And we have your oldest daughter. She is safe at the moment,” the man said in heavily accented Spanish, “and if you cooperate, all will end well.”
“Who the fuck is this?” Trace ranted to the phone.
“Ah, Señor, not necessary to use profanity. This only makes the Indians restless and we’re trying to conduct business here with Mrs. Sanders. You are her spokesperson?”
“Trace Bennett.”
“You are a friend of the family, Trace Bennett? Please put Mrs. Sanders back on the phone. With all due respect, señor.”
Everyone sitting at the large dining table stared at the three of them. Tyler took the squirming baby from Kate. Linda put her arm around Gretchen and kneeled at her side. Trace covered the mouthpiece and informed them, “They have Gretchen’s daughter.”
The room erupted in soft curses. Cooper stood and placed his phone to his ear. Trace assumed he was calling Kyle, who was still in Washington, D.C. Others called home to check on the safety of their own families and to alert the Team network. Gretchen was part of the SEAL community and would get their complete support. Though she lived in Portland, he knew it would be arranged that other members of the community would stay with her and give aid if necessary.
“Señor? I would like to speak to Mrs. Sanders, please,” the voice repeated.
Gretchen extricated herself from Kate’s embrace and reached for the phone, trying to grab it from Trace’s fingers. He held it just out of reach. Finally, she scolded him. “I need to talk to her, Trace. Give it to me right now!”
He handed the phone back. His blood boiled, and he struggled with the urge to rip the kidnapper’s arms off while he tore the creep’s jugular open with his bare teeth. On his feet, he started pacing and thinking, clenching and unclenching his fists. He was waiting for the cloud of emotions to subside and the clarity of a plan to emerge, but didn’t yet find any comfort or path. There were too many details he needed to ascertain. Coop had just finished his call and quietly appeared beside him.
“We get that number and I’ll give it to my NSA contact, Trace,” he whispered.
“Thanks, man.”
“Where are they?” Coop asked.
“I’m thinking Portland, but not sure.”
Gretchen was still listening to instructions. “H-how much of a little compensation is little?” Gretchen said bitterly, waiting for a response. “But I’m in Hawaii.” She was flustered, stammering. “I have to call my ex-husband. Where have you taken her?”
Trace gently gripped her arm, adjusting her wrist and hand to expose the phone number on the phone screen for Coop then pushed “Speaker” so the whole room could hear the conversation. He double-checked with her first, gave her a peck on the cheek, and she nodded her approval. Coop jotted a note and got back on his own phone.
The speaker crackled and squawked, “Like I said, Mrs. Sanders, she is safe and being watched over. She is being fed and given water, so no need to be concerned.”
Gretchen sucked in a breath and boomed right back at the man, “You fuckin’ better take very good care of my daughter, you animal!”
Trace was astounded.
The voice on the other end of the phone sighed. “Mrs. Sanders, like I told your friend, the use of profanity is not necessary. It is not our intention to hurt your daughter, Mrs. Sanders. We are looking for just our little transaction fee, and then we will be out of your hair. Your beautiful daughter will be returned to you unharmed and untouched. I give you my word.”
Gretchen’s body tensed as several Team members and their wives swore under their breath and whispered amongst themselves. Trace could see already a plan was being formulated. The distance was a factor, but they were used to four plus hour flights to an op.
Coop whispered to Trace, “Okay, I’m having the phone number traced. You want Libby to get you and Gretchen to Portland? She checked, and there’s a direct flight at noon you might be able to catch.”
“Thanks, I think that would be a good idea. I’ll pay you back.”
“Not a problem. We can tag along, too, if you want us to.”
“You got the ladies here, Coop. Not fair to have you do this.”
“No, Trace. You don’t understand. Maybe it was different on Team 8, but on this team, we stick together. If you think we’re in the way, we’ll not do it. But I don’t think it’s asking or expecting too much. You’d do the same for me; I know you would.”
Trace nodded and gave a brief smile to Libby, who got on her cell phone immediately.
Gretchen’s voice was getting shaky, and Trace could tell her emotions were confusing her. “I asked you before, how much? How much for my daughter?”
The voice paused. “One million dollars.”
It might as well have been ten million. Trace suspected this would be an impossible figure to come up with. The room was once again filled with whispered profanity. Gretchen’s breathing was irregular, her chest shaking with each inhale and exhale. He helped her put the phone down on the table and then folded her in his arms while they listened to the sole voice on the other end of the line through the speaker.
“I will give you one more chance to speak with your daughter, and then we will sign off for now. No tricks, please, Mrs. Sanders. You must keep the girl calm so I don’t have to sedate her.”
Gretchen leaned over the table and shouted into the phone’s speaker, “Don’t you fuckin’ touch a hair on her body! Let me speak to my daughter now!” She braced her weight with her palms on the table, took a deep breath, and closed her eyes. Just as she was about done with her exhale, she heard her daughter’s voice.
�
��Mom?” Clover’s weak voice broke Trace’s heart. “I’m scared.”
“Did they hurt you, sweetie?” Gretchen asked.
“No. But they’re creepy.” Clover sobbed and then sniffled. In a whisper, she said, “Mom, I’m in my spandex.” Her voice trailed off.
Trace didn’t understand at first what she was saying.
“Didn’t you bring your warm-up suit?”
“Just the jacket, and it’s cold in here.”
Gretchen was holding herself together now, trying to give comfort to Clover. “I know, sweetie. Ask them for a blanket or something to wrap around your legs. You have to stay warm, and be sure to drink water.”
“When are you coming to get me?”
It was the question that hung in the air nobody had an answer for.
“As soon as I can. I have to get hold of your dad. Have they tried calling him?”
“Yes. He doesn’t pick up.”
Gretchen gritted her teeth. “How did this happen, Clover?”
“I was waiting for Joanie. She was late. Everyone just left me, Mom.” She wavered and soon began to sob again. “I’m scared, Mom.”
The phone made muffled sounds, and then the male voice came on the line again. “So this is how it’s going to happen,” he began.
Gretchen interrupted him. “No, you don’t understand. I can’t do anything until I get in touch with Clover’s father. He’s the one in town, and he’s the only one who can arrange that kind of money. So you’re going to have to wait. I’m just telling the truth of how it is. I wish it was different, but you’re going to have to give us some time to get this figured out.”
Trace noticed she got stronger the longer she spoke.
“I do understand, Mrs. Sanders. I’m willing to be flexible, within reason. But don’t take too long.”
“You need to keep calling him. And I think Clover has his girlfriend’s number with her somewhere, too.”
“Okay. I am a very patient man, Mrs. Sanders. We will continue to try getting through to him, and we will call you back.”
“I’m going to take the first flight home.” She looked at Libby who nodded her head. “But I’ll have my friends keep trying Tony as well.”
“Very well. One other thing, you are not to involve the police. Trust me when I say that things will not go well for your lovely daughter, Clover. Such a special child. It would be a shame—”
Trace had the urge to grab the phone from Gretchen again to give the guy a piece of his mind, but Gretchen beat him to it.
“You have no idea who you’re dealing with. Like I said before, you harm one hair on her body and if it’s the last thing I do, if it takes my whole life, I’ll find you and your little cadre of demons and I will personally excise you from this planet. That’s not a threat. That’s a fact!” Gretchen’s face was red with anger.
The gentleman on the phone laughed softly. But then they could hear Clover’s outburst in the background, echoing in a large space, like a warehouse or hangar, “Don’t touch me!”
The voice continued. “I can see where she gets her spirit. I hope, for her sake, it is not in vain. We’ll be in touch.”
The phone went dead.
Chapter 9
The women came over to help Gretchen take a place on the couch. Linda brought her a tall glass of ice water. Several hands lifted her legs and massaged her feet while Kate massaged her shoulders and neck. Although it felt heavenly, the closeness was beginning to feel oppressive. Gretchen wanted to scream, tear something up, get a sledgehammer and make holes in the wall, cut all her hair off and put on war paint. She didn’t feel like calming down.
She was furious with Joanie, Tony, and even more furious with herself for even agreeing to leave the girls alone with such irresponsible people. It was the first time she’d done so for more than an overnight. Never before had she actually left the state or been more than a few hours away by car. She knew better. She feared this could happen, and she’d been right.
It was the last time she’d not trust her intuition, that gut feeling deep down that told her Tony and his new bimbo girlfriend didn’t care for the three girls the way she did. The sweet look Clover gave her as she stepped into Joanie’s car would haunt her the rest of her life. She shuddered to think it might be the last time she saw her lovely daughter. She leaned forward over her knees, covered her face with her hands, and sobbed.
“Shhh. Shhh, Gretchen. Don’t despair yet, sweetie, but I sure know how you feel.” Kate was pulling her hair from her neck, rubbing the top of her spine, and trying to soothe her with reassurances.
“The guys will think of something, Gretchen,” her sister cooed, but it didn’t do any good. “You’re not in this alone, sweetheart.”
“Just goes to show you big boobs and brains don’t go together!” she answered.
Most of the group chuckled. Trace shared a cautious smile with Coop. Kate hugged her from behind. “That’s my big sister. I hope you’ll have the chance to tell her so and very soon!”
“And I’ll be right there to be your second in case you want to take a punch at her,” added Linda.
“You’d think Tony would have more of a clue than to leave picking up our daughter to such an airhead. She was probably having her nails done.”
“Or getting a spray on tan. She lives in Portland, remember?” answered Linda. “White legs. They don’t get out in the sun much.”
Kate’s stern stare to her sister-in-law stopped her from continuing on with the litany of words it appeared she was going to spew.
Trace knelt at Gretchen’s side, kissing her palms and then placing his hands tenderly at the sides of her face. “Baby, Libby is making the arrangements now to get you home. I’m going to go with you to see if I can help out somehow.”
“Thank you, Trace, but that’s not necessary.”
Cooper piped up. “Gretchen, you’re not going to let your ex and his girlfriend orchestrate a payoff and the return of Clover. And we have to involve the police.”
“No!”
“Honey, you need them,” interrupted Trace. “They have training and experience with these things.”
“I don’t trust them with the life of my daughter.” She scanned the group of people assembled around her. “But thank you all. So grateful for your support.”
“Not enough, Gretchen,” said Kate, her jaw fixed. “You have to let these guys do what they do all the time. They want to come. Let us help you, Gretchen. Think about Clover.”
That turned her stomach, and she melted again into a series of sobs. Trace pulled her over towards him, while he slipped onto the couch.
“Let it all out, Gretchen. Believe me, there’s no fuckin’ way we’re going to let anything happen to Clover. We’re going to need a little more information, so we’ll coach you for your next call with these guys. But let us help figure out where she is and see if we can get her safely returned. We’ve already started the process. I promise we’ll do everything in our power to bring her back to you.”
Gretchen took strength from his steel blue eyes, so steady and unwavering. He wore his conviction on his face. As she looked up at Coop, Fredo, and several of the other SEALs, they bore the same expression.
“Let us help you, Gretchen,” Coop asked again. “Libby’s found some tickets for a non-stop direct to Portland. Tyler and Ollie and the others will stay behind with the women. But we’re your army, little sister. The four of us.”
“I’m older than you are, Coop.”
“Good. Then it’s settled. We’re going!” Coop grinned, patting the top of her head.
She barely had time to say anything further before she heard him bark some orders. “Okay, gents, let’s get to packing.”
Gretchen suddenly realized she hadn’t called her parents. “I’ve got to call mom,” she said as she looked at Kate.
“Do it.”
Her dad picked the phone up. “Sweetie! Oh God, Gretchen, it’s all over the news. Have you heard from Clover?”
> So much for keeping it private.
“How did the news get it?” she asked.
“Tony did an interview at the arena. He begged for them to return his daughter. You know Tony—”
“Well, that’s just great because they asked that no one contact the police. Leave it to Tony to screw things up.” She squeezed Trace’s hand. “Dad, we’re coming to Portland, catching a flight out of Lihue at noon. Can I talk to the girls?”
“Your mom took them to the store for a little distraction. They’ll be back soon.”
“Tell them I’m coming home. And that I love them. Thank God you have them. And give mom a hug.”
“Will do, honey. Anything else you want us to do now? Are they asking for money? Have you been able to talk to Clover? She must be scared out of her mind.”
“She’s holding up. She’s a tough kid. And she knows I’m coming. I’m bringing some reinforcements. Some of Tyler’s buddies are flying home with me.”
“Thank God. That’s what we need is a bunch of Navy SEALs right now. Well, you let us know what the plan is, and we’ll do whatever. You need money? We’ll try to raise some cash.”
“No. Don’t do anything yet. But if the police contact you, I need a name, okay?”
“You got it, kid. Have a safe flight home. Your mother will be relieved we heard from you.”
Kate leaned over Gretchen’s shoulder and called out, “Hi, Dad. Love you. We’ll see you in a few days.”
Gretchen disconnected the call and sat there staring at the empty dial while the beehive of activity happened all around her.
Trace laid her back on the couch—the same one that she’d slept with him all night long, and, just like this morning’s early miracle hours, his tender kisses left her gasping for air. She wished she could wake up and find that this had all been a very bad dream.
“Stay here for a minute or two. Just close your eyes, and then we’ll get you sorted, and we’ll be on our way, okay?” Trace said with a pat to her head.
She nodded. But then the sounds of Clover’s terrified voice echoed in her ears, and her eyes filled with tears. Before she could wipe them free, Trace was there, kissing her, rubbing her cheeks with his thumbs, whispering for her not to worry.
SEAL My Love: A SEAL Brotherhood Novel Page 6