Page 103 of Luck Be Mine
They lifted off to more gunfire, but the power of the helicopter took them out of range. They jetted through the sky.
“Copy, Scout Three. Blackjack. Midnight.”
Carter reached for his bag. Hunt knew what was coming and couldn’t keep the tears from his eyes. The way Cait talked about flags struck home.
The medic carefully spread the U.S. flag over Baxter’s body, tucking it close.
But Hunt wouldn’t let Bax go. He would hold him. For a bit longer.
§§§§§§§§§§
◊ Man Down ◊
Cait slipped through the admin doors at QM, marveling at the quiet. This place never slept. But Celissa’s desk was empty,her lights off. Through the double doors, though, the pace increased. Quaid had requested her presence. So, after a long night of surgeries, here she was. She’d rallied once again and taken the time to change clothes. Navy blue slacks, red QM shirt, leopard print flats.
Muted lights in the hallway went with the early hour. Elizabeth’s office light was on. Mackey’s was not. Neither was Quaid’s. They were both here, but they spent more time in Operations than they did in their offices.
Cait didn’t go into Operations a lot. She had her own lane.
Curiosity snagged, she pushed open the door and stepped into the guts of QM. Dark blue carpet, white walls, monitors and smart boards spread across all the wall space of the big room. Computers and info flashing, four people working including Quaid, and the intense hum of productivity defined the room. Harrison’s office was dark as was Miner’s, his deputy, a former cop.
One board scrolled all the personnel on bodyguard assignments at home and abroad. Kerry was working a missing person in Mexico City in another area. Johnson watched line after line of code go over his monitor, some financial crime. Quaid sat in the back corner – the Delaney hunt headquarters. Where was Mackey?
As soon as she got to Quaid’s side, she spoke. “No luck? Where’s Mackey?”
Quaid turned bloodshot eyes in her direction, his black pants and black QM shirt only a tad wrinkled. “Good morning to you, too. He’s asleep in his office. He was out all night.”
“You were awake, too. I’m sorry about this. I had no idea the man would be so hard to find.”
Quaid waved her to a matching stool. “If, and I say if, we’re going to get deeper into this idea, we have to build a solidprocess. This is as good a test subject as we’ll find, so the steps we take are exploratory, but they matter.”
“Still, it’s taking a bunch of company time.”
“I’d do it three times over. I haven’t seen this much animation, purpose, and drive in Elizabeth’s manner and emotions since Wylie got killed in Afghanistan. If this is what it takes, I’m in. So is my grandfather.”
“She did seem taken by the idea.”
“Taken? She’s in Operations four times a day for updates. We have an arrangement with your hospital, a rehab center, and imaging services now. Hell, Mackey wants to hire him.”
Cait sank back in her chair, agog. “What?”
“You heard me. He’s impressed with the man’s skills. We’re chasing him all over San Diego.”
“Is he hiding?”
“Don’t think so. He may not have figured out we’re trying to find him. We’re closer, and we’ve identified where he’s not.”
The main door opened. Harrison strode in, black pants, white operations shirt, coffee in hand. He stopped mid-room. “This is not going to be a good day when you two are left alone in here.”
Cait grinned. “Good morning to you. I was summoned. I take no responsibility.”
“These boys and what they get into,” Harrison griped. His eyes went over the boards, and he pulled up a chair. “Status?”
Quaid hit the high points. “Still looking for Delaney, but we’ve eliminated a bunch more areas. Mackey thinks we’re close.”
“If Mackey said it, then it is.” Harrison’s practical sentiment agreed with Cait’s.
Her phone rang. “What is this? Two phone calls before 8 am?”
