“I need you to let me out of this room. I need to help. I can’t sit here and do nothing anymore. I’m driving myself crazy in here.”
“That’s the plan, Shay. I have hundreds of patients that need more than my help, but I can only allow you to help when you’re not a patient yourself. Right now, it’s in your best interests to stay in here away from germs, at least until your wounds have all healed well.”
Urgh. I know how stubborn wounds can be. I could be like this for months. They might never heal because they were left for so long in unhygienic conditions. I’ve seen people get limbs amputated because their wounds wouldn’t cooperate.
“I know how frustrated you are. I’ve been where you are, remember. Just hang on. Eat. Get your strength up. When you’re in here, I don’t have to worry about your safety, or what you’re up to.”
I nod reluctantly. There isn’t much more I can do. Maybe I can imagine my knight in shining armor riding in on horseback to save me. It beats imagining the worst possible scenarios, wondering where Josh is, or what my family is up to. It’s all just making me more depressed, and I hate that my state of mind is compromised, because I’m strong. I’ve witnessed a lot in my time, but my strength and determination have got me through everything. I know I need to remain positive, but it’s hard under the circumstances.
I need to get out of here.
Chapter 7
Clay
“What’s going on?” asks Mike as he walks in and sits down at our meeting area of the Shawland Security compound. “What’s with the impromptu meeting?”
This is where we hash out cases, discuss what’s going on, and make sure everyone is up to date on what’s happening. I thought it was only right that I bring in our full team this morning to tell them what’s happening, and what I plan on doing next. Mike is a big part of Shawland Security. He works his butt off for the team, and we’re all glad of his dedication.
Caleb walks out of his office with Aria close behind holding Sharlynn in her arms. She didn’t need to be here, but when she walked in with Caleb earlier, she told me not to push her out because she’s family, and family works better together.
“Is everything okay with Aria’s case?” asks Amber, another colleague that helps around here.
Aria sits down on a chair beside me. “I’m good. I’m just here for support, and to stop these two from doing anything stupid.” She points between me and Caleb. “Or killing one another.” She smiles warmly.
Aria knows Caleb and me better than most people. She knows how connected we are - if one of us is hurting it affects both of us - and we need each other to stay grounded. Aria has been a part of our family since she was a kid. She knows us all too well.
“Okay.” I stand up and walk to the front of the room where Chris is leaning against his door. “You all know I’ve been battling my grief over my friend’s disappearance from the army. Her brother has showed up here and he wants me to help him get answers. Answers the army isn’t forthcoming with. In layman’s terms, they’ve given up the search. Shay and Josh remain unaccounted for.” I shake my head and look around every one of my work mates; each one of them has their eyes trained on me.
I know I’ve been a pain in their asses lately. I’ve acted like a child on more occasions than I can count, but I’d do anything for any of my team. I’m hoping they’ll do the same for me now.
“Let’s get one thing straight here.” Caleb walks towards me and squeezes my shoulder. “Shay isn’t just Clay’s friend. He’s downplaying that slightly. Shay is one of us, guys. I know you don’t know her, and I’m not asking you to put your necks on the line, but Clay loves that woman.”
“What exactly are you asking of us? If I’m not mistaken, didn’t she go M.I.A in Iraq?” Mike sits forward.
I nod. “She did. I’m not sure what I’m asking of you yet, but Aria gave me a good idea last night and this might affect all of you connected to Shawland Security…” I take in a deep breath and exhale slowly. “…I’m going to kick up fuck for the army.”
“So eloquently put.” Caleb rolls his eyes at me. “He’s going to get the help of a few officials, kick up a media storm, and let the public know what goes on behind closed doors. Shay was reported M.I.A in the media a long time ago. We think they’d like to follow up on that and see where this ends. It might just be enough to get the army to open the case again.”
And that’s why we let Caleb lead the talks in here, because he has a way with words that makes people understand. I just blurt out the obvious. I’ve always been like that. I’m not going to change now.
“And how does this affect us?” asks Amber.
“Because anything that gets said or done is going to come back on Shawland Security. Our name and reputation will be pulled through the mud if this goes badly,” says Caleb.
Amber stands up and joins Caleb and me at the front. “I’ve been in the army. I’ve witnessed what goes on behind those closed doors, and I for one am not afraid of the backlash. I’m with you guys, I always will be.” She fist bumps Caleb and reaches up onto her toes and squeezes the life out of my neck. Amber has become like a sister to us all. “We’re one big family here.”
“Thanks, honey.”
“I don’t think there’s one person in this room who isn’t going to weather this storm with you.” Mike stands and turns to walk to his office. “Just tell me what you need, when, and where. I’ve got your back.”
I nod in his direction and watch everyone in the room agree with Mike. I feel honored to have a close-knit workforce. I’d do anything for them, and the same goes for my family and friends. Fuck, I’d do anything to help anyone. It’s my nature.
What’s to come might end everything we’ve worked so hard to accomplish. It takes years to create something amazing, but only one second to crush it.
“And that’s exactly what I expected from our team, Clay. All I ask is that you think about what you do. Don’t just jump in all guns blazing. We have families to think about as well.” Caleb holds his fist up and I bump it with mine.
“You have my word, bro. I’ll do everything by the book.”
“And I’ll believe that when I see it.” Caleb shakes his head with a cheeky grin on his face.
My whole team knows me so well.
Chapter 8
4 months earlier
Shay
“What you see out of this room is to remain unspoken of.”
I nod at Keir as he adjusts the walking aids he gave me a few days ago to use for support. My wounds have healed up as much as possible under these circumstances, but my legs and muscles are very weak. If I was back at home, I would be going through an extensive therapy program to rebuild strength in the muscles I’ve lost. There is no such thing here. Keir has done the best he could with the supplies he has. Without him, I wouldn’t have survived much longer. I owe him and Josh everything.
“Ready?” he asks.
“I’ve been ready for weeks. It was you that kept me locked in here like some prisoner.”