Brother's Keeper. Joaquin De Torres
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if you let me finish-”
Jason stepped up to the table and retrieved the Glock from under the face cloth, freezing Rivers cold. He barely was able to raise his palms pleadingly out in front of him. Jason put the gun to his own temple and stepped forward.
“Now you’re going to tell me why you’re really here or I’m going to fucking blow my brains out on your nice white shirt!” Rivers was speechless. It had come to this. The mission was going to end; but more pitifully, so was the life of this gifted young man right before his eyes.
“I will give you until the count of five,” Jason uttered with surprising calm. “You will either convince me that what you’re saying is not bullshit, or you will witness my death.”
Rivers held up a hand and shook his head.
“Jason, don’t do this.”
“One.”
“Jason, the mission is not a lie! It is designed for you!”
“Two.”
“Why would the Navy send me all the way out here for you!? I have something tangible to offer you!”
“Then tell me!”
“I can’t! My superiors have all the details! Jason, these details are of the highest classification!”
“Fuck you! Three!”
Sweat glistened on Rivers’ forehead. Jason smirked and shook his head slightly.
“And to think, for an instant, I wanted to believe that you had something special for me. That you had some piece of good news for my pathetic, shit-hole life. What a pity.”
“GODDAMN IT, JASON! WHAT MORE CAN I TELL YOU? THE NAVY IS OFFERING YOU ANOTHER CHANCE! WHAT HAVE YOU GOT TO LOSE!?”
“I will not be a pawn in your fucking game! A fucking guinea pig for a suicide mission!”
“We’ll train you, support you, get you back in the cockpit! We’re giving you a fighting chance!”
“And then what!? Even if the mission is a success, how will you treat me then!?” He shook his head in rejection. “You came all this way to get a bum like me to fly a mission in China. Just like that. All I have to do is say yes and everything I’ve ever done, everything that put me in this fucked position will be forgotten.” Tears glistened around his eyes.
“You see, Mr. Rivers, I have no more family and nothing to live for. All the hours, weeks and months you would use to retrain me will only prolong my agony of living a rootless, soulless existence. And in the cockpit, all I’d be doing is chasing my brother’s ghost. That’s not a second chance. That’s not a life. I’m sorry, Mr. Rivers. Thank you for trying.” He wiped his tears with his free hand. “Four.”
When Jason started sucking in quick, deep breaths Rivers knew that this was it.
“Five. So long, Mr.-”
“YOUR BROTHER’S ALIVE!”
Jason pulled the gun away from his head. “What?”
“Jordan! Your brother, Jordan! He’s alive! At least, there’s a strong possibility he’s alive!” He took several long, deep breaths. “I’m telling you the truth! Jordan may not be dead!” Rivers stumbled back, focusing internally to slow his heart rate and the adrenaline pumping hard through his veins. Jason stood silently and motionless, staring at him as tears flowed freely down his face.
Rivers fell back onto the couch and gasped for air. He raised a hand to his face and wiped away the sweat. It took several moments of silence to bring him to a point where he could refocus on the task at hand. When he gained his emotional strength, he looked up at the stunned, silent young man.
“Sit down, Jason,” he gasped, trying to recapture his composure, “and let me tell you why I’m really here.”
Chapter 4
Enter the Dragon
Deep Strike Command
Yokosuka, Japan
Bob Marrion read the text on his smart phone several times. It was brief, just two short sentences, but more than enough to send the admiral into a momentary lapse of uncertainty as the confluence of elation and dread washed over him. He read the text again:
We’re on the plane tomorrow. Check your e-mail for our itinerary.
You did it! My God, you actually did it! rejoiced one internal voice, while another voice yelled: Shit! Now you’ve gone and done it! Marrion paced about his office, not knowing if he should dance or cry. The fact that this project was now going into stage two was phenomenal and worrisome. There was so much at stake, so much that could be lost.
This had to work, not so much because of the invested money, machines and manpower; but for the bigger picture—the future of air warfare, and the continuance of U.S. air superiority in the Pacific. As far as Marrion was concerned, the latter claim was in jeopardy-if not already lost-the day the Chinese produced the world’s first stealth missile.
Rivers bringing in Jason Li not only gave him an opportunity to advance this top-priority initiative, but if successful, could at the very least, level the playing field against the Chinese. The best case scenario would be to regain the air superiority title despite the existence of those missiles. But as much as he wanted to believe that such a formidable position could be reclaimed, he had to wrestle with the disconcerting reality that this global-shifting event now rested on the shoulders of an unstable, disgraced naval aviator.
Szechuan Village Chinese Restaurant
1430 Willow Pass Road
Concord, California
“So, this is the best Chinese food in Concord?” Scott asked, as he opened the tall laminated menu. Jason laughed quietly, nodding his head.
“It’s so good that this is the second time I’ve eaten here food today. The first time was right before you came in my apartment.” He took a swig from his tall glass of beer. “It was supposed to be my last meal, but you screwed that up for me.” Both chuckled dismissively, not wanting to dwell on one of the most harrowing episodes of their lives. But it was better now, much better.
Scott concealed his absolute relief and contentment behind his cordial and attentive demeanor. Four hours earlier he was pleading with this man not to kill himself, but now he was sitting down to a dinner with him. A massive step was being taken here, and the more he talked with the young man, the more he found himself liking him, empathizing with him and wanting to support him. He wasn’t quite convinced yet that the overall mission would be accomplished with his help, but it was looking up.
The beaming smile on Jason’s face, his youthful chatter and quick, but thoughtful responses brought peace to Scott, confirming that his last ditch effort to bring the boy back from Hell, despite Marrion’s orders, was the right thing to do. He caught Jason staring dreamily into his beer.
“So, Jordan is alive,” he breathed.
“We believe this to be true. But Jason, let’s not jump—”
“To any conclusions,” Jason finished, still smiling. “I know. I’m sorry if I’m all giddy, but the thought of him being alive is overwhelming.” He looked up to Scott with fevered eyes. “He was everything to me: father, brother, best friend, mentor, protector-all of it, encapsulated in this one man.”
“I understand,” Scott acknowledged. “But remember Jason, if you agree to this mission, you will be under contract, under oath and expected to do your best to complete it whether Jordan is alive or not.” The young man nodded pensively.
“I understand. So, about this mission.” Scott was already shaking his head.
“I can’t discuss this now. When we’re with the team in secure spaces, and