Dani nodded as she chewed on her own cucumber.
“Most of our food is freeze-dried or dehydrated. It all tastes like plastic.” Oliver took another bite and shoved the rest of the cucumber into his pocket. “Dad might not kill me if I bring him the rest. Will you thank Mary again for me when you go back?”
Dani finished her cucumber. “Yeah, will—”
“Dani!” a woman’s voice shouted.
Oliver turned. “Who’s that?”
Brody wagged his tail at the approaching stranger.
Dani shrugged. The woman’s face wasn’t familiar.
The woman arrived mildly out of breath and managed to both smile and shake her head with disbelief at the same time. “I can’t believe it’s you. I never thought I’d see you again after you helped us. I knew you were lying that day when you tried to make us think you were human. You must have died since then, because you haven’t aged a bit.”
Dani glanced at Oliver before returning her gaze to the stranger, who only paused to take a breath when she dug through her bag.
“Your son?” the woman asked.
“Friend,” Dani said.
“I’ve been carrying this for years just in case I ran into you again.” The woman pulled an old, rumpled, black jacket from the bottom of her bag and thrust it at Dani.
“Do I know you?”
“I’m Rebecca.” The woman shook the jacket in front of Dani. “This is yours. You gave it to us after you clocked a Warden in the head with a stick the size of a bat. Hit him twice in the head and once in the wrist.” She directed this last statement at Oliver.
“When did this happen?” Dani asked.
“You don’t remember? God, I remember everything that happened that day. You were out roaming in Portland, lost as a goose and walking in the sunlight. You had a bandage on your hand. The MPs were raiding C Block, and then the Wardens showed up. One of the Wardens shot my brother. He was about to shoot me when you attacked him. You gave your jacket to my brother after he regenned. I’ve kept your jacket so I could give it back to you if I ever saw you again. You really don’t remember any of that?”
Dani took the jacket with her free hand and stared at it. “Where’s your brother?”
“He died a few years ago cutting lumber in the north. He was hit by a falling limb and went into the river. He drowned during regen, before his friends could pull him out.”
“I’m sorry.”
Rebecca smiled. “He didn’t die a captive of the Wardens or MPs, and that’s all we wanted. What happened to you that day after you left us?”
Dani shrugged. “I died.”
“How?” Rebecca asked.
“Uh, freak accident.”
“Sorry to hear that. Still saving lives?”
“She saved me!” Oliver said.
“Wonderful!” Rebecca clapped her hands. “Some things never change.”
“Yeah,” Dani said, “and I need to take his butt home before his father finds out and ends him this time. Thanks for the jacket.”
They parted ways, and Dani wanted the remaining walk to the park to be in silence. Oliver had other plans.
“You may still be having a crappy day, but you made that lady’s decade,” he said.
“Apparently.” Dani only heard a snippet of what had happened to the woman and her brother, and it sounded terrible—yet the woman had to be the happiest person Dani had ever seen. Oliver was another person that didn’t seem to have too many bad days. “Hmm.”
“What?” Oliver asked.
“Nothing. Just thinking.”
When Dani and Oliver arrived at the park, Gavin was already there, talking to another man she assumed was Javi. Brody trotted up to the pair of men, tail wagging.
“Hi Javi,” Oliver said. “Hi, Gavin.”
“Ah, skipping school again,” Gavin said.
Oliver smiled. “Just for a little while.” He pulled Dani’s pack off and placed it by her feet. “Ask Dani about the jacket,” he said, then skipped away toward the barracks.
Gavin glanced at the jacket in her hand. When his eyes met hers, she avoided his gaze by leaning down to drape the garment over her pack. She looked at the other man. “You’re Javi?”
He wore seventy years better than Jace. His face was wrinkled, but his body wasn’t damaged by arthritis.
“Yep.” His hand engulfed hers in a solid grip. “That’s an old, MP-issue jacket. From before we got upgraded gear.”
“Yeah. You’ll have to ask Miles how I got it, because I don’t know.”
Javi grinned. “I will. Gavin has told me a lot about you, Dani. Pleasure to meet you, and I see you found our runaway, Acer.”
Dani’s heart sank. “His name is Acer?”
Javi grinned. “Not anymore, I guess. Brody is a good name for him. He bolted from his trainer months ago, so he’s not MP material. Congratulations, Dani. You have yourself a military K-9 dropout, and you can keep him.”
“Of course I’m keeping him.” She scowled. “You didn’t think I’d actually let you take him from me, did you?”
Javi laughed. “Not at all. Sometimes the dog and handler aren’t a good match. You and Brody seem happy to be stuck with each other, so I’m sure he’ll make progress in training now. Ready to go to work?”
“One sec,” Dani said. “Gavin, can we talk for a minute?”
“About Miles and Jace and the scuffle by the river? Javi told me.”
Dani threw up her hands. “Okay, so I’m the last to know everything. Fine.”
“Javi will help us with insider intel, since Miles is unavailable now. Miles’s former commanding officer, Lieutenant Colonel Houston, is coming. The CNA visit just got moved up, so she’ll be here in a week.”
Dani frowned. “That’s not much time.”
“The CNA is tense over an MP killing another MP. We’ll never get invited to speak to the brass when they’re here. I’m sorry.”
“I told you we don’t need an invitation, Gavin.”
“You’re not serious.”
Dani nodded.
“Crash the meeting because the CNA brass won’t mind that little invasion and will never arrest us? No, Dani.”
“Yes, Gavin. We can easily do this.”
“Easily? On what planet will this be easy? You won’t be able to get that close to the brass, even if you’re wearing a skin.”
“No tech. We go in as we are. Brigands. Breaching the barracks and getting into the meeting without any tech will show them we know what we’re doing.”
“And we just hope they don’t arrest us?”
“Yeah, that’s a potential complication.” Dani shrugged.
“We’ll need Jace. Butterflies make more noise than him. No one can penetrate an MP base like he can.”
“You think he’ll agree to this?”
“We’ll know when we ask him. Minor problem there, though.”
“What?”
“He’s in Waterville.”
Gavin groaned. “Perfect.”
“We can talk about this later. Javi has already ditched us to work with Brody.”
“Fine. You’re limping.”
“Got punched in the thigh by an asshole,” Dani said, already moving to join Javi and Brody.
Javi worked with Dani and Brody for hours that day, giving Dani time to practice the lessons under his instruction. Before leaving, he told her to practice with Brody until they met with him again in two days.
She and Gavin walked back to Aunt Hattie’s after the session, with Brody leading the way. She shared her leftover bread and water with Gavin, but they didn’t talk much.
As they neared the brothel, Dani felt a surge of relief to see Hattie’s car tucked behind the building. She passed her pack, Mary’s bag, and her jacket to Gavin and strode into the building. She found her brother in the back, having dinner with Aunt Hattie.
“Though this is my house and my dining area, I guess I’ll give you two a minute,” Hattie said with a frown.
Once she was gone, Dani dragged a chair to sit closer to Jace. He continued to eat as though she weren’t there.
“Jace, stop being a dick and look at me. Were you having chest pain the other night?”
He didn’t look up. “No.”
Dani slid his plate out of his reach before he could continue eating. They glared at each other for a moment.
She tried a softer tone. “Jace, please, don’t lie to me.”
“My heart is fine.”
“Why were you in Waterville?”
“Business.”
“Bullshit.”
“Hattie’s birthday is coming up. I went there to buy her something.”
“Stop lying!” she shouted, then forced her voice down again. “We’re Brigands, Jace. We’ll never be robbed because we never have money. You go to Waterville the day after you’re a witness to Miles killing Xan to go shopping? You’re hiding something from me again.”
“Because you never hide anything from me, do you? Care to explain why you called that MP Xan instead of by his full first name?”
Dani hesitated and fidgeted for a moment. He had a point. If she didn’t want him hiding things from her, she couldn’t do the same to him. “I met up with Xan a few times. Semi-dating, if it can be called that, before we stopped seeing each other.”
“God you’re a pain in my ass, Dani. You always have this thing for MPs, though I’ll never understand why.” Jace shifted in his seat and pulled a small box from his pocket. He placed the box on the table. “I’m giving that to Hattie tonight. You moved out to live your own life, and I am moving on with mine. You killed the mood when you barged in, though. Thanks for that, by the way.”
Dani stared at the box for a full minute before opening it. The small, silver ring rested on a piece of red silk. “Holy shit.”
“Yeah, something like that.”
“I am so sorry.”
Jace grunted in response.
“Congratulations, brother.”
“She hasn’t seen the ring or said ‘yes’ yet, so hold on the celebrations.”
“Okay.”
“So what do you want?”
“Huh?” Dani asked.
“Miles is stuck at the barracks, the council killed the concept of meeting the CNA, and you’re up to something.”
“Oh. Yeah. Gavin and I need your help to interrupt the CNA meeting. The brass are visiting early due to the crap with Miles.”
Jace took a deep breath and let out a long sigh. “How early?”
“Next week.”
Jace nodded. “That shouldn’t be a problem; their security is full of holes. What do you need from me?”
Dani’s mouth dropped open. She hadn’t expected Jace to agree; she certainly hadn’t expected him to agree and freely offer his services. She recovered before he could change his mind. “Here’s what I’m thinking. …”
CHAPTER
30
Miles stood on the floor of the small auditorium. He’d led officer briefings in the same room, but now, he was thankful the room was mostly empty. He stood before a long desk with five senior Commonwealth officers seated behind it. Two additional MPs, armed, stood near the wall, one to his left and one to his right. He was in his dress uniform with his back straight, his feet slightly parted, and his hands clasped behind his back. He’d been before a review like this before, after killing an MP on one of his fireteams for murdering Brigand Echoes in Portland. That investigation had been easily closed because he’d had witnesses who’d corroborated what he said about the murders. This time, he hoped his story held again—but the fabricated evidence around Xan’s death made him nervous.
The major he’d served under in Portland was now a lieutenant colonel. Houston was a fine leader, and Miles wished he was seeing her again on better terms. She’d arrived in time to testify on his behalf, but one of the other panel officers, Major Moore, had made sure everyone else knew it had been a seven-year gap since Miles had served under her. “A lot can change in that time,” Moore had said.
Miles couldn’t argue with Moore’s assessment. Seven years ago, Miles had been happily married. Emily had died only three years ago, and within two weeks of transferring to Bangor, Miles had discovered that Dani was alive.
Moore wasn’t finished with his complaint. “You shouldn’t be on this panel, given your preexisting bias,” he told Houston.
“I don’t see any other senior staff offering to preside over this review, Major,” Houston responded. “My vote won’t matter if the rest of the panel sees fault in his actions.”
Moore had his own bias: he hated Brigands. Xan killing a civilian was a non-issue for him. Self-defense be damned; Miles knew Moore wanted him to pay for causing the death of the MP.
They argued a bit longer, and Miles didn’t move. He thought of Oliver. He’d need someone to look after his son if he had to serve time in the brig before his dismissal from service. He considered Dani for the briefest of seconds before tossing her as an option. She was an impulsive wild card. While it was something he loved about her, it didn’t mean he thought she’d be a great guardian for Oliver. The first day Oliver met her, she’d sheltered him in a brothel. No, not her.
Houston didn’t waver. “The captain’s record is exemplary. I don’t know why we are rehashing this again. The only thing he’s guilty of is saving lives, including those of CNA troops and civilians.”
Three of the officers agreed with her assessment; only Moore did not. When Houston called for the final verdict, four cleared him of any wrongdoing, agreeing that he’d acted in self-defense. Moore refused to concede and find him innocent, but he was outvoted.
“Based on the vote results, Captain Miles Jackman, you’re free of all restrictions previously placed on you,” Houston concluded. “Please return to duty.”
“Thank you, ma’am.” Miles snapped to attention and saluted—and the room sank into darkness. The power was out.
He heard the two guards moving toward the center of the room. He lowered his saluting hand and turned, but he couldn’t see anything.
“Secondary power should come on any second,” one of the guards said.
The room remained dark, and the officers at the table began to stand.
“Sit,” a familiar man’s voice said. “Make yourself comfortable.”
Miles spun around, unable to see Gavin or detect where his voice had originated from. One of the MPs was fumbling to release his flashlight from his belt when he yelped with pain. The light clattered to the floor.
Seconds later, the overhead lights finally came back on. Gavin was standing next to Miles now, Jace next to the MP he’d relieved of his flashlight and weapon before kicking both out of reach.
The other MP held his weapon up and shifted his aim from Jace to Gavin, unsure what to do.
“Christ,” Miles muttered.
“Shoot them!” Moore said.
“Sergeant, lower your weapon,” Houston ordered. “They’re unarmed.”
When Miles turned to face the officers now standing behind the table, his body tensed. Dani was leaning against the wall behind them. The MP spotted her too, and swung his weapon in her direction. The officers spun, and several swore upon seeing her. Miles tried to keep his eyes on Houston. Her jaw tightened for a moment before relaxing.
“Sergeant, I gave you an order,” she said with a calm but firm voice.
The MP lowered his pistol, and Miles felt a slight release in the tightness that gripped his body. He desperately wanted to ask Gavin, Jace, and Dani what the fuck they thought they were doing, but he remained silent.
Houston returned her attention to Gavin. “Who are you? What is this?”
“I’m Gavin, this is Jace, and the one behind you is Dani. As you’ve figured out already, we’re Brigands. Don’t bother calling for backup to arrest us, because your comms are down.”
“How exactly did you manage to penetrate the barracks, let alone this secure room, and take down our power and comms?” Houston
asked.
“The same way we’ll infiltrate the Wardens in Portland if you’ll help us,” Gavin said.
Fuck! Miles thought. Dani wasn’t kidding about the merger.
Houston narrowed her eyes at Gavin. “Help you?”
“Brigands have united to take the fight to the Wardens. The Commonwealth should partner with us to expedite their defeat.”
“You’re volunteering to join the CNA?”
Gavin laughed. “Never. We’re Brigand forces and will remain as such. I’m proposing a partnership.”
Houston remained silent for a moment. Another bit of tightness in Miles’s body eased when the senior officer reseated herself at the table. “Go on.”
“Ma’am!” Moore said.
Houston raised her hand and waved him off. Moore fell silent, and he and the other officers sat again.
“Brigands are experts at surviving,” Gavin said. “Our lives depend on hiding, stealth, and living off the land.”
“And stealing from CNA supplies,” Houston said.
Gavin nodded. “Guilty. And the CNA never steals from Warden supplies, does it?”
“Of course we do,” Houston said. “It’s all part of surviving.”
“Agreed. Think of what your resources would look like if we stole from you because we wanted to hurt you, take you down. We steal food and clothing almost exclusively. If we focused on taking your weapons, you’d have another war on your hands.”
“Is that a threat?” Houston asked.
“Not at all. We’ve shown you what we can do here in your own barracks—and we did this without enhanced tech or weapons. This war with the Wardens has gone on too long. Imagine what we, CNA and Brigands joined, could do with a bit of cooperation.”
Houston nodded slowly. “I’m listening.” “It’s time to end the war. Miles here has a son. Ma’am, you have two daughters, right?”
Miles shot Gavin a glare that he ignored. Instead, he approached the table. The officers tensed, but none tried to stop him. “My point is, Brigand or CNA, we’ve been living under the Warden threat too long. You’re in our town. Brigands run Bangor, and we know your troops here. I’ve seen Major Moore on Harlow Street more than once, in fact. We do have some fine brothels and pubs in that area, don’t we, Major?” Gavin grinned.
Echoes of War Page 17