Chapter 10
They were awakened by Tucker’s cell phone ringing. He’d tried to ignore it, but a few minutes later the ringing started again.
“I’ll turn it off.”
He got up, wandering naked, checked the screen and swore.
“What is it?”
“It’s Kyle. I gotta call him. There’s something wrong with Brawley.”
“Tucker! Yes, there is. Oh my gosh! I should have told you.”
“Told me what?”
“He’s disappeared. Yesterday—” She hit her forehead. “Yesterday Dorie got a call and he was listed as missing in Mexico.”
“What? When was this?”
“Yesterday, about noon? I think? No, earlier. Eleven. That’s when I went over, just before I had to go to work. She said she’d call me after they came over.”
“Who?”
“Someone from the Navy. Oh gosh, Tucker. Why didn’t I call you right away?”
“I got a call from Brawley night before last. Very strange. He’s been talking to me off and on, but this was out of the blue. Said he was being followed. I called Kyle immediately, but couldn’t get through.”
He redialed the number and Kyle picked it up on the first ring.
“Hey Tuck, sorry I didn’t call you sooner. So you’ve heard about Brawley, then?”
“Yea. Brandy’s here with me in Chicago for the weekend. Dorie got a call from the Navy yesterday about Brawley missing. Is that true?”
“I’m afraid it is. Our op here got real fucked up. And we were watching Brawley like a hawk. Something wasn’t right.”
“What do you figure happened, if you can talk about it?”
“Well, this is a need to know. Right now, time is of the essence. We don’t exactly have good support here. Not quite sure if we should just focus on finding Brawley and forget the cover we’ve created. But I got the go-ahead to call you, at least.”
“Glad you did.”
“You start with your observations. Any clue, Tucker?”
“Well, he’s pretty fixated on this Day of the Dead stuff. At least that’s what the call was about. Seeing faces. Skulls and stuff.”
“You think he’s using something?”
“I don’t think he takes anything. At least nothing I know of. I checked and there’s nothing on his record of any kind of mental illness. Did you notice anything growing up?”
“Not a thing, Kyle. He did mention that kid you guys lost last year on that quickie in Africa. He took it pretty hard. Felt responsible. He told me about it right after you guys came back, and then everything got all fucked planning the wedding. I barely saw him after that until after their honeymoon. If there was a sign something was wrong, I totally missed it.”
“Okay, well I’ll look into that.”
“So is this missing of his own accord? Or, was he taken?”
“We don’t know. That’s the ugly truth. But he’s been drinking. That we noticed big time.”
“He told me he was scared.”
“Yea. He mentioned it to Coop too. Coop thought it was a delayed PTSD.”
“Sorry, can’t help you there. I know nothing about that. What about the kid last deployment?”
“Brawley knew the family. Used to date his sister, of all things. This was a few years back. The kid idolized Brawley. But hell, wasn’t his fault. The two of them made a wrong turn and wound up facing some bad guys. Carlos was in front and got hit. Brawley got three of the four of them, but it was too late to save Carlos.”
“That’s a shame. I never knew the story. Wish I had. Maybe something I could have done.”
“So, if anyone contacts you, let me know immediately. We were working pretty deep, and I left my cell behind for a couple of days. Won’t happen again.”
“Okay. I’ll keep my ears open.”
Brandy touched his arm, and then took the cell from Tucker. She put the phone on speaker. “Kyle, this is Brandy. Have you called Dorie? She’s been going out of her mind.”
“Nope. I knew Collins and the boys back home were doing that. Was going to call her tomorrow. She should have called Christy.”
“She was hesitant to say anything to either of you. She was concerned about him, and she’s told me he’s not tried to contact her once since you’ve been over there. That’s not like him.”
“No, it isn’t. Okay, well we’ve got a couple of place we have to check out tonight. If either of you think of anything, call me.”
“Definitely,” answered Brandy.
“You guys have fun. Guess I don’t have to say that, do I?”
Both he and Brandy answered in unison, “Nope.”
Kyle managed to squeeze out a tiny chuckle. “Glad someone’s getting laid. Sorry Brandy, just how my brain works.”
“No offense taken.”
“Take care of my brothers,” Tucker added.
“Always. Hey, when do you start Indoc?”
“About four weeks.”
“Well, hurry it up and get your butt back down here. We need you back on this team. Your boy did real good. Strong kid. You trained him well.”
“Thanks, Kyle. I’ll be sure to tell him next time I see him.”
“Okay. Better call Christy. You guys don’t be too good.”
“Not a chance,” Tucker said, and hung up.
Brandy was sitting on the edge of the bed, still naked. He could tell she was nearly in shock.
“Poor Dorie,” she whispered.
“You need to go back home?” He sat next to her and took her hand in his. He felt her begin to thaw. Then she returned his squeeze.
“No, what I need is some breakfast, and then I think I need a nap. And that, Tucker,” she said as she punched his arm, “Is entirely your fault.”
He grinned at the sight of the sun beginning to pierce the skyline and whiten the tall grey shadows of buildings.
“Yes, indeed, I am totally to blame. And I’d do it all over again in a heartbeat.”
He decided he’d talk to her about all the things that could go wrong, but do it tomorrow. In the meantime, he noted she didn’t panic. And she didn’t run home to daddy.
Yup. I think this is going to work.