off the side of the building too when the window washers come.” Zak coughed. “We should get out of here. Can you walk?”
She tried a step, her arms around his waist. “I’m good.”
“Let’s get out of Dodge,” he whispered, leading her toward the stairwell entrance. He pushed her behind him as they walked past the nonexistent doors to the gym and found the windows had completely blown out, the force of the blast overturning equipment. The mirror-covered walls covered in blood spray looked like a contemporary painting. Several rags of clothing remnants soaked in deep red puddles against the walls. There was a large crater blasted in the center of the room with splinters of flooring scattered everywhere like toothpicks.
Opening the stairwell door, they could hear heavy boots running up the steps, carrying equipment. “Anybody up there injured?”
“We’re fine. Not sure about anyone else, but I think your shooter has become one with the source,” Zak barked.
Chapter 15
‡
T he oyster bar at the Ferry Plaza he had on good authority was a good place to have a special occasion. His new LPO for SEAL Team 3, Kyle Lansdowne, had told Zak all about it, told him to say his goodbyes and then get his butt back to San Diego for the workup.
“You don’t want to start out on this team as a slacker. We don’t really get time off, so while it’s nice to get all cozy with the girlfriend and get her head on straight, we’ve got a mission to work up for.”
“Roger that, sir.”
“We can’t always come home. Most of us miss holidays, anniversaries, kid’s birthdays, and even our kid’s births on a regular basis. That’s just the way it is. Don’t cry over it.”
“I get you, sir.”
“But damn, I gotta say for a little tadpole, a newbie frog, you sure handled yourself well, sailor. Way to get that little punk to give it up and not take any more people with him.”
“Thank you, sir.”
“Mighty proud. And your lady, I hear tell she held up quite well. You got a keeper there, son.”
“I think so too, sir.”
“So what the fuck you waiting around for? Ask the girl to marry you, and get her little ass down to San Diego where you can keep an eye on her.”
“I intend to, sir.”
“I’m gonna ask you first thing when I see you next. Don’t complain and cry on my shoulder telling me you screwed all night long and forgot to ask her, okay? Make an honest frog princess outta her, son.”
“I get your message loud and clear, Chief Petty Officer Lansdowne.”
Amy was returning from the ladies room, so he signed off and took a sip of his beer. She sat next to him. Except for the fact that the two of them looked like they’d gotten into a fight, Zak thought they made a pretty good looking couple as he stared across the bar to the large wavy mirror. The waiter brought them six barbequed oysters from Marin County. The hot spicy tomato flavor wafted up in the steam that blew in their faces as they hovered over them.
“Those look wonderful.” Amy’s eyes were bright, her face illuminated by soft candlelight.
Zak squeezed a lemon wedge over the hot mixture. He held one shell up to Amy’s mouth. “Yours. These are supposed to be the best in the bay.”
Amy swallowed the mixture, shutting her eyes as a little part of the sauce dribbled out the right side of her lips. Zak kissed it away.
“Your turn,” she said and held up another shell, tipping it so the hot oyster mixture slid onto his tongue.
“Hog Island is famous to SEAL Team 3, or at least to our LPO.”
“LPO? What does that mean?”
“Leading Petty Officer. He’s like in charge of our platoon. You’ll get to meet him soon, I hope. Maybe there will be time before we deploy, but for sure when I get back.”
“So what are your dates?” She asked, taking another oyster.
“Well, that kinda depends on you, Amy.”
“On me?”
“When I come home next time, I’d like to ask your father permission to marry you, if you’ll have
C. J. Cherryh
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