Page 30 of Spring UnVeiled
Two minutes later, Commander William Dennis entered the office.
This time, the vice admiral started the conversation.“Commander, we have a unique stateside mission for one of your platoons.You, like Captain Hubbard, took over under difficult circumstances.You both need to make a big statement.”At that point, he gave the nod to Evan.
After explaining the situation of SEALs harboring illegal aliens in what was considered military housing, even if it was off base, SEALs paying to bring undocumented people into the United States, and pimping these women out via Ms.Nami, Commander Dennis was appalled.
“There may be men on your team who are currently involved in this,” the vice admiral warned.“You’ll need to be sure who you select is clean.”
The commander smiled.“I have the perfect platoon.They were on a six-month rotation in Iraq and had only been back inside the States for a week before they were sent to Alaska for cold-weather training.I think Lieutenant Chaney is the perfect man to coordinate this.”
Vice Admiral Maddox stood and so did the captain and the commander.“They need to get on this right away, like this afternoon if possible.When you have information, report to Captain Hubbard.”
Chapter13
Lieutenant Dylan Chaneywas very leery when he received the orders to report to the Team 1 commander’s office early on a Monday morning.He couldn’t imagine what was wrong.Everything had gone well in Iraq and even better at winter training.As far as he knew, no one had gotten in trouble since they’d returned home less than a week ago.
When he entered Commander Dennis’s office, he became even more worried when his troop commanding officer wasn’t there.It was highly unusual that they’d skipped an officer in his chain of command.
“Have a seat, Lieutenant Chaney,” the commander ordered.
Thirty minutes later, Dylan was on the way back to his platoon headquarters when he was met by Lieutenant Junior Grade Adam Kadel.
“Are we in trouble?”His assistant officer in charge asked.
“No, but from what I’ve just been told, several others are going to the brig.”Dylan looked around to make sure no one was close enough to hear them.“We’ve just been assigned a top-secret mission right here.”
“Yeah, something stateside.”His friend pumped his fist.
In a quiet voice, he said, “No.I mean right here on base.We’ll talk about it when we get to my office.”Purposefully, he changed the subject.“What did you do this weekend?Anything fun?”
“Fuck, no.I was too damn tired.I think I fell asleep Friday night and didn’t wake up until noon yesterday.”The two men bumped fists.
“Right there with you.”Dylan grinned.“I swear I did five loads of laundry.I hadn’t gotten a chance to get everything cleaned from the desert before they shipped us out to play in the snow.”
“I’m still washing sand out of my hair.”He scratched under the brim of his cover.“Either somebody put itching powder in my hatband, or it’s been far too long since I’ve worn this uniform.”
“Have you worn it since BUD/S?That’s the kind of shit they pull on officers when we graduate.”Someone had thrown up in Dylan’s hat and he’d ended up buying a new one.
“I wore it last summer before we went to play in the sandbox.”Adam took off his hat the minute they stepped into the building and started examining underneath the band as he followed Dylan into his office.
“Speaking of last summer, have you called that pretty little piece you were dating back then?”Adam sat down in the chair across the desk.
“I’m certain she went back to college and found herself a sweet little boy.She was kind of young for me.”He lied.Kylie had seemed so much older than nineteen.
Sure, he was nine years older, but she hadn’t seemed impressed by his rank like most base bunnies.Or that he was a SEAL.She was more interested in the history of the place, like him.They had walked all over Balboa Park, relishing the Spanish Moor architecture.For one entire day, they had eaten their way through San Diego’s Chinatown while admiring the buildings and reading historical plaques.Dylan smiled at how much he’d enjoyed each and every time they’d been together.
He hated the way they parted, but he knew he was going to be gone for six months, and she was heading back to college.He wanted her to have a good time and enjoy those years.He’d loved his time at the Naval Academy.More than once, he’d wondered if she’d take his call.She wouldn’t recognize the phone number, though.Just before leaving for Iraq, an old girlfriend started to call him.Constantly.Once she’d texted him seventy-two times in one day.When she wouldn’t take no for an answer, he changed phone numbers and carriers.
“Earth to Dylan.”Adam knocked on his desk.“She might have been young, but she certainly dug into you if you wandered off that long thinking about her.”
“She was nice.Too nice for a guy like me.”He redirected the conversation, telling Adam about their secret mission and brainstorming ideas.
“There’s no way in hell that seamen apprentice is going to talk to either of us about the deal he’s got going,” Dylan pointed out.“He approached a bunch of chiefs.Let’s get our chief petty officers in here.”
Adam opened the office door.“We need to see all the chiefs.Now.”
“Aye, sir,” several male voices answered.
While they waited for their men, Adam asked, “I take it the funeral on Thursday is mandatory?”
