Gabe (In the Company of Snipers, #8)(38)
“Can’t think of anything I’d rather do. I mean, old man Lennox made some darn good soup for us last night. What more could I ask for? I didn’t know he could cook, did you?”
“Oh, yes. He and Mei have had us over for dinner a couple times. He’s quite the chef when he’s got the time.”
Gabe rubbed his stomach with a smile. “I’ve never gained weight on an op before. This might be my first.”
Smoky returned with a blue rubber ball and the rubber bone sticking out of his mouth. He sat at Gabe’s feet, his hopeful black eyes fixed on Gabe.
“Where’s home?”
Gabe snagged both the bone and the ball from Smoke. He tossed the ball to the far end of the yard. “Well, let’s see. I was born in Germany when Dad was in the Air Force, but when he and Mom came to the States, they settled in Texas.”
“Oh? What part of Germany?”
“Ramstein Air Force Base, ma’am.”
“Ah, please don’t call me ma’am anymore. It makes me feel old.”
“Sorry. You’re what, all of thirty?”
By then, Smoke had returned with two balls, his cheeks puckered out like a gopher’s.
A half-smile twitched at Kelsey’s mouth at her watchdog’s silly antics. She nodded. “Thirty-one. How about you?”
“Twenty-seven going on eighty.”
“I know how that feels. So you were an Air Force brat?”
“Not that I remember.” He tossed the ball across the yard again. Whisper watched with disinterest from Kelsey’s feet while Smoke launched off the patio in retrieve mode. “Dad met Mom while he was stationed over there. He didn’t re-up. I was two years old when they moved back to the States. His family’s all in Texas, so there we are.”
“Where in Texas?”
“Dallas Fort Worth. You ever been there?”
“San Antonio.” Her voice dropped a tone. “It was April.”
“The River Walk?”
“Yes. It’s beautiful, isn’t it?”
And just like that, Gabe lost her. Her head dipped. She wouldn’t meet his gaze. She must’ve gone to San Antonio with Alex. Death had a way of turning good times into painful memories.
He bounced one of the balls Smoke had retrieved into her lap. Both dogs shifted their gaze to her, bright-eyed and ready to play, but it got her attention, too. She managed to grab hold of the ball and tossed it to Whisper. Of course, he brought it right back to her like the faithful companion he was.
“You feel like taking a walk with me and these rascals? I promise we’ll walk really, really slo-o-o-w,” Gabe teased.
Her poor fingers clattered against the wooden slats as she stood. “I’ll get the leashes.”
“Oh, no you don’t. Just who’s the sickie here? You or me?”
“Me,” she said softly, still blinking her emotions away. “I guess.”
“That’s right, and don’t you forget it.” He walked over to the back door and reached inside for the leashes. Zack was just coming through the front door. “Hey, Lennox. We’re taking the dogs for a walk. You wanna come with?”
Zack walked straight out the back door in a heartbeat. “You bet. Give me that big ol’ moose, Smoke. Gabe, you take Whisper. Miss Shelby’s in the shower right now, but it’s her turn to fix breakfast anyway. We’ll be back by then.”
Kelsey stood at the swing. “But guys, who do I get to walk?”
Gabe handed Whisper’s leash off to Zack. “Me. Here. Take my arm.”
“Great.” Zack huffed in playful annoyance. “I get the dogs. You get the girl.”
“You got that right,” Gabe stated proudly. “I’ll trim that old wisteria thingy that’s taking over your porch swing when we get back, too.”
“Oh, you don’t need to. I’m just glad you guys are here,” she whispered as they started toward the driveway gate.
Gabe clamped his hand over the top of hers, careful of her fingers. “Me, too, Kelsey. Me, too.”
Chapter Twelve
“Can we talk?” David stood at Mark’s workstation, a black folder tucked under his arm.
That was what caught his eye. Who the hell’s running a black op I don’t know about?
Before long, the two men sat at the small conference table in Alex’s office, where he’d debriefed them in days not so long past. It was the place of one-on-one moments with their intense boss. Moments like that built the agent and strengthened The TEAM.
Of course, Alex could also shred an agent who’d fallen down on the job. Heaven help the man or woman who got an innocent civilian killed. He had no tolerance for collateral damage.
“What’s up?” Mark asked.
David ran his index finger inside his white shirt collar. “I know you’re certain Alex is dead—”
“I know what I saw.” Mark heard the sharp sting in his words. He didn’t want Alex to be dead, but it was time they dealt with it.
“And you believe you saw him die.”
“It’s not just a matter of what I believe. I saw it. I saw the blood. God, I saw his body at the morgue. What more do you guys need?” Mark clenched his jaw and waited.