Page 29 of Maverick

“We definitely are not,” said Luke. The man was silent, and Luke stood over the phone. “Hugo, what’s your last name?”

“Phillips, sir. Master SergeantHugo Phillips.”

“Hugo, you’re speaking to Luke Robicheaux.”

“I know who you are, sir. I recognize your voice. I heard you speak a year ago at a conference about finding your passion after life as a special operative.”

“Is your career in danger, Phillips?”

“Well, let’s just say I won’t win soldier of the year,” he chuckled. “But I’m okay. My commander is a good dude, and he’s making sure we’re not slaughtered. Listen, sir, I just wanted to warn you. We wanted to warn you. He’s not happy and is insisting this woman is a traitor and enemy of America. I don’t buy it a bit, and neither did the others. It’s why we left when your men, allegedly, showed up.”

“Allegedly,” smirked Forrest. “What made you call us?”

“Well,” he chuckled, “one big reason is I know when I’m about to get my ass kicked. I was not about to go up against you guys. But the bigger reason is I don’t believe for a minute that girl and those kids are enemies of anyone. Whatever this asshole has planned, he’s playing with our enemies.” Luke signed to Forrest and Fitch, and both men nodded at him.

“Hugo, how much longer do you have in service?” asked Luke.

“One hundred and twenty-seven days. Sir.”

“Counting down are you?” smirked Luke.

“I am definitely counting down. My body has been beaten and battered to the point of destruction. I’m thirty-seven and feel sixty-seven. No wife, no kids, nothing to show for the abuse I’ve put my body through. But I wouldn’t change a damn thing.”

“Do me a favor, Hugo. If you hear anything else, let us know. When you’re done there, give us a call again. I’d like to speak to you face-to-face.”

“Is he fucking with me, Forrest?”

“No,” laughed Forrest. “You were always a good Ranger, Hugo. You calling and risking your neck only proves what kind of man you really are. Let us know when you’re ready.”

“I damn sure will.”

“One more thing,” said Fitch. “Did he ever mention anything about a school in Maine?”

“He mentioned a school in Maine and one that got burned down in Colorado but never asked us to do anything with them. Believe me, all I was doing the entire time was trying to figure out what the fuck was really on his agenda.”

“And did you?” asked Forrest.

“Nope. Not a clue.”

The call ended, and Forrest and Fitch stared at Luke. He was frowning, the way his father does when he’s thinking about something unsettling.

“You think he’s legit?” asked Luke.

“He was always a good Ranger. Quiet, always watching and listening, learning from those around him. I’ve never had a reason to doubt him. I believe him, but I also believe his career is about over. The deputy director of the CIA isn’t going to stand for him and the other two walking away.” Luke nodded.

“Maybe you see what you can find out from his command. If they’re in trouble, we’ll try to pull them out early and get them here, at least until it’s safe. I don’t want to see him die because he did what was right.”

“Roger that,” said Fitch.

“What about the deputy director?” asked Forrest.

“I’m going to make a call to the POTUS. He owes us a few favors. This guy has been a loose cannon for a while now, so maybe there’s something we don’t know. Yet.”

CHAPTER NINETEEN

“We’re trying to figure out what you needed us to do for the reverberation issues on the device,” said Ryan, looking over Sophia Ann’s shoulder. Katelyn nodded at them, turning her new laptop so they could see her design. Since she was at Belle Fleur now, she decided to use their equipment and write her designs and thoughts down in a project plan guide.

“I think I might have to create the piece needed myself,” said Katelyn. “I always knew it might be an issue for us. The good news is I have the video piece working.”

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