Page 21 of Stryker

***

John

Family. The word kept rattling aroundin his brain. Brick said he was family. It warmed John’s heart eventhough he’d left the lake house with more questions than answers.Was his father working on something with the Russian? And if they’dbeen working on something, what could that be? His father had beena pilot in the Air Force. But what if there was more to his fatherthan John even knew? Could his father have been involved insomething shady?

The moment the thought entered hismind, John shoved it away. His father had been a good man, a loyalfriend, and passionate about his service to this country. He’dnever do anything that could be construed as less thanhonorable.

“Are you okay?” Strykerasked.

“Yes. Why?”

“Because we’ve been parkedoutside the grocery store for the last five minutes, and youhaven’t even noticed.”

John looked around and finallyrealized they’d stopped moving and were parked outside the grocerystore in the middle of Marshall.

“Okay, so maybe I’m notall right. I’d hoped to come away from that meeting with moreanswers; instead, I’m questioning who my father was. There werethings going on behind the scenes I had no idea about.”

Stryker sighed. “You were very young.You’d never have noticed anything odd happening or assumed thisfriend of your father was anyone other than who they said he was.Perhaps they were protecting you from the truth, or they may nothave even known what danger they were in.”

“Yeah, you’re right. Butit’s still not stopping me from rethinking every conversation wehad and everything he did and said.”

“How about we go in andpick up some groceries, and I’ll make you dinner tonight. Maybeit’ll help you take your mind off this for a little while. I makeone hell of a chili, or at least that’s what the team has told me,and I don’t think they’d bullshit me.”

John couldn’t help but smile. “Thatsounds good. I can make garlic bread to go with it.”.

“For sure. Let’sgo.”

They were in and out of the store inunder fifteen minutes. As John expected, Stryker was veryefficient. It was a military operation being executed with precisemovements and timing. There was no lollygagging, zigzagging, orpondering to consider which tomato paste to use. He just seemed toknow exactly what he needed and picked it out.

John wished he could be so decisive.He’d debate, analyze, overanalyze, make a pros and cons list, anddo more research before deciding anything. He needed to be moreconfident—surer of himself and what he wanted in life. It was timefor him to take control of his life, make it hismission.

Maybe Stryker could help him withthat.

***

“You weren’t kidding whenyou said you cook a mean chili,” John stated. “That’s the best damnchili I’ve ever had, and I’ve eaten in a lot of diners in myday.”

Stryker leaned back in his chair, andJohn wasn’t positive, but he swore the big man blushed.

“Thanks. I’ve had a lot ofyears to perfect the recipe, considering the team were alwayswilling guinea pigs.”

“Well, I’ll be your guineapig any day if you keep cooking like that.”

“Maybe you won’t have tovisit the diner as much as you do.”

“Maybe.” Johnlaughed.

Stryker stood and began clearing thedishes.

“Hold on, you cooked, I’llclean,” John said as he took the dishes from Stryker’s hand. “Gosit down and watch television or something. You need abreak.”

Stryker smiled and did as he was told.Soon enough, John did his chores and grabbed some beers from thefridge before joining Stryker in the living room.

“Who’splaying?”

“The Houston Astros andthe Toronto Blue Jays. The Astros are up by two.”

John handed him one of the beers andsat in the second La-Z-Boy chair. He had to admit Gator’s apartmentwas decked out comfortably. There were two La-Z-Boy recliners, alarge couch, a coffee table, and a big-screen TV. It was all a mancould ever ask for.

---