Page 54 of Silent Dust
Swede nodded. “That’s part of what threw us off. Her disguise was so convincing; she looked exactly like Sadie, Hank’s wife. We pulled pictures—tons online, since Sadie’s a famous actress—and Charlotte matched every detail: hair, makeup, even the eyebrow arch.”
Hawk crossed his arms. “What’s crazy is that Hank didn’t catch it in real-time. Only later, watching the footage, did he freeze and say, ‘That’s not Sadie!’ That kicked off the deep dive.”
Kujo added, voice low, “Then she slipped away to the maple tree and climbed it, carrying all her gear. That tree’s no cakewalk. She had the sacks and cooler with her, which makes it even more impressive.”
Bear frowned. “Climbed a tree while disguised, then just hung out there all day?”
Link grinned. “And she didn’t just hang around—once in the branches, she tried to change out of her Sadie look quietly. No noise, no slips. The whole thing was flawless.”
Swede added, with a note of grudging respect, “She planned for everything—even wore a Depends so she wouldn’t have to risk coming down for bathroom breaks. That’s some next-level readiness.”
Warden shook his head, smirking. “Not quite perfect, though. When she finally made her move on Flora, she hadn’t fully succeeded in stripping off all that makeup and those prosthetics. Came at her looking half-finished—like she gave up halfway through a DIY project.”
Bear’s jaw tightened. “So she had eyes on us all day, and no one knew?”
“Exactly,” Link said. “She played us like pawns.”
A low murmur broke out among the others nearby, disbelief and grudging admiration mixing in the air. Hawk shook his head. “A purple-haired woman pulled a perfect disguise, climbed a tree, and stayed there all day, fooling the whole unit? Unreal.”
Blast chuckled. “We’re SEALs—trained for every scenario—and we got played by a crazy lady with a cooler? Unreal and almost hilarious.”
Swede smirked. “Yeah, makes you rethink your systems when someone pulls ‘Sadie’ on you.”
The weight of the moment hung heavy in the cooling air before Bear finally broke the silence.
“Well,” he said, a wry grimace tugging at his lips, “that’s definitely not how I planned the afternoon to go…” He paused, then smiled faintly, eyes sweeping the gathered team. “But I want to thank every one of you for having our backs and standing firm. We fell into a trap, but we fought back. Together.”
The men and women before him nodded, exhaustion and pride mingling in their faces. Bear’s mind already shifted to what came next—tightening defenses, watching harder, learning faster. Charlotte had proven dangerous and cunning, but they were no less formidable.
Around him, the tension began to unravel. Laughter bubbled up—tentative at first, then more freely—threading through conversations like a gentle balm. Faces that had been tight withworry softened, smiles returning as the night promised safety and reprieve.
The sun dipped low behind the trees, painting the sky in soft hues of gold and lavender. Shadows lengthened lazily across the lawn as a gentle evening breeze stirred the cooling air, carrying the faint scent of pine and earth. The world seemed to exhale—a long-awaited moment of peace after the day’s storm.
Bear’s eyes swept over the backyard scene—the soft glow of string lights casting a warm, golden hue over the gathering. His teammates were scattered comfortably around the lawn: some joking and teasing each other, while others joined the children’s game of tag, their laughter mixing with the kids’ delighted cries. Six, Kujo’s energetic K-9, darted between players, full of enthusiasm.
Hank and his wife Sadie relaxed together on a cushioned lounge chair, sharing quiet smiles and soft conversation. Nearby, Hawk and Lindsey sat close on another lounge seat, their ease together evident. The rest of Hawk’s teammates had paired off with their wives as well, each couple engaged in gentle conversation and easy companionship.
Swede and Kujo sat slightly apart from the group, sipping beers and exchanging quiet words as they observed the lively scene. Bear took it all in—the strong sense of togetherness and comfort that wrapped around everyone, easing the tension left from the day’s earlier events.
Flora stood close by, snuggled tight against Bear, each finding solace in the other’s presence after the chaos. “I couldn’t have done this without you,” he murmured into her hair, inhaling the familiar scent of her shampoo, grounding himself further.
Flora smiled up at him, her eyes sparkling with encouragement. “I’m right here,” she replied softly, her fingers brushing against his back. “You’ve got this.”
With Flora by his side, Bear turned to face their friends again, the weight of the moment settling around him. “I’ve got a couple of things I want to share with you all,” he began, feeling the energy shift as everyone turned their attention toward him. “I’ve made a big decision—I’ve decided to retire from the SEAL team.”
A collective gasp rippled through the group, quickly followed by a burst of playful banter.
“Retire? What are you, a grandma now?” Moose joked, elbowing Bear in the ribs. “You can’t just leave us like that! Who’s going to keep us in line?”
“Yeah, Bear,” Link chimed in with a smirk, “you’re too young for a rocking chair! What’s next—bingo nights?”
Bear chuckled, the laughter ringing warmly around them, easing the last threads of tension from the day. “Alright, alright! I’m not planning on knitting sweaters anytime soon. Hank, come on up.”
Hank stepped forward, a proud smile lighting up his face. “I already made this guy an offer, and he said yes,” he announced, voice booming with enthusiasm. “He’s agreed to start a chapter of the Brotherhood Protectors right here in Virginia.”
“Had to beat you to the news, Bear,” Hank added with a wide grin. “But you can fill them in.”
Bear glanced down at Flora, who gave him an encouraging nod, then back at their friends. “So—the Blue Ridge Protectors will be based near Monterey, Virginia, in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains. And every member of my team has a job waiting when they’re ready to leave the service.”
