by Grady, D. R.
“So much for him being reliable.”
Janine heard the pain in KC’s voice behind the wryness. “He couldn’t be to his family,” she answered calmly.
“What do you mean?”
“Think about it, KC. I don’t know this for certain, of course, but I suspect he’s tried to protect you over the years. Provided that man is your brother.”
“Greg protected me all our growing up years, but I’ve lost contact with him over the years. We drifted apart. Except when he gave Ryan to me. Then he played the unencumbered artist role to perfection.”
“Exactly. I suspect he’s worked hard to protect you and Ryan.”
“Do you think he pretended to be unreliable to cover his tracks?” KC sounded aghast.
“Yes.” Ben’s voice answered. Both women spun around to confront him. Janine pressed a hand against her rapidly beating heart as he continued. “Definitely. If Greg’s duties are what I suspect, he would have done that. Greg would have made every effort to distance himself from you.”
“When did you get home?” Janine kept her hand to her heart. He shouldn’t have been able to surprise her. All her training...
“I just arrived. But I don’t like what I’ve already overheard. KC’s brother is dying on one of your tables and no one knew he had a secret life?”
KC shook her head. “Is...is his life a secret?”
“I’ve met up with a man who looks like him, and I can tell you one thing, KC, the man on the table in there is one of the most dangerous men I’ve ever encountered.” Ben’s voice sounded grim.
“Is he the same man?” Janine butted in. The more information she could glean, the better she could make her next decision.
“I don’t know for sure. He wasn’t bloody and he was coherent when I met him. My team was paired with him on an assignment. All I’ll say is I’m awfully grateful he was on my side,” Ben reached out and ran a hand down KC’s arm.
“What if that man is my brother?” KC’s voice shook.
“He’ll do whatever he must to keep you all safe.” His voice was implacable. KC began to cry. Janine hauled her into sympathetic arms.
“I was so hurt when Greg dumped Ryan on my doorstep and then didn’t come around.”
“He wouldn’t have been able to come around, KC. The men after him wouldn’t have asked questions. They’d have just left bodies. But remember, that man in there could just be a regular citizen.” Janine doubted Ben believed that. She doubted it. Regular citizens didn’t come into the emergency room with shrapnel in their bodies.
Janine felt KC shudder so she tightened her arms. “He wasn’t unreliable. He was doing his usual – protecting me and Ryan.”
Ben nodded. “That would be my guess.”
KC turned grief-stricken eyes on her. Janine shook her head. “Don’t you feel guilty, girl. You felt exactly the way he wanted you to feel about him. He cultivated that impression.”
Her friend didn’t look entirely convinced, but KC seemed calmer, more sure of herself.
“KC, don’t tell anyone about this, not even Max. I know you’ll want to tell him everything, but that could be dangerous. I’ll make some phone calls.” Ben’s tone was firm.
Alarm spiraled through Janine’s nervous system. “Ben, do not make phone calls. Let this rest.”
He turned dark, fathomless eyes on her. “While I don’t know much about this situation, I do have some contacts...” Ben stopped talking when Janine kept shaking her head. KC stepped out of her arms but kept a hand on her.
“You don’t know anything about this situation, and the less you know, the safer you’ll be right now. Don’t make phone calls.” She could feel KC gaping at her, but she maintained eye contact with Ben.
“I don’t want to know what you know, or how, but I’m assuming you’re intending to make phone calls instead?” Ben’s voice was mild. She appreciated that.
“The more you know, the more dangerous this situation could be for everyone involved. Right now, I need to get back to my patient.”
“Take good care of him, Janine,” KC whispered. Her eyes were large pools of anxiety.
Squeezing her friend’s hand seemed inadequate, but Janine did so nonetheless. “I’ll take care of him like he was mine, KC.”
Chapter 13
Treeny opened the next patient chart and tapped on the door. She made note of the patient’s complaints that were listed at the top, and smiled automatically as she stepped into the room. The woman smiled back, and Treeny went through her preliminary questions before she examined the woman. Added to the urine test and some other contents in the chart, she was fairly certain of her diagnosis.
“Well, Mrs. Vacanilly, we’ll need some blood tests to verify, but I believe you’re pregnant.”
The woman gasped. “Pregnant? At my age?”
Treeny scrolled through the chart and located the woman’s birthday. Beside it, the computer listed her current age.
“Forty-four is a bit later than most women choose to have a baby, but we’ll monitor you. Well, your OB/Gyn will monitor you. You’re very healthy, you’ve kept fit, and I don’t foresee any problems with this pregnancy.”
“We gave up hope years ago.” Her patient looked shell-shocked.
“Well, obviously, this little one was determined to be born. Congratulations.” Treeny smiled as she opened the door for the bemused woman to exit. The woman was still grasping the ramifications of her condition, so Treeny used a gentle hand on her arm to guide her in the direction of the exit.
She paused at her desk for a sip of cold coffee before making her way for the next room. “Treeny, you have a visitor. He’s out by the picnic tables,” a nurse told her in passing.
Treeny turned to stare at the woman’s retreating back before she returned to her desk to drop her small laptop on her desk. Then she hot-footed her way to the back door. She blinked in the sunlight, but quickly located her “visitor”.
Ben grinned at her even as he opened his arms, and she didn’t need further encouragement. She ran on light, happy feet to enfold him in a tight hug. He returned the favor and she heard him sniff her hair.
“I’m back,” he said unnecessarily.
“I’m so glad you’re home. I’ve been a basket case since you left.” She glared up at him, like it was his fault.
He put his palms up but didn’t release her. “I’m sorry. I wanted to call you, but it was too late when the summons came through, I knew you’d be asleep and I didn’t want to wake you.”
“While I appreciate your kindness and consideration, I don’t need it. Call me.” She jabbed a finger into his chest. “Really Ben, if I had heard your voice and known you were leaving, I probably would have taken your absence better.”
“I’m sorry, sweetheart. I didn’t think about that.” His dark eyes swept over her, and she nearly preened for him. The look in those sexy depths assured her he’d missed her.
“Will you have supper with me tonight?” Treeny propped her chin on his chest, happy and relieved to have him in her arms again.
“I will.” His voice held smoky promise.
“Good, come to my place. You can use the outside entrance, or ring the front doorbell. Rachel or one of the kids will let you up. But it’ll take you longer to reach me,” she warned.
“I’ll use the outside entrance. I know where it is.”
She grinned at him. “Wimp.”
He shuddered. “Smart.”
“That’s true. Rachel’ll talk your ear off. The kids will ask endless questions. They’re all fascinated that we’re dating now.” Treeny braced herself. She hoped they were dating, but they hadn’t actually discussed their relationship in such terms.
“We’ve waited a long time for this.” Ben ran his hands up her arms. That sounded like he agreed with her. Certainly it wasn’t a denial so that gave her hope.
“We have.” She reached up to tug his lips to hers; relieved he still seemed to be on the same page. Thank goodness. Her stomach un
knotted. “And I have to see patients so kiss me and begone or I won’t get anything done.”
“Yes, ma’am.” He saluted.
Her laughter turned into a groan when his lips settled on hers and Treeny closed her eyes so she could better savor him. He’d been gone since Monday, a very long time. She was finally in his arms again. Kissing him again. This embrace was right. This man was right. So long as she could handle his hours and the danger he faced.
Soon, all thoughts drained from her mind as she concentrated on the fabulous man in her arms. He was hers, for now.
When they finally parted, they stared at each other for a little while, but Treeny heard the clock ticking in her head and knew if she wanted to leave the office at a decent hour, she had better get back to work.
“Will Rachel let me in your place without you there?”
Treeny blinked as she tried to think. “Of course. Why?”
“You’re working. I’m not. I can make supper. But we’ll have to do it at your apartment. Since we won’t get any privacy at Max and KC’s or Mitch and Lainy’s.”
“Right. Dinner at my place then.”
“Be there,” he tempted.
“I will. You can count on that.”
Chapter 14
She didn’t find the tattoo until she was nearly finished with repairing her patient, but when she did, Janine finally understood why Michael Lamont didn’t want to be known as Gregory Gilmore. And why he’d pretended not to recognize his sister.
This tattoo was identical to the one on her own inner thigh, except for the tiny letter in the bottom right hand corner, which designated him as the secret operative. She’d never known his name, just as he didn’t know hers or anyone else’s on the team. It was safer that way.
A few other things clicked into place. Her first thought a harsh one in that she might not have gotten this job on her own credentials. The second was that Greg-Michael’s life was at stake, and that someone within the armed forces was a traitor. Her final thought was that someone most likely still wanted him dead and that was why her patient insisted he didn’t know KC. He was still protecting her and her family. Even half dead.
His eyes opened briefly and he grabbed her arm. His wounds should have prevented him from returning to consciousness at all, but the man struggled to make her understand. He didn’t have to. She’d pieced enough of the puzzle together to comprehend what needed to be done.
“Hello. I’m Dr. Janine Morris, previously known as Lieutenant Commander Morris, of the United States Navy Corps. You don’t have to worry about your care, Mr. Lamont as I’ve served in Johannesburg at a hospital there. I’ve seen far worse injuries.”
Janine ignored the raised brow of the two nurses assisting her. She needed this man to understand she understood the direness of his situation. Johannesburg was supposed to be a key word. If he was who she thought he was, the name should reassure him. They weren’t supposed to know each other, but now that she’d seen that tattoo, it was a little too late.
“I’ve also served as a Corpsman in Kuwait, twice, so we’ve got you covered.”
His blue eyes flickered briefly.
“Serena could you find more bandages, please? And Gayle, we’ll need clamps and an IV.” That would remove the women from the room long enough for her to explain the rest of the situation to him.
“Janine...Morris...you and Ben...brother...” he said, his voice so weak, she could barely understand him. That he was able to talk at all was testament to his training and physical condition. What he had to say must be very important.
“Yes, Ben Morrison is my brother,” she answered.
“SEAL,” he said and she nodded. “Traitor...”
She reared back. “He is not a traitor,” she hissed.
The man grabbed her hand. “Ben...in danger...traitor...”
She caught on and deflated. “Ben’s in danger. And his entire SEAL team?” She swallowed when he nodded. His blue eyes were intense as he stared at her, and even as weak as he was, she could feel the strength of his grip. No wonder KC had denied knowledge of him. Those eyes, even in his weakened condition, seemed capable of burning a hole through her.
“Who do I tell?”
“Admiral...” his eyes fluttered closed, and he gasped for breath. It rattled ominously in his lungs.
Janine tightened her grasp on his hand and watched him closely. She squeezed, afraid for him, and for Ben. She would do all she could to help, but right now she needed someone in authority to intervene. Who did she know who could claim the title, Admiral, and interacted with SEAL teams?
“Admiral Richard O’Riley,” she exclaimed and his eyes fluttered open again.
“Tell...him,” he demanded as he faded into unconsciousness again.
Admiral Richard O’Riley. There had been an inquisition about him so that his designation as a SEAL had been suspended and he instead had been sent to two different joint Marine and Navy posts as commanding officer. No one who knew him well thought for one moment he had done anything wrong to warrant that inquisition. Instead, they all believed they had needed a SEAL as close to the top as possible to man those field units, and O’Riley saw the opportunity, or perhaps he simply created it because he needed something from those bases.
Chances were, he had supplied someone with information or scoped out the scene for his teams, or something along those lines. The SEAL teams working under him had been temporarily assigned to someone else, but she suspected that was mostly on paper. Admiral O’Riley always got the job done and he was well known for accomplishing his assigned tasks however he needed to. Now that he was stateside, the inquisition had magically disintegrated and Admiral O’Riley was reinstated as a SEAL and back to his usual command. Apparently he had accomplished what he wished to overseas. For all she knew, O’Riley had been busy setting the groundwork to tumble this very traitor her patient had run afoul of.
Janine quickly finished cleaning his copious wounds and making him as comfortable as possible. How to keep him safe though? She couldn’t operate on him here. The dangers far outweighed the benefits.
She cleaned up quickly and asked one of the nurses to remain with the man. Asking a huge male who had been a former Marine medic seemed logical. She thought the man had noticed their patient was military, and she nodded subtly to let him know there could be a problem.
“I’ll stay, Dr. Morris,” the man stated, and she watched his eyes grow cold and alert. Janine smiled at him.
“Thank you, Frederick. I appreciate your help.” Her eyes darted to their patient. She hoped they could keep him alive. Right now, she had to move him to safety. Her ministrations should hold him until she and O’Riley could come up with a plan.
Then she scurried to her office and grabbed her phone. Janine informed another nurse that she had a phone call she was supposed to make and nearly ran to her car. She checked her vehicle regularly for listening and other devices, and felt fairly confident to the privacy she’d find within her new SUV.
She tapped out the secure, private number to Admiral O’Riley.
“Morris, I thought you retired from military duty.” His voice flowed clearly over the line and she had to blink back tears. She hadn’t realized how scared she’d been about this situation, but now she could dump most of it on this capable man.
“Admiral, I’ll yell at you later for securing this post for me, but right now we’ve got a problem.” Janine knew that had all come out in a rush, but she was so scared for Greg Gilmore, she didn’t care.
She heard the admiral’s seat creak and thought he sat up abruptly. “What’s up Morris?”
Janine closed her eyes in thankfulness for the intensity she heard in his voice. “Remember when you sent me to Johannesburg for further training?” Meaning, when he sent her there for special training in case a certain extremely secret operative whose name she didn’t know until today came through. Every member of the team could identify each other and the situation by using the name Johannesburg.
/> “Of course.”
“Well...” she didn’t know how to tell him in secret code. She was retired from the military so she didn’t know any of the new codes. Plain speech would have to work.
“Are you treating a certain individual?” Admiral O’Riley’s voice could have cut glass.
“Yes. A Michael Lamont is bleeding on my operating table. He’s so weak... If he’s who I suspect he is – I found a tattoo – he’s in extreme danger here. What’s going on?” Janine couldn’t keep the demand out of her words. She refused to swear. That showed the inability to express one’s self.
“Michael Lamont is bleeding on your operating table?” he barked the words, and she nodded. Then realized she needed to give a verbal response. The Admiral couldn’t see her.
“He’s here, in Hershey, Pennsylvania.” She doubted he would miss the significance that one of their foremost secret operatives was dying in the same hospital where he’d been born. “He was coherent briefly. He told me, traitor, and he mentioned Ben’s name.”
“Ben’s a traitor?” Janine was relieved to hear the dismay and disbelief in her former boss’s voice.
“No, that’s what I thought too, but what he was trying to tell me was that Ben and his team are in danger from this same traitor who nearly got him killed.”
She heard him mutter something under his breath. “My best operative is dying and now one of my top SEAL teams is in danger?”
“Yes.” She thought for a bit, then said what was pressing foremost on her mind. “Sir, we need to move Lamont. He’s stabilized, but needs more intensive surgery. He’s not safe in a public hospital.”
“No, he’s not.” The silence that greeted her told her he was thinking fast and furiously.
“He came-to long enough to tell me what’s going on. Someone sold him, and wants to sell Ben’s team. Sir, I can do the surgery, but we need to send him to safety first.”
“You think he’s strong enough to operate on?” Again, that disbelief.
“Yes. He was conscious long enough to inform me about the traitor,” Janine paused as she thought of the man’s determination – she was even more impressed with him as she thought of his strength of character. Her voice broke as she added, “No one else could have done that in his condition. I think he’s mad that someone betrayed him. And his intention is to get well enough to locate that traitor. But even so, he made certain I knew a SEAL team is at risk. That’s dedication and loyalty.”