SEAL's Embrace - Makenna Jameison Page 0,64
all said.
“We were already aware that someone was harassing Ms. Fletcher,” he continued. “The texts have continued to her old phone number, and she’s remained at Ghost’s apartment for her safety until it’s determined who is behind this.”
“Do you have additional information about this morning, sir?” Grayson asked.
The commander nodded. “An unemployed twenty-year-old was arrested for attempting to breach the gate. He was stopped and taken by ambulance to the hospital due to his blood alcohol level, although police were able to question him. He said he was here for Hailey Fletcher.”
“Unemployed? Is he homeless?” Troy asked, frowning. Grayson glanced over at his teammate, thinking the same thing. California was an expensive area to live, and it seemed unlikely this guy would have a house or apartment if he wasn’t working.
“Negative,” their CO said. “He lives with his parents an hour away.”
“Shit,” Blake muttered. “So what the hell was he doing here looking for Hailey? What’s the connection?”
“They’re trying to determine that now. He was so hungover, they weren’t able to get much out of him at first. They ran his ID, and he’s been arrested several times for driving under the influence. He has no history of military service but apparently told police that he was hired to look for her.”
“So he came to base in the middle of the goddamn night?” Grayson asked in disbelief. “That doesn’t even make sense.”
“He was probably on something,” Logan said. “Drugs, in addition to whatever drinking problem he has.”
“They’re running labs to determine if any drugs were in his system,” their commander said. “He remains in the hospital but is in police custody there.”
“Shit,” Grayson muttered. “So someone hired this asshole to find Hailey? She received the threatening texts, and now they fucking came looking for her? What was he planning to do when he found her? God damn it!” he said, pounding his fist on the table.
Their CO ignored his outburst. “He was drunk and clearly in the wrong place. It’s possible someone gave him the wrong information about what building she was located in or they thought she’d be here this week for processing. Ms. Fletcher is a DOD employee.”
“He was hired by the traitor,” Ethan said. “That much is damn obvious. The texts indicated they knew Hailey was here in California, and now someone came looking for her. They sent him for her.”
“I ought to rip his fucking head off,” Grayson cursed.
Blake explained their concerns that the traitor in Bagram was possibility in IT. He or she would’ve had access to the Top Secret information and would’ve potentially worked with Hailey since she was involved in disseminating many of the reports that came out of that office.
“I’ll move this up my chain of command and make sure the general is informed,” Commander Hutchinson said. “I’m not aware that the IT team has been investigated yet. They interviewed the women who lived in the building where the explosion occurred, and they started investigating those who worked directly with the general and in his office. It’s a long process.”
“I’m worried about Hailey,” Grayson said. “The entire thing is taking too long. Suppose whoever is behind this figures out she’s in the other building. They could come after her there or hire someone else. And we still don’t even know why for certain she’s been targeted.”
“They seem to think she can ID them,” Jackson said, his dark eyes blazing. He looked directly at their CO. “Hailey might be Ghost’s woman, but that doesn’t mean any of us will stand for some asshole trying to harm an innocent woman. We’ll all step in to protect her.”
Murmurs of agreement came from around the table. Chauvinistic or not, they helped those weaker than them. Women and children were usually at the top of that list. The team had rushed into dangerous situations all over the world rescuing civilians and taking out their targets. This was personal though.
To know that danger had followed them home to San Diego was unsettling. Usually they left their missions behind—got in, did their job, and got out. For the enemy—and a traitor to the U.S. was indeed an enemy—to know where Hailey was angered Grayson to no end.
“You should talk to her, Ghost,” Blake said. “See if she recalls anything unusual. She was injured before and then sick when she first got out here. Now that she’s feeling better, maybe she’ll remember something. Even the smallest detail could help.”
Grayson nodded, glancing around at his team.
“We’ve got a mission coming up