Fallen SEAL Legacy Read online

  Brownlee rimmed the tumbler with his forefinger. There was a half inch left in his second round. He pushed it aside and looked into Cooper’s eyes, not even trying to hide the tears rolling down his cheeks.

  “Life is pretty messed up, sometimes, isn’t it, Coop?”

  “That it is, sir.”

  “And then someone comes along, and makes you whole again. That’s what Carla did for me. I found her just in time, Coop.”

  Cooper wasn’t going to say anything else. He was still staring at the unfinished drink. He knew it was Libby’ father’s way of saying he’d meet Cooper halfway. But Cooper would have to do the rest of the heavy lifting.

  If they were all to survive this ordeal.

  Chapter 32

  Libby was trying to concentrate on a television program her mother was watching, but she found herself daydreaming, and hoping Cooper would want to spend the night. She knew he’d have to get back to take care of Bay. She’d left her dress and stockings on. So had her mother.

  Both women stood when they heard the key card and then watched the door open. Dr. Brownlee looked tired, coming over to give his wife a hug. Cooper gave a boyish grin to Libby.

  Thank God. All is well.

  At least they appeared to be getting along, and that was a huge relief. Cooper had his shirt unbuttoned, and the back of his hair was mussed a bit, as if he’d been rubbing it. The dark blue of his suit matched his dusk-colored eyes. She could watch him forever, how he walked with that free-flowing style of a world-class athlete, slight hip movement and flat stomach muscles. And the best of all, he was walking straight to her, eyes fixed on her mouth.

  That’s where they touched first. The kiss. Tender, careful, but needy. She wrapped her arms around his neck and he pulled her into him and he sighed into the side of her hair as he held her. She let him just hold her for several minutes.

  And then it occurred to her. He wasn’t going to be spending the night with her. He was saying goodbye. Well, she was just going to have to live with it.

  Her mother had gone off to the other bedroom, but her dad stood waiting for them to break their embrace. When Cooper turned, he kept his arm around Libby, his cheek upon the top of her head like he did so often.

  Libby’s dad smiled. “Cooper and I have come to an understanding, I think,” her dad began.

  “Yes, sir,” she heard Cooper say.

  Dr. Brownlee walked over to the two of them and put his hand on Libby’s cheek. “So good to see you happy, Brownie.”

  “Thanks dad.” Libby placed her hand over his and held it until he dropped it to his side.

  “Coop?” Her father extended his arm and the two men shook hands. He stepped back. “Well, I’m off to bed. I’m exhausted.”

  “Get some rest, doctor. We have a big day tomorrow,” Cooper said to his back.

  Libby looked up at Cooper after the bedroom door closed. “What’s going on?”

  “I’ve got a boatload of things to do tomorrow. I’m going to call it a night. Get some rest, for a change,” he winked at her. “And then get my gear and get set up at your house before dark.”

  “Can I—“

  “Libby, no. I’ll call you tomorrow, okay?”

  “Anything I can do to help?”

  Cooper looked over at the Brownlee’s closed door. “Be here for your parents, Libby. Someone also needs to call your brother and alert them, just in case.”

  “In case?”

  “I have a hard time thinking this creep doesn’t know everything about your family. Everything. Not fair to leave any family member unprotected. You understand? We might not need to, but it would be very dumb if we didn’t alert them.”

  “What about Riverton? He doesn’t want us to be around each other, until—“

  “That’s my problem.” He kissed her forehead and then he placed his fingers under her jaw and lifted her face so he could place a kiss on her lips. “And it’s even a bigger problem—” he said as his lips brushed against hers, the lemon scent of his aftershave and the late-night stubble brushing against her cheek making her dizzy, “—if you don’t want me around.”

  She had to smile at this. “Not a chance. You’ll have to pry my arms away before you can get out of this hotel room.”

  He drew her in again and held her. “What am I going to do with you, Libby Brownlee?”

  She had some definite ideas. “Anything you like, sailor.”

  Cooper did want to spend the night with Libby in a decent-sized bed, even if her parents were two rooms away, but it wasn’t the smart thing to do. If he did his job right, they’d have lots of nights together.

  But something else was changing, too. He felt protective not only of Libby, but the rest of her family as well. He realized it was something he had to do. Was born to do. He’d never gotten a chance to rescue his family in Nebraska.

  It was just like AA’s Big Book said, accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference. There were a lot of things he would change, including the death of his family and all the other good men who’d honorably served their country. But there wasn’t any point dwelling on it, while there was a war going on.

  Some people who look like the enemy are not. Not everyone who helps is a friend. Well, he knew some guys he could definitely count on.

  Cooper called Fredo on his way to give Bay some relief. He left a message about needing the truck for another day or two. Then he called his LPO, Kyle.

  “I’m going for PT at oh-eight hundred, Coop. Meet you at the Salty Dog for breakfast?”

  “Sounds good to me,” Cooper answered.

  Fredo walked in first, followed by Kyle. The new guy came with them, and Cooper wasn’t sure he liked this at all. Cooper stood.

  “Relax,” Kyle said. Malcolm nodded in agreement.

  “Diversity and all that shit,” the new man said. “Nice to see you again, sailor,” He extended his hand.

  “I wasn’t expecting anyone else, and this stuff’s kind of personal,” Cooper said back to Kyle. He addressed Malcolm. “No offense, but this isn’t much of a career building meeting, sir.”

  “Roger that. Kyle here was talking about the stuff going on at your girlfriend’s house. Unfortunately, I’ve had some experience with this sort of thing. I’d like to help catch this guy, if you don’t mind. I hate bullies.”

  Cooper considered how to respond. His LPO was going to let him make the call whether or not to include Malcolm in their plan. Trust was always an issue with a new Team Guy. But if Kyle had felt comfortable informing the new guy of the situation with the Brownlee family, that would have to be good enough for Coop. “Okay, but this is it. I’m telling Timmons, and no one else. I don’t care how much history you got with anyone else. No one else is gonna get involved, understood?”

  “Perfectly,” Malcolm smiled with his brilliant set of huge teeth. “Only want to help. Minute I think I’m in the way, I go.”

  Malcolm stood nearly as tall as Cooper. His frame was heavier, and he had shoulders like a body builder, not a Naval Academy officer, although those guys were getting bigger these days. No more empty suit look where the hat came down over the eyes. He remembered one of the officers in BUD/S was usually first or second at everything physical, from timed swims in the inlet to running with full pack and combat boots on the beach. They were turning out animals, but smart animals. Guys you could believe in, and that was important.

  Stupid warriors get themselves and everyone else killed. All his training could be summed up in one phrase, drum stupid out of your life.

  “Please, sit,” Cooper motioned and then did so himself and worked on finishing his omelet.

  “What are you needing, Coop? What’s on your list?” Fredo wanted to ask.

  Cooper gave him the list he’d prepared earlier.

  Fredo read it over, nodding. “I can help you with some of this. We got more of those little flag pins, too. Where are you going to hook up?”

&nb
sp; “I think Brownlee’s study, and then probably Libby’s room, plus the master, maybe down in the kitchen. The adjuster will be done today, from what I understand, and it will be undisturbed until they settle and hire a contractor.”

  Everyone nodded.

  “So, I’d start upstairs. Probably Libby’s bedroom, the master. Focus on rooms that are most often occupied,” Kyle said.

  “The two guest bedrooms are never used. And they’re upstairs, so I think no one would be climbing in the windows there,” said Coop.

  “I got a new little speaker, Coop. We can boost the signal to outside the house,” said Fredo.

  “We’ll need about three of them. And we need motion sensor night recording devices, too,” Coop said. “I’ve got to go gather some stuff at the warehouse I recently bought on eBay.

  “No problem.”

  Kyle asked another question, “You’re not going to do all the surveillance yourself, right? You can’t do it 24/7.”

  “Hell, we’ve done it all the time. You know that.”

  “I don’t want you taking all the risk. We’ll create a schedule, take turns.”

  “As long as I get the lion’s share of those turns. I’m going to sleep at the house. They gave me permission.”

  “Seriously?” Fredo asked.

  “Bay, too.”

  “Oh man, he’s gonna fuck up the motion sensors. That won’t work, Cooper.”

  “What if you set them above waist height?” Kyle said.

  Malcolm piped up. “You mean to say your dog never jumps up on stuff?”

  “Coop, we’re gonna have to figure something out. I say we all go over to the house and check it out first,” Fredo volunteered.

  “One thing Malcolm can do. We need to find out about this tat. You think Daisy did it, Coop?”

  “Seems possible. Perhaps someone put something over on her?” Cooper answered. “I’d like a better look at the picture the detective has.”

  “What about Brownlee?” asked Fredo.

  “Turned everything over to the cops. Evidence.” Cooper looked out the window and had an idea. “I’m going to ask Timmons. Maybe he could get a copy, professional courtesy and all. Then I’ll send Malcolm on his first assignment.” He winked at the handsome officer.

  “Sounds like a plan, Cooper,” Malcolm said. “You get that picture and I’ll go ask Daisy. I’m assuming all you guys got the tat already. I’d be the one looking to have my flesh painted.”

  “She’d know you were joining the Team. She’s probably more than a little sore at me. It wouldn’t be right if I went,” answered Coop.

  Fredo leaned against Malcolm and whispered, “She thought she was going to be Mrs. Cooper. I’m kinda glad she’s still single so I can have her work on me again. Her partner’s a little rough, you ask me.”

  Cooper went over to Timmons’s office on base and gave him an update on what he was doing.

  “Not fond of you getting the new guy entangled in this, Coop. Kyle and Fredo better keep their mouths shut, too.” Timmons was in a foul mood again, like he’d been for the past year, since before their last deployment.

  “Didn’t want to. He kind of forced himself on me. What’s his story?”

  “I think you could be looking at another Joint Chiefs member in the making, Coop. Graduated first in his class, can you believe that? His liaison officer told me he didn’t even read until he was in second grade.”

  Coop whistled. “I know some guys who still don’t read. Seems like a smart squid. Built like a tank. An okay guy, too.”

  “More than that. Turned down a football contract to join the Teams. He’s so athletic, I’ll bet he could still have a career there after he’s done here.”

  “Well let’s hope the Navy gives him every bit of his below-poverty pay and hazard pay, so he doesn’t get tempted,” Coop tossed back to his liaison.

  “Right.”

  Several guys on Team 3 came from professional football. They’d had a senator’s son and an astronaut’s son in their BUD/S class, but both washed out. He knew better than anyone that only guys who could focus on one thing at a time made it. Was hard for a guy to make the training if he had too many choices. Often the most successful SEALs were damaged goods when they arrived, or kids intent on making something of themselves.

  “Well, if he turned down a life of the rich and famous to work on my Team, I guess I can give him a little respect. Thanks for telling me.”

  “So, how can I help you?”

  “I was just trying to keep you informed.” Coop was hoping Timmons didn’t catch on.

  Not a chance. He should have known.

  “Bullshit. You could have said all that over the phone. You want something. Now you going to tell me, or are you going to make me play with my dick all afternoon until you do?”

  Cooper tensed at the slight thrown his way. But he had to show Timmons his skin was thick. “I want a picture of the tats the police got.”

  “What tats?”

  “These.” Cooper rolled up his sleeve and showed Timmons.

  “Shit, Cooper, the guy has a set of these? Riverton didn’t tell me that.”

  “Well, he’s a detective. That’s why I’m one of his suspects. You know what the guy did, don’t you?”

  “Yes. Killed the daughter’s cat. He said a picture was sent to the doctor. I just figured it was your dumb luck to have called on these people right about the time some psycho decided to—"

  “That’s why I want to study them, carefully. Might tell me who did it. You know I would recognize Daisy’s work anywhere.”

  “Why don’t you just ask her?”

  Cooper had left out the part about him seeing Libby Brownlee. And he certainly wasn’t going to tell him he was in a get-nekkid type of relationship with her. Even though her dad seemed to be cool with it, he didn’t want to tell Timmons.

  But what made Timmons such a good Team liaison was he could tell when there was a good story. In fact, he usually expected it.

  As if Timmons could read Cooper’s mind, he shot up to his feet and threw a file down on the desk. The top of the manila file was folded and wrinkled where it had been crushed by Timmons’s death grip. “God damn it, Coop. You guys have about as much sense as—“ he whirled around and spotted the frog statue.

  Oh shit. Here he goes again. Need to take up another collection.

  But Cooper saw him sit down without destroying the Team 3 mascot, in a rare display of control.

  “I’ll get your fucking picture,” Timmons said to his desktop. “Now get the hell out of my office.”

  Chapter 33

  Cooper stopped by the Babemobile and retrieved Bay, who wasn’t used to riding in Fredo’s truck, and he had to help the dog up and into the second seat. As planned, Cooper stopped by the Hotel Del and picked up Libby, who needed some things at the house. Carla had also given her a list of things to bring back for her and her dad.

  Libby was dressed in mid-calf capris and a stretchy peach top that showed off all the parts Coop liked the best. But he preferred to not have to feel or look through stretchy cotton and lace, even though it was enticing as hell. He was hoping somehow they’d be able to get lucky over at the house, but he didn’t want to push Libby into anything about which she felt uncomfortable.

  “Dad told me you guys really had bonded last night in the bar,” she ventured. “Must have been pretty important. Neither my mother nor I could get him to say two words about it.”

  Cooper made a note that this was a good sign, and he trusted the Doc a little more. He preferred the story about his failed beach rescue attempt be kept secret too.

  “Um hum,” he said. He was smiling inside, because he could see how completely irritated Libby was that he was going to share in her father’s conspiracy of silence. He loved it when she got that way. She was absolutely hot when she got frustrated.

  I can take care of that, Libby, sweetheart. Give all that energy over to me where it will do some good.

  His dick wa
s hard as marble. He knew he’d better not let her know he was toying with her, or he’d not get a thing. And, boy, did he need her today. More than twenty-four hours and no sex made him an animal.

  “Cooper. Are you paying attention to me?” She said as she began to raise her voice.

  Oh yeah, I’m paying full attention. If he wasn’t mistaken, her nipples had knotted under her little flimsy peach thingy. He could see the top of her thong underwear against the tanned flesh of her hips as it made that soft beautiful bulge over the tops of her capris.

  He loved it that she wore her tee shirts small and her pants low. Every time he walked behind her he was hoping for a clothing malfunction. Anywhere.

  Bay decided something was wrong, and pushed his nose between them, drooling over the back of the seat covered in a Mexican serape.

  Libby pointed to the dog. “Even he wants an answer.”

  “No. All he wants is food.” Cooper was having difficulty keeping his eyes on the road. He didn’t want to get caught sneaking a peek at her delicious midriff.

  “I gotta tell you something, Coop.”

  His stomach clenched and he squeezed the steering wheel. Oh no.

  “Since everyone is baring their soul, I have a secret, something I’ve not told my parents, Coop. And I’m going to.”

  “You sure?”

  “Absolutely. I don’t want any secrets from you. Not anymore.”

  Coop tried that on for a while. He wasn’t sure he was going to like it, but he decided he was all in at this point. “Okay, shoot.”

  “At Santa Clara, my mentor, my advisor came on to me.”

  “No shit.” Coop swallowed, waiting for the next part. He held his breath until she continued.

  “He cornered me in the office and I—“

  “Did that fucker rape you?”

  “No. I was able to stop him.” Libby was looking at her hands folded in her lap. She was chewing on her lower lip.

  “How the hell’d you do that?” He felt like a dick talking to her like that, so softened his tone. “I mean, how did you manage to get away?”