Page 30 of Building Courage

But it had happened. It had to be a SEAL or someone close to them in support.

As though reading his thoughts, Sam said, “While we’re sitting here, I wanted to…give you a heads-up that our interviews with NCIS are coming up in the next day or two. So, everyone, give it some thought.”

Sam didn’t look at him.

“Have they interviewed Book, LT?” Swan asked.

“Yes. Book said he’d call me if they let him know anything.”

“He doesn’t believe any of us were involved, does he?” Denotti asked.

“No. He said no, but that could change. He’s trapped in that wheelchair for the rest of his life. If any of us were in his position…it might shake our faith.”

Had Sam’s beliefs been shaken in the people closest to him? His father had tried to kill his new wife, Moira, right after the wedding… The hurt and betrayal had to have been crushing, yet he’d seemed to move on without a hitch. This new investigation into Book’s accident had to stir up memories and emotions.

Sam climbed to his feet. “We’ve got a little over two hours until transport shows up at the base. We need to move out.”

They policed the area, gathered their trash, and loaded the coolers back into the LSVs. Tucker fastened his helmet, settled into the passenger seat, and locked his harness. “Drive responsibly, son, and don’t scratch the paint.”

Denotti shot him a look, raised one dark brow, then grinned. “Kiss my ass, Gilly.” He fired up the engine and pulled away to fall in behind Sam. Turning west, they headed across the desert in the direction of the base.

For the first time since leaving Coronado, Tucker allowed himself to relax and think about Brynn. He’d call her as soon as he was home and invite her over for another meal. The sooner he informed her why he couldn’t continue with the diving lessons for now, the sooner he’d be able to find a sub for her.

He could use a snorkel instead of tanks to instruct her for a couple of lessons. But she’d need someone she could trust until he got back.

Denotti’s driving was as good as his own, but even his speed across the rocky, sandy terrain, dodging brush and unexpected obstacles, couldn’t hold off the mid-afternoon heat. By the time they got back to the base, Tucker’s T-shirt beneath his tactical vest was wet with sweat, and rivulets ran from beneath his helmet down his face and the back of his neck.

Sam broke out more water as soon as they parked the LSVs, dumped their garbage in the base dumpsters, and gathered their gear. They jogged to the landing site just in time to see the helicopter come over the horizon.

Rosenburg spoke for them all when he murmured, “Thank God.”

“How’d you arrange for a helicopter, LT?” Beckham asked.

“They’re Marine Corp pilots who need a few more hours under their belt before deployment,” Sam answered.

Swan’s head whipped around, his eyes wide. “Shit! They’re trainees?”

Bullet’s reply was deadpan. “Fuck it. To get out of this heat, I’d fly that fucker myself.”

Chapter 10

‡

“I’m glad you could come by, Brynn,” Natalie said as she came around her desk. “Let’s have a seat over here.” She motioned to the turquoise couch against the interior wall of the office. There were two geometrically patterned chairs with touches of rust and turquoise positioned in the grouping facing it. The coffee table in the center had been made from a slab of raw wood coated in epoxy. The color and texture of the piece had her raising the camera around her neck.

“I’m going to take a couple of shots of your table,” she warned. “I’ve wanted to do it every time I come in here.”

Natalie laughed. “Go ahead and get it out of your system.”

She homed in on the grain and texture of the tabletop and took four quick shots.

“What do you plan to do with those?” Natalie asked.

Brynn scrolled back through the shots, checking them. “I don’t know, but I’ll add them to my texture files and see what pops up.”

Natalie shook her head. “Would you like something to drink before we talk?”

“I’m good, thanks.”

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