Katie Down Under
Virginia – DEVGRU Gym
Clay let loose all his anger and frustration on the heavy bag. Kick after kick and punch after punch landing with precision as sweat trickled down his face and back. Memories and regret assaulted him which caused him to hit harder. Though the fucked up situation with Ash was most recent ... last night ... his mind focused on Stella at the moment.
Stella's, I can't believe you just said that expression as she stood outside his door when he quipped, 'I didn't die in Mexico,' didn't go over too well. He hoped … wished … internally begged … she would change her mind when she came to pick up her stuff. But she didn't and the kicker, the thing that ripped out his heart yet again, was when she handed him back his key.
After he closed the door, he struggled not to reopen it and call her back, to go down on bended knee and plead with her to stay. But he didn't. She made her choice, and he his … she resented his life as a team guy … and all he ever wanted to be was a top tier operator. It was his core and if she made him choose between his team or her … his brothers would always win.
Going after the guy with the pool stick had been embarrassing. Thankfully, Quinn and Davis had his back and kept him from doing something exceedingly stupid, which might've ended up with him being booted off the team. Not much Blackburn or Hayes could do to save his ass if he was charged with assault. Though after what his ashhole father did, he might still be off.
Jumping into the sack with whats-her-name … Marcie … had been a kneejerk decision … not like him. He never did tell her his name, and the more he thought about Sonny blowing him off, the more he considered the possibility Marcie might have been one of the strippers from the Glitter Girls club the Texan frequented. She certainly left quick enough afterward and didn't even offer her phone number, only a 'see you around' comment.
Sonny sat on the lifting bench, keeping an eye on the kid. He meant what he said to Davis in the plane … the kid needed to rub some dirt on it and walk it off. To which he helped facilitate, allowing him to hook up with Davis that night instead of sitting at the Bulkhead Bar with a broken kaleidoscope … Spenser's only color blue at the moment. Marcie would dust off the kiddo and get him back in the saddle. And he would make sure Clay's asshole father didn't screw with him again either.
Trent sidled up to Sonny and knocked his shoulder. "How long the kid been at the bag?"
"Not long enough and too long," Sonny drawled out.
Ray joined the two men and inclined his head towards Spenser. "Still pining for Stella or is this Ash related?"
"Both probably." Trent blew out a breath. "Who's gonna be the killjoy and stop him before he bruises his knuckles?"
Ray moved forward without comment. This fell to him to sort out while Jason took Emma to her first Krav Maga class. He had been surprised Emma wanted to learn the military self-defense fighting system developed in Israel derived from techniques used in karate, judo, wrestling, boxing, and aikido, but supported her desire.
His talk with Spenser in Qatar appeared to do little good, and last night had been painful to witness too when the kid broke down after finding out his father set him up as the fall guy. The kid needed to get his head back in the game, but they granted him leeway. Clay had been through Hell and back in Mexico and his memories were still fresh for him, whereas for the rest of the team, Stella was ancient history. And Ash ... well, that still needed to be resolved.
"Spenser, time to knock off." Ray stopped next to the hanging bag and halted its swinging as Clay peered at him.
"Not done." Clay inhaled sharply, still fighting the desire to kick the shit out of something.
"You are." He pointed to the poorly wrapped hands … which indicated to Ray that Clay was still fighting demons. "Knuckles can't take much more abuse. Trent will be pissed if you break or bruise them."
"Then I'll kick only." Clay spun and landed a hard kick, unfortunately, sending the bag right into Ray's face. "Ah, shit. Sorry."
Ray grimaced as his hand moved to his nose. Leeway is one thing … recklessness quite another. "If it's broken, you're running the hills for months," Ray ground out, also pissed he didn't react fast enough to avoid being whacked.
Trent and Sonny came forward, Trent going straight to Ray to check for damage.
Eyeing the kid, Sonny said, "Well, Kato, give you a score of eight for the surprise attack and form, but a ten-point deduction for nailing Inspector Clouseau. Not a smart move."
Trent chuckled at the Pink Panther reference, as Ray scowled. Probing lightly, Trent made an assessment. "Not broken … might swell a little." He turned his attention to Clay. "Hit the showers and when you're done, let me check your hands."
Realizing he screwed up, and deciding not to make matters worse, Clay nodded, pivoted, and stalked off without another word.
Australia – Special Air Service Regiment – Gym
Sergeant Joey Koala, a burly but affable man with prematurely gray hair, strode in and observed his squad without them being aware of his presence. He grinned at the antics. Forward thinking, especially after meeting one Alexandra McKenna at a SWAT competition in Canada, he agreed to become the first special ops unit to integrate a woman. Lexa was an amazing constable and sniper, which is probably one of the reasons his friend Dan Broderick was attracted to her. He hoped to arrange a leave to visit Dan and Lexa in a few months.
His version of Lexa came in the form of Kick-ass Katie Kilpatrick. Not as petite as Lexa's five-foot-two, Katie stood five-foot-seven and her physique well-tone and muscular, but still feminine. She held her own against the blokes and possessed a wide range of abilities and training.
A premiere sniper, skilled medic, and superb tactician who saw the matrix, Katie could also fly. That's how they met. In a previous mission, she pulled their bacon off the barbie. As a helo pilot, Katie landed in a hot zone no other chopper jockey would dare and saved their hides.
Koala clapped as Katie sent his 2IC, Mark Holt, to the mat. "Beauty takedown! Gather round, we've got guests on their way, and I need to brief you on our assignment."
Katie stood and brushed her wheat-colored hair behind her ears. She missed her long hair but had cut it in a bob a week after joining Koala's team. Kasey, their entry specialist, had grabbed her braid during a sparring session and chastised her for allowing a handhold which might bring her down. Katie grinned as she recalled grabbing Kasey's long beard and twisting before putting him in a headlock. He trimmed his beard after the session too.
Holt picked himself up off the ground and turned to Koala with a sour expression. Things had been fine until Kilpatrick came along … now they were the laughing stock of special ops, which didn't sit well with him. "Who are we hosting and why?"
"A team of U.S. Navy SEALs and don't be getting your knickers in a bunch … I'm here to tell ya."
Bravo Team's Aircraft – Perth, Australia
Clay slung his pack over one shoulder and slid on his sunglasses as the bright sun caused him to squint. After his shower, they had been called to TOC and spun up for a mission in Australia. His sense of dread increased during the flight, particularly because Jason ranted for a long time about their assignment, none too pleased. Jason's ire was directed at Blackburn and Ellis, both of whom did their best trying to defuse Jason.
Apparently, their hands were tied. Powers above them dictated the conditions … and they had no say. Clay would do his duty, but his still fresh recollections of his acid trip which ended with an arrow in his keister came to haunt him as he slept in his hammock. He tried to ignore his misgivings, not liking the idea of being bait once again, and rational thinking told him the odds of being taken were low.
Clay sucked in a breath and followed Trent and Brock down the ramp. He grinned as Cerberus trotted along beside him. At least if I am kidnapped again, good ole Cerb will find me.
Sonny watched the kid exit and shook his head. His gut knotted up as they learned the details of this op. In flight, he pestered both Trent and Davis for several hours, insisting they tag their Ken Doll with a subdermal GPS tracker. He didn't want to lose the kid again. Funny thing is the kiddo would've probably agreed if they could implant one … but they didn't have one so couldn't. Grabbing his gear, Sonny stomped off the plane in a kafkaesque mood.
"Brother, he'll be alright," Ray said a little nasally through his swollen nose as he noted the tension in Jason.
"You can't promise that. This is no easy task for him. How the hell is he supposed to pretend to be all lovey-dovey with another woman when he's clearly still not over Stella. And after last night ... he is still a mess." Jason clenched his fist, still keyed up and pissed off even after the long flight.
"Clay's a team guy … he will do whatever is necessary. What he doesn't need right now is you questioning his capability. He's off-kilter enough as it is, he needs you to show you have faith in his abilities. You need to communicate you trust him to do his job." Ray picked up his shades and gave Jason a pointed glare before slipping them on.
Releasing his fist, Jason nodded, accepting his friend's advice. He shouldn't go around undercutting Clay's confidence, or this whole mission could go kaput in a split second. They needed Clay and the Aussie operative to go in as a newlywed couple to gather intel which would help them locate Karen and Gareth Dilbert, the international power couple with strong ties to the defense of both the US and Australia.
According to Ellis' info, Karen Dilbert, a U.S. citizen and CEO of Kessler Nautical, an American privately held defense company, supplied highly sophisticated technology to the U.S. Navy. She recently married Gareth Dilbert, an influential and wealthy Aussie, who owned a shipyard with contracts to build ships for the Australian Navy. Three days ago, while on their honeymoon in the Keeling Islands, the duo went missing, their whereabouts unknown.
Presumed kidnapped, though no proof of an abduction existed nor had anyone received a ransom demand. Both countries feared the motive behind their disappearance would be something which might compromise national security, not money. They were here to dig up any lead which would locate the Dilbert's and rescue them too.
This hit too close to home for Jason. The mission in Argentina where they lost Clay when the murderous bitch Arcilla targeted American college students in her sick hunting game still angered him. His men were his brothers, and he needed to ensure they came home from each operation, but it seemed like Clay was on the receiving end of most of the shit that came their way.
Special Air Service Regiment – Hangar
Koala spied the SEALs entering. "Heads up." His squad all stood and followed him as he started across the hangar to meet them halfway. He came to a halt, and his eyes landed in the man he believed to be Hayes. "G'day. I'm Sergeant Koala." He extended his hand.
Jason shook the sergeant's hand as he said, "Master Chief Hayes."
Releasing Hayes' hand, Koala motioned to his team as he introduced them. "My number two, Holt. Kasey, Danvers, Riley, and Kilpatrick."
Reciprocating, Jason pointed out his men. "Perry my 2IC, Quinn, Sawyer, Reynolds, and Spenser."
Katie smiled. "So, which one of you handsome blokes is my new husband?"
Slapping Clay's back and pushing him forward, Sonny quipped, "Ken Doll … be easy on him … he's a virgin."
Clay elbowed Sonny in the ribs, getting a satisfying "oof" from the Texan. "I'm Clay. Ignore Sonny he's not house trained yet."
As the guys all chuckled, Katie stepped to Clay and linked her arm with his. "Well, I believe we will leave the boys," she cocked an eyebrow at Quinn before adding, "and the dogs to work out their plans. I arranged for us to have lunch in a private room. If we're gonna be convincing as newlyweds, we need to speed past any awkwardness and get to know one another."
When Katie tugged him away, Clay shot a what the hell expression at his team, Jason in particular, who only cocked his head and shrugged with a slight grin.
Koala's face split into a huge grin as he spied more than one dumbfounded expression. The blond, blue-eyed SEAL reminded him a younger version of Dan. Spenser appeared as fresh-faced as Broderick did when they did the combined Aussie-Canadian recruit selection testing in Bindoon years ago. "No worries. Your mate's safe with Katie." He pinned his gaze on Sonny and teased, "She'll teach him a thing or two but will be real gentle like."
Sonny laughed. "I like her already."
Becoming serious, Koala turned his focus to Hayes, "Before we grab lunch and begin planning, I want to make a few things clear. First, my squad's lives are paramount. Second, this is a joint mission, and I don't give a pig's arse which one of us the brass puts in charge, but I will have a problem if decisions put my mates at unnecessary risk."
"We are agreed … zero margin for error. Not losing the kid—" Jason stopped abruptly before admitting … again. The two teams moved off to the tables set up with sandwiches and drinks, before gathering around another table to begin the combined briefing.
Special Air Service Regiment – Conference Room
Katie pushed open the door to the smallish room and waited until Clay entered. Letting the portal swing shut behind her, she took a seat first and grabbed a water bottle. "Wanted beer, but Koala said no."
Pulling out a chair, Clay lowered himself to it as he flashed her a quick grin. "Water's fine."
"Didn't know what you might like, you choose which sandwich you want, and I'll eat the other." Katie sipped as she tried to get a bead on her partner for this op.
Clay opted for the roast beef, and found himself rather hungry now, having been too on edge to eat earlier. "So, tell me about yourself." Like with Marcie, he didn't want to offer details first and depending on what she told him he would decide what to share.
Katie lifted the turkey and swiss, took a bite, chewed, swallowed, and consumed more water before launching into a brief history. "I'm third generation SAS … and the first female selected for an assault team. My oldies—"
Clay stopped her. "Oldies?"
"Parents. Anyway, my pops and granddad were both assaulters, and their specialties were as team sniper. My grandmum was a nurse. My mum died when I was born. My grandparents raised me in the outback, and my pops visited every chance he got.
"They taught me to shoot at an early age, and I was flying Granddad's helo by the time I was twelve. Made getting around a lot faster when you live in the middle of nowhere. Grandmum taught me all about first aid, again with nothing close, we had to handle medical emergencies on our own.
"Couldn't decide whether to become a pilot or doctor, but I went into medicine after high school because I got a scholarship. My course changed two years later …" Katie trailed off as sad memories crowded in. She took another bite of her sandwich.
Into the silence, Clay said, "I grew up with my grandparents too. I'm a sniper and second-generation SEAL … my father was a team guy too." Clay inwardly cringed as that slipped out ... and quickly bypassed it by adding, "My mom wasn't in the picture most of my life … then she died."
Katie nodded. "Seems we have a bit in common."
"What happened to stop you from becoming a doctor?" Clay shoved the last little piece of his sandwich in his mouth, not realizing he had essentially inhaled it.
No longer hungry, Kate offered Clay her untouched half as she said, "Pops was killed while on an op in Kandahar. The bloody pilot refused to land, and Pops bled out waiting for exfil. I enlisted to be a chopper jockey so no other soldier would die unnecessarily."
She smiled as Clay took the turkey sandwich. "A year after completing my training, I met Koala for the first time. His squad was in a tight spot, taking heavy fire with two men severely injured. None of the other pilots wanted to take the risk, but I couldn't allow them to perish without trying to save them.
"I landed, and they all got out alive. When they opened up the last of the combat positions to women, my granddad became a huge supporter of me when I told him I wanted to try. I made it through, but selection was a bit dicey … didn't think any of the squads would want a woman. Koala surprised me when he chose me in the first round of drafts. I was his first choice."
She dipped her head and sighed before lifting it. "To be honest, not everyone on the team is happy I'm here. Holt can be a bit of an ass … doesn't think woman belong in SAS and never lets me forget I'm the rookie, though I can outshoot him."
Clay chuckled. "I understand being the newbie. Been with Bravo for over a year now, led men before making DEVGRU, but none of that matters to the guys, especially Sonny. I'm the last to join the team and the youngest, so I am still wearing the rookie badge."
Katie nodded and delved into the next topic which concerned her. "So, anyone at home who might be a bit ticked off about us kissing and such?"
A pang went through his heart, though not as sharp as before. "Nope. How about you? Any guy I gotta watch out for who might come at me with a pool cue?"
"Nope. No time … besides, I haven't found a bloke yet who understands women can possess as much drive to protect our country as men." She waved her hand. "Sorry, I'll not step up on my soapbox."
"I get it. It isn't a gender thing. You are who you are, and what is important to you matters. I respect that." Clay finished the water and leaned back feeling more comfortable with Katie. "So if we are on our honeymoon, what types of activities should we engage in while at the resort? What do you like to do?"
Katie beamed at Clay. "I love water sports. They offer kitesurfing and kayaking among other things. We can mix a little fun with our work. But since the Dilbert's went missing while on a day dive, I think we should schedule one with the same company also to find out as much as we can. And of course, we should laze around on the white sand beaches and play in the blue lagoons to make a convincing couple."
She stood, moved to Clay, and put a hand on his shoulder. "Think we should test out our chemistry in private. Don't think I want to deal with the catcalls from Kasey. He's a good bloke, but he loves to tease the crap out of me." She laughed. "I cut my hair because of him. He pulled my braid."
Clay rose, grinning. "Should I go all protective husband on him and make him pay for that?"
"No worries, I handled it myself … he lost a few beard hairs in retribution." Katie slipped her hands around Clay's waist and tipped her head up. Only two inches shorter than him, their faces would meld perfectly.
Peering into Katie's azure eyes, Clay slowly moved his head until his lips were a fraction of hair's width from hers. A zing went through him which hadn't happened with Marcie … the last time he felt anything remotely similar was the first time he kissed Stella.
Katie closed the distance, pressing her lips softly to his. Their kiss deepened, each engaging wholly. Without realizing it, Clay walked them to the wall, and Katie's back halted them. One hand moved to her silky hair, wanting her more, while the other slid around her back and pulled her closer to him as his body pushed up against hers. When she opened her mouth, he slipped his tongue in to dance.
After several minutes of hot and heavy kissing, Katie pulled back, breathless, and smiled. "Don't think we need to worry about chemistry."
Clay grinned, his boyish yet manly eyes gleaming. "Think I need more practice." He captured her luscious lips again, enjoying himself for the first time in months.
Special Air Service Regiment – Bravo Quarters
"Well, lookie here, Lover Boy finally decided to grace us with his presence," Sonny teased as Clay entered the room set up for the team to rest before taking a commercial flight to the islands later tonight. "How's your lovely wife?" Laughing, Sonny ducked as the book the kid threw at him flew by his head
"Kilpatrick is kind … but don't piss her off, she can snipe your ass, Quinn."
"Heard she plays doctor too." Sonny was happy to see the grin on Clay's face for the first time in a long time.
Rolling his eyes, Clay didn't bother to respond because it would only encourage Sonny to keep digging. He dropped onto one of the bunks, and when Cerberus hopped up next to him, he petted the dog. Getting to know Katie had been fun. They spent the last four hours together laughing, joking around and generally learning about each other's life. He hadn't expected to be looking forward to this op, but spending more time with her … well, he keenly anticipated doing so. He turned his gaze to Jason. "The rest of the planning session go okay?"
"You would know if you had bothered to make an appearance." Though satisfied with Koala and most of the Aussie's team, he didn't like the vibe he got off Holt every time Kilpatrick was mentioned.
Ray gave Jason a reproving glance.
Jason answered, "Yes. We're all set. Bravo is taking lead and cover has been arranged for several of us on the island. Eyes will be on you twenty-four-seven.
Ray asked, "Clay, did you two establish a baseline, so your stories hold up when you interact with the locals?"
"Yeah, we did. Our backstory is set. Simple and based on facts so we can keep it straight. Met when I visited Perth, discovered we share many commonalities and likes, whirlwind courtship, and married today."
Brock moved from lying on his back with his hands behind his head to a sitting position, needing to feed Cerb. As he stood, he asked, "What do you have in common?" He grabbed the bag of kibble and poured some in the bowl.
Though Cerberus wanted to stay close to his boy, hunger won out so he jumped down and padded over to his dish.
Clay understood they would ask, so shared only the non-intimate things, "Both raised by grandparents, snipers, and her father and grandfather were SAS." He left out; we like kissing each other.
"Koala didn't tell us she is SAS royalty," Sonny quipped.
Yawning to stop further questions, Clay laid down and closed his eyes. He was tired from jetlag and not sleeping well lately. He drifted off rather quickly.
When Sonny opened his mouth to badger Clay again, Trent shook his head. "Kid needs to rest, we all do. Long days coming."
Sonny nodded, and a grin remained in place as he reclined on his bunk. Kid seems content and not so down in the dumps. Perhaps this mission won't be all bad after all.
Keeling Islands – Cocos Hide-away on Home Island – Bungalow K
Clay set down their luggage as Katie tipped the driver who shuttled them from the dock to the individual bungalows on the beach. They flew from Perth to West Island before taking a ferry to Home Island where the Dilbert's had stayed. He plopped on the king-sized bed and turned to Katie. "Why does everything say Cocos Island? Thought the archipelago was called Keeling Island."
After setting her purse down on the little desk, she kicked off her sandals and crawled up on the bed. "They've been called both. The official name is Cocos Keeling Islands. The Australian territory consists of two atolls made up of twenty-seven coral islands, of which only two, West and Home islands, are inhabited. North Keeling Island is actually a national park, and bird sanctuary which is located about twenty miles from Home Island."
"Guess I would've learned that if we attended the briefing." Clay winked at Katie. "Enjoyed our session more."
Katie draped herself over Clay's back, resting her chin on his shoulder since the bungalow's wide veranda opened up to the white sand beach and several people appeared to be checking out who just checked in. "Me too. What will it be today … kayaking, kitesurfing, or a stroll along the beach to orient ourselves?"
Glad for the audience which couldn't hear them but boldly stared at the newcomers, Clay took the opportunity to play his part and twisted, pulling Katie into his lap and kissing her before he said, "How about a walk first then kayaking?"
"Sounds like a plan. I'm gonna change into my bathers and some shorts. Why don't you close the doors and change too?" Katie gave him a peck on the cheek as she rose and grabbed her bag.
Clay stood and ambled to the opening. He gazed out at the idyllic scene, and a small pang squeezed his heart. A beautiful place for a real honeymoon … too bad Stella … Clay halted his thoughts as he yanked the glass door closed and then pulled the curtain. Once not visible he fished out his phone to check in. "Hey, we're in Bungalow K. Planning on scoping out the beach and going to the kayak rental place the Dilbert's visited."
Jason replied, "Good. Sonny and Koala will be your tail on land, Ray and Kasey will take over when you go kayaking."
Clay chuckled. "Sonny still wearing his shark repellant bracelet?"
"Yep." Jason grinned, the kid appeared at ease and on point when he left for the airport.
"You need to tell him the bracelet won't protect him from all the deadly spiders and snakes." Clay slipped out of his button-down shirt and tossed it on the bed then reached for his backpack for a t-shirt.
"Nope, nada. Can you imagine the bitching and moaning we'll have to put up with from him? Australia will probably surpass Sonny's dislike for the jungle."
"True. I'll check in when we return to the room."
"Be careful out there. We have no clue what actually happened to them."
"Roger." Clay disconnected and pulled on his shirt. He shimmied out of his jeans and tugged on a pair of swim trunks and slipped his feet into flip-flops, a pair of sunglasses completed his relaxed beach attire. He turned when Katie stepped out of the bathroom.
His jaw dropped taking in the stunning beauty wearing a bikini top and a pair of shorts. In her hand was a tank top she planned to put on. His gawking was interrupted as Katie started laughing and pointed at him. "What?"
"Oh, that's funny, Clay. I need a shirt like that."
Clay glanced down and realized which one he pulled out.
"As a little girl, my room was decorated in unicorns." Katie continued to giggle as she stared at the image of a rhino with the saying, SAVE THE CHUBBY UNICORNS around it.
After pulling his shirt over his head, Clay tossed it to her. "It's yours."
"I can't possibly take your shirt."
"You can." Clay reached for his bag and withdrew another shirt.
Katie moved forward, her hand going out to the scar on Clay's right side under his ribcage. "This is a recent wound."
"A couple of months."
She noted the other scars. Her fingers moved up to his shoulder. "This one is older but still less than a year." She lifted her eyes and met Clay's. "Badges of your courage." She turned and displayed her back. "I got this one the day I pulled Koala's team out of the barbie. Didn't even know I was hit until after we landed. I got out, took five steps and passed out. Koala caught me before I smacked into the tarmac. He was on his way back to say thanks for saving them after handing off his wounded men to the medics."
Clay lightly touched the scar on her left shoulder blade.
Twisting her head, she asked, "Is it ugly?"
He shook his head and leaned down to kiss it. "A badge of courage can never be ugly."
Her smile brightening, Katie slipped on Clay's shirt, now her favorite shirt. "How's it look on me?"
"Perfect."
Beachside Bar
Clay and Katie sat at one of the little bar tables after their stroll up and down the beach. Along the way, they had stopped to strike up conversations with several locals hoping to garner some hint as to the Dilbert's activities which might help locate them. In between, they filled the silence gaps by telling each other about their teammates. That's when the plan hatched to razz Sonny.
He knew Koala and Sonny sat in the shade of the palm trees sipping some frozen concoction a few tables over from them, and he pitched his volume loud enough for them to hear. "I still can't believe Australia has so many deadly animals. Seems like everything wants to kill you."
Katie nodded. "Yeah, even the roos are deadly. Did you know they have this long spear-like claw on the end of their foot which can easily disembowel a person? I wouldn't try to kickbox with them."
"At least you have some cuddly animals too. Like the koala bear." Clay suppressed his chuckle as Katie's eyes widened purposefully.
"Oh, yeah they are, but the Drop Bear is its deadly cousin."
"What's a drop bear?" Clay bit his lower lip as his eyes gleamed with mischief.
"Crikey, you mean no one warned you about the drop bear?"
Clay shook his head. "Why would I need to be warned?"
"Because they account for more deaths than shark attacks and snake bites combined. They are similar in size and appearance to the koala, but deadly carnivorous predators who hunt by ambushing ground-dwelling animals from above. Once prey is within view, they can drop from up to twenty-six feet on top of the unsuspecting victim. The impact stuns their prey, and they sink their long fangs into the jugular vein and rip the neck open.
"Deadly little creatures." Katie shuddered for effect. "Lost one of my best friends to a drop bear. She thought she was safe in her own backyard and forgot to check the trees."
Sonny's eyes landed on Koala. "There's such a thing as a drop bear."
Memories flooded back of Dan teasing Brody about drop bears as he nodded. Raising his voice so it would carry to Katie and Clay, comprehending their ruse, and joining in, Koala said, "Yeah, reminds me of an old friend of mine, Dan. We went through recruit selection testing together. Man, we almost didn't make it."
Koala moved his leg, so the scar he got from the king brown snake which bit him on their last obstacle was visible to Quinn. "See that. A drop bear got me as I was holding the line as Broderick descended a cliff to a ledge about forty or so feet down. The drop bear was only a baby, which is how I survived. It hit my head and bounced but sunk its fangs into my leg.
"One of the sergeants running the testing shot the bloody thing. I swear that is what turned my hair gray … 'cause not only did I almost die, I nearly killed Dan when I dropped the line. Dan ended up injuring his knees when he landed on the ledge."
Struggling to keep his mirth inside, Koala reveled in jerking the Yank's chain almost as much as he did when he did it to Dan before the kangaroo kicked Dan and knocked him out.
Sonny blew out a breath as his fingers twisted the shark bracelet and he unconsciously scanned the palm trees for this dreaded drop bear. Damn, Australia is worse than the jungle and the ocean.
Katie leaned in close, acting like a newlywed and giggled into Clay's shoulder as she whispered. "Koala's story changes every time he tells it. It's actually a snake bite, and he did drop Dan … lucky the bloke didn't bust his kneecaps. Koala said Dan is the best sniper he ever met, and Dan's girlfriend Lexa is a close second. They're both on a Tactical Response Force team in Toronto."
Clay's confidence returning steadily as he began to envision a new future without Stella, he said, "I think we could give them a run for their money."
Katie laughed. "Agree. Ready to go kayaking?"
"Lead the way, Beautiful."
Two Days Later – Bungalow K
Clay brushed Katie's hair behind her ear as he smiled. "Morning, Beautiful."
Azure eyes blinked open and peered up at the face of a wonderful man. She would never regret last night, though both understood it would be a one-time thing. Neither would choose to leave their team, and a long-distance relationship would never work. But stealing one night, indulging their fantasies with a kindred spirit … well, that was something Katie would cherish for a long time. And she would have his funny shirt as a keepsake. "Morning."
"Want breakfast in bed? I can go grab you something?" Clay moved to rise, but Katie's hand stopped him.
"No. I want one more kiss with no one watching."
Clay leaned down and pressed his lips to Katie's, savoring the sweetness. When he pulled back, he gazed at a beautiful and kind woman … who kicked-ass too. She helped him in more ways than he could ever tell her. He now could leave Stella in the past and move forward. Katie gave him hope he would find a woman who wouldn't make him choose and could accept his life fully with no resentment. "You ready for the dive today?"
Scooting up, Katie nodded. Been a while since I've gone scuba diving. I usually surf and occasionally snorkel. But I'll be in good hands with a SEAL."
Clay shifted to the edge of the bed and grinned, but focused on their mission. "Wish we found something more on the Dilbert's."
Katie sighed, understanding it was time to put illusions away and get back to work. She swung her feet out from the covers. "Has Ellis been able to put any more pieces together?"
"No. Jason said everything we've fed her has come up blank. I hope we find something on the day trip." Clay rose, still au naturel, but comfortable in his skin in front of Katie, and moved towards the bathroom. After turning on the water so it could warm up, he returned at the entryway. "I'll be quick, then grab us coffee while you get ready."
Katie's mind now on the job ahead of them, turned and nodded, but said, "I wish they sent in real detectives. Give me something to shoot, fix, or fly, and I'm your Sheila, but investigating a disappearance, not the best part of my skill set."
Chuckling, Clay leaned on the jamb. "About what I said to Jason when we met in the restaurant men's room last night to covertly exchange information. Told him I'm Kato, not Inspector Clouseau. Still not sure why they didn't just assign a real investigator or one of the spooks … this would be more up their alley."
"Another item you missed out on when we didn't attend the briefing session. There is a concern the magistrate and constable assigned to the island might be mixed up in this. The Dilbert's credit card was last used with Kingfisher Tours, but the owner-operator of the dive company, Mike Kingfisher, insists the couple didn't show up at the allotted time.
"Kingfisher refunded the charge, and said he took the day off to go diving with friends … one Bill Keller, the magistrate, and Gary Buckler, the constable." Katie rose and moved to Clay, smiling as his eyes roved over her bare breasts.
Hard to keep his mind on the job when presented with such beauty, Clay nodded. "Um …" he swallowed, willing his lower parts to behave, inhaled, and moved his gaze to her eyes. "But a few of those we talked to indicate the Dilbert's were on the boat."
"Exactly." Reaching Clay, Katie slipped her hands around his neck, pressing her body against his. "How about I wash your back and you wash mine. We can conserve water … well, maybe not …" Her come-hither look communicating she wanted Clay one last time.
Clay grinned and stepped them backward to the shower, ready and willing as their lips met once more.
Aboard the Kobayashi Maru
Trying hard to contain his fists, wanting to let them fly at the Aussie second in command, having already stopped Sonny after the Texan landed a solid punch which sent Holt into the drink and would result in a black eye for Holt, Jason paced below deck on the aptly named rented fishing boat. They were definitely in a no-win situation at the moment.
The Kobayashi Maru's engine broke down about ten miles out from port, leaving them halfway between Home Island and Keeling Island which was the diving destination for Spenser and Kilpatrick. Pissed off, Jason glared at Holt as he asked Ray, who knelt by vessel's engine, "Can you fix it?"
Ray glanced up as Koala and Kasey arrived with tools they scrounged up. "Yeah, I'm fairly certain, but it is gonna take a bit."
"Work fast. Clay and Katie are out there with no backup."
"On it, brother." Ray was as furious as Jason but needed to focus on his task, the kid's life and Kilpatrick's too might depend on it.
Koala glowered at Holt. The soldier had been increasingly insolent, and he didn't like how Holt disrespected Katie. He handed the tools to Kasey, who was a whiz with anything mechanical, as he said, "Holt, go make yourself useful pumping up the inflatable boat with Danvers and Riley."
Holding his hand over his stomach, which revolted with every rock of the boat, Holt tried to explain again. "I didn't leave them alone on purpose. The kippers I ate for breakfast must've been bad. I need to—"
"Shut your fucking mouth, King of Shits," Sonny growled. Angry at the Aussie who failed to board the dive boat because he claimed to be in the bathroom with diarrhea. "You should've called and told us. Jason, Ray, Trent, Brock or I would've high-tailed it over there and went with them. You had one fucking job. Now we have no way to contact them."
His rage spiking again, Sonny rammed his index finger into Holt's chest with every shouted word. "IF EITHER COMES TO HARM, YOU WILL BECOME FISH FOOD!"
"ENOUGH, QUINN," Jason barked, although he totally agreed. "Go help Trent and Brock."
"With what?" Sonny bit back.
Raking a hand through his hair, because frankly there wasn't a damned thing any of them could do until Ray got the engine going or they finished inflating the small rubber emergency dingy, which unfortunately would only fit four of them, Jason halted and locked his gaze on Sonny.
Recognizing Jason's concern, Sonny dialed it back. "I'll go check with Trent if anyone's responded to our call for assistance." He shot one last, you're dead meat, glare at Holt before stalking out of the engine room.
Following at a distance, not wanting to be anywhere near the hotheaded Yank, Holt skulked out realizing how badly he fucked up. He had been too wrapped up in his dislike of having a woman in the squad and failed to perform his primary task … covering a teammates' back.
Though in his defense, the intestinal purge took him by surprise this morning. Believing the dive master would wait for him to arrive, he never expected Kingfisher to leave port without a paying customer. Otherwise, he would've sucked up the embarrassment of making a phone call to Koala while sitting on the crapper as his breakfast made a loud and explosive exit from his arse.
Koala moved closer to Hayes and spoke in a soft tone. "I trust Katie to handle herself if things go sideways."
Jason nodded. "Trust Spenser too, but this is not how we operate. This is how people end up dead."
"I hear ya, mate. Holt will pay for his mistake."
"Don't give a flying fuck about Holt right now. The kid is a trouble magnet … not his fault, but when shit goes down, he ends up paying the price. Last time he was used as bait because he was the only one to fit the profile, a crossbow-wielding maniac drugged him then hunted and shot him in the ass with an arrow.
"Another time, a spook insisted Spenser was needed for an op for his language skills. Kid developed a kidney infection from our last op and was sick. He almost bled out after a hostile jumped him. The kicker, the fucking HVT spoke English, so Spenser didn't need to be there in the first place. Would've lost him if not for the Canadian unit arriving going after the same HVT. Blain's medic saved the kid.
"Months later the same spook, Carlson, retaliated after he was demoted for his screw up. He tried to kill my entire team. Again, the kid shouldn't have been there. He was still recovering from injuries sustained when he was sent with another unit. Spenser saved our asses when he overheard two men speaking Spanish. Carlson ended up torturing Clay and nearly killing him.
"Kid can't even go to an office party at an art gallery or out for ice cream without some weird crap happening to him." Jason leaned on the bulkhead. "Clay saved our lives again in Mexico, and ended up impaled on a whaling hook and almost hung." He blew out a breath. "As I said, I trust his abilities, but trouble always has a way of finding him, and the price is steep."
Koala listened, understanding the master chief's predicament. "Clay sounds an awful lot like my friend Dan Broderick. Blaze his former CO and Jon his current tactical leader, have told me the same thing about Dan. I witnessed it when we partnered in our testing cycle." A small chuckle eked out. "Perhaps it's karma which comes with being a bloody good blond, blue-eyed sniper."
At the mention of Blaze and a blond sniper, Jason asked, "Would this Dan perchance be Blondie?"
Surprise lit Koala's face as he nodded. "You know Blondie?"
"No, never met him. Just recalled Blain's men called him Blaze and his second in command, Winds I believe, talked about Clay being another Blondie."
Koala laid a hand on Hayes' shoulder. "Well, if that is true … I'm both happy and sad for you. If Clay is anything like Dan, he will go to the ends of the earth to protect the innocent and those he cares about. But you will likely go prematurely gray or bald trying to keep him alive in the process."
Sighing and letting his hand drop, Koala then said, "I believe I've got the female version of Blondie on my team. Since I'm already gray, Katie's probably gonna cause my hair to fall out."
Kasey chuckled listening to his CO and rubbed his chin. "At least she didn't pull your hair out by the roots like she did my beard. Last time I yank on a woman's braid."
Aboard the Karnivorous Kookaburra
Having searched below deck while Clay engaged Kingfisher in conversation to keep him distracted, Katie took a moment to scan the area, hoping to find a glimpse of the boat their teams were supposed to be on. Not finding another craft in the waters, her gut twisted in a knot, wondering yet again why Holt had not shown up. She now worried that his absence indicated more than a tardy arrival, especially after finding Karen Dilbert's bag shoved in a locker in the engine room.
Did our questions cause someone to panic? Did we do anything to alert Kingfisher? Where is Holt? What happened to him? Putting aside questions for which she didn't possess answers, Katie plastered a smile on and rejoined the guys. Only she and Clay were on the boat with Kingfisher, so if he was involved in the Dilbert's disappearance, which now she believed might be murder, they should be fine until the teams showed up.
"Sorry, I took so long, honey." Scanning the horizon, she allowed excitement to enter her voice to play her part. "We're almost to Keeling Island."
Mike Kingfisher grinned. "We'll anchor about a mile off the coast … an excellent place to dive. I was telling your husband, this time of year, you might be lucky to run across a pod of pygmy killer whales. They're known to be aggressive in captivity, but docile in the wild."
"Never heard of them," Katie lied, not wanting to appear to be a know-it-all, as she moved closer to Clay, searching for a way to clue him into what she found.
"A rare dolphin with the coloring of killer whales. They are a little bigger than a man. You'll probably see bottle-nose dolphins and turtles too. When you are finished with the deeper dives, we can move closer to the coral reefs. You'll find a plethora of fish, but keep an eye out for the kraits."
Clay scrunched his eyes. "Kites? Do people fly kites on the beach?"
Kingfisher laughed. "No, not kites … K.R.A.I.T.S … is pronounced kites. Kraits are venomous sea snakes. Just don't bother them and they won't bite you. But if you should be foolish enough to tangle with one, I carry antivenom in my med kit."
"Good to know." An idea popped into Katie's head. "Hey, honey, come help me cut up some of the kiwis. We should eat a little something before we dive."
Clay leaned over and kissed her. "Sure thing, beautiful." He stood and clasped her hand as they made their way inside to the small galley. He needed to share a few things with her he garnered from his conversation with Mike.
Katie pulled a knife from the rack as Clay grabbed a couple of kiwis from the hanging basket. She checked if they were alone, not that they wouldn't be since only the three of them were on the boat, before whispering. "Found a bag in a storage locker below. A tag inside said K. Dilbert. Kingfisher is lying about them not being on this boat."
Nodding, Clay spoke in hushed tones, "He let a few things slip when I queried him. He said Gareth Dilbert was a prick and his wife a bitch, and they didn't understand what it was like to struggle to make ends meet. He also said he hoped they drown. I think he might be into something illegal and the Dilbert's threatened to turn him in."
Katie's mind whirled as several seemingly unconnected things clicked into place. "I also found a spear gun, nets, hauling hooks, and several boxes containing shark teeth. It is illegal to fish in the protected waters of Pulu Keeling National Park.
"Though the popularity has waned via conservation efforts, there is still a market for shark fin soup. Those engaged in supplying the demand often use inhumane practices, finning the shark while alive and dumping them back into the ocean where they die because they are unable to swim."
Clay glanced to the opening leading up to the pilothouse as he soaked in what Katie shared. "Could be they stumbled on his operation, and he left them in the water. A mile from shore would only take a strong swimmer about twenty minutes to cover. A beginner could probably make in an hour if they took breaks."
"You thinking what I'm thinking?" Katie sliced one of the fruits.
"Not sure, but perhaps the couple swam to the island. Since Kingfisher is the only tour operator to come to this side of Keeling island, they might try to make their way to the other side and set up some sort of distress signal."
Katie grinned. "Exactly what I was thinking. Wish we could contact our teams. Guess we'll have to play newlyweds a while longer until the cavalry arrives. Then we can confront Kingfisher and arrange for a search of Keeling."
Biting into the sweet fruit, Clay nodded. "We go along with our ruse and do the dive, perhaps have a bit more fun, and rescue the Dilbert's."
"Agreed." Katie tasted the other half of the kiwi, then pressed her lips to Clay's. Kissing him was becoming an enjoyable habit … one which must sadly come to an end shortly.
Aboard the Kobayashi Maru
As the engine roared to life, Ray bumped fists with Kasey. "We did it, brother."
"The bloody thing didn't stand a chance with us both working on her." Kasey grinned. "Though our speed will only be half of what we want."
"True, but better than rowing there in the inflatable." Ray started for the stairs. "You stay here and keep an eye on things. I'll let the bosses know we're back in business."
Reaching the pilothouse, Ray wiped his greasy hands on a towel. "It's going. We'll probably only achieve four knots, which is about five miles an hour. Slower than a sailboat, but faster than rowing, and we have communications here."
Trent shook his head. "Nope. The radio is fried. Davis did her best given the available crafts, but we're lucky this thing is still afloat."
"Satellite phone?" Ray asked, not liking that the radio was out. No-win is truly a fitting name for this bucket of rusted steel.
Brock dumped three soaking wet phones on the table. "No dice. Circuitry is zapped. Can't even piece one together out of all three."
"How the hell did that happen? Those were in a waterproof bag." Ray stared at the team, his gaze ending on Jason.
Beyond pissed, Jason snapped out, "Fate, Karma, Evil Spirits, Klingons, take your pick. Whatever can go wrong has. At this speed, we'll be within range of North Keeling Island in two hours."
Leaning against a portal, Koala wished at least Holt's sat phone survived after he found the open bag under the leaking galley sink. But when Quinn sent Holt for a little swim at the dock with his punch, it was damaged too. "Will Blackburn be concerned when we miss the first checkpoint?"
Giving a slight incline of his head, Jason answered, "Yes, and without ISR in the air, he is blind. He'll likely start pushing your CO for sending out one of your patrol boats."
"Commander Kingston will assist, but response time will be slow. Although Cocos Keeling is within Australian maritime boundaries, the Navy doesn't routinely patrol this area. Will be at least a day before a ship arrives."
Sonny flung the fillet knife he had been fiddling with at the corkboard hanging on the wall. It landed dead center between the eyes of the hastily drawn face, which sort of matched Holt's features, complete with a blackened eye. "Well, the kiddos are fucked then if they need our help within the next couple of hours." He glared at Holt and drawled out menacingly, "Fish food."
Pivoting, Sonny stalked out for a breath of air. He wanted to punch something … someone … Holt … again as his inability to assist his little brother yet again assaulted him. The guilt for Mexico weighed heavy on his soul. Nightmares still plagued him, though he refused to share that with the guys. He continued to wake drenched in sweat to the screams of Clay as they hoisted him on the hook and the silence of the kid as they heaved him over the side of the building.
Brock approached Sonny … his brother still blamed himself for Clay's torture by Doza. They all knew it, though they remained quiet, allowing him time to work through his emotions, but Brock could stay silent no more.
Grasping the edge of the hull, standing beside Sonny, Brock said, "This isn't your fault, and neither was Mexico."
"Doesn't matter whose fault it is … the kid might need us, and we won't be there again. How can he still trust us … me? I let him down repeatedly." Sonny stared at the open ocean. "If I could reach him sooner by swimming, I'd jump in the damned ocean right now … sharks be damned. I'd punch their lights out if any of them tried to stop me."
Finding an opportunity to use humor, Brock chuckled. "Now, Sonny KO'ing sharks is something I would pay to watch. Poor things won't stand a chance if they are between you and Spenser."
Sonny turned his head to Brock and noted the smile, which caused a small one to grow for him. "I'd be King of the Coral Ring."
"Nah, you'd be a Killer Whale."
"You calling me fat? I'll have you know this is all muscle." Sonny patted his stomach.
"No, I wasn't saying that. Read in a magazine that orcas recently killed three great white sharks and their carcasses washed ashore in the region of Kleinbaai, a small harbor town in the Western Cape of South Africa. The killer whales only ate the shark's livers. So, Orcas are one of the most versatile and fearsome apex predators in the world. Just like the Mighty Quinn."
Brock returned his gaze to the horizon. "We'll be there soon, and we'll deal with whatever we find." He sighed. "And the kid trusts you because you always have his back. He doesn't blame you and understands shit happens. He never doubts you will be there for him … just like the rest of us."
Karnivorous Kookaburra – Deck
Preparing to pull on the top portion of his favorite wetsuit, Clay tugged off his t-shirt and caught Kingfisher staring at him. Believing it was his scars that captured the man's attention, Clay shrugged and deflected, "They are from a nasty accident when I was drunk."
Kingfisher stared at the tattoo on the inside of the right bicep. An avid enthusiast of military action movies and books, he took the opportunity to listen to Ash Spenser speak at a book signing in Perth last year. The ex-SEAL sported the same tattoo, but on the outside of his bicep.
He recalled the man saying only members of DEVGRU got them. Hell, this bloke resembles a younger version of the author. His satellite phone ringing interrupted Kingfisher's thought. "Excuse me. Don't go in until I return. I haven't dropped the anchor yet." Kingfisher squeezed past the female to enter the galley and hurried to answer the phone.
After shoving his arms into the long-sleeved neoprene material, Clay zipped up and grinned as Katie exited wearing a shorty which left her shapely legs visible. When she came near enough, he whispered, "Did you hear that?"
Katie gave him a slight nod. "Sat phone. We can use that if needed. Easier to sneak it away and make a call than using the radio." Katie took a seat facing the back of the boat as she bent over and pulled on her boots. "Why the full suit and not a spring suit?"
Clay shrugged. "This one is comfortable. I'm used to it."
She nodded, understanding, but spent several moments eyeing the form-fitting, all black, steamer suit which covered Clay's body from ankle to collar. The SEAL must have his dive suit broken in just how he likes … it sure fits him like a glove. He is one fine silkie. Shaking the thought away, she said, "So which one of us should divert Kingfisher?"
Karnivorous Kookaburra – Galley
"Hello," Kingfisher answered.
Keller paced in his office. "Think we got a problem. Might be a coincidence but …"
"What?"
"Old Bertie was in for lunch at the beachside bar today. He was bragging about making a king-sized haul without doing any work. Apparently, he rented his rust bucket to a bunch of men for the day. Said the woman who called to arrange the rental was willing to pay way more than necessary.
"When Bertie saw me, he came over and voiced concern about his most recent charter. Well into his cups, his mouth opened and didn't shut, most at the bar discounted the conversation as that of a rambling drunkard, but I believe him.
"He said the blokes boarded the Kobayashi Maru carrying large duffels, and from their shape, he thought some might be rifles. When no one was in the galley, Bertie opened one of them and found three satellite phones. He dropped the bag quick and kicked it under the galley sink when they came in.
"As he gave instructions to the men on how to operate his piece of flotsam, he said some spoke with American accents while the others were Aussies. When he finished and was stepping onto the dock to untie the mooring lines, another mate raced towards the boat.
"Bertie only caught pieces of the conversation but overheard the bloke say something about being sorry he missed the Karnivorous Kookaburra because his brekkie caused a bad case of the trots. When the latecomer told them Clay and Katie would not be able to contact them if things went haywire, one of the American's decked him, knocking him into the water.
"A burly Aussie with gray hair yelled at their straggler as he helped him back into the boat, before turning to the tall black-haired American and said, 'Holt's got kangaroos loose in the top paddock.' By their language and mannerisms, Bertie believes they are all Diggers."
Kingfisher moved further into the boat, heading down the stairs to the engine room as Keller spoke, and his mind started connecting the dots. The strange questions from Clay about the Dilbert's took on an ominous meaning. Once out of earshot, he said, "I agree with Bertie. They are likely soldiers. The guy, Clay, has the same tattoo I once saw on a former SEAL."
Keller stopped and peered out his widow. "Did anyone see them board your boat?"
"No, don't think so. We left before first light." Kingfisher opened his storage box.
"Why did you leave without the third customer?"
"Dunno, he just set me off wrong when he came by yesterday. The bloke flashed cash and said he'd pay whatever so long as he could go today. Told him not to be late and I don't give refunds." Kingfisher pulled out his seven-inch-long high carbon steel knife from its sheath as his memory clicked. "Crickey, I know what set me off. The arrogant man said, 'Yes you do. You refunded the Dilbert's when they didn't show.'"
"Bloody hell! Someone is definitely poking around into their disappearance." Keller paced again. "How did the couple you have onboard now pay for the tour?"
"Cash." He lifted his speargun and let the lid of the box slam down.
"You need to get rid of them. Since no one saw them board, nobody can say they went with you. It will be another unexplained disappearance."
"Way ahead of you. They're about to go in the water. They won't be coming out. Might net me a few shark fins when the beasties scent their blood and come to feed on their bodies."
"Good. I'll start damage control here. Call me once they're dead." Keller hung up.
Kingfisher set the phone down, grinned, and headed out. Time to go hunting.
Karnivorous Kookaburra – Deck
Clay rose to grab his wetsuit boots after a quick pow-wow with Katie. After their dive, he would divert Kingfisher's attention again, and she would snag the phone and attempt to contact HAVOC who would tie them in with Bravo. They had discussed confronting him now, but with no weapons, it would be less risky to wait since they had no idea who Kingfisher was speaking to.
Katie insisted another boat might be just beyond their view and if so, they could be armed and if they spooked Kingfisher, things might become a dog's breakfast quick. Clay had chuckled at the term until she explained it was slang for something going terribly wrong.
Pivoting to his left to reach for the boots, Clay glimpsed something which turned him to ice for a split second. He launched himself at Katie just as Kingfisher fired a snub-nose pneumatic speargun. The barbed spear embedded itself in the back of his outer left thigh and he grunted in pain as he and Katie slammed into the deck.
"Bloody hell!" Kingfisher yelled, angry the man foiled his kill-shot which would've pierced Katie's back and heart. He yanked on the thin steel cable attached to the shaft to set the barb, ensuring Clay would be hindered by having the shaft sticking out of his thigh.
Katie's head smacked into the hull, stunning her. She rolled to the side, trying to focus and the first thing she saw was a spear in Clay's thigh, and she heard his cry of pain as the spear jerked.
"What is it with me and fucking arrows and hooks?" Clay mumbled as he pushed himself up, needing to protect Katie who still lay on the deck. He turned and faced off against Kingfisher, his eyes darting around searching for anything he could use as a weapon.
Coming up empty, Clay let out a roar to startle his opponent, as he rushed forward, hoping adrenaline would kick in fast to cover his agony and give him the strength to bring the son of a bitch down. Clay had one shot to disarm Kingfisher, so he went straight for the right hand which held a gnarly-looking knife.
Using a Krav Maga technique, his left hand struck out in an upward sweeping motion towards the outside of Kingfisher's right wrist as he planted his left foot, and used his right to deliver a scoop kick to the man's nuts. The knife went skittering across the deck as Kingfisher dropped to his knees clutching his family jewels.
Clay's move cost him, the pain in his left leg spiked and sent him to the decking too, his vision fading as he barely clung to consciousness.
Katie grabbed for the blade as it slid to her. Recovering the air knocked out of her lungs, Katie inhaled deeply, blinked to clear her vision, and came up in a defensive crouch. She assessed the situation. Both Clay and Kingfisher were down, a puddle of blood forming under Clay's upper leg. Katie noted Clay's pain-filled eyes as their gazes met for only a moment before she refocused on the target. "Stay down, and you live. Don't move or I'll gut you."
Peering up at the bitch, Kingfisher snarled, "You can try, Sheila, but you will fail. You are no match for a man." His hand grabbed the spear's cable lying in front of him and yanked.
"Arrrghh," ripped from Clay's mouth as fire renewed in his leg before he clenched his jaw.
"Drop the cable," Katie demanded, her heart wrenching for Clay. He saved her life and now … she had to save his. She needed to restrain Kingfisher to tend to Clay's wound.
"Or what?" Kingfisher taunted as he wrapped the line around his hand.
"Put it down. Now!"
Kingfisher grinned, believing he had the upper hand. Although not armed, he could cause pain and more damage to the man lying on the deck. "I think not. You are going to give me the knife, or I rip this out." He lifted the wire, pulling a little to show her he was serious. "I'm well acquainted with the size of the hole this produces if it is yanked out rather than pushed through. The barb has expanded inside his thigh. It will tear through flesh creating a gaping hole, and he'll bleed out faster."
Katie bit her lower lip. She too understood the damage a barbed spear could do. Her granddad took her spearfishing several times when she was a teenager.
Not wanting Katie to disarm, Clay took Katie's decision away from her. While both Katie's and Kingfisher's attention were riveted on one another, he rolled, positioning the back of the spear against the hull. In a swift motion, he pushed his leg backward causing the spear to finish its trajectory.
When the spear's tip broke through his skin and the wetsuit on the front of his leg, Clay grunted in pain as he grasped the shaft and pulled it the rest of the way through his leg. The narrow tunnel he created did less damage than if Kingfisher yanked it out the back of his thigh.
Unfortunately, the thin cable which was attached to both barrel and shaft now threaded through his leg. Clay's fist tightened on the spear to prevent more damage if Kingfisher tried to pull the line. Intense waves of pain caused Clay's vision to dim at the edges, but he fought to hang on and used sniper breathing to ride the downward crest.
Regrettably, his act was for naught. Katie's attention wavered for only a fraction of a second when Clay groaned, which was all Kingfisher needed. He dropped the steel cable, more interested in obtaining his knife, as he lunged upward, tackling Katie. They went down in a heap at the stern, Katie's head hitting the hull for the second time in only minutes. Somewhat dazed, her vision slightly blurred, she fought to retain control of the knife and to get out from underneath the muscular man pinning her with his weight as he straddled her midsection.
Digging deep for reserves, finding adrenaline starting to diminish his pain, Clay released the shaft, needing both hands to pull himself up to his knees using the bench seat. Panting and in agony, he finally gained his feet and hobbled towards the two wrestling at the stern … the spear and barrel dragging behind him.
"Let her go!" Clay commanded as he approached, but Kingfisher ignored him. One of the bastard's hands encircled Katie's wrist trying to snap it to loosen her grip on the knife's hilt. The other huge hand clamped on Katie's throat, squeezing the life out of her.
Katie's free hand sought to break Kingfisher's hold on her throat as she bucked and twisted beneath him. She tried to position her booted feet to provide leverage to extricate herself, but the continued lack of oxygen, aided by two hard knocks to the head, caused Katie to blackout.
Seeing Katie go limp, fearing Kingfisher killed her, Clay dropped onto Kingfisher's back and put the man in a headlock. Using all his might, he applied crushing pressure, intending to dispatch Kingfisher to Hell for hurting Katie.
Unable to breathe, Kingfisher released his holds on the woman, as the fingers of both his hands moved upward to claw at the vice strangling his throat. In a last-ditch effort to dislodge Clay before his air ran out, Kingfisher reared up and backward to ram the blond man into the side of the boat.
Not wanting to let go until the man was dead, Clay's body moved with Kingfisher's until the back of his calves came in contact with the gunwhale. He released his hold as his hands wildly sought purchase on anything solid but found nothing as he keeled over the edge, the spear going with him.
Clay sank as the salt water in his wound caused renewed agony. His body came to an abrupt halt, and he realized the barrel remained onboard. Hooked like a damned fish again. He used his arms and right leg to rise to the surface. I need to get back on the boat and save Katie.
Sucking in a deep breath through her burning throat, Katie returned to consciousness. The splash alerted her someone went into the water. As she blinked to restore her focus, Kingfisher's laugh told it must be Clay, and her thought was confirmed when Kingfisher snarled, "You're next, bitch!"
Scrambling up, she struck out with the blade as Kingfisher moved towards her, creating a long gash across the man's upper chest. He possessed longer arms, so his strike caught her on the jaw, sending her careening to the side. She wobbled a moment but lashed out again. This time gouging a deep trail through Kingfisher's gut, causing him to bend over and once again hit his knees as he screamed in agony.
She would've subdued him, but the flexible metal line from the speargun had wrapped around her ankle, and as she moved forward, Kingfisher seized the barrel and tossed it overboard. With the shaft and barrel in the water, the line running through Clay's thigh, her ankle tangled in the same cable, and a shove from Kingfisher, Katie joined Clay in the Indian Ocean.
Keeling Islands – Airfield on West Island – HAVOC
Ellis entered the medium sized warehouse at the airfield they set up as a temporary TOC after arriving on West Island yesterday. She, Blackburn, Davis, and a few technical support members came after the teams, everyone flying the commercial flights to avoid raising suspicions among the tiny local population.
Most of the six hundred or so residents were Sunni Muslims, and although she didn't want to stereotype, Mandy couldn't discount the Dilbert's disappearance might be terrorist related. An insurgent group may have learned of their honeymoon plans and kidnapped them, hoping to force one or the other to divulge secrets which could be used against either the U.S. or Australian forces.
She grinned as she peered at their info board and spotted the ID photos they used to create fake identities for Spencer and Kilpatrick. She was tasked with coming up with a last name for them, though they would use their real first names to avoid problems. As she took a seat, Mandy recalled how she came up with the name.
The day they arrived in Perth, Katie had swept Clay off for a private briefing while the rest of them met with Commander Kingston of the Australian Special Ops. They finished before Clay and Katie returned, and she walked down the hall in search of her quarters for a quick nap before tackling her tasks. Movement in a conference room caused her to peeked through the window in the door. She spied Spenser and Kilpatrick in a heavy lip-lock.
Mandy emitted a soft chuckle when the image of Clay's eyes rounding and his cheeks turning a slight shade of pink when she handed him his ID came to mind. Katie only laughed and said she liked the unique name … Clay Kissingher.
Eric placed both palms on the table and leaned forward as he blew out a breath. This operation didn't sit well with him. He believed his men … his team was being misused. He directed his comment to Ellis, "They are assaulters, not detectives. The CIA or whatever equivalent in Australia should've sent in spooks to figure out what happened to the couple. Then when they found them and if they needed to be rescued, Bravo sent in."
Pulled from her pleasant thoughts, Mandy sighed. "I don't disagree. I'm not happy with what Clay is being asked to do any more than all of you. Argentina was bad enough, and I've pushed back on other ops that wanted to use Clay as bait or for his language skills, especially after the Carlson fiasco … correct that, both Carlson fiascos. But my hands were tied on this one."
Lisa had listened to this same conversation several times now. She peered at both of them and said, "Not helping in the least to rehash. The guys are overdue for their first check-in by an hour, and I can't raise them on the radio or via sat phone. I'm not comfortable with the boat I acquired for them, but it was the only one available. Are you certain we can't get ISR overhead?"
Eric straightened and raked his fingers through his hair. "Still a no go, but the USS Kearsarge, an amphibious assault ship is currently on deployment in the international waters of the Indian Ocean and within a six-hour window of the Keeling Islands. I've been in contact with Captain Kavanagh, and he assures me if we need resources, he can launch up to six Seahawks.
"Additionally, Commander Kingston, ordered one of the Aussie's patrol boats to the area yesterday. They will be standing by to assist if necessary. Although they do not possess helos."
Lisa finally grinned. Blackburn had worked some magic of his own. "How much longer do we give them before we start searching for them?"
"A half hour. If they haven't checked in, I'll contact Commander Kingston and have the Aussies begin a search grid based on the course Jason communicated they planned to take. I'll put Captain Kavanagh on alert too that we might need his help."
Lisa and Mandy both nodded.
Indian Ocean
Katie's first concern when hitting the water was Clay, and apparently, his was her. In the less than thirty seconds they took to survey each other, the boat roared to life and sped away. Had Kingfisher dropped anchor instead of allowing the boat to drift while they prepared to dive, they would've had a minute or so to climb aboard … but he didn't, and now they were bobbing in the middle of the ocean.
His voice pained, Clay said, "Only about a mile to shore. I can make it, can you?"
Treading water, Katie took in the paling face beside her. "You're not gonna last long unless I can stop the bleeding."
Clay realized the weight of the shaft and the speargun, although not significant, would drain his energy and hinder his ability to swim. "Can you cut the cable and pull the wire out of my leg?"
Sadly, Katie shook her head. "Although it is thin, it is steel and this knife won't severe it. But I have an idea that will help with both the weight and slow the bleeding. Give me your arm."
"What are you going to do?" Clay extended his arm, trusting her.
"Sorry, but I need to ruin your wetsuit. Gonna cut off the sleeve and use the material as a compression bandage. I'll disconnect the reel from the speargun, and with the first wrap of the neoprene strip, I'll cover your wound and on the second, fasten both the shaft and the reel to your leg, so they don't drag. They may provide more stable pressure against both wounds, but you won't be able to bend your leg without risking further damage."
"Yeah, okay." As she sliced through the synthetic rubber at his shoulder, another worry popped into Clay's head. "Sharks … won't they be attracted by the scent of my blood?"
Katie sucked in a breath and stopped a moment as she gazed into his eyes as she found courage. "We'll deal with that if it comes to pass. Right now, I need to slow the blood loss."
"Promise … if they come … you swim like hell away from me." Clay's blue orbs bore into Katie's azure eyes. "Promise me."
"I can't."
"Dammit, I'm not going to be the cause of your death," Clay ground out.
"Oh, but I can be yours? You got speared saving my life. Shut up and let me try and save yours." Katie cut at the fabric viciously, the thought of losing Clay to a shark attack tore at her soul.
Realizing he wouldn't win her concession, and the conversation detracted from what they needed to do, Clay shut his mouth. As Katie pulled the barrel up and used the knife as a screwdriver to detach the reel, a solution came to mind. One Katie would not like, but he wouldn't be swayed from.
As the speargun separated from the reel's casing, Katie allowed the unneeded piece to drop as she said, "Alright, this is gonna sting a bit, but I'm going to pull the wire through to so this reel is flush against the back of your thigh. I need you to float on your back, so I can see what I'm doing."
Clay did as requested, grimacing and holding tight to the spear as she carefully threaded the cable through his wound and created securing twists in the wire on both sides to prevent the wire from sliding and slicing further. Groaning when she made the first pass to cover her wire knots and pulled the makeshift bandage tight, Clay gathered up the loose wire in his hand. When Katie reached for it, intending to bind it to his thigh, he refused to give it to her.
"What are you doing?" Katie wiped the water from her face as a wave splashed her.
"Need a weapon."
Katie's eyes nearly bugged out as comprehension hit her like a tidal wave. "You can't use that! It is attached to you. If you spear a shark, you'll be attached to it. You'll die."
"And you might live." Glad for adrenaline masking much of his pain, but aware it wouldn't last much longer, Clay began swimming. He used a combat sidestroke, a super-efficient stroke, which would maximize the distance he could travel before depleting his energy.
Frustrated with Clay, but having no choice, Katie followed him and prayed they didn't encounter any sharks.
North Keeling Island
"Almost there. Stay with me. Please," Katie begged, the fear in her voice clear. They had been swimming for an hour or so. Clay managed a decent stroke for about ten minutes, but the amount of blood he lost zapped him.
For the next thirty-five minutes, she urged him to take a few strokes and then they floated while he rested. The rest periods lasted longer than the swimming. For the last fifteen minutes, she mostly positioned Clay on his back using a cross-chest carry, keeping his head above water as she did a modified back-sidestroke.
Several times he insisted he could swim, and she let him try, but after one or two strokes he would flounder again. That he made it this far… hell, the fact he was still alive ... amazed her.
Katie wasn't too happy about the coral reef they needed to go through, but she wanted to get Clay out of the water as fast as possible, so she chose the shortest route to land. "Watch your feet. The reef can slice them bad," Katie said as she put her protected booted foot on a coral shelf. Preparing to take a short breather before tackling the remainder of the distance, she hoped she would have enough energy left to drag him out of the water.
Floating in and out of awareness, Clay heard Katie. "Hmm k." He rolled away from her, trying to swim by himself again.
"Hey, hey … no! Clay. Let me." Her words fell on deaf ears, and he managed to pull away. Her own strength almost gone, trying to hold him proved impossible.
Clay began to swim, but he ran out of gas and began to sink. In the clear water, he spied the white sand of shore not too distant. Only partially thinking, forgetting he didn't wear the gloves he normally did, he reached out to grasp the pretty blue and black coral to propel himself forward. The rock moved, and a stinging sensation in his palm caused him to yank his hand away at the same moment Katie pulled him up to the surface.
"You idiot … we didn't come all this way for you to drown ten feet from shore," Katie huffed as tears welled in her eyes. This man doesn't give up. His perseverance is a thing to behold.
His gaze fixated on the swimming coral. He mumbled, "Never seen rocks swim. Must not be in Kansas anymore, Toto."
"What?"
Clay pointed.
Katie turned to look as she maintained her hold on him. Clay had been somewhat less than lucid the last few minutes … an effect of blood loss to be sure. The small amount of blood mixing with water around his hand caught her attention first, but the motion beyond overrode all thoughts as she glimpsed the almost four-foot-long yellow-lipped sea krait moving away. The distinctive blueish gray krait banded with uniform width black rings and paddle-like tail spurred her into action.
"Did it bite you?" Katie said as she grabbed for his hand and flipped it over.
Clay chuckled. "Who's the idiot now … rocks don't bite."
Katie's heart seized upon seeing the tell-tale sign of a snakebite, knowing the banded sea krait's venom was a very powerful neurotoxin, and depending on how much the krait injected, could be lethal. No, oh God no! How am I going to save him now?
.
... to be continued in AI-L
AN: Hope you enjoyed the first of a multi-chapter story again. This will pick up with AI-L. Okay ... sorry, the evil muse made me leave this one on a cliffy, but at 14,000+ words it was getting rather long. Doing another chapter will allow me to incorporate all my ideas for this storyline.
Drop me a review and let me know what you think ... I love knowing what you like so I can do more of it.
Suggestions for L and M are welcome. Contributors for K are:
- Kangaroo from NetMyne01, Victoria-Annxx
- Kaleidoscope from Megan Rachel
- Kansas from Victoria-Annxx
- Karate from Victoria-Annxx
- Karma from floopdeedoopdee, Juniper, L3gend78, Victoria-Annxx
- Keeling Over from Juniper
- Keen/keenly from floopdeedoopdee, Victoria-Annxx
- Keep/kept/keeping from Lunary
- Keepsake from Juniper
- Key from Juniper, L3gend78
- Kibble from Megan Rachel, Victoria-Annxx
- Kick/kicking/kicked from floopdeedoopdee, Juniper, L3gend78, Megan Rachel, Victoria-Annxx
- Kid/kiddo from Juniper, Megan Rachel, NetMyne01, Victoria-Annxx
- Kidnap/kidnapped/kidnapping from becca, Juniper, L3gend78, Megan Rachel, NetMyne01, Victoria-Annxx
- Kidney from becca, floopdeedoopdee, Juniper, Megan Rachel, NetMyne01, Victoria-Annxx
- Kill/killed/killing/killer from becca, L3gend78, Megan Rachel, NetMyne01, Victoria-Annxx
- Killer Whale from Victoria-Annxx
- Killjoy from floopdeedoopdee, Juniper
- Kill-shot from Megan Rachel
- Kind/kind hearted/kindly from becca, floopdeedoopdee, Victoria-Annxx
- Kindred spirit from floopdeedoopdee
- King from becca, Victoria-Annxx
- Kingfisher from Victoria-Annxx
- Kingston from Victoria-Annxx
- Kiss/kissed/kissing from becca, Chgrgal, Megan Rachel, Victoria-Annxx
- Kite from Megan Rachel, Victoria-Annxx
- Kiwi from Victoria-Annxx
- Knee/Kneecap/kneel/knelt/kneeling from Chgrgal, Juniper, L3gend78, Megan Rachel, NetMyne01, Victoria-Annxx
- Knife from Juniper, NetMyne01
- Knife from becca, L3gend78
- Knock from Megan Rachel
- Knockout/knocked out from becca, Chgrgal, L3gend78
- Knot/knotted from floopdeedoopdee
- Know from L3gend78
- Know-it-all from NetMyne01
- Knuckle/knuckles from Juniper, L3gend78, Victoria-Annxx
- Koala from Megan Rachel, Victoria-Annxx