Page 12 of Luck Be Mine
“Not yet. WHO is tracking the transmission of a virus. Mostly in China. Hasn’t moved outside their zone yet. We’re tracking for mission purposes. The death of IQS didn’t make a huge impact in Afghanistan. He still has followers causing mayhem, money coming from somewhere, and a man who claims to be his cousin stepped in to reorganize the group.”
“Figures.” Hunt eased into a chair and studied Scott’s frown.
He continued. “ISIS has increased their attacks in Iraq and Syria. We’ve got foreign contract soldiers activating through the middle east.”
Hunt nodded. “In other words, same situation we’ve had for months.”
“Essentially. I’ll organize a detailed briefing later. Are you ready? Doc ready?”
Hunt stayed with short and truth. “It’s time. Cait insisted. Day-by-day improvements, trying for normalcy.”
Scott frowned. “Best way about it. One other thing.”
A long pause left Hunt puzzled. “Sir?”
“Mamhud Zahir.”
Hunt searched his memory for a connection. “Not sure I’m familiar with his name.”
Scott watched his face. “Health clinic bombing. Identification positive.”
Surprise had him swallowing and blanking all but a professional interest. “I am familiar with all the IQS connections. I haven’t heard of him.”
“Intelligence verified loose sources through money tracking. Man was originally activated in Iraq, then made the move into Afghanistan with a swing through Syria first. Intelligence continues to work on details. As I said, remnants of IQS have been taken over by Sayed Sadozai, cousin of IQS, and Zahir is too talented a leader not to be connected with them, in conflict with them, or with the Taliban. His ideology is in question.”
Hunt stifled the unproductive temptation to go after the bastard. “Will he land in our wheelhouse anytime soon?”
Scott raised a brow. “Undetermined.”
“Thanks for the info. I appreciate it.” Hunt rose from his chair. “Anything else, sir?”
Scott cleared his throat. “Are you square in case you have to leave?”
“Already handled, sir, including all the legal paperwork finished. Doogie’s mother is coming to help her. She’ll be fine. Cait’s Army. She understands.”
“How’s that going?”
“On disability for another month before a decision will need to be made.” It wasn’t his place to announce her desire to leave the service, so he kept to a basic statement.
“Enough said.” Scott tapped off his iPad.
“Thank you, sir.” Leaving, Hunt needed a minute in the busy hallway to process the information.
Professional and personal had been mingling for months, and the necessity of finally separating the two grabbed at him. Cait, while still in the Army, would be transitioning to civilian soon, and his responsibility as a SEAL Team officer was to maintain secrecy at all costs.
It was critical he stay within bounds on this. He in no way wanted anyone to perceive his conduct skewed to revenge. That wouldn’t work for him even if it shaved close to the truth. It would be too easy to violate well-defined conduct lines, and he did not have a gunslinger reputation for good reason.
He’d built better – on his skill, on his actions, on his education. Ethics and trust versus protection and love. Chokehold in the middle over honesty and commitment – to a career, to a reputation, to a marriage.No easy day.
Doogie found him standing motionless and grabbed his arm to pull him into an alcove.
“What happened?”
“A name attached to some intelligence on the bombing where Cait was hurt. Guts me every time.”
“I get it, but we’re due at the Force Protection briefing. Let’s go.”
The two men exited the small space and followed others to the meeting. He wasn’t a big fan of these gatherings, butthe Force Protection talk on the virus was top priority. It was spreading, and operations across the globe were about to get complicated.
