Mark (In the Company of Snipers Book 2) (13 page)

“What are we talking about?” Alex smirked. “You two got something else going on that I don’t know about?”

Roy grinned, and Mark wanted to smack him for opening his big mouth.

“It’s kind of like an equalizer,” he admitted. “Seinkevitz thinks he owns the whole village and everyone in it. Me and Harley thought different.”

“So I take it that you planned ahead, just in case?”

Mark shrugged. “Sure. I always go in country prepared. Don’t you?”

Alex only nodded, but there was that glint of amusement in his eye again, like he knew something Mark didn’t.

Roy mouthed,
‘Good job,’
and gave Mark the thumbs up sign.

“How’s he moving the rest of his product?” Alex asked.

“Through the silk route like every other cartel over there.” Mark focused on his boss instead of the grinning black man beside him. He and Roy would definitely be having a talk later about the true meaning of covert operations. “He moves it straight north into Russia.”

“He doesn’t have another stateside operation?”

“Not that we could tell,” Mark answered, “but you’ve got to remember people over there are afraid to talk with us. He runs a brutal program against anyone who gets in his way.”

“Air Force investigators have Gutierrez’s replacement in custody. They moved in too fast. We still don’t know who Castor handed the product off to here in the states. How’s Arzad?”

Mark smiled at the abrupt shift in conversation. “He’s good. Real good.”

“Is he still matchmaking?”

“You know about that?”

“Yeah. Of course.” Alex shook his head. “He was always pestering me to get married, too. Did he do the star routine with you guys, the stars are like our family thing?”

“He did.” Mark chuckled. This was his first friendly conversation with his boss, and it was all because of a gnarly little Afghani on the other side of the world. “He’s quite the character, isn’t he?”

“He is that.” Alex clapped a hand to Mark’s shoulder like they were friends. “You and Harley did damn good work over there. Sorry I had to call you home early.”

The backdoor opened as Kelsey and Libby carried the fruit and vegetable trays out, ending the business conversation.

“It’s about time you girls joined us.” Alex went straight away to help carry the trays.

“I thought I heard you back here.” Kelsey beamed to see him.

Mark watched the transformation. The second the trays were on the table, Alex whispered something in her ear. She blushed, smiling up at him with something like hero worship shining on her face. The haunted look was gone. He kissed his wife, his hands on her waist as if they were going dancing. This was no ‘Honey, I’m home,’ kiss. The tender scene was almost intimate, like they had forgotten they weren’t the only two people in the backyard.

Alex transformed again when he turned and extended a welcoming hand to Libby, still keeping Kelsey tucked under his arm. “And you must be our missing Miss Clifton. Welcome. I’m Alex Stewart, Kelsey’s husband. Good to see that Mark tracked you down. He’s one of my best agents, you know. I knew he’d find you.”

Mark about dropped his teeth.
One of my best agents?
That was news.

“Yes, Mark caught up with me this afternoon.” Libby shook his hand, glancing around the yard. “I never dreamed that a safe house would look like this, though. I was expecting bars or something, you know, like in the movies. Maybe some guys in black suits and dark sunglasses.”

“I guess if you need to be in a safe house, this is as good as any.” Alex chuckled as he surveyed his back yard, too. “So tell me, how long have you known Mark?”

Mark heard the question from across the yard where he stood with Roy and Murphy. Libby’s gaze zeroed in on his.

“It feels like forever.”

Before long, the steaks were grilled to order, and everyone’s plate was full. Alex and Kelsey settled at the picnic table chatting with Libby. Mark made another security sweep of the front and back yards before he sat to eat with Roy and Murphy. Alex seemed quite the gentleman with the ladies. He laughed and joked, and for the most part, was pleasant. Libby looked comfortable, so Mark took a seat where he could keep track of the entire yard. It worked to everyone’s advantage. He wouldn’t be able to keep his hands off of her if he sat any closer.

Kelsey was simply stunning. It seemed she had instantly become Libby’s friend, and went out of her way to make her comfortable. For that matter, Alex did, too. Libby laughed at something he had just said. It looked more like she was chatting with old friends instead of people she had just met.

“Looks like you’re deep in thought.” Roy pulled his chair alongside Mark’s.

Mark raised an eyebrow. “Yeah, guess so.”

“Those two have quite the story, you know.” Roy nodded toward Alex and Kelsey.

“It’s nice to see there’s another side to him.”

“What you really mean is it’s nice to see he’s not always a complete ass, right?”

“Something like that.”

“He was a lot worse before Kelsey came into his life. That man’s been through some tough times, but he’s got something special in that little lady of his. See what I mean? Look at those two kids. See how they’re always touching each other? My heck, they act like a couple teenagers.”

Mark looked across the lawn. Roy was right. Alex had an arm draped comfortably across Kelsey’s shoulder, while her hand rested lightly on his knee. They did look like kids. He wasn’t going to admit to anything. So Alex had a decent streak? Big deal.

“Guess we all have our stories.”

“No. Not like those two you don’t.” Roy leaned in like a conspirator about to share top-secret intel. “There’s a helluva lot you don’t know about that guy over there.”

“Whatever.” Mark lowered his voice. Last thing he needed was his boss to overhear.

“Did you know his first wife and little girl were killed in a car accident?”

Mark shook his head, still watching guardedly.

“His daughter died instantly, and his wife died on the street while the paramedics were trying to save her. It happened when he was overseas, still in the Corps. By the time he got back home, there wasn’t anything left to do but their funerals. Damn near destroyed him. He still blames himself. Then he went through two nasty divorces. The man couldn’t win to save his life.”

“Two divorces?” Despite himself, Mark was listening. “Was he nuts?”

“No.” Roy shook his head sadly. “He was just hurting, trying to plug the sucking hole in his heart. You know how it is. You just lost your best friend. It’s a helluva lot worse when those best friends were your wife and your little girl.”

Mark saw Alex through different eyes. That explained a lot.

“And poor little Kelsey was married to a sonofabitch who tried to kill her.” Roy’s voice turned to a whisper. “He murdered her two little boys.”

“He did what?” Mark hissed. This was an incredibly tragic story that did not translate into the happily ever after couple who sat chatting with Libby. He shot another glance to Alex. How could the man look so—normal?

“Yeah. Those little guys were only two and four years old. Damn shame that.” Roy shook his head sadly.

“So that’s how she got those scars on her face?”

Roy nodded somberly. “She might not look like it, but she’s one tough little cookie. Thought you ought to know since you’re part of The TEAM now. Her ex had another go at them about a year after they got together. Almost killed ‘em both.”

By now Mark was hanging on every word, but Murphy interrupted with a pitcher of beer and three clinking glasses.

“That’s another story for another time.” Roy scooted his chair over to make room. “You thirsty or something that you need three glasses, old man?”

“What’s this old man crap I’ve been hearing all night? First Mark. Now you? I was just hoping you two would help this
old man
drain a pitcher, but I can always leave.”

“Sit on down.” Roy chuckled. “What? You getting sensitive in your old age?”

“There you go again.” Murphy poured a foamy round as he settled between Mark and Roy. “Just remember, you might not look it, but you’re a year older than me. Now grab a glass you guys. You’re looking awful serious over here. What’s up?”

Roy took a dripping full glass and nodded across the yard. “Just giving Mark a history lesson.”

“Oh, that.” Murphy shook his head and poured a glass for Mark. “If I’d known that’s what you guys were so quiet about, I would’ve stayed with the food. Get on with it.”

Roy lowered his voice. “I was telling Mark what happened when the boss took her out to his cabin near Seattle.”

“I thought his cabin was closer to Tacoma.”

“Tacoma? Nah, Spanaway’s up by Seattle.”

“No, it ain’t. That’s why they ended up at Tacoma General Hospital.”

“You sure, Murph?” Roy scratched his head like that would help him remember.

“I’ll get a map if you want, but I spent a lot of time in a—”

“Guys.” Mark interrupted the squabbling older gentlemen. “Get on with it. What happened next?”

“Okay, Tacoma then,” Roy conceded the argument. “Anyway the week off didn’t turn out like Alex planned.”

“No, sir, not one bit.” Murphy muttered.

“Like I said, her ex was a sonofabitch. He’d already tried to kill her and Alex once before. This time he brought some of his buddies with him. They burned the cabin down. Alex figured he could get most of them before they got him. Didn’t work that way. He only got four.” Roy smoothed a hand over his head.

“How many were there?” Mark asked.

“Final body count was seven. One got away.”

Murphy took over the storytelling. “Yeah. Nick’s mother. That’s who got away. Nick was Kelsey’s ex. That old broad who raised him is the one who thumped Alex with a log. Almost took his head off, she hit him so damned hard.”

“Wait a minute. Nick’s mother?” Mark asked. This horror story just kept getting weirder.

“That’s another story all by itself,” Roy interjected. “But let me tell you. That old saying the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree is the gospel truth. She was a mean drunk.”

Mark catalogued that story for another day, along with what Roy had already said about Nick trying to kill Alex and Kelsey once before. He glanced at the happy couple across the way. No wonder they kept their hands on each other.

“You guys mind if I go on with the storytelling?” Murphy looked sternly over his half full mug. “Like I was saying, once they got Alex, Kelsey wouldn’t leave.”

“Wait. Where was Kelsey all this time?”

“Boss told her to run and hide,” Roy said. “She didn’t.”

“Those bastards would’ve beaten him to death if she hadn’t shown herself. Poor thing.” Murphy wiped his eyes. “Had to be scared to death watching all that happening to him. Look at her. She’s just a little gal.”

Mark couldn’t help but look. Kelsey was fine-boned, a tiny thing compared to the rugged man beside her.

“You need a tissue?” Roy bumped Murphy’s chair with his boot. “Come on. We ain’t got all night for you to start bawling your eyes out.”

Murphy wiped his face again. “Still gets to me though.”

“Me, too. Anyway—” Roy was promptly interrupted by Murphy.

“So anyway, she tried to help, only Nick and his goons got to her.”

“Not ‘til she killed one of ‘em,” Roy interjected.

“Kelsey?” Mark was shocked. Kelsey a killer? No way.

“What I wouldn’t give to have seen her take that shot.” There was a mixture of pride and sadness in Roy’s voice.

“Yeah, but then it got real ugly.” Murphy lowered his voice even further. “Guess the guy she shot was Buck’s brother. Nick and he were the only ones left. They hurt Kelsey real bad after that, hauled her off with them to their camp. Left Alex to die.”

Roy ground a clenched fist into his open palm. “Wish I’d been there. I’d a made those bastards suffer instead of taking ‘em out with a single tap.”

“Wait. Single tap? How did Alex and Kelsey get away?” Mark asked. “Who found them? Who saved them?”

“Harley.” Murphy took a big swallow of his beer, like that was a dumb question.

“Harley?” Mark sucked in his surprise.

“Harley.” Murphy continued. “That kid dropped out of sight with all that drug crap he was into. None of us had a clue where he was. Then all of a sudden, he drops out of the clear, blue sky, and wants his job back.”

“Wait a minute.” Mark held up his hand. “I’ve been in country with him for two weeks now. Not once has he mentioned a word about any of this, and we’ve talked plenty.”

“Yeah, well.” Murphy scrubbed a hand over his thinning hair. “He’d just gotten out of rehab. Took it pretty hard when he found Kelsey. That whole night brought up a lot of the crap he was trying to forget. He don’t talk about it to anyone.”

Mark sat back in his chair. Harley saved Kelsey? He shot her ex? Man. That was definitely another story Mark needed to hear.

Roy jumped in. “So anyway, Harley hightails it across country in the first military ride he could talk his way onto. He’s got lots of friends who’ll let him fly. When he gets to the cabin, it’s burned to the ground. He finds Alex damn nearly dead, only Alex won’t let him stay and help. You know how he is. He makes Harley go find Kelsey instead.”

Mark nodded. Sounded exactly like Alex.

“Yeah. So he leaves Alex with a gun and one of his dogs.”

“You’re kidding me, right?” Mark stopped Roy’s story telling again. This story was unbelievable. “Are you guys pulling my leg? Harley took Alex’s dogs with him on a military hop?”

“Well, of course.” Murphy’s forehead crinkled. “Harley’s a canine handler. Them dogs are working dogs. He takes ‘em everywhere.”

Mark shook his head, not sure what to think.

Roy continued. “So anyway, Harley and Whisper take off to find Kelsey. To make a long story short, Harley snipes them last two bastards when he found her. Man, she was in bad shape.” He turned away with a whisper. “I’m sorry, but you had to be there. I mean look at her, Mark. She’s a dang little girl for hell’s sake. She ain’t made to take a punch.”

“See. I’m not the only one who needs a tissue.” Murphy thumped Roy’s shoulder. “Roy’s right. We spent a heck of a lot of time in Tacoma that summer.”

“It was Whisper who found her, ya know.” Roy nodded toward the kennel. “Harley let him run. That big old mutt tracked straight to her; would’ve taken those men out all by himself if Harley would’ve let him. I never seen a dog love someone like that Whisper loves her.”

“I think you’re right,” Murphy said quietly.

Mark saw it too. Both dogs sat watching Alex and Kelsey, but only the black dog seemed anxious at the kennel gate.

“Anyway, Alex and Kelsey were both laid up for a long time.” Roy glanced sideways at them again. “Thought we were going to lose the boss for awhile there. He kept having them mini heart attacks. Almost went blind. It’s a miracle he’s alive.”

“Okay, enough of all this gossiping and storytelling.” Murphy blew out a big sigh. “Can’t take anymore. All this reminiscing’s enough to make an old man cry. ‘Sides, I think we’re looking at the miracle in his life.”

“Damned if you ain’t right,” Roy drawled. “Them two youngsters are straight out of a fairytale.”

Mark stole another glance. Alex looked like the life of the party. Both women were laughing at whatever story he had just finished. Kelsey’s eyes were bright with love. She smiled up at Alex, her hand still on his knee.

The thought hit Mark. He wanted Libby to look at him that way, like her world revolved around him, like he was the only thing she saw.

He wanted what they had.