He’d wanted her to know that he had touched them, played with them.
Chapter 10
Jake eyed the men at the table and had the uncomfortable feeling that Lexie would categorize their discussion as one more army attempt to cover its ass. Jake glanced from man to man. All but Dirk Reynolds, a man he’d known over the years, outranked him. All had been in the field in years past, but their jobs at this time were administrative. Jake was the youngest by fifteen years and the only member of the special forces. He also was the only one who’d known Anthony personally.
General Peters, the base commander, his firm jaw tightening, spoke for the group. “Don’t think for a minute, Jake, that we aren’t as concerned about what happened as you are. Master Sgt. Beloi was a decorated war hero. If he had been killed in action, he would have been one of the most decorated men in the whole fucking army. We’re damned glad that the brass in Washington sent you to head up the investigation. I pledge that you will have the cooperation of every soldier on this base.”
Jake murmured his thanks, but before he could speak, Major General Mac McCarty broke in.
“I second that, Jake. General Peters and all of us are squarely behind you. But we have to look at the facts. There is no evidence that anyone on this base is involved with Sgt. Beloi’s murder. That doesn’t mean that we aren’t responsible for his family and finding the fuckers who did this.”
Mike Pierce agreed. “The problem, Jake, is that his area is infested. These gangs are as ruthless, as brutal as anything you’ve seen in the worst shitholes in the world. As shocking as the sergeant’s murder was, it is commonplace among the rat infested gangs. The only thing more brutal is what they do to each other.”
Jake shoved down his annoyance, determined to keep his anger at bay. He tried not to dwell on the fact that none of these men had been in the shitholes Mike referred to for over twenty years. All of them were good men, but had chosen to serve stateside in relatively safe areas. But this base, just miles from the Mexican border, was as close to being in the field as any in the country. Jake admitted it gave them credibility. And, hell, he knew the cartels. He’d seen their evil first hand.
Before he could speak, Mike Pierce added, the creases on his face deepening. “You got to remember, Jake, your first loyalty is to the army. We don’t want a bunch of pansy assed senators and congressmen poking their nose in Army business. Thinking that for some reason we aren’t as tough as they are. Your job is to find the killer or killers as quickly as you can and make sure that none of the stench rubs off on the army.”
Knowing he needed their support and that it was shortsighted to alienate the brass, Jake refused to be cowed. He responded using Colonel Pierce’s first name underscoring that they were the same rank. His voice was soft with a razor sharp edge.
“You can rest assured, Mike, that I know my job and intend to do it no matter where the investigation takes me. I appreciate that all of you know this particular territory better than I do. But the reason the guys at Bragg sent me here is the fact that a highly decorated former soldier’s mutilated body was found on an army base. That fact cannot and will not be swept under the rug.”
Mike Pierce flushed an angry red. “Now listen here, Jake, no one is trying to cover up anything.” Visibly struggling to contain his anger, he glared at Jake.
Before he could continue, Dirk Reynolds spoke up. His tone was conciliatory.
“All we’re saying, Jake, is that as brutal as Sgt. Beloi’s murder was, it is commonplace among the gangs. They are merciless. Unlike the mobs, they don’t care who they take down. Poking a stick in the eye of the U.S. Army and all that entails, is an afternoon’s joy ride for them. Embarrassing or taunting the U.S government is their idea of a circle jerk. Mike is right. This incident could rile up the Saturday morning commandos in the U. S. Senate and give them one more reason to either cut our funding or fund some fucking piece of equipment that we haven’t needed for twenty years.”
General McCarty chimed in. “As far as we can tell, Jake, the fact that his body was found on base is a fluke or a deliberate act to turn the attention away from the perpetrators. Look, Beloi was an undercover cop. From everything we hear from the YPD, he was hot on the trail of a major drug consortium bringing illegal drugs into this country, something the gang cartels do every day of the week and twenty times on Sunday. No one wants to shut down your investigation, Jake. But the fact remains: it is a ninety nine percent certainty that Beloi’s body was dumped here to take the blame off the fuckers who killed him--the cartels.”
Jake had enough. He rose from his chair and looked from man to man. Focusing on General McCarty, he said, “I agree, General. No one will shut down this investigation. Indeed, it is just beginning. I only arrived four days ago. However, I disagree with your conclusion. If there is a one percent chance that this is something other than the cartel’s clumsy attempt to smear the army, that is the one percent I’m gonna be on tight as a tick on a hunting dog’s ass. I owe it to Sgt. Beloi. And I owe it to the U. S. Army.”
He saluted the men at the table, ignoring General Peters and McCarty’s wary expressions and Mike Pierce’s downright angry glare.
Nodding to the base commander, he said, “I appreciate your arranging this meeting, General. I’ll keep you informed of my progress.”
Dirk Reynolds jolted out of his chair and quickly saluted the men at the table.
“Jake, let me walk you out.”
~~~
“It’s good to see you, Jake. Hell, how long has it been? And, Christ, you get bigger and stronger every mission you’re on.”
Jake nodded to the trim grey-haired man with the slate blue eyes. He’d known Reynolds over the years and while they weren’t close, he liked the guy. “It’s good to see you, Dirk. I didn’t know you were in Yuma.”
“Yeah, I’ve been here for a couple of years. I don’t get back to Bragg much, so I don’t get to check in with you as much as I’d like. People think this is the armpit of the world. In truth, it’s a heck of a post. Great food, the women are hot, and the training missions coming in and out bring a lot of variety. I’m working up my rank. I’m on the path to make full bird early next year. ‘Course that doesn’t mean much to you. Aren’t you the youngest full colonel in the whole fucking Army?”
Jake waved aside the compliment.
“Good for you, Dirk. I’m glad you’re in a good spot. You and I chose different paths. Don’t know if I could handle sitting behind a desk, but if anybody does it well, it’s you. We never missed a single piece of machinery or a weapon part on any mission I commanded, as long as you were in charge of logistics. It’s men like you who give the guys in the field a fighting chance to come out alive.”
“Thanks, Jake. That’s high praise coming from a guy with your record. Hell, man, you are the gold standard!”
Again, Jake shook off the praise.
Dirk moved closer and lowered his voice. “Look, Jake, don’t get riled up over what happened in there. Mike Pierce is a hothead, always has been. But he has to deal on a regular basis with all the political assholes in Washington and he’s protective of the Army. In my opinion, a little too much, almost like he’s overcompensating. But, hell, I don’t envy him his job.”
Jake shrugged.
“Everyone’s doing their job, Dirk, just like they are supposed to. I’m also doing mine.” Jake held his gaze. “Look, Dirk, you know this place a hell of a lot better than I do. I’ll appreciate it if you’ll keep your eyes and ears open. I can use an inside guy who’s not afraid to look at all the angles.”
“Hell, yeah, Jake. I’ve got your back. But I gotta tell you from long experience, this mess has ‘Cartel’ written all over it.”
“I don’t disagree, Dirk.” He paused for emphasis. “But a good investigator doesn’t come to conclusions until he’s seen all the evidence.”
He gave Dirk a cocky smile and didn’t try to keep the edge out of his voice. “And if I am anything, Dirk, I’m a
