Broken Honor (48 page)

He then made another threat. If I said anything, my son would die. I knew from the deaths of David Mallory and Sam Flaherty, Jordan was all too capable of it
.

But now I'm a sick old man, and I know I made a pact with the devil. I justified my actions by believing
—
trying to believe
—
that I more than balanced it by my service to the country
.

I don't know what will happen to me now. I might well die in a way that cannot be traced to Hawkins Jordan. So I am leaving this to try to explain a man's arrogant foolishness
.

Enclosed is the original inventory of goods signed by Sergeant Major Hawkins Jordan. Because I countersigned it, I kept a copy. I don't know if he knew that. I understand that the original inventory has disappeared, as have the duty rosters for the warehouse. There is also a signed affidavit from a man who removed some of the items with Jordan. He died shortly after making it
.

There were a lot of deaths around Jordan
.

I will go to the grave regretting that I did not step forward. With each mistake I made, I dug my hole deeper. I never had the courage to step up and face the truth or the consequences of that first mistake and the ones that followed. We were a proud Maryland family, and I couldn't bear to see our name dragged through the courts. I always told Dustin to uphold its honor. I never told him how I disgraced it
.

It was signed
Edward Eachan
. The name was not followed by His rank, the customary way for retired officers to sign papers.

The other two documents were with it.

“Is it enough?” Amy asked.

Dustin nodded. “Together with the testimony of the man who tried to kill Sally? I think so. My source at the FBI has also identified some of the photos you sent me. They have previous Army service, some with Special Forces. All are employed by Jordan Industries.”

“Have they arrested him yet?” Amy asked.

“Teams have been sent to talk to both Hawkins Jordan and Brian Jordan,” Dustin said. “Now we have a motive.”

Amy remembered that when Irish had called the Jordan home, a maid had said the older Jordan had had a stroke. “Is Hawkins Jordan well enough to interview?”

Dustin frowned. “I know him. He's a tough old bird. I wouldn't be surprised if he wasn't faking it to protect himself.”

“What are you going to do with this?” Irish asked about the document written by Dustin's grandfather.

“Give it to the police. Tell them I found it in a book you brought me.”

“Your family.…”

“My only family is in a hospital bed,” Dustin said. “I want those bastards in prison.”

He reached in his pocket and came up with a card. He went over to the phone and dialed a number. “Detective Baker, please. This is Dustin Eachan. You might want to call Special Agent Damon Gordon with the FBI. Tell him to meet me at Washington Memorial. Room 4420.”

Irish gave him a slight smile. “You don't need us, do you?”

“No.”

“Amy has a tenure hearing day after tomorrow. I'll face court-martial if I'm not back at the same time. She should be safe now.”

“When are you leaving?”

“I'll be flying to Fort Lewis, Washington, tomorrow.”

“Good luck.”

“Thanks.” Irish took out the credit card Dustin had given him. “I think I can use my own now.”

Dustin took it and stood awkwardly. “I suppose we'll see you at some trials.”

Irish nodded.

Dustin's eyes were curious as he turned to Amy. “Are you returning to Memphis?”

She nodded. “I have a dog to pick up first.”

He smiled, and she thought it was a very nice smile indeed. “I remember. He didn't like me much.”

“He doesn't like anyone much.”

“Until next time then,” he said.

The hotel was a very, very nice hotel. Irish had hardly noticed last night. He
had
noticed it this morning when he'd called the desk and asked for shaving gear, and it appeared almost immediately.

It was more expensive than ones he usually chose. But tonight was the last one he and Amy would spend together. They would be flying back tomorrow, she to Memphis and he to the state of Washington. He'd called Sam, and Sam said he would drive Bo back to Memphis. Amy had been reluctant to take Bo on the plane. She didn't trust airlines to take care of pets.

Too many horror stories
.

And she already had enough of those. Amy would live with the nightmares for a long time. Maybe forever. She might well have occasional flashbacks. He wanted to be with her if it happened.

He wanted to be with her all the time.

He'd never planned to marry while in the military. He suspected his military career was over, no matter what. He had disobeyed direct orders. He had obstructed an investigation in the South Carolina case. He had possibly obstructed justice in a major case.

Strangely enough, it didn't matter now. The ranch in Colorado looked mighty good to him. It would look particularly good with Amy beside him.

How could he ask it of her?

A renegade part of him hoped she wouldn't make tenure. Then he wiped the notion from his head. It was so unfair to her. It would hurt her deeply, both personally and professionally. He cared about her too much to wish that on her.

Care, hell. He loved her.

“Let's have dinner in the room,” he suggested.

“I'd like that,” she said. He saw uncertainty in her eyes, though.

By now he knew her tastes. “Steaks?”

“Sounds good.”

He quickly ordered, adding a bottle of wine.

“I don't think I ever want fast food again,” she said, sitting primly on the bed.

“There's lots of beef on a ranch,” he said, not quite sure what had prompted the remark.

“To eat?” She raised an eyebrow. “I don't think I could partake of a cow I know.”

“You don't get to know them personally,” he said. “But we can buy from a store if you prefer.”

If you prefer
.

A proposition? A proposal
? Even he didn't know.

But there was a glow in her eyes, and that was promising.

“When I was a girl, I always wanted to ride a horse.”

“You've never ridden?”

“Nope. But I read all the books.
Smokey. The Black Stallion. Misty of Chincoteague
.”

Though her tone was light, he could see the question in her eyes. Was he saying what he might be saying?

Hell, he didn't know. He'd never proposed before. Never even considered the possibility. He was forty-four, and he had no idea how to be a husband.

“Will you marry me?” he blurted out, feeling like the biggest fool in the universe.

“Yes,” she said.

He was so stunned he couldn't move. Couldn't say anything. He hadn't meant to ask the question, not until they could solve some problems. He'd never thought she would accept without any of those solutions.

“But.…”

She smiled at him, a gentle, wondering expression that made his heart bounce in his chest. “Going back on your offer?” she said.

“No. It's just your tenure. You've worked for it so long, and.…”

“I love history, Irish. I can teach anywhere. And I still want to write my book, even if it's on an Army base. I can do that anywhere, too. In fact, I can give it the time I've wanted to give it.”

“I'm resigning my commission, even if they don't toss me out,” he said. He stretched. “I'm too old to risk any more holes in my body.”

“I like that fear.”

“Money will be tight,” he warned. “Ranching isn't what it used to be. We just barely manage, and that's with my service pay.”

“Maybe I'll make a million dollars on my book.”

Now he raised
his
eyebrow. “On overaged hippies?”

“A typical military question,” she said, but there was only teasing in her eyes.

“I love you, Dr. Mallory.”

“I love you, Colonel Flaherty.”

“Your mother would be horrified.”

“Your grandfather would be appalled.”

“Not as much as you think. He was a very tolerant kind of guy.”

She was leaning against him now. His heart beat harder. Other parts of his anatomy responded.

“What about the tenure hearing?”

“I'll go. They have tried hard to accommodate me, and I owe them that. But I'll tell them I can't take the position.”

“Are you sure?”

“Absolutely?” she asked. “I would be lying if I didn't admit to a twinge or two. But I would have many, many more if I didn't grab and cherish and nurture whatever there is between us.” She grinned. “I'm getting accustomed to adventures.”

There was a leer in her eyes. He liked that leer. He liked everything about her at the moment, particularly her lips. “Room service,” he warned.

“Let's leave a note telling him to leave it outside.”

“Someone might steal it,” he said as he nibbled on her lips.

“That's entirely all right,” she said as her hand played with the back of his neck.

Their lips met and promised. Not just this hour or this night.

His arms went around her, and he knew that it was right. He would give her the freedom she needed to make her life valuable. If the ranch wasn't it, then together they would find their own unique future. She was ready to give up everything for him. He would do the same.

Her lips left his, and she leaned back in his arms and gazed up at him. Her eyes were open and bright and happy. She was incredibly beautiful.

He heard a kind of music he'd never heard before, one with lyrics he'd never believed until now. Friend. Companion. Lover. A home. A real home. Everything he'd wanted as a boy and feared as an adult.

No more. And, as always, he felt the same wonder in her.

She went into his arms again.

Forever.

epilogue

C
OLORADO

T
WO MONTHS LATER

Dustin and Sally attended the wedding in Colorado. It was at a small church in a small town with a few friends.

It was everything Amy ever wanted.

Irish had received his retirement a week earlier. He'd wanted to wait until then, to get over the uncertainty of his position. He still could have been charged with obstructing justice.

He wasn't, thanks to his commanding officer.

Amy had driven across the country two weeks ago with Bo. Irish had wanted her to see the ranch, to be sure she could live there. She'd already applied at the local high school, thirty miles away. Luckily a history teacher had just left to get married, and the spot was open. Her lack of educational courses was a handicap, and she was obviously overqualified, but she was accepted on a provisional basis until she completed those pesky education requirements. What really appealed to her was filling young minds with the love of history that she had. In college, she'd taught those who had already found that love. She wanted to get others early, to teach them that history could be more exciting and intriguing than any movie or piece of fiction. She had a piece of that history as a personal example.

So much for thinking she could finish her book anytime soon.

She loved the ranch. The house was one-story, sprawling. It had wood floors with colorful rugs and plain but comfortable furniture. A large picture window looked toward the mountains and the limitless sky that was so blue it hurt.

For a week, she'd ached terribly from her first horseback ride, but now the aches had faded. While she still wasn't sure of herself on even the gentlest of horses, Irish said she was a fast learner. He was a lovely liar.

And Bo was in canine heaven. All sorts of marvelous smells and people he liked. He even shyly allowed the ranch foreman to pet him, and made instant friends with the man's sheepdog.

He was at the wedding today, a ridiculous bow around his neck. Irish had put it there in an unusual moment of whimsy. She was seeing more and more of that in him.

She loved him more each day. He was obviously delighted that she wanted to live at the ranch, and had filled the house with flowers when she'd arrived. She never would have expected that from the matter-of-fact, practical, no-nonsense investigator she'd met.

The most surprising thing was his invitation to Dustin and Sally to attend their wedding. He had not told her, only said he had a surprise for her yesterday, and drove her three hours to the Denver airport.

The Eachans had married six weeks earlier. She glowed, and Dustin didn't seem able to keep his eyes off her.

“Thanks for coming,” Amy said, pleased beyond words that she would have someone for her at her wedding. Somehow Irish had sensed that. Sherry had been unable to come because her mother was ill.

And she and Irish and the Eachans had gone through a lot together. It had created a uniquely intense bond between them. They would go through even more when a series of trials took place.

Dustin had resigned from the State Department and was now with a Washington nonprofit group. He'd suffered weeks of newspaper scrutiny with an openness and dignity that had impressed Amy. It seemed that once unleashed from a family legacy, he'd emerged a stronger, more independent, and more thoughtful person. Or maybe, she thought, some of it had to do with Sally.

Hawkins Jordan had died of a heart attack the day he was to be arrested; there was some suspicion that he might well have used a drug that stopped his heart. Brian Jordan had been charged with multiple offenses, including conspiracy to murder and murder for hire. His deputy chief of security would go on trial for murder. Several others of their security personnel were charged with arson, attempted murder, and other crimes. The story had been all over the papers for weeks.

After all the publicity and interviews, Colorado had been a very good place to go.