Free Killing Game (Veritas Book 2) by Chandler Steele Page B

hormones . Or at least it had been when she was Patti’s age.
    “How long have you been with James?” he asked.
    “A couple weeks. He helped me change a flat tire. We started texting back and forth. Then he asked me to go camping with him. It’s not like we’re dating or anything.”
    Cait ground her teeth. She could just imagine what The Major would say about his teenaged daughter taking off in the middle of nowhere with a guy she hardly knew.
    “What makes you not trust him?” she asked.
    Patti looked back at her, complexion pale. “He asks a lot of questions, but he doesn’t tell me anything about him or his family. He’s always in my face if I look at another guy. Wants to know where I am and what I’m doing every minute of the day.”
    “That’s not good.”
    “No. Or maybe I’m just being weird or something. Who knows? I’m not great at judging people.”
    “Who is?” Brannon said, ramping up the charm, which caused Patti to smile in return. “Do you know where he’s from?”
    Patti shook her head. “I asked and he said it didn’t matter.” She took another swig from the bottle. “I really have to go on the tour?”
    “You have anyone who can pick you up if we do take you back?” Cait asked.
    Patti sighed.
    “Tell me the truth,” Cait warned.
    “No, my mom is out of town and my dad is working on some big project. He’s hardly ever home.”
    “Then you should stick with us. We’ll keep an eye on James. You let us know if you’re spooked about anything, okay?” Brannon said, as he skillfully glided the canoe through the water, powerful stroke after powerful stroke.
    Patti gave him an adoring look. “Okay. I’ll do it. Ah, do you guys have any food? I’m kinda hungry.”
    “Yeah, we might just have a protein bar or two,” he replied.
    She smiled at him again as if he’d just handed her the moon.
    Definitely all about the hormones .
    *~*~*
    By the time they reached the first platform, Patti had come to life after being fed and given some aspirin. While she and Cait packed the remaining supplies into the canoes, Brannon made a trip to the toilet, careful to keep his rucksack with him. He knew it looked odd, but he didn’t dare leave it behind, not with the militia’s money inside. After taking care of his full bladder, he stepped out and powered up his phone. One of the latest e-mails included the Marine’s service record. It made for interesting reading.
    Caitlyn Jayne Landry had enlisted at age eighteen, just as she’d said. After eight years in the Marine Corps, she had risen to a rank of sergeant and been awarded numerous commendations and a few medals for her time spent in Afghanistan and Iraq.
    She’d been on one of the FETs, the Female Engagement Teams that had partnered with Special Operations units. Their purpose had been to interact with and potentially interrogate village women, since men were not permitted to speak to them due to religious restrictions. It had been a dangerous, but rewarding assignment.
    Brannon knew exactly what it was like to enter a small hamlet, looking for the enemy. How sometimes you found them, and how sometimes they were women and children. The FETs had been disbanded in 2012, and Cait had been assigned to another unit. When it had been time to re-up, she’d left the service. He suspected PTSD had kicked in and she’d found it hard to function. Not an uncommon story. Pensive about what he’d learned, he typed a “thanks” in reply to the e-mail and went to join the others.
    Cait spied the phone in his hand. “Keeping up with the sports scores?”
    He shook his head. “I wish.”
    “Your girlfriend?” Patti asked, joking. He shrugged and didn’t answer, then noticed that Cait was watching him closely.
    Once they were back in the canoes, she gave Patti an oar and put her to work.
    The girl wasn’t impressed. “You’re like my mom. She never lets me slack.”
    “You can slack tonight, once we catch up with the others,” Cait