Page 42 of SEAL's Paradise
Riley eyed him.“It’s a possibility, but these things take time and careful, meticulous planning.”
“I don’t like that any of my men are involved in this investigation without my knowledge,” Commander Madden said sternly.“The fact that someone is smuggling weapons out of here is unconscionable and needs to be stopped.However, we follow orders in the Navy and use a chain of command.For some outsider to come in and involve my team without my approval isn’t acceptable.”
Riley bristled, and Sawyer attempted to smooth things over.“Sir,” Sawyer said, “that was my call to send the photograph to Wyatt.It was also my decision to agree to help Riley.When she asked for my assistance in the matter, I could’ve turned her down.”
“You’ve made several questionable decisions lately.This is only the latest in a string of offenses.While I was willing to overlook some things, we’re here yet again talking about your actions.”
Sawyer’s jaw ticked.“While I may enjoy a good time while I’m off-duty, and know exactly the situation you’re referencing, I’m nothing but a consummate professional on base and on every deployment.Our SEAL team has been successful on every operation, sir.”
The CO huffed out an exasperated sigh.“You have, which is the only reason you’re meeting with me privately and not explaining yourself further to my superiors.”He looked between Sawyer and Riley.“I don’t know if a possible marriage between you two is real or not, but she’s good for you, sailor.You haven’t been pulling crazy stunts while off duty or getting reprimanded by other officers as of late.You keep him in line,” the CO told Riley, and Sawyer didn’t miss the quirk of a smile playing about her lips.
“Of course,” she said smoothly.
The commander set down a folder he was carrying, pulling out some papers.Before he shut the file, Sawyer was surprised to see that the page left inside was a dossier on Luciana, the missing nurse, including a photograph of the woman.
Sawyer nodded to the picture.The woman was a looker, although not nearly as pretty as Riley.Still, Luciana had dark, glossy hair and a pretty smile.As he studied the photograph for a moment, he noted that her eyes were dark and somehow knowing.This woman had been through something in her life.And this photograph was taken long before she was kidnapped.It made his stomach turn to even think about what she might be enduring now.
“Any word on the missing nurse, sir?”
His commander’s jaw ticked.“Negative, not since the potential sighting of her over the weekend.I’m waiting for additional updates on possible locations.We’ll find her,” he said, his voice confident.The CO’s gaze also landed on the photograph, his gaze briefly running over the features of the beautiful woman.“No woman deserves to be left somewhere like that,” he added, his voice dark and dangerous.
With the possible sighting, they had a chance of finding her now.The trouble was, Sawyer wasn’t sure what condition she’d be in after being held captive by a ruthless cartel.
The commander shut the file and spread the remaining papers on the table.Riley exchanged a glance with Sawyer, and then they got down to business.
***
“I’M AMAZED HE HAD Alist of possible suspects,” Riley said in a hushed tone as they walked back to Sawyer’s truck an hour later.Her mind whirled over their quick meeting.While she didn’t like that Sawyer had brought in even more people, she had to admit, things were happening now.She’d been relying on IDing the guy at the bar as the main break in this case.He would eventually lead her straight to his partner in this plot.
Things had happened quickly last night.Sawyer put the tracker on the tattooed man’s coat, but when he showed up again at the bar, Riley would attempt to access his cell phone.She’d been unprepared yesterday, not expecting to know with certainty that he was her guy.By installing malware on his cell phone, she could identify every single thing he was doing.Follow him.Read his messages.Discover if he was communicating in other ways.
Did he use an app?The dark web?The intercepted texts were only the tip of the iceberg.
“Me too,” Sawyer agreed, and her focus returned to him.“The commander’s sharp, but I didn’t realize he’d come to the meeting with potential names.It just goes to show that anyone with questionable intentions and disciplinary actions against them is being watched.Closely.With the CO’s list of possibilities, we’re one step closer to solving this.”
“How’d he know who had access to the area?He had to have been searching in the secure systems,” Riley said with a frown.
“You worried that’ll tip someone off,” Sawyer assessed.
“Well, yeah.Clearly, there’s some type of coverup if no one has noticed or questioned that munitions are gone.”
“He could’ve run a search under the guise of needing something different.This is just a starting point.He had limited time after I spoke with him this morning.The list he showed us is just names, not background info or photos of the men.And we still need an ID on tiger boy.”
“He could have access to that storage area as well,” Riley pointed out.
“Agreed.Although based on the intercepts you showed me, I think he’s just the public face for this plot.He was the one out there initially meeting with the buyer, the one who agreed to meet the messenger at Coconuts last night.He’s in it for the money and other perks—drugs, women.I don’t think he’s an addict, just using the drugs to control the women he’s bedding.”
“He’s disgusting,” Riley spat out.“Of course, that leads me to wonder about the motives of the man with access to the weapons.”
Sawyer looked thoughtful.“If it’s not about money—or not only about money—maybe he’s in it for revenge.The guy could have a beef with the Navy or U.S.government.Commander Madden pulled names of guys who had access and who he thought could be involved.If they already have disciplinary action against them, they could figure they have nothing to lose.Either the guy thinks he’ll get away with it or go down in notoriety.”
“This is a mess,” Riley said, agitated.“All of it.DOD is working to learn more about the buyer as well.Analysts are focused on that even as we speak.”
Sawyer clenched his jaw.“We don’t know where the missiles went.”
“Exactly.Were they sent overseas for some foreign war?It seems like they wouldn’t get far with only two missiles.They’re likely using them for something more sinister.A threat.An attack.”
“The target could be here,” Sawyer said, eyeing her.“Not necessarily Hawaii, but somewhere in the United States.Or it could be used against one of our allies.Again, it makes little sense.They’d require the capabilities to launch a missile, otherwise it won’t do a damn bit of good.”
