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

by Bernard Lee DeLeo

  __

  “Hi buddy,” Peace exclaimed when Dan opened the door.

  Dan’s face went from grim recognition to a welcoming smile when he saw Jill. “Hello, prick. Hi Jill, good to see you. Come on in. Becky and the kids will be surprised.”

  Dan moved aside and Jill walked in, pausing to give him a hug. When a smiling Peace started forward through the door, Dan put a big hand on his chest, stopping him. “Excuse me, Petty Officer Peacenik, did I say you could come in? We’ll visit with Jill while you wait on the porch.”

  Becky had come up behind her husband, giving Jill a quick hug before pulling Dan out of the doorway. She grabbed Peace’s hand, urging him inside.

  “Don’t pay any attention, Pauley,” Becky said, giving him a kiss hello, and turning to scowl at her husband. “What, pray tell, is your problem, Mr. Righter?”

  “That’s classified,” Dan replied, defensively.

  “I’ll give you classified,” Becky retorted, reaching up to grab Dan’s earlobe, while Peace and Jill tried not to laugh. “C’mon out back. We were sitting in the backyard, watching the kids play in the sandbox while we drank our coffee.”

  Dan had reached up to take his wife’s hand from his ear. He kissed it, and put it down at her side. “What do you have in the bag, Peacenik?”

  “Dan!” Becky exclaimed, taking the bag from Peace, and looking inside. “Wow, steaks, and what’s this, Bushmills. Boy, you must really be in trouble, Pauley. I guess we’re having a barbeque today, huh?”

  “I thought maybe if you guys didn’t have any plans, we could spend the day together. Jill has some news she wanted to share,” Peace replied with a smile.

  “You must have eight steaks in here,” Becky said, leading the way into their kitchen.

  “Actually nine,” Jill corrected. “Peace wondered if Dan might like to invite Bull and Holly over if it wouldn’t be too much trouble. We’ll help clean up.”

  “No trouble at all,” Becky said happily. “It sounds like fun. Call Bull, Dan.”

  When Dan didn’t move right away, Becky reached for his ear again. Dan caught it in mid-flight. “I heard you, Dear. I was just trying to keep some semblance of my dignity before jumping to do your bidding.”

  “Grab some coffee, Jill, and we’ll go out back while the Bowery Boys call their other partner in crime.”

  Jill looked at the two doubtfully. “Are you sure it’s safe to leave them here alone?”

  “If my husband doesn’t want to spend the next month on the base it will be,” Becky laughed, shaking a warning finger at Dan.

  “Go on, we’ll call Bull and come out to join you in a moment,” Dan smiled, snatching his wife’s hand in midair, before she could pull it back out of range. “Didn’t your parents tell you it was impolite to point?” Becky giggled as Dan drew her to him, giving her a kiss before releasing her hand. After Becky had led Jill out to the backyard, Dan and Peace stood for a few long moments in an uncomfortable silence.

  “Listen Dan, I…”

  “Forget it,” Dan sighed. “It’s over and done with now.”

  Dan picked up the phone extension in the kitchen and dialed a number. After a few rings, Bull answered the phone.

  “007 is here with Bushmills and steaks, Chief. Would you like to come over with Holly for a barbeque?” Dan asked. He laughed at something Bull said, before telling him he would see him in a little while. “Bull said he’d come?” Peace asked as Dan hung up the phone.

  Dan nodded. “He also said if you think steaks and Bushmills will keep him from collecting a double pony ride tomorrow, you’re living in fantasy land.”

  “Damn!” Peace exclaimed only half in jest. “I don’t suppose you could intercede on my behalf, could you?”

  Dan burst into laughter, shaking his head, and patting Peace’s shoulder. “Good one, Secret Agent Man; but no, I will not be interceding on your behalf. In fact, I’ve been contemplating getting a ticket to ride the horsey right after the Chief.”

  “Oh wonderful,” Peace mumbled, putting his hands over his face, only half joking. “My last stint as a carnival ride almost killed me.”

  “What a sissy.”

  “How many times have you lugged someone Bull’s size up that hill, twice in a row, Lieutenant Dan?”

  “I’m not a smart ass, duplicitous prick,” Dan replied, matter-offactly.

  Peace remained silent as he turned, and poured a cup of coffee for himself.

  “Nothing to say, Petty Officer Peacenik?”

  “I can’t think of anything which would make you feel any differently about me, so it would probably be better if I just kept my smart ass, duplicitous prick mouth shut.”

  “You…” Dan began, when his son came running in.

  Danny stuck out his hand to Peace, and Peace took it firmly in his.

  “Hi Danny, that’s a first class handshake.”

  “Can we play some ball?” Danny asked, his excitement overcoming the adult like handshake he was trying to imitate.

  Peace looked at Dan, who nodded affirmatively. “Sounds good to me, pal. You want me to pitch or catch? You probably need a break from Wild-thing here.”

  Danny giggled, as his Father smacked the back of Peace’s head. “Nah, Dad’s getting better.”

  “Okay then, I’ll be the Catcher in the Rye,” Peace quipped, “except for the language of course.”

  Dan laughed, but Danny simply shrugged, trying not to look confused. “Sure, that’d be great, c’mon.”

  The two men followed the boy out to Dan’s garage to get the gloves, bat, and ball. A few minutes later, they all walked together out to the large front lawn.

  “We’re going to have to take this pickup game to the park soon,”

  Dan told Peace. “Barry Bonds here is getting dangerous.”

  “That right, Danny?” Peace asked, suitably impressed. Danny nodded with emphasis. “I hit it right by Dad, a line rope.” Dan and Peace laughed.

  “You mean a line drive, son,” Dan corrected him. He glanced at Peace. “I confused him with my knowledgeable baseball talk.”

  “Yea, I’ll bet,” Peace replied, crouching behind their plastic container top, home plate. “Batter up.”

  Chapter Twenty-Six

  Friendship and Trust

  They played non-stop for forty-five minutes, with Peace ragging Dan about his pitching whenever Danny missed the ball. Later, Peace hit soft grounders to Danny with his Dad backing him up. After giving Danny some practice with the glove, Peace began hitting the ball and then running to an imaginary first base, Dan stood at, to give the little boy the opportunity to throw him out.

  Bull pulled up in front. His dark blue Chevrolet Camaro gleamed in the noontime sun. The big man hurried nimbly from the driver’s seat to the passenger side door, to open it for Holly. Dan, Peace, and little Danny stopped to watch the new arrivals. Bull wore jeans and a black Navy Seals t-shirt, while Holly wore black shorts and a white blouse tied at the waist. Holly walked up to Peace and gave him a hug, while Bull shook hands with Dan.

  “This is Holly Martinson, Lieutenant,” Bull introduced Dan, as he scooped up a giggling Danny. “Holly, meet my team leader, Lieutenant

  Dan Righter. This little bugger is his son, Danny.”

  Dan shook hands with Holly, motioning them towards the house. “Great meeting you, Holly. I’m glad you could come over on such short notice.”

  “Bull and I were hanging out together this morning, so when your call came, I thought a barbeque sounded great,” Holly replied, shaking hands with Danny, who practiced his handshake again, after Bull put him back on the ground.

  “Hi, Danny, you look just like your Dad,” Holly told the boy.

  “Are you going to marry Uncle Bull?” Danny asked straight forwardly, causing Peace and Bull to burst into laughter, while Dan gasped, putting a hand on Danny’s shoulder.

  Holly blushed, glancing over at Bull, who stopped laughing abruptly. “I don’t know yet, Danny.”

  Bull took h
er hand gently. “We’re still in the getting to know each other stage, you little wart, but I’m working on it.”

  Danny nodded solemnly, and then after a moment, asked, “what’s a wart?”

  They all laughed at Danny’s question, and Dan led them inside, while Bull explained in detail what a wart was to the young boy as he walked along, still holding Holly’s hand. Peace trailed the group, gathering up the baseball gear as he followed them.

  “A wart is an annoying little ugly growth, which can show up anywhere, Danny,” Bull instructed. “Now I was of course just kidding with you, but when I call your Uncle Peace a wart, I’m not kidding. He actually resembles a wart, and he’s every bit as annoying.”

  Danny smiled up at Bull, as Holly had covered her mouth to keep from laughing, as she glanced back at Peace. Peace had been listening intently, with much amusement, and simply shrugged at Holly. Danny looked back at Peace.

  “Don’t pay any ‘tention, Uncle Peace,” Danny told Peace. “Uncle

  Bull’s just kidding with you too.”

  “Thanks, Danny,” Peace laughed. “I don’t really look like a wart anyway, do I?”

  “Well…” Danny giggled, causing Dan, Bull, and Holly to laugh even harder, as Peace sighed.

  “Boy, did I walk into that one,” Peace replied, as the group walked through the door leading to Dan’s back patio. “You’re getting pretty good with the Smart Alec lines, Danny. Your Dad’s been coaching you, I’ll bet.”

  Allie ran up to the group, jumping up and down in excitement. “We’re playing in the sandbox.”

  “I see that,” Dan replied, picking his little girl up. “This is my daughter Allie, short for Allison. Allie, this is Bull’s friend, Holly.”

  Allie held out her arms, and Holly took her from Dan, surprised at how good it made her feel. “Hi Allie. I’m really glad to meet you.”

  “Me too,” Allie replied. “Want to play in the sandbox?”

  “Sure,” Holly answered, nodding at Jill, who had come up to take

  Peace’s arm. “Hi, Jill.”

  While holding on to Allie, Holly held out her hand to Becky. “You must be Dan’s wife, Becky. Bull has told me a lot about you.”

  “For his sake it had better have been all good,” Becky smiled, taking Holly’s hand.

  “Yes, Ma’am,” Bull said quickly, giving Allie a quick kiss hello, before hugging Becky familiarly.

  “We’re building castles,” Jill explained, looking at Danny. “Want to come over with us for a while, Danny?”

  Danny looked up questioningly at his Father, who gave him a nod. “Go ahead, Danny, we’ll watch you four while your uncles and I talk.”

  Danny took Jill’s hand happily, and pulled her towards the sandbox with his Mom, Holly, and Allie following. Becky glanced back at her husband warningly, and he waved at her daintily.

  “Let’s sit on the patio,” Dan said, indicating the lawn chairs to his two friends. “Want to sip a couple?”

  “Hell yea,” Bull said quickly, putting Peace into a vice like headlock. “I’ll keep 007 here entertained while you get the fixings.”

  Dan laughed appreciatively. He went inside the house to get shot glasses, and the bottle of Bushmills Peace had brought. Bull dragged a compliant Peace toward the patio.

  “Bull!” Becky called out, as the group at the sandbox watched.

  Bull immediately released Peace, putting his hands up in the air as if he had not done anything. Peace waved at Becky. Bull sat down on one of the lawn chairs, and Peace sat across from him. Bull leaned forward, and folded his arms on the round white patio table between them. He just stared at Peace until Dan came out with six shot glasses and whiskey. Dan set the shot glasses down and opened the Bushmills. He poured carefully, before sitting down next to Bull. Each man took up a shot glass.

  “Seal Team Six,” Dan said simply, holding his glass up in a toast.

  “Hoo-ya,” Bull and Peace replied in chorus.

  The three men took a sip of their liquor with satisfaction.

  “Oh man, that is good,” Dan allowed.

  “What are we going to do with 007 here?” Bull asked. “A couple of shots will not make up for the insult he has slapped us in the face with.”

  “It depends on his story, Chief,” Dan replied, taking another sip as he looked at Peace.

  “Would you guys like Little Red Riding Hood, or Green Eggs and Ham?” Peace asked, a sincere look on his face.

  “Let me drag the little prick around the side of the house, Lieutenant,” Bull said through clenched teeth. “I’ll find out what he’s been up to.”

  “As tempting as that offer is, Chief,” Dan laughed. “I don’t think it would be helpful; and considering how much experience he’s had with interrogations lately, I doubt you’d get far.”

  “It’s not always the destination,” Bull replied. “Sometimes the journey can be just as pleasurable.”

  Peace laughed raucously with the other two men joining in. Peace wiped his eyes after a few moments, and saluted Bull with his shot glass.

  He took a sip, sighing contentedly. “Good one, Chief.” “Well, Peace?” Dan asked seriously.

  Peace looked into his old friend’s eyes. He had went over his situation from every angle since Jill had told him he would soon be a Father. If he continued to hold out on Dan and Bull, their relationship would always be under a cloud. He took another sip, and began talking quietly. Over the next half an hour, he related his experiences from the time he had been recruited in Syria, to the end of the much publicized operation just completed.

  “Holy shit, Peace,” Bull whispered, taking a larger sip from his glass. “Man, I only thought I knew what was going on.”

  “So, they missed making any hits on the network because the news got out too quickly,” Dan added. “They won’t be able to nail any new shipments now.”

  “Not necessarily,” Peace replied, relieved to finally be able to stop pretending. “Any new shipments they could have hit will still be in transit, and you can bet they don’t trust any communications after they set out for Ensenada. With luck, they may still intercept something big.”

  Dan nodded, and held out his hand, which Peace took gratefully. “I’m sorry I didn’t trust you to be on the right side of this. I was just afraid you had really gone off the deep end.”

  “We’re on board with this from now on, Peace,” Bull added, shaking hands with Peace. “I’m sorry if it seemed like we doubted you; but damn, with all the shit happening the last couple of months, the Lieutenant and I were starting to wonder what the heck would be next. Then this thing in Mexico… hey, they won’t shoot you for letting us in on this, will they?”

  Peace laughed. “They don’t need to know, but I doubt they’d shoot me. It feels a hell of a lot better now since I’ve told you. I know you all would have helped me; but if anything went wrong down there, it was better to have only one rogue dummy down there to pin it on. Pour me another, barkeep.”

  Dan poured them all another shot.

  “To old friends,” Peace said quietly, holding up his glass.

  “Amen,” Dan added.

  Hoo-ya,” Bull said with enthusiasm.

  They sipped their drinks, and leaned back in the chairs.

  “What was the body count down there, Peace?” Bull asked curiously.

  Peace was silent for a moment, making as if he were finishing a sip of his whiskey.

  “Bull and I already know what a cold blooded monster you are,” Dan smiled. “You can level with us.”

  “Seven, but they were all bad.”

  Bull and Dan laughed, nodding in appreciation of another application of the True Lies line.

  “You’re making up for missing Iraq,” Bull said. “We could have used you there too. The trouble with that operation was we didn’t kill enough of them right at first.”

  “From my perspective, you sure killed a few of the right ones,” Peace replied with a grin. “Those guys down South, who work for the drug
cartels, are really cold blooded monsters. If they start working hand in glove with the Terrorists, we’ll be in real trouble. Look at the delivery network the cartels already have in place, complete with paid off officials throughout Mexico and South America.”

  “It sounds like Batiste’s operation was one dangerous piece of work,” Dan agreed. “I bet if they would have known what you were going to find down there, we would have hit them with everything we had, and screw Mexico.”

  Peace nodded. “I don’t believe anyone up here ever thought they had set up anything like that. It makes me wonder how many other places our intelligence is in the dark about. We can’t keep relying on luck.”

  “After what you found out,” Bull added, “we should be issuing edicts on what will happen if we find another one of these sites in a supposed ally’s country. Mexico should pay a price for this.”

  “They would have paid a big price if an accident had happened,” Dan offered. “A little problem at Batiste’s facility could have resulted in the Northern tip of their country being uninhabitable for a long time.”

  “Not to mention our Southern tip,” Peace replied. “God knows what they had set up in the Bio lab they had.”

  Becky, Jill, and Holly were walking towards the table, leaving Danny and his sister hard at work in the sandbox.

  “You boys are sure quiet over here,” Becky stated. “What’s up?” “That’s classified,” Dan said immediately.

  “I’ll give you classified,” Becky moved quickly around the table, her hands outstretched for Dan, who slipped behind her before she could get him. A moment later, Becky was hanging upside down squealing, with Dan shaking her.

  “Promise to be good?” Dan asked as he paused in his shaking.

  “I will so get… you… for…”

  Dan started shaking again as the rest of the adults laughed.

  “Okay… okay…” Becky relented.

  Dan gently let her down, and then helped her straighten into his arms. “Would you ladies like a little taste?”

  “We were wondering if you were ever going to share,” Becky answered, pulling Dan’s face down for a kiss.

  Peace poured the women a shot in two of the remaining glasses. The three men still had almost a full shot still in their glasses. Peace gestured at Jill, who smiled back.