Rane handled the interview well, commenting that she was not out to offend anyone, that she and her team simply wanted to compete against the best. The announcer went on to talk about her team’s impressive winning streak and how her team called her the “Rainmaker.”
Rane laughed and said, “I can only make it ‘rain’ because I’m surrounded by such great teammates.”
The announcer asked Rane more about her team, and she elaborated on how well they played together, how she obviously was not as strong as many of the male opponents, but her teammates were great about protecting her and helping her play to her strengths. She also said she could not compliment her coach, Gordan Sheffield, enough. He had done an incredible job putting the team together so that they all melded well, balanced out each other’s weaknesses and strengths, and were able to switch roles easily.
“Your coach not only helped you with your team but also your mascot,” the announcer said.
Rane blushed slightly and smiled broadly. Pele could see she had inherited Keece’s beautiful smile.
“Yes, he also helped make Kazi a real team member.” The TV flashed to a picture of Rane with her arms around a cute Mini-Australian Shepherd.
“Tell us about Kazi.”
“When my Dad went missing during his combat training, one of my Mom’s friends gave her Kaz as a puppy, I guess to comfort her.”
Pele stared at the screen stunned. Missing?! Is that what they told his family? Pele was clearly still here. How could he be missing? Had the military lied to his family? Why would they say he was missing? Why was he still serving out a term? A term that seemed longer than he deserved, with no explanation. What was going on? As Pele looked across the room, he caught Jaber’s gaze. Jaber quickly looked away and left the room.
Rane continued. “Mom loved the pup, but she was super busy with her career since she had to support us after Dad was gone, and she couldn’t take Kaz with her everywhere, so she asked me to look after him. I took him to practices and games. Pretty soon the coach, and really everyone noticed Kaz would follow me up and down the sidelines. He knew he wasn’t allowed on the field, so he never interrupted a play, but he would watch every move I made. The funny part was that he not only followed me, but he would bark anytime someone fouled me. I really don’t know how he knows, but he’s better than the refs! He’s always been right. It’s remarkable.” She giggled fondly, obviously very proud of her pup.
“Anyhow, the parents, the team and even the fans all loved having him at the games. As we got better as a team, we started to play in bigger stadiums. The stadiums often didn’t allow dogs. The coach got him in a couple of times as an exception, but it was becoming a problem. So, Coach Sheffield finally came to the team with a proposal, he suggested we adopt Kaz as our team mascot. It was a unanimous vote. The only problem was the name. Kaz is a mini-Aussie. We’re American, so we couldn’t very well be the Aussies, so we decided we would be the “Dogs.” So, the Dogs we are, and Kazi faithfully attends every game, and keep the refs honest,” she added with a cheeky grin.
The announcer shook his head and smiled, “Well, he seems like a very well-behaved mascot.”
Rane grinned, “Thank you. He’s a good pup.”
The announcer wrapped up the interview, “Rane, it’s been a pleasure having you on our show. We look forward to watching you and your team in the tournament. And Kaz, of course”
Rane smiled graciously, “Thank you.”
Pele stared at the screen, still astonished. How had they proclaimed him missing? How could he get in touch with his family? And what should he do about Jaber? He headed back to his room to review the evidence he already had. He decided to go to his superior as soon as possible early the next morning.
That night Pele decided to break into Jaber’s office to search for his personal files. He had seen Jaber enter his code many times while spying on him, so getting in was no problem. However, as Pele quietly opened the door, he froze as he heard a slight noise. It sounded almost as if another door or window closed. The office was a mess as if someone had been looking for something and then left in a hurry. Whoever it was had clearly been interrupted. Who would be rummaging through Jaber’s records?
Pele hoped he could still find some information on his “missing status.” He was extra cautious not to leave signs of his visit, just in case someone else had taken something. He did not want to get incriminated for a crime he did not commit.
He went through the files, but all seemed standard military reports and procedures. He was about to give up when he noticed the bottom drawer on one file cabinet was still closed and had a lock on the front, requiring a combination. Pele tried the door code, but no luck. What would Jaber use as a code? Pele racked his brain.
Then he remembered Jaber signed off all the emails he sent from the Secretary’s computer with a number. Pele had recorded the number because he wondered if it had any meaning. He looked the number up on his phone and tried in on the keypad. It worked. The file opened.
Inside were files on all the men in Jaber’s unit, including Pele’s own. Opening the folder, Pele saw his picture, but nothing else matched his real identity: different birthday, social security number, name, relatives. Nothing was accurate except his blood type! How had Jaber managed to swap his identity and continue to carry it off for so many years? One couldn’t simply substitute one officer for another.
Pele could understand the name. They all went by code numbers and nicknames to prevent any extremists or anti-military nut jobs from attacking them or their families, but Pele knew he had given fingerprints and filled in forms with his signature and social security number many times. How was Jaber able to pull this off? And who was this other person who was signing for him. The name was familiar, but Pele could not quite place it.
Pele was stumped. He was about to slip back to his barracks, pictures of his fake personal file in his phone when he noticed there appeared to be a false bottom in the file drawer. He carefully removed all the personnel files, and with a little searching, found a small hole. He slipped the end of a paper clip in the hole and raised up the false floor.
Under it were signature stamps that were clearly used to forge the signatures on Pele’s documents, two preserved thumbs, and an index finger, each in its own clear box. Pele looked at the fingers in horror, suddenly realizing it was not a live person who was signing for him, but most likely someone who was already dead. Jaber must have swapped his identity with another military person.
Suddenly it clicked. Pele remembered the name. It was a guy in his convict-in-training program, the one that had been bitten by the rattlesnake during survival training. Jaber had been forging the soldier’s prints, signatures and social security number on documents for Pele, switching out the ones Pele actually filled out with the fakes. Jaber had effectively swapped the identities and kept it secret for years. Pele shuddered to think about the soldier whose identity he had replaced. Had he really died from that rattlesnake bite?
Pele also wondered why? Why would Jaber want to swap Pele’s identity with another soldier and have Pele go missing? Did it have something to do with Jaber’s information smuggling? If he uncovered Jaber’s plot to his leaders would he himself be at risk? Pele decided he had to go through with his exposure of Jaber. If there was any chance, he could let his family know he was still alive, he had to try. Besides, he could not go on being soldier #588546. Even if unintentional, his real identity was bound to be discovered now, without Jaber faking his documents.
How would his family react when they found out he was still alive? He still did not fully understand how or what he had been convicted of doing. His suspicion when he was arrested was that he had been framed by Radi and Cole, but he could not imagine they would let him stay behind bars for so long, especially not Cole. He knew Cole would never let that happen unless there was a really good reason. But maybe, if they all thought he had gone missing, they stopped trying to undue the harm they had caused. At least he hoped that
was the case.
Pele took one last look around before slipping back out of Jaber’s room. The waste basket caught his eye. On top were ashes from a note Jaber must have burned before leaving. Pele picked up the charred top corner of an envelope. He could just make out three letters P E L in his own handwriting. It was the last letter he had written to his family. Convicts were limited to sending written, paper notes to anyone outside, no electronic communication. Despite all the years of no response Pele had continued to write in the hope that one day one of his letters would get answered, that maybe his family would finally forgive him and reach back out. Now it was clear why he had never heard back. Jaber had been burning his letters. Pele could feel nothing but rage at the horrible injustice, his flames of hatred for Jaber fanned again.
When Pele met with Jaber’s supervisor the next day, he learned Jaber had already vanished. Pele presented evidence of Jaber’s activities. The information was so concerning, the supervisor immediately put out an emergency alert for Jaber and sent a team to search the General’s assistant’s computer.
A week later, Pele was called into the supervisor’s office. The supervisor said Jaber was still missing, but they had done a thorough investigation of the evidence Pele had presented, and all was confirmed.
The supervisor told him that the records for the missing man matched Pele’s records, so the identities had clearly been swapped. He confirmed Pele had been serving out another man’s sentence. The charges against Pele had actually been dropped years ago. The money to his University had been returned, and his wife had not pressed charges.
Pele, who had been on pins and needles all week, was now reeling from the new information. How could this have happened? Eight years of imprisonment for a crime he didn’t do. His University had dropped the charges? Keece had not pressed charges?
He tried to focus as his superintendent continued, apologizing for what had happened. Pele could barely listen as he reeled from the shock of the news. The superintendent went on to say that obviously they could only do so much to compensate for the extra years he had wrongfully served, but that he would be released with pay for his extra years of service, and they would give him a medal of honor for the work he had done, both as a soldier and for discovering Jaber. Pele was to go home as soon as possible.
Home?! He didn’t even know where home was anymore. Where were they sending him? Would he be able to see his family? Pele was suddenly shaking with nerves, so concerned about how his family would react. Was Keece married to someone else? Did they all hate him because of what they believed he did?
Chapter 13
“Hello” Keece answered her phone. “Hello, is this Mrs. Keece Riley Rosen?”
“Yes.” What could this be about? No one ever used her married name anymore.
“Ma’am, we wanted to inform you that your husband is released and coming home tomorrow. He is no longer missing-in-action. He is flying back from Washington DC. His flight is United flight 240, landing at 9:25pm.”
“What?!” said Keece, astonished. “You just sent me a notice you were closing his case and he was pronounced dead. Now he’s alive and coming home tomorrow! Are you kidding?”
Devon and Raney had been trying to find clues about his disappearance, but Keece could not believe he was found, alive, and coming home! She was completely shocked by the news. How could this be? How could he suddenly be alive? How did they find him? His sentence was over years ago. Were they releasing him now because they just found him? Was he okay?
“No, Ma’am, I’m not kidding. Your husband will be home tomorrow.”
Keece, “Can you tell me what happened? How was he found? Where was he? Is he okay?”
“Ma’am I’m not privy to those details. I believe it had something to do with a mistaken identity, but I’m sure he can tell you all about it tomorrow. Should we arrange for a car or would you like to meet him at the airport?”
What to do? She wasn’t even sure she’d recognize him. Still, she of course would pick him up.
Keece, “I’ll be there.”
“Thank you, Ma’am, I’ll let him know.”
“Wait!” the phone clicked silent before she could get out all her questions. She tried calling back, but it went to an answering system and she had no idea who had called and how to reach him.
She slumped against the wall as suddenly all the grief and loneliness from all the years overwhelmed her. She sat down and put her face in her hands and sobbed. She had tried so hard not to miss him and worked so hard to hold her life together. She couldn’t believe he was actually coming home, eight years after she had last seen him.
Her mind raced. What would it be like to see him? Would he recognize her? Would he still find her attractive? She was a lot older now. What would he be like? What would it be like to talk to him? To live together again. Would it be awkward? Had they grown too far apart? What would he think of the children? They had grown up so much since he last saw them.
She knew her mind would race all night, but for now she had better focus on telling the children. She knew they would be equally shocked. Thank goodness they had already learned the accusations about him had been false. That would make his homecoming easier.
The next day, they all tracked the flight closely, watching as the plane inched its way across their screens. They had made a big welcome home sign and had tried to remember some of his favorite treats—Porter Ale, peanut butter and chocolate ice cream, gouda truffle cheese, Kentucky Bourbon—the house was well-stocked with anything they could remember he liked. They chattered with nervous excitement, eager to see the man they had all missed for many years.
At the airport, they lined up at the entryway, each scanning every passenger eagerly, fearful of not recognizing the one they were so desperate to see.
And then he was there. Keece’s eyes locked with his. Then a big, teary smile came across her face, as she saw the smile she had loved so much and missed for so many years. She rushed into his strong arms, held tightly once again. It felt so right to be in his embrace.
Pele held her close and whispered in her ear, “Can you forgive me?”
Keece, pulling back slightly so she could look into his eyes, answered. “I’m not sure what I have to forgive, but yes, completely. It’s so good to see you. I love you.”
His eyes shone with joy and the pain of so many lost years, “I love you too. I’m so, so happy to see you.”
The children surrounded them now.
Keece, “Would you like to see your children? They’ve grown up while you were gone.”
Pele looked at each one and embraced them. They were all a little shy to see the father they had worshipped, then almost hated, and then forgiven over the past years. Raney, his first-born, was no longer a little girl, but a woman now. She was natural and beautiful and strong, just like her mother. Pele felt like he was staring into his own green eyes, but other than that, she was the spitting image of Keece.
Pace, his serious little boy, was now a responsible young man. He had steel blue eyes and blonde wavy hair, but otherwise was a slighter version of Pele himself. Shocking, after so many years, to see your own features reflected in your children in their own unique ways.
And, of course, sweet, sensitive little Kala. He wiped a tear from her doll-like cheek. She did not really look like him or Keece, but there was a family resemblance. Her looks somehow epitomized delicate innocence, and yet she had always been surprisingly tough, never mean, but she was not going to let anyone get the best of her, especially not her twin brother. Pele sensed she still had that toughness, but he wondered if she had yet learned to use those angelic looks to her advantage. He looked forward to getting to know them all better again.
On the ride home and over the next few days, he shared the story of his captivity and of Jaber. He swore the children to secrecy about Jaber. He was concerned that talking too much about him might not be safe. The man was still at large and obviously had dangerous connections.
Pele
shared with Keece that the military had considered putting him in protective custody due to the information Pele had on Jaber. But the military had been very careful not to expose the evidence Pele had gathered. They wanted to keep hidden the fact that they had discovered Jaber was sharing secrets, in the hope that they would gather more intel on Jaber’s connections. Jaber might find out Pele was released, but that would be expected because Pele’s identity could no longer be mistaken. It would have come to light the next time Pele had to sign anything.
When Pele and Keece were alone, Keece brought him up to speed on many of the happenings over the past years; Radi’s death, Devon’s overdose, her work, so many things.
She also shared with him that Devon and Rane had been trying to find out what happened to him when he was supposedly MIA. She explained that Ava had been suspicious, but that she had never been able to get any clear answers on what had happened to him and how Devon had hacked the government’s system.
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