The Winning Element (The Specialists)

by Shannon Greenland

  Taking a breath, my brain and emotions hesitantly acknowledged her words.

  The sound of an engine cut through the night, and I glanced over my shoulder to see a semitruck coming down the dirt road. It rolled to a stop in front of the warehouse.

  Handcuffed people shuffled passed me, corralled on both sides by agents. They made their way down the side of the warehouse to the front. The agents opened the semi’s back doors, pulled a ramp down, and led the captives up.

  Minutes later, the agents filed in behind them, shut the doors, and the semi pulled out.

  Nalani took her hood off. “All clear.”

  I did the same. “What about the dead bodies inside?” “There’ll be another crew here shortly to catalogue evidence and clean things up.” She nudged me with her elbow. “By the way, nice punch back there.”

  I curled my fingers in, noticing for the first time a slight throb. “Thanks.”

  David rounded the side of the warehouse and nearly smacked right into us. “There you are. You okay?”

  Nalani kept going around him toward the back of the building.

  Closing the distance between us, I wrapped my arms around his back and pressed our bodies together. I buried my face in his neck, and closing my eyes, I inhaled his familiar scent, took in his warmth, and felt his heartbeat.

  David laid his cheek on my head and held me snug against him. I could stand here for eternity wrapped in his arms and die a very content person.

  “I couldn’t find you,” I mumbled. “I was so worried.”

  “Shh.” He tightened his hold. “I’m okay.”

  He slid his hands up my back, and, cupping the sides of my face, he brought my lips to his. Softly, tenderly, he kissed me, and then pulled back. And still cradling my face, we gazed into each other’s eyes. Although neither of us said a word, I knew as I held my eyes to his that our relationship deepened a level.

  I didn’t know what I would do if anything happened to him.

  “As soon as we get home, I’m taking you out.” His eyes crinkled. “You and me. Alone. Out. Official date. Yes?”

  I smiled. “Yes.”

  He took a little step back. “Did you talk to Eduardo?”

  I nodded. “I hit him.”

  David lifted his brows. “And?”

  “He admitted to being connected with my father. Oh, and that agent that took him. Something seemed familiar about her. Do you know who she is?”

  He shook his head. “Sorry.”

  A throat cleared behind us. “Excuse me, David, I need to speak with you.”

  We turned to see Mr. Share standing with Beaker.

  “How’d it go inside?” I asked her.

  She quirked a smile. “Got everything defused. No prob.”

  “That’s great.”

  From behind them, TL waved me over. "GiGi, over here. Let Mike talk with David and Beaker.”

  Beaker? Why would Mr. Share want private time with Beaker? I glanced at her in silent question.

  She shrugged, as clueless as me.

  “Excuse me.” I strolled past and headed over to TL.

  The three of them wandered away into the shadows of the cars. David and Beaker leaned up against a truck while Mr. Share stood in front of them. The darkness hid their expressions, but I watched them anyway.

  TL, Nalani, and Ms. Gabrier headed inside the warehouse, leaving me alone, standing in the sand, staring through the night at David, Beaker, and Mr. Share.

  And the more I stared, the more I realized how rude it was to stare. So I sat in the sand and made myself look anywhere but in their direction.

  What the heck was going on?

  My mind tried to come up with answers . . . Mr. Share wanted to speak with Beaker about her restoration solution? No, that didn’t make sense. He was a computer guy. Why would he care about chemistry? Unless, maybe he wanted to put her solutions in a computer? But then, what did that have to do with David?

  No. There was absolutely no reason why Mr. Share would need to talk with David and Beaker.

  TL emerged from the warehouse. “Let’s go.”

  “What?” I stood. “But what about Nalani and Ms. Gabrier? An-and Beaker, David, and Mr. Share?” We weren’t just going to leave them, were we?

  TL charged up the hill toward the trees. “Nalani and Gabrier are staying for cleanup. The others will be along shortly.”

  “But . . .” I followed behind TL. “But I didn’t get to say ’bye to Nalani.”

  TL entered the woods. “You’ll see her again.”

  I glanced over my shoulder. Mr. Share still stood in the darkness with David and Beaker. None of them had moved. The back door to the warehouse sat open, with bright light shining out. Shadows flicked inside as Nalani and Ms. Gabrier moved about.

  "GiGi,” TL called, “pick up the pace.”

  I jogged through the woods and caught up. “For the record, I hate secrets. I’m dying to know what’s going on with David and Beaker. And for another record, I never want to be in charge of a mission again.” Way too much stress.

  TL chuckled. “Duly noted. At least you tried, but not everyone’s a leader.”

  This mission had definitely taught me that. “I’m sorry for being an idiot and making bad decisions?”

  “Everyone makes mistakes. Always remember that.”

  I wondered how long it would be before I truly earned back his total trust.

  “What about that family?” I asked, stepping over a stump. “The one I overheard Eduardo talking about . . .” Killing. I couldn’t quite finish the sentence.

  TL nodded. “Everything’s fine.”

  He didn’t elaborate, but if he said everything was fine, I believed him.

  We didn’t talk the rest of the way through the woods. A half mile later we came out the other side. Our van still sat there in between two dunes with a Humvee behind it. Everything else was gone. The jeeps. The other Humvees. The satellite.

  A red-haired man helped a little red-haired girl climb up into the Humvee. Inside sat another little girl and boy, also redheads, and a grown woman. The man shut the door, climbed behind the wheel, and cranked the engine.

  One of the tiny girls watched me through the window as they pulled away. She sent me a sweet little wave and I returned it. “That’s the family, isn’t it?”

  TL came up beside me. “Yes. Dad’s a chemist. Eduardo had kidnapped his kids and wife in order to get him to do what he wanted.”

  I watched them drive safely across the sand. “They’re safe now.” “Yes, they are. Thanks to you. If you hadn’t overheard Eduardo’s conversation, it’s likely we would have never found out about them.”

  TL’s words brought me peace. Thanks to me, a whole family would go on living happily together.

  Dialing his cell phone, he stepped away. I stowed my laptop inside the van.

  Leaning up against the vehicle, I stared at the woods and waited for David and Beaker to appear.

  The ocean swished to shore, TL mumbled softly in the background, an occasional gnat flew past.

  And still I waited, my gaze fixed on the trees . . .

  Some time later, David stepped from the live oaks first, followed by Beaker. I searched both their faces for signs of anything. But neither of them looked at me, or at each other. They kept their focus down as they approached.

  I pushed up from the van. “Hey.”

  “Hey,” David mumbled.

  Beaker said nothing.

  I took her supplies and put them in the vehicle. “Where’s Mr. Share?”

  David tossed a backpack in behind her supplies. “He’s staying behind to help with cleanup.”

  “Oh.”

  And then the three of us lapsed into silence with the two of them staring at their shoes.

  Mind telling me what’s going on? I wanted to ask, but waited patiently instead for one of them to speak.

  “Let’s go.” TL climbed into the driver’s side.

  We loaded into the back, and TL pulled out
.

  Beaker sat beside me and David across. I looked from one to the other and back to the first, waiting for someone to say something. But neither spoke as they stared at their laps.

  “Oh good God. Someone tell me what’s going on.” So much for patience.

  David glanced across the van at Beaker.

  She shrugged a shoulder. “Go ahead.”

  He scrubbed his hands down his face, and, leaning forward, he propped his elbows on his knees. He sighed, fixing his attention on the van’s flooring.

  Seconds passed, and I waited, suspended in suspense.

  What? I’m dying here, people.

  “The government,” David began, “contracted my dad to develop a computerized DNA program. It compares and contrasts the different chains of the double helix. It’ll be used in criminal investigations and for medical reasons like organ matching for donors.”

  David cleared his throat, still focusing on the floor. “My dad’s been testing the program, loading up all the DNA currently on file. He pulled up all the DNA that matches his. Of course, my name popped up . . . but so did Beaker’s.”

  I glanced between them. “I don’t understand.”

  David swallowed, and the gurgle echoed in the cargo space. “Did you know my grandfather was a gifted chemist?”

  “No. Are you trying to tell me you two are distant cousins or something?”

  He rubbed the back of his neck. “Do you remember I told you my mom left when I was a little boy?”

  “Yes.”

  “My dad was on assignment in Jacksonville, Florida, undercover as a fisherman when he met this woman. He was really upset and got drunk one night, and . . . long story short, he had no idea she got pregnant.”

  My heart slowed to a steady, knowing thump. “Are you saying . . . ?”

  David brought his eyes up to meet mine. “Beaker and I are half-sister and -brother.”

  we’d been back at The ranch for a week when I stepped from the ranch house into a brisk, sunny, California day.

  Off to the right, Parrot galloped his horse across the pasture, with Bruiser holding on tight behind him. Her excited squeals carried on the wind.

  Wirenut and Cat came from the side of the house, hands linked, strolling toward the barn.

  Mystic and Adam, from Team One, climbed into Adam’s car, waving as they pulled down the driveway. Piper, also from Team One, followed them in her car. I’d overheard them say they were going to pick up their friends and head into town to a basketball game.

  I heard David’s laughter and glanced left. He and Beaker sat on a bench under a sequoia tree. Beaker had transformed back into Goth. She listened while David animatedly described something. They’d been spending a lot of time together over the past week. In fact, he’d spent more time with Beaker than with me.

  I didn’t care. I was happy they were happy.

  Sitting down on the front step, I studied the two of them. Now that I knew they were brother and sister, their similarities popped out at me: their smiles, the shape of their faces, and oddly enough, their legs.

  Beaker favored Mr. Share more than David did. I could only imagine what Beaker must be feeling. Meeting a father she never knew she had. Did it make her feel complete? Finished somehow? Did it answer questions she’d always had? Did the pieces of her life puzzle fit together a little better?

  I was happy for her, truly I was. But I envied her a little, too, being reunited with lost family. What I would give for that. Sure she’s dead? Eduardo’s question floated through my mind. No, I wasn’t sure my mother was dead. How could I be if her body had never been found? Surely, if TL knew something different, he would’ve told me by now. But TL may not even know one way or the other about my mother. One thing was for sure, if she was still alive, we’d find our way to each other somehow.

  My gaze and thoughts drifted back to Beaker. She’d come a long way since first finding out about the Barracuda Key mission. She’d been tested from all sides, emotionally and physically. And I’d learned a lot about her, too. I understood her better now. Underneath all that gruffness beat a sweet heart. It just took a while to find it. It reminded me that all the members of my new family had come from different places, different situations. Our unique backgrounds helped form each of us into who we are now. Beaker had taught me to look beyond a person’s appearance to what lay beneath.

  Of course, I’d never admit she’d taught me anything.

  The door behind me opened. I glanced over my shoulder to see Mr. Share come out. He smiled and touched my head as he stepped around me.

  He crossed the yard to the tree David and Beaker sat under. Mr. Share said something, and Beaker nodded. With a slight smile, she stood. He put his arm around her shoulders, and the two of them walked off across the property.

  David watched them for a few seconds and then pushed up from the bench and came across the yard toward me.

  My stomach flip-flopped as I watched him approach.

  He sat down beside me on the step, stretching his legs out in front of him. We sat in companionable silence, our legs barely brushing. After a long minute, he turned and looked at me. I returned his look, curious about what he wanted. But he just continued staring, not saying anything.

  I thought back to weeks ago when we’d been in the elevator and he’d done this same deep looking. “What do you see?” I repeated the same question I’d asked him weeks ago.

  David’s eyes crinkled. I loved when they did that. He reached over and trailed his finger along my jaw. “I see beauty that almost makes my heart ache. And not just beauty on the outside.” He touched his finger to my heart. “Beauty in here, too.”

  My heart slammed so hard against my chest wall, I knew he had to feel it, too.

  He gave his head a little shake. “When did I become so mushy,” he noted with a chuckle.

  I smiled at that. I liked him mushy.

  Suddenly, I thought of David’s first solo mission involving me, before I’d even heard of the Specialists. “How hard was it for you when you came to Iowa to . . .” I didn’t want to go into the details. “Well, to get me.”

  David linked his pinky with mine. “It was hard lying to you.

  TL and I had quite a few heated discussions about it when I would report in.”

  “You did?” And to think I’d spent all that time in Iowa dealing with my crush on David, and he’d been struggling with his first mission because of me. So it was quite possible even back in Iowa he liked me more than he let on. He’d said he’d been fighting the whole like-me-as-a-friend/like-me-more thing for months. How long, exactly, had the battle gone on?

  I wanted, no, I needed to know when he knew he liked me. Love at first sight? Or something he had to warm up to? Not that he’d mentioned love, but you know what I mean. “David, can I ask you one question, and then I promise I’ll never bring it up again.”