After Shock (#2 - Semper Fi Series)

Closer to the Truth

Max boarded a flight for L.A. He knew they would need help, and he had to see to his friend and make sure he would be okay.

He didn’t want to interfere with this assignment. Max was afraid Amanda was going to crack and not be able to do what she needed to do. He didn’t fault her for that, though. It wasn’t something that happened to anyone: two men that she loved had been injured on the same date five years apart. She was so beside herself with grief and worry, she wouldn’t be able to draw on her unique ability to remain calm that was so reliable when maneuvering through a bad situation.

He’d get in touch with Mr. Harvey in Sacramento and find out what could be done on the State law enforcement level. Apparently the local law was not competent enough to help a defenseless woman and her small children. They only responded to the bomb and the car explosion because they had to. He had a few choice words for the Police Chief and it would be a one-sided conversation.

Max called Josh as he was boarding the plane. “Josh, Max here. I’m on my way out now. My first stop will be the hospital and then I will be out to assess the situation since it’s changed so drastically since my team took charge of it. Tell Amanda I’m on the way. Hopefully that will keep her spirits up. I know she’s not doing well. Thanks buddy, see you in a few hours.”

“See you soon, Max!”

The flight attendant made the announcement to “turn off all electronic devices until we have reached our cruising altitude.” Thankfully this was a considerably shorter flight than some of the others he’d been on during his Active Duty career as well as his current position. Airplanes seemed to be his second home at times. The plane began rolling down the runway. It was time to sleep. He wouldn’t remember anything but taking off, and would wake when the plane landed.

______________________________

To say the boss was unhappy with their lack of performance was the understatement of the millennium. They were idiots. They lost track of the very person they were supposed to bring.

The hotel was set up. The things for the children were packed and Alyssa’s ticket to Kansas, one way, alone, was ready. This was an offer she would not refuse, because the alternatives were much more unpleasant than any she could think of.

The idea was that the sweet little angels would go with them to their new home, and Alyssa would return to her parents. They’d be able to visit once a year, for a total of two weeks each summer. Sure, she’d miss them for holidays and all of that nonsense, but once they reasoned with her, she’d see that she had no control over the situation, and they’d be better off in a place where every single need could be met.

Allen was becoming an obstacle to the final objective of a new safe environment for the children. He loved them, but he flew off the handle too quickly and entirely too often. He’d hurt them. There was no alternative but this one. Thankfully, Melanie had been a help, though unknowingly so at first, and now she was on board too. The nice thing about Allen and Melanie, other than that they were lovers, was that they were willing to do the dirty work. The other person would come around soon.

This was a pain in the neck, but in just three more days, the children would be “safe” again, and Alyssa would have no say in their day to day lives anymore. The dish of revenge was now cold, and she’d never see this coming in a million years.

___________________________

Melanie rolled over. Allen had fallen asleep again, finally. He’d been having nightmares for weeks. About what, he never said, but they were enough to scare her awake. She was not thrilled with the boss as of late. She had been Alyssa’s “savior” as far as being a babysitter when she needed one. This made implanting all those devices that much easier. Every time the kids were there, she’d find a reason to change their clothes, and had sown other articles of clothing while they were asleep. She hated betraying Alyssa, but the boss was right. Alyssa couldn’t give those babies as good a home as the boss could.