SEAL's RESOLVE - Rebecca Deel Page 0,74
protect her privacy when you installed that camera pointed at her bedroom window.”
“I didn’t like it, but kept my mouth shut when I realized she always keeps that curtain closed. It’s a blackout curtain.”
“Rafe?” Kristi’s soft voice came from the kitchen doorway. “What’s going on?”
He went to Kristi, drawing her into his arms. “I’m sorry we woke you.” Rafe glared at Jackson who shrugged. He’d deal with the medic later for allowing Kristi to walk into a potentially dangerous situation. “Go back to bed. You still have a few hours to rest.” Rest that she desperately needed.
“Who is this man?”
“Meet Dan Adams, a member of your former security detail.”
The other man straightened. “I’m glad to meet you in person, Ms. Stewart. It’s been an honor to be on your security detail.”
She studied his face. “Haven’t I seen you somewhere before?”
“Possibly. I watched over you several nights a week.” A small smile curved his mouth. “No offense, ma’am, but you have predictable routines. Keeping you safe wasn’t a hard job.”
“Except that you and your team allowed Kristi to be kidnapped,” Rafe said.
“I wasn’t on duty that night. Hale and Fleming were.”
“What about Howell?”
Adams grimaced. “Off for the weekend.”
“Have an alibi for your whereabouts Saturday night and Sunday morning?”
“My mother.”
Everyone stared at Adams.
“She had surgery Saturday morning. I’m an only child, and Dad passed away a few years ago. The nurses at St. Thomas Mid-Town will vouch for me. I stayed at Mom’s bedside until Sunday around noon. I went home, showered and changed clothes, then returned to the hospital. I’ve been off duty until last night at 6:00.”
“And no one told you that your team had been replaced.”
“That’s right.” He frowned. “Why didn’t anyone let us know or tell us to remove the electronics?”
“Where’s your partner?”
He rolled his eyes. “Probably sleeping in our vehicle down the street.”
Eli folded his arms across his chest. “Why are you working for a third-rate company like Ward Security?”
“Finding a job isn’t easy. I applied to hundreds of companies after I separated from the military. WS was the only company willing to give me a chance.”
“You were dishonorably discharged,” Jon said.
“How did you know about that? Who do you work for?”
“Fortress Security.”
Adams froze. “Brent Maddox’s company?”
A nod from the sniper.
“How did you get hired on with Fortress? I heard Maddox doesn’t accept applications.” He sighed. “Not that it would do me any good to apply with my record. Maddox would never consider me for a position.”
“Depends on the reason for the discharge.” Eli sat in the chair Rafe had vacated. “What’s your story?”
The Ranger’s expression darkened. “Major Kline sent my team into an ambush. He suspected the Taliban were waiting for us and sent us in anyway. I lost good men that day, including my best friend, and was shot twice myself protecting my team. When I was strong enough to stand up, I tracked Kline down at a bar off base and decked him.”
“What about the civilian you assaulted?”
Adams scowled. “If you’ve seen my record, you already know what happened.”
“Records don’t tell the whole story.”
“What difference will it make?”
Rafe seated Kristi at the table. “The reason for the assault matters.” Since Kristi wasn’t going back to sleep, Rafe grabbed a mug from the cabinet, dropped a bag of peppermint tea into water, and heated it.
“Yeah, all right.” Adams rubbed his jaw. “I was in another bar fight. A male civilian was hitting on a female staff sergeant. The jerk came on strong, refused to take no for an answer, and scared her. When I moved between them and told the guy to back off, he threw a punch at me.”
“Land it?”
Another snort. “Nope. I decked him with one punch. His buddies swore I was the aggressor. Cops got involved and reported the incident to the military.”
“No one else saw how the incident unfolded and spoke up?”
“The place was packed and noisy.” He shrugged. “Wasn’t really a fight.”
“What about the staff sergeant?” Eli asked. “Did she speak up for you?”
A nod. “Didn’t matter. The major had labeled me a violent troublemaker, and this incident was the last nail in my coffin. The major pushed the brass for a discharge.”
Rafe set the tea in front of Kristi and sat beside her. “Why do that instead of reducing your rank?”
A wry smile curved Adams’ mouth. “I threatened to tell the media about the debacle with my team. Major Kline was angling for a promotion. Bad publicity could have made the top brass look into my team’s mission and