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  Blaze entered the observation after getting his men squared away. He came to attention and waited.

  “At ease, Blaze,” Tom said without turning or looking.

  Blaze relaxed and joined the colonel viewing the top man of the three they had gotten. “Colonel, any additional intel come in about Pletcher?”

  Tom shook his head. “Afraid not. We have to find the damned leak. Someone tipped him off.”

  “We’ll get him. My men are ready the moment you have a location. Who’s doing the interrogation?”

  “Suhail Yusuf.” The colonel turned when the door opened again. “Speak of the devil.”

  Suhail Yusuf grinned. “Colonel.”

  Tom reached out and shook the intelligence operative’s hand. Blaze did likewise.

  Suhail scanned the three in custody, and his eyes went wide at one of them. “Colonel, we have a problem. We need to engineer a quick extraction for one of them. No one must know he was ever here.”

  Blaze asked, “Why?”

  “He’s one of ours. Deep cover. I can’t say more,” Suhail stated as he stared at Assaf Murad. Then he glanced at Blaze—his heart ached for the man. If only he could tell him, but he couldn’t risk it. Her life depended on secrecy, and so did the lives of the thousands she saved through her work.

  He pointed to the man in the third room and asked, “What name did he give?”

  Blaze answered, “None. None of them have spoken a single word.”

  “Who has seen his face?” Suhail asked next.

  “Only Sutton, you, me, and my unit.”

  “Good. No names. No visual record. He hasn’t been compromised then. We will supplant another, so there are no questions, too many have seen you walk in with three. This must be done now. Give me thirty minutes to arrange a replacement. It will be a good way to insert a man into the detention center to work from the inside.”

  Tom asked, “Why not use him?”

  Suhail shook his head. “He needs to be where he was at. It’s too important. Too hard to infiltrate. I’ll be back in thirty minutes.” Suhail left the room.

  Blaze looked at the colonel. “I hate black ops.”

  Tom nodded. “I imagine so after your R&R in Makhachkala.”

  “Yes.” Blaze agreed but was mostly thinking about the fact his sister died while on a black ops mission and he never knew what happened to her. It was hard to accept because Blaze could never officially say goodbye to Daphy. He never got to lay her to rest next to their parents—because there wasn’t a body for him to bury. It was as if Daphy never existed.

  Sutton said, “Got a call from the general. Thought you would want to know there’s still no change with Blondie, but the kid is holding his own.”

  “Thanks for the update. Any news on Plouffe?”

  Tom sighed. “The Chief of the Defence Staff is aware of the issue and working on a solution. The CDS comprehends it can’t be made public in any way. Until then Plouffe has been moved to the Canadian Forces Service Prison in Edmonton. He’ll be kept at Club Ed in solitary confinement and will undergo a psychological evaluation while the Judge Advocate General completes the investigation. That will likely take JAG some time given the sensitivity and security level of the issues we’re dealing with.”

  “So CDS McFergus is keeping a lid on this. How did he handle the shooting in Toronto?” Blaze ambled closer to the window of one room.

  “It was spun Major Plouffe became unhinged in his deep grief and was angry that Dan lived while his nephew died. Merrill remains unnamed and is being dubbed a hitman hired by an unknown source, but hinting at the gangs involved in the gang war.

  “Murphy has been cast as an unnamed soldier with PTSD who targeted the general. We are using that to solicit more funds to get our guys the help they need when they return home. The public has been somewhat sympathetic to the Murphy case, but it serves our purposes. It also looks to be easing the burden on our men because we were authorized to increase the number of units, so you men get more down time.”

  Blaze wasn’t happy about Murphy getting any sympathy, named or unnamed, but he could see where this would help a lot of other soldiers. He knew Blondie would be okay with that.

  He changed subjects. “Speaking of burdens. When is Mason’s unit due back? He doesn’t even know we found Blondie or Blondie is fighting for his life right now.”

  Tom rubbed his neck. “They were due back yesterday. They’re overdue, and we haven’t had any contact with them. We’ve had several units lured into traps lately. I really hope we learn something useful from the men you brought in. We could use some new and better intel.”

  Blaze leaned on the glass looking at the men in the rooms. There was something familiar about one of them. His mind tried to piece it together. The preverbal lightbulb went on. “Fuck!” exploded loudly from Blaze.

  The colonel was startled by the loud expletive. “Captain?”

  Tapping on the glass as he pointed to the man, Blaze forcefully controlled his desire to kill the fucking animal. “That beast, that POS, that SOB, that rutting bastard is one of the men who tortured Blondie!”

  Tom looked at the man. “How do you know that?”

  Blaze clenched his fists, straining to control the fire burning in his gut which continued to grow as he stared. “Blondie. Blondie described the man who whipped him. Remember the sketches. That animal is missing the pinky on his left hand—Blondie bit it off. He has an X-shaped scar on his right cheek, also courtesy of Blondie. I’m certain he is the one Blondie called Grape Man.”

  Staring at the scarred man, Tom recalled Dan’s report of his escape attempt shortly after he was captured. Dan had waited for an opportunity and determined a weak spot he hoped to use to his advantage. Unfortunately, when Dan made his attempt a man flicked the long whip he carried, and it snaked out wrapping around Dan’s neck. Dan was yanked to the ground. He fought hard and dirty to escape—would’ve if more animals hadn’t appeared.

  Pacing tightly, Blaze said, “Sir, we need to find all the inhuman bastards who tortured Blondie. I request that be my unit’s top priority. We pump that rat bastard for information then we systematically wipe them off the face of this earth.”

  Understanding the captain’s desire, it aligned with his own. Tom maintained his professional calm. “Blaze, we will interrogate him and if the intel should become available the appropriate missions will be conducted.”

  Suhail Yusuf returned at that moment leading another man wearing a hood. Once the door was closed, Suhail removed the hood and stated, “Captain, this is the man you captured in your mission, is it not?”

  Blaze nodded. “Yes, it is.”

  Dawar Yamin clasped his hands in front and inclined his head. In an accented voice he said, “I thank you for the opportunity to help my country eliminate the blight of the radicals. They subvert our religion and rain terror on their own people. My father, Tufail Yamin, gave his life trying to stop them. I will do my part for my country and my family.” The hood was put back on, then Suhail led Dawar out of the room.

  That familiar name jogged Sutton’s memory of Yankee’s death. The general was supposed to meet with Tufail Yamin, but the mission went terribly wrong. It resulted in Yankee’s death and nearly Dan’s when Dan called the artillery fire on his location to protect the intel Yamin had passed to him before he died. Sutton prayed for the safety of Tufail’s son.

  St. Michael’s Hospital – ICU Room B – 11:00 a.m.

  William sat in the uncomfortable plastic chair. He hadn’t moved for the last three hours. His brothers gave him a wide berth given his foul mood. He refrained from raging—outwardly, but that didn’t calm the internal firestorm. Pletcher had slipped away again.

  The damned man was like a snake in the grass. They had a hell of a problem—Special Forces had a whole nest of vipers. But finding who they were would be difficult. He spoke with Jerrell McFergus, the CDS. William trusted Jerrell to investigate this properly. The Chief of the Defence Staff was only second to t
he Commander-in-Chief of the Canadian Armed Forces—the Queen herself, who was represented by the Governor General of Canada, Sir David Alexander.

  Jerrell was also a long-time friend of both his and Yvonne’s via different paths. He and Tom Sutton met Jerrell when they all attended the military academy. Yvonne’s father was friends with Jerrell’s father and as such Yvonne and Ann had known Jerrell since childhood.

  So William knew he could trust this matter to the CDS—to Jerrell’s hands. Partly because William had no choice—the treasonous acts cast a shadow on his competency to lead Special Forces. There must be an impartial investigation. And partly because at this very moment he wasn’t leaving his son for any reason under the sun. For the first time in his career, he didn’t balk at being classified inactive due to injury. It allowed him to focus on his son.

  The only thing which bothered him about handing over control at this moment was the cover story which was created for the media and public. William wanted no sympathy for Murphy. It galled him, but even he had to begrudgingly concede there was good which came from it. His soldiers would get better care. Their welfare was worth the sick feeling he got hearing compassionate references to the unnamed soldier by the bleeding media.

  William’s thoughts were interrupted when the door to Daniel’s room opened. He turned expecting one of his brothers but came up short at the imposing figure of his godmother. William scrambled to stand, knocking into the tray in front of him, spilling his coffee. He watched her face as he attempted to pick up the cup using his right arm, which should still be in the sling, but he hated the damned thing and refused to wear it.

  The hiss of pain which escaped only caused his godmother to raise an eyebrow. William could see she was ticked off. He waited for the tongue lashing which was about to come.

  “Willie, you didn’t even bother to call me. I had to learn about it from my grandson Lawrence when I arrived home from London today.”

  William took a deep breath. “Bella, I know I—”

  “Don’t you Bella me, young man. Sit down this instance.” Eyeing the sling, she went straight for it and picked it up.

  William sat down and cautiously watched his godmother.

  Moving toward her godson her gaze remained imperial. She made short work of putting the sling on. Then she cleaned up the spilled coffee off the tray and the floor.

  When she was done, she looked at William and her gaze softened. Bella moved forward and embraced William pulling his head to her heart and softly whispered, “My poor, Willie. This has been terrible for you.” Her eyes misted as they landed on Danny. “Our Danny is tough. He’s gonna make it. I’ll be here for him like always. If you need anything just ask me.”

  William melted into Bella’s embrace. He allowed her to comfort him. She wasn’t Yvonne, but Grand Dame Marbella Ridgewater was the living embodiment of his own mother who had passed on many years ago.

  Bella could scold and comfort him with equal measure. She was a force to be reckoned with—you did not piss off Bella, or you would feel her righteous wrath. Bella had been their godsend with Danny. She helped their son when he and Yvonne were powerless to do so. Through Bella, Danny felt the love they so desperately wanted to share with him. Danny couldn’t accept it from them, but he accepted through Bella.

  Bella gently rubbed William’s back for several more minutes. Then she stepped back. “How’s our boy?” She turned, went to the hospital bed, and gently caressed Danny’s head.

  “The doctor says he will try to take Danny off the ventilator tomorrow. Dr. Markson has been reducing the sedation gradually and will stop it tomorrow. Luckily there has been no infection.”

  Bella turned to look at William, “How’s Yvonne handling this? You have told her, haven’t you?”

  “Yes, she knows. I give her regular updates. Ann and Becca are with her. Yvonne has support,” William reported and was relieved his brothers had arranged for Ann to be sent to Yvonne regardless of the reason why.

  He felt a twinge of guilt, he never considered Ann might be harmed by someone thinking she was Yvonne. The same was true of Scott. They didn’t have a clue who was a target or who else Plouffe had engaged.

  When Sutton called to tell him Pletcher slipped through their net, he also reported Plouffe had raged for two days. Plouffe spouted off that all Brodericks would die and they wouldn’t know when or where. They had no clue if there was truth in it or Plouffe had only gone completely off his rocker. The prison psychologist heavily medicated Plouffe, and he had been docile since then.

  Bella said, “I would like to go to Yvonne, but I can see you need looking after. Are you sleeping and taking your medication as prescribed?”

  William glanced down at his lap. Even at fifty-seven years old, Bella easily stripped away fifty years and make him feel like a seven-year-old naughty boy.

  “I thought not. Like father, like son. Getting Danny to take care of himself was my greatest challenge. Up on your feet now. You’re coming to my home,” Bella instructed.

  “But I have a suite of rooms at the Grand Citadel. All the boys are here. Most will be here for the next ten days. They all took leave,” William said.

  Bella sighed. “Phish-posh, I have enough room for all of you. No sense throwing good money away on a hotel. You all will come and stay with me. That’s the final word. Now, up with you. One of the boys can stay with Danny for now. I’m ordering you to rest.”

  She turned back to Danny as William slowly rose. Bella kissed him on the forehead. “Sleep well, Danny boy. I’ll be back after I get your father sorted out. The two of you … you make this old woman’s heart ache.” Her hand brushed through his hair again. “I missed you so very much, my boy. Now that you are home … well, we can discuss that later.”

  Bella stepped back and allowed William to say his goodbye to Danny.

  William clasped Daniel’s hand. “I’ll be back later. Mark and Ryan will be with you until Scott, Jeff, and I think Bram will be by later.” He leaned over and kissed his son’s forehead because he had no desire to accidentally bump the ventilator. “Love you, Danny.”

  When William turned to Bella with eyes which begged to stay, Bella pointed her finger to the door. William reluctantly shuffled towards it.

  Outside the ICU room, Mark and Ryan beamed and held in the laughter which threatened when they heard her call him Willie and seeing their oh so mighty oldest brother behaving like a scolded schoolboy.

  They loved Bella and the effect she had on William. Bella would make sure William took care of himself. Something they were ill equipped to do without yelling or tying him down.

  Bella said to Mark, “You all are coming to stay at my place. Make it happen by tonight young man.”

  Mark came to attention and saluted. “Yes, ma’am.”

  Bella grinned and patted his shoulder. “At ease, soldier. Now you keep my Danny boy safe while I’m gone.”

  Ryan nodded. “Yes, ma’am. That’s our every intention. We just got him back—were not letting him go again.”

  “Good,” Bella stated then linked her arm with William’s uninjured one and led him out of the hospital.

  Scott Saved Danny’s Halloween

  31

  July 26

  St. Michael’s Hospital – ICU Room B – 8:00 p.m.

  Loki stopped outside Dan’s room and peered in. He noted Scott and Erik were with Dan right now. He took several deep breaths preparing himself to be optimistic and upbeat—he struggled more every day to stay positive.

  Work helped to focus his mind on something other than Dan lying there in the bed. The team returned to work yesterday. Commander Gambrill and the rest of the teams had been so supportive of them taking the additional time off. Eventually, they would compensate the other teams and work a few extra shifts—the right to do.

  Loki nodded to the regular patrol officer who sat outside Dan’s room. Loki had, with permission, established a link with the hospital security cameras, so the area outside Dan’s room is now co
ntinuously monitored from the TRF dispatch desk and the hospital security office, so TRF officers didn’t have to stand guard anymore. The head of security, Gervais Fresnel, had been very helpful, but Loki got a sense he would rather not bother—a strange contradiction.

  He also checked out the new cameras the hospital security installed on the tenth floor. He made suggestions which were implemented to provide better coverage without invading the patient’s privacy. Dan would be moved to the tenth floor once they got him off the ventilator. Infection and fever set in. As a result, the doctor kept Dan on the ventilator a few more days.

  Loki put his hand on the door and slid it open. He plastered on his smile and strolled in. He heard Scott say, “But Dad, it is only July. Why is Vicky bothering to decide what Caleb, Courtney, and Tony will be wearing for Halloween?”

  “Not everyone is as quick and creative as you.” Erik grinned.

  Loki took Dan’s hand and said, “Hey, buddy I’m back. Shift went well today. A nice slow day—no one jinxed the day by saying anything.” He turned to Scott and Erik and asked, “Who are Caleb, Courtney, and Tony?”

  “My grandchildren by my daughter Victoria. Caleb and Courtney are fraternal twins and three. Tony just turned one,” Erik answered.

  Scott looked at Loki. “How long before Halloween do you plan what you are going to wear?”

  “Love Halloween. I start thinking about it on November first.”

  “No, really.” Scott chuckled.

  Loki shrugged. “Really.”

  Scott shook his head. “I don’t understand. Maybe if you are planning a haunted house or something, but a costume takes is fifteen minutes, tops.”

  In disbelief, Loki shook his head. “No way. You need much more time to come up with a decent costume.”

  Erik said, “Not necessarily, Scott’s exceptionally creative. In fact, I’d venture to say Scott’s creativity saved Danny’s fifth Halloween.”

  Scott felt a warm glow from long past fill him. “At first, I was agitated Mom asked me to help out, but that is actually one of my favorite Halloweens. Great memories.”