Page 14 of Stryker

“What if I can’t move on?What if I’m broken, and it never gets better?”

“Hell, I haven’t beenwhole in years.” Stryker grinned, but it wasn’t a very happy one“The entire team barely makes one whole person with all our fuckupsand hang-ups, but we carry on and slowly learn to accept that youdon’t have to be whole or alone to have a good life.”

John stared at Stryker. “You acceptedthat? Or are you still looking?”

“I don’t know, honestly.At times, I feel like I’m going to break apart into a millionpieces, and then something will happen, and I’ll feel more wholethan I have in a decade. It’s a day-to-day battle.”

“I understand that. I’vebeen living that way since I was sixteen years old. One moment,everything’s all right with the world, and things are looking up,and I see a future for myself. Then, the next, it all comescrashing down around me, and all I can see is the blood coveringtheir bodies. Every time I close my eyes, that’s all I can see,them lying there dead in the street.”

Stryker moved closer to him and placedhis hand on John’s shoulder. “I can try to tell you it’ll getbetter, but you and I both know that’s a lie. All I can say is youhave friends. You have people you can depend on and lean on who arethere to help you. You just got to reach out.”

John couldn’t help but smile for thefirst time since receiving that call. “You know, I think that’s themost I’ve ever heard you speak since knowing you.”

“Well, don’t get used toit. It’s likely not to happen again,” Stryker huffed.

“Thank you, Stryker,” Johnsaid, feeling better. “I guess I should call the detectiveback.”

“Only if you’re readyto.”

“Will you be stickingaround?”

“Yeah, I’m not goinganywhere.”

John walked over to the table andpicked up his cell phone. He didn’t want to do this but he had to.He had to relive it again. Maybe this time, it would be thelast.

***

Stryker

Stryker watched John hit the button onhis phone, and surprised him when John set the phone call onspeaker and placed the phone down on the table.

“In this together, right?”John asked.

“Damn straight we are.”Stryker nodded.

“Hello. John?”

“Yes, Detective Woodley,it’s me. Sorry, I was unable to answer the phone earlier, but I cantalk now.”

The detective sighed heavily. “I knowthis comes as a shock after all this time, but new information hascome to light that might explain why your family wastargeted.”

“Targeted? Why wouldanybody want to hurt us? What information did youreceive?”

“Your father’s name cameup on the deathbed of a high-ranking Russian official who soughtasylum in the United States twenty-five years ago. He was living inOregon at the time of your parents’ deaths,” Detective Woodleyexplained.

“What do you mean myfather’s name came up? Who was this guy?” John’s voice was severaloctaves higher now.

“A former Soviet spy whodefected with your father’s help.”

Alarm bells sounded in Stryker’s head.This was unexpected.

John covered the speaker, looked upfrom the table, and straight at Stryker. “What the hell is goingon?”

“I don’t know, but we’llfind out. I promise you,” Stryker said.

“I think it might be bestif you returned to Hood River, John,” the detectivesaid.

“Not a chance. If you needme, you obviously know where to find me, but I have nothing to dowith anything my father might have done in service to this country,and I certainly wasn’t privy to any information he might have had.There’s nothing I can do to help with thisinvestigation.”

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