Author note:
This one fought me all the way. I hope you enjoy the end result. Thanks for the continued reviews. You have no idea how much I appreciate them!
CH 95-Escalation
Emma made it into the next week and still didn't hear anymore from Clay or her dad. She tried not to worry, but it was hard not to let her imagination run wild. She knew that they would contact her when they could. At least they were almost halfway through their deployment. She was counting the days until they came home.
When Wednesday night rolled around, she was a bit hesitant. She had no regrets about responding to Troy's ridiculous and uninformed claims about the military. Particularly when it came to Clay, her dad, and the rest of Bravo. However, she wasn't looking forward to Troy's reaction to her. He seemed really angry that she had challenged him.
Emma walked into class and took her seat. Thankfully, Troy went back to his original place toward the back of the classroom and didn't try to engage her in conversation. Class started and the discussion got going. Again, Troy tried to control the dialogue. Emma also noticed the not so subtle digs he inserted about the military, in particular the Navy. She could feel his gaze on her, but she refused to be goaded.
Class ended without any further incident. Emma stayed behind to ask Professor Donaldson a question about the paper he assigned. She made it out to her car and started on her way home. She didn't notice the dark sedan that followed her and pulled into the end of the parking lot where the driver could see which building, she approached, and then which door she opened.
The rest of the week was quiet. She and Mikayla made it out to dinner on Thursday and she really enjoyed getting to know her new friend better. As she walked out to her car, she got a weird feeling in her gut. She pulled out her pepper spray, got in quickly, and locked the door. She then took a second to look around and saw nobody at all. She laughed at herself and drove home. Koda was there when she got through the door. He was excited to see her, as always, but also excited to go out.
"Just a second bud. Let me get your harness."
Emma buckled his harness and then attached his leash. They went on a short walk as Koda wasn't acting right. He would stop every few steps and lift his nose and sniff at the air. In truth, it was making her a little paranoid. On their way back to the apartment she caught a whiff of skunk wafting across the parking lot.
"Well, that explains it," she said to herself, sure that the offensive odor was what the dog must be smelling.
They got back home, and she finished up some reading, took a shower, and went to bed. It took her a little while to shake the strange feelings she'd been having and settle down to sleep.
As usual, her alarm went off way too early. Emma rolled over and hit the snooze, thankful that today was Friday and she could sleep in tomorrow. When the alarm sounded again, she turned it off and got up. The first thing she always did was check for any emails or messages from Clay. Seeing nothing, she got up feeling dejected and got ready for class.
She juggled her bag and coffee cup as she went to unlock her car door. When she saw the side of her car, she gasped. There, scratched down the length of the driver's side was the word, "BITCH" in huge letters. Her eyes filled with tears. She was angry and scared. Who would do this? Why? Emma noticed she was shaking and tried to calm herself down so she could think. She felt as if someone had slapped her in the face. She needed to report this, but she also had to get to class. She fiddled with her keys and went to unlock Clay's truck. She looked back at her car and tears started pooling in her eyes. She desperately wanted Clay or her dad.
"No, no," she said, talking to herself. "You can handle this." She continued, "I have to get to class. After that…I'll deal with it when I get home."
Emma made it through her classes even though she was extremely distracted. She was going to call the police to make a report. But she wasn't sure what she could tell them. It could have happened any time after she got home from dinner. And there were no cameras in their parking lot to help with identifying the perpetrator. Once she got home, she called it in anyway. The dispatcher took her name and told her an officer would be in touch later that day.
She went about the rest of her day the best she could. The morning's events had made her jumpy and she visible jerked when the officer knocked on her door and identified herself. Emma took her down to the car and she took several pictures and asked Emma some questions. Then she wrapped up the preliminaries and left Emma with a copy of the incident report and her card. When Emma asked about the chances of finding the vandal, the officer wasn't very encouraging.
"To be realistic, this one will be hard to track down. We don't really have any leads to follow. I wish I had better news for you, Miss Hayes."
"Thanks. I knew it was a long shot. I appreciate you coming out."
"Of course. You did the right thing in calling this in. It is now on record and that is something that most insurances insist on for any claims of this nature."
"Thanks again."
"You're welcome."
Her next words gave Emma goosebumps.
"I would be extra careful for a while, more aware of your surroundings, just in case this wasn't random."
"Y-y-yes, of course. Thanks again officer."
As the officer drove off and she was left alone next to her car she began to scan the parking lot. She got a shiver up her spine and walked quickly up the stairs and into the apartment, locking the door behind her. She never noticed the car across the street whose occupant watched the entire scene unfold as he laughed.
Troy sat in his car chuckling as he saw Emma look around the parking lot, like he would be standing there where she could see him. As if he was that stupid. Ha! There was one thing he hadn't expected, the truck she drove today instead. He was really hoping that she would have to drive around in her car all day, announcing to everyone exactly what she was. He wondered about the truck. She told him that she had a boyfriend, but he hadn't seen anyone else enter or leave the apartment while he was watching. He was convinced that was just a lie she told him to make him feel stupid, just like the lies about knowing people in the Navy and her Dad and non-existent boyfriend being SEALs. He started the car and drove away. He had a few more things planned for Emma Hayes to make her sorry that she'd ever tried to make him look like a fool.
Emma sat inside on the couch, trying to concentrate on some homework. She couldn't get the picture of that disgusting word scrawled across her car out of her brain. One of the inquiries got Emma to thinking. The police asked if she had any enemies. The only person she'd recently had any sort of run in with was Troy. Emma dismissed the thought immediately. Sure, the guy may be a bore and egotistical, but he wasn't a criminal. More than likely it was just some miscreant getting their thrills. That thought comforted her. When days went by, including another Wednesday class, and Troy paid her no mind, she was certain that it was all a case of unfortunate luck.
Seven thousand miles away Clay laid down in his bunk, not even taking the time to take off his boots. He was beat. The team had been going non-stop. They were hunting down an HVT that was suspected of several recent attacks in and out of the country. One by one they were rounding up his contacts and closing in on the head honcho. The frenzied pace reminded him of his first deployment with Bravo. The Brass might be saying that the war was winding down, but they had neglected to tell the combatants that. They were just as ruthless as ever. This bastard preferred striking at soft targets that had connections to the US military. He wanted to cause civilian casualties to make a bigger impact and so that the US would be blamed for the loss of innocent lives.
As he relaxed and unwound from the last raid, his thoughts turned to Emma. It had been a couple weeks since he sent her just a quick text to let her know that the team was okay. As tired as his body was, he was certain that part of his weariness was from missing her and not being able to hear her voice and see her beautiful smile. In the face of all the evil he encountered, she was a balm to his soul. He had just about memorized the last email she sent him. She thanked him for being her warrior and bravely fighting the battles that no one wanted to know about. He glanced at his watch to see what time it would be back home. As he gazed on the glowing numbers, he smiled, remembering the engraving on the back. He needed to talk to her, to be reminded of the good in life. He calculated the time difference and realized it would be dinner time. He walked over to the desk and the end of the room and picked up the laptop, starting a FaceTime call.
Emma had just stepped into the shower when she heard her laptop indicate an incoming call. As she turned off the water and hurried into her robe, she was glad that she had turned the volume all the way up and set it on the vanity, just in case.
The picture was fuzzy for a second and then Clay could see her on his screen. Her hair was damp and curling around her shoulders and she was wrapped up in her fluffy, pink robe. He could almost smell the sweet scent of her. His fingers ached to trail across her warm, silky skin.
"Hey Em. Did I get you at a bad time?"
"No, not at all. I was just about to get in the shower. I'm so happy to see you babe."
"Me too honey. Sorry it's been so long, but we've been going non-stop."
"Don't apologize. I'm happy you could call now, and that you're okay."
Clay sighed and scrubbed his hand up and down his face a couple times and then tugged on his unkempt beard.
"You are okay, aren't you," she asked.
"Yea, yea I'm fine. Your dad and the boys are good too."
Emma released the breath she didn't realize she was holding. She looked at his image and could tell even from where she was how tired he looked.
"You look wiped out honey."
"I kinda am. It…it just never ends, ya know?"
His eyes sought hers in an attempt to express what he was feeling.
"It's only…no matter how many we capture or, or get rid of, there's always more to take their place. I wonder if we're even doing any good here."
Emma knew that he believed in what he was doing, he needed to be reminded of all that they accomplished. She hoped she would say the right thing.
"I'm sure it can seem that way to you. But every target you hit, every weapon you take away from them is saving a life."
She watched his face and continued.
"Whether it's here or there, you're taking away that person's ability to harm anymore innocent people. You're protecting me, and Gabina, and thousands more that you don't even know. You do make a difference Clay."
She could see a bit of the sparkle return to his blue eyes and the start of a smile.
"Ahh, Em. Baby, I really wish I could hold you right now."
"I do too. I miss you Clay."
They were quiet for a minute as their gazes held. Koda's insistent growl interrupted their moment. Emma carried the laptop with her out into the living room where Koda was facing the door, teeth bared, growling. Emma could see the fur along his neck standing up.
"What's up with him," Clay asked.
"Oh, there's been a skunk around the last couple weeks. I'm sure that's it."
Clay laughed at the dog.
"Don't go getting sprayed buddy."
But he didn't stop, not even when Emma gave him the command to lie down. Suddenly she heard a thud against the door and Koda barked.
"What in the world?"
Emma set the computer on the side table and cautiously approached the door and looked through the peep hole. Seeing no one, she opened the door just a crack and Koda pushed his nose in and started to grab at something on the ground. Emma pulled him back and looked at what he was trying to get. The sight that met her eyes made the hair on her neck stand up and she screamed and started to shake.
"Em! Emma! Answer me, what's wrong? What is it?"
Emma back away and took deep breaths, trying not to pass out.
"Emma are you okay? What's out there?"
Clay was nearly frantic not being by her side. Finally, she found her voice.
"I,I…it's…ah. I didn't think…"
"Em, show me what it is."
She obeyed and picked up the laptop and switched the direction on the camera to face forward. Clay struggled a little to make it out, but it was a dead squid wrapped with a piece of paper with red letting that read: Squid Kid
After showing Clay, Emma slammed the door shut and locked it. She fell onto the chair, barely able to breath.
"Em, why was that there? What's going on?"
She returned the camera to a self-view. She was raking her fingers through her hair and biting her lip to keep from sobbing. Clay heard her muttering.
"I didn't think it was him. I don't believe it. It's him."
"Emma, who are you talking about? Who did this?"
"I…it's him. It has to be Troy."
"Who's Troy and why would he do this?"
"Oh God! My car," she gasped in realization as her hand went up to her mouth. "He's a guy in my class. We disagreed and…"
Clay now sat ramrod straight in the chair, clutching onto the laptop so hard his knuckles were white.
"Em, baby. I need you to tell me everything."
