Page 1 of Summer Heatwave
Chapter1
“Commander Gallagher.”Mike Gallagher said as he answered the phone.He didn’t care that there was no good morning, or good afternoon, in his greeting to whomever was on the other end.He wasn’t sure what time of day it was, but he was positive it was Tuesday.
Yesterday had been a Monday like no other he’d experienced in his seventeen years in the Navy.It had been kick-ass-and-take-names day.
His new boss, Captain Evan Hubbard, had overseen the arrest of more than a dozen SEALs in Group One who had been involved in human trafficking.At least one other senior officer who had been arrested that day had been charged with treason.After giving his now-famous phoenix speech, he called all his Team commanding officers into a meeting where he immediately rearranged them.This was going to be a new start for everyone.
Mike was now the new commanding officer of Team One.He had over three hundred SEALs and support staff he had to meet.He knew he would be under a microscope because one of his lieutenants had two of the trafficked women living with him in his base quarters…and Mike didn’t have a clue.He’d thought the young officer had been happily married with two small children.Mike had no idea the lieutenant’s wife had taken their children to her parents’ home and filed for divorce and sole custody.
Somehow, Mike had gotten too removed from his men.
That wouldn’t happen again.He was going to take advantage of this second chance.
“I need Dylan Chaney immediately.”The demanding woman on the phone rattled off an address off base.Years of training forced him to immediately memorize the location.
“Ma’am, I’m sure…” Mike had no idea who she was talking about or why she needed the young man, but his men running home at the beck and call of a wife, or girlfriend, ended now.“…Your husband, fiancé, or boyfriend will be home after he’s dismissed for the day.Unless this is an emergency, I’m not going to interrupt his training.”
Mike wondered why this hadn’t been handled by his administrative team.He had a dozen Navy men and women, as well as civilians, sitting outside his office.As soon as this call was finished, he’d go out there and have a talk with them.
“Look, Mr.Gallagher, I nee?—”
“It’s Commander Mike Gallagher.”Emphasizing his rank, he tamped down his quickly diminishing patience.
“Commander Mike Gallagher,” she repeated in a sassy tone, “I’m no one’s wife, fiancé, or girlfriend.I am Special Agent Kameron Hood in charge of the Homeland Security Investigations for Human Trafficking for the San Diego area.I need Dylan Chaney here at our downtown interrogation center immediately.Is that something you can make happen, Commander Mike Gallagher, or do I need to conference in Captain Hubbard?He’s been very cooperative over the past week.”
Oh.Shit.He knew exactly who she was…the ballbuster who had coordinated the entire operation of rescuing the trafficked women and arresting anyone, including over a dozen SEALs, involved in the party house run by Miss Nami.“Well, Special Agent Kameron Hood, you could’ve told me who you were when I answered the phone.”
“I could have,” she admitted begrudgingly, but quickly recovered claiming, “What I need is much more important than who I am.Now, am I going to have to call Captain Hubbard, or are you going to be able to get Dylan Chaney here within the next thirty minutes?”
“No need to call the captain.”Mike had already pulled up his roster and discovered that Dylan Chaney was one of his platoon commanding officers.“I’ll have Lieutenant Chaney tracked down, and we’ll get him there as soon as possible.”He repeated the address he’d memorized.
Five minutes later, a young man in his late twenties walked through his open door, attempting to sop up as much water as possible from his wet T-shirt and swim shorts.“Lieutenant Dylan Chaney reporting as ordered, sir.”
“Someone get Lieutenant Chaney another towel,” Mike bellowed from behind his desk.“Ocean or pool?”
“Pool, sir.”A seamen apprentice handed him two towels.“I was told to immediately report to you, without changing.”The young man hesitated.“Is my son okay?”
Mike made a mental note that Lieutenant Chaney had a child.“I don’t know anything about your kid.Close the door,” he ordered.“Your presence is needed immediately at the human trafficking headquarters downtown.”He looked the young man up and down, remembering the now jailed lieutenant from his previous Team.“Do I need to send a JAG officer with you?”
Special Agent Hood hadn’t told him why they needed Lieutenant Chaney.Was he next to be arrested?Damn, he hoped not, especially since Chaney had a child, but the lieutenant over on Team 7 had two children.
“Do you have any idea why they want to see you?”Mike held the young officer’s gaze.
“No, sir.”After glancing at the closed door, he asked, “Permission to speak freely.”
“Granted.”This was going to be really bad or very interesting.
“Sir, my platoon was undercover at the direct orders of Vice Admiral Maddox, gathering information which led to the arrest of the SEALs yesterday.Only Commander Dennis and Captain Hubbard know it was us.During our debrief, everyone was concerned there may be retaliation from those who were not discovered or arrested yet.I’m telling you this as my new commanding officer because the whole mission was need-to-know.You may want to discuss this further with Captain Hubbard.”
“I’ll do that while you change into a uniform.Be back here in ten minutes.”As soon as the lieutenant left his office, Mike picked up the phone and was put through immediately to Captain Evan Hubbard.
Way to jump into the spotlight, Mike chastised himself.
After a quick explanation, Captain Hubbard announced, “I don’t want Dylan going there by himself.There’s no telling what they want from him.”
The captain’s use of the lieutenant’s first name surprised Mike.
The captain’s faux-leather chair creaked as he obviously shifted his weight.“As Lieutenant Chaney’s commanding officer, you need to be aware of our personal connection.Dylan is the father of my grandson.My wife takes care of the baby while he’s at work.”
