Page 18 of Very Special Forces

"Dotheir superiors know?" Solomon asked.

"I don'tthink so. They're hoping no one noticed."

Solomonshook his head. "Amazing."

"This isan excellent chicken salad," I said, forking a piece of chickeninto my mouth.

"Takethe case," said Solomon. "Wait, are they paying clients, or is thisa favor?"

"A favoralthough they did offer ten bucks, Army-issued boots in my size, adiscount voucher for a pancake place near Fort Charles and aButterfinger."

"Justone Butterfinger?"

"Apparently there were two but they shared the other one onthe way over."

"Bigincentives."

"Isuppose I could hold out for a Three Musketeers."

"Youcould."

I stopped. "You're not telling me tonottake the case."

"That'scorrect."

"So, youthink I should? I really thought you'd tell me this is crazy andthat I should stay a million miles away from a stolentank."

Solomonsmiled. "I think it's the perfect case to keep you occupied. Itwon't take you long to find a tank and how much trouble could youget into?"

"Eightmillion dollars of trouble. Someone went to a great deal of effortto steal a state-of-the-art tank. I have to wonder what kind ofpeople want it." Now I said it, that sounded like a lot moretrouble than I anticipated. A lost tank was one thing; a stolentank was another altogether. I could only hope the person, orpeople, who stole the tank were only in it for a joyride and had noreal idea of its true value.

"Nowyou've raised that, I'm already regretting my advice that youshould take the case."

"And yet I am," I decided. "I can'tnothelp them. They both helped me abunch of times during boot camp." On one particular occasion, Irecalled both of them launching me like a cannonball over aten-foot wall on an assault course that didn't make me fitter butdid make me want to assault the course designers. Being thrown overthe enormous wall was the only time in my life I felt like I couldfly like Superwoman. Right until I landed face first in the muddypit on the other side. I was lucky to have survived! While I had noinclination to repeat that feat, I did appreciate the fact thatwithout their help on numerous occasions, not to mention theirunfailing good spirits, I would have flunked out of boot camp muchearlier than I actually did; and then where would I have been? Hometo Montgomery earlier and less emotionally equipped to get past thebetrayal from my former fiancé that sent me on a ricochet course tothe Army in the first place.

"GetLucas to help you locate it. If you can narrow it down to wherethey last saw the tank, you can start there and follow the trailfrom a safe and remote distance. A tank that size should leave asizable trail. Once you've located it, turn the information over toyour buddies for retrieval." Solomon paused. "Please tell me theydon't want you to retrieve it too?"

"Not sofar as I know; plus, I don't know how to drive a tankanyway."

"Thankeverything above," said Solomon.

"I hopethat wasn't a critique on my driving skills."

"Yourdriving is excellent. Plus, your VW barely has a scratch on it toprove it. What are your plans for the rest of the day?"

"Weddingdress shopping. I'm down to three gowns, all of equal beauty. Ihave to make a decision today."

"Didn'tyou say exactly the same thing a month ago?"

"Yes,then I couldn't make a decision. Today is my last day to make achoice."

"Ithought dresses needed weeks of fitting andalterations."

"Somedo. These are all in my size and unless something catastrophichappens, they barely need altering." I wondered if the takeoutcounted as catastrophic, then decided not to worry aboutit.

"Let'snot tempt fate," said Solomon.

"Thebridesmaid dresses are all fitted and paid for," I told him, sincethat was positive news. "And I spoke to our wedding planner and shesays everything is good to go. Did you get your suit?"

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