“I have two Purple Hearts, a Bronze Star, and a Medal of Honor. Do I look worried? I’ll call you as soon as I know anything. I don’t need to say this, but you two need to be extra careful from now on. Trust no one except me and Cantrell. Don’t forget to call your mother. She’s worried sick.” His dad winked. “SAC Simpson seems equally concerned.”

Harv cleared his throat.

“I take it this isn’t a subject you want to discuss further?”

“You take it correctly. I’d like to spend a few minutes alone with her.”

“She’s just outside, along with several SDPD officers and FBI agents. This hospital looks like the president himself is taking a tour. Be careful how much you share with her, Nathan. Information of this nature is dangerous.”

Chapter 23

Chapter  23

Holly entered his hospital room, no doubt having been fully grilled by Lansing. Her bandaged forearm—suspended in a sling—looked serious. As if walking with a cane wasn’t bad enough.

She sat on the edge of his bed, leaned over, and hugged him. He smelled a trace of her favorite perfume, Light Blue.“You okay?” he asked.

“When I said I had vacation time coming, I hadn’t thought it would involve a gunfight to the death. I can’t stop thinking about it.”

“It’ll be with you for a long time.”

“Your first time?”
“Yeah, I lost some sleep. Harv too. It was our first mission in Nicaragua. We took out a vicious sadist who deserved to die, and I thought that would make it easier, but it didn’t. I can still see his chest explode when the bullet struck. It was a twelve-hundred-yard shot with a Barrett M eighty-two, fifty-caliber. I felt it deeper than I wanted to. Last night was different, Holly. There’s no way to know whose bullets did the actual killing, yours or mine. It doesn’t matter.”

She didn’t say anything.

“I’m convinced those mercs were there to take us prisoner. If we hadn’t fought back, Montez would be torturing us right now. We’ve got nothing to feel guilty about.”

“I suppose you’re right.”

“I am right. Your mind will go through slideshows of last night’s action. It’s normal, don’t fight it. You’ll relive it many times. The visuals, the sounds and smells. Let them work through.”

They remained quiet for a few moments.

“How’s your head?” she asked at last.

“Truthfully, I’ve got a blinding headache, but otherwise, not too bad. How’s the arm?”

“What’s one more scar?”

“I said the same thing to Harv. Did you get a chance to talk to my dad?”

“At length.”

“I’m in trouble.”

She smiled. “I’m not sure what I expected, but he’s really quite charming.”