Brothers in Arms (8 page)

“I was ordered by the President to accompany the FBI and provide consultative services,” Kellan replied, adjusting the straps of some of his gear.

“You couldn’t consult from DC?” Jonah asked incredulously. “You had to be in the line of fire?”

“I’ll explain in more detail when we brief you.”

“What is McMurtrie doing here? Consulting on how best to annoy the indigenous population?”

“Ha! I’m more than just a pretty face, Jonah. I designed a new communications system the government bought for you sorry grunts to use. Trouble is it’s in beta testing still. The FBI is using it while they’re here because I’m really good at encrypting frequencies, but if it acts up, I gotta be here to fix it. You know, hit it with a hammer, lick the sockets. The usual.”

Jonah remembered hearing some scuttlebutt along those lines.

“Jonah, not to tell you how to do your job…” Kellan said. His hand on Jonah’s arm felt like it was burning through his uniform, scalding his skin. “But if that C-46 is our ride out of here, we should get on it. We’re sitting ducks out here in the open.”

Jonah mentally kicked his own ass. Kellan shouldn’t have to tell him what his job was.

It didn’t escape Jonah’s notice that Kellan easily took command of Neil and the team of agents. He cajoled them all into the chopper, helping them to hand off their gear to Jonah’s men to be stowed. Kellan herded them all to the front, explaining how to strap in and assisting when needed. Jonah was left only having to worry about his own men.

When Jonah went to take his own seat, he was pleased to find the last one open was next to Kellan. The sound of the big bird’s engines and rotors made conversation impossible. Jonah could look, though, and when he did, Kellan was already watching him. He couldn’t see Kellan’s eyes, but one corner of his mouth was lifted in a small grin. Jonah couldn’t help but return it before he glanced away. No one on the chopper was paying them any attention, and he saw nothing in the chopper that required his intervention, so he turned back. Kellan was grinning fully now. Jonah ducked his head this time and watched as Kellan’s hand came to rest on his knee briefly, giving it a slight squeeze, before moving away. It was no more than a casual sign of brotherly affection between two warriors.

Sweat rolled down the back of Jonah’s neck and the length of his spine. It was so fucking hot inside the helicopter.

Getting off the bird was as orderly as it was getting on, much to Jonah’s surprise. “Shankman. Take Crowden and tell Top Resler two of our guests are female. Everyone, and I mean everyone, is to afford them courtesy and respect. Both of their profession and their persons. Then pick one of the rooms, close to what indoor facilities we have, and cordon part of it off for their privacy.”

“Yes, Gunny,” they said in unison and immediately stepped off.

“After that,” Jonah said, by way of calling them back, “make sure everyone takes down all of the…wall decorations.”

“Hold that last order, Gunnery Sergeant,” Milagros interrupted. “Please.”

“Excuse me?” Jonah asked.

“I’m sorry. Please, and thank you, for the privacy and the respect to our persons. But we’re guests on your turf. You guys have no luxuries and few pleasures. If some semi-naked, or even naked, photos on the walls help you guys get through it, don’t take them down.”

Jonah nodded. “If you change your minds, please let me know.” He turned back to Shankman and Crowden, frozen in place. “What are you standing around for? I gave you an order.”

He watched the two scurry off. The agents followed at a less aggressive pace.

“If Carlene wasn’t so hot for me, I’d think she and Milagros had a thing for each other,” Neil mused at full volume, once the Feds were out of earshot. “Why else would they ask you to leave up the naked pictures of hot chicks?”

“They didn’t ask me to leave them up, Neil.” Jonah let his burgeoning irritation show. “They said I didn’t need to have them taken down. I know your mind struggles with the subtleties of spoken language, but try to keep up.”

To Jonah’s astonishment, Neil’s only reply was a cheesy grin. He sped up his pace to catch Kelly, throwing his arm around Herndon’s shoulders

“Milagros has chops,” Kellan said, suddenly appearing beside Jonah. “Carlene has a little bit of a chip, but Milagros’ working on her.”

Jonah tried to convince himself his gut did
not
just twist in pleasure. “Solid copy,” he replied. “And the other two?”

“Smart and capable, as far as I can tell. They were all sent here for specific reasons, with the understanding that delicacy has no place in a war zone. They seem to get it.”

“Do they know who you are?”

“Are you kidding? Eighteen hours on an airplane with Neil McMurtrie? They know my fucking primary school grades.”

“Why
are
you here, Captain?” The use of Kellan’s rank was an easy habit Jonah fell right back into.

Kellan’s pause was interminable. “Because I predicted Grizzly’s assassination.”

That was not what Jonah had been expecting. He drew breath to question Kellan further when Roner exited the manor house and approached Jonah.

“Gunnery Sergeant, PFC Sorg received a cut last week that has become infected. Doc Bertel believes he can debride it of the infection so Sorg can maintain combat effectiveness.”

“Fine,” Jonah replied. “If he’s successful, keep Sorg in rotation. If not, he’s to be transported to Camp Diyala for full medical treatment. Adjust the teams accordingly.”

“Aye, sir. What do I tell Lieutenant Stoop?”

“If Doc Bertel thinks Sorg needs to be transported, tell Stoop that’s what’s going to happen and you’ve adjusted the teams. There’s no need for him to make any decision at all.”

“Roger that, Gunny.” Roner gave Jonah and Kellan a sharp nod, then moved off.

“Shouldn’t it be the other way around?” Kellan asked from beside Jonah.

“How’s that, sir?”

“Shouldn’t your platoon commander be telling
you
how to handle that situation?”

“Yes, sir. He should.” Jonah didn’t have to elaborate. Kellan understood all Jonah needed him to in the span of a single look.

They assembled in Hoegerl’s office, along with the captain and Top Resler. Jonah made the introductions, saving Neil and Kellan for last.

“Neil McMurtrie, formerly USMC. Neil was my radio officer during the initial invasion of Baghdad. He’s developed a communications system that’s in beta testing and he’s here to consult for the FBI on its use.”

“Of course. It’s a pleasure to meet you, Mr. McMurtrie.”

“Forget the ‘Mr. McMurtrie’ stuff. Just call me Neil.”

“All right, Neil.”

“And this is a government advisor, here to consult for the FBI. Kellan Reynolds.”

Jonah saw recognition instantly light Hoegerl’s eyes. “Kellan Reynolds, as in Lt. Kellan Reynolds? As in
Captain
Kellan Reynolds? The author of
Brotherhood of Warriors
, Kellan Reynolds?”

“One and the same,” Kellan replied with an easy smile, stealing Jonah’s breath.

“It is certainly an honor, sir.” Hoegerl pumped Kellan’s hand enthusiastically. “You are, without a doubt, a hard act to follow.”

“That’s very flattering but wholly unjustified, Captain,” Kellan said.

“I think this one”—Hoegerl gestured toward Jonah—“would argue that point fervently.”

Jonah struggled to keep his expression neutral as Kellan regarded him keenly.

“We knew Kellan was a heavy hitter,” Milagros said with a chuckle. “But we had no idea he was a living legend.”

“What in the hell are you doing back here? You
are
still a civilian, aren’t you?” Hoegerl asked.

“I am indeed. In my capacity as a governmental consultant, I provided the President with an outline of illegal activities I believed could be taking place in the States and here in Iraq, how they were being carried out, why, and then I predicted how anyone sent to investigate would very likely be killed.”

“So, when Grizzly was killed, the President told you to get your ass out here and help the FBI prove your theory?”

“More or less. I’m sure my time with the Corps contributed to the decision for me to actually travel here again. I’m certainly not going to be a liability.”

“Fuck, man,” Neil suddenly interjected. “When the shit goes down, me and the Captain’ll get some for sure. We’re not just any wimpy civilians.”

“Still, I would appreciate it if you’d keep your heads and your asses down and out of the line of fire while you’re here.”

“Neil will behave himself if I have to tie him to the seat of a Humvee,” Jonah said.

“All right, back to business. Agent Keef, how can my Marines be of service to you while you’re here?”

“Thank you for your hospitality, Captain,” Agent Keef began. “We hope to complete our investigation and be out of your hair ASAP.”

Jonah moved to stand in the rear of the room with the intention of allowing the FBI to have their say with the captain. He was acutely aware of Kellan coming to stand beside him. It was as if the intervening years had not passed at all, as if they were still in their first tour of Iraq together. Kellan’s solid presence at his side was comfortable; the silence between them was relaxed and easy.

“We need to retrace Grizzly’s steps while he was here,” Keef was saying.

“Gunnery Sergeant Carver is at your disposal during your visit. He was with Grizzly the entire time he was off base.”

Jonah nodded once, acknowledging Hoegerl’s statements.

“We appreciate that. We also need to examine any and all IED’s we can get access to, detonated or disarmed.”

“That’s highly unusual,” the Captain mused. “Devices are usually destroyed and disposed of so their components can’t be recycled into another IED.”

“It’s central to Grizzly’s investigation, though. Agent Parrella is our bomb tech, and she’ll take lead on those aspects of our investigation. Agent Giammona is our translator and expert on Middle Eastern culture. Agent Tygart is our anti-terrorism specialist.”

Captain Hoegerl grew serious. “Are you ladies prepared for the hardships of an extended visit to this country? Especially here at a firm base and not a complete Marine Corps base? How effective can you really expect to be, given the culture of this country?”

Carlene snorted derisively and looked as though she was about to reply when Milagros headed her off. “It’s a valid concern, Carlene. You know that. It’s not the Marine Corps’ fault; it’s the nature of this culture.” To Captain Hoegerl, she said, “Keef and Giammona, along with your Marines, will provide an effective face to our investigation.”

“Once we brief your Marines as to the information we need to obtain, your standard knock-n-talk technique will be more than adequate,” Keef explained.

“Gunnery Sergeant Carver is well versed in our techniques.”

Irritation coiled in Jonah’s belly. Recon Marines acting as street cops still galled him.

“We do have concerns regarding security that your Marines can’t be expected to overcome,” Keef said carefully. He shot Jonah a glance, making Jonah wary, before he continued, “It’s expected we should conduct our investigation, as Grizzly did, from inside Humvees.”

“Naturally.”

“Captain Reynolds believes, and I have to say I agree, to do so would increase the risk to our lives and our investigation. We need an alternative mode of transportation.”

“My resources are limited, Special Agent. What do you suggest?”

“It’s by no means a slight to you or your Marines, but in the interest of doing something unexpected to throw our enemies off, we need to travel in the same manner the private security firms move VIPs: in armored SUVs at a high rate of speed.”

The room fell silent.

“I pulled a few strings; strings that are independent of anyone previously connected with this investigation, as well as elements of our own government.” Kellan suddenly filled the silence. “Three members of Ares International are en route with three armored SUVs and a driver for each vehicle to augment and support your Marines. They will serve under Gunnery Sergeant Carver’s command.”

“When are they expected?” Hoegerl asked.

“Sometime today,” Kellan replied.

“Gunnery Sergeant?” Hoegerl looked at Jonah with a raised eyebrow.

Jonah didn’t think twice. “It’s highly unusual, and ordinarily I would protest vehemently. However, I trust Mr. Reynolds’s judgment.”

“I suspected that would be your answer,” Hoegerl said dryly.

“I’m inclined to trust your judgment too, Mr. Reynolds,” Hoegerl continued. “And I certainly trust Gunnery Sergeant Carver’s, so, if he trusts you, then so do I.”

“I’m flattered, Captain,” Kellan said.

It was Keef who began the briefing. He quickly outlined the events that had begun with Grizzly landing in Iraq and culminating in the suspicious nature of the IED fragments Jonah had recovered from the crater. Those fragments had confirmed Kellan’s theories as presented to the President. Now, here they were, handpicked to uncover who was responsible for Grizzly’s assassination and follow that trail back to the American source that was funding and arming the insurgents.

Keef’s summation was met with several long moments of silence as his audience absorbed the information.

“It seems the only thing left to cover is your game plan.” Hoegerl glanced around the room. At the nods of agreement, he began to walk toward the door of his office. “I’m going out with this afternoon’s patrol, so this room is at your disposal. Please let me know if you need anything else.”

Jonah smiled when Kellan unfolded a map and began to make notations on it with a colored pencil. The familiar sight tightened something in Jonah’s chest. The only difference was the map was spread out on a desk instead of the hood of a Humvee. Without thinking about it, Jonah lost himself in the logistics of the mission.

§ § §

Jonah stepped out onto the dusty brick veranda of the firm base. Even in the shade, the heat made it hard to breathe. He stepped off the porch and crossed the small dirt yard, as if putting distance between himself and the manor house. The heat drove him to the shade of a cammie net. Playing bodyguard to the Feds was annoying enough, but having security contractors underfoot was unbelievably fucked up. He trusted Kellan’s judgment, though. Kellan wouldn’t saddle him with incompetent POGs.