Chapter 4
Sitting in a hotel room on the other side of Dallas was the man that had not only killed Brigadier Major Daniel Wilson, but he had killed two other men in the process to get his hands back on the Arrow-Hawk disc. He moved off the bed taking the phone as he went, he was waiting on the line, it was an overseas call. One that wouldn't be billed to the room, he had used a cell phone to send a text message of the hotels number to his contact in China. It was an hour later when the phone had rung that he picked it up and discovered he was on hold. The cello music could be heard in his ear and grated on his nerves.
He moved over to the dresser and picked up the picture. He had been carrying it around in his wallet for quite some time. It was a little old, three years old to be exact, it was the last time he'd seen her. She was a cute little thing, he couldn't help but smile at the smile she had on her face, and those blue eyes of hers shown brightly. He put the picture on the mirror and slid it to the edge so that part of it was under the frame and it would stay there.
The music stopped that had been piping through the phone line stopped. "Have you found the disc?"
"I'm working on it. There can only be one more person who knows, maybe two." His voice was scratchy and turned to walk over to the small icebox in the room and took out one of the bottle waters there.
"Work harder. I'm warning you, the longer you take, the more your life gets gravely in danger."
"Is this about the money? You fronted me half because that was the agreed price. I've been the only one in danger the whole time." He took a drink of water relieving the scratchy feel that his larynx had been assaulted with. "I told you. Everything is volatile over here. You need to calm down and give me the time I requested."
"You've already used up two years of that time. How much harder can it be?"
He walked back and looked into the mirror, his blue eyes looked dull compared to the ones in the picture. His eyes wavered as he looked at her, in her bright innocence. He smiled at her. "Harder than you think, it's not like I can go to the corner store and ask the cashier working, oh by the way, I'd like Army Regulation Retaliation Operational Warheads, and yeah can you throw in the Heat Auto-thinking Warhead Kit in as well. So get off my case. I have a meeting with a man on the inside tomorrow from Fort Bliss, he may know where the disc is." His eyes flicked back to the girl in the picture. "If he doesn't, I think I might know who might, it's a long shot, but I'm thinking this someone will know. But this one is going to be tricky to get to. I'll need time if I have to go after this one."
"How much time?" Growled the voice over the phone.
"Maybe a year. I have to study the process of this person, who they are with now." He sat the water on the dresser.
"A year is too long."
"You waited a year and a half for me to retrieve the disc. Because of you and YOUR slip up, I might add, I've been running around for six months trying to find the damn thing again. I think one year to find it won't hurt, you would have had it a year ago if you had not have jumped too soon. So don't tell me you are running out of patience now."
"One year. That is all the time you have."
He turned the phone off and threw it across the room after his contact had shut down. He put his hands on the dresser and bowed his head, he could feel the weight of despair settling back on him once again. Lifting his head his eyes glanced once more into hers that had been captured in time.
"Jes do you know anything?"
He had asked her likeness on more than one occasion. His finger reached out and traced the picture. "I didn't want to take Daniel from you, but I had to. I bet you are one confused little kid right now. Wish I was there to help you. If Daniel hadn't been such a prick you would still have him."
He moved his finger away and turned around leaning up against the dresser. His eyes fell onto the bed. Brigadier Major Daniel Wilson's will laid on it, at least a copy of one, he walked over and looked at the will which was dated two weeks ago, and then to the one that was dated three years ago. His name had been taken out of the will; Daniel had taken his own brother out of his will. He had taken the original of the old one when he had been in the house three days ago. They didn't have his name.
"Damn it Daniel, why didn't you just give me the damn disc? None of this would have happened, and Jes wouldn't be living with some stranger."
The fax machine he had set up in the room started printing. He walked over to it and watched as the face appeared magically. He turned his head to the side and watched as the Latino face started coming into full view. The picture was a service picture, the Army Ranger beret on his head. Now he had a face for the name on the new will.
"Damn it Daniel," He ran his fingers through his own dusty blonde locks. "Another fucking Ranger. What is it with you and sending Jes around them? Over the summer I couldn't even get around her, she had a whole squad to herself. Now you've given her to one."
He walked back over to the picture. "Jes, you've got to know. I know you have to know where that disc is." He reached up and touched the picture yet again. "Uncle David is coming to talk to you, as soon as I figure out how to do it."
Back near the airport, Ranger finished up in the bathroom. He walked over to the door and saw that Jessie was asleep. Ranger moved back to the bed and sat down. He pulled out his cell phone and dialed home.
"Hello."
"I miss you Babe."
"I miss you too. Mel was upset because her Daddy didn't call before she had to go to bed."
Ranger smiled. "I was busy. I call her every chance I get when I'm away. Did you kiss her for me?"
"Yes, I kissed her for you. Is Jessie staying at school or is she coming home?"
"She's coming home, I was surprised. Steph I am really going to need some help with her. She's rough around the edges. No rounded corners on her at all. Structured, probably had a schedule her whole life."
"I think me and Mel can work on that."
Ranger laughed. "The two loves of my life, so unstructured." Ranger looked at his watch. "I've got to get some sleep, I've got a feeling Jes may beat me awake in the morning."
"Oh no. Not another morning person." Stephanie groaned.
"It'll be okay Babe. We'll get her out of this, it'll just take some time. I love you."
"I love you too. Bye."
"Night Babe." Ranger hung up the phone. He laid it on the nightstand and crawled into bed. His thoughts drifted to the young girl next door. Daniel, I sure hope you knew what you were doing. I don't want to mess up your daughter.
Jessie woke up. She sat up and looked around the room. Her heart raced as she tried to figure out where she was. She looked at her watch, it was 0400. Her body was tuned to the time as her internal clock said it was time to be awake. Slowly everything started to come back to her, like waking from a vivid dream still thinking she was in it. The feeling of loss washed over her just as it had for the last three days.
She moved out of the bed and went to the bathroom. She left the light on and the door ajar to give herself enough light and grabbed the backpack. Her eyes settled on the open door between the rooms. Jessie didn't hear anything and moved back to the bathroom. She took her shower and did her morning ritual and then got dressed in the black jeans and the purple t-shirt.
She opened the door to the bathroom, no change in the room next door. Jessie sat down and pulled out the Gameboy and put in Tomb Raider. She played for about an hour and looked up and saw the light on from Ranger's room. Jessie turned off the game and put everything back in the backpack.
Jessie walked over to the door and looked in. Ranger sat on the edge of the bed and laced up his boots. He looked up and then looked to his watch.
"I think we're missing a third party in our little group. You packed?" Ranger asked.
"Can be, when are we leaving?"
"The plane is set to take off at eight. We have an hour and then we have to head for the airport."
Jessie looked back in her room. "I'll pack. It'll give me something to do." She turned back and looked at him. Ranger gave her smile.
She pivoted and walked back into the room. Her clothes were already in the backpack, and she swept it up off the floor and headed into the bathroom. Picked up her toothbrush, toothpaste, and hairbrush and placed them in it. Jessie took the backpack and headed back to Ranger's room.
"Now what?" Jessie asked.
Ranger grinned at her. Jessie came over and sat on the bed. She watched as he started packing his bag.
"Why don't you go across the hall and see if Tank is awake."
"If he's not?"
"Think of something."
Jessie left her backpack there and went to Ranger's door and opened it up. She left it open and walked across to the room Tank was in. She knocked on the door and didn't get an answer. She knocked again, still nothing, so then she pounded on the door. The door was thrown open.
"Ranger, jeez this is not the military." Tank said and then looked down at Jessie.
Tank stood in his pants that was zipped up and snapped but his belt was not cinched closed. He had no socks, no shoes, and no shirt on. Jessie looked him up and down then went into her drill stance she had learned from watching Captain Harris do over the last four summers, and then bellowed, "That's right, this isn't the military. If this was the military," Jessie poked him in the chest with her finger. "First you would be dressed," She poked him again. "Second, you'd have already had a three mile run," Then she poked him for the third time, "Third, it's mess hall time right now."
Ranger had tried to hold the laughter back but failed. Jessie kept her face straight.
"Damn! Drill Sergeant from hell. Yes Ma'am." Tank saluted her and shut the door.
Jessie turned and laughed. Tank was bigger than anyone she had ever seen before. She walked over to Ranger, "You said think of something."
"I think you got his attention." Ranger put his arm around her shoulder. "Let's give him a few minutes."
Tank came into Ranger's room after he got dressed. "Do I have to be packed too?"
"Pack after we eat." Ranger said.
Breakfast went quickly, on the plane ride Jessie sat between Ranger and Tank. She had the Gameboy out and had the earphones in her ears. She was playing with no volume on. Ranger had been talking to Tank for awhile and she kept her eyes glued to the game screen.
"Shiloh said they still haven't found anything about her Uncle. Are you sure she even has one?" Tank asked.
"That's what she said last night. The private letter I had stated she had an Uncle, but it didn't give me his name, the one he is using now. Daniel said inside that he's had his name legally changed like twelve times already. Did Shiloh not run any of those names that I gave him?" Ranger asked.
"Four of those names came up as being dead." Tank said.
Jessie made Laura Croft jump on the screen, she could feel them talking above her head and they whispered. She only got part of it. It was strange, she didn't know her Uncle David changed his name that many times. The Major told her he worked for Intelligence, but what branch of service or agency he never said.
"All of this stinks." Ranger said.
"Tell me about it. Have you thought about asking Jes if she knows anything?" Tank asked.
"I don't think she knows anything Tank. She's been at school the whole time. You heard her, she thinks he was murdered. She's right, but I don't want to upset her right now. She needs to get settled in first and learn to trust me and Steph."
Jessie didn't take the earphones out of her ears until Ranger had tapped her on the shoulder. She put her seatbelt on as they descended in the plane. Jessie stepped off the plane and followed Ranger and Tank. It had been four hours for the plane ride. Jessie checked her watch, it was now 1200. Ranger looked at her.
"Move your watch an hour ahead. It's 1:00 in the afternoon now." Ranger told her.
"I lost an hour?" Jessie asked.
"Yes." Ranger replied. He led them out of the airport and to the black Bronco that was sitting out front. Jessie changed her watch and looked up as they stopped beside the Bronco.
"How many of these black Broncos do you have?" Jessie asked.
"Too many." Tank laughed.
"I have a BMW, Porsche, quite a few Broncos, and I have a few trucks." Ranger told her and opened the back door. Jessie got in and noticed the guy in the driver's seat. He had aviator sun glasses on, his hair was salt and pepper, he had a weather beaten face and didn't look like he had shaved this morning, his stubble was all gray. He gave her a smile as she got in and sat down.
Ranger came in and sat down beside her in the back seat. "Jes this is Shiloh. He's head of my security at the compound."
"Nice to meet you Sir."
"Likewise." Shiloh pulled the folders he had sitting on the console and handed them to Ranger. "The pack boys are back at it again, messed up a job. Dutch is all over them and has them scheduled for running this afternoon."
Tank got in and shook his head. Shiloh pulled away from the curb.
"Which job did they mess up?" Ranger growled.
Jessie looked at Ranger. This was the first time she heard him where he hadn't been in a good mood. She watched as he flipped through the folders and started scowling.
"Messed up the one on Davis Street." Shiloh answered.
Ranger turned to Jessie. "Jes you still got your fatigues in the backpack right?"
Ranger was smiling and had a funny look on his face.
"Yes Sir." She looked at him, wondering where this was going.
"How would you like to do a little drilling for me?" Ranger grinned at her.
Tank started laughing in the front seat. "I wish I could watch."
"Drill who?" Jessie asked.
"I've got four problems that need to be fixed and since you have your beret and fatigues with you. I think you can handle it." Ranger said.
Jessie thought about it and then nodded. "Okay."
Tank laughed. Shiloh stopped at the light and turned back to look at Jessie and looked at Ranger. "Ric you're the boss, but they are all bigger than she is. I don't think they'll listen."
"They'll listen to her. She had Tank out of bed and gave him a dressing down this morning before breakfast. Tank even saluted her and he was dressed within two minutes after he shut the door." Ranger said then laughed.
Shiloh stopped at the next light and looked back at Jessie; he moved his glasses down so he could get a good look at her. Then he looked at Tank. "You saluted her?"
"Trust me. She's good." Tank told him. "She can straighten them out."
Jessie looked out the window as they pulled up to a gate. The gate opened and she watched the guy in the guardhouse step back in as the gate closed. She noticed the fence that went in both directions, her eyes taking it all in. Ranger looked up when they reached the second gate. Jessie saw the same type of fence only this one didn't have barbed wire across the top like the first one had. She looked at Ranger.
"It's a hundred acres. I like to feel secure when it comes to my family, we'll be home in five minutes." Ranger said.
Jessie looked back out the window. She was used to being fenced in, the school had been fenced in, but they never had barbed wire along the top. Jessie watched as a few houses started coming up on the left side of the road. She noticed the black BMW and Shiloh pulled in beside it.
Ranger got out and Jessie followed with her backpack and Gameboy case. She looked over at the house, it was two story and very large. Jessie watched Tank walk to the house next door.
"Tank lives there with Emma and his kids. Come on." Ranger said.
Jessie followed Ranger and looked back to see Shiloh pulling out of the driveway and leaving. Ranger unlocked the door and held it open for her.
"Welcome Home," He said as she stepped over the threshold.
"Home." Jessie said in the smallest whisper that only she could hear.
Her eyes traveled over the foyer which was rather large. Ranger shut the door and started walking into the house. Jessie followed him. To her right was a formal living room that didn't look like it had seen much use. She turned her head and saw a large formal dining room. They continued on and Jessie stopped. The next room was massive, this living room was fully open and Jessie could see the kitchen was open as well. The only separation for the rooms was the counter that ran the length of wood that butted up next to the cream carpet.
"I missed you."
Jessie watched as the curly brown haired woman threw herself into Ranger's arms. Ranger pulled her to him and kissed her. Jessie looked away and chewed slightly on her bottom lip. When the kissing sounds stopped Jessie looked back at the both of them. Ranger turned them around and he had his arms around Stephanie with his head resting on her shoulder.
"Babe this is Jes. Jes this is Stephanie my fiancée."
"Ranger she's cute."
Jessie's brows knit together and she looked down at herself and then back up to Stephanie. Ranger was grinning at her. Jessie didn't think she was cute. Stephanie unfurled herself out of Ranger's arms and came over to her.
"Let's go show you your room. I hope you like it. Mel and me went all out. We talked Ranger out of his credit card and got it set up for you." Stephanie reached for the backpack.
Jessie took a step back. "I can carry it just fine Ma'am."
Stephanie looked at Ranger and then back. "Why don't you follow me? How's that?"
"Yes Ma'am."
Ranger had his eyebrow's raised as Jessie walked passed him. He didn't say anything about the ma'am thing, but Jessie could see it was coming. Jessie followed Stephanie up the stairs that were off to the side of the living room. Stephanie showed Jessie where her and Ranger's room was, the upstairs family room, Mel's room and then she opened the door to Jessie's room.
Jessie walked in. It was white and pink. Barbie was all over the bedspread and the curtains. Stephanie went to the walk in closet, Jessie looked in and had a smile plastered on her face. Stephanie then went to another door.
"The bathroom is both yours and Mel's." Stephanie said as she opened the door. Jessie followed. "This side is yours. I had to get Mel to move everything to her side." Jessie's side of the double sink bathroom looked spotless, she saw everything spread all over Mel's side and didn't know what all the little containers of things were.
"This is Mel's room." Stephanie opened the door. Jessie took one look, which was all she wanted and spun back around. Mel's room was just like Jessie's only she had every Barbie made and the place looked like a hurricane hit it, clothes, books, and toys, all over the floor.
Jessie walked back in her room. She placed the backpack down on the desk along with the Gameboy case. Ranger sat on her bed and his face was blank. Jessie had the same blank face going as she looked at him.
Stephanie came back in with a huge smile on her face. Jessie noticed that she was excited about the room. "Well, what do you think?"
Jessie looked around and kept her blank face in place. "It's fine Ma'am."
Jessie watched as Stephanie's shoulders fell, the smile she had on faded away and her blue eyes lost the twinkle in them.
"You hate it, don't you?" Stephanie asked as she sat next to Ranger.
She looked around the room one more time and then back at both of them. "Yes Ma'am." The Major had told her to never lie, that it was always harder than telling the truth, because the lie was always found out sooner or later.
When Ranger saw all the pink, he knew it wouldn't work. He put his arm around Stephanie. He felt partly responsible for this; he didn't ask what they were doing. They had both been so excited he caved in and didn't think.
"We'll fix it Jes." Ranger said.
Stephanie sat up and looked at Jessie. "How about I make it up to you and take you shopping?"
Jessie swallowed. "That's not necessary ma'am. The room is fine."
Ranger stood up and he held his hand out for Stephanie. "Actually Babe, I was going to get Jes to handle a problem for me. Why don't we let Jes change and then you can ride with us." Ranger wiggled his eyebrows and nodded his head for the door.
Stephanie took his hand. "Okay."
Ranger looked at Jes. "Why don't you change and meet us in the living room."
"Yes Sir." Jessie said.
Ranger walked out with Stephanie and didn't say anything until they reached the bottom of the stairs. "Barbie? I should have asked what you two had planned for that room." Ranger went to the nearest couch, sat down, and pulled Stephanie with him.
"She hates it Ranger. I was still playing with Barbie at her age and getting into shopping. She cringed when I mentioned shopping."
"She's not used to this. In the military everything is solid colors, green and brown mainly, the fatigues, the boots, and everything. Taking her shopping would be good. She's worse than me at shopping."
Stephanie gasped. "You've got to be kidding me."
"Don't let her anywhere near the GI Joe unless you want to hear about every weapon they have." Ranger kissed her.
"What are we going to do with her for the rest of the day?" Stephanie asked.
"We'll wing it. Spend the day with her tomorrow, she needs a good female to lighten her up." Ranger put a strand of hair behind Stephanie's ear.
"I have a mission, may have to get Lula involved." Stephanie smiled.
Ranger laughed. "Good. Let's hope Mel's not crushed when she finds out they aren't going to be twins."
"One of her is bad enough. I can't handle two of her." Stephanie laughed.
Ranger laughed. He stopped when he saw Jessie come down the stairs. He pushed Stephanie up off of him and they stood looking at her. Jessie was dressed back in her fatigues with the beret on her head.
"She looks like a mini Ranger." Stephanie looked at him, "Don't you have one of those hats?"
"Yes Babe. It's a Captain's beret." Ranger looked at Jessie, "You ready to go get an attitude and take it out on four of my men who can't seem to follow orders."
"Yes Sir."
Ranger grinned and took Stephanie's hand in his. Jessie followed them out to the BMW and got in. They drove for about ten minutes while Stephanie filled Ranger in on wedding details that had come up while he was gone. Jessie tuned it out as she watched out of the car. The one thing she found odd is there were no street signs at all. This place was different and she didn't like the bedroom at all. When the car stopped Jessie got out and fell in behind Ranger like she had been for the last day.
Ranger had stopped and yelled. "Dutch."
Jessie looked around Ranger and saw four men on the field standing around talking.
"Yes Boss."
Ranger stepped to the side and Jessie saw the man as he came over. Dutch was a barrel chested white male, his hair was brown and pulled back in a ponytail. He stopped short as he looked from Ranger and then back to Jessie.
"This is Jes. She's going to take over the drilling. At least for these four."
"Captain's beret army regulation." Dutch rubbed his hands together. "Okay Cap. Let's go meet your men."
Ranger watched as Dutch took Jessie over to the guys. He heard their laughter. Ranger took Stephanie's hand and led her over to a bench to sit and watch.
"Ranger what are you doing? I thought you wanted her out of the military." Stephanie said.
Ranger looked at her. "I want her out, but it's going to take time. She's use to structure, doing everything at a certain time, following orders, being told what to do, and when to do it. You can't take that out over night. Besides this will help with her and straighten up some of my men in the process. I don't feel like drilling them all the time, and they aren't listening to Dutch like they used too."
"But they're going to listen to her?" Stephanie looked at Ranger like he had lost it.
"Just watch."
Stephanie shook her head then turned to watch.
Jessie followed Dutch and listened to everything that was normally done during the drilling. He took her through the training course and gave her the required time that Ranger had said it had to be done in. Then Dutch took them back to the four men.
"They're all yours." Dutch said and then Jessie watched as he trotted off to Stephanie and Ranger.
All four of the men were bigger than Jessie and dressed in fatigues as well. Only they didn't have everything up to code. All of them were laughing like this was the best joke they had heard.
Jessie had her hands behind her back and stood in at ease just watching them. She was standing in front of them.
Taking a deep breath she bellowed, "Rule one! When there is an officer on deck everything remains quiet."
They stopped laughing and looked at her.
"Rule two! When one is at attention where does that head look?"
She watched as all four heads snapped forward and didn't look at her anymore. She moved over the first man and looked him up and down. Jessie crooked her finger for the man to bend down. He did. Then she got in his face. "Do you think this is funny?"
"Ma'am no ma'am."
"You could have fooled me." Jessie said.
She heard laughter at the other end of the line. Jessie leaned back. "Shut up maggot. No one gave you permission to utter a sound." She looked back at the man in front of her. He quickly wiped the grin off he had on his face.
Jessie stepped back. "Since you maggots can't seem to do anything right. Drop and give me twenty."
Stephanie was holding her stomach; it hurt from all the laughing she was doing along with Ranger and Dutch. She had seen Ranger do something like this with the guys on the field, she had been scared watching Ranger do it, watching Jessie do it was funny.
Stephanie wiped the tears away from her eyes, she laughed that hard. "Oh please say I can keep her all day long tomorrow."
Ranger looked at her, "I thought you were going to go pick up some skips tomorrow."
"I am. I want her with me though." Stephanie looked at him.
"You want the intimidation factor don't you?"
"Well, yeah. I want to take mini Ranger with me."
Dutch lost it and fell on the ground laughing his head off. Stephanie kicked him in the leg.
"Yeah Babe. Take her, I think she'll have fun." Ranger looked at his watch then stood up. Then he yelled. "Cadet Wilson, at ease your men."
"Sir Yes Sir." Jessie yelled back and saluted Ranger.
Stephanie watched as Jessie gave the four men the command and all four guys collapsed on the ground. Jessie trotted back over to them. Stephanie noticed her grin was big and she looked like she had a lot of fun doing what she had done to those men.
