Free Brothers in Arms by Kendall McKenna Page B

he was here,” Keef was saying.
    “Gunnery Sergeant Carver is at your disposal during your visit. He was with Grizzly the entire time he was off base.”
    Jonah nodded once, acknowledging Hoegerl’s statements.
    “We appreciate that. We also need to examine any and all IED’s we can get access to, detonated or disarmed.”
    “That’s highly unusual,” the Captain mused. “Devices are usually destroyed and disposed of so their components can’t be recycled into another IED.”
    “It’s central to Grizzly’s investigation, though. Agent Parrella is our bomb tech, and she’ll take lead on those aspects of our investigation. Agent Giammona is our translator and expert on Middle Eastern culture. Agent Tygart is our anti-terrorism specialist.”
    Captain Hoegerl grew serious. “Are you ladies prepared for the hardships of an extended visit to this country? Especially here at a firm base and not a complete Marine Corps base? How effective can you really expect to be, given the culture of this country?”
    Carlene snorted derisively and looked as though she was about to reply when Milagros headed her off. “It’s a valid concern, Carlene. You know that. It’s not the Marine Corps’ fault; it’s the nature of this culture.” To Captain Hoegerl, she said, “Keef and Giammona, along with your Marines, will provide an effective face to our investigation.”
    “Once we brief your Marines as to the information we need to obtain, your standard knock-n-talk technique will be more than adequate,” Keef explained.
    “Gunnery Sergeant Carver is well versed in our techniques.”
    Irritation coiled in Jonah’s belly. Recon Marines acting as street cops still galled him.
    “We do have concerns regarding security that your Marines can’t be expected to overcome,” Keef said carefully. He shot Jonah a glance, making Jonah wary, before he continued, “It’s expected we should conduct our investigation, as Grizzly did, from inside Humvees.”
    “Naturally.”
    “Captain Reynolds believes, and I have to say I agree, to do so would increase the risk to our lives and our investigation. We need an alternative mode of transportation.”
    “My resources are limited, Special Agent. What do you suggest?”
    “It’s by no means a slight to you or your Marines, but in the interest of doing something unexpected to throw our enemies off, we need to travel in the same manner the private security firms move VIPs: in armored SUVs at a high rate of speed.”
    The room fell silent.
    “I pulled a few strings; strings that are independent of anyone previously connected with this investigation, as well as elements of our own government.” Kellan suddenly filled the silence. “Three members of Ares International are en route with three armored SUVs and a driver for each vehicle to augment and support your Marines. They will serve under Gunnery Sergeant Carver’s command.”
    “When are they expected?” Hoegerl asked.
    “Sometime today,” Kellan replied.
    “Gunnery Sergeant?” Hoegerl looked at Jonah with a raised eyebrow.
    Jonah didn’t think twice. “It’s highly unusual, and ordinarily I would protest vehemently. However, I trust Mr. Reynolds’s judgment.”
    “I suspected that would be your answer,” Hoegerl said dryly.
    “I’m inclined to trust your judgment too, Mr. Reynolds,” Hoegerl continued. “And I certainly trust Gunnery Sergeant Carver’s, so, if he trusts you, then so do I.”
    “I’m flattered, Captain,” Kellan said.
    It was Keef who began the briefing. He quickly outlined the events that had begun with Grizzly landing in Iraq and culminating in the suspicious nature of the IED fragments Jonah had recovered from the crater. Those fragments had confirmed Kellan’s theories as presented to the President. Now, here they were, handpicked to uncover who was responsible for Grizzly’s assassination and follow that trail back to the American source that was funding and arming the insurgents.
    Keef’s