Jordan Summers - [Dead World 01] by Red (html) Page A

she
needed was to add fuel to their fears.
    "Are you listening?"
    Red jerked at the sound of his voice. "I'm
getting ready to submit my report
now," she said as she sat a little straighter and prayed that's
what her grandfather had been discussing.
    "Could you explain what
occurred out in the field before you file your permanent report? I want to make sure your thoughts are concise. The review board looks
at every duty-related item in an officer's background before promoting them to
commander."
    "You're not going anywhere for a long time,
Grandpa."
    "I can't run this place forever," he said,
suddenly looking much older than his seventy-five years.
    Red knew he warned her out of love, out of his need to
protect. Couldn't he simply trust her judgment?
    Robert Santiago had been grooming her since childhood
to eventually take over his position. He'd pu shed,
cajoled, and fought for her when it came time to make the team. Red had pushed herself to the
limits in order to please the only person she could call family.
He had always told her that once their dreams c ame true and she became commander that Red would be safe and in
charge of her future.
    There was only one problem—being commander was never
her dream. Not that Red would ever tell him. It meant too much to her
grandfather. The truth would break his heart. And that was something that she refused to
do…even if it meant putting her dreams on hold.
    Her expression must have betrayed her thoughts because
he added, "Please tell me exactly what happened. You know how I love a
good story, particularly when it comes from my special girl."
    Red shifted under his appraisal. He'd called her special again. Normally she relished his endearments, but not
that one. She didn't want to be special. Not then . Not now. Not ever. She wanted to be nor-mal like everyone
else.
    "I'm not
making anything up or imagining things, if that's what you're suggesting," she said with
certainty, needing to convince him. "My gut tells me there's more to Lisa
Solomon's death than what the evidence states. " '
    "Why do you think so?" He leaned forward and
rested his chin on his hands. Red recognized the open expression. He was giving her the benefit of the doubt.
    "The look of the scene,
maybe. Perhaps, the align ment of her
body. Her horrified expression." She paused
to gather her thoughts. "The attack looked per sonal, and animal
attacks aren't ever personal."
    His face soured. "Yes, I've seen the photos.
Quite gruesome. But we know death is
oftentimes not pretty or clean."
    "I'm used to seeing death." All emotion fled
from Red's tone, until it was flat and lifeless like the void inside of her.
"It doesn't bother me." Anymore floated in the air between
them, left unsaid.
    "Trying to save your mother and sister
again?" he asked quietly. "Heaven rest their souls." There was
no reproach in his voice, only sadness and resolve.
    "Someone should have."
Guilt swamped her. If only she'd been older, been at home instead of with her grandfather, then maybe they'd still be alive.
Even as the thought filled her mind, Red knew if she'd been there she
would be dead, too.
    Robert Santiago sat back. "You can't save them, Gina. You never could," he said finally.
"They're dead and recycled, so please stop trying."
    Red's chest squeezed tight. She bit the inside of her
mouth and tasted blood. "I know they're dead." The words choked in
her throat nearly gagging her. There wasn't a day that went by that she didn't
think about her family and what might have been. "I know I can't save Mom
and Ann any more than I can save Lisa Solomon, but I can find out what happened
to her. I can give her family some closure,
even if I'll never have it myself."
    "Is that what this is all about?"
    She considered his question carefully. "No, it's
not about me. It's about finding out the truth."
    He nodded briefly. "Bannon says he believes Lisa
Solomon was killed by wild animals. He even notes trace amounts of
canine saliva. Said there were