by Rachel Dylan
Layla moved toward the door. “Viv and I will go get some coffee to let you two talk about the details. We’ll be back in a bit.”
“Thanks,” Marco said. He turned his attention back to Bailey. Anger continued to brew inside of him as he thought about what she must have gone through. “Tell me what happened.”
Bailey closed her eyes for a second.
He moved closer to her. “You’re in pain. Maybe this should wait.” He kicked himself for pushing for information. In situations like this he needed to act, and right now he wanted to make the monster pay for the pain he had caused Bailey. But he couldn’t push for that at her expense. He had to keep his emotions in check, which was not one of his strong suits.
Bailey shook her head slowly and winced. “No. I need to tell you.” She paused. “I had pulled into the parking garage and into my spot. I got out and turned around, and a man was there, wearing a black ski mask. I’d say right under six foot, but large and bulky—maybe two fifty. Caucasian with blue eyes. He totally got the drop on me. I never saw him coming. He choked me and then threw me to the ground. I tried to get to my gun, but he was stronger and faster. He hit me. Hard. Then next thing I knew, he had vanished.”
This was even worse than Marco had expected. “What did he steal?”
She winced again. “My purse and my workbag.”
“I’m sorry,” Marco said. “I can help in getting your credit cards cancelled and all of that.”
“No need. My friends are already on that.” Her bottom lip started to quiver.
He realized she was still in shock. Moving even closer, he took her hand in his, not worrying about anything except her. “Bailey, you’re safe now. No one can hurt you.” As he said the words, he realized he wasn’t leaving her alone here tonight.
“You’re right. I have my friends. They’re pretty tough.”
“I have no doubt that they are, but I am too. And I’m not going anywhere.”
“You’re staying?” Her eyes widened.
“Absolutely. So if your friends need to go home and get some shut-eye, they can rest easy knowing that I’m not leaving you.”
This was not negotiable. Bailey had been attacked while they were working a case. Their case. His case. He couldn’t help but feel like he had failed her, even though he knew that wasn’t a rational response.
His statement made her tear up. “I’m normally not this emotional. I can’t explain why I’m acting like this. It just . . . it really hurts.”
“Have they given you something for the pain?” He would track down a nurse.
“Yes, but only a limited dosage. I wanted a clear head.” She paused. “Marco, I don’t know what happened to me out there.”
“What do you mean?”
She looked up at him. “I’ve trained for years. First at Quantico and then yearly fitness tests, plus my regular training regime. But when I turned and he was standing there . . .” She took another deep breath. “I froze,” she whispered. “I can’t believe I froze.”
Marco squeezed her hand. “Even the most seasoned agents can freeze. You had no expectation of danger. You were at your home.”
She shook her head. “But we’re taught always to be on alert, and I was too busy focusing on other things instead of being situationally aware. I let down my guard.”
The last thing he needed was for her to start psyching herself out. He needed her strong and clearheaded in order to solve this case. “You’re being too hard on yourself. I assume you’ve never had any incidents in your garage before tonight.”
“That’s right.”
“So put that out of your mind.” He replayed everything she’d told him. “Did he speak to you?”
“Not a word.”
He nodded. “Why don’t you try to get some rest. I’ll talk to your friends when they get back. Did the hospital staff tell you when they will release you?”
“The doctor is going to reevaluate in the morning, and if everything looks good, they’ll let me go.”
He watched as she closed her eyes again, his fists clenched by his side. Taking a second to calm himself, he stepped outside her door to make some calls, which included calling her FBI partner, Connor, so he would know what had happened.
Bailey’s friends arrived just as he was finishing his calls. “You two can go home and get some rest,” he told them. “I’ll be staying tonight. Nothing is going to happen to her.”
Layla’s big chocolate eyes focused on him. “Bailey is really tough, but she doesn’t know when to stop and take care of herself.”
“And we’re counting on you to look out for her. Can you do that?” Vivian asked.
“Absolutely,” he responded. “Bailey is fortunate to have friends like you. Are you two in law enforcement?”
Vivian shook her head. “We both work at the State Department. I’m an attorney, and Layla’s an analyst. We met Bailey in law school, and we’d do anything for her.”
Marco smiled. “Right now I think she’d want you to get some rest, because I’m sure you have to work tomorrow. I promise she will be safe now.”
“If there’s anything we can do to help, no matter how small, let us know,” Layla said.
“We’re going to get through this,” he responded.
Vivian handed him a business card. “All of my contact info is on there. If you need anything or if Bailey starts giving you a hard time, contact me no matter day or night. We’ll check in on her in the morning.”
“Roger that,” he said.
The two women thanked him again and then left. He headed back into the room to keep watch over Bailey. He knew the case should be his first and highest priority, but who was he kidding? Right now his mind was focused solely on Bailey.
CHAPTER
NINE
The next day Lexi couldn’t believe what she was reading. She sat with Tobias in her JAG office in the Washington Navy Yard. She’d just gotten the entrance and exit logs from Little Creek and was reviewing them with her client.
“These are wrong,” Tobias said.
“Base security is adamant that their system is accurate. And these logs show you leaving base at three p.m. and not coming back until after midnight.”
Tobias ran a hand over his light blond hair. “Someone really is out to get me, Lieutenant, and I don’t have the foggiest idea why.”
“So you’re saying someone falsified these records?” She fought to keep her voice even. She was on his side, and even her patience was starting to wane.
“It’s an electronic system. It’s hackable.”
As exasperated as she was, she had to entertain his crazy theory. “That would require some level of sophistication.”
He leaned in toward her. “This whole operation is sophisticated. My hair being planted at the first two murder scenes, the logs being falsified. I don’t know how I’ve gotten into this tangled mess, but I’m ready to find a way out of it.”
She had to draw a line in the sand. “I’ve stuck by you each step of the way, but I have to ask you again, Tobias. This is your last time to come clean without me totally losing it on you, but I need to hear it from you that you didn’t do this.”
“Ma’am, my answer is still the same. I promise that I am innocent. We have to figure out who wants me to be the fall guy and why they would kill these three men.”
“I owe NCIS a call. I already told them I could produce evidence of your alibi. When I have to walk that back, it’s not going to go over well. I don’t know if they’ll be willing to buy in to our conspiracy theory.”
Tobias shook his head. “Ma’am, with all due respect, this isn’t a conspiracy theory. We’re talking about my life here. My career. My future. Please tell me that you’re willing to fight for the truth here.” His blue eyes pleaded with her.
This man was either the best liar she’d ever met or an innocent man in a world of trouble. “For someone to go to these lengths to cover up these murders, we have to be talking something big. Really big.”
“That’s exactly what I’m afraid of. Who else is next? Where does this end? At this point, it might be preferable to get taken into custody. Then they couldn’t keep pinning things on me.”
“There’s a very real chance you’ll get your wish. Once NCIS and the FBI see these logs, I think you’ll be arrested.”
“Maybe it’s for the best. At least that way they’ll know exactly where I am and nothing else that happens will be on me.”
“I just don’t always trust the system.” She couldn’t believe she had said that, but it was true.
Izzy thought Jay might end up being a stick-in-the-mud, but he was proving her wrong. He was old enough to be her father, and that comparison wasn’t something she could easily forget.
They’d gotten processed through base security at Fort Benning in Columbus, Georgia, the home of the 75th Ranger Regiment. Now they were sitting in a conference room, about to meet the commanding officer. Jay had warned her that Colonel Jeff Hayden was known for his tough-as-nails personality.
“I know I might have unduly scared you about the colonel. I just don’t want you to be taken off guard.” Jay smiled at her. “He can be gruff.”
The door opened, and Jay shot to attention. She stood as well, but not with the same military finesse.
“Sit, both of you,” the colonel said.
Well, so much for introductions, she thought.
“What do we have?” Hayden asked.
Jay gave the report. “A Ranger, P. J. Wexford, was shot by what we believe to be sniper fire in Washington, DC, while on leave. His death comes on the heels of the murder of a Navy SEAL. The suspect in that case is another SEAL. There is some feeling that the SEAL suspect could be a setup. We’re working with NCIS to determine if there is any link between the cases. If so, we could have a killer out there targeting our most elite military servicemembers.”
The colonel finally looked in Izzy’s direction. “Ma’am, are you with NCIS?”
“Yes, sir,” she said.
“You can’t be a day older than twenty-five,” he said.
She felt her cheeks redden. Hayden wasn’t pulling any punches.
The colonel cleared his throat. “I assume if NCIS really thought this was a massive threat, they would’ve sent someone more senior.”
“Colonel, there is a senior agent back at NCIS working jointly with the FBI. Everyone is taking this very seriously.”
“Terrorism still a possibility?” Hayden asked.
“Only a remote one. Our energy is focused on other areas.”
Colonel Hayden sat straight in his seat. “What do you need from me?”
“We’d like to talk to some of the other Rangers and see if we can find any links between the victims. There was also a man murdered in the same way as the SEAL—he was the first victim in all of this. He knew the SEAL, but he wasn’t military.”
The colonel stood, and Jay shot to his feet again. “You’ll have whatever you need.” Then he turned to her. “Ma’am.”
That was all he said as he walked out of the room.
Izzy turned toward Jay.
“I told you,” he murmured.
Another man walked into the room. “I’m First Lieutenant Shi. The colonel has asked me to see to your needs. I’ll be available to set up the interviews you want to conduct and get you around base.”
“Thank you, Lieutenant. We’re eager to start talking to those who knew Wexford as soon as possible.”
Shi nodded. “Wexford was a member of the Third Battalion. I’ve done some initial recon, and I’ve got a few soldiers lined up to speak with you. I assume you want to talk to them one by one?”
“Yes, sir,” Jay said.
“Follow me, and I’ll take you to the conference room where you’ll do the interviews. Is there anything I could get you, or you, ma’am?”
She would kill for another cup of coffee, but she didn’t speak up.
“Coffee would be great, Lieutenant,” Jay said. “I’m sure Agent Cole would like some too.”
“Yes, sir, coming right up.”
A few minutes later, the two of them were in a conference room with Ranger logo mugs filled with coffee, waiting on the first Ranger to arrive.
“Aren’t you glad I warned you about the colonel?” Jay asked.
“Yeah. He definitely wasn’t the touchy-feely type.” She laughed. “But I guess you don’t get to his position by showing your emotions.”
“Nope.”
“How did you end up in CID?”
“Well, I’ll let you in on a little secret.” Jay smiled.
“What?”
“I used to be a Green Beret.”
“Really?”
“Yes, ma’am. But after many years and numerous deployments, my body just wasn’t what it used to be. When I turned forty, I decided to apply for CID. I’ve been doing it now for nine years.”
That would make him forty-nine. Her father would have been fifty-one if he were still alive. “I guess it’s good to move on to a new challenge in a different phase of life.”
Jay laughed. “That’s the nice way of saying I got older and needed to take it easier. This job can still be demanding, but obviously not like what I did before. I know the colonel called you out for being young, but I wouldn’t let it get to you. Youth has its advantages.”
She nodded. “I am young. Something that I get reminded of often. I’m just twenty-four.”
His eyes lit up. “You’re around my son’s age. So why NCIS?”
“I started out in Arlington PD, but when I saw this opening come up at NCIS, I thought I had to try it. I knew it was a long shot, getting hired with only one year of experience, but someone in Arlington PD put in a good word for me. Someone who knew my father,” she added softly.
“So your father is Arlington PD?”
Izzy shook her head. “He was. He was killed in the line of duty when I was sixteen.” She paused, determined not to cry on the job. “He’s the reason I wanted to go into law enforcement.”
“I am so sorry.” Jay took a moment. “But even though I never knew your father, being one myself, I have no doubt he would be so proud of the path you’ve taken.”
“Thank you for saying that.” It did mean a lot. She often wondered what her dad would say about her career choices.
Their conversation ended when a huge hunk of a man entered the room. He was probably six three and all muscle. They made introductions, and Staff Sergeant Young took a seat.
“How well did you know P. J. Wexford?” Jay asked.
“Well. We went through Ranger school together. Bonds like that never break.”
“Do you know why he was in the DC area?”
Young shook his head. “We had a week-long leave, but he told me he was going to visit his brother, who lives in Atlanta. He never said anything about going to DC.”
Izzy jumped in. “Does he have friends in the DC area?”
Young’s almost-black eyes met hers. “If he does, he never spoke about them. He’s from Gainesville, Florida.”
She glanced at Jay. It was possible that Young just didn’t know everything about Wexford, but she was still skeptical. “His brother told investigators that he hadn’t seen P. J. this past week. They spoke by phone, and P. J. didn’t even mention his leave time.”
Young crossed his arms. “Something doesn’t add up here. Why would he lie to me and his brother?”
“That’s our job to figure out,” Izzy said.
Jay leaned forward. “I’ve got two names for you. Sean Battle and Michael Rogers. Ring any bells?”
Young’s eyes lit up. “Yeah, actually. I’ve heard P. J. on the phone before, talking to someone named Battle.”
“Do you know what about?”
Young averted his eyes. “I guess now that he’s gone, it doesn’t matter,” he said softly.
“What is it?” Jay leaned in a little further.
“I really hate doing this. I gave my word.”
“You
did, but the man you gave it to has been murdered, and there could be something really bad going on here,” Jay said. “It’s your duty to tell us.”
Young sat without saying a word.
Izzy noticed that Jay didn’t push anymore, just allowed the silence to hang.
After a minute, Young spoke. “P. J. had taken on a side job. I think that’s what he was talking to Battle about. He swore me to secrecy, because you’re not allowed to take on any other work unless it’s specifically approved by the CO—and for good reason.”
“Any idea what kind of work?” Izzy asked.
“No. He didn’t get into details. But I had to cover for him once. He promised he would never put me in that position again, and he didn’t. P. J. wanted to give me as much plausible deniability as he could, but he told me it was something he had to do. I didn’t push. Maybe I should have. If I had spoken up, maybe he’d still be alive.” Young stared out the window.
Izzy pulled out her phone and texted an update to Marco, letting him know what they’d just found out. This was a major development.
“Did you ever hear P. J. say anything about Rogers?” Jay asked.
“No. But that name is so common, it’s possible that it didn’t register. Battle seemed unique to me, so it caught my attention.”
Izzy gathered her thoughts. “When did this job discussion happen?”
“Maybe six months ago.” Young sighed. “I can tell you one thing, P. J. was a straight-up guy. He wouldn’t have been doing anything illegal.”
“Even if he was desperate and needed the money?” Jay pushed.
“I don’t think so. If he’d been in a really bad way and asked me, I would’ve done what I could. Not that I have money lying around. But he said he had things under control.”
“What’s your best guess as to what type of work he was doing?” Izzy asked.
“I would be completely speculating, but obviously it could be anything from being a bouncer to things a bit less savory. But I still don’t think he would’ve done anything to break the law. It wasn’t his style.”
Jay glanced over at her before asking, “Is there anything else you can think of that might help us?”
Young put his head into his hands for a moment. “No. I can’t believe P. J.’s gone. If there’s anything I can do to help find his killer and make him pay, I’m all in.”