In fact, he was in the same training class that Harruck and I had taught, which I initially thought was a coincidence. I’d heard that Warris had gone on to become a Ghost leader, so his presence outside my billet was suspicious… and strange.
I lifted a palm as all three men vied for my attention, but Nolan shouted:
“Sir, like I said… it’s urgent. Something about your father back home.”
ELEVEN
Nolan told me the call had come from the comm center, so I ran across the base, leaving the shouters behind. I reached the center and discovered that Gordon was on a webcam and seated at his desk back at Fort Bragg. He wanted to talk to me “face to face.”
I shuddered as I sat before the monitor and tried to catch my breath. “Sir…”
His voice echoed off the steel walls of the Quonset hut. “Scott, I’m afraid I’ve got some bad news about your dad. He’s in the hospital, intensive care. He’s had a heart attack.”
“Who called you?”
“We got word from your sister.”
“Wait a second…” I cocked my thumb over my shoulder. “Warris is back at my… how long ago did this happen?”
“I’m not sure. Last night? Yesterday afternoon, she didn’t say.”
“And so you’ve sent Warris to relieve me?”
“Actually, I didn’t. I sent him to serve as a liaison officer between you and Harruck.”
“A what?”
“Well, we wanted to limit your contact with Captain Harruck. The general’s deeply concerned about the situation there. The idea was that all communications with Captain Harruck would go through Captain Warris. But now I’d understand if you want to take an emergency leave and go home.”
A vein began throbbing in my temple. “Sir, I’d like to talk to my sister before I make that decision.”
“I understand. And I’m sorry about your dad.”
“Sir, I’m sorry about Captain Warris being here. He’s too valuable to be a liaison officer.”
“Mincing words with the old man?” Gordon smiled. “I know you think this is bullshit, but I gotta do something to defuse what’s going on out there. Harruck’s pounding hard, so we’ll let Warris act as the go-between.”
“I don’t need a go-between.”
“Apparently, you do.”
I glanced around, groping for a response, anything, but then I just sighed in disgust. “Yes, sir.”
“Why don’t you take the leave right now, Scott?”
“Because…”
He sat there, waiting for me to finish.
“Because I still want to believe that my mission means something, that capturing the target will make a difference, and that the United States Army hasn’t sold its soul to the devil.
He averted his gaze. “If there’s anything I can do on my end to help, just let me know — and I’m not just talking about the mission.”
I couldn’t hide the disgust in my voice. “All right, sir. I’ll be sending some coordinates about a field. I want some satellite imagery on it.”
“No problem. Scott, I got your back.”
“I know that, sir.”
That was a lie to make me feel better. It wasn’t his fault, really. As everyone had said — the situation was complicated.
I remained in the comm center and finally got in touch with my sister, who told me Dad was stable, but the heart attack was a bad one and now they thought he had pneumonia. He’d slipped into a coma and was on a ventilator.
“I haven’t even seen him yet,” Jenn said. “Gerry and I will be flying in from Napa tomorrow. Did you try to call Nick or Tommy?”
“Not yet.”
“They should know more. How’re you doing? You don’t sound too good.”
“Just having one of those days.”
“Where are you now? Classified?”
“Not really. I’m back in Afghanistan.”
“Again?”
“It’s the war that keeps on giving.”
“Will we ever finish there?”
I snorted. “Maybe next week.”
“Why don’t you retire, Scott? You’ve done enough. Do like Tommy. Work with your hands. You love the woodworking just like Dad. And you’re good at it, too. Get into the furniture business or something. Gerry says niche markets like that are the future for American manufacturing.”
“Tell Gerry thanks for the business analysis. And retirement sounds pretty good about now. Anyway, I’ll try calling you tomorrow night. Let me know how Dad’s doing. Okay?”
“Okay, Scott. I love you.”
“Love you, too.
I sat there, closed my eyes, and remembered sitting next to my father while he read Hardy Boys books to me. Frank and Joe Hardy, teenaged detectives, could solve any mystery, though finding one Mullah Mohammed Zahed was beyond the scope of even their keen eyes and deductive lines of reasoning.
Suddenly, I shivered as I thought of Dad lying in the coffin he had built for himself in our woodworking shop behind the house. He’d been so proud of that box, and the rest of us had thought it so creepy and morbid of him, but then again, it was fitting for him to design and build his “last vehicle,” since he’d spent most of his life in the auto plant.
After calming myself, I stood and thanked the sergeant who’d helped me, then left the center.
I was numb. The reality of it all wouldn’t hit me till later.
Warris and Bronco were still waiting for me at my quarters. I apologized to Warris and asked him to wait inside my billet while I spoke to Bronco.
“Mind if I listen in?” asked the young captain.
“Hey, Captain Warris,” called Ramirez from the doorway. “Come on, and I’ll introduce you to the rest of the guys.”
Warris took a deep breath and scratched the peach fuzz on his chin. “All right…”
I waited until he was out of earshot, then took a step forward. “See this? Get used to this. This is me in your face.”
Bronco frowned. “I didn’t figure you for a cowboy.”
“I’m not.”
“And I figured you’ve been here before.”
“I have.”
“Then maybe you have an idea of what you’re dealing with here… or maybe you don’t. Like I said, just lock up your dogs, and you and I will be just fine.”
“Okay.”
I stepped back from him, took a deep breath.
His eyes narrowed, deep lines spanning his face. “Just like that?”
