Page 48 of Very Special Forces

"Shewill love being with you." My brother and his wife were among thehappiest married people I'd ever known and given that they’d beentogether forever, and produced three children, that was high praiseindeed.

"Whatcan I do for you? I'm sure you didn't call to help me book a breakfor my wife."

"I needa couple of background checks," I said.

"Goon?"

"BryceMaynard. His online presence is easy to find but I'm interested inknowing if he's had any convictions, even minor ones."

"That Ican do. Stay on the line."

"You'rebeing remarkably helpful." I was instantly suspicious.

"I thinkI used up all my favors with you," admitted Garrett. "I need tostockpile some more."

"Nobabysitting before the wedding," I replied.

"Agreed.What's this guy's birthdate?"

I ran myfinger across the paperwork Jas supplied and gave it tohim.

"Yeah,he's in the system. Couple o’ minor things. He was arrested fordrunk conduct. Not a DUI, more like disturbing the peace a coupleyears back, and there was a driving violation five years ago. Letme see... Yeah, here it is. He got pulled over for a bustedtaillight and he gave the officer so much mouth that the officerarrested him."

"Really?" I scribbled my notes and waited for Garrett toconfirm the dates.

"Yeah.Wait; there's one more. He punched a guy in a parking lot in springof last year. A cop happened to be driving past at the sametime."

"Wasthere a reason?"

"According to the report, the victim looked at your guy'sgirlfriend the wrong way. There's no record of it ever going tocourt. Looks like he paid his fines on everything and kept his noseclean since then."

"Thanksfor checking."

"Anything else I can do for you?"

"Haveyou heard anything about a tank turning up?"

"Atank?" Garrett paused. "Not a word. Should I beworried?"

I had noidea how to answer that so I went with, "Nope."

"Good toknow. I'll see you at dinner at Mom and Dad's tonight?"

"I'll bethere." I hung up and looked over my notes. Three arrests in fiveyears wasn't good news. I'd already seen Bryce's short temper inaction and now there was official confirmation, I couldn't considerit a single incident that could have been blamed on tiredness,annoyance or any other excuse.

I tappedmy pen against the final charge. The victim got punched forapparently looking at Bryce's girlfriend the wrong way but thatcouldn't have been Julia. They weren't together last spring. So whowas the woman? I called Garrett back and asked him.

"Itdidn't say. She didn't give a statement," he said. "I have to go. Acall just came in about a body."

"Anything come in about a tank?"

"Itwasn't run over by one if that's what you're asking. What is itwith you and tanks?"

"Nothing," I muttered as I hung up before he could extractthe story from me. I was pretty sure the last thing my Army buddiesneeded was police involvement that could escalate quickly and landthem in the kind of hot water they specifically hired me toavoid.

I calledJas next but she didn't answer so I left her a short message tocall me back.

Over thenext few minutes, I thought back to the things I heard about Brycethe night before. There had apparently been a "crazy" ex in thepast. Ruby and Lily both mentioned a woman that he complainedabout. Was it the same woman who witnessed the assault in theparking lot? I wanted to know who that woman was.

---