“Now?”he asked.“It’s almost time for dismissal, but I can require him to stay.”Then Mike remembered that Dylan had an infant cared for by Captain Hubbard’s wife.“Is there any way we can do this tomorrow?”
“That would work out even better for us.”Kam then explained, “Tala is being kept in a secure location.She’ll have to be brought to our offices.I really don’t want to put her into an interrogation room again, so I’ll have to see if I can get access to the conference room.Can you let Dylan know now that we’ll need him tomorrow morning?I’ll have to call you to confirm the time but let’s say around ten o’clock?”
“I’ll have to run this past Captain Hubbard, but I think I can catch him in his office now.”He circled around his desk and picked up the phone, then gave instructions to his administrative assistant.“I’m not sure if the captain will want to join us this time but I need to give him that option.”
Five minutes later, arrangements had been made for Lieutenant Chaney and Mike to go to Kam’s office the next morning.Mike returned to the seat in front of his desk next to Kam.
She let out a heavy sigh.“Now that’s out of the way, I want to tell you how sorry I am about your men.I’ve lost teammates, so I kind of understand how you feel.”
That was not what he’d been expecting her to say.Mike ran a hand over his face remembering the phone calls to the parents.Lying to them was often the hardest thing he had to do as the commanding officer.The men weren’t killed in a training accident.They were killed overseas doing what they do best, and they had done a damn good job of it.Another scumbag had been eliminated.
Only a very few people knew Farbod Ahmadi’s atrocities.The man didn’t understand the concept of collateral damage.He had wiped out complete villages, allowed his men to rape and pillage, often kidnapping young girls to keep his soldiers happy.Those stories had never made it to the popular news.
Mike patted Kam’s hand.“Thank you for your condolences.”He needed to change the subject.“So, I take it you got the training contract?”
Kam brightened.Smiling, she regaled him with her entire experience.“I thought for sure the gate guard was going to pull his gun, but I wasn’t going to lie when he asked me if there were any weapons in my car.When I reached for my badge, he’d already put his hand on his side arm.I think the clincher was when I mentioned if he had any questions, he could call Marta Merkel.I offered to give him the number and he literally took one step backward three feet.”
Mike burst out laughing.“Ms.Merkel is a force to be reckoned with; that’s for damn sure.She’s one woman I never want to get on the wrong side of.She’s worked in the Admirals’ office for nearly twenty-five years.There’s nothing that happens with SEALs that she doesn’t know about.If she likes you, she’ll help you bury the bodies.But if she doesn’t like you, she’ll fuck you over in a heartbeat.”
“I saw her in action today.She was pissed at some state senator for barging into Vice Admiral Maddox’s office,” she said with wide eyes.
“Whoa.I’ll be surprised if that guy gets reelected.Marta Merkel has a long reach.Not that she ever wears the stars of the men she works for, but that woman can make things happen, on both coasts.”Mike had seen her pick up a phone and people in Norfolk scramble to support the SEALs at Virginia Beach.But that actually made sense.Mike often forgot that Vice Admiral Maddox was in charge of all SEALs everywhere in the world even though his headquarters was on Coronado.
Kam’s phone buzzed and she looked at the screen.“Shit.”She stood and looked at Mike.“I’m so sorry, but I have to go.They’re giving us problems about transporting Tala to our office tomorrow.”
Mike stood.“Where did you park?”
“In front of your building.”She was quick to explain, “It was quicker to drive over here from Vice Admiral Maddox’s office.Commander Reece Brenner was nice enough to guide me, but I guess his office is close to yours.”
“It is.I’ll walk you out.”As Mike followed her through his headquarters, he noticed the stares she was getting from his men.It wasn’t because she was wearing the ICE uniform and a weapon; female appreciation was on every face.Kam Hood was hot.
When they reached her car, Mike had the sudden urge to take her in his arms and kiss the hell out of her.That would be bad in so many ways.Their relationship wasn’t at that point, yet.Also, it would be a serious infraction of public display of affection, especially in front of his men, on duty, in uniform.
Instead, he opened her car door.“I’ll see you tomorrow morning at ten.”He grinned.“Call me tonight if that changes.”Hell.Just call me.Tonight.As soon as you leave.When you get home.Anytime.
As she backed out of the parking space, she smiled and waved.
Mike strode back into his building.Kam’s sudden appearance in his office, the way she’d made him laugh, that smile as she waved.Yes.He liked the way things were moving.
“Tala, I’m going to be right here beside you.I’m not going anywhere.Now, please understand that Kam, Jeremy, and Mike might have to leave the room at some point, and they may rejoin us, but you are safe with me.”Once again, Mike was extremely proud of his lieutenant.Dylan had instantly made Tala feel comfortable when they arrived at Kam’s office building the next morning.He took great care in showing her the conference room and even allowed her to assign seats.
Kam had a computer and a tablet with her and was working both at the same time.She looked up from her screens at the opposite end of the table.“Tala, I just want to remind you that everything that happens in this room is being recorded, just like last time.We want to be sure we get every detail that you tell us.”
“Okay.We start?I have good idea.”The small woman seemed extremely excited.
“Sure.”Kam nodded.
“Perlah tell me when she very, very good, Big Daddy give her specials.”Her young gaze darted to each person at the table expectantly.
Disappointment washed through Mike.This was nothing new.Had Tala been playing them just so she could see Dylan once again?
His lieutenant stared at Tala.“You told us that before.What does that have to do with your idea?”
“Perlah say sometimes when all girls very good, special is good food from Filipino restaurant, like home.”Tala set her folded hands on the table as though she’d just given them the key to breaking the case.
“Tala, I’m afraid I don’t understand.How is Filipino food going to help us find Perlah?”Dylan was asking the right questions the correct way.Mike found this interesting to watch in person, reaffirming the techniques SEALs are taught.
“Inasal.Perla say they get to eat real inasal.Taste just like at home, not made like America.”