Fulfilling Promises (Red Starr, Book Five) (21 page)

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D
evyn peered over
her shoulder and wasn’t a bit surprised to see two rather large men slowly taking off their Oakley sunglasses as they surveyed the patrons of the diner. Their intimidating presence with their tall builds, wide shoulders with bulging biceps, and all-knowing gazes had caught everyone’s attention. Even Ella was examining her new customers from her place in the kitchen through the chest-high serving area.

“Gunny, what the hell are you doing here?” Trigger asked, sliding out of the booth and shaking hands with a man who must have been at least six foot, three inches. Devyn didn’t consider herself that short, but her neck would definitely get a strain if she had to look up at him all of the time. If she remembered correctly, Gunny was Red Starr’s team leader. “Doc, it’s good to see you as well.”

“I couldn’t let him come alone.
Whole Town Massacred in Mississippi
makes for bad PR,” Doc replied with a real smile, putting Devyn at ease. His demeanor was relatable and he appeared rather comfortable in this small town diner. He appeared a few years younger than Trigger and her, with dark blond hair and compassionate green eyes. “You must be Devyn. That was in bad taste. I was truly sorry to hear about your brother. I know he and Trigger were best of friends.”

“I understand the need for a little comic relief now and then. And thank you,” Devyn replied, scooting over so Trigger could take a seat. She was surprised when Doc sat next to her while Trigger and Gunny made themselves comfortable across the table. “It’s nice to meet the both of you. I’ve heard a lot of good things about the team.”

“Whatever Trigger’s told you, it’s absolutely not true,” Doc immediately responded, shooting Trigger a wry look. “He has a tendency to overdramatize.”

“We weren’t comfortable with you being made a target in yesterday’s incident, so we decided we’d help you finish this once and for all so you can enjoy the rest of your vacation,” Gunny interrupted whatever Trigger had been about to say in retaliation to Doc’s good-natured jest. He hooked his dark sunglasses over the faded brown T-shirt he was wearing as he leaned back and allowed Rose to set down two coffees. “Thank you, Rose.”

Devyn and Rose exchanged awkward glances. Gunny must have taken a lot more in than anyone had noticed. Rose wasn’t wearing a nametag, which could only mean someone in the place must have called her by name while Gunny had been walking to their table. Trigger and Doc didn’t even blink an eye at his little trick.

“We’ll have whatever the breakfast special is with extra meat.” Gunny didn’t hesitate to pick up his coffee and take a drink, not even wincing when the burning hot liquid touched his lips. He set the cup down and got right down to business. “Where do things stand right now?”

Trigger filled them in and it wasn’t until the end of the debriefing—that’s what this conversation had felt like to Devyn—when he finished up with the fact that Micah and Dalton were sitting at the table across the way.

“We’ll need to keep an eye on them, because whoever this guy is…he’s not going to stop at half the team,” Trigger said, motioning with his hand that Rose was coming back with their food. He then spoke in a normal tone. “I figure you can stay out at my parents’ place. They have plenty of room and you’ll be comfortable there.”

“Where’s Diesel?” Doc asked, picking up the set of silverware Rose had set down along with his plate. He took out the fork and waited patiently for Devyn to use the maple syrup. She handed it to him, still studying both of Trigger’s friends. They weren’t exactly what she would have expected, and yet they were. “I want to take a selfie with him and send it to Starr. She could use a laugh.”

“Stop instigating shit,” Trigger warned with a laugh, digging into the hash browns he’d ordered with his meal. He shot a humorous look Devyn’s way. “Starr pretends she doesn’t like Diesel, but I’m relatively sure she’s been the one sneaking him treats. He’s with my mom right now, stretching his legs after breakfast. They’ve got most of an acre fenced in with plenty of rabbits. We’ll swing by to pick him up on the way back to the bar.”

Devyn ate in silence as she listened to these three men talk, realizing that he was much closer with them in a very different way than he’d ever been with Joey back in the old days. She wasn’t angry or hurt by that, but instead grateful that Trigger had such a support system for when he went back to San Diego and beyond that on his deployments. She suddenly lost her appetite.

“So what’s on the agenda today?” Gunny asked, taking another drink of coffee to wash down a massive bite of the blueberry pancakes. “We can split up and each alternate protection duty of Kilgore and Linney there. That will free you and Devyn up for whatever you think will garner more leads as to who the son of a bitch is we’re looking for.”

“Um, Micah and Dalton will most likely be at The Laughing Griffin most of the day,” Devyn replied, wanting to fill the silence since Trigger had just taken another large bite of his hash browns. She reached for her coffee. “The bar is where most people go to talk about what’s happening in town, and since this all started…trust me when I say business has unfortunately been good. That’s where both of them will be most of the time, considering they’ve both lost their jobs a couple months back. It won’t seem so farfetched to have you there while you keep an eye on them. Technically, it’s not necessary since Sheriff Harpole’s deputies are supposed to be doing that. The air conditioning went out in my apartment above the bar, so I’ll need to be heading back there soon. John also has a security company arriving at ten o’clock to upgrade the alarm system—something akin to Fort Knox would be my guess.”

“Has Detective Chaisson called you with any additional information?” Gunny asked, pushing away his empty plate. She was quite surprised there wasn’t a bite out of it also. He had hazel eyes, but they became a darker brown when he spoke about the case. “I imagine he’s got quite a few leads to run down now that the victims have been connected.”

“I haven’t spoken to him this morning, but I’m sure he’ll be by The Laughing Griffin later today,” Devyn said, casting a glance Trigger’s way. He was frowning at her plate, but she opted to ignore his disapproval. “It’s still hard to believe someone is targeting a group of boys who played basketball back in high school. Why would anyone do that?”

“Sadly, sometimes a person doesn’t need a valid reason for doing terrible things. Some people are just fucking crazy and need to be put down. We’ll need to be introduced to your detective. He’ll want to know there are two more of
us
in town,” Gunny advised Trigger before reaching for the cell phone that was attached to a clip on his belt. His message was deliberately obscure. Devyn was surprised he received service considering it was so spotty, but then again they were closer to the highway than where the bar was located. It was only then that she realized he was carrying a weapon in a waist holster similar to Trigger’s. “It’s Starr. Excuse me while I take this outside.”

Doc and Trigger shared a concerned look with one another that had Devyn wondering what all the subliminal communication was about. Catori Starr appeared to have their concern over her current well-being. Was she more to one of them than the owner and operator of Red Starr?

“Have you spoken with her?” Doc asked in a somewhat somber tone. “She’s been in D.C. all this week and hasn’t filed a flight plan for a return trip home—at least as of this morning. Gunny hasn’t chosen our next mission because he thinks we’ll be going to Pakistan.”

Devyn tried not to stiffen upon hearing they would be leaving the country so soon. She wasn’t ready to let go of Trigger just yet. She kept her gaze on Doc so that Trigger wouldn’t catch her unease.

“Starr mentioned she was having trouble getting ahold of a CIA liaison by the name of Brienne Chaylse. She was apparently Red Starr’s team liaison on that last mission with Red and his old team. It was her first assignment, so I’m pretty sure she followed protocol.” Trigger rested his fork on his plate and then wiped his mouth with his napkin. He sighed as he leaned back against the vinyl padding of the booth. “What do you think it’s about?”

“The location and possibly recovery of Red’s body,” Doc replied solemnly, lifting his green eyes to meet Trigger’s despondent gaze. Devyn finally comprehended that Starr’s relationship with her team was one of loyalty and trust. They cared for her as they cared for one another. “Which is why we have the rest of the team spinning up on standby. Starr deserves to bring her husband home. We will be going in heavy, South African mercenaries, a full squad for each of us.”

Devyn’s chest tightened in commiseration. Catori Starr lost her husband, but yet had never been able to give him a proper burial. What would Devyn had done if Joey had just disappeared off the face of the planet, never to be seen or heard from again? The grief of losing him was immense, but at least she had a semblance of closure that Catori hadn’t been given. Once the man responsible for taking her brother’s life was captured or killed, Devyn would then be able to finally let go…unlike Catori. The woman hadn’t been able to see her husband one last time nor had the people responsible been held accountable. How did the woman manage to sleep at night not knowing what actually happened?

“I’ll understand if all of you need to leave here to help Ms. Starr,” Devyn offered, her mind arguing against the words coming out of her mouth. She was trying to do the right thing, but that wasn’t always easy. Witnessing the flash of irritation on Trigger’s face hadn’t been the response she was expecting and she found herself revealing more personal details in front of Doc than she was uncomfortable with. “I wasn’t offering that up as an excuse to get you to leave, John. It was an honest gesture. I can’t imagine what Ms. Starr is going through while waiting to hear if her husband’s body has been recovered.”

Devyn didn’t miss the surprise in Doc’s green eyes when Trigger reached over the table and took a hold of her hand, resting his arm to the right of his empty plate. His warm fingers let her know just how cold she’d gotten thinking of Joey. It was strange the odd times her grief would hit when she thought she was doing fine.

“I gave you my word that I’m not leaving here until the person responsible for Joey’s death is apprehended, thrown behind bars, and left there to rot until they die. Either that or I send them to hell on a .45 caliber express train,” Trigger said gruffly, his thumb caressing the back of her hand in the most tender way. “You’re stuck with me, wild one.”

Trigger had even used his pet name for her in front of Doc. Devyn couldn’t bring herself to look his way, but instead gave a small smile of her appreciation to Trigger’s promise before gently pulling her hand away. She crumbled her napkin for something to do before setting the balled material in the middle of her plate. She needed to get back to the bar to meet up with Brian, as well as take a little time to herself to gather her thoughts.

“We really need to go,” Devyn notified them, catching the sound of the bell above the door. She didn’t have to look over her shoulder to know it was Gunny coming back in, because the smallest of hushes came over the diner before picking back up again after he rejoined them. “We still need to pick up Diesel before heading back to The Laughing Griffin.”

“Doc, you and Gunny can follow us and meet my mother,” Trigger said, pulling out his wallet and dropping a fifty-dollar bill on the table. It would more than cover their four meals and coffee, leaving Rose with a generous tip. “Trust me, those two will be here for a while yet.”

Trigger was referring to Micah and Dalton and he was right. Those two would be here for another hour. Devyn wasn’t surprised when Doc offered her his hand to get out of the booth. It was apparent he was raised a gentleman, much like Trigger. She smiled her appreciation and stood next to all three men, suddenly feeling ten feet tall and bulletproof. Maybe with their help, Joey would finally receive the justice he so richly deserved. Devyn led the way to the front of the diner when Justin slid his chair in her path, looking at his phone and not his surroundings.

“I’m so sorry, Devyn,” Justin said, standing up and straightening his tie while holding his phone in one hand with his eyes glued on Gunny. He’d somehow moved to the right of her, while Trigger was suddenly on her left. Doc was behind her with his hand on her shoulder, although she didn’t doubt he could see what was in front of them. “I didn’t see all of you there.”

And just like that, Justin turned on the heel of his dress shoe and walked out the door. Devyn watched through the window as he pulled his key fob from his pocket and pressed the button to his black BMW 4 Series Coupe. His phone was attached to his ear before he even got into the car.

“What was that about?” Trigger murmured, watching through the window as Justin pulled away from the curb and sped in the direction of the highway. “Yeatman just left his business associate with his bill.”

Devyn had noticed that Doc’s hand dropped off her shoulder once Justin turned away from her, rushing out without paying, but the man he’d been with didn’t seem to mind. He wasn’t looking up at them, but instead taking money out of his wallet to give to Rose. He looked familiar, but Devyn couldn’t place him. Trigger had set his hand on her lower back and indicated he wanted her to keep moving. Gunny had moved ahead and already opened the door, rattling the bell up above.