Chapter 4

Evie opened her cute little clutch and viewed the buzzing cell phone screen. “Unknown number. Hmm. Probably a telemarketer.” She hit the end button and closed her purse. Almost immediately the phone buzzed again.

“Someone wants to talk to you, hon.” Simon nodded toward the purse between them.

“Oh, fine.” Evie removed her phone and slid the bar. “Hello?”

“Major Evielynne Gastineau? I hope this is still the correct number. Please don’t hang up.”

“Who is this?” Evie had been a civilian for almost nine months now. Very few people used her rank anymore.

“Conrad McIntyre. Master Sergeant McIntyre. Is this Evie?” The voice on the other end of the line was not familiar and had a somewhat desperate tone.

“Rad? Is that you? How the hell are you, buddy?” Evie was pleasantly surprised. “Hey, it’s been months and we barely caught up at my separation. You in California? Is this a new number for you?”

“Yeah, I know but it’s not every day a hero leaves the army. Everybody wanted a piece of you.” Never one to mince words, Conrad cut right to the chase. “This is my work number. Evie I’ve got a problem. I need help. Andrea’s gone.” His voice broke at the last sentence.

“She left you? Oh my God! What happened, Rad?” Evie put her phone on speaker, motioning to Simon to remain silent.

“No. No! She didn’t leave me! She was taken, kidnapped. They left a note, then called threatening to kill her.” Evie could hear the tense emotion in Conrad’s voice. “They want codes to my program. Peter doesn’t know yet.”

Simon could hear most of the conversation clearly and was manically scribbling on the back of his VIP program. That’s CM? What’s wrong? Kidnapped? Where? When? Surveillance cameras? Evie had no doubt Simon knew exactly who was on the other end of the phone by her huge smile and the nickname she’d used. It was her army buddy from the horrible days that had gotten Simon soused with her and Pete.

Simon handed the paper to her, pointing at the questions.

At Conrad’s words, her mind immediately kicked into mission mode. “Okay. Got it. Where was she taken? When? Any cameras around?” The questions were rapid fire as Evie scribbled answers on Simon’s program. “Why haven’t you told Pete?” She knew they were as tight as brothers after their last tour in Iraq. They started their business together after leaving the army. They lived in each other’s pockets, for heaven sakes. The last answer took her by surprise.

“No, long story. I’m leaving the company after my project is done. No problem with Peter; it’s me and Andrea. We’re…” The conversation died on the vine.

Evie motioned to Simon to be silent. “Rad, I can hear the particulars later. Got the kidnap. Got the ransom demand. I…”

Simon interrupted, “We’ll be there in a few hours. With reinforcements.” He wasn’t good at following directions!

“Evie, who was that?” Conrad’s confusion was as clear, as was his suspicion.

“My…” She looked at Simon. What was he?

“Boyfriend. I’m Simon O’Sullivan. The one with the transportation. Text the nearest airport to Evie and we’ll be there as soon as we can. Evie can keep you up to date as we go.” Simon moved toward the front of the limo and spoke quietly to Bull as Evie finished the quick conversation.

“Rad, I’m not sure what we can do or how we can help, but apparently we are on our way. And Rad…” Evie blew a kiss to her boyfriend, “Simon has some unique talents. He’ll be an asset. Text me the info. I’ll get back to you. And tell Pete about this. You two are tight. He’ll understand.” She punched the end button.

“Bull, how long to Oakland International?” Simon asked his driver.

“Mathers is gonna kill my ass, boss. Twenty-one minutes according to the GPS.” Bull was shaking his head as he swung the massive limo off the road in preparation for a U-turn. “I may need a new identity after this. You sure you wanna miss your shindig?”

“Yep. Didn’t really want to go in the first place. Dress me up and trot me out? Not my style. But I could see Evie this way every day.” Evie watched Simon punching the number for his private pilot. “Zackary, would you ready the plane for a cross country flight, please? Texas coast. We’ll be there in about twenty minutes. Can you make that?” He really didn’t have to ask. Zack was always ready and so was Simon’s private jet. Evie’d seen it before and knew enough money could make all kinds of things immediately available. “And Zack, can you load my ACC? Thanks. Be there soon.”

Simon sat back and took Evie’s hand with a gentle squeeze. “He’s the Rad? I mean the ex-Rad the Impaler? The one I met a few months back?”

“Yeah. His real name is Conrad McIntyre. I introduced you all before the alcohol started to flow. He started his tech company with Peter Newcastle when they got out of the army after…” Her voice trailed off as she turned her face toward the window. It had been a while, but the memories came flooding back. It didn’t happen as often as it used to, but the power of those memories could still send shock waves through her system and paralyze her mind…if only for a moment…now.

“So, these are the two guys you pulled out of a Taliban cell and dragged to safety?” Evie’s history and the story behind the scars on her body, and her Medal of Honor were not a secret. At her private party after the ceremonious separation, the four had gone drinking. Much to Evie’s distress, Simon had seen way too much, and heard more than any man should have. The upshot was, he knew most everything, and still cared.

“Uh huh. Simon, you don’t have to do this. Tonight is the biggest night of your life. You should be up on that stage, not chasing after me and my messed-up life. You earned this award.” She looked back toward Simon as a little tear formed at the edge of her heavily mascaraed eyelashes. “I can handle this.”

“No doubt. If you can handle an entire army of terrorists chasing your cute butt a hundred miles through the desert, dragging two half-dead soldiers, you can handle anything the world, or otherworld, can throw at you.” He kissed the tear’s path on her cheek. “Amee knew that. And so did Uncle Grady,” Simon whispered. “And it sounds like Rad needs saving one more time. What does his company do again?”

“It’s high tech,” she responded quietly.

“Competition?” Anything that contained the word tech was of interest to Simon.

Evie let out a half-snort, half-giggle. “Not unless you’ve decided to give up games for missile systems. He’s VP for Global Systems Technology. He’s also head engineer on GST’s new targeting system project under contract to the Pentagon. All highly classified stuff. All stuff someone might want in return for his wife.” Evie’s jaw clenched at the idea.

“She’s some kind of journalist, right?”

“Was. A combat photojournalist. Now she’s just a wife.” Evie shook her head apologetically. “I didn’t mean that the way it sounded. She gave up taking pictures in some of the most dangerous places in the world after they got married. Last I talked to Andi a couple months ago, she was struggling with it.” Evie tugged on her fancy dress and stretched her painted toes encased in leather and sparkly crystal. The parallel was a little too close for comfort.

“I can’t understand why a woman would want to walk into battle with a camera. Crazy.”

“Same reason a man would. It’s the excitement. The desire to do what no one else can. Just because she’s a woman doesn’t make her incapable or unable.” There was a certain tightness to Evie’s retort. “Andrea is a hell of a photographer and cool as a cucumber under fire.”

“I didn’t mean to put her down because of her gender, Major Evielynne Gastineau.” Evie felt Simon’s fingers on her chin as he gently turned her face toward him. “I would never do that. You’d shoot me or something really dangerous and painful.” He smiled sweetly at her. “I just wonder why she wanted to take pictures of combat. All that blood. The violence…”

“Exactly, Simon. She wanted to show the world how grisly and violent conflict is. How in a world of all kinds of people, one religious sect can gain such control through war and combat, not to mention terrorism. She wanted to put a face on it. Show the real truth behind the constant war in the Middle East. She wanted to shine a light on the devastation and pain it brings to those who must live in the midst of such desolation and destruction.”

“A worthy cause, to be sure, but dodging bullets? Not so sure about that for anyone.” Simon shook his head. His protective nature was endearing to Evie, but she knew Simon still thought of her as a kind of victim of the war. Someday she hoped he would see through the bumps and bruises to the real person she was. Her real ability. Amee took away the nightmares. Grady gave her back her belief in love and God. Simon, he was a work in progress. One that Evie was willing to wait for. At least for now.

“Everyone has a cause, a goal to shoot for. Sometimes the goal shoots back, Simon. You never know what you’re capable of, until you’re tested.” Evie kissed her man. “Boyfriend, huh? Conrad is probably chuckling about that right now.”

“What’s so funny about having a boyfriend?” Simon looked a little incensed.

“Silly teeny-boppers have boyfriends. Women have relationships.”

“So I’m your what…relationship?” Simon sat up straight in his seat extending his hand to some invisible individual. “Hi, I’m Simon O’Sullivan, Evielynne’s relationshipee. Glad to meet you.” Simon grinned and shook the invisible hand with vigor.

“Simon, quit!” Evie smacked her relationshipee in the shoulder.

“Knock that stuff off, kids. We’re here,” Bull announced from the front seat. “ID?”

Both Simon and Evie dug out their identification and passed it to Bull. “We used to just drive right on through to the hangar. Now it’s all, ID and security.” Simon waved at the guard.

“Sign of the times. Oakland isn’t what it used to be, boss.” Bull passed their IDs back after displaying them to the guard.

“Sometimes these are. Not so sure about that anymore,” Evie caught Simon’s soft comment.

“You’re sounding more and more like your uncle all the time.” Evie laughed and squirmed in her satin cling-wrap. “Simon, I can’t show up in Texas like this.” She tugged at the bodice for the tenth time. “Conrad won’t recognize me! And I can’t hardly move without falling out the top of this thing.”

“Okay.” Simon grinned at her cleavage. “I won’t mind. Promise!” His grin widened as he crossed his heart. Evie was about to offer another shoulder smack at his statement.

Bull howled in the front seat. “Dangerous ground, my boy. Dangerous ground.” He took a deep breath to end the laughing-out-loud response. “Evie, don’t leave any blood on the seat, girl. My boss is par-tic-u-lar about his wheels.”

“Roger that, Bull.” She grabbed Simon’s arm and executed a playful twist and shackle movement.

Simon squeaked

“All right, you two. We be here. Zack has the plane out.” Bull swung the limo up next to the aircraft’s stairway. “Out ya go.”

“Wait, wait, wait. I can’t go like this.” Evie was trying to scoot across the seat in a tangle of tight satin. One spiky heel was caught in the hem of her very spendy dress.

“Not to worry, Major. The ACC is onboard.” Simon stood by the door at attention with a crisp salute.

Bull got out and came around the side of the limo. “Gonna be blood tonight, boss. Yours.” He helped Evie to a standing position next to the car.

“What’s an ACC?” Evie felt the beginnings of suspicion forming in her mind.

“My Alternate Command Center. My version of a go-bag for three.” Simon was obviously proud of his pre-planning. “Got the idea from the major here. Clothes, food, moola, high tech resources. All packed and ready to go at twenty minutes notice.” Simon took a bow. “Shall we?” He took Evie’s arm to escort her up the steps of his private Embraer Phenom 300. The light jet could seat up to nine and could fly at an impressive five hundred and eighteen miles per hour. It had the largest windows of any private jet and even had a window in the head. Simon had purchased the jet after his second game went viral and the company gave him a bonus check for six million dollars. Not bad for three year’s work and a video game that hit the number one spot on Video Game Trader nine months in a row. To date, it had made his company over a billion dollars. He’d given Evie a very in-depth tour when the plane had been delivered and she’d logged the endless list of facts and figures somewhere in her memory. After all, it wasn’t everyday a gal from the Louisiana swamps got to sit in baby ostrich leather seats in a private jet that could cross the country in about six hours.

“Simon, wait. What do you mean a go-bag for three?” Evie pulled away at the bottom of the stairs.

“Me, you, Bull. Zack takes care of his own stuff. He actually lives in an apartment over the hangar right there.” Simon pointed to a set of windows above the main part of the hangar and chuckled. “Like taking the car out of the garage and going for a spin. He cooks, too. We have a dinner of steak and salad waiting.”

“And…” Evie did her Vanna White motion, highlighting her evening attire again. Her dress almost glowed in the afternoon sun.

“Oh yeah. Clothes too. In your size. I checked the labels in your closet.” She watched Simon’s chest swelled with pride. Apparently, he had considered everything…

Well, not everything.

“You did what?” Evie’s eyes narrowed and her beautifully sculpted face scrunched into what could only be called the Perfect Storm. She squinted her eyes, clenched those Vaselined lips and drew her eyebrows together.

“Oh oh. Gonna be blood fer sure.” Bull moved around Simon giving him lots of space. “Com’on, Miss Evie. Get ya onboard before I gots ta report a murder.” He took Evie’s arm and moved her up the stairs gently, but with purpose, and a little enjoyment.

“Oh, murder is way too good for that boy.” She smiled sweetly down at Simon following at a respectable distance. “Did you forget I have personal experience with torture?”

Evie watched him carefully ascended the stairway. She figured Simon’s brain probably kicked in as he kept his eyes glued to the steps. He may have just figured out delving into a woman’s closet was no-man’s land. No man was allowed. Simon had just admitted to the biggest personal trespass in the universe. He’d encroached on sacred land and admitted it out loud to her.

“No, ma’am. I did not.” Bull chuckled. “Let’s get you settled, and I’ll get the car stowed. No real bad stuff till I get back, ya hear? I don’t wanna miss anything.” Bull passed Simon at the doorway. “Best not say a word, boss,” he whispered.

Zack stood in the tiny galley with a smirk on his face. Evie heard the pilot’s comment clear as day. “Told him not to.”

That started Bull’s second round of laughter as he trotted down the stairs. “Be back in a few.” He hollered to the pilot.

“Take your time. Flight plan’s in the system. Waiting for release.” Zack stirred the sautéing mushrooms and onions. He was not only the pilot, but the chief cook and bottle washer for O’Sullivan Airways. After the short exchange he’d heard, Evie suspected he knew his boss would be in dire need of a bottle on this flight, but not the kind with warm milk. She eyed the wine rack pointing to a familiar red, and winked at Zach.

Simon sat down in the seat across the aisle from Evie, still looking at the floor. In his best little-boy-in-trouble voice, he asked, “You’re mad at me, aren’t you?”

Evie took a deep breath and let it out slowly. “There are just some things that are sacrosanct. A woman’s closet is one. Did Uncle Grady never teach you anything about women when you were growing up?” She tried to keep the exasperation out of her voice, and failed. “I’m not mad. I’m just…feeling a little violated.”

By the horrified look on his face, Evie knew Simon was stunned. He turned to her in abject fear. “Evie, I didn’t mean to do anything that…”

Evie burst out laughing. “I’m just kidding, Simon. Yeah I’m a little taken aback that you sneaked into my closet, but what the heck. At least you did it for a sweet reason. And think about it—” She moved to the seat next to him and took his hand. “—in a minute’s notice, we are on our way to Texas to bail out one of my old buddies. And you are missing out on a personal recognition that you have worked for all of your life. Ghost War is a fantastic game and you deserve to be getting your award and bonus. A huge bonus, I might add.” Evie opened her arms wide as if the bonus was bigger than her stretch, which it was. It also presented a delicately perfumed wrist to Simon’s lips. She giggled.

His lips traced their perfectly placed kiss to the tips of her fingers, then rotated her wrist and kissed his way back up. “Still relationshipees then, hon?” Simon deepened his voice, attempting a seductive tone.

That worked for Evie. It made her tingle through and through. Once again, her heart tugged at her mind, wanting to take things to the next step. She pushed it away with a gentle shove. This was not the time, or the place. “I guess.” She sighed with a dreamy smile. Then the storm was back as she pulled away. “Just don’t go messin’ in my closet again, buster.” The gelled and painted nail on her index finger poked at Simon’s nose.

“No, ma’am. Never again.” Simon flipped the arm of his seat up and pulled Evie into his arms. “No need, I already know your sizes.”

She whacked his chest with her free hand before snuggling in and pressing her head to his shoulder. “Didn’t Uncle Grady teach you anything?”

Simon settled back and relaxed. Evie could feel the tension drain from him as she cuddled deeper. “Of course he did. He taught me to stand on my own two feet. To get the best education I could. He always said, Simon, you are in charge of your life. Make it what you want. And I did.” He rubbed the soft exfoliated, creamed, and massaged skin of Evie’s arm up and down as he spoke. “He worked hard all his life and took in my mamma, even when he knew she wouldn’t change. She’d get cleaned up and I’d get fed for a few weeks. Then off she’d go to find another needle and another guy to beat her up. There wasn’t even a question of where I’d go when she lay down in that gutter, and finally gave up on everything, including me.”

“That’s so sad, Simon. At least you had Grady to love and support you. He was a wonderful man. It was an honor to meet him at the end.” Evie’s heart was breaking for the things Simon had endured in childhood. His uncle had been a Godsend for the boy. She had been a Godsend for Simon’s uncle, and the love the old man thought he’d lost.

“Yeah. He got a raw deal, but never complained about it. His belief in the good Lord saw him through and gave him back his love in the end.” Simon raised Evie’s palm to his lips and kissed it once again. “Thanks to you and Amee. That little ghost sure was something.”

“And still is. Thanks to your game. I still can’t believe you designed her before ever seeing the ghost in real life. Or unreal life…or whatever it was.” Evie snuggled closer and closed her eyes.

Before Evie’s run-in with the little pesky ghost on her military base, she didn’t know anything about the old Port Chicago or the historical Port Chicago 50 legal case. She’d never experienced any kind of paranormal thing. That was her sister’s gig, her mother’s sham. Or so she thought. Maybe it was her time in Iraq. Maybe it was just some intergalactic coincidence. Something had switched on her extra sensory perception at MOTCO and shoved her head long into the ghost’s story. There was no backing out. “Doesn’t it make you wonder,” Evie’s voice had a dreamy tone as she lay comfortably in Simon’s arms, “before the infamous explosion at Port Chicago, what might have been? Seaman Grandville O’Sullivan loved his Amee McGee, that’s for sure. When she was killed at the Joe Meyers Theater, her ghost was trapped.” Evie sat up and watched the busy workers on the tarmac outside their window. “What if Amee had survived? What if I’d taken a different assignment?”

Simon played with a crispy curl on her forehead. “Back in the forties, it was unacceptable for Grady, a black sailor, to as much as look at the white daughter of the base Commander. So they met when they could, and kept their love secret. What did they put on your hair?” Evie could feel the curl snap back into place when Simon let go. “Uncle Grady told me the night he was to meet Amee after her shift at the theater, he was going to give her his ring. The explosion separated them forever. Or at least that’s what he thought. Then along came the trial of the Port Chicago Fifty and his conviction. Uncle Grady lived with his disgrace and a love he could never let go of. Until his dying day, he wore that simple silver band he would have given to Amee that night.” He tugged at the curl again, watching it snap back like a spring.

“Simon, quit. I don’t want my hair to crack off, or something.” Evie settled against his chest and held his hand for self-protection.

“I still have trouble believing what I saw with my own two eyes. Uncle Grady so young, so strong. And Amee, sweet and…” She could feel his chest heave as Simon’s voice cracked with emotion.

“They’re together, the way they always should have been, Simon.” She sat up again to look at her boyfriend. “And I have a new respect for my own heritage.” She snorted and gazed out the big windows on the Brazilian jet. “Had I never taken the position at MOTCO, maybe my family talent would never have surfaced. Maybe Grady would never have gone back and Amee would still be haunting the base. But like my maman always says, things happen for a reason. Guess it was meant to be. And look,” She pointed toward heaven. “They’re finally together”

As if somewhere the two lovebirds listened, the thin clouds parted and a beam of sunlight enveloped the plane, for just a few seconds.

“I think it’s pretty cool. I have a relationshipee that can see and talk to ghosts.” Simon pulled her back into his arms. “I don’t know many people who can say that.”

“Not many people admit it because they don’t want to end up in the looney bin. And it was only one ghost. One particular pesky, annoying blonde ghost.” She hugged Simon back and cuddled into his embrace. “Nothing like that ever happened to me before. I used to think my maman and Tootie were just fakes, taking money from dumb strangers and swamp tourists. You gotta admit there is a God and Heaven though, Simon. Because we saw it, didn’t we?” She closed her eyes again and smiled at the memory.

“That we did.” Simon agreed. It would always be a clear and ever-present memory for them both. The love they saw in the young couple still made Simon want to bawl like a baby and Evie knew it. “The sight of Amee holding my uncle’s hand, walking off together, is a gift I thank God, and you for every day.”

The emotions of the moment were just a little too strong for her relationshipee.

“I know what you mean. I thank God every day that I don’t have to sit next to Mrs. Paulson in church on Sunday. What with her singing at the top of her out-of-tune lungs and continual farting…”

It worked.

Simon cracked up and Evie giggled.

“You are so bad, Evie, my girl.”

Just as she was about to offer Simon her gooey lips for a kiss, Bull came bounding through the door. “Car stowed, and another murder averted. Looks like to me.” He’d given up his black suit for a pair of blue Dockers and a Giants team shirt. His ball cap displayed a Nike symbol, like his bright orange running shoes.

“So Superman, found a phone booth, did he?” Zack motioned to the galley. “Take over for me while I get this boat in motion.”

Bull’s British accent was back in place. “You, my good man, are the pilot. And this is not a boat, but a very nicely appointed aircraft. I”—he pointed both thumbs at himself—“am the bodyguard and driver. Not a cook. I do the heavy lifting, chap.” Bull pulled the door up and locked it in place. “But yum, yum, that smell damn good, flyboy.

“Everything’s in the warmer and ready to serve. All you have to do is dish it out after takeoff.” Zack pointed to the fridge. “Cold drinks are chilling. Wine is breathing. I’m pre-flighting. Buckle up, everyone. We just got our clearance.” Zack disappeared into the cockpit of the jet. He hollered back at Bull. “Seat belt extender’s in the closet, big guy.”

“Now that be cold, man.”

Both Evie and Simon chuckled and buckled.