Chapter 17
WORD SPREAD FAST in the community that Jake was being held in Puerto Cortes. Sr. Chief Collins was monitoring calls from the Team, annoyed that they’d managed to step in dog poop without a sighting of the person they’d been sent to get.
He spoke quietly so that the rest of the office didn’t get wind of how out of control the situation really was.
“Kyle, we’ve got an attorney on retainer there, and he’ll stop by in the morning and meet with Jake. You need to just tell your guy to be cooperative. You know the drill. Everyone stay calm and cool. We don’t get into a firefight, understood?”
“Yessir,” Kyle answered. “Can this attorney protect him at all?”
“Hard to say, son. We don’t think General Cortez is necessarily rogue. He does command loyalty amongst his rank and file, but like most of them down there, they look out for themselves first, so he’ll not take any risks. Just don’t give him a reason to get angry with any of you. Don’t make him feel nervous because no telling how he’ll react. We have to find out what the motivation is down there. Working on that. So, just keep it real cool. That includes Jake.”
“Roger that. I’ll make sure it gets relayed. So, is the mission blown, then? Should I send some of the men home?”
“I’m thinking you can send home the non-essentials. Definitely keep Fredo and Armando, Coop and T.J. Up to you about Danny. But everyone else I think should come on back. That leaves you two medics, one sharpshooter who better not be shooting anything but ground squirrels, two native speakers and a couple of weapons and explosive guys with backup.”
“Tay is asking to stay as well.”
“Nope, you send him and Ollie home. I got some underwater stuff they can do here. He’s probably going to be doing a temporary duty assignment for the Navy elsewhere, but he’ll be back later in the year, I think.”
“So, I’m assuming you’ll arrange pickup for these guys at the old Naval base tomorrow? We’re to get them over there on our own?”
“You got that right. Not enough time for me to arrange it. I think you could do a better job. I’m going to get my ass chewed on this one. Already been one of our most expensive ops and we’ve been at it, what, like two days now? Let’s get everyone home safe and without collateral injuries, you reading me loud and clear?”
“Absolutely, sir.”
“Next I’ve got to notify the next of kin, and then arrange for your military transport to California.”
“Sounds good.”
“Oh, Kyle?”
“Yessir?”
“I’m looking at Jake’s record, and he’s got his mother listed as the next of kin. Isn’t that kid married? I heard he’d done it like six times or something.”
“Three, well two really. One he never married.”
“So who the hell am I supposed to call?”
“You call the first wife, Ginger Green. And you call his mother, Adele Green.”
“And his dad? Do they live together?”
Kyle chuckled. “Hardly, sir. Jake’s father passed away during our last trip down here. You probably didn’t know that.”
“Ah, that sucks. So, I got both those addresses for Ginger and his mother. Anyone else?”
“His brother, Gerud, but Adele would know how to locate him.”
“Okay, I’m updating the file now. You see why this causes so much problem for us when they get so casual with the paperwork?”
“I do. My squad never expects they’ll need those notifications. They’re Superman, every one of them.”
GINGER HAD JUST picked up the girls from gymnastics and had served them lunch when she got a knock at the front door. Chelsea Fiona barked up a storm, which scared the girls. Ginger picked the dog up and opened the door. It was their team liaison, Sr. Chief Collins. Her heart jumped to her throat and she couldn’t speak at first. But not seeing a chaplain meant that something had gone wrong, but Jake was still alive.
“Ma’am. I’d like to come in, please.”
“Sure.” She stepped aside and let the dog down. “Let her bark. She won’t bite,” Ginger said.
She let the girls greet their father’s Team liaison. Both of them were good as gold, and upon Ginger’s instruction, retired to their room with the dog in tow to take a short nap.
“What is it, Sr. Chief?”
“Can I have a glass of water?”
Ginger dutifully got Collins the water and ushered him to the living room to take a seat at the couch. She sat in an easy chair perpendicular to the couch.
“Jake’s been held by the Mexican authorities for questioning in the operation they did last month. You heard about it last time on the news, which was unfortunate, but I’m sure Jake filled you in. We were able to use some trickery to get him out the first time, but this time, they’re not letting him go.”
“How long?”
“Oh, they have civil rights, but nobody down there pays much attention to it. There’s so much crime, bribery is a real problem, so there’s nothing consistent. Of course, we can make it a big international incident, but in this case, we didn’t and don’t want that.”
“So what does that mean?”
“Well, I’m afraid it means we’ve got to raise some money, possibly.”
“Me?”
“No, not you, but if you had resources somehow, that would help. This is not exactly like negotiating with terrorists. That we never do, officially. But Jake did shoot that woman, and we have lots of detail on it being an accident. As you know, Mexico has been ordered around a bit by the new administration in Washington and perhaps that’s a factor. We’re not going to launch a hostage rescue mission, so as long as he’s not being tortured or beaten—”
“Tortured or beaten?” Ginger’s senses switched into high alert. For the first time since she’d been with Jake, her fear he would be taken away from her was real.
“We don’t think they’ll mistreat him. In an odd twist of fate, we don’t think they’re trying to get any information out of him. They’d like something flashy for their television news media. Something to show that Mexico wasn’t going to be bullied any longer by the US. Thumb their noses at the US type of thing. If it were information they wanted, it would be far more dangerous for Jake. However, being in that detention facility in Baja is no cakewalk. He’s well trained, but he doesn’t have a weapon, and that’s a handicap. We’re hoping we can get him removed from the general population to some place safe.”
“I understand. So, what can I do? You are arranging some money, then?”
“We have certain protocol we have to follow.”
“How much are you trying to raise?”
“No figure yet. We’re not even sure who the players are. No demands have been made. No ransom notes or anything, so it’s a waiting game.”
“I see. Well, just so you know, we don’t have a lot of money, I’m sorry to say. But I’ll discuss it with the family.”
“Thanks. Now, I’ve got to go visit his mother, Adele.” He stood and Ginger shook his hand, even though she could see he wanted to give her a hug. She was going to have to start enduring some sleepless nights, and there was no reason she should start out soft.
“Can I ask you one last question, Sr. Chief?”
“Go right ahead,” he said as he walked to the front door.
“What are Jake’s chances of getting home safe?”
“Well, Kyle and a few of the guys are down there too. If I were the Mexican authority, I’d not bet against the SEALs. They can be pretty resourceful. Just not sure in this case whether their skills are a match for what’s needed. But being calm and looking for opportunity is what it’s all about. Once that little hole appears, we’re pretty good at ripping that thing to shreds.”
“Thank you.”
GINGER GOT A call from Adele about forty-five minutes later.
“Are they going to allow you to see him?” she asked.
“I didn’t even think about that, Adele. You think it would help?”
“Well, he said something about looking to raise some cash. What if we made arrangements so we didn’t have to wait so long for the Navy to do it?”
“What do you mean?”
“I could go to Rob Peterson and ask him.”
“Gerud’s father?”
“It wouldn’t hurt to ask. And I have some equity in this house. I could get a short term loan perhaps.”
“The fact of the matter is, Adele, Jake’s innocent. It was an accident. Shouldn’t we just trust the system?”
“Honey, there is no system. I think that’s what Collins came to tell us.”
“I don’t want to interfere with whatever they’re doing.”
“You need to talk to Jake’s LPO, Kyle. He’s still there, from what I understand.”
“Yes, I was told as much.”
“The guys have to be told we might be able to assist in the money arrangements. I don’t think they know that yet.”
“Okay. I’ll get hold of Collins and see if he can get Kyle to give me a call. And you let me know how things are going on your end.”
BY NIGHTFALL, GINGER had received several calls from other SEAL wives, which was the custom. Babysitting was offered and meals were set up to be delivered. The community surrounded Ginger so she didn’t have to endure all the worry alone. Kyle’s wife, Christy, agreed to let her know if she heard anything from Kyle, and promised to encourage him to call.
She’d just gotten out of the shower. The girls were in bed, when she got the call she’d been waiting for from Kyle.
“How’re you holding up?”
“Hanging in there. Listen, I need to tell you there is a chance we can raise some cash to help with getting him freed, if you think that will do anything.”
“We still don’t really know who we’re dealing with. General Cortez might be actually in the employ of someone else. We don’t want to go offering cash, or letting people think there could be a cash payout, because we could be bled dry, or it could create a competition for control over Jake’s fate.”
“Well, we’re working on it. I wanted you to know. We’ll keep on it, and you just keep it at the back of your head just in case it’s needed. I’ll know more in a couple of days.”
“Your mother-in-law is all in for Jake. That’s nice she can do that. I hope we don’t have to drain her bank account.”
“Jake’s brother might have resources we didn’t know about before. Just stay tuned and let me know how it’s going, and give us some idea how much we might need, if you can.”
“Will do.”
“So, how does he look?” Ginger wasn’t sure she wanted to hear the truth.
“Oh, he’s fine. I mean, he’s nervous, but you know how level he is in a stressful situation. It’s the unknown that gets to hostages and prisoners. We’re trying to get that worked out. Until we do, that’s his biggest challenge.”
“Well any chance I can talk to him? Or, can I come visit?”
“Oh no, sweetheart. You stay the hell away from him. This is no place for you to be. It’s not a safe or stable environment. And Jake would worry himself sick if he knew you were coming, but I’ll let him know you wanted to.”
“Yes, please do so. And tell him I’m being positive. I’m shopping for satin and lace.”
“Ma’am, Jake’s a lucky man.”
His deep chuckle wasn’t Jake’s voice, but for now, it would have to do. She knew he’d enjoy hearing about a homecoming, if that were possible.
But then this was Jake. Everything was possible with Jake. This was the life they were supposed to live. It was their turn. She wasn’t going to let anything stop her from fulfilling her dreams of spending the rest of her days with him.
She forgot to tell Kyle she had another secret. But Ginger decided that would wait until the homecoming. That was something she wanted to do in person, whispered in his ear on a night filled with candles and soft music.
That vision became her new trajectory.