Broken Trust by Leigh Bale Read Free Book Online Page B

flash drive. I
printed the pictures off, but there weren’t any secret files on there that I
could see.”
    “Did you bring the flash drive with
you by chance?”
    She reached around her neck and
pulled out a thin, black lanyard with a USB drive hanging on one end, no bigger
than her thumb. “When I get home, I can email you the pictures if you want them
in an electronic format.”
    Mac shook his head. “Too bad we
don’t have electricity and a computer handy. I want to take a look at that
flash drive.”
    Her eyes widened as she stared at
the USB drive lying on her open palm. “You think there are secret files hidden
on it? Something I overlooked?”
    He shrugged. “Who knows? I also
want to make a phone call to my commanding officer. Colonel Wilkinson recently
retired and is living near Vegas. He should still have enough clout to pull
some strings and gain access to Eric’s personnel file.”
    She twirled a strand of her golden
hair. “You think that’s the file Eric referred to in his letter?”
    “It’s a place to start, along with
the flash drive.”
    “Can you trust the Colonel?”
    He gave one, brisk nod. “I think
so. But don’t get your hopes up. Eric and I belonged to the MARSOC team. All
special forces files are top secret. In the morning, we’ll get your car and
I’ll drive you into Clarkston. The Colonel’s retired, now. It might take him
some time to pull a few strings to check Eric’s file. I can call you at your
home in Vegas as soon as I hear anything.”
    “Okay.”
    A long, swelling silence followed.
He longed to tell her his feelings, to beg her forgiveness. If he told her the
truth and then discovered he was wrong, he might create a real problem for the Marine
Corps. He’d taken an oath of secrecy, but wished he could confide in someone.
    He held his breath, waiting. The
anguish in her eyes broke his heart, what little he had left. “Toni, I’m so
sorry.”
    She held up a hand. “Don’t, Mac.
Just leave it in the past.”
    “Actually, I was speaking about
Eric.”
    A scowl tugged at her forehead.
“Nothing can bring him back. Just let it go.”
    Let it go? If only it were that
easy. He’d hidden here in the mountains, hoping to forget. It seemed he could
run and hide from everyone.
    Except himself.
    “I need a friend right now, Mac.”
Her voice sounded watery. “I can’t figure out Eric’s letter without your help.”
    He could barely speak around the
lump in his throat. “I’ll help you, Toni. I’ll always be here for you. No
matter what.”
    He wished for more, but that just
made him feel worse. He’d let his selfishness ruin what they’d once shared.
    Toni crossed her long legs. “Cara’s
been dealing with severe depression and Grandma stopped spending time with her
older friends. Eric’s death hit us all pretty hard.”
    “I’m sorry for that.” His sense of
guilt deepened. He should have been there for Eric’s family, but he’d been
ravaged by a fever from his bullet wound up until three weeks ago.
    She turned away, biting her lower
lip, her eyes sparkling with tears. From what Mac could see, Toni needed time,
too.
    Voices came from outside. The
sounds of boots clomped across the deck, followed by a knock on the cabin door
before it opened. Hank walked in carrying several sticks of kindling. “Sorry to
intrude, but it’s raining out here.”
    Toni sat back, wiping her eyes, her
face flushed with color. Hank walked to the wood box and dumped the firewood,
then brushed a gnarled hand against his leather vest.
    “Wooee! It’s coming down in sheets,
but rain sure makes the air smell nice.” Inez came in followed by Grunt. She
brushed raindrops from her arms before closing the door.
    Toni gave a half-hearted smile.
“I’d forgotten how beautiful rain on the lake can look this time of year.”
    Dad cleared his throat. “No place
prettier than Crystal Lake. Wish we could stay for the winter, but it’s too
cold and the snows come too deep. You should come