WAR: Opposition: (WAR Book 3) (42 page)

“I’m a double-amputee,” Lansing explained. “I lost both legs below the knee when a bomb blast toppled a building on me. Sometimes I still get phantom pain even two years later.”

“That sucks. I’m sorry.”

Lansing shrugged. “To make a long story short, previously unknown information relating to the attack on the base in Southeast Asia was recently uncovered during a switch to a new online backup system. CID reopened the investigation.”

Seth tensed.

“As a result,” Lansing continued, “it was discovered that your records and the records of one of the CID’s special agents had been erased. You’re the only known survivor and the CID team wants you in protective custody until you can testify.”

“But…haven’t I been AWOL?”

“Since according to the database you didn’t officially exist all these years, that’s still being decided. But testifying to the CID takes precedence.”

“I’m really not under arrest?” Seth couldn’t wrap his mind around it. All these years he’d feared being arrested, if not killed, for what had happened. He couldn’t quite shake the feeling that this was too good to be true.

Lansing shook his head. “That’s right. Unless you end up confessing to whatever charges they’re investigating.”

“No.”

“Then you have nothing to worry about except staying alive.”

Seth shot him a look.

“The assassin survived surgery and is under arrest. My part in the hunt is now over, but it doesn’t take a genius to figure out the assassin was sent to shut you up. Which is why I’ve arranged for extra protection on you until the CID team has your testimony.” He smiled at Seth. “I want you to have that chance to see Ms. Neilson again.”

“What about Kirra’s safety? My blackmailer knows she’s important to me. As long as he thinks he can get his hooks back into me, she’ll remain under threat.”

“You’re right. However, reports are circulating that Michael Hughes died, which should help take you off the man’s radar.”

“He has influence in all aspects of the military and law enforcement. He’ll find out I’m alive.”

“That can’t be helped. But if this guy is who I think he is,” Lansing said, “then he has better things to do than to chase you. If he does remain focused on you, well, you’ll have to trust Dev to make arrangements to keep his sister safe.”

Seth didn’t like the idea of anyone else protecting Kirra, but he knew he could be gone for months, even years.

“What’s your interest in this?” he asked, fighting to keep his eyes open. “You’re a long way from base.”

“I’d like to question you about your blackmailer. There’s a possibility that he’s the same guy we believe is behind much of the violence here in West Africa. We’ve been trying to nail the man down for months. But I can see you’re too exhausted to answer questions now.”

“Yeah,” Seth mumbled. “Sorry.”

“No worries.” Lansing heaved himself out the chair, stood at attention, and snapped off a salute. “Welcome back to the U.S. Military, Chief Jarrod.”

Tears filled Seth’s eyes. He just barely managed to raise his hand in a matching salute before his arm dropped back to his side. “Thank you.”

Lansing nodded. “I’ll catch you later. Rest well.” He spun around and strode out the door.

After he’d left, Seth stared at the ceiling.

Slowly, joy and relief filled him. He was free. Finally free.

He fell asleep with a smile on his face.

“
Y
ou failed me
, Mr. Martin.” Morenga’s voice, crystal clear over the sat phone, dripped with icy anger.

“Yes, sir. I’m sorry, sir.” What else could Rio say? To him the mission had been a success. It just remained to be seen if his position within Morenga’s organization was in jeopardy or not. He believed that he’d finally reached the level of trust and importance inside the organization that if Morenga fired him, it would create a strategic gap. But he had no idea if Morenga saw it the same way.

“The diamonds you took from Mr. Hughes were fakes. Because you failed to locate the real diamonds, I had to cancel my meeting. The contract was awarded to a business that supports the status quo. This is unacceptable.”

“I had no way of knowing that the diamonds were fake, sir.” The media had broadcast images of Rio dragging Hughes back into the trees, reinforcing his account to Morenga that he’d taken the diamonds back. In truth, he’d let Hughes go. Then he’d presented his boss with the fakes, as he’d intended all along.

“I pay you to see that such matters are resolved in my favor,” Morenga pointed out.

“Yes, sir. But I’m no expert in gems.” Rio stared out the window of his bungalow. “I thought it best to deliver the bag in time for your meeting, rather than try to have them authenticated. Was I incorrect in my understanding that we were short on time?”
Careful, don’t antagonize him.

“Of course not.” Still, Morenga didn’t sound mollified. “This is extremely inconvenient. Our contacts in Angola are now under investigation by their government and the diamonds are out of reach. I was counting on future support from that direction.”

“Yes, sir. I’m sorry, sir.” Rio would repeat those phrases until the cows came home if he could remain on Morenga’s payroll.

“We did not even receive the public relations boost that we needed,” Morenga added.

“No, sir.” The government’s forces had moved faster than expected, so Morenga’s men had never been deployed.

“Plus, Hughes is dead and the real diamonds are still missing.”

It wasn’t a secret that an unmarked Black Hawk had been seen landing behind the concert’s grounds. Rio figured his boss knew as well as he did that WAR likely had ended up with the diamonds. What his boss wouldn’t know, is that WAR had probably turned the diamonds over Wil’s team.

“I will have to see that one of our companies is involved in any repair work to the concert venue,” Morenga said.

“Good idea, sir.” Not that he thought for a moment that the concert organizers would let that happen. With WAR behind them to vet all potential contractors, none of Morenga’s companies had a chance.

“Very well. We shall chalk this up as a loss,” Morenga conceded. “I expect to see you in my office for a thorough review on Monday morning as usual.”

“Yes, sir.” Morenga disconnected and Rio tossed his sat phone on the bed behind him. Hand rubbing at the tight muscles at the back of his neck, he watched the sun go down with relief. At least he hadn’t lost his job. He was too close to finding the traitor to have to start over in another organization.

He sighed and headed for the shower. Hughes’s death was not his fault. Nor were the deaths of the members of the concert’s staff. The rebels had planned the attack long before Rio had sent George to steal the diamonds.

But Kirra Neilson’s capture was his fault. She wouldn’t have been involved in any of this if she hadn’t been on the same bus as George.

Since she hadn’t been spotted since her capture, the media speculated whether or not Ms. Neilson had been killed. Rio had received a curt message from Wil letting him know that she was safe, but that didn’t address the other speculation being bandied about in the media—that Kirra Neilson had been injured so severely by the rebels she’d never be able to play guitar again.

He didn’t know how much heavier his guilt could grow and still allow him to function. But he had no choice but to continue as he’d been doing. With the death of Michael Hughes, he’d never know if the man had been under the influence of the traitor or not. Leaving Rio’s position with Morenga as his only source of information he could use to bring down the traitor.

No matter what it cost him, he’d keep fighting until he took the man down.

Only after he’d gotten justice for the betrayal that had killed his teammates would Rio be able to step back into the light.

T
he Shine a Light benefit concert
, delayed four weeks due to repairs needed after a rebel attack, successfully raised over three million US dollars this weekend. Governments from several surrounding countries provided members of their armed forces to supplement the private security contractors. It is said that the level of security exceeded that which surrounded the last visit of an international head of state.

Judging by the size of the crowds and the requests for additional songs, the two most favorite acts were Miriam Tchaco from the Democratic Republic of the Ivory Coast, and Kirra Neilson from South Africa. As you will recall, Ms. Neilson was briefly held prisoner by the rebels…

S
eth’s
entire body tensed as General Sandberg was led into the courtroom. Here was the man who’d ruined his life. Who’d been responsible for the deaths of Michael and the rest of his squad. Who’d deceived Seth and his men into killing hundreds of innocent people. It took all of his self-control not to leap across the room and choke the life out of the general.

The MPs led the general to the witness stand. As the general settled in his seat, he spotted Seth. The general’s face flushed. He surged to his feet and pointed at Seth. “That man is a liar and a murderer.”

He glared at Seth with such hatred, he felt scorched.

Right back atcha, asshole.
Knowing it would infuriate the general, Seth returned his glare with calm detachment.

“He is the one who should be under investigation,” the general shouted. “Not me!”

“Sit down and do not speak again unless you have been asked a question,” the judge instructed.

When the general didn’t comply, but continued to shout accusations at Seth, the judge motioned the MPs over.

Watching the general struggle against the MPs, seeing the flash of helpless frustration on the other man’s face, Seth let go of his anger.

The fact that this trial had convened despite the general’s powerful allies gave Seth hope that justice would finally be served. It would be enough, because nothing he could personally do to the general would bring Michael and the others back.

Seth took a deep breath and felt the calm he’d been faking become real. Yeah, his anger and grief over the general’s betrayal had nearly broken him. Being trapped by his blackmailer had added to his self-disgust. But for the first time in years, he saw a future for himself. A future that would bring him closer to the honorable man he’d once been.

He was done being defined by the past. It was time to properly grieve for Michael and the others, then get on with his life.

“
T
hank you
, son,” General Dawson told Seth five days later. “You’re free to leave.”

Seth stared at him. “That’s it?”

“Yes.”

“But…All those deaths. The innocent people we killed.”

“The tribunal is satisfied that you had no idea you were attacking allied villages instead of terrorist bases. You’ve been cleared of all charges and your record has been wiped clean. A notation has been made in your records that you were on a special, undercover mission these past three years. So there will be no charges of being AWOL. ”

He looked Seth in the eye. “Thanks in large part to the valuable information you provided on General Sandberg, he and his team have been found guilty.”

Seth still felt the echoes of fierce satisfaction from hearing the verdict and seeing the dismay on the general’s face.

“You heard what happened to the assassin?”

“Yes, sir.” When the assassin woke up in the military hospital, he’d attacked a nurse in an attempt to escape. The assassin had died in the ensuing fight.

“In honor of your help,” the general continued, “and in honor of the time you spent running for your life, your full record has been restored, with honors. Welcome back to the U.S. military, Chief Warrant Officer Jarrod.”

“Thank you, sir.”

The general put a hand on Seth’s shoulder. “No. Thank you, son. I’m sorry that it’s taken so many years to clear this matter up. I deeply regret that your teammates, all good men, died because of the greed and corruption of General Sandberg. They will be receiving posthumous medals of honor, each and every one of them.”

Seth nodded. The awards wouldn’t bring his men back, but their families deserved the recognition. More importantly, they deserved to finally learn the truth about what had happened to their loved ones. Seth intended to personally visit every family.

“The corporal will be by shortly to discuss whether you wish to reenlist or muster out.”

“I’m out, sir.” Having his record restored, and knowing that the general and his team had been convicted, didn’t fully erase the bitterness of what had happened. He had no interest in serving again.

“Understood, son.” The general shook his hand good-bye and strode out of the room.

For several minutes, Seth stood frozen in place, waiting for the whirlwind of emotions to settle down enough to let him think again.

Eventually, one thought pierced the fog.

He was finally free to go to Kirra.

Part of him was scared to step into the real world, though, in case another assassin waited for him. The security team Wil had hired to provide Seth with additional security had definitely earned their fee. Since arriving in CID custody, Seth had survived three attempts against his life.

He glanced around the institutionally drab room. No matter what dangers waited outside, he’d rather take the risk of living than be stuck here in limbo one minute longer than necessary.

When the corporal arrived at the door to Seth’s room fifteen minutes later, Seth had already packed the few belongings he’d accumulated over the past three months. The one good thing about spending so much time here at base was that he’d finished his course of physical therapy. He’d regained full use of his arm and couldn’t wait to get back up in the air again.

“I’m sorry to see you leave us, sir,” the corporal said as Seth hastily scrawled his name on the paperwork.

“What? Why?”

The corporal cleared his throat. “Ah, some of your exploits are still talked about. Particularly the stunts you and Marcus Jones used to pull.”

Seth shot him an amused glance. “I doubt the Army would appreciate that sort of example being held up before its new recruits.”

The corporal grinned and picked up Seth’s duffel. “That’s why everyone still talks about you. Half the guys I know want to be you.”

“Only half?” Seth asked as he followed the man outside.

“Yeah. Sorry, but the other half want to be like Jones.”

Seth laughed. “Fair enough.”

The corporal loaded Seth’s bag on the small cargo plane that had offered to give Seth a ride. “Where are you off to next, sir?”

“Home. I’m going home.”