Lean on Me

by Claudia Hall Christian

  “They want to see you,” Raz said.

  “Who?”

  “Your father’s team,” Raz said. “You know that Tom Drayson…”

  Alex nodded.

  “John doesn’t,” Raz said. “He thinks Tom is here for a visit. Are you going to tell him?”

  “I think it’s up to Tom,” Alex said.

  “How long have you known?” Raz asked.

  “Let’s see,” Alex tapped her chin. “Maybe three, no four, hours after John told me his story.”

  “Of course,” Raz laughed. “Well, it was new to me. But damn Alex, he’s good. He’s not just good, he’s really good.”

  “That he is,” Alex said.

  “Ben and the Mister interrogated the pirate Captain,” Raz said. “They didn’t gut him and feed him to the sharks like you wanted. Ben said to tell you that he was deeply sorry to disappoint you.”

  “Damn.”

  “I know,” Raz said. “They didn’t think it was fair to kill him after he told them everything they wanted to know. And, as you suspected, he knew a lot that… well…”

  Raz shrugged.

  “He didn’t make any sense,” Alex said.

  “How did you know?”

  “Pirates,” Alex said. “They have their own language, their own names for things, their own… ownness.”

  “Ownness?” Raz laughed.

  Alex laughed. He leaned over to look at her again and laughed. She laughed at his laugh.

  “There you are.”

  Surprised, their heads jerked toward Samantha’s voice. She stood at the edge of the patio wearing a sheer brown lace corsage and matching sheer panties. Her light orange thigh-high stockings were held tight with garter straps. She wore a matching brown lace robe. Her barefoot walk to their house had destroyed the feet of her stockings. As if they were too heavy to keep open, her eyelids sagged. Her pupils pressed the blue almost completely out of her eyes. Her long auburn hair hung in limp clumps.

  “Sami?” Alex grunted in pain when she sat up.

  “Let me talk first. If I don’t, I might lose my courage,” Samantha said. “I wanted to tell you that I get it. I was in my condo and I saw you guys out here. And, yeah, I get it.”

  “Sami?” Raz stood.

  “What do you get, Sami?” Alex asked.

  Raz jerked to look at her. Alex mouthed “drugged.” Raz walked toward Samantha.

  “I get that Art loves you, Alex,” Samantha said. “And I get that it doesn’t have anything to do with me. It’s not even something that threatens me or my relationship with him. It’s just something that is, like the sky or the moon or the sun or the…”

  “I’m so glad,” Raz hugged Samantha to give Alex time to page Colin. When he let go, he glanced at Alex and she nodded.

  “Why did you come?” Raz’s voice was gentle and kind. As if she was a small child, he led her to the fire pit.

  “I saw you from the window of my condo,” Samantha said. “I was talking to Jesse about you. I mean, I’ve been really, really mad. And…”

  “Jesse?” Alex asked.

  “Yeah, I know,” Samantha said. “I thought he was dead too. But there he was, standing in my bedroom, sure as day.”

  Alex glanced to Jesse.

  “She can’t hear me now,” Jesse said to Alex. “That Senator drugged her.”

  “We had a good conversation. He’s the first person who really understood how I feel,” Samantha sighed. “Jesse said I should come and tell you how I feel right now because otherwise I might chicken out. I’m so glad you made me put in that second entrance to the condo. Jesse and I walked over here and…”

  “Was someone in your house, Sami?” Alex asked.

  “The Senator, or I should say ex-Senator,” Samantha giggled an eerie laugh. “He thinks he’s going to get in my bed. But I’m not going to let him. I’m going to be strong this time. He just told me to get ready for him. Can you imagine? Like I’m going to get ready for that jerk.”

  Horrified, Alex looked away to keep Samantha from seeing her expression.

  “Ask her about the Fey Special Forces Team vault,” Jesse said.

  “Sami, I have to ask you,” Alex smiled. “Where is the Fey Special Forces Team vault?”

  “You know,” Samantha laughed.

  “I’ve forgotten,” Alex said. “You know my memory is crazy.”

  “It’s under Le Fey Verte,” Samantha said. “Max is building condos on top of the building. But the vault is underneath. Level Five, I think.”

  Alex swallowed hard. They’d never known how the murderers discovered the location of the Fey Special Forces Team vault; the vault everyone had died in; the vault where Alex had almost died.

  “That’s right,” Alex smiled at her elder sister. “Thanks so much. What a relief that you know! How did you find out?”

  “You met me there for drinks at Le Fey Verte a couple times. You know, before we went shopping? You probably don’t remember,” Samantha said. “I saw your CO go some place in the back. I figured it was to see a hooker or something. I asked you and you got really offended. I came back later and asked the owner. She wouldn’t have told me, but she remembered that I was your sister. I don’t know how to get in though. So don’t ask.”

  “Do people usually ask you how to get in to the vault?” Raz asked.

  “The ex-Senator. He asks every time I see him. He did tonight.” Samantha’s voice shifted to an imitation of his voice. “Did you find out how to get in this time?’ But I didn’t. He gets mad but...”

  Samantha shrugged.

  “Oh well, I should get back. Mom would kill me if she thought I wasn’t polite to a guest.”

  “Why don’t you let Alex go, Sami?” Jesse materialized in front of her. “She has a key.”

  “See there’s Jesse,” Samantha smiled at him.

  “Good idea. I’ll tell him something came up. I’m sure he’ll understand.” Alex said.

  “You’d rather stay here with Art,” Jesse said.

  “I would rather stay here with Art.” Samantha’s face shifted to the most beautiful smile. “You won’t tell Mom?”

  “Cross my heart,” Alex said.

  “I won’t tell,” Jesse said.

  “Come on, Sami,” Raz took her hands into his.

  “Okay,” Samantha said. “I’ll just stay here.”

  “Let’s have some cocoa,” Raz said.

  “I love cocoa,” Samantha said. “Will you make it from scratch?”

  “Is there any other way?” Raz opened the door to his carriage house and guided Samantha inside. “Would you like some brownies?”

  “I love brownies,” Samantha said as the door closed.

  Alex waited for a few minutes before Colin arrived. She told him the story and he rushed into the carriage house. Noticing she was alone, she tried to stand. She bit her lip to keep from crying out. She dropped onto the cement bench.

  “That was dumb,” Jesse said.

  “Had to try,” Alex said.

  “Are you okay here?” Jesse asked. “I should get back to the kids.”

  “Go,” Alex said. “And thanks.”

  She reached out her hand and he pressed his against hers. For a moment, she felt the tingle of him being there. And then he was gone. Unable to leave the patio, she lay down and practiced her yogic breathing. Or what she called yogic breathing, which was really breathing to the rhythm of her worries.

  Only able to watch, she saw the police arrive at the carriage house. They stayed for less than five minutes before racing out. Around that time, one of the men from her father’s team wandered by. A Denver Police Detective, he asked about Samantha, listened to her words intently, and then went into the Carriage house.

  The ex-Senator was going to get all the media attention he so richly deserved. Alex smiled at the idea of his photo splashed all over the “awful-media.”

  “I looked out the window,” John’s voice came from across the yard.

  Alex tried to sit up bu
t had tightened up from lying in the cold. She lay back on the bench.

  “You won’t believe what I saw,” John’s voice came from nearby.

  His face appeared above her.

  “What did you see?” Alex asked.

  “I saw the love of my life,” John said. “Aren’t you the love of my life?”

  “Hmm.” Alex tapped her chin with her index finger. “Let me see…”

  John laughed.

  “Yes, I believe I am the love of your life!” Alex beamed at him.

  “Come on, love,” John picked her up.

  Alex cried out in pain.

  “How long have you been here?”

  “I don’t know,” Alex said. “I was doing yogic breathing.”

  “Worrying?” John laughed.

  “You know me so well,” Alex said.

  Hearing a sound, they looked up to see an ambulance pull up to the carriage house. In a few moments, Samantha was wheeled out. Raz got in behind her. For a moment, they watched the ambulance pull out. Alex bit her lip with worry.

  “Worrying won’t help Sami,” John said. “Let’s just thank God this phase of her life is over.”

  “Good point,” Alex said.

  John went out the side gate.

  “Where are we going?” Alex asked.

  “Warm room,” John said. “We had the infrared sauna installed while you were gone. I’d like to get you warmed up.”

  “That sounds very fun,” Alex tugged at his collar. He kissed her lips. “What are you planning?”

  “Draining your wound?”

  “Ooooh,” Alex laughed. “Talk dirty to me.”

  Laughing, he opened the side door and carried her to the basement warm room.

  F

  CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE

  The next day

  Saturday afternoon

  November 14 – 2:17 p.m. MST

  Buckley Air Force Base, Aurora, CO

  “I’m sorry, you’re breaking up,” Alex nodded to Sergeant Dusty and he disconnected the call. She lay back onto the inflatable mattress she’d set up on floor of her office. She was receiving her push of IV antibiotics.

  “You know he’s going to call back,” Raz sat down next to her.

  “Hmmm,” Alex said.

  The phone rang. Alex looked at Sergeant Dusty.

  “I don’t hear anything either,” Sergeant Dusty said.

  “Thank God for caller ID,” Alex said.

  “Lieutenant Colonel Hargreaves?” the base receptionist’s voice came out of the speaker of her phone. “Listen, hon, I know you’re in there. Don’t play games with me.”

  “Yes Martha?” Alex smiled.

  “You don’t want to talk to Mr. Jerk?”

  “Not until he gives me what I want,” Alex said.

  “The men who did all of that horrible nasty business to Petty Officer Carmichael?”

  “How do you know that?” Sergeant Dusty asked.

  “Oh son, Martha knows everything,” the receptionist laughed.

  They laughed.

  “Leena told me,” the receptionist said. “That man has called every single day since Colonel Gordon went on leave. I won’t pass along that kind of cancer. Martha takes good care of her girls.”

  “He’s just not used to anyone saying no to him,” Alex said.

  “Especially a woman,” Raz said.

  “Hi Agent Rasmussen,” Martha said. They could hear her eyes bat at him over the phone. “I didn’t know you were there. Did you bring Martha some…?”

  “Yes ma’am,” Raz smiled. “I have your brownies right here.”

  “You know just what to say to a girl,” Martha said. “I’ll deal with Mr. Special.”

  “Bless you,” Raz said.

  “Oh shoot,” Martha said. “I think I just hung up on him. Would you like me to call him back, Lieutenant Colonel?”

  “No,” Alex laughed. “Thank you.”

  “You know I can’t answer his calls while I’m eating brownies.”

  “I’ll be right up,” Raz said.

  “I’ll look forward to it,” Martha said.

  Alex smiled. Raz had his own “look-but-don’t-touch” harem of women at the base. Most of them were underpaid, mistreated Air Force privates hoping to get wings. Martha was a special case. With two years left on her forty-year pension, Martha was stricken with severe arthritis brought on by active duty in three war zones. Colonel Gordon had arranged for her to finish her time answering the base phones.

  “Ok, we have the feed,” Sergeant Dusty said. “The Air Force is over ‘contamination junction.’”

  “The Marshall Islands?” Alex asked.

  “Yes sir,” Sergeant Dusty said. “I have the feed from the planes.”

  “And the Navy?”

  “The Mercy is prepared to take the men and women,” Sergeant Dusty said.

  “Are they prepared for radioactivity?” Alex asked.

  “Yes sir,” Sergeant Dusty smiled. “You’ve asked…”

  “Four times, yes,” Alex said. “I’m lying down and in a lot of pain, Sergeant. I’m not at my most empowered.”

  Sergeant Dusty smiled at the notion of Alex not feeling empowered.

  “The pilot wants to speak with you,” Sergeant Dusty said.

  “Can we do it without video?” Alex asked.

  Sergeant Dusty held up his hand indicating she’d asked that question five times. She smiled.

  “You can’t be too careful,” she said.

  Smiling, he held out a pair of wireless headphones. She put them on.

  “Sir?” the pilot asked.

  “This is the Fey,” Alex said. “What can I do for you?”

  “We’d like you to watch our feed,” the pilot said. “The Jakker sent a wire around that you’re looking for a few contractors who assaulted a member of your team.”

  “Yes?” Alex asked.

  “Happy Birthday,” the pilot said.

  The plane flew over Bikini Atoll. Five men waved their arms and yelled to signal the plane.

  “That’s them?”

  “Three of them,” Alex said. “It’s one of the missing rent-a-soldier teams.”

  “They’re all yours. The Jakker and the rest of your team are waiting on the ship,” the pilot said. “Would you like me to release them?”

  “No, we’ll pick up everyone else first,” Alex said. “Thank you.”

  “It’s my pleasure, ma’am,” the pilot said.

  “You call the Fey ‘sir,’” Sergeant Dusty said.

  “Sorry, sir,” the pilot said. “The Jakker told me that. It’s just that… I have two teenage daughters, twins, blonde hair, and... These monsters should be eviscerated for what they did.”

  “Good that the Jakker is picking them up,” the co-pilot said. “I wouldn’t be able to handle it either.”

  “We are Americans,” Alex said. “We’re supposed to be the good guys. We leave the torture and raping to the monsters. I expect you to conduct yourselves like United States soldiers, not monsters.”

  “Yes sir,” the pilot and co-pilot said.

  “Good,” Alex said. “And I’m glad I’m not there either.”

  The pilots laughed.

  “Thank you,” Alex said. “We’re going to need your help with this one. It’s too big for us. I appreciate the heads up.”

  “It’s a pleasure to work with the Fey,” the pilot said. “Out.”

  “What’s the word?” Raz asked as he entered the room.

  “I have your scans.” Sergeant Dusty pointed him to a laptop on Alex’s conference table. Raz nodded his thanks and sat down.

  “The word is three teams total. One US Army Rangers, one UK Special Air Service, and one rent-a-soldier,” Alex said. “Mattie and Joseph are leading teams to pick up the British and US teams and bring them to the USNS Mercy. They seem fine. The Brits played Master and Commander and the US team went looking for Amelia Earhart. The US team believes they found a piece of her airplane.”

  �
��Really?” Raz’s eyebrows spoke his disbelief.

  “I kid you not,” Alex said.

  “They’re severely dehydrated and suffering from radiation poisoning,” Sergeant Dusty said. “They’re probably hallucinating.”

  “I’ve been stuck in all kinds of places,” Alex said. “It was awful at the time but so much fun in retrospect. You would not believe the goofy stuff we did. So I bet it’s a little of both. They’ll be glad to be home. I’m just glad…”

  “You’re glad?” Raz looked up from the laptop.

  “Oh nothing,” Alex said. “We still have four military, no three since the Indian’s went to Pakistan, and one rent-a-soldier teams to find.”

  “When are you sending our team to pick up the men who…?” Raz asked.

  “When Mattie and Joseph have picked up the others,” Alex said. “I want the contractors to know what it really means to assault, rape, torture, and hold a US soldier hostage.”

  “The orders are to pick up the contractors after the military teams are settled on the USNS Mercy, Agent Rasmussen,” Sergeant Dusty said. “I wish I could be there. They replaced the LC, Captain Olivas, you and me with three female marines. Chief Tubman told me they are hand-selected by their command.”

  Raz smiled.

  “Pete and Bill are there,” Alex smiled. “They’ll take off when Matthew and Joseph get there.”

  “It’s going to be an old-fashioned rodeo,” Raz said.

  Alex smiled.

  “We have video monitoring in everyone’s helmets to make sure nothing gets too out of line,” Sergeant Dusty said. “The contractors will be aided by the USNS Mercy and then shipped to Anacostia where they will await trial. And before you ask, JAG will prosecute them for their acts against a US Navy officer.”

  “Hope it works,” Alex said.

  “I think we all hope it works,” Raz said. “The previous President gave the contractors carte blanche permission to do what they wanted to whomever they wanted without review. This will be a test case to see if the military can protect their own.”

  “Look, they’re starting to pick up,” Alex said.

  Sergeant Dusty squatted down and Raz lay down beside Alex. They watched Joseph’s Special Forces team retrieve the British soldiers and carry them to the USNS Mercy. While Joseph and his team were ferrying British soldiers, Matthew’s team landed another Chinook to assist the US Army Rangers.