“So, this location is where they pick up the drugs for land-based entries then, is that right?” asked Damon.
“Yes. There are other warehouses near the marinas. It’s such a lucrative venture that they can pose as wealthy Mexican and European tourists or landowners because they are wealthy landowners. They make billions. We have jokers coming all the way over here from the Middle East, direct from the poppy plantations and Kush regions to participate. It’s a criminal conspiracy, partnership, organization stronger than most governments. This cartel is only one of dozens. And Uncle Sam works with some of them. In fact, we’ve worked with this one before when they’ve helped us with some terrorist watch group individuals that are slipping through our borders. They aren’t exactly friendly with these groups, so they will gladly take our money and help us catch them. Until yesterday. Yesterday they moved from being an ally, admittedly a dangerous and not totally trustworthy ally, to being an enemy. Kelly and Carter walked right into it.”
“So, what’s the plan, Kyle?” asked Cooper. “How are you going to get around these armed guards?”
“That’s a pretty big area for only ten of us,” added T.J.
“We start a fire. Gentlemen, we’re going to blow up one of their buildings, and it’s going to be so big, we’re going to need a huge water tanker truck, rescue vehicles and a boatload of crew to put it out.” Kyle grinned.
“Do you happen to have one of those tankers?” asked Damon.
“We sure do. It’s stored in that incomplete fire station right over there.” Kyle pointed to the distinctive red brick building with large rollup bay doors. “And we think, given a large-enough emergency, they might want to run over here and commandeer this unit. Maybe ask for some manpower.”
Damon was confused.
“I think we’ll let them do it. And if not, well, we’ll drive it over to them and offer our services.”
They were released at dawn to get a couple of hours of sleep before they would go on their first rounds of exploratory. This would also give Kyle time to update his intel by calling the Commander back in Coronado, just in case something had changed. Coop approached Kyle, with Damon right behind him, asking a question.
“You got tools here somewhere? I’m thinking I should maybe make sure that thing works out there or we’ll be caught with our pants down around our ankles and no bride in sight.”
“Whoa. That’s an image I won’t get out of my head anytime soon. But I get your point. Excellent idea. You feel like tickling her insides a bit?”
“Just wanna be sure. Depends on how long she’s been standing. We’re close to the ocean, salt water, you get the drill.”
“Say no more. God I’m glad I brought you!” Kyle shook his hand and sent him on his way.
Before Kyle could get distracted elsewhere Damon asked him a burning question.
“You didn’t say anything about our cells. Are we allowed?” he asked.
“You bet. This time, the gear isn’t that sophisticated for that kind of stuff. So, unless you have “Badass Navy SEAL” all over your FB page or phone description, and you better not because that’ll get you tossed, you’re good.”
“Thanks, Kyle.” Damon headed for the stairs. “Oh, and Martel said she missed seeing Christy at the bonfire. She liked it.”
“Oh yeah? She fitting in already?”
“I think so, sir. But you know women. I mean, how do you ever know for sure?”
“Indeed, I do, Damon. Strangest, most beautiful creatures on this planet. Make you work so hard, hurt so hard and want so hard. You’re kicking and screaming and loving every minute of it. Guys who don’t get that don’t get loved.”
No truer words were ever spoken. “Spoken by one who I’m sure is.”
“Thanks, Damon. Now you go get some rest and we’ll talk later. I understand she went to visit your little girl. I’d like to hear about it sometime. And tell the guys about the phones, ‘cause I forgot to.”
“Yessir.” Damon was surprised Kyle knew about Martel’s trip to Palo Alto, but figured nothing much passed between the four amigos as they were called: Kyle, Coop, Fredo and Armando. All four pillars of the same fortress they called their platoon at SEAL Team 3.
Upstairs, he informed the other rooms about the cell phone use and entered his own. Jason had requested they room together since they were both about the same time on the teams, and they also had some adventures in Florida.
The suite was huge, each equipped with a king-sized bed. Jason sat with his cell phone in his lap.
“Pretty cool, isn’t it?” the heavily inked Pacific Islander said. “Heard you were talking about phones. Figured I’d get the scoop first before I go opening up a can of worms.”
“Have at it. I’m going to.”
He entered his room, and partially closed the bedroom door, leaving a good foot-wide opening, then dialed Martel. He’d been concerned ever since her disturbing phone call. He willed himself to calm down as he waited for the rings.
But it went straight to voicemail.
“Hey, Babe. We’re here, all safe and sound. I’m going to hit the sack for a couple of winks and then we’ll be on our way, exploring this project,” he said with emphasis. “Nice weather so far. Not sure how available I’ll be today but keep trying and be sure to reach out to Christy or someone if you need help. I’m serious about that. Don’t do stuff alone. You’re pretty strong, but there comes a time when it all starts feeling like too much, and you just gotta step away, and get some help.”
Then he thought about something else. “You might give Lizzie Daniels a call, so you can let us know how if the baby’s coming. Jameson stayed behind. I think you knew he’d do that.”
He wrinkled his brow and finished up. “Love you, and wish you were here. The water is blue, and I’ve got this killer view and room. Jason is a poor substitute for the love of my life. Take care, be good, get some help if you’re overwhelmed and don’t ever forget that I love you. More every day. You did good this morning, Martel. Everything will be okay. You’ll see. Bye.”
He hoped she’d find some comfort in his words, but he was always nervous about leaving long voicemails. It increased the chances that he would say something that would be taken the wrong way.
Kyle was right. Women were so complicated, but incredible creatures. He wanted to feel that love from her forever.
Chapter 10
Martel pulled up to her rental and grabbed her suitcase. She noted people were putting their cans out for the early morning pickup, so she left her suitcase by her front door and struggled with the two plastic bins. One of them had a broken wheel and it just wouldn’t budge. She nearly toppled it.
“Hey, hey, let me get this, miss.”
He was an older guy, maybe ten years older, with salt and pepper beard and hair, and extremely handsome.
“Thank you,” she said as he pulled the cans out of her grip. She waited for him to place them at the street.
“You just getting back?” he asked, noting her suitcase.
“Yes, a little Valentine’s Day trip.”
He nodded his head, hand over his mouth. “I’m your new neighbor, Carl Frame. I just bought the duplex next door. Going to be working on it.”
She shook his hand. “I’m Martel,” and left it at that. Placing her hand on the pull up grip, she thanked him again. “It’s been a long day, so I’m going to crash.”
He waved at her and began to walk away. “I’ll take a raincheck.”
It was an odd comment. She didn’t owe him anything. But when she turned, he’d already gone.
She double checked all the doors and windows, then checked her phone and saw she’d missed a call from Damon. She started listening to it when her phone rang.
“Hey there little lady. Howz it going these days?” Martel was so happy to hear his familiar southern accent, and the fact that he cared enough to call her at night.
“Mr. Karmody, thank you so much for calling. I didn’t expect you until tomorrow.
”
“Well, I can’t resist a pretty woman. You sounded a little stressed. Glad it wasn’t too late. I considered that.”
“No. This is better, much better.”
“Normally, I like to have you come into my office and we can have a proper chat, but I imagine you have school tomorrow, so try to be brief and how can I help you?”
“I’m not sure if you can. I mean, I don’t know if you do that kind of law.”
“What kind of law?”
“I might be sued for sexual abuse, or just abuse, or failure to watch out for one of my students.”
“Holy cow. You don’t mess around with little things, do you? How could something like that happen?”
“Well, I noticed something on campus a few days ago, and I wanted to report it to the Sheriff. I’m required to report it, I should say. One of my students, a girl, was doing pre-sexual things, allowing things to be done to her.”
“Missy, there’s no such thing as pre-sexual in the eyes of the law. It’s either sexual or not sexual. If it’s even a little bit sexual, it’s sexual. Get my drift?”
“I do, sir.”
“And she was doing something with another girl or a boy?”
“Two boys.”
“And what were they doing?”
“She was consensually, or it appeared to be consensual anyway, letting them touch her, in her underwear, her panties.”
“I see. And was there any penetration?”
“Oh god I have no idea. I was clear across the yard. I don’t think it could be. I don’t think the boys knew what they were doing, but it looked like Cora, she’s my student, did. And before I reported it to the authorities, and after checking with my Administrator, I asked for a parent conference and met with them both on Friday after school.”
“Okay. And what was the result?”
“Well at first the mother had a complete defensive attitude. I told them that to me, she exhibited adult behavior, and that, based on my training as a teacher and counselor, was a learned behavior, probably taught to her by an older person, man or woman. They didn’t like hearing that or hearing what she was allowing the boys to do. I didn’t get any indication it was against her will, but I just wanted someone to look into it, and I wanted them not to be blindsided by the Sheriff coming to their front door.”
“Okay. And this is normally the way it’s handled?”
“We don’t have a way it’s handled. I relied on my Administrator. He didn’t ask to be part of the conversation. I told him what I thought was the right thing to do and he agreed, so I set up the appointment.”
“Well, now it’s two against one as far as what you said and what they said or did. So now they’re coming after you? Just why is that?”
“They’ve hired an attorney in Tampa and are treating it sort of like she was raped on campus and neither me or the school did anything to stop it, and in fact, encouraged it by not stopping it. I can see why they think that, but that wasn’t the purpose of the meeting.”
“Well, your administrator didn’t do you any favors, but did the Sheriff go to the house?”
“No one would let them in. And they’re blaming me for that too, like I damaged their reputation because the car came to the house, making all their neighbors think something wrong had happened.”
“Fact of the matter is, something wrong probably did happen to her, from the sounds of it. But it’s odd that they reacted that way. Who did they hire?”
“I’m sorry, I don’t have all the information. My administrator said it was some personal injury attorney with a billboard on the freeway. He called me when I was up visiting with Damon and Ainsley, my daughter. Today I got to meet her for the first time, Mr. Karmody.”
“Oh, that’s wonderful. How did that go? I’ll bet she’s so smart.”
Martel hesitated, suddenly overcome with tears. With her lower lip quivering, she tried to get out, “Oh, not so well. She got angry with me. I jumped right from that into finding out about this attorney who’s coming after me, so it’s not been one of my better days.”
She sniffled and found tissues to blow her nose.
“You poor dear. Are you still in California?”
“No, I’m back at my house. Just got in. Damon’s on a deployment, an emergency.”
“So, you have that, too.”
“I feel like a deer in the headlights. They don’t want me in class. The attorney is demanding a morning meeting—”
“Wait a minute. Who doesn’t want you in class?”
“The attorney said I shouldn’t be around children because I don’t do a good job of protecting them. My Administrator agreed, and has already gotten me a sub. I’m to meet with this attorney, and I don’t know what to do.”
“Your Admin isn’t doing you any favors. He’s giving off the aura of guilt, like a no confidence vote. Do you get along well with him?”
“Yes, we’re fine. But he let something slip when he was talking to me and I picked up on a weird vibe. He commented about them digging up dirt from our past, and that social media could get heated and cruel. I just got the impression he had an issue he was wanting to hide. Not about Cora or anything at the school, but from his past, perhaps a long time ago. Again, this is just a hunch.”
“Kind of makes sense. Now, if you were to guess, who would you say has taught Cora these things? Do you think it’s the father? They’re usually the suspects. Is this his natural child?”
“I don’t know, honestly, but I think so. They look alike. He just doesn’t seem like someone who would do that. But how would I know? They had a minor argument about her family. He was sort of pointing the finger at them, for some reason. The mother told him not to harm them, and I thought that was odd. The mom is kind of a mess, but the father seems hard working, a little depressed, but otherwise okay. She’s on a downward spiral.”
“If anyone asks you about her, keep your mouth shut, please.”
“Sure. No problem. You mean I shouldn’t have—”
“No, only thing you did was not have your Admin with you during the conference. But if he didn’t insert himself, or volunteer it, that can’t be blamed on you. You were the one who called him first, I take it?”
“Yes. I told him and then we agreed I’d talk to the parents and inform them. Together.”
“You and the Admin together?”
“No, I would talk to the parents together, not one at a time.”
“Gotcha.” He sighed and then posed another question. “Why are you worried about your past? You have nothing to hide.”
“My daughter. Giving up my daughter for adoption. That wouldn’t look very good if it came out in a lawsuit, would it?”
“There’s no reason it would. Besides, the adoption was handled in Oregon. I don’t think they’d know where to look. You haven’t told anyone, have you?”
Martel’s spirits collapsed again. It was getting so difficult to talk. “Only several of the wives on SEAL Team 3, my friend here who’s also married to a SEAL. But not anyone else.”
“These fellas are based in San Diego?”
“Yes.”
“How big is SEAL Team 3?”
“Oh, I don’t know the exact number, but I think about two hundred. Their platoon is much smaller, thirty-five or so. Maybe fifty. I don’t know.”
“I want you to stop talking about it, Martel. Especially that Administrator. I don’t like what I’m hearing about him. Is it a him or her?”
“Him. He’s very nice. I’ve never had any problems with him. Always very supportive of the teachers. I’ve done a good job of keeping that one to myself.”
“Except for fifty or so men on SEAL Team 3 and their wives, maybe their children if they were listening. You see where I’m going?”
“Yes,” she croaked, barely able to get it out. “I’m such an idiot.”
“No, you’re not an idiot, but there are a lot of things that could get sticky if not handled properly. We have to control the narrative. Usually,
guilty people try to do that, like on TV. In your case, your past isn’t indicative of who you are today. You didn’t do anything wrong. You admittedly made a mistake and I’ll wager you’ve paid a high price for that.”
“I have.” She was getting tired, wanted to take a hot shower and just peel herself into bed. “Mr. Karmody, I’m exhausted. So, before I literally fall asleep on the phone, does this sound like something you’d be able to help me with? Or can you give me the name of someone else who could?”
“I think so. Your union should help, but you don’t want them using their attorneys, even though they’ll try to convince you of it. We can all work together. But I’m thinking about a lady I know who just salivates for attorneys like this gentleman you described, the ones who make a huge case out of a misunderstanding and cost everyone enormous sums of money, all for greed. But she’s about as sharp as they come.”
“So, you’ll call her then, or do I have to do it tomorrow?”
“You let me know what time your meeting is, and where, and I’ll make sure we both show up. If she can’t, because I don’t know anything about her schedule, I’ll come. But I’m pretty sure she’ll want to be there.”
“You don’t know how relieved that makes me feel.”
“Well, we’ve got some homework to do. We need to find out who is doing the abuse, the source of it. If that comes out, I have a feeling this little ball of yarn will untangle itself.”
“Wouldn’t that be nice? Oh, thank you!”
“You go take your shower and turn in. I’ll talk to you in the morning. Don’t forget to let me know when the meeting is first thing.”
“I promise. Thanks so much. I know this probably isn’t something you do every day, but I just appreciate having someone on my side I can trust.”
“Of course. And I don’t take on any clients I don’t believe in, either. If I’m not convinced they are innocent, I don’t get involved. This shouldn’t be happening to you. I want to help you fix it.”
Second Chance Reunion Page 8