Page 156 of The Texas Sterling Collection
Book Three: Emerald Mission
CHAPTER ONE
Wyl’s heart pounded at hearing his Marine rank on the answering machine message. He hadn’t beenMajor Sterlingsince he retired almost eighteen months ago. Not that a retired Marine wasn’t still a Marine, but the unstated underlying message was troubling. “Babe, can you come? I need you to hear something.” Wyl squeezed his arms across his chest. They planned to take it easy for a few weeks after their return from San Francisco a few days ago.
“Coming.” Rod strolled from the kitchen. “What is it?” He pulled Wyl’s arms from his chest. “Bad news?”
Wyl kissed Rod’s hand, then wrapped an arm around Rod’s shoulders. “Listen to this.” He pressed the button to repeat the playback and watched Rod’s face.
“Major Sterling, this is General Steinburg at the Pentagon. Please contact me when you get this.” He gave the number, then disconnected.
“Why would a general at the Pentagon call you?” Rod said. “Did you win an award or something?”
“No award.” Wyl shook his head. “That kind of information comes in a letter.”
Rod frowned. “Then what does this mean?”
“I’m not sure.” Wyl led Rod to their usual place on the couch in front of the massive stone fireplace. The leather creaked as they sat.
“The shortness of the message indicates whatever General Steinburg has to say can’t be discussed over public phone lines, which makes me uneasy.” Wyl looked up from his clasped hands. “Something has come up, and somehow I’m involved.”
“What do you mean you’re involved?”
“If this were a routine call, contact would have come from the officer in charge. It would probably mean they wanted me to train recruits or something. A call from any general bypasses ranks, which is unusual. But this call from General Steinburg bypasses everyone.” Wyl took his husband’s hand. “He’s the top guy in the armed services. For him to contact me directly means my skills are needed and not for routine training.”
“But you retired.” Rod squeezed Wyl’s hand.
“Once a Marine, always a Marine. I can be called back into service at any time.”
“Could this have something to do with your top security clearance or your experience with cryptology?”
“I think probably both.” Wyl gazed into Rod’s hazel eyes and stroked his cheek to wipe away the worry. “Whatever it is, we are together in this.”
“I know, babe.” Rod leaned into Wyl. “I don’t know if I can run the ranch myself if you get called into active duty.”
He cupped Rod’s face and kissed him. The sensations gave Wyl strength; he needed Rod’s power to get through whatever lay ahead. “Let me call and find out.”
Wyl crossed the room and called the general. It rang twice.
“General Steinburg’s office, Corporal Duggins speaking.”
“General Steinburg, please. Major Sterling is returning his call.”
“One moment, Major.”
Seconds later, the general picked up. “Major Sterling, thank you for returning my call.”
“General Steinburg, sir. It is an honor. May I ask what prompted your call?” Wyl had never interacted with a man of his rank. He hoped the usual military protocol still applied. He had frequently dealt with lower-ranking generals in the Marines. He had always been comfortable being frank with them in any discussion.
“I like your straightforward approach, Major. We need you and Dr. Bonner to come to Washington. I can’t go into detail on the phone. Can you both be here on Monday?” The urgency in the general’s voice upped Wyl’s stress levels. This situation demanded his skills and his husband.
“Yes, sir, general,” Wyl said. “And you want Dr. Bonner involved? His background is not military, sir.”
“Yes, Major. What I have to share includes you both.”
Wyl glanced at Rod, noticing his worried gaze. “We are at your disposal, general.”
“Excellent. I’ll have my secretary book a suite at the Beacon for two nights beginning Sunday night. Contact Duggins with your flight information. I’ll have a car meet you and deliver you to the hotel, then pick you and Dr. Bonner up at 9:00 a.m. on Monday. Details when I see you both in my Pentagon office.”
