Stalked: The Boy Who Said No Read Online Free

he didn’t want an international incident on his hands. Evidently, members of his family were aboard one of the boats. I’m sure it influenced his decision. He and Pino argued, and the lieutenant lost. That’s about it.”
    Carrilles thought for a minute and then stood up abruptly. The rest of the officers followed suit.
    “I’ve heard enough for now,” he said. He turned to Martinez. “I am shocked and appalled at your spinelessness and recklessness in the midst of a critical situation. What kind of weak sister are you to allow this to happen under your command?” He practically spit out the words. “You are the most pitiful excuse for a commander I’ve ever seen.”
    “I—”
    “Shut the hell up, Commander. I’ve heard enough nonsense. As of now, you and your officers are under house arrest. Members of our delegation will take over the base until your replacements are appointed. Meanwhile, we will escort Pino to Managua where he will be held under guard until arrangements are made for his trial.
    “Your actions could prove devastating to our great nation. Our delegation will investigate further to make sure no conspiracy was involved in this worm’s escape. If we find evidence to that effect, you—and anyone else involved—will be tried for treason. As you know, the penalty for treason is death. Meanwhile, you are relieved of your command.”
    Carrilles turned to Brown. “I respect that you were following orders, Lieutenant. But for the time being, you are also relieved of your command. Perhaps, with further instruction, you can be salvaged to better serve the revolution. Time will tell. You are to report to the military academy for additional leadership training.”
    The captain turned to his first lieutenant and said, “I will need to speak to all members of the Special Forces regarding this matter. Get me a list of men, and schedule interviews as soon as possible.”
    The delegation saluted and walked out of the office, leaving Brown and Martinez ashen and spent.

CHAPTER FIVE
    After bidding farewell to the US Coast Guard, Frank Mederos and his party climbed aboard a bus headed to Freedom House, an agency that provided immigration, health, and settlement services. The agency, which served as a sort of refugee hotel, was located near the airport in Miami.
    The group was a motley crew, their hunger for life, liberty, and safety now supplanted by their urgent need for a hot shower, dry clothes, and a decent meal.
    The party numbered twenty-nine: two women awaiting childbirth, several traumatized children, adults of all ages, including Frank and his Uncle Luis. It took them a while to regain their land legs, the undulant motion of the sea clinging to their limbs like burrs to cotton.
    They had been fed and issued blankets aboard the Guatemalan freighter
Gran Lempira.
Now Dixie cups filled with water were distributed and quickly consumed. Suffering from dehydration, many of the refugees urgently requested refills. They gulped down water as if they’d never had a drink.
    Although exhausted and bedraggled, the group was electric with the talk of their adventure. To Frank’s chagrin, his Uncle Luis was carrying on as if he were the hero of the voyage when, at the height of their crossing, he had begged Frank to take the boat back to Cuba to avoid what he thought would be certain death at sea.
    Frank had ignored his urgings, rendering Luis striated with fear and momentarily speechless. But Frank understood his feelings. He was familiar with the kind of cold terror that could sluice throughyour body so rapidly it obliterated rational thought. He had tasted it, faced it, overcome it.
    When Frank was younger, he regarded his uncle as a brave, loyal man. It was why he had asked Luis to hide him from the authorities—no small matter. If caught, Luis could’ve been sent “to the wall”—shot for harboring a fugitive. Yet he and his wife, Rosa, welcomed Frank into their home without reservation or