Battle Tested Read online

  “We were sitting and talking, when suddenly I heard gunfire,” Isaac reported. “The shot came from the east.”

  “The training center?” Vanessa frowned. “You think it was a random shot?”

  “No way.” Justin swept his gaze across the area, then stepped closer to the table. The top of the umbrella had an oddly shaped hole in it. “The bullet went through here.”

  “Seems strange, unless someone was standing up on higher ground?” Isaac asked.

  Higher ground? Vanessa looked over her shoulder. The hospital was a five-story building not far from the training center. “Are you sure the bullet came from that way?”

  “I’m sure.” Isaac looked at Justin, who nodded in agreement.

  “I concur. It makes sense based on the trajectory.”

  Vanessa shivered, despite the warmth of the sun. “I guess this proves I was the target before, on the tarmac, too.”

  “It looks that way,” Justin agreed. “Did either of you notice anything else? Anyone or anything out of the ordinary?”

  “No.” Vanessa felt guilty that she hadn’t paid more attention to her surroundings.

  Isaac’s phone rang, and his gaze widened in alarm when he answered it. “Are you sure? Okay, I’ll be right there.”

  Vanessa put a hand on Isaac’s arm. “Who was that?”

  “Kyle Roark. Beacon has had a setback. Apparently he’s suffered a small intracranial bleed.”

  “Oh, Isaac. I’m sorry.”

  “Yeah.” He stared at the phone for a moment, before slipping it into his pocket. “Kyle still thinks he’ll be okay.”

  “Try not to worry,” she said, putting her arm around his waist in a half hug. She hated feeling so helpless. “Captain Roark is a great vet. We can take comfort in knowing Beacon is in good hands.”

  Isaac didn’t say anything in response and she suspected he wouldn’t feel whole until he had Beacon home with him.

  After a few seconds, Isaac pulled away. “Thanks,” he said in a gruff voice. “Justin, would you have a cop take Vanessa home? I need to head to the veterinary clinic.”

  “Wait, I’d rather come with you.” Vanessa hated the idea of Isaac going alone.

  He’d helped save her life, not just a few days ago, but now. The least she could do in return was stick by him through this added complication.

  “It’s not safe,” Isaac protested.

  She knew he was right but didn’t like it. She spun around to face Justin. “Does this recent attempt mean I can’t go anywhere in public? What am I supposed to do, sit home day after day? And what about my job?”

  Justin let out a heavy sigh. “Okay, listen. For now, let’s take added precautions. How about if I have a cop escort you both to the clinic and then home? He can hang out with you for a while, too. Will that work?”

  She glanced at Isaac, who shrugged. “I won’t argue.”

  “Works for me, too.”

  “Good.” Justin gestured for one of the cops to join them. “Senior Airman Wade will accompany you to the vet and then see that you both get safely home.”

  “Thank you,” Vanessa said.

  The three of them were silent as they covered the short distance to the veterinary clinic. Senior Airman Wade held the door open for them, then stood off to the side so they could approach the front desk. Airman Fielding, Kyle’s assistant, looked up as they entered.

  “Captain Goddard? Captain Roark told me to expect you.” She flashed a brief smile. “I’ll let him know you’re here.”

  Isaac stood stiff and straight at her side, his expression tense as if he were mentally preparing himself for battle rather than visiting his injured dog.

  Maybe to him, it felt like the same thing. Especially after the recent gunfire.

  She wondered if he was a believer and able to lean on his faith at times like this. Thinking back, she remembered how he’d said Amen after her premeal prayer, but since then he hadn’t mentioned anything more about his faith or believing in God. Was it just because he didn’t like to talk about something so private? Some worshipers were like that.

  Please, Lord, look after Isaac’s physical and mental well-being.

  “Captain Goddard? You can follow me to room three,” Airman Fielding announced.

  “Let’s go.” She took Tango’s leash from his fingers, keeping Tango on her left and Eagle on her right. Isaac strode past her into the exam room, where Kyle waited with Beacon on the stainless-steel table. She followed him inside, hovering at the back of the room, each dog sitting obediently at her side. Beacon wasn’t as alert as the last time she’d seen him, but he thumped his tail in recognition when he caught Isaac’s scent. Isaac crossed over and bent over the dog, awkwardly hugging him and whispering in his ear.

  She met Kyle Roark’s gaze and they shared a brief, sympathetic understanding of what Isaac was going through. Beacon had to make it through this, he just had to.

  Isaac finally stepped away from the exam table. “You’ll let me know if there are any changes?” His voice was low and hoarse.

  “Of course. I promise to keep a close eye on him,” the vet assured him.

  “Thanks.” Isaac turned away, his expression tortured. He moved past her as if she wasn’t there, heading into the clinic lobby.

  Vanessa hurried after him, still holding both dogs. Isaac nodded to Senior Airman Wade, then turned toward Vanessa. “It’s time for us to get you safely home.”

  The reminder of how danger followed her like a shadow made her frown. She hated the thought of living in fear.

  “I have an idea, Isaac,” she said as the two men flanked her on either side. “You could stay at my house for a bit, to help Aiden with the puppies.” The small bundles of fur helped keep her brother grounded, so it made sense that they might be able to offer some solace to Isaac, too.

  He didn’t respond.

  “Aiden has a therapy appointment tomorrow and wants to be sure I can manage the puppies on my own for a while, so he wants to go through everything with me tonight,” she added. “Apparently, he doesn’t trust me to handle them for a full hour. Maybe you could stick around to help.”

  Isaac finally shrugged. “Sure. I’ll stay until the Security Forces cop arrives at nineteen hundred.”

  She refused to let his less-than-enthusiastic response bother her. At least he wasn’t going to sit home alone, waiting for news. What else could she say to him that would offer hope about Beacon’s ability to pull through this latest setback? She had no idea.

  Senior Airman Wade cleared his throat. “My orders are to stay on duty at First Lieutenant Gomez’s home for as long as she wants or until the night shift arrives.”

  “Glad to hear it,” Isaac said.

  Vanessa had the impression Isaac was relieved he had an excuse not to stay. Maybe the puppies would change his mind.

  As they approached her house, they found Aiden knee-deep in another housebreaking session. There was a large square of newspaper stretched out on the grass, where the puppies were encouraged to do their business.

  “Hey,” Aiden greeted them distractedly. Vanessa was relieved that her brother seemed unaffected by the sound of the gunshot just a half mile away. “I think they’re finally starting to get the hang of this.”

  “That’s great news.” Vanessa unleashed Eagle and watched as the Doberman went over to sniff at the puppies. No easy task as they left the newspaper to romp around the yard, keeping Aiden busy chasing after them. Her brother must have been frustrated, but she was impressed by Aiden’s good-natured humor about the whole thing.

  “I’m planning to feed them more mash,” Aiden warned. “But don’t worry, I’ll use the bathtub trick again.”

  “Good idea. Stick with something that works,” she agreed.

  Her brother apparently just noticed the Security Forces cop standing near the front door
. “What’s up with the guard?”

  “Oh, well...” She hesitated, then remembered her promise not to lie to her brother. “There was another gunshot near the Winged Java, so I’ve been offered additional protection.”

  Aiden’s gaze widened in alarm. “You’re okay?” He glanced at Isaac then back at her. “Both of you are all right?”

  “We’re fine,” she reassured him. “But it’s best to take the puppies inside now, just to be safe.”

  Isaac chased one determined pup, Denali based on the notch in her right ear, scooping her up before she hit the sidewalk and cuddling her close for a moment before returning her to the cardboard box in the middle of the yard.

  Just when she thought maybe the puppies were beginning to help soothe his frayed nerves, Isaac abruptly turned away. “You should get them inside. I’m heading home.”

  “Wait!” She rushed to his side. “Are you sure it’s a good idea for you to be alone right now?”

  He avoided her gaze and shrugged. “I have Tango.”

  Tango was a good therapy dog, but Isaac had already confided in her that he didn’t have a connection with the golden the way he did with Beacon.

  “Please stay.”

  “I can’t.”

  She couldn’t force him, as much as she wanted to. Finally, she relented. “I’ll keep you and Beacon in my prayers, Isaac,” she softly promised.

  He let out a harsh sound. “Don’t bother. God hasn’t listened to me in a long time. I doubt He’ll start now.”

  “Isaac...” Her heart ached for him, but he didn’t acknowledge her as he walked away.

  She stood long after he was gone, wondering what she could do to help the man who’d turned his back on his faith.

  “What’s with him?” Aiden’s voice broke into her thoughts.

  “Isaac is upset because Beacon had a setback.”

  Aiden winced. “I’m sorry to hear that.”

  “Me, too.” Since there wasn’t anything more she could do for Isaac at the moment, she walked back toward Aiden, picking up Shenandoah before she could leave the yard. “Okay, let’s go inside so you can show me what I need to do to care for them.”

  Safely inside the house, with the cop stationed outside, Aiden went into a detailed description of what he’d been doing to care for the pups, but she was only half listening.

  Deep down, she couldn’t tear her mind away from Isaac’s suffering. Or the implication of the most recent attempt to harm her.

  Sunday church services were only three days away. She was scheduled for a twelve-hour shift on Saturday, but thankfully had tomorrow, which was Friday, off, and again on Sunday.

  Her safety was in God’s hands and those of the cop stationed outside her door. She could pray for Isaac, but longed to do more. Maybe Pastor Harmon had something to offer. The man had an uncanny way of knowing just what his parishioners needed to hear.

  But for that to be successful, she needed to convince Isaac to accompany her to the service.

  Based on this most recent interaction, she was afraid that might be an impossible task.

  * * *

  Isaac stared blindly out the window at his small backyard, battling a feeling of emptiness. He knew that sitting in his house alone wasn’t smart. But he hadn’t been able to stay at Vanessa’s, either. He told himself he wasn’t betraying his promise to keep her safe, because the task had been handed over to Senior Airman Wade.

  Besides, watching the puppies play had only reminded him of the gap left behind in Beacon’s absence. Logically, he knew the dog was getting the best care possible by Kyle Roark, but that didn’t mean he liked being here without him.

  The reckless gunman, likely Boyd Sullivan, was responsible for Beacon’s injury. And he had taken a second shot at Vanessa. He knew Justin was determined to get the guy, but he wanted to help.

  Restless, he rose to his feet, wishing he could find a way to track down Boyd Sullivan. Not that he thought he could manage to accomplish what Justin Blackwood’s team had been unable to do.

  He paced, and when that didn’t work, he clipped a leash onto Tango’s collar and headed back outside. In the past, walking around the base had helped keep him focused.

  Steering clear of Vanessa’s, he walked past the church, his steps slowed as Vanessa’s words echoed in his memory.

  I’ll keep you and Beacon in my prayers, Isaac.

  For a moment, he regretted his harsh response. He’d only spoken the truth, but the shocked expression on Vanessa’s face confirmed he’d been too blunt about it.

  He hadn’t attended church services since he’d been back on base. When he and Beacon had been stranded on the mountain in Afghanistan, he’d prayed day and night for rescue. And the search and recover team had eventually found them. He’d thanked God for that, but in the ensuing months, as he’d been plagued by nightmares while unable to get Beacon returned to him, his faith had vanished.

  His career was in shambles and Beacon had been injured by a nutjob with a gun.

  Where was God now?

  With resolute determination, he strode past the church. He didn’t have a destination in mind as he walked past the officers’ club and the airmen training facilities. When he reached the helipad, he stared at the choppers for a moment, mourning the loss of his career, then turned and headed past the hangar to Canyon Drive.

  He walked in a circle around the base, eventually returning to his house.

  Tango had willingly kept pace with him as he walked for miles and miles. When he returned home, Isaac felt bad for him and made sure to provide the golden with plenty of food and water, along with a special doggy treat. Isaac wasn’t hungry, but forced himself to eat a grilled cheese sandwich that tasted like cardboard.

  After dinner, he stretched out on the sofa, exhaustion weighing him down. Tango stretched out on the floor beside him, but he barely noticed.

  * * *

  “Delta one-five, do you read me, over?”

  Isaac could barely hear their command center over the rat-a-tat-tat of gunfire.

  “Delta one-five, what’s your twenty?”

  The bird jerked beneath the stick and it was all Isaac could do to keep the chopper airborne. “This is Delta one-five, we are under heavy artillery fire. Repeat, we are under fire!”

  A bullet found its mark and the chopper tilted sideways, sending his passenger and best friend, Jake Burke, and his K-9, Beacon, slamming into the side of the bird.

  Sweat rolled down his face beneath his helmet, and he held on to the stick with every ounce of strength he possessed, doing everything possible to keep the chopper in the air, while his copilot had been keeping track of their location.

  “Mayday, Mayday. We’re hit.” He squinted at the landscape below, desperate for a place to land. “Repeat, we’re hit. I’m going down.”

  There! He glimpsed a small field and aimed the nose of the chopper in that direction. Another jerk as the bird took more gunfire.

  Then they were falling, falling...landing with a jarring thud. A tree branch had poked through the window, piercing his copilot in the chest. Isaac yanked off his safety harness and checked for a pulse, but found nothing. Then he scrambled back to check on Jake and Beacon.

  Beacon stood protectively near his handler. Jake’s chest was covered in blood. Isaac ripped off his helmet, intending to do CPR, silently screaming when he realized his efforts were futile. The chopper jerked again and a large explosion filled the air. He saw the bright ball of flames shooting from the engine, seconds before the force sent him reeling backward.

  He saw Jake’s lifeless eyes...then nothing but darkness.

  Noooo!

  * * *

  Isaac awoke to a sore, hoarse throat and the sound of his own screams. Tango whimpered, his paws on his chest, attempting to lick his face.

  For a moment, he gathered the golden clo
se, burying his face against Tango’s glossy coat. His heart pounded in rhythm with the rat-a-tat-tat of gunfire that continued to echo through his memory.

  He lifted his head, and pressed a hand to the center of his chest in an effort to slow his pulse. It had been months since he’d had this particular nightmare. Lately, he’d managed to wake himself up before the crash landing.

  Before he gazed first into his copilot’s slack face and then Jake’s lifeless blue eyes.

  Feeling shaky, he gently moved Tango to the side so he could get up off the sofa. He padded into the kitchen and downed a glass of water, willing himself to stop trembling.

  He knew it was ridiculous to have this kind of response to a nightmare. Especially over something that had happened six months ago.

  The clock on the microwave read zero one thirty. The need to see Vanessa was strong, and he tamped it back with an effort.

  No sense in waking her up in the middle of the night, especially since he had no clue if she was scheduled to work the next day or not.

  Again, he paced the length of the house, unable to release the nightmare’s grip on his subconscious. Later, when he closed his eyes, he found himself right back in the cockpit, fighting to keep the bird in the air.

  While Jake lay bleeding to death right behind him.

  Enough. He couldn’t stay inside the house a moment longer. Sitting here alone wasn’t going to work. He needed to get out. He glanced down at Tango. “How about it, boy? Up to taking a walk?”

  Tango wagged his tail.

  After clipping a leash to Tango’s collar, he headed outside, breathing deep. The cool night air provided a balm for his ragged nerves. He instinctively turned toward Vanessa’s house. He wouldn’t bother her, but would walk past, make sure things were fine.

  Aiden might be having trouble sleeping, too. Lots of combat veterans suffering from PTSD didn’t sleep through the night. Maybe if Aiden was awake, they could talk for a bit. He knew Vanessa wanted her brother to open up to him.

  But when he approached her home, the hairs on the back of his neck stood on end and a wave of apprehension washed over him. As he came closer, he could see a body lying in a crumpled heap against the side of the house.