Page 38 of Garr

“She tried to get in my pants. I locked her in the back seat, where she passed out. I carried her in the house, put her in bed, and stayed to wait for the Admiral.”

“What favor does he owe the brother-in-law?” asked Cam.

“His wife, Marilu, hit on the wrong man while they were stationed in Japan. The Admiral and his brother-in-law had been out, and when they returned, the man was beating the hell out of her. Isaac, the Admiral, went crazy. Killed the man with his bare hands. Brockman told the MPs that he came home first and found the man attacking his sister and that he killed him.”

“I see. So, the brother-in-law takes the fall for a justified killing and holds it over his head.”

“That’s about it, sirs,” said the aide.

“Where is he?” asked Garr, looking around. “Shit.”

Garr, Sebastian, and AJ ran toward the restrooms, leaving the others still in the room. Cam heard the tap of his comms.

“I think we need to call the MPs. Harris has been murdered.”

CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR

Admiral Harris was lying on the men’s room floor with a knife in his heart. Someone had deliberately driven it through one of his medals.

“Someone would have needed a hammer to get that thing through the medal,” frowned Eric.

“Or this,” said AJ, holding up a metal serving tray. “I’m going to bet he was dressed as a waiter and followed him in here. We need to get to his wife.”

“What’s your name, son?” Eric asked the aide.

“Lieutenant Jonas Samson, sir.”

“Lieutenant, I need you to take us to his wife and get us in that house. If she’s working with her brother, then she may know where he’s gone because I’m going to bet that he will suddenly disappear.”

“Yes, sir. I do need to notify the Pentagon first.”

“We’ve already done that,” said AJ. “Our team has a few connections there, as well as with the POTUS. As of right now, this is an unsanctioned op. We are to find the Admiral’s killer and stop whatever is happening here.”

Samson stared at the room full of men, nodding.

“I’ll do whatever you need me to do. He was the best commanding officer I’ve ever had. He brought me to the Pentagon when my wife and I found out we were having twins so that I could be home with her.”

“That’s awesome, brother,” smiled Luke. “How old are the twins?” The young man’s face sobered, and he shook his head.

“My wife was killed when she was eight months pregnant. A hit-and-run accident in Alexandria. The driver was never found, but I always believed it had something to do with Brockman. I had been reluctant to allow the Admiral’s wife anywhere near his office, locking it when he left, even for short meetings. He knew and never questioned what I was doing.”

“You may have prevented more damage, but I’m damn sorry about your wife and children,” said Luke. The young man swallowed, nodding.

“Me, too, sir.”

An hour later, they were all on the Osprey headed to D.C. with the Admiral’s body. They would be met by a military honor guard, who would take the body to a military hospital for final autopsy and review. While that was getting started, Samson directed the men to the Harris home.

“Nice place,” frowned Cam.

“The Admiral bought it at a bank auction, hoping it would make his wife happy and get her to change. It has stables at the back, but they’ve never been used. They never invested in the horses because of Marilu.”

“Where are the kids?” asked Eric.

“The kids are adults now. More or less. Their son, Isaac, Jr., is at Columbia studying law. Their daughter, Emeline, is in medical school at Stanford.”

“Intelligent kids,” said Eric. “Must have gotten it from their father.”

“He was definitely one of the most brilliant men I’ve ever known. Except when it came to his wife. He couldn’t seem to break that tie. Part of it was he believed in not walking away. He always thought he could change her somehow.”

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