Talon

by Ronie Kendig

  Cardinal, in a half shake of his head, dragged his gaze downward. “I can’t.”

  Images of innocent brown eyes…her laughter…seeing her worked over, time and again. And then the angel flew,…

  “You knew this.” His pulse thumped against his temple as he worked to restrain his temper. “no. Women.” Right then, an absolute certainty rushed over him. He stabbed a finger at Burnett. “You.” How had he not seen this earlier? Was he too eager to get Courtland back that he hadn’t considered all the possibilities? “You knew—you hid from me that Aspen was a woman.”

  Burnett let out a long sigh. “Son, we’ve been trying since Austin vanished to find a way to track him and get him back safely. When you came up with this absolutely ingenious plan to use his dog…I had no choice.”

  “We always have a choice.”

  Shoulders slumped, Burnett crumpled his Dr Pepper can. “No, no we don’t. And right now, neither do you.”

  Lips tight, Cardinal glared at him. “I’m not doing this.”

  “Do this or you’re through.” He folded his arms over his chest. “Something’s haunting you, and I need you to bury that—for now—and do your job.”

  “You forget,” Cardinal spat out, “I came to you! I offered you my services.”

  “Yes, but now you’re owned. By us.” Burnett pushed up and moved to the other end of the table. “I consider myself a nice man who works hard at his job. But that’s just it—I have a job. I’m tasked with protecting my country and its citizens. And that means I have to do things I don’t like.”

  Throw that political bull at him, but it wouldn’t work. “This isn’t my country.” Tremors rippled through his arms and legs. What choice did he have? Burnett held more dirt on him, could bury him at the bottom of the sea for ten lifetimes. Or expose his whereabouts to a certain Russian general.

  I’m trapped. As always.

  Had to get out of there. Disappear. He would not do this. Could not. “I don’t owe this country anything. I don’t owe anyone anything.” The words were cruel. And wrong. It was the anger talking. The demons he’d inherited.

  “Maybe not, but you are a citizen of it. We granted that, remember? And you signed on the line for this job. We own you, Cardinal.” Burnett’s eyes narrowed. “And that missing boy is your responsibility.” He smacked a hand on the table. “Now man up and do what needs to be done!”

  Cardinal stormed out of the office, down the hall, the stairs, to the parking garage. In his car, he left the grounds and headed west. Though Reston was only thirty minutes away, traffic dictated the three-hour drive. Familiar with the area, he made his way to a nearby park and planted himself on a bench. He’d promised himself he’d never do this. Never become the epitome of filth and slime that had defined Cardinal’s life for twenty years.

  Elbows on his knees, he stared at the ground covered in a fresh blanket of wildflowers. Cold seeped into his bones despite the summer heat, but it was nothing like the chill settling over this mission. Over his objective—getting Aspen Courtland to cooperate and think it was her idea.

  “I promised,” he muttered past his hands, fingers laced and held in front of his lips.

  But…Austin.

  Cardinal had hand-selected the young man for the field. He’d trained him, guided him, become friends with him. The government intentionally withheld information about Austin’s family so Cardinal would not have any impetus or inclination to alter his decision or recruitment.

  Nearby a horn honked and snapped him out of his somber thoughts. A quick check of his watch shoved him to his feet. He headed past the hotel, down the sidewalk, and straight toward the pavilion.

  The sister—she would want to help, right? This plan he’d concocted depended on the twin’s reaction. But he’d thought he was dealing with a guy. Not a woman. A twin was a twin, right? The connection should be there. She should see the imperative nature of using the dog. At least, he hoped she did because he’d take the dog—that’d be so much easier. But they couldn’t afford the time or risk to yank the dog and force him to settle in with a new handler.

  The dog was the key. And getting to the dog, the key was the sister.

  Aspen.

  He turned into an alley and thrust his fist in the air. “God, why must You torment me? You know what is in me. You know the blood that beats in my heart.” Fists over his eyes, he ground his teeth. “Do not…do not let me lose myself.”

  Was it possible…was it at all possible to complete this mission without becoming his father?

  A Breed Apart Ranch

  Texas Hill Country

  Soulful brown eyes held hers, eagerness and willingness to go the long, hard mile for her pouring out of them. His eyebrows bounced with meaning.

  “Hey, handsome.”

  He scooted closer, his happy impatience melting her heart. She didn’t deserve his loyalty. His passionate attention. But he gave it all the same.

  Cupping his face, Aspen smiled down at him. “You are amazing.” He smiled.

  Or near enough for a Labrador retriever. Talon swiped his tongue along her face, his backside wagging so hard she thought he might wipe out. She rubbed his ears and planted a kiss between his eyes. “Thank you, boy.”

  “How’s it going?”

  Aspen straightened and turned toward the voice of Heath Daniels, lead trainer at A Breed Apart. His Belgian Malinois bounded into the training area with zest and zeal Aspen was convinced Talon once possessed. She eyed her blond guy. “We’re making progress.”

  Heath, arms folded over his chest and hands tucked beneath his armpits, smiled at her. “You got him over the hurdles.”

  Beaming beneath the hidden praise in his words, Aspen grinned back. “Six months ago, I would’ve thought this was possible.” And six months ago, she’d had an uphill battle getting her grandparents to allow Talon to take up residence with her at their sprawling estate. Nana wasn’t entirely pleased about having a dog, whose fur sprinkled her marble and gilded décor with yellow hairs. Or Granddad, who had objected to Talon living in a house his own father had built at the height of his wealth and power in the roaring twenties. But in time, knowing Talon had been best friends with Austin, they’d relented.

  “You’re giving him his respect back but also helping him remember he’s a dog—the best life.” Heath touched her shoulder. “Your brother would be proud if he were here to see this.”

  Aspen ducked her chin, fighting the stinging in her eyes. “That’s just the bear of it, isn’t it? If Austin were here, I wouldn’t be.” The rawness at the back of her throat made it hard to swallow.

  “Hey,” Heath said, his tone softer. “Don’t go there, okay? You can stay true to his memory without feeling guilty about everything. You’re doing right by him with the way you’re watching out for his partner and best friend.” He gave a curt nod. “Understand?”

  Surprised at his words, Aspen bobbed her head. “Yeah, I guess so.” She clicked Talon’s lead on and ruffled his coat, finding as much pleasure in the move as it seemed the six-year-old guy did. “I just don’t want Talon to forget Austin.”

  “Oh, I don’t think that will ever happen. Even if it takes years.”

  “It has taken years. Two, to be exact.”

  “Yeah, but in a dog’s mind, I think that equates to two days. They don’t forget smells, and he’s got Austin’s burned into his head. I’d bet my life on it.”

  A country song sailed through the air. Aspen started and grabbed the phone from her jacket pocket. “I’d better get this. Hope you have a good session with Trinity.”

  “We will.”

  Aspen led Talon from the training ground and headed toward her SUV as she pressed the TALK button on her phone. “Hi, Britt. What’s up?”

  “Girl, we need to talk.”

  “Okay, go ahead.”

  “No. I’ve got something you need to see.”

  Aspen slowed at the urgent excitement in her best friend’s voice. “Okay…”

  “
Can you come over?”

  “I had some errands—”

  “Girl. Listen.” Noise crackled over the line, as if Brittain had put her hand over the phone. “Okay, I can’t say too much here, but I think…I think…I interviewed a man last night, a soldier. You have to see this.”

  “You’re not sure you interviewed a soldier?” Aspen loaded Talon in the back of the SUV in his crate then climbed behind the steering wheel.

  “Don’t mess with my head. Come to my house. It has to be now. You know I wouldn’t ask if I didn’t think it was important, and this goes to the moon and back on importance.”

  “Wow, how cryptic.” Nerves jangled, Aspen turned over the engine.

  “I know. But I have to be. And when I get to the studio, I’ve got to turn this in to the manager to approve. But trust me, you’ll want to see this before it goes live. Aspen, this guy was at Kariz-e Sefid.”

  Aspen’s heart climbed into her throat. “I’m on my way.” How she got from the ranch to Brittain’s condo, she didn’t know because her mind was all awhirl and tumbling from the mention of the Afghan city that stole her brother. Was it possible…just maybe…that she’d been right? Was he alive somewhere? Maybe held hostage by some radical group?

  Talon lumbered toward the door with Aspen. She hesitated, ready to say something positive to the canine who’d been there, who’d seen what happened to Austin but could not speak. “I wish you could—”

  The door jerked open.

  Brittain’s fro spiked out in odd places rather than the perfectly coiffed hairstyle she managed to tame the curls into for her broadcasts. “Girl!” Wide, mahogany eyes held hers. “You are not going to believe this.”

  She reached into the hall and grabbed Aspen’s jacket shoulder and pulled. “C’mon. I don’t have much time.” Halfway across the living room by the time Aspen lured Talon into the apartment, Brittain chattered a hundred miles an hour. “You are not going to believe this man.” She threw a look over her shoulder. “But this man? Is fine. With a capital F.”

  “What man? How did you meet him?” Aspen shed her coat and trailed her friend to the dining table that cozied up to a bay window in the sunroom.

  “That’s just it—he e-mailed me. Said he had a story he had to get off his chest. He couldn’t live with himself and keep the secret.”

  Aspen put her hand over her stomach, wishing she hadn’t eaten that Angus burger. “What secret?”

  Brittain came behind her, set her long, dark fingers on Aspen’s shoulders, then guided her to the office and into a plush chair. “See for yourself.” She lifted a remote and pressed a button.

  Perched on the edge of the chair, Aspen clasped her sweaty palms in her lap. Talon’s cold nose nudged her hand. She smiled down at him.

  “Could you please state your name for the camera?”

  “Are you recording?”

  “Yes, is that a problem?”

  Pale blue eyes hit the camera head-on. The man shifted. “no. No, I guess not. My name is Dane Markoski.”

  “You contacted me and said you had to clear your conscience.”

  “Yes, ma’am. I did—do.” He sat up straighter. Broad shoulders. Thick chest. The guy was no stranger to fitness.

  “Please, go ahead.”

  “O–okay. I was in the Army…” His story went on for several minutes, noting his unit and what they were doing. “We went to Kariz-e Sefid, and things just felt bad, ya know? We rolled in and things were crazy quiet. Then out of nowhere, we heard the shriek of an RPG rip past our MRAP. This was just supposed to be a routine patrol, so…” He shrugged. “Sometimes that happens. And it puts lives on the line, but we don’t stop fighting, ya know?”

  “So I’ve heard,” Brittain said. “now, you said there was an attack? What happened?”

  “Well, the vehicles were targeted, so we went for cover, tried to find the source of the weapons’ fire. A SOCOM team headed to the roof of a building.”

  “SOCOM?”

  “Special Operations Command. A team of Green Berets were there. They said they’d seen something. But…that’s when things got strange…” He looked up to the right and seemed lost in the memory.

  “Please, go on.”

  He blinked as if startled. “Sorry. I just…” His eyes darted around, as if searching for something. “The building exploded, and it threw me into the dirt. As we all came up out of that mess, smoke and dust was everywhere. You almost couldn’t see.”

  “Almost?” Brittain leaned forward. “But you did see, is that right, Mr. Markusky.”

  “Markoski. And…” He gave a one-shoulder shrug. “Yeah, I saw something. Or I think I saw something.” He scratched his head.

  “What do you think you saw?”

  “Well, that’s just it. It’s not what I saw then, but…”

  “But what?”

  Three

  Pentagon, Arlington County, Virginia

  Well, the Army seemed really eager to write off one of the men, and then something I saw later…one of the men I’d swear was on top of that roof, who should have died…I saw him in northeast Africa. I was there helping with a relief team….I thought I saw him there.”

  “Who?”

  “I’m not sure we should say that because”—he glanced directly at the camera— “you know.”

  Leaning back against the black lacquer conference table, Cardinal stared at the wall-mounted screen. Arms crossed, he ran a hand over his jaw as he thought through the answers he’d given. Had he been too obvious? Or perhaps not obvious enough about the implication.

  No, if he’d been too direct, Aspen would’ve detected something.

  He’d pored over her records since that meeting. She served in the Air Force as an admin for the judge advocate. Meant she had a good brain.

  Knuckles against his mouth, he didn’t understand. The plan was perfect. Even Burnett had said so. Why hadn’t she made contact?

  “Hey, you okay?”

  Cardinal glanced over his shoulder to the woman who owned that voice. Lieutenant Brie Hastings. “Yeah, sure.” He didn’t need to be alone with this girl. She’d made her interest in him known all too well.

  “That your new mark?”

  Cardinal cursed himself for letting his research notes play on the wall. He X-ed out of the video on the laptop, noting it vanishing from the wall, then slapped the computer shut. He tucked it under his arm and started for the door.

  “You know.” Brie turned as he walked around her. “The female population isn’t as scary as you think. You ought to give us a try.”

  Cardinal stalked into the hall and continued toward Burnett’s office, praying the general had some news.

  “Cardinal!”

  The urgent, hissed call pulled him around. Lieutenant Smith jogged toward him, his face wrought until he spotted Hastings, slowed with a stupid grin, shot her a “hey,” then refocused on Cardinal as he waved a paper.

  Cardinal pointed to the paper in the lieutenant’s hand. “Is that—?”

  “E-mail just came through.”

  Snatching the printed communication, Cardinal felt the first surge of relief in a long time.

  SGT Markoski—I want to thank you, personally, for honoring austin’s memory with honesty and integrity. They’ve relegated my brother to six feet under without a body to place there. Our country has long worked hard to bring home the fallen, so I don’t understand how they can forget about my brother so easily. Thank you for remembering him.

  It would be nice to talk and trade stories and memories. Austin & I spent a lot of time at amadore’s Fight Club. I’m still there, every Tuesday & Thursday evening, as he and my father taught me to fight to defend myself and to fight for what’s right. Semper Fidelis.—A. Courtland.

  Cardinal read the e-mail again.

  “Not quite the response you expected, huh?” Smith said.

  “No, it’s not.” Cardinal patted his shoulder. “It’s better.” He started for Burnett’s office.

  “B
etter?”

  “Get me on the next flight to Austin.” Cardinal folded the paper and rounded the corner.

  “Huh? But why? She just said—”

  “I’ll need a team prepped for Djibouti. We’ll need to alert Kuhn we’re headed his way.” Cardinal carded himself through to the offices of General Burnett and a couple of other four-stars.

  From the admin’s desk, Cardinal looked through the glass pane and held up a hand to Burnett, who waved him in as he talked on the phone.

  He leaned in and held up the paper. “She contacted. We’re a go.”

  Holding up one finger, Burnett spoke quietly into his phone. So quietly Cardinal couldn’t hear him. But he could read his lips. Let me take care of it. I know…no, he’s not a loose cannon. I can—yes, sir.

  “Problem, sir?”

  With a disgusted sigh, the general shook his head. “Always a problem.”

  Cardinal thumped the e-mail with a finger. “She made contact. I’m on my way up to the Lone Star state.”

  “Actually, you’re not.”

  Heat spilled down Cardinal’s spine as Burnett hung up. He said nothing. Just waited. It always worked better.

  “That was General Payne.”

  A royal pain in the backside. Also Chief of Staff of the Army. Burnett’s boss’s boss. Cardinal knew where this was going. They never approved of the general using him for operations. They questioned his loyalty. Questioned his motives.

  Well, one they had no need to question. The other was his business alone.

  “Approval for the Djibouti mission has been rejected.”

  “On what grounds?”

  “Nigeria.”

  Cardinal smothered his reaction. “Unbelievable.” He jerked his head down. Looked to the side. Closed his eyes. Then glanced at Burnett. “We have her and that dog. I put eyes on the target. He’s down there. We have to go down there and get him out. If we don’t—”