The Gray Man Ch. 10 - Mika

Dear Reader,

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, events and incidents are the products of the author's imagination.

Constructive criticism, and feedback is truly appreciated. I would like this to be an interactive journey as much as this medium allows. Please feel free to send suggestions, ideas for future characters etc. I welcome the input.

I hope you enjoy these adventures as much as you enjoyed TJ - no worries, TJ will be back. I just need some time to explore some other areas of my darkness.

Also, if you'd like a character to inquire about Gray's services send me a description and we can work from there.

Keep Soaring,

Pelican

(¬‿¬)

TJ and Angela spent the better part of a week looking like a couple, even though she had said over and over that they didn't work out well as a couple. Friday night was scheduled to be the evening that Gretchen and Angela went to dinner. "Just the girls." TJ knew he needed to talk to Angela about his and Gretchen's side gig.

He drove down to Marine Base Quantico on Friday to see her. It was nice being retired and having a few distinctive awards on his DD-214. There was no question at the gate when he asked for her office. He didn't even require an escort to enter the Marine Corp Systems Command Center where her office was located.

At Eleven Forty Five Hours he knocked on her door, "Come," came the command from inside.

Gray opened the door and walked in. From the adjacent office he heard the unforgettable sound of boots on tile followed by a familiar voice, "Good Lord, they will let any riff raff onto his base won't they?"

TJ turned and smiled, "Colonel Williams, it's good to see you, Sir."

The Colonel put out his hand, "Pleasure is mine Ghost, and you don't have to be formal now that you are a civilian."

Gray smiled, "You and I are out of this place having a beer then that's fair. In this place, if it's all the same I'll respect those eagles."

Bob Williams slapped TJ on the back, "You are a fucking war hero, you call me whatever the hell you want."

Gray nodded, "Fair enough, then Colonel it is."

Colonel Williams shook his head, "Fair enough, what brings you into our little neck of the woods?"

TJ smiled, "Living in DC now, thought I'd take your NCOIC (non commissioned officer in command) to lunch?"

The Colonel shared a look between the two, "Wait, you two are going to lunch? That explains Gunny's good mood this week." He glanced at TJ, she's only been unbearable this week. Usually she's impossible."

Angela looked up from her desk, "That's enough, Colonel."

The Colonel walked down the hall to the head (bathroom) leaving Gray standing in Angela's door. He smiled, "So, lunch?"

Angela looked at her watch, "Let me finish this email and we can go. I'm starving, someone made me work up an appetite this morning."

TJ chuckled, "Guilty as charged, Gunny."

Taggert closed down her computer as they headed out the door and down the hall. Gray walked a couple of steps behind her, marveling at how good her ass looked in her Marine Corp Combat Utility Uniform. The MARPAT Desert pattern blouse over an olive green t-shirt, the pants bloused at the top of her sand brown boots. When they walked out into the noonday sun, Angela pulled on her cover and Gray put on a pair of aviator sunglasses.

"I hate you," she murmured. "Red hair, freckle faced, light eyed Marines should be able to wear sunglasses," Angela groused. She looked at him, "Let's go to TUN, it's at the museum."

Gray laughed, "Wait. Marines have enough history to have a museum?"

Angela's eyes never left the road in front of her, "Fuck you, Ghost, fuck you very much."

Gray chuckled, "Promises, promises."

Taggert broke into a Marine Corp sales pitch. "The Marines were founded at the TUN Tavern in Philadelphia on 10 November, 1775. Since then US Marines have been engaged in combat in every engagement the United States has participated in."

Gray smirked, "Aye, aye, Gunny."

The food was good, Gray had Fried Pickle Chips and a Militia Burger - a half pound burger cooked perfectly. Angela had Fish and Chips and water. Gray ordered a pint of Iwo Jima - a Helles Style Lager. As Gray sipped his beer, Angela looked at him, "I hate you, right now."

Gray smirked, "Ah, the joys of retirement."

As they were eating TJ looked at Angela, "Can we talk a minute?"

Angela looked up from her fish, "Uh oh."

TJ smiled, "It may be an uh oh but it may not, but I want you to hear it from me personally." Angela sat up in her chair as TJ told her about the last few months, the loss of nearly everything in the pandemic, the talk with Gretchen back in Michigan, coming to DC and what they had been doing outside of the law firm, on the side.

When he was finished Angela was quiet. Silent to the place that Gray was sure she was going to get up and walk out of the restaurant and he would never see her again. She shrugged her shoulders to stretch the tension out of her neck. She leaned in, her light green eyes serious, "I thought you were going to tell me we were through," she whispered.

TJ smiled, "That's kind of up to you. If you think we are more than just friends with benefits and want me to stop what I am doing - I will call Gretchen right now."

She smiled at him, "Really? You would? Right now?"

TJ pulled out his phone and pushed the button, "Right now."

Angela leaned in and looked at him, "Put your phone down. Three things I need to say: First, as much as I hate to admit it, we are more than fuck buddies. I hate it when we are apart and I don't want to leave when we are together. Second, thank you for respecting me enough to be honest and open and being willing to stop for me." Her eyes twinkled, "Third," she paused as she sat up in her seat, "That's fucking hot as hell, and if there is ever a chance for me to be involved as well, I want in. Holy fuck, that's hot."

TJ looked shocked, "You want in, huh?"

She smiled and a slight blush crept up in her cheeks. "Oh, hell yes. The idea of torturing and tormenting some woman sexually, then watching her impaled by your cock, leaving her a drooling, brainless fuck toy. Hell yes, that's hot."

Gray shook his head, "Damn, that was not what I expected but it makes me love you even more."

Angela smiled and feined like she was fixing her hair, "You should because I'm fucking amazing."

Gray walked Angela back to the office. "Have fun tonight with Gretchen."

Angela smirked, "I don't often do girly things, this may be fun. Spa, dinner, wine. It could be fun, plus we can talk about you without you being there."

"Great, just awesome," Gray shook his head.

Angie smiled, "Keep my side of the bed cool, no laying there to smell my pillow you freak."

TJ shook his head, "You know me too well Gunny."

Angie winked, "Intimately my dear, I know you intimately."

After lunch Gray took the hour long drive back to the office. When he arrived he walked into the office and started making his way back to Gretchen's office. Thomas Patrick James was a man who could turn off his facial expressions. He could be accused of having Resting Bitch Face, but it wasn't really that. He had learned over the years to remain expressionless as much as he could. Therapists would call it non anxious presence, others would call it emotionless.

It wasn't that Gray didn't have emotions, he just usually hid them. Part of being able to do the missions he was sent to do, infiltrate deep behind enemy lines, sometimes even embed himself into the local community meant that you did everything you could to not attract attention. ANY attention. A huge smile was the same as throwing a tantrum when you were trying to remain hidden. Gray's grin was crooked, with one little dimple, you knew it when you saw his eyes twinkle, his smirk was legendary - part arrogance, part playful, he also had two smiles - one that people said never went to his eyes, and the other? Well, there was no mistaking that smile when it rarely was seen. His smile lit up his face and a room.

He walked into the offices of Saban-Knight-Foster, Attorneys at Law wearing that huge smile. The front office staff noticed it, everyone who saw it noticed it. Elliot Charles Davidson IV noticed it too, and it rubbed him the wrong way. He stepped out of his office, "Where are you going?"

TJ smiled, "To see my cousin about an investigation I am doing."

Elliot was not a small man, he stood probably 6'2" and had spent some time in the gym. As Gray had found out he had played Lacrosse at Princeton. He glared at Gray, "She's in court, you have no need to be here."

TJ's smile turned from the bright smile to the smile that didn't extend to his eyes, "The last I knew I was on retainer from the Senior Partners, of which you aren't one. That gives me access to this space and to office space as needed."

Elliot took a step towards him, "What case exactly are you working on?"

TJ's smile dropped to a smirk, "That's not something I can share with you, Elliot. Some strange rules you attorneys have called Attorney Client Privilege."

Elliot frowned, "Well, I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but all of our extra offices are full as of now, and Louis is having to bring in an expert witness so we will also be needing the townhouse and the Cadillac back by Monday morning."

TJ's smirk now went completely away, "Are you really sure this is how you want to play this Elliot? I can be an amazing asset to you or I can be a nightmare come to life, that choice is yours."

Elliot's face lit up, "Are you threatening me, Mr. Gray?"

TJ winked at him, "I'm not that stupid Mr. Davidson. I'm just offering you an exit ramp off of the highway of bad decisions."

Elliot's frustration grew. This was supposed to be a way to get rid of the nuisance, but instead it seemed as if nothing phased him. "I'm just giving you the facts."

Gray chuckled, "Not a problem, as soon as I hear from one of the partners I will relinquish both the townhouse and the Cadillac. As we have determined, I work for them, not for you. Have the day you deserve, Elliot."

As TJ turned to walk out of the building he stopped just into the reception area before turning back to speak to Elliot in a voice loud enough to be heard, "Oh, Mr. Davidson, one thing my old Commanding Officer used to tell us, 'If you come at the king, do not miss."

TJ headed back out to the Cadillac, sending a text to Gretchen as he walked. When he got to the car he hit the unlock and heard his name. When he turned he saw Andi walk across the parking lot towards him. She walked up to him and smiled, "Convenient time for me to need to leave, I have to go to a deposition. I have a few minutes, do you have a couple? Elliot has become really anxious and paranoid, he is hovering over every single associate working on things for him. Even making them sign Non Disclosure Agreements."

TJ leaned against the car, "Fascinating. Andi, I don't need any privileged information or files, but is there any way you could get me a list of Louis and Elliot's clients?"

She thought for a minute, "Ummm, what's going on?"

TJ smiled that soft smile, "Nothing, he just has a hardon for me and wants to play hardball."

Andi tilted her head, "Bullshit, Mr. Gray. You are looking for something. What is it?"

TJ nodded knowingly, "Just going fishing, truly not even sure what I'm looking for, but I'll know it when I see it."

Again, she thought for a minute, choosing her words carefully, "If it can wipe that smug look off of his face, then I can get a list for you, but you have no idea where the list came from."

TJ smiled, "I've forgotten this conversation already." He opened the door to the car, "Have a good deposition, Counselor."

TJ needed to talk to someone, but not Gretchen. Gretchen, as an attorney would counsel him that every piece of information he has is circumstantial and from a legal standpoint she was correct. For TJ though, he remembered a Chief Warrant Officer when he was going through in the RRD. During training the Chief told them every day, "There is no such thing as coincidence."

TJ needed a conversation with The Chief. He called the Chief who was still with The Regiment at Benning, sat up a time to meet him on Saturday on base, texted Gretchen and Angela and told them he was heading to Fort Benning for the weekend and that he'd be back on Sunday.

He ran by the townhouse and picked up a duffle bag of clothes and headed south before the traffic got horrible on 95. It was a twelve hour drive which would give TJ a long time to sit and think, put all of his ducks in a row before he sat down with Chief.

The long drive passed without issue, he made a reservation at Abrams Hall, the IHG hotel on base at Benning. He remembered returning to this base many times in the wee morning hours, either after having been out on the town in Columbus, or emergency recalls when he was living off post.

He pulled up to the gate at zero two fifteen hours, into his hotel room by zero three hundred and climbed into bed with a groan. He was meeting the Chief at zero seven thirty. He had functioned many times on much less sleep. He chuckled as he drifted off to sleep hearing Angela's voice in his head, "Candy Ass civilian."

His alarm went off at zero six hundred, he grabbed a shower, shaved, made himself a note to grab a high and tight while on post, put on jeans and a loose fitting sand polo shirt. It was a beautiful day as he pulled out of the hotel parking lot and followed the route to Camp Darby from memory. Gray parked, got out and started to walk to Chief's office. As TJ walked across the stone in the parking area a Corporal wearing a 75 STB tab on his left arm greeted him, "Sir, Chief Roberts is waiting for you in the war room."

TJ nodded, "Definitely not a Sir, just a simple working man like yourself Corporal."

The young corporal smiled, "The guys are looking forward to meeting you, Master Sergeant."

TJ paused as the door to the War Room opened, "Guys?"

When the door opened TJ saw 20 squared away rangers from the Special Troops Battalion sitting in rows, with a wooden podium to their front. Chief Warrant Officer Roberts smiled, "Damn good to see you, Ghost. I hope you don't mind me putting your ass to work before we shoot the shit."

TJ laughed, "You'll never change Chief, what is it you used to say?"

The entire gathering said in unison, "I'll be damned if I let a learning opportunity pass me by."

When the class calmed down Chief Roberts walked back to the front of the classroom. "Ghost, what you see here are the young guns of the STB. Some recon, like you. A couple of our comms guys, and a few intel." Each of the Rangers raised their hands when their company was identified.

Chief Roberts looked at the Rangers, "This gentleman is Master Sergeant Retired, Thomas Patrick James - TJ for short. Around here he will always be known as 'Ghost'." There was a small murmur in the room, "Yep, this is the one and only, you've heard him spoken of in our AO. One of the best to do what we do gentlemen. When he retired an Afghani Warlord still had a one million dollar bounty on his head."

TJ cut in, "It's gone up to two fellas, retirement is really paying off."

The group chuckled until Chief Roberts raised his hand. "Ghost has medals and scars to prove his worth. 2 combat tactical HALO freefall (high altitude low opening) insertions into Afghanistan that I can tell you about without clearance from folks much higher up the food chain than I am."

The Rangers feigned shock that Chief would not put himself at the top of any chain of command. Warrant Officers did their own thing and made their own rules - sometimes making them up as they went along. He was also on the task force that hunted down the bad guys who took down Operation Red Wings and those that shot down Turbine 33. From field operations with a detachment, or following in the footsteps of our LRRP (long range reconnaissance patrol - pronounced LURP) this man was one of the best. What's even better is unlike our SEAL brothers he's never written a book. Master Sergeant, the room is yours."

TJ was completely unprepared but there were a few pieces of wisdom he had garnered over the years. "Gentlemen," he began, "Ghost is an amazing call sign and I won't say I wasn't proud as hell when it was given to me, by none other than Chief Warrant Officer Roberts. However, the name is impossible to achieve. Human beings can not be ghosts. No matter how well we are trained and how well we do our job, we can't vanish."

He went on, "The trick is not to be invisible, but to be unremarkable. You can't be a ghost, but you can be invisible to an untrained eye. The truth is, a trained eye will know what to look for, and the reason we are trained in the use of lethal hand to hand combat is to deal with the trained eye, the professional eye. However, most people in the world are completely illiterate when it comes to situational awareness, it's not just in the western world with faces buried in phones, it's world wide. Everyone thinks their inner circle, their 6 feet is safe. It may be, but that doesn't mean the second ring, their 12 foot perimeter is secure, and that gentlemen is where we do our work. Just outside of their vision, just out of their hearing, but close enough that we can record and report everything from the time they take a shit in the morning, to when they fuck their wife and how many strokes it took."

The room chuckled as Gray continued to talk about the ways of not standing out. As he was wrapping up he gave them five things to remember:

The days for breaking records are over. Never be the best or worst. Those stand out.

Act like you belong, most people won't look twice if it looks like you belong

Listen, gather intel, and use that intel to gather more intel. People want to tell you their story, you just need to let them know you know enough to be included.

Under react to everything. Shit happens every day, be the calmest person in the room when it does

Work to make those that wear that Ranger Tab proud. Make those who want to be Rangers proud when they earn their Tab.

TJ wrapped up with the infamous, "Rangers lead the way," to which the room responded with the traditional "Hooah."

When the gathering broke up, TJ and Roberts went into the Chief's office. When they sat down Roberts looked at TJ, "Thanks for being a good sport Ghost. Now, why the drive all the way down here to the Benning School for Wayward Boys?"

TJ spelled out what he knew about Elliot and Louis, every piece of information that he had. When he put everything on the table Chief Roberts leaned back in his chair and appraised his protege. "Know what you know, Ghost."

Gray shook his head, "It's all circumstantial, Chief."

Roberts laughed, "Bullshit. It's circumstantial to a jury perhaps. Son, what did I tell you about threads? When you find a thread pull it, if it pulls out it's nothing, if it unravels then trace it to the source. Pull the thread."

TJ stood up, "That's just it, right now I don't know how the hell to pull that thread. Put me in the mountains with a warlord and I know the damn buttons to push, toss me in a Taliban stronghold and I know the buttons to push. DC is fucking crazy, Chief."

Chief Roberts took the cigar he had been chewing on out of his mouth, "Ghost, you are thinking too damn much. A civilized back stabbing self serving lawyer is no different than a less civilized back stabbing self serving warlord. Push the same buttons, minus of course shoving an M4 against the back of his skull until he pisses his pants."

TJ looked out the window as Roberts went on, "Dammit TJ, you were the best fucking profiler we have ever had in this outfit. Better than the intel guys, better than the damn shrinks. Profile him, learn him inside, outside and upside down. Unravel his ball of yarn."