by Dale Mayer
She snuggled into the warmth and stopped, closing her eyes. “Wow,” she said. “What a difference.”
“Remember. You’ll feel cold for a while.” Snagging her arm, he tucked it in against his elbow. “Come on. Let’s go.”
She followed him down the ramp and upstairs to the deck of the destroyer. There they stood in the shadows until given clearance. Finally they boarded the helicopter, he behind her, checking on her every move. When she finally sagged into her seat and buckled up, she sighed with relief. “Never would I have thought getting cold like that would have such a debilitating effect for so long.”
“Just goes to show you,” he said, “how bad it really was.”
As soon as the helicopter took off, Kate studied the ocean around them. “Are we still going to the same air base?”
“Yep,” he said cheerfully.
Thirty-five minutes later they hovered over the airstrip. “I’m not even sure what I’m supposed to do now. I was heading to the last leg of my flight,” she said. “I thought I was taking a flight back to Coronado, but now I’m not sure.”
“You need a couple days off,” Colton said confidently. “So don’t let them send you out just yet.”
“I know. Maybe that’s why I’m supposed to report to the doctor when I land.”
“You came out of the medical bay on the ship,” he said. “Standard practice.”
When they did land, they were greeted by a team. Kate was separated from Colton and led into another medical bay, where she was checked over and told she was on a forty-eight-hour furlough for medical reasons. She nodded and asked, “Where am I staying?”
One of the men smiled and said, “I’ll take you over.”
She followed him to some barracks, where she was given a small room to herself. She immediately stretched out on the bed and closed her eyes. She should have asked where Colton was but was so damn tired that she couldn’t keep her eyes open, so she didn’t fight it.
A knock came on her door sometime later and woke her. “Come in,” she called out.
Colton stepped in. “Have you debriefed yet?”
She shook her head. “But, of course, I’ve got that to do too, don’t I?” She groaned and sat up.
“The sooner, the better.”
She looked up at him. “Have you?”
“I’ve just come from there.”
She nodded and said, “Better to do it now, if I can.”
“That’s why I came to get you. I wanted to make sure we got it done as soon as possible. Then it’s over, and you can rest.” He held out a hand.
Smiling, she placed hers in it.
*
It was hard for Colton to not feel the electricity every time he touched her. Even though she still felt sick and was obviously weak, something about this woman stirred his senses like no other. He’d left that morning way back when because that was how he thought she’d wanted it. That was how they’d arranged it, an unspoken agreement—two ships in the night and then carry on. He’d lost track of her for a long time after that.
Then he heard stories. Every once in a while he’d hear her name mentioned, which would bring it all back again. He hadn’t realized she was piloting the plane he was on until he’d gone up front. He wondered when she hopped on because he didn’t think she’d been there in Coronado. He’d have to ask her, but right now they were approaching the investigators.
Colton had been asked what condition she was in, and he’d volunteered to see if she was willing to do this now. It was obviously better for everyone if they could debrief now and get as much information as possible in the hands of the investigators. Colton pulled up a chair for her and helped her sit down. He knew she wasn’t that weak, but it wouldn’t hurt for the investigators to understand she was still recovering.
With that, the interview got started. She answered all the questions honestly, at least Colton thought so, if he was any good at reading body language. She had no idea what had happened, just that the left engine blew up without warning. She did explain about her ex-boyfriend and about George’s legal case.
By the time they were done, Colton hadn’t learned anything new, and that was frustrating. He had hoped she would have picked up something. Then the questions started in his direction again. Had he seen anything before he boarded in Coronado? Had he seen anyone unauthorized around the plane? He shook his head. He turned to look at her.
“You didn’t board at Coronado, did you?”
She shook her head. “No, Halifax. I was on layover and joined George there.”
He nodded. “And, no,” he said, as he turned to face the others. “I didn’t see anything on that layover either.”
“We already asked the Canadian government to take a look at their video cameras,” one of the investigators said in frustration. “We do have a good rapport with them, and they sent them right over, but, so far we haven’t picked up anybody or anything suspicious on them.”
“Several other soldiers were there,” Colton said. “Two other American planes were at the base.”
“Yes. One ran into trouble and was flying with the second, so both landed,” he said. “But that was a different story entirely.”
“Maybe,” Colton said, “but it was opportunity, if someone was looking for one.”
“For one of the other soldiers on the other flights?”
“If this was on purpose, then, yeah,” Colton said.
“It’s not like the passengers on the other flights would have known they were landing at Gander International Airport,” he said.
“No, but it’s a normal flight path,” he said, “so was always a possibility.”
“I hope you’re not saying the other plane that ran into some trouble was also sabotaged?”
“No,” Colton said. “I mean, it’s possible obviously, but that would be taking a big risk.”
“If you think about it,” Kate said, “it expands the suspect pool.”
The men facing them stared at her.
She shrugged. “Well, just think about it. Now you have to consider all those people.”
“Do the video cameras cover all the angles all the time?” Colton asked.
The men shook their heads. “No, but their camera system is good, and it would have been similar to ours,” one said. “And we all know that, if somebody wanted something to happen, it’s not out of the realm of possibility.”
“Unfortunately it’s all too possible,” Colton said. He looked over to see Kate’s color fading quickly. “Gentlemen, I think that needs to be all for the day. We can come back tomorrow, if needed.”
The men nodded, and Colton reached out a hand to Kate.
She looked at him gratefully, then addressed the investigators. “I’m more than happy to answer more questions,” she said, “I just don’t know what else I can tell you.”
“If we have more questions, we’ll get in touch with you tomorrow. You’ll be at least two days recovering, and then I understand you’re heading back stateside when you can, right?”
“Yes,” she said.
“So you’re here forty-eight hours anyway and grounded indefinitely, until we get to the bottom of this. It’s nothing personal. We just need to have you available for questioning.”
Chapter 4
Kate took it like a sock to her gut, but she rallied and smiled at them. “Let’s hope we get a fast answer to all this,” and, with a salute, she turned, and Colton led her back outside again.
“Wow,” she said. “I didn’t expect to be grounded.”
“I think it’s twofold on their part. Not only were you part of the sabotage plot,” he said, “but, if you fly again, and somebody is targeting you, then whoever goes on your flight is also potentially in danger.”
She stared up at him, her eyes filled with pain. “That’s not what I wanted to think about,” she snapped. But he just smiled at her, as if waiting for her to come around. She sighed. “Okay, fine, so it makes logical sense. I just don’t like it.”
“None of us ever do,” he said. “Now, before you crash for the night, how about some food?”
“That would be good,” she said. “That muffin was tasty, but it wasn’t enough.”
“It was two muffins,” he said, “and I’m pretty sure you ate part of my second one too.”
“Who’s counting?” she said with an airy wave of her hand. “But, if we can get some food, that would be good.” She shrugged and said, “I don’t even know what time it is here.”
“It’s coming on dinner,” Colton said, “so let’s head there first.”
“I need to figure out where my room is,” Kate said, turning in confusion. “I’m lost.”
“I’ll take you back afterward.”
She looked at him. “You’ll be here for the next few days too, won’t you?”
“Yeah, it seems like my plans might have changed.”
“You’re not heading off again?”
“No,” he said just as cheerfully as before, with almost too much enthusiasm. “I’m grounded as well.”
“I’m sorry,” she murmured. “It’s been a shit day all around.”
Inside the mess tent they each picked up a tray and walked down the aisle of food. There was lots of it, and it was all hot. Kate didn’t recognize many of the dishes, but she was happy to take whatever was offered. She could hear Colton asking for beef and gravy and getting her plate filled so it was heaping. She stared at it and looked at him sideways.
“Remember the muffins?” he said in a low voice. “Sometimes you come out of a trauma like that without any appetite at all, and sometimes you come out of that extreme-cold situation, feeling like you’re starving and can’t get full.”
“Well, as I first looked at this, I was thinking it was way too much,” she said, “but now I’m wondering if it’s enough.”
“We’re not done yet either,” Colton said and moved her along, where he served her a hot bowl of soup. “Let’s go sit over there.”
With their trays set down, she sat carefully and took everything off her tray. Colton took it from her and smiled.
“I’ll be back in a minute,” he said, then disappeared, only to return with water and more coffee.
She smiled at that. “Do you always treat people so nicely?”
“Always,” he said. “It doesn’t cost anything to be kind.”
“True,” she said, feeling bad because, of course, she’d been teasing him, but he really was being very helpful in looking after her. When they were both seated, she started in on the soup and stopped to savor the first spoonful. “Wow, this is really good.”
“The soup will help warm you up faster than anything,” Colton said. “I can see you’re still cold.”
Kate looked down at her fingers, still on the verge of trembling. “My body still needs a couple days, right?”
“Definitely a couple days,” he agreed.
By the time Kate had finished her soup and had started in on her plate, she began to feel a little better, but, when halfway through, she felt her energy waning. She kept eating, but it was more of an effort. When she finally stopped, she just looked at Colton.
“Let’s go,” he said. “Let’s get you back to bed before you can’t walk anymore.”
“Too late,” she said, standing and wavering on her feet. He gripped her arm and wrapped it around his waist and then wrapped an arm around her. Carefully he moved her through the cafeteria, and she knew when a silence fell around them that they were being watched. “I’m sorry. I’m making a spectacle of myself.”
“Don’t you worry,” he said. “They probably all know what we’ve survived, and those who didn’t now will.”
“Yeah, but how come I’m so weak and not you?” she grumbled. He chuckled, the sound lovely against her ear.
“It’s not that it’s you or me,” he said. “We’re both survivors. Latch on to that and don’t forget it. Everybody here isn’t thinking about what kind of shape we’re in. Every one of them is damn grateful they weren’t in our position.”
She smiled at that. “If you say so.” But she could see that, if she had been here watching someone else in her situation, she would be feeling very sympathetic and also grateful it hadn’t been her. Back in her small room, Colton opened the door and helped her so she could collapse on the bed.
“I don’t want you sleeping in your clothes like that,” he warned.
“What difference does it make? Sleep is sleep,” she muttered, collapsing on her back and staying there.
“No,” he said. “It isn’t. You really need to get restorative sleep. You need to be comfortable, so you can get the best sleep you can.”
“I couldn’t possibly not sleep if I tried,” she said. “You have no idea how exhausted I am.”
“Actually I do,” he said, “and so I still worry. At least let’s get those boots off you—and the pants.” And, true to his words, he had her boots unbuckled and pulled off in no time.
She said, “I need the socks on though.”
“No way, they’re wet from the boots.”
She managed to sit up again and said, “You’ll have to leave.”
He grinned and said, “You don’t have anything I haven’t seen.”
“Maybe,” she said with a tiny smile, “but it doesn’t feel the same.”
“No,” he said, “it’s not at all the same. But you’re being foolish because what you need to be is tucked under that blanket right now, so shuck those pants and get that shirt off. I’ll turn my back.”
She stripped down quickly, before dashing under the covers.
“Damn it, your lips are turning blue.” Swearing, Colton grabbed another blanket from the cupboard and placed it on top of her. “Do you need another one?” he asked, and she could feel the worry in his tone and the waves of concern emanating from him.
She shook her head, trying to stop her teeth from chattering. “I should be good,” she said. “I just need to sleep.”
“But will you?” he asked.
“I’ll be fine,” she said. “Go get some rest. I’ll be okay.”
“I’m only two doors down, if you run into trouble.”
“What kind of trouble can I be getting into? I’ll just be lying here, sleeping.”
“Don’t lock the door, please,” he said. “I’ll come in and check on you.”
“Okay, good for you. I’m sure I’ll be snoring, so don’t wake me up.” On that note, she closed her eyes, and, as her body trembled, she sank deeper into the covers. Once she heard the door shut behind him, she let out a deep sigh and let sleep overtake her.
*
Colton hated to leave her alone like that, but she, at least, had been conscious, eating and moving well—up until now. But it seemed to hit her like a ton of bricks while she ate. He made his way to his room and sat down. He hadn’t been here long when a soldier knocked on his door, saying he had an important phone call. Following the man, Colton hoped it was Mason responding to the message he’d left for him earlier.
“What the hell happened?” Mason asked.
It was with a relief of sorts that Colton told him the whole story.
“Holy shit,” Mason said. “Are you guys okay?”
“I am. Kate’ll be all right, but I don’t know about George. I haven’t had an update.”
“I’ll find out,” Mason said. “And Kate’ll make it?”
“She’s shaky, but she was up, moving around, and she ate well at dinnertime but then crashed. She’s in bed now.”
“That hypothermia is deadly,” Mason said, with a note of warning.
“I know. I don’t really want to leave her alone, but she didn’t want company.”
“Is this Kate? As in Kate, Kate?”
Colton winced at that, having forgotten Mason had seen him the morning after he’d been with her. “Yeah,” he said heavily. “It’s her.”
At that, Mason whistled. “Wow. Looks like we’ve done it again.”
“Hell, no,” Colt
on said indignantly. “That’s your shit, not mine.”
“Apparently it affects everybody who is part of my group,” Mason said, chuckling. “And make sure you work things out while you’re alive and well because, if somebody tried once to kill her, you don’t know that they won’t try again.”
“We have to figure out whether she was the target or George,” Colton said.
“Yes, but, from a safety perspective at this point, it doesn’t matter which one it was,” Mason said. “Because, even if it was George, chances are they’ll be afraid she saw something. So watch it, or you’ll end up losing her before you ever get her back again. That means, you could be at risk as well. Now are you sure you’re feeling okay?”
By the time the phone call ended, Colton was a little more disturbed than he’d wanted to consider. Just because he was here for a training mission didn’t mean other people wouldn’t be around who couldn’t be trusted. It was a small group, and they were doing Arctic training. He didn’t even know for sure who was coming in. He wasn’t supposed to be here himself originally, but a lecturer had stepped aside on short notice, and the leader had asked for assistance. So, of course, Colton had stepped up.
Besides, Troy had asked for help. Now, if Colton could find the guy who sabotaged the cargo plane, then maybe things could move forward at a regular pace. The courses in the training session weren’t supposed to start for another three days, and Colton wasn’t sure if the inspectors would have enough time to get to the bottom of what had happened to Kate and George by then. Colton was still hoping for a good update on George too. Thinking about Troy, Colton called Mason back. “Hey, one more thing. Any update on Troy?”
“He’s arriving tomorrow,” came back the answer. He was already in transit, which would explain why Colton hadn’t heard anything.
“So, is there any way you can get me a laptop and a phone?”
“I know one of the guys who’s coming for your training. He should have landed already. Let me see if I can get something from the base for you. It would only be basic-level equipment but—”