minutes later and said, “How fussy are you?”
“Just need a few hours of sleep. Simple and clean would be good.”
“My younger brother works here, dishwasher, was discharged four months ago, did tours over there too. He said you’re welcome to crash at his place. Here’s the address.” She had written it on a napkin. “Just down the street. Keys under the mat. Nothing worth stealing, so he leaves the key out. Says if you’re a brother, the couch is all yours. You okay with that?”
“Yeah, that would be great,” I said.
“And oh,” Sally said, “he didn’t ask, but if you could leave a little somethin’ on his counter, he could really use it.”
I looked at her. There were tears in her eyes.
“You okay?” I asked.
“Hey, it’s a long story. You served over there. You saw it like he did, so you know.”
“Yep.”
I reached across the counter and took her hand. “He’ll be okay,” I said. “Takes time. Be patient and encourage him to talk. There’s lots of vet organizations out there.”
“I hope. I can only hope,” she said back. “There are times I don’t even know who he is. Who came back to me?”
“Hold ’em, hug ’em, don’t let him push you away, and Sally, just the fact that he knows he has brothers like me out here and is willing to help me out, that’s important.”
“So what’s your name?” she asked.
“Jason Orr, Army special ops and ex secret service.”
“No kidding?”
“No kidding,” I said.
“Hope you get some rest, Jason.”
I finished my plate, put two twenties on the counter, and walked to the door. I glanced Sallie’s way. She was talking to a trucker down the counter.
She glanced up at me. I tipped my hat as I walked out.
I found the house of Sallie’s brother, small one-bedroom, well-kept. I slept for five hours, on his couch, clothes on, just kicked my boots.
When I woke up, I didn’t snoop around. I respected the man. I left a Benjamin under a mug on the kitchen counter.
The clean crisp morning air greeted me as I walked out the front door of a man I didn’t even know, not even his name. A man willing to share his home with a fellow soldier.
It felt right.
Chapter 5
The conference room on the third floor of the Bermuda Estate was standing room only. Extra chairs had been brought in and lined the walls. The seventeen division heads were seated at the table in no certain order. There was one empty chair at the head, reserved for Joseph Lehan.
Other attendees sat along the wall, several lawyers, Katzi Bar-Lev, Hava Fromer, a secretary to take notes and a technical person to record the meeting and to run the visual presentation. There was one empty chair along the wall also, reserved for Maria Simpson, Lehan’s right-hand person, who nowadays seemed to be glued to his side.
It was 0959 hours. Even though the room was crowded, there was no conversation going on. There were waters on the table, but no other beverages or food. At 1000 hours, Joseph Lehan entered the room, followed closely by Maria Simpson. Lehan walked directly to the head seat without greeting anyone or speaking and sat down.
Maria remained standing and announced, “The first Sarnev International division head meeting under the leadership of Joseph Lehan will come to order.”
She then sat down at Lehan’s right side.
Lehan spoke next, “I have called this meeting to formally announce the wishes of our founder, Andre Sarnev, according to the legal documents he had prepared in case of the current situation.”
All eyes were on Lehan as he spoke, he continued, “You have been given a file prepared by William George. It contains a copy of Andre’s, for lack of a better term, will. The file also contains a document for each one of you to sign and leave here at the estate. The document states that you acknowledge Andre’s wishes and will support them.
“As you are all aware, Andre has been missing since early July. We have kept this news out of the press, and it is only known internally. We will continue to do so. There is a document in your file for you to sign, indicating you agree not to disclose this information to anyone at any time until the corporation decides to make it public.
“Andre had a provision included in his will. It states that if he was incapacitated, physically or mentally unable to run the affairs of Sarnev International, I, Joseph Lehan, would be appointed its president and CEO until which time Andre regained the ability to function in that position. Under the current situation, William George, with all certainty concurs this provision to be valid and applicable to Andre’s current status.”
Everyone at the table opened the files set before them and started reading the paperwork they contained. Lehan sat patient as they all read.
Several minutes passed, and as they all finished reading, Lehan asked, “Any questions?”
No one replied.
“Then, after the meeting is concluded, Mr. George and his assistant will witness your signatures and notarize them in the outer lounge area.
“Next item of business is to announce Sarnev International will be developing its own global security company. We will start here at the estate and, as soon as possible, expand it to all our offices and facilities worldwide. This project will be headed up by Hava Fromer and Katzi Bar-Lev, formally from Israeli Intelligence and Armed Forces.
“Your current security structure will be phased out, and their protocols and systems will replace them. If you have personnel they deem capable of adapting to their structure, they will keep them on staff. If not, they will bring in however many of their own well-trained team to replace them.
“Mr. Bar-Lev specializes in cybersecurity. He was instrumental in developing many of the protocols Israel uses today. We are all aware of their proficiency in this area. Mrs. Fromer specializes in tactical security. Her talents will be utilized to keep us all safe as we travel and in our homes and offices.
“Please welcome them to Sarnev. We hope to have a long and prosperous association with the Masada Security Company. As we move forward, I will be traveling more extensively and will be visiting each of you as my time allows and any special needs arise. I appreciate all of you taking the time out of your crowded schedules to travel here today. There are six Sarnev jets stationed at Kindley Field today for your departures. The pilots have their routing planned to accommodate all your destinations.
“Check in at the Sarnev hangar when you arrive back at Kindley. We will have two limousines at the ready in the basement garage. They will start leaving at 1115 hours. Please be ready prior to then. Mr. George has things set up in the lounge for your convenience.”
Maria stood up, “With that, ladies and
