Read Online Homecoming by Heath Stallcup - Free Book Online Page B

“No Call of Duty experience?”
    When Mitchell’s mouth fell open, Mark smiled and waved him off. “Just messing with ya. I’ll get with the team leaders and have them pass the word.” He flipped the notepad closed. “How soon does he need them?”
    “He’s going to get back with me on the dates. Could be soon, could be not soon, he doesn’t know yet. All I know is, it’s not here. It’s overseas.”
    “Yay, a vacation.” Mark stood and turned for the door. He paused and turned back to Matt. “I suppose this is a night op?”
    Matt shrugged. “He didn’t say.”
    Mark shook his head, tapping his pen against his chin. “When you talk to him again, ask him. If it is, tell him I have an idea for him. That is, if he wants to call in another favor.”
    “What’s the idea?” Mitchell’s eyes narrowed.
    “Just a thought bouncing around in the old noggin’. I don’t want to say anything until I know more about his op.”
    “Fine. Just spread the word with the men.”
     
    *****
     
    Apollo knocked lightly on the doorjamb, and Little John looked up from the book he was reading. “Got a minute?”
    John set the book aside and nodded. “Sure, boss. What’s on your mind?”
    Apollo stepped in, and rather than try to sit in the cramped quarters, he leaned against the doorframe. “I thought about what you said earlier.”
    John simply watched the man and their eyes met. “And?”
    “And I’ve decided that the only way I’m going to be able to properly place you is to alternate you through all three teams as much as I can. Get feedback from all the team leaders. Put you in the field as much as possible,  and evaluate your performance in the muck.”
    John nodded. “So I gathered.” He turned back to his book and picked it up. He glanced back at Apollo and closed the book again. “Was there more?”
    Apollo stifled the confusion he felt at John’s dismissal of his news. He shook his head slightly, “Just report to Spanky for the next op. Then as soon as you back, get with Dom for your assignment with Squad Three. You’ll be hitting each op from now on. Each team, each op, until I get enough feedback to get a good read.”
    John nodded and placed his book back on the table. He stood to go find Spalding when Apollo put a hand up to stop him. “Look, man, I don’t know why you want to be a loner. And I guess that technically, that’s your business. But in order for this to work, and work right, I need to know that your head is in the game.”
    John met his gaze and the cold grey eyes bore into him. “One hundred percent.”
    Apollo raised a brow at him questioningly, but lowered his hand. “Tell Spanky to check the boards. We have an alert and they’re waiting for a secondary on it. You may be going out tonight.”
    John nodded and slipped past him.
    Apollo waited a moment then stepped over to the desk and looked at the title of the book. “ To Kill a Mockingbird ?” he grunted to himself and turned to step out of the room, “That boy’s got some strange reading habits.”
     
    *****
     
    Spalding was checking his gear for the third time and double checking the tags on the chutes should the squad need to make their arrival via air drop. He saw Little John approaching from the other side of the hangar and paused long enough to wave and catch the large man’s attention. John approached him and stood at parade rest.
    “Relax, Sully. I don’t stand on tradition with my squad.” Spalding hefted his go bag and tossed it up onto the table. “You need to get your gear ready in case this alert gets a secondary verification.”
    John pulled his pack and double checked his equipment. He knew that it was ready as he had readied it as soon as they returned from the last mission. “Do you know yet where you’ll be assigning me?” he asked as he rummaged through the gear.
    “You’ve been working overwatch, right? Qualified sniper?”
    “That’s correct.” Little John felt his shoulders slump