Peace - A Navy SEALS Novel (DeLeo's Action Thriller Singles Book 3)

by Bernard Lee DeLeo

  “You should if you plan on having her around for a while. It’s one thing to handle situations in a marriage when you know what to expect. Jill could say I do, and then a day later, say goodbye to you for eight months. Remember that stint you guys did on the Iranian border with Iraq?”

  “I’ve already been reminded of that mission twice today,” Peace sighed. “I will talk to her about it first thing when I see her. Hey, here comes Barb. Think I could make a little money on the piano tonight.”

  Polasky’s face brightened. “Sure you could, and so could I. I’ll pipe it out to the street too, and see if I can get some bites.”

  The red haired, slender, middle-aged woman Peace had referred to as Barb walked into the bar, and over to where Ed and Peace stood. She smiled brightly at both men when they greeted her.

  “Hi guys. How’s business?”

  “Decent,” Ed answered. “Peace wants to go play piano-man for a while. It could pick up quickly.”

  “Great,” Barb said happily, patting Peace’s hand as it lay on the bar. “My tips triple when you play in the back, Peace. When are you going to start?”

  “Right now,” Peace answered. “Are you sure you can handle the bar alone, Ed?”

  “I hope that was a rhetorical question, young pup,” Ed growled, evoking laughter from his two employees.

  “Peace, play I Will Always Love You,” Barb requested. “That will get you started.”

  Peace nodded, pulling off his apron. “Yea, I haven’t done that one in a while.”

  Peace walked into the back band room, followed by ten of the patrons in the bar, who saw where he was headed. He turned on the special lighting, and sat down at the piano. After checking out his sound projection, Peace began playing a long jazzed up lead in to the song Barb had suggested. His rendition filled the dance floor, and attracted a growing number of people to Ed’s dance room.

  An hour later, Peace was entertaining a large, enthusiastic, Friday night audience. Ed had already transferred another waitress from the restaurant to help Barb in the dance room. Peace’s tip bowl filled rapidly, and he was relaxing into an easy pace. He missed spotting Bull walking in with Holly. Bull waited until Peace finished a familiar favorite, House of the Rising Sun, before walking over in front of the raised bandstand. When Peace noticed Bull and Holly, he did a double take. Bull was dressed in a three-piece dark blue suit, and Holly wore a red, shimmering evening gown.

  Peace stood up, and started around the piano, causing a bevy of groans from his audience. He went quickly back to his mic with a laugh. Peace waved his hand comically. “Calm down. I’ll be right back.”

  Resounding applause greeted his announcement, and Peace left the bandstand. He shook hands with Bull, and hugged Holly carefully.

  “Wow, you two look super.”

  “Holly let me escort her to a sorority dinner,” Bull explained. “That’s why I couldn’t barbeque with you and the Lieutenant.”

  “I begged him to take me to the boring thing,” Holly laughed, putting her arm through Bull’s, and leaning against him.

  “Yea, right,” Bull laughed. “Anyway, we thought we’d come over to see if you were playing. It looks like I’m two for two tonight.”

  “Well, get ready on the dance floor, my friends. I’ll play Lady in Red for Holly here,” Peace instructed.

  “I love that song,” Holly said, pulling on Bull’s arm. “Come on, big boy, show me what you got.”

  “Be careful what you wish for,” Bull fired back, causing both Holley and Peace to laugh.

  Peace went back behind the piano, and drew out the intro to his chosen song, allowing the dance floor to fill up. By the time he began singing the melody, Bull and Holly were close enough to be the same person, in Peace’s opinion. He smiled down at the couple near the front of the bandstand, putting everything he had into the number. When the last strains of melody drifted quietly out, Peace received a standing ovation from the wildly applauding crowd. No one but Peace noticed Bull and Holly locked in a passionate kiss, unaware the music had ended. A moment later they drew slowly away from each other, finally noticing the crowd’s applause. Bull looked up at Peace apologetically, giving him a little wave as Holly joined the crowd around them, her hands clapping with the rest.

  Peace began playing the melody from Tina Turner’s big hit, What’s Love Got To Do With It, introducing the song with a comment. “Now for a little of the bad side.”

  Laughter echoed throughout the room. Peace kept at the piano for another hour and a half, before ending his long stint with My Way. After collecting from his tip jar, Peace turned on the jukebox, and then walked amongst the people who wished to shake hands or simply say hello. Bull, holding Holly’s hand, followed him into the bar area, where they all sat together in front of a beaming Polasky.

  “How’d you do, Peace?” Polasky asked. “The bar did very, very well.”

  “So did I, Ed,” Peace laughed. “Put a fork in me though, I’m done.”

  Bull put an arm around his shoulders. “Man, I enjoy hearing you play and sing, pal; but that, that was the best.”

  “Thanks Bull,” Peace said, looking questioningly at Bull. “It means a lot to me, coming from you.”

  “I’m always ragging on you,” Bull added seriously. “I wanted to tell you the way I felt about your music without joking around. On top of that, after listening to you tonight, Holly told me she wants to have your baby.”

  Holly’s gasp, and her subsequent open hand smack to the back of Bull’s head provoked amused laughter from Peace and Ed. Holly leaned in suddenly, and kissed Bull full on the mouth. By the time she pulled away, Ed and Peace were studiously looking elsewhere, while Bull put a hand along the side of her face momentarily before standing up.

  “We have to go,” Bull announced, pulling Holley up gently into his arms. “I’ve got the duty with music man here for the weekend. Want to run tomorrow morning, Peace?”

  “You bet,” Peace answered. “What time, Chief.”

  “Five-thirty?”

  Holly’s loud clearing of her throat cut off Peace’s reply. Bull did not even look at her. He just grinned at Peace.

  “Belay that, six-thirty.”

  “Hoo ya,” Peace responded. “See you tomorrow morning,

  Chief.”

  Bull nodded. “Absolutely. Take care, Ed.”

  “I will Bull, goodnight Holly.”

  “Goodnight Ed,” Holly replied. She covered Peace’s hand with her own on the way by as she followed Bull. “Bull was right, you know, you were wonderful tonight.”

  “Thanks Holly, goodnight.”

  “Say hello to Jill for me,” Holly added as she moved away.

  “I will.”

  Peace went back behind the bar with Ed, donning his apron once more.

  “You don’t have to stay, Peace.”

  “I know,” Peace said, as Barb approached them with a tray of empty glasses. “I’ll work another hour and settle down a little.”

  Peace took the tray from Barb, while Ed began filling her drink orders.

  “Nice gig tonight, Peace,” Barb complimented him. “I see Bull has finally enticed Holly into giving him a chance.”

  “Thanks,” Peace replied, making change for her larger bills. “Yea, they really look good together.”

  “I think he’s got it as bad as you do with Jill, Peace,” Ed added. “I don’t like the idea of Seal Team Six having two love sick puppies. It’s detrimental to team readiness.”

  Barb laughed at Ed’s declaration, as she turned to deliver her orders.

  “You haven’t factored in the motivational pluses of romantic ties,” Peace argued good-naturedly, washing up the bar glasses with an added flourish.

  “Do you really think a romance will last between a coed like Holly, and a blockhead like Bull?” Ed asked.

  “It didn’t hurt your relationship with Nancy.”

  “Why you…” Ed turned, but Peace had slipped out with a tray to bus the booths near the
bar.

  “Okay for you, PP,” Ed growled as Peace laughed.

  __

  “I met Holly’s parents last night,” Bull said as he and Peace jogged along the Coronado coastline.

  “That was fast,” Peace replied. “How did they take to you?”

  “They sort of looked at me like I had a third eye.”

  Peace laughed in appreciation of Bull’s description of Holly’s parents’ first impressions, considering how like his own experience with Jill’s parents it was.

  “Have you met Jill’s parents?”

  “I was just thinking about how alike our meetings were,” Peace answered. “I proposed to Jill right in front of them.”

  “You are the man,” Bull grinned over at Peace. “I wish I had thought of that.”

  “It’s that serious already?”

  “You should talk. What do you have on me, a couple of extra days? At least I’ve known Holly for a while.”

  “Calm down, Chief. I didn’t mean it like that.”

  “I know you didn’t,” Bull sighed. “Yea, I’m that serious, and last night convinced me maybe Holly is too. The meeting with her parents went as well as it could. Her Dad wanted to know whether I ever planned on getting a real job.”

  “Are you sure Holly and Jill aren’t sisters,” Peace laughed. “Holly’s folks sound a hell of a lot like Jill’s. You’d think we were drug runners, the way our chosen profession gets looked at by prospective inlaws. You stayed calm, right?”

  Bull nodded. “I told them about the instruction on computers, and you hooking me up with general ed classes to get a degree. They looked mildly amused.”

  “The way Holly clung to you last night, I’m betting their frowning on you as a suitor will not have much effect on her.”

  “If your exploits lately hadn’t dragged our Seal reputations as upstanding pillars of the community through the mud, I probably would have had an easier time of it.”

  “That’s cold, Chief,” Peace returned Bull’s smile.

  They ran for a time without comment, absorbing the moist sea air, which cooled their faces in the still gray dawn hour.

  “You’ve really decided to go all the way with this Batiste thing, Peace?”

  “I don’t see any other way right now. Did Dan talk to you about our conversation?”

  “Just the basics. I get the drift. I can’t say as how I’d look at it any different than the way you are. Dan and I did some brainstorming as to what you might have cooked up.”

  “Uh oh.”

  Bull laughed. “Now listen, partner, you don’t really think we can spend the time together we have, in this outfit, and not be able to think in the same devious manner, do you? You have to give the Lieutenant and I some credit.”

  “At least you realize this is something which needs as few people in the know as possible. I wish there were a way I could get you guys to forget this. Couldn’t you just pretend it’s all over and done with?” “You’ll need a spotter,” Bull said, ignoring Peace’s plea.

  “A spotter for what?” Peace replied, reverting back into ignorant mode.

  “Don’t bother, pal. Dan and I did a little checking on your new Detective friend. We drove by his place, and what do you know, the man has a very formidable looking cruiser. Want to know where that bit of info took us?”

  “I’m afraid to ask,” Peace replied, suddenly not as amused as he had been.

  “You told Dan and I, Batiste’s Father has a front in Ensenada. If he’s there, which I figure you know already, it’s only a little pleasure jaunt down to Ensenada. You speak the language. You’re a cold blooded killer, and a Seal Team sniper, with God knows how many kills in your book. Am I making connections here?”

  “Cold blooded, huh?”

  “Sorry, poetic license,” Bull laughed. “You go over the side on a black night from a safe distance off shore. Lewiston backs his boat away from foreign territory, with directions, about returning to a certain spot a couple nights later, and you’re back on board with no one the wiser.

  Batiste’s Pappy has a couple of new holes in his head, and the game is over.”

  “You’re talking about a clandestine killing on foreign soil. With Mexico not only our neighbor, but a staunch ally. If an active US paramilitary were caught in such an operation, it would be an unmitigated disaster. Surely, you and Dan think I’m more intelligent than that.”

  “Nope.”

  “Why would you think I would do anything so stupid?”

  “Past experience,” Bull answered simply. “Dan knows you killed that guy last year who had been stalking around his son Danny’s preschool.”

  Peace came to a complete and sudden halt. Bull ran on only a few steps before stopping. He glanced back at Peace with a knowing look on his face.

  “It’s a good thing you’re better at interrogation from the police, than you are talking to your friends. You look like you’re ready to walk the green mile and get strapped into old sparky.”

  “Shit!”

  Bull had walked back to where Peace stood, staring at a point in the sand straight ahead, with his fists clenched. Bull stopped right in front of him, and stayed quiet until Peace looked up.

  “When did Dan tell you this, Bull?”

  “Right after it happened,” Bull answered. “He told me about you coming over for dinner, and you two were bullshitting around about subjects in general. The Lieutenant happened to mention his wife Becky saying something about a strange guy hanging around at the Montesorrie School their son was just starting at that year. Dan reads the paper the following week, and what do you know, a guy was found in his car near the school, out of breath. Sound familiar?”

  “He never said anything,” Peace replied quietly.

  “That’s because he and I checked the man’s background. Turned out…”

  “He was a registered pedophile,” Peace finished. “Wish I’d have been more attentive when Dan was settling scores for me all through school.”

  “That’s not all, little buddy. Dan said the cops stopped by his house shortly after the man’s death. It seems the guy had pictures of little Danny, and a few others, all over his wall. They leaped to the conclusion maybe the Lieutenant did it. He, of course, had a solid alibi.”

  “The son-of-a-bitch had pictures of Danny in his car too, along with some of the other kids,” Peace added, giving up all pretense of innocence in the matter. His mouth tightened at the memory. “I wish I’d have had more time with him.”

  “I see that,” Bull said, noticing the same look on Peace’s face he had when Dink’s head lay within the fold of his arms at the restaurant. “I couldn’t tell you then, because Dan swore me to secrecy; but nice work, Batman. You should let me in on these extracurricular activities of yours, caped crusader. I could be your big, dumb, sidekick.”

  “Not so dumb,” Peace sighed, beginning to jog again along the water.

  “That’s what I’ve been trying to tell you,” Bull declared, running alongside him. “I know, and so does the Lieutenant, that you don’t want us to get into trouble. You want to take on all this heavy shit by yourself, sparing everyone around you any danger or pain. Well, we should be able to make that call for ourselves, Peace. Like you said, we’re brothers.”

  “One thing I realize in talking to you, Chief,” Peace admitted grudgingly, “I’m not anywhere near as smart as I thought I was. Ed, and you guys, made me from the beginning on this. No matter what you and Dan surmise, you have to realize how stupid it would be for me to simply admit to bypassing the law anytime I feel it justified. Plausible deniability for you guys helps me too.”

  “How the hell did you get into the middle of a kidnapping of that Detective Lewiston?”

  Peace explained in detail what had happened in Lewiston’s rescue, including what he had been thinking when he needed a weapon and did not have one. Bull laughed through most of the story involving Lewiston’s comical stakeouts. Peace went on to confirm most of what Dan and Bull had already co
ncluded.

  “Sounds like we’ll be doing the world a favor taking out Dink’s Daddy. I wonder how many pros he has in the area right now, searching for who did the hit.”

  “More than a few, Chief,” Peace replied. “Once he concludes no other gang was involved, he’ll take out Lewiston’s family first, and then come for me and Jill. He stays at his place, right on the Ensenada Marina.”

  “You don’t think someone will put two and two together when a sniper kills Daddy Batiste?”

  “I’ll use a UN load. The Mexican authorities will probably think it’s the same gang who killed his son. They won’t be allowed to come up and start investigating my whereabouts, or Lewiston’s, even if they did know we existed.”

  “The tricky part will be getting the boat near shore without running into somebody thinking we’re running drugs,” Bull pointed out.

  “I’m going to do some hacking to find out their whereabouts. If Lewiston doesn’t at least have a basic radar setup, we’ll have to have one put in before we start. I have another plan not involving my sniping capabilities. I just hadn’t worked out how I’d get it done without involving someone else.”

  “Well, now you have us, so I’m all ears.”

  Peace ran in silence until Bull nudged him off balance.

  “Don’t go quiet on me now.”

  “I was thinking it might be a hell of a lot easier to go into

  Ensenada, find out exactly where he is, and how many guards he has,” Peace replied.

  “And then take him at night, up close and personal,” Bull concluded. “You may never get a shot at him in our time frame otherwise.

  I kind of thought the snipe job would be a long shot.”

  Peace nodded in agreement. “This way though, there are bound to be other casualties.”

  “But they’ll all be bad,” Bull said in his own Arnold Swartznegger voice.

  “True enough,” Peace laughed.

  “You go on in, scope out our target, keeping in touch with the boat. If Batiste’s Dad hunkers down for a typical Ensenada night, we liven it up for him, and head back to the boat together. We’ll need Dan in on an assault like that, but it would mean leaving Lewiston alone on the boat.”