Page 29 of Levi
“What’s all this about?”I question as we exit the SUV and walk into the hospital.
“You’ll see,” one of them says, and guides me into a conference room.
I sit there for at least twenty minutes before the doors open and a nurse wheels in a man.The closer he gets, the more that I recognize him.
“Mitch?Mitch Howard, is that you?”I ask in disbelief.He doesn’t look anything like himself.He’s lost a lot of body mass and has thick, angry red marks across his cheeks, and looks nothing like that last time I saw him.
“Brody Jackson.It’s good to see you brother,” he greets, and I stand to welcome him.We shake hands and I feel the hard grip from it.
Mitch Howard and I go way back.We were Marines together when I first joined, and he was on his way out of the service many years ago.
“Man, what happened to you?”I ask.Was he in a car wreck?
“I had an accident a few months ago but I’m recovering,” he admits.“But that’s not why I’ve called you here.”
“Okay, what can I do for you?I’m not in the military anymore, if that’s what you need.Got out over a year ago.”
“No, it has nothing to do with that.This has to do with your Uncle, the District Attorney,” he says, and I notice both men who escorted me in the hospital are still in the room.
“Uncle Burt?He passed away a month ago.I came here to finalize his estate,” I tell him.Where is this interrogation going?
“My boss’s wife was taken and put into hiding by Mr.Buttons and we were wondering if you’d know anything about it,” Mitch implores.
Then, it hits me like a ton of bricks.Thorne’s file.Mitch’s name never registered that it was him who is his head of security.In the service, we address everyone by their last name and he left five years before I did.He’s looking for Sadie and the baby.Is it safe to tell Mitch about them?Could this be a trap and I’m leaving the door wide open for the fox to get into the hen house?My hen house.Uncle Burt said that no one knew about his move to secure Sadie.Am I putting her in danger if I mention this to Mitch?Can I even trust him?
I’m about to answer when my phone goes off on the table and the sound fills the room.Looking down, I see Sadie is calling me.Peeking up, I watch as Mitch sees the name across the screen.
“Excuse me for a second,” I say, and place the phone to my ear and discreetly turn the volume down.“Hey Momma Bear,” I use her endearment and receive a light giggle, making me smile.
“Sorry to bother you but can you bring home those chocolates like last time you were there?I can’t stop thinking about them and the baby wants them too!”
I snort, remembering her inhaling them in one sitting.I should get double this time around.
“Yes, dear.Is everything alright?You feeling okay today?”I question and look over at Mitch, who is eyeing me.I hold a finger up, telling him I’ll explain in a minute.
“Everything is perfect, but Zeus has barricaded the doors and won’t let anyone in the house.Oh, and can you pick up some ice cream on your way in driving through town.I’ll be done by the time you get home.”
“Really?You had two pints when I left.”
“I shared with Zeus,” she whines her explanation.
“Alright Sadie, I’ll see you tonight.”
“You’re the best!”I hear her squeal and tell, who I’m presuming is Zeus, that I’m getting her requests.It’s the little things like this that makes me happy.It’s why I’m more than determined to keep her and the baby safe.I can’t even imagine a life without her in it, so I decide right there that I’m keeping the cover that was established all those months ago.
We hang up and I return the phone back to the table.
“Got a woman?”Mitch smirks.He only knew me as a love‘em and leave‘em type in the military.
“Oh yeah.”I hold up my wedding band and Mitch looks shocked.
“When did this happen?The Brody Jackson I once knew would never settle down.”
“Until the right woman came along.We’ve been married three years, and have a little one on the way.”
I tap my phone and show him a safe photo of Sadie.She’s turned to the side that shows off her pregnant belly in a long flowy dress.She’s out in the backyard feeding the goats, and her hair is covering her face.She looks beautiful and Zeus is, of course, right next to her in the picture.
Mitch briefly examines the picture, then hands it back.
