Page 25 of Cross Down
Ned steps up to me and motions me closer. “Things are worse than we’d imagined, John.”
Chapter
27
I’ve known Nedfor many years, have worked with him on a number of hard cases, but there’s something in his eyes now I’ve never seen before.
Pure despair.
“There’s a…rot or something going on within all areas of the government, civilian and military. Different philosophies—anti-government, anti-progressive, anti-conservative. Just a series of hate groups that have members everywhere. Shit, John, last week, half the members of the FBI field office in Des Moines were arrested for giving support to extremist groups.”
“Didn’t see that on the news.”
“And you won’t. Things just seem to be…slipping away.”
My phone vibrates. I check the incoming call, see it’s from Metro PD. I let it go to voice mail to join its brethren. “I’ve got something to pass along,” I say. “Got a text and phone call from an army buddy of mine, Mel Carr. We served together, did a classified mission two years back in Afghanistan.”
“Whoa, wait a sec. I thought you’ve been out of the army for years.”
“But I stayed in the Army Reserve. And I got called up.”
“What was the mission?”
“Classified.”
“John…”
I say, “I was part of a small group of highly skilled soldiers—both active duty and reserve—escorting a CIA officer into Afghanistan. In and out, but dangerous. Mel is stationed at Fort Bragg with the Eighty-Second Airborne. He said that the base is on lockdown, and certain soldiers are being called up and sent out on secret TDYs. He also said something that just didn’t make sense.”
“Go on.”
“Mel was using a burner phone, and he said that what we did and saw in Afghanistan two years back is connected to the terrorist attacks.”
“Crap, John, what did you guys do over there?”
“A typical mission, Ned, nothing that really stands out when I think about it.”
Ned says, “You need to go see your guy Mel.”
“But Alex—”
Ned’s face changes from sympathy to something else. “Alex has his family around him. He’s getting the best care. If you want to do what’s right for him, for his family, and, damn it, for all of us, you need to go toFort Bragg.”
I loudly exhale. “You’re right. I just hate leaving everyone, especially Willow. She’s scared. She’s scared of going to school. She sees how the teachers are acting.”
“You don’t think Bree or Nana Mama will take care of her?”
“No, it’s just—”
Ned softly slaps my shoulder. “I know. It’s hard leaving her behind and letting others protect her, no matter how much you trust them. You know you’d do a better job. But John, it has to be done.”
I hear a phone chime; this time, it’s Ned’s. He looks at it and says to me, “You can reach me anytime, anyplace. But John, I’m going to say something to you I’ve never said before.”
“Be careful?” I ask.
“No,” he says, bringing his phone to his ear. “Don’t trust anyone.”
Part Two
