The recruits gave a loud shout. They seemed excited. Ericka couldn’t quite match their enthusiasm. Did she have party clothes? What would that even consist of for these ladies?

  Sherry came up to her. “I have a dress you can borrow. Since they don’t let us leave the base during training this is like our night on the town. I have a few dresses for the occasion.”

  Sherry opened her trunk. She had more than a few dresses. Ericka fingered through each one touching the fabric and rubbing it between two of her fingers.

  “You like that red one? I think it would look great with your coloring.”

  It reminded her of the other red dress that she’d worn not long after coming to work for Greg.

  “Sure, it’s fine.”

  Ericka took it to the shower with her. After washing and getting out she slipped into the dress. The silken fabric clung to her curves the way no other dress had.

  She was still smoothing the fabric when she entered the room with the other dressed recruits.

  “That looks amazing!” Sherry’s voice carried across the entire barracks, and everyone had to turn and look.

  “Thank you.”

  Sherry closed the gap. She lowered her voice. “Look, every woman here will try to go for Ross Vetter. They all try it at some time or another, but honestly, I think he must be taken. He never goes after the women here.”

  Probably he knew it could mean his job. It was smart to stay away. But after seeing him she could understand why the women tried to go after him anyway.

  “I appreciate the warning, but I have my sights set on someone else.”

  “Do you, now?”

  “Oh, I do.” Ericka laughed and put her hand up in the air bent at the wrist. She did a little twisty walk as she left the barracks.

  The other ladies were right behind her. She couldn’t help the gasp that escaped when she looked outside. The area had been decorated with lights that could hardly be seen in the daylight. Fake palm trees dotted the landscape. The tables were covered in pineapple tablecloths. Drinks were served out of coconut cups.

  As she walked past, someone put a lei around her. What looked like a pig was roasting on a spit in the middle of all the decorations. The smell of spices made her mouth water.

  “It’s a luau!” Sherry seemed very excited. She was hopping up and down and clapping her hands.

  Ericka wasn’t quite as impressed. But it was better than KP duty or falling out of planes.

  Moist hot breath struck her cheek. “Hey, good lookin’.”

  “Hey, yourself handsome.”

  His whiskers tickled her neck, and she tried not to squirm as he wrapped his arms around her waist and dragged her back against his chest. “I guess you saw me take a few extra laps yesterday.”

  “I did. Was the call worth it?”

  “I don’t know yet.”

  “Quinn?”

  “Quinn.”

  She snuggled back against him. Let the others think they were a thing. Maybe they were a thing. They were some kind of thing; she just didn’t know what yet.

  “He’s looking into the Chopin issue.”

  “Oh, good.” She bit her lip. The smell of his cologne reached her, and she closed her eyes and breathed in deeply. She’d missed being near him.

  “I’m hoping that means we can get out of here soon. I’m not up to all this jumping and running like I used to be.”

  “Seems like you’re keeping up pretty well to me.” She opened her eyes. Sherry winked at her like something was stuck in her eye.

  “Is something wrong with your friend?”

  Ericka rolled her eyes. “She’s fine.”

  “Hey, where did you get this dress?”

  “My friend let me borrow it.”

  “It does you a lot of favors.”

  “Well, thank you.”

  “You’re welcome.” He placed his chin on her shoulder.

  “What do we do now?”

  “I guess we wait. I’m hoping that someone will spring us, but I don’t know how or when.”

  “I’m hoping it is before they want me to jump again.” She shivered.

  He ran his hands up and down her upper arms while not moving his chin. It was all very romantic. They must look like a couple that had been together for a while. Maybe that was his intent to scare off the other eligible males. If it worked to scare off the other eligible females as well, she was good with it.

  “How was the night jump really?”

  She shrugged. “Sherry gave me some instructions and I just tried to remember basic training.”

  “Good idea.”

  “I have no idea how you did that over and over and landed in enemy territory.”

  “That’s next week’s training.”

  “You’re kidding.”

  “Nope. I saw the schedule.”

  So, if she didn’t get out of there and soon then she was going to be not only jumping from planes, but she was going to do it under fire with fake enemy combatants on the ground.

  She might call Quinn and tell him to hurry up. A ten-mile run was better than any of that.

  ****

  Greg enjoyed the smell of Ericka’s hair. The smoothness of her exposed arms. The smell of her. He’d missed being close to her. Next time she wanted to go away and find out information about herself then he was going with her. He didn’t care whether she liked it or not.

  “Let’s dance.”

  “Oh, really?”

  “Yes, let’s.” He dragged her to the makeshift dance floor.

  One of the men in his unit had brought out a guitar and began to strum. Another started to sing. He opened his mouth to mention how well Ericka could sing, but she pinched him.

  “Ow.”

  “I know what you’re thinking. You keep those thoughts to yourself.”

  He laughed and wrapped her in his arms. He kept her close as they danced around the area.

  “I kind of miss living with a bunch of guys. All the jokes, and not being alone.”

  “Seriously? What about the smells?” She shivered.

  He laughed. “That I don’t miss and wouldn’t mind leaving.”

  “Do you think Chopin is really who we’ve been looking for? I mean, he was a legend in the military and as a jumper. It’s sad if that was his bones that we found.”

  He held her one hand to his chest, and she wrapped her other hand around behind his back. A sheet of paper couldn’t have fit between them. He felt her heart racing against his.

  Words would distract him, he hoped.

  “If Quinn can’t find him then it must be him. That is assuming Quinn can find out his name. No one here seems inclined to share that either.”

  “What is up with this place? It seems like they have a good program, and they have good people.”

  “They have a past.”

  Greg could almost feel the past mistakes in the air. It was as if it hung over the place like a death cloud. No matter who came in and took over, if they didn’t deal with those past mistakes then the cloud would continue to linger.

  She laid her head against his chest. “Where did you get this silk shirt? It’s soft.”

  He chuckled under his breath. “A fellow recruit. Whoever packed our stuff and sent it ahead didn’t do a very good job. We have the most basic of items.”

  “Probably Linda. She’s getting back at me for Holden’s interest.”

  “Ah, another one.”

  “Another what?”

  “Gentleman caller.”

  She rose up and slapped his chest lightly.

  “Well, you can’t say I’m wrong. Your past line of men seems to be never ending.”

  “Jealous?” She smiled up at him, showing off her white teeth.

  “Of course.” He pulled her close again so she couldn’t see his face and how truthful he was being about that jealousy.

  “Greg, how many girls have you dated? Just as many.”

  He would have said not since she came back around, but Heidi flashed through his mind. He had a date planned with her when he returned to New York. Betrayal flooded over him. Although he wasn’t sure exactly who he felt like he was betraying.

  “What do you think of Staff Sergeant Vetter?”

  “Which one?”

  “Either.”

  “They seem harsh, but fair.”

  “You don’t want to run into the arms of Ross?”

  She leaned back and cocked her brow. Before answering she shot a glance toward Ross. About five of the female recruits surrounded him. They were giggling and smiling.

  Ericka looked back and him and smiled. “Nope. I’m happy right where I am.”

  “Humph.” He didn’t make a reply to that. He admitted there was a tiny amount of pleasure to her statement of contentment.

  The song changed to a fifties dance song. Ericka began to move her feet in some special move. She held out her hand as if trying to encourage him to do the same.

  He opened his mouth to say no, but paused and narrowed his eyes. Dust kicked up along the entrance road. Someone was coming in hot and fast. Had anyone else noticed?

  ****

  Director James Manis looked at all the folders on his desk. There was a stack a foot high. In front of him were other papers that needed to be read and reviewed. He’d come out of retirement for this. What a stupid idea.

  The phone rang.

  “Phone call on line three.”

  “Monica, who is it?”

  “It’s Quinn, sir.”

  “Put him through.”

  “Director Manis, this is Quinn Miller with Alpha Team.”

  “Yes, what can I do for you?”

  “Sir, I’m in a bit of a pickle. I would normally ask Greg but he’s on base and unreachable.”

  James leaned back in his chair and moved his glasses from the bridge of his nose to his desk. “Go ahead and ask, son.”

  “Yes, sir. I-I, well, I tracked down the sister of Chopin.”

  “You did?” He rose up in his chair.

  “Yes, sir. His name is Issac Larin.”

  “Issac Larin.” Where had he heard that name before?

  “My question, sir, is am I able to tell his sister that we think we found his bones? She might be willing to give a DNA sample or something that might help us prove that it is him. And she told me that he was meeting someone to give them the information.”

  “Who?”

  “Well, she showed me a picture of the local sheriff and I’m not a hundred percent sure because it is fifteen years old, but it looks like Chief Wexell.”

  James leaned back in his chair and closed his eyes. This couldn’t be happening. He couldn’t be hearing this right.

  “Should I tell her to come in?”

  “Yes, yes, tell her. Get a sample. Bring her here for protection.”

  “There?”

  “Do what I said, Miller. Bring her to New York. Do it now.” James hung up and was preparing to call a friend when Monica beeped in again.

  “Sir, your son is on line two.”

  “Very well.” James punched in line two. “Tito, how are things?”

  “Dad, I need advice.”

  “Work related?”

  “Yes, sir.”

  “Ask.”

  “We were ordered by Linda Tolliver through Greg back to the place we found the bones to look for a canvas bag filled with damaging information from the base. We knew there was no way we could find something like that after fifteen years, but I think we have evidence that it was once here.”

  James sat straighter. The cord on his phone jerked the phone across his desk. “What?”

  “I called the medical examiner that originally looked at the bones. There are striations on the bones that suggests a bag lay next to him after he died.”

  James fell back in the chair and leaned back his head. What did all this mean?

  Tito was silent as he waited for an answer. James had no idea what to do next.

  “Sir, I’ve had the medical examiner send all the information he found there. It is now believed that the fall didn’t kill Chopin, he was stabbed to death. We believe that he was killed after he jumped and the information was taken, but the bag left behind.”

  James was seeing a picture he didn’t know if he liked. “Get your people together in one place and wait until I call.”

  “Yes, sir.”

  They needed help. Ericka and Greg were the closest to the area. He lifted the phone.

  “Monica, I want Ericka and Greg removed from the base ASAP. Use shock and awe.”

  “Shock and awe, sir?”

  “Yes, I want their exit to be dramatic. It needs to look ‘cloak and dagger.’ Do you understand?”

  “Yes, I do. But what about afterward?”

  “Have them taken to a local hotel and tell them to call me.”

  He hung up. Two seconds later Monica beeped again. “Blake’s on line one.”

  James pushed the one button. “Hager, what’s up?’

  “I just had a private meeting with the Chief. He’s in North Carolina at a high-priced inn.”

  “A meeting about what?” James’ heart raced.

  “He wants information first in the Chopin case.”

  “How does he even know about the case?”

  “He assigned me to it.”

  James rubbed his hand down his face. Chief Wexell had been the sheriff meeting with Chopin. A body was discovered in the woods. Chief Wexell calls him and gives him two weeks to discover the body’s identity. And he assigned Blake to investigate and report directly to him.

  "Sir?"

  "Sorry, Blake, did you have a question?”

  “Should I talk to the Chief?”

  “No. You bring everything to me.”

  “Of course. I thought about checking in with Tito next.”

  “That’s a good idea. He just called. They have reason to believe that Chopin carried a bag with information about the base and he delivered it to the local sheriff.”

  “Ron Wexell.”

  “How did you know?”

  “He used to brag about his humble beginnings.”

  “I see.” James feared where this would all end. “We need to reconnect with Greg and Ericka. Once you do you need to follow Wexell’s career. How did he advance through the ranks, how did he get his position. Anything and everything you can find.”

  “Do you think he used the information in the papers Chopin escaped with?”

  “I don’t know but we need to find out.”

  Chapter Sixteen

  Ericka held onto Greg as the ground rumbled beneath her feet. Dust swirled through the air floating above the treetops. One large black van pulled to a halt in front of the building and them.

  “Private Erin Stein. Private Kane Greg. You are hereby ordered to come with us.”

  Ericka started to question who “us” was until she noticed a PAU patch on the lead man’s shoulder.

  Greg and she were escorted to the back of the van and thrust inside. Cold metal grazed her skin. The young man who helped hoist her inside, mouthed, “Sorry!”

  Ericka rubbed her elbow and scooted closer to Greg. Her expression of terror and horror. She made sure to flash at the recruits in the yard.

  The doors closed casting them in darkness.

  “What is going on? This makes the second time in three or four days that we’ve been thrown into a dark van.”

  “At least we aren’t tied up this time.” Ericka massaged her elbow.

  A voice came over a speaker. “Sorry for the darkness. The light went out on the drive over.”

  “Who’s speaking?”

  “Oh sorry. Monica Woods, Director Manis’ secretary, hired us to relieve you of your current post.”

  “You mean to break us out of the base?” Greg bounced with the road and knocked into Ericka. She attempted to stabilize her position a little better against one of the sidewalls.

  “Yes, sir, that’s what I mean.”

  “And where are we going now?”

  “We’re taking you to a hotel. The other agents will meet with you there.”

  “Great.” Greg’s sarcasm wasn’t lost on Ericka.

  She didn’t say anything else. They were obviously being listened to. Instead, she enjoyed the closeness of Greg. His warmth. His smell.

  At one point he wrapped his arm around her shoulder, and she snuggled her head against his chest. It was infinitely more comfortable than the side of the metal van.

  Bumps in the road caused her bottom to ache. A few times she groaned aloud when they fell into a pothole.

  “How close are we to that hotel?” She said the words loud enough to be heard.

  “Close.”

  “You would have thought they could have pulled over and stuck us in the front as well.” She was upright now, crossing her arms over her chest.

  “Not enough room, ma’am.”

  She rolled her eyes even though no one could see her. When she got home, she was never sitting or even sleeping in the dark again. She would always have some kind of light.

  The van rattled to a halt. Greg put his hands on either side of her arms and tried to keep her steady as they came to a jerky stop.

  When the doors opened, she used her arm to shield her eyes.

  “You can come out now.”

  “Give us a minute to adjust.”

  “Again, sorry about that.”

  Neither of them replied. They stepped out of the vehicle and had to cock their neck upward to take in the entire hotel before them. Ericka was still wearing the red dress only now it was a little dusty from rolling around on the floor. Greg still wore his silk shirt.

  They entered the building. Ericka would have liked to reach out and grab Greg’s hand. They had no idea what they were really walking into. They thought they knew, but they couldn’t be sure.

  As soon as they crossed the threshold into the luxury lobby Holden was there wrapping his arms around Ericka’s middle. “I’m so glad you’re okay! That place your staying is a death trap waiting to spring.”

  He dragged her from Greg’s side, but Greg followed. The entire group was gathered in the center of the lobby. Tito’s eyes darkened as she drew closer. Her heart hammered in her chest.

  “What’s going on here?”

  “I think we’re waiting on Quinn before we get started.”