Breaking Free

Zoe eyed the front of the building housing Hawk’s office. She had bats in her belly just as Bowie had described, but not because she was going to jump out of a plane. Hawk was here instead of off somewhere getting shot at. Thank God.

  Marjorie moved restlessly beside her. “Are you sure this is the right thing to do?”

  “Yes, I am, Marjorie. Derrick is here on post more than he’s out in the civilian world. They have as good a chance of finding him as the police. Hawk said they’d look for him if you file an MPO.”

  Marjorie nodded.

  “Let’s get this done and go home. Okay?” Zoe urged.

  With another nod Marjorie reached for the door handle.

  Zoe followed suit. The woman needed her support but the anxiety she experienced just driving around with her had kept her nerves stretched taut as an exercise band. She’d been looking in her rearview mirror expecting to see Derrick behind them all day. She’d even thought she’d caught a glimpse of his vehicle two or three times.

  As they got out of the car, Hawk and Brett exited the building with several other men and strode their way.

  Hawk strode toward her, his normal fluid movements quick and purposeful. Zoe noticed the lines of tiredness around his eyes and mouth. Concern had her clenching her hands, but she held off touching him. Would he want her to show any open affection in front of the men?

  “I have to leave,” Hawk said as he reached them. “Something’s come up.”

  Zoe’s rapid build toward joy at seeing him snapped back to disappointment with the velocity of a bungee cord. Were they going wheels up again?

  “Marjorie, Brett will escort you to Ensign James. He’ll help you fill out the MPO.” His gaze shifted to Zoe. “Zoe--” Hawk’s voice sounded husky. His hand brushed down the back of her arm to her elbow. Her pulse leapt at her throat and wrists as he snagged her arm and pulled her aside. “It’s just for a few hours,” he said. “Brett will fill you in on everything. He’ll stay at the house with you both until I get there. I emptied the refrigerator before I left, but there’s stuff in the freezer to eat.”

  She nodded.

  “I’m sorry, babe. I’ll be there as soon as I can.”

  The look of genuine caring in his eyes, being close to him, eased her anxiety and loosened the knot of tension in her stomach. “It’s all right. As long as you’re safe that’s all that matters.”

  Hawk brushed her lips with a quick kiss. “This isn’t anything dangerous.”

  She offered him a smile.

  He climbed into a Humvee with four other men and they drove off.

  “What happened?” she asked Brett as the vehicle turned a curve and was lost from sight.

  “They found Flash’s car. The one he reported stolen. The front seat was covered in blood.”

  Zoe bit her lip. “Are you sure it was his?”

  “Yeah. He may have found the guys who took it.” Brett caught her arm and offered his other to Marjorie.

  She slipped a tentative hand through his elbow.

  He continued as he ushered them down the sidewalk to the front door. “Either way they’re going to do DNA and see if it matches his.”

  “So he might not have gone AWOL,” Zoe said.

  “Maybe not. He may have run into some trouble instead.”

  Zoe drew a deep breath her thoughts spinning with possibilities. Would they ever know anything for certain?