In the Dark: Navy SEALs, Book 2

Chapter One

Naval Air Station Annex Dam Neck,
Virginia Beach
16 September ~ 20:12 EST
"We're not going to stand for this," Luther reassured his subordinates.
The four-man SEAL squad sat on the veranda at the Shifting Sands Club, back-dropped by a darkening sky and the pitching waves of the Atlantic. Laughter and the tinkle of chinaware leaked through the panes of the restaurant. The storm sparking lightning out at sea had driven all but the SEALs indoors. There was just enough light coming out of the restaurant behind them that Luther could see each one seated around the stone-top patio table.
Chief Westy McCaffrey had grown a full beard in preparation for his assignment in Malaysia. Teddy "Bear" Brewbaker was a black junior petty officer, as broad as he was tall. Vinny "The Godfather" De Innocentis, just nineteen years old, looked amazingly like a young Al Pacino.
Luther Lindstrom was the OIC, officer in charge, of the squad. As an all-American, upper-middle-class overachiever from Houston, Luther would have sworn up until today that Uncle Sam could do no wrong, but the findings of the Naval Criminal Investigation Service had him reeling with disillusionment.
"It's a fucking cover-up," Westy pronounced, taking a swig of his beer.
It had to be. A week ago Admiral Johansen had assured them that Commander Lovitt would face charges for the fiasco aboard the USS Nor'Easter, yet somehow the NCIS had walked away from their investigation blaming the wrong man.
Their platoon leader, Lieutenant Gabe Renault--aka Jaguar--was going to be charged for the crimes Commander Lovitt was responsible for.
"The Navy wants to avoid a scandal," Luther agreed.
"How're we going to prove that Commander Lovitt wanted to kill Jaguar?" Teddy railed. "Think about it. Everyone's dead." He held up a beefy hand and started ticking people off his fingers. "The DIA officer who was snooping around a month ago died in a car crash. The second one, who was supposed to get us the notebook, disappeared. Then the executive officer went and shot himself in the head. Who else is there?"
No one, Luther thought. Lovitt had done a fine job of covering up his trail, except for Jaguar who hadn't been so easy to kill. But Jaguar had memory problems from post-traumatic stress disorder or PTSD.
"Well, fuck, we can't just sit here!" Vinny exclaimed, thumping the tabletop.
Luther squeezed the tense muscles in his neck. He had no intention of letting Jaguar take the rap for the debacle Lovitt had caused, but short of offering their own testimony, which the NCIS had obviously ignored, how could they prove to the upper brass that Lovitt was responsible?
"Sir."
Luther looked up. It was Sebastian Le�n, materializing out of the dark and catching all four men by surprise. The master chief of SEAL Team Twelve had a knack for showing up when he was most needed. Luther hoped that was the case right now.
With a quick salute, Sebastian dropped onto the bench next to Vinny. "I have news," he said. His habitually impassive expression made it impossible to tell if the news was good or bad. "The FBI believes they've found Hannah Geary," he imparted in his subtly accented English. "They want our help to get her out."
The men exchanged swift glances.
"Out of where? She's still alive?" Vinny asked in astonishment.
"Alive," Sebastian corroborated. "They wouldn't tell me where."
Luther had worked with the FBI before. "Who's heading up the investigation?" he inquired, wondering if the request was accidental or intentional.
"One of their top men. Special Agent Valentino."
Luther's eyebrows went up. Valentino had made himself a legend by breaking up enormous drug cartels and arresting two untouchables from the Italian Mafia. Why would he be involved in the disappearance of a single female?
"I'll go," Westy volunteered, always restless. "I have two weeks before my next assignment."
"I'm with you, Chief," Luther said. "I want to put a bug in the FBI's ear, if there isn't one already."
"Here's the contact information, sir." Sebastian handed him a folded piece of paper.
"Hey, if we could get Geary's testimony, then maybe we'd have a shot at clearing Jaguar," Vinny deduced.
Luther was counting on it. A strategy began to take shape in his head. He gave himself a second to think it through. "Okay, guys, here's what we're going to do. Westy and I are going to find Geary and bring her back here so she can testify for us. Master Chief, you and Vinny need to break into the XO's apartment and see if you can find any proof that Miller didn't kill himself."
"I'd rather go alone, sir," Master Chief said softly. SEALs always worked in pairs or small groups, never alone. Luther regarded him questioningly.
"We could all face charges if Jaguar is convicted," Sebastian explained. "No one needs to cross the line right now."