Truth Avenged (Green Division Series Book 1) Read online

“Yeah, sure.” She studied the picture of the charred remains of the vehicle. She didn’t try to intentionally blow Tuck off, but she did so none-the-less. She didn’t even hear the door shut when he left to return to duty.

  John White had died in a car accident with two other occupants, Lonnie Brown and Abe Davis. Adeline White was written in under the spouse line. Adeline. Samantha and Terry were written in as dependent children, aged eight and ten. His family lived in San Francisco at the time of the accident.

  She flipped to the next file. Lonnie Brown emigrated as a boy with his family from London to New York and was drafted upon his eighteenth birthday.

  Onto the next file. Abe Davis hailed from Maryland and had zero family contact or background information beyond the high school he graduated from listed on the forms.

  The next four files contained the other names listed beside John White’s in the photograph Tim had given her. Edward O’Neil, Mario Valencia, Hank Fitton and Joseph Hyde. Edward fell victim to the war in an air raid. Mario, Hank and Joseph showed their service ending a few years following the end of the war. Mario had passed away in 1998 from lung cancer. VA records showed Joseph lived in Clearwater, Florida at a nursing facility. And nothing further for Hank Fitton. Joseph and Hank, those two people were the key to solving her mystery.

  She spread the files out in front of her and leaned back. They died in a car accident only days prior to being deployed overseas? No. It wasn’t possible. She didn’t know these men. Had never heard their names. There was no possibility she’d heard this story and concocted some kind of vision while she was lost in the woods. These men were the ones in the woods: Squirrel, Lonnie, and Abe. They didn’t die in a car accident and she didn’t buy what the files scattered in front of her contained. But why? Why would their plane have gone down in the North Woods if they’d supposedly died in a car accident? Did the government cover up the crash by claiming they were in an “accident”? Why would they cover it up? What would they have done to necessitate a government cover up to such great lengths?

  She was tempted to look for the plane again. No, she would wait until she tracked down these two men and see what explanation they could provide. It was going on 8 p.m. and since the men were in their upper eighties, she wouldn’t call them that late in the evening.

  She scooped up the files and retreated to the couch. She would know everything about these men by the end of the evening. Sleep wasn’t in the forecast. She opened up her laptop and searched first for Joseph Hyde. Since he was in a nursing facility, he didn’t have a phone number, but she was able to locate the number for the facility. It didn’t list him as deceased anywhere on the internet, which was a plus. There were two Hank Fittons in the United States alive in that age range according to a state by state search on White Pages she conducted. One had an address and phone number out of Flagstaff, Arizona. The second was listed in Albany, New York with a post office box and no phone number. She hoped it would be the Fitton in Flaggstaff, but knew she wouldn’t be that lucky.

  Chance dropped the files on the coffee table and stared blankly at the compass beside them.

  “I wonder…” Chance picked up the compass. When she’d found it by the plane its condition was like new. The mysterious compass had led her out of the woods as she barely clung to life. It was the sole reason she was alive. No one would have found her the miles she’d wandered off trail. And after a few days of sitting in the woods it had become a rusted heap of useless junk? No. She couldn’t explain its rapid deterioration any better than the rest of the mystery.

  *****

  Tuck signed off duty as he pulled into her driveway. 9 p.m. and every light in her house was on. He knew she’d be awake all night processing the information and as she attempted to solve the new turn of events.

  “So…” Tuck dropped his coat in the recliner beside the couch then leaned down and kissed her. “Mystery solved?”

  She laughed.

  “I know.” He picked up the file on John White from the coffee table.

  “You don’t buy it either?”

  “It’s hard to wrap my mind around what you are telling me. You say you saw ghosts of these men, correct?”

  “I didn’t say that.”

  “You haven’t said a lot. But, I’ll fill in the gaps. You saw the ghosts of these men and they are the same ones who supposedly died in a car accident. If they died in a car accident, you wouldn’t have found the wreckage of a plane in the woods. That simplifies the issue.”

  Chance agreed.

  “So now you are questioning why the government would cover up the plane crash. What are the options to what would cause a plane to crash?” He leaned forward.

  “Mechanical error, pilot error. Or, it wasn’t an accident. They intentionally brought the plane down because they didn’t want to go to war...suicide. Or…” She recited the options she could think of.

  She looked over at Tuck.

  “A flock of geese.” Tuck suggested.

  “Or someone shot them down.”

  “The Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor, not Maine.”

  “That’s helpful, thanks.” She mocked. “Maybe it was a training accident. Maybe they used live ammunition instead of dummy rounds. Or someone fired upon them and shouldn’t have.”

  “You’re persistence is sexy as hell.”

  “I thought most men viewed that as a turnoff.”

  “You thought wrong.” He smiled. “How did your doctor’s appointment go?”

  “He said I was doing better than he expected.” And also told her she needed to slow down.

  “Good.” Tuck kissed her. She returned the favor then eased back from him.

  “Do you think this could be fixed?” She picked up the compass.

  “I must not be very good if when I’m kissing you, you are thinking about a compass.”

  “Stop it. I’ve never had better.” She stood up and eased down onto his lap, straddling him and gave him a quick kiss. She held the compass with both hands. “What do you think?”

  “I think I’ll buy you a new one.”

  “This compass led me out of the woods. It stands to reason if it led me out, it could lead me back.” She passed it to him.

  “I don’t think there is much reason in all of this. You know how crazy this sounds?”

  “I don’t need you to remind me. I’m well aware.” She tried to take the compass, but he pulled his hand back so it was out of her reach.

  “I can fix it.” He put it down on the stand next to the couch. “If…”

  “If what?” She sat back.

  “You didn’t tell me anything about this magical compass. Or the ghosts.”

  “No.” She said very evenly.

  “Tell me.”

  “No.”

  “Listen, stubborn—”

  “No.”

  She fully intended to break down and tell him. She trusted him one hundred percent, more so than any person in her life. He was the only one she’d share her story with.

  “You deserve the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth.” She gave him a flirty smile.

  He put his hands on her thighs and caressed them.

  “Yes, I do.” He ran his hands up the back of her shirt. “Do I need to remind you of all the things I’ve done for you.”

  “And to me.” She said in way too seductive a voice.

  “That too.” He unclasped her bra.

  “I’ll tell you.” She ran her hands down his front, but all she felt was the padding of his bulletproof vest.

  “It can wait.”

  “Oh, you beg me to tell you, now it can wait.”

  “It can wait.” He repeated. There were priorities. And the story came in at number two.

  She put her hands to the sides of his jaw and they met in a mutual wanting kiss.

  “I’m not complaining about your uniform.” She unfastened the top button of his shirt. “But, your vest is getting in the way.”

  “Feel free to take it of
f.” He kissed her ear while she continued her task. She pulled the uniform shirt from where it was tucked into his belt and disposed of it beside the couch. His vest shared the same destination. The floor. His white tee shirt followed suit.

  In the bright light shining from the overhead fixture, the average person’s flaws would be visible versus the concealment of night where she’d seen him nude the previous night. But she couldn’t find any on Tuck, she begrudged him for that. His chest was tight and muscular, peppered with a sparse amount of dark hair. His six pack was sickening since he’d told her he barely worked out. She on the other hand, had to work for her somewhat fit body. His face was chiseled and his dimples inviting. She admired him in the light and leaned into his embrace, kissing his Adam’s apple and worked her way down to the center of his chest.

  “Your gun is poking my thigh.”

  “Which one?” His hands massaged the inside of her thighs, rubbing the thin cloth of her shorts.

  “Leave this one ready and loaded.” Her hand wandered south and she rested her hand on his lap. “Take the other one off.”

  He laughed. “Did you really say that?”

  “I thought it was sexy.” Her shyness had disappeared. MIA. She’d give herself to him in every way possible.

  “You have no idea.” Tuck pulled her shirt over her head and her bra fell with little assistance. He buried his face in between her breasts and laid soft kisses, pulling her into him, working his way east to the tip of her breast. Everything about her turned Tuck on. She was not the classic Cinderella beauty, not delicate in any way. She had a curvy muscular build, though in true girl form, she believed her figure left a lot to be desired. Tuck disagreed vehemently. She arched her back in response to his treatment of her breast and he continued rubbing against her pleasure point. She held onto his shoulders.

  “Let’s go to the bedroom.” She said in an excited whisper. He moved the fabric of her shorts out of the way and furthered his intimate massage. She inhaled deeply in enjoyment. “Never mind.”

  “Couch will suffice, huh.” He grinned.

  “Don’t you dare move.”

  he leaned into his kiss as he continued to bring her higher.

  BZZZ, BZZZ, BZZZ

  His phone vibrated on his belt.

  “You’ve got to be fucking kidding me.” He said in frustration.

  She leaned her head into his neck feeling the same way and Tuck pulled out his phone from its clip on his belt.

  “Hello.” Tuck held his phone to his ear.

  “Hi, Tucker….are you busy?” Jen, one of the dispatch center’s long sitting dispatchers noticed his preoccupation. Tuck’s husky breathing hadn’t been as muted as he thought.

  A little busy. “What do you have?”

  “ATV accident in Greenwich. I couldn’t get a hold of Ryan and the OD said to start you.”

  Are you fucking kidding me? Tuck thought. He loved his job, but this was one exception. He could be writhing in ecstasy with Chance, but since that ass decided he didn’t want to answer his phone again, Tuck would have to pick up his slack.

  “Where?”

  “Off the Ryback Road, in the old Tanner Farm’s field. Underage party at number 193. Intoxicated males took a four wheeler for a ride and rolled it over. Minor injuries, we’ve got the ambulance on the way and the SO has a couple deputies going too to deal with the party.”

  “I’ll be there in about fifteen.” Greenwich was two towns down the road from Lyman, where Chance resided.

  “I’m sorry.” He put the phone back on his holster.

  “Me too.” She sat up from his lap and pulled her shorts into their appropriate position. “Duty calls.”

  Tuck disappeared into the bathroom and emerging a few minutes later suited up and ready to go back on the road. Chance had dressed as well.

  “I’ll make it up to you.”

  “You are such a—” She wrapped her arms around his back and leaned into the bulletproof vest she loved so much. “Tease.”

  “Not by choice. Do you want me to come back tonight? It’ll be late.”

  “You better. You need to finish the job you started.”

  “Gladly.” He cupped her behind and kissed her deeply. “Get some sleep.”

  “How am I supposed to sleep now?”

  He walked away smiling and closed the front door behind him. She sunk into the couch exhaling deeply. Sexual frustration at its peak.

  *****

  In the hours after Tuck left to attend to his duties, Chance had eaten a light dinner, watched TV, read on her iPod, and finally tried to relax by taking a hot bath. None had been effective at warding off her hunger for him. This was dangerous and she felt like she was playing with fire. Would his job be okay with their relationship? The last thing she wanted to do was get him reprimanded. She would talk about that with him when he returned…maybe. If she could think clearly enough to do so.

  Tuck called from her doorstep for her to let him in. She dried off, wrapped the towel around her, and went to the door to let him in. His jaded face told her he needed sleep more than he did sex, but his face instantly lit up at the sight of her in a towel.

  After closing the door he was instantly against her.

  She pulled back from his lip lock. “Wait.”

  “What’s wrong?”

  “Will this—us—get you in trouble?”

  Tuck thought.

  “I don’t want to be the reason you get fired.”

  “I don’t think it will be a problem.” Kerr possibly would give him a lecture, a loud angry finger pointing tirade, but Tuck had no hand in the investigation. Kerr booted him, they had little room to reprimand him. That was how he reasoned it in his mind at least.

  “Tuck…” She could see the pistons firing.

  “It’s fine, trust me.” It should be fine.

  She settled back into his arms and he reclaimed her lips. He pulled at the knot of her towel and it draped down, exposing her backside before she could catch it.

  “You do know my house is close to the road. Any car passing by will get a nice view of my ass.” And the police. She remembered after the fact.

  “It is a nice view.” He grinned. She pulled the towel around her back and walked to the bedroom. Once she crossed the threshold, he pressed his body into her back and wrapped his arms around her center tugging the knot of the towel again. The towel slid down to the floor.

  “Can you shut off the light?” In the full light of the room, Chance felt exposed and vulnerable.

  Tucks hands glided down her body, from her breasts to her hips, holding her against him. “You are beautiful.”

  “No I’m not.” She laughed at his statement.

  “Yes, you are.” He kissed the back of her neck and swayed their bodies. “I want to see you while I make love to you.”

  “I look better in the dark.” She wanted the light off. Now.

  Tuck put space between their bodies and admired the view from behind. Then he guided her so she faced him. He started at her neck and moved his way south. He kissed her bruised rib, continued his way around her wounded side, and then kneeled. He worked his way down her thigh to her knee. Chance’s heart warmed. He rose to his feet and rested his hands on her hips, looking down at her body then back to her eyes.

  “You’re the most beautiful woman I’ve ever laid eyes upon. Don’t argue with me.” He wasn’t saying the line to get her in bed. It wasn’t to make her feel better. He meant it. “This is one argument you’ll lose.”

  She put her hands around his neck. Tuck unclipped his gun belt and tossed it aside. He wanted to shut his cell phone off, but he was still on call. I love my job…I love my job…I love my job. He reminded himself.

  “Get glasses.” She looked at his lips.

  “You need to open your eyes.” He leaned forward to kiss her, but then pulled back. “You have no idea how god damn beautiful you are.”

  “Not nearly as gorgeous as the man standing in front of me.” The one who
made her feel so safe, comfortable, and secure despite her insecurities. “Who is wearing far too many clothes.” She tugged at his tucked in shirt. “Not fair.”

  Tuck fixed that problem. Clothing hit the floor, chair, and dresser. He wasn’t particular. The confidence she lacked, he made up for. He had every reason to be confident.

  “There. I evened the playing field.” He pulled her against him. She gripped his biceps and rested her face on his chest. Tuck took hold of her backside and lifted her, laying her against the bed.

  “You’re making it very hard to not fall for you.” She admitted. “And I don’t fall easily.”

  “You can fall,” he whispered, his lips brushed hers. “I’ll catch you.”

  Their discussion ended and their bodies finished the conversation.

  *****

  Chance laid aside Tuck’s chest, his arm wrapped around her back.

  “Story time.” Tuck said.

  “It’s late. We can talk tomorrow.”

  “Come on.” He spanked her behind playfully. “I want to hear it.”

  “It’s a long story.” She picked up her head and looked at him. He waited for her to continue. “Okay, remember you wanted me to tell you.”

  Chapter Eleven

  Tuck left her house shortly after sunrise. Chance slept in. She could get used to the hours she’d kept since the accident. And she’d enjoyed her pleasant slumber while being held in Tuck’s arms. What the past week had brought.

  Chance sat in her pajamas, Abby harassed the hell out of her. She called the nursing facility where Joseph Hyde resided, but didn’t get far. They informed her that he had Alzheimer’s and was disabled from a severe stroke. He couldn’t carry on a conversation and they wouldn’t allow her to talk to him.

  Great. So, she called Hank Fitton, the one located in Flagstaff. A young man answered the phone and informed her that Mr. Fitton had passed more than a year ago. The phone book lied. She thanked the man and hung up.

  The last hope she had was Hank Fitton number two, located in Albany. But, with only a P.O. Box, she had little to work with. Albany was not a small town like her hometown. She couldn’t stop in a store, ask a local, and be pointed to his house. This was a city. She could call the local police, but they wouldn’t give her his address, or his phone number. Hmmm…but they would tell Tuck. No, she decided against asking him, she’d asked enough of him and shouldn’t involve him further.