Great Deception

Chapter 5

Chapter 5

Arriving home, a short while after the supper hour, Sullivan was met at the door by Ann. She had a concerned look on her face and an extra long hug for him.

Pushing back a bit so his face was about six inches from hers, “How much do you know?”

Staring at him, “I saw the news. How is Detective Jones?”

“Both he and Striker will be fine after some recovery time.”

“I'm sorry, I didn't know Detective Striker was injured too.”

“Basically a flesh wound to the arm. He was never in serious danger after the shot, but Jones was of serious concern, lost an awful lot of blood. They said five minutes more and he would have bled out, so we're lucky.” He then pulled her in for another hug. While kissing her neck, “It feels like there is something else.”

Pulling away and reaching for something on the entry table, “There is,” and then she handed him an envelope. In the upper left hand corner it said Department of Defense.

Opening it slowly while watching Ann's eyes, he cautiously unfolded the letter. After taking a moment to read it, he began to fold it back up. “They are assigning me to an active Navy reserve unit that will be going to the Persian Gulf.”

“I thought being on inactive reserve meant you were safe?” Ann said as her expression twisted.

“I did too, but we both knew there was always a chance.”

“I know. I just didn't think about it.”

“The war in the Middle East is heating up again and I've been considering the possibility,” he said and then drew her in kissing her on the neck again.

“Did the letter say when?”

“In two months. Hopefully, we will be quiet at work that will give me time to settle things up there.”

“That gives us a little time,” Ann whispered.

Just then Adam woke and began crying. Ann took Cole by the hand as they strolled down the hall to Adam's room. He was standing against the rail of his crib and held out his hands as soon as they entered.

Cole got to him first and picked him out of the crib and kissed him on the head half a dozen times. “How am I going to leave him?” He asked as he laid the squirming little fellow down on the dressing table and looked into his blueish gray eyes.

Putting her right hand on Cole's back while he was changing the diaper. “I married a man with a very dangerous job and now he's going off to war. How could it get any better?” With just a hint of sass, “but I knew what I was getting and I have no regrets...yet.” Slapping him on the butt, “and you'd better never give me any.”

Having finished with the diaper, he picked Adam up, who was smiling and laughing, turned and they had a group hug. Adam latched onto Ann's neck, so Cole let him go.

“He's a happy boy,” Cole said.

“May it always be so.”