Page 32 of Silent Dust
“Finally!” Nova exclaimed, her eyes sparkling with excitement. “I knew we’d be back in time for the weekend. I’ve got a date with my couch and a pizza!”
Link hesitated, then raised a hand. “Wait a minute. Have arrangements been made for Samir? He’s going home with me—I promised.”
“Of course, Link,” Michaels replied, his expression turning serious again. “We’ll make sure Samir is included in the transport. I don’t know how you did it, but there will be a passport for him when you get to Guam. He’ll be on the same flight.”
“Good,” Link said, relief washing over his features. “I made a promise, and I intend to keep it.”
“Swede from Brotherhood Protectors has been working on it,” Michaels explained, his tone softening. “He’s been in touch with the right people to ensure everything is in order, including the adoption paperwork. It’s all underway. And the wives have been shopping, he will have everything he needs.”
Link felt a wave of gratitude wash over him. “I can’t wait to get back to my bunk and see Samir. He’s been waiting for this moment, and I want to make sure he knows he’s coming home with me.”
“Trust me, he’ll be thrilled,” Moose chimed in, a broad grin on his face. “That kid is going to be so spoiled.”
“Yeah, and I’ll be there to tell him all about our adventures,” Link added, his heart swelling with anticipation. “I want him to know that he’s a part of this team, part of something bigger.”
“Just make sure to keep him away from Moose’s cooking,” Nova teased, earning a playful glare from Moose.
“Hey, my culinary skills are top-notch!” Moose protested, crossing his arms defensively.
“Let’s hope it doesn’t involve mystery ingredients,” Bear joked, the closeness of his team lifting his spirits.
Just then, Admiral Grayson broke in, his tone shifting to a more measured, official note. “Bear, I understand you're worried about Flora. I want you to know that, although she’s still in a medically induced coma, the doctors are gradually reducing her sedation. They’re optimistic that by the time you arrive home—roughly seventeen hours from now—she should be waking up.”
Bear’s heart raced at the news, a mix of hope and anxiety flooding through him. “Really? You’re sure?”
Michaels nodded, his expression reassuring. “The medical team is doing everything they can. They believe that once the sedation is lifted, she’ll start to regain consciousness. Just keep that in mind as you travel.”
Bear felt a surge of relief wash over him, but it was tinged with impatience. “Thank you, sirs. I just want to be there for her when she wakes up.”
“Understandable,” Grayson replied. “And you will be.”
“Alright, enough joking around,” Michaels said, trying to maintain a semblance of order. “We need to get you all prepped for the helo. Make sure you’re ready to go in thirty minutes.”
As the team gathered their things, Bear felt a renewed sense of purpose. The thought of Flora waking up, combined withthe excitement of bringing Samir home, made the long mission worth every second.
“Let’s move,” Bear said. “Time to get back to the States.”
With that, the team sprang into action, their spirits high as they prepared for their return home.
17 - HAWK
It didn’t takeSwede long to track down Flora’s stalker, Wally Mintor, a supply clerk on base. Hawk quickly called Commander Michaels, who dispatched the MPs to apprehend him. Now, Hank and Hawk were face-to-face with the man who had caused so much chaos.
As they entered the small interrogation room, Hawk’s gaze fell on Wally, slumped in his chair like a broken doll. The slight man had a gaunt, nervous look; his thin frame and passive demeanor contrasted sharply with his role as a military supply clerk. His dark hair was tousled, and his red-rimmed eyes shimmered with tears. Hawk noticed how Wally’s shoulders hunched, as if trying to curl into himself for comfort, and how his trembling fingertips fidgeted with the edge of his shirt.
Wally’s face was pale and streaked with tears, showing that he was overwhelmed with guilt and despair. He appeared vulnerable and uncertain. However, seeing this shy clerk, who usually preferred the calm routine of managing military supplies, break down so completely was almost humorous. If the circumstances hadn’t been so serious, Hawk might have felt a small burst of sympathy.
“I didn’t wanna do it,” Wally said, his voice soft and hesitant, thick Southern drawl adding to his vulnerability. He glanced up at the two men. “Charlotte told me Flora was gonna ruin everything for me. Said she was holdin’ me back, keepin’ me from bein’ seen. That I’d never get Bear to notice me if I didn’t prove myself—show I was tough.”
Hank shot Hawk a glance, disbelief etched on his face. “This is the guy that tried to kill Flora? Really?”
Hawk’s tone was firm. “Who is Charlotte? Last name? Where is she?”
Wally hesitated, gaze dropping, fingers trembling as they played with the edge of his shirt. “Charlotte Thompson. She lives off-base, near the shopping center. We usually text or I see her when she visits the base.” His voice wavered. “I don’t tell nobody about her.”
Hank raised an eyebrow. “And what does she tell you?”
Wally’s fingers tapped nervously. “She says I’m special, I got potential. I ain’t just a supply clerk. If I do somethin’ big, Bear’ll finally notice me.”
