Shadows
from the Past
by LeeLee Robinson
(leeleerobinson@comcast.net)
Note
1: Time frame
This story takes place in 1992. The latest canon date I ever saw on an
episode start was 1982. This story
could be consistent with the characters’ natural ages in 1992, if you buy into
Lee being one of the youngest commanders in the Navy before he joined
Seaview. Lee conceivably could be
around 42-44 in 1992, but I think that's a stretch.
Moreover, given the existence of canon dates in the 70’s, I can't
visualize the boat and its characters remaining unchanged 15-20 years
later. Chip still an exec? No, he should be captaining. Or O’Brien?
So in my mind, I’ve pulled the whole series forward in time to the late
80’s and early 90’s, so it is only five or six years or so from Lee’s first
coming aboard. I rationalize this by
stating I think the feel of the series -- highlighting covert actions in
Central America, South America and the Middle East -- rang far more true to the
mid 80’s and early 90’s. Shall we say
more the age of Reagan than Carter?
I proffer this to get you in the mood
for the era of the story. If you had an
early satellite/cell phone, you know how expensive and limited in use they
were. Would a sub captain need or have
one for personal use? Not in my
book. (Nelson, of course, had one or
more!) Forget mobile GPS in the car. Unfold that map. Forget being in constant contact with
everyone. Wait and worry instead. Many life tasks were much more time
consuming too. Much less information was
on the internet or computers then, and even when it was present, accessing it
and obtaining it were more complicated.
I found it both fun and challenging to strip away the conveniences we
now take for granted in writing this story.
Note 2:
Novel Length Story ahead
I've broken this story into 42
manageable chapters. Pace yourself. It could be more tightly written, but I just
had to let it go and move on to other projects.
If you reach the end and liked it, please let me know. I'll keep writing for my own pleasure, but
it's nice to hear if anyone else gets any pleasure from it too. If you want to be the one that takes the red
pen to it, or the next one, please volunteer!
Chapter
1 - A Bad Start to Leave
Lee Crane
arrived home from a six week mission in the Atlantic exhausted and grumpy. The crew had been overworked and under
rested the entire trip. Then when it was
over, Lee and Admiral Nelson had a spat.
Lee had come to
dread Atlantic missions. This latest one
highlighted the reasons why. To
compensate for the extra cost of added travel days from Santa Barbara,
California to the Atlantic, the Seaview sailed with a partial crew. Labor costs were Seaview’s largest variable
expense, after all. That meant extra
work for everyone and an overworked crew could be a tense one.
Even though Lee
and Chip thought they’d got the staffing right, this last cruise turned into
one long headache. The Ivy League
university visitors seemed to think that Seaview should operate like a
four-star hotel. Nelson had unwittingly
encouraged this by promising the guests a once in a life time experience of
traveling through the Panama Canal in a submarine. At least he charged a handsome premium for
this privilege. However, taking on extra
guests to bunk in unused crew quarters for additional funds was a mistake that
led to complaints from all sides the entire trip. By the time the mission was completed, the
crew was snarling behind the guests’ backs and at each other.
To make things
right, after Seaview deposited their visitors on the East Coast before heading
back to California the faster but more dangerous way, under the North Pole, Lee
-- without Nelson’s approval -- gave the entire crew three days extra paid leave
to compensate for their misery. The
crew’s mood brightened at the bonus and everything ran better on the return to
Santa Barbara.
Just after
docking, Lee informed Nelson of his actions.
“You did what?”
“What I felt
was appropriate.”
“I didn’t
notice anything extraordinary going on.
Everything seemed to run smoothly.”
“That’s because
the men did their jobs so well, admiral.
They kept you insulated so you could focus on what you love best.”
“Oh, so now you
want me to thank you for doing it without consulting me? Thanks for keeping things running smoothly,
Lee, but just remember, it’s my name on the checks! We barely were covering our costs for this
mission before your magnanimous act.”
“Tell me about
it! You know, admiral, we could just
turn down the private Atlantic work and solve this problem once and for
all. Or maybe, just maybe, you could get
around to finalizing plans and raising funds for an East Coast based sister
sub.”
“That again?” Nelson fumed.
Lee ratcheted
down seeing Nelson’s Irish temper flash to the surface, even though he was
uncertain why Nelson was angry. “It
makes sense, admiral, and you know it.
Only you can pitch it to the Joint Chiefs and Congress.”
“I hired you to
drive my sub, Captain Crane, not to run my business.”
“Forgive
me. Take it out of my paycheck
then!”
“Serve you
right if I did!” Admiral Nelson stalked
off to his cabin after securing the last word.
Several hours
later, when Lee finally disembarked the boat, after doing the job of two other
crewmen besides his own (owing to being shorthanded), he was understandably
fatigued and cranky. Still, Lee
regretted his tense words with the admiral.
He respected how excited Nelson became amongst his academic peers on
such missions and Lee was happy to facilitate them. He just increasingly disliked the grind of
these longer missions. Maybe it was sign
of aging.
Lee felt
immediate relief upon opening the front door of his condo, his eyes drawn
straight ahead to the view of the beach from the glass doors on the opposite
end. He dropped his duffel on the floor,
barely noting the odd plopping sound just before catching the splash it and his
moving feet caused. “Damn.” Lee’s eyes turned downward in disgust.
A half inch of
water covered his floors as far as he could see. Lee then noticed the tell tale sound of
running water from his left, behind the utility closet door. Lee banged a fist on the door in anger before
he sloshed to a living room chair to remove his socks and shoes. He placed these on the coffee table, rolled
up his pant legs and waded back to the closet.
“Of course, it had to be the cold water line!” Lee griped, his toes
icy. He then wrestled open the swollen
utility room door, nearly falling backwards when it finally gave, and cut off
the condo’s water main. Afterward, he
waded to the phone to call the condo’s maintenance man.
“Good
morning. It’s Lee Crane in 228. My washing machine supply line burst when I was
at sea. I’m wading in my unit.”
“Sorry. Washing machine is your problem. It’s an inside fixture.”
“Gee thanks,
like it was my idea to hide the supply line cut off behind stacked units and
not the builder’s.” Lee’s complaint was
met with dead air. “Might you at least
recommend someone to help get this cleaned up?”
“Try the phone
book or your insurance company, friend.”
Lee slammed the
phone down in frustration, then gathered himself. It was 6:30 a.m. on a Sunday. Maybe he should have noticed that and
expected the response he’d gotten.
Another couple of hours wasn’t going to change anything. It looked to have begun days ago. What he needed most was a wet/dry
vacuum. “Good luck with that at 6:30
a.m. on a Sunday!” Lee flipped through
the phonebook uncertain what to look under.
Plumber? Flood damage? He only knew that Sunday emergency service
would cost a fortune and really, he thought, what was the emergency at that
point?
Lee waded
through the rest of the condo to assess the damage. The tiled living areas got the worst of it,
or so he thought until he squished on the bedroom carpet. “Why the hell didn’t I rip that out like I
meant to when I moved in?” Lee squished
his feet to the bedside phone and called Chip at the Institute apartment where
Chip planned to sack out a few hours before he headed home to his wife and
toddler. Chip had warned Lee about
ownership when you travel for long stretches.
Chip had bought a house down the block from his handy father-in-law for
that very reason.
When Chip didn’t answer, Lee left him a
message. “Chip, buddy, I may need a
place to crash and a little help with a plumbing disaster. Call me as soon as you can. Never mind.
I’ll deal. Enjoy your leave. Love to Mary and Little Chipper.” Lee hung up and cursed at himself for
calling. So second nature was it to call
his XO with problems that he hadn’t thought through it first.
Lee headed to
the bedroom closet. Nothing much was
damaged, except the spare duffel that he might want to pack some clothes in was
soaked. His larger suitcase in the far
corner of the closet had fared no better.
The fabric on the bottom was sopping wet. Coffee.
Lee needed coffee. He padded to
the kitchen. He opened the tap and
reached for the coffee carafe. By the
time he got it under the tap, it was dry.
“Right. I did just cut that off,
didn’t I?” Lee stepped out onto the
patio. The sounds of the ocean were
soothing. He curled up in his lounge
chair and watched the surf. Minutes
later he fell asleep. He never heard his
phone ringing inside.
At 9:30 a.m.,
Lee awoke suddenly and momentarily disoriented. He was on his patio, the lounge chair
leaning on top of his side. “Going to be
one of those days!” He pushed the
chaise upright and then gathered himself to do the same after checking out the
body parts. Everything was
operative.
Lee meandered
back inside. No fresh food. No coffee.
Water everywhere. Oh, yeah, and
the blinking answering machine. Nineteen
messages.
Lee knew the
messages weren’t important. People who
needed to get a hold of him would leave messages at the Institute. It was the same with mail, mostly. Lee usually picked that up on his way to his
condo, but had foregone that this morning.
Given that being outside was more pleasant than inside at that moment,
Lee decided he’d go get the mail before dealing with the answering machine. His box would be overflowing by now. The mailman would be pissed and he’d let Lee
know it by bending and cramming stuff.
He missed Carol next door, who used to check on his place and his mail,
and on him too. Okay, he didn’t miss
that last part by the time she’d left.
“Got to give
you credit, Mr. Simmons, this is first class.”
Lee was amazed at the volume of mail his postman had squeezed, jammed,
crushed and possibly crowbarred into his box.
Getting it out was a puzzlement.
In his first ten tries, all he managed was a piece or a corner of an
item until he made room for one finger to wedge in. At last he extracted the pile. He sorted it on the nearby bench. Junk, junk, junk, junk, junk. A letter from his friend Roger Cresson. Junk, junk, junk. A hard thick invitation type card, bent in
seven directions, from Richard and Doris Mattingly was stuck inside a junk
mailer. “Curse you, Mr. Simmons.” Junk, junk, more junk. Lee dumped the pile of junk mail into a
conveniently placed trash bin and took the rest back to his condo.
Lee plopped the
mail on the kitchen counter by the phone.
He propped his feet up on a stool to get them off the wet floor, then
hit “play” while ripping open the first piece of mail. He didn’t make much progress with the mail as
he was deleting most of the phone messages after just a few words.
Amidst the
solicitations, there was a message from his mother. She rambled on about his cousins in Vermont,
nothing of true import or interest. She
just needed to vent about some long held irritation with that side of the
family, hence the call to his condo, not the office. Lee pushed Roger’s letter aside for a few
more moments. Roger was an O.N.I.
buddy. Lee couldn’t see opening a
presumedly friendly missive during one of his mother’s rants. The card from the Mattinglys. That one puzzled him. An invitation of some sort. Richard and Doris Mattingly from the Country
Club -- Lee had golfed with Dick periodically -- cordially invited him to the
wedding of Melanie Ann Mattingly and Roger Clark Cresson. “Say what?
Damn!” Lee grumbled as he noticed the date was today. Late afternoon in San Diego.
“Roger and
Melanie?????”
Lee had
introduced the two of them several years ago when Roger had visited Lee in
Santa Barbara, but it was nothing more than a brief hello before the men headed
out to the golf course with her father.
Nothing could have come from it.
Lee himself had avoided Melanie.
Her sole ambition seemed to be to marry an officer. Yes, she was plenty attractive and could be
charming, but Lee wasn’t looking to be acquired. Lee couldn’t see Roger falling for her in a
million years. Lee paused his telephone
messages as he pondered this revelation.
Melanie had
moved to San Diego a year or two ago, to find more fresh meat is what Chip had
suggested. Chip, who had dated her
twice, compared her to a shark. Her
engagement to Roger simply baffled Lee.
“Oh well, too late to R.S.V.P., although I’m sure my lack of response
was marked down in the rude and uncouth column. Roger will understand. Damn.
I would have gone, for the spectacle alone.”
Lee hit play on
the messages. More solicitations. This time he let them play through as he
opened Roger’s letter.
“Hey good
buddy. Hadn’t heard back from you. Figure you must be out at sea. I was sure the invitation would get a
response from you one way or the other.
Call me when you’re back to catch up.
I would love to see you. Had
hoped to have you in the groom’s party (it’s a thin one, since this is kind of
impulsive and I don’t have much living family) and most of my Navy bros are
scattered round the globe (wondering where you are on that right now). If you get this in time, just show up. You never eat your plate’s worth
anyway. Dress whites aren’t mandatory,
although the ladies do so like you in them and if you show up in time, I’ll
stick a pretty bridesmaid on your arm and shoot you down the aisle with her.”
As Lee finished
up the letter, voice message sixteen from four days earlier played. “Hey, Lee.
It’s me, Roger. Still hadn’t
heard back from you. Found out from your
secretary you were out on a long cruise but might barely be back in time. If so, please come. Rachael is standing up for me. She’s had it rough this year and could stand
to see a friendly face at this shindig.”
Lee had all but
written it off as just too much to deal with until the end. Rachael.
A rough year. He’d barely heard
anything about her in two years. He
vaguely recalled that she’d been sent to the Gulf, but he suspected her tour
had been long over. Lee swallowed hard,
hoping she was okay. Rachael was one of
them, a good egg, a dependable cohort.
One of the guys. One of the few
gals who ever was accepted that way.
Lee barely
heard the next two messages -- junk anyway -- before Chip’s message took him
out of his thoughts.
“Call me back
at the house later if you need to. You
nearly missed me entirely, as I decided to go straight home, but my battery was
dead. I let the Motor Pool guys take
care of it while I caught forty winks.
Great way to start leave for both of us.
You’re welcome to the apartment if you need it, although something tells
me that the Institute is not where you want to start your leave!”
Chapter
2 - A Pleasant Distraction?
Lee rang Chip’s
house. No one answered. Chip probably hadn’t arrived yet and Mary
likely would be at church with her family.
“Morning, Chip. Sorry about the
battery. I came home to a flooded condo
and just called you on instinct. It’s
nothing I can’t handle without you.
Anyway, it turns out I’ve got a surprise wedding to go to in San Diego
this afternoon. I’ll be in touch
later. You’re going to want to hear
about this one.”
Lee called
Sharkey next. “Sorry to disturb you,
Chief. Thought you’d know who could use
some extra cash for handling a small crisis for me over the next two days.”
“How much?”
“Couple
hundred. I need someone to pic up a wet
vac and dry out my condo. Get my washing
machine fixed too.”
“I can do it.”
“No, you should
take the time off. You need the rest
after that cruise.”
“Can I rest at
your place?”
“Everything’s
soaked, including the bedroom carpet. I
forgot to mention that also needs to be ripped out. I’m hoping there’s tile underneath.”
“I can check
that out. I’ll sleep on the couch. Whatever.”
“There’s a lot
of work here.”
“Hah, I’ll take
care of it in no time. Then I can enjoy
that nice beach.”
“If you
want. I’ll be back late Monday night. No smoking inside and no wild parties. Deal?”
“Deal.”
“I’ll leave the
key under the mat and a check for you on the kitchen counter. Thanks.”
“I’ll make good
use of it.”
Lee knew that
Sharkey would do the job himself. Maybe
it wasn’t such a good idea, he thought as he packed what he needed for the next
two days into garbage bags. Dress
whites in garbage bags! Well, garment
bags wrapped in garbage bags. Just wait
until he showed up at the hotel.
Oops. A hotel room. Lee doubled checked the info with the
wedding invitation and called the hotel hosting the wedding. Nothing was available. Nothing nearby was either. Lee set off hoping there’d be a
cancellation. If not, there was always
the naval base. He’d worry about it later.
At least the
Cobra was dry and functional. A drive
down the coast with the roof open would help alleviate some of Lee’s woes. Naturally, twenty minutes into the drive,
unpredicted rain surprised him. Lee
pulled off the road to close the roof.
He was nearly hit by a swerving car.
He looked up at the angry skies returning the feeling, and resumed his
drive. Traffic slowed considerably. Lee never had gotten used to the fact that
even a little rain upended California traffic.
Lee was a half hour out of San Diego when traffic came to a near
standstill. He pulled off at the first
possible exit to explore alternate routes.
Soon after the rain disappeared, promising sunny skies for a late
afternoon wedding. Lee wondered if
Melanie had paid off the heavens for it to be dry. He wouldn’t put it past her.
Lee navigated
the San Diego suburbs to avoid the still (according to the radio) blocked
interstate. When he saw the department
store, he abruptly pulled over. He could
at least show up with a suitcase. Lee
had ten minutes to spare for that, maybe even time for a cup of coffee
too. Coffee would make everything
better, Lee rallied hopefully. That
proved not to be the case after Lee spilled hot coffee first onto his chest and
then, as he overcompensated, away from it, straight inside his brand new
suitcase. Fortunately, Lee had not yet
removed the dress whites from the garbage bag.
Lee rolled up the bag and stuffed it on top before slamming the suitcase
closed in frustration.
Twenty minutes
before the wedding was scheduled to begin, Lee arrived at the five star La
Fortuna Hotel. No rooms were
available. Lee wondered if it was his
coffee stained shirt and wild rain curled hair that led to that answer. He’d try again later. Meanwhile, Lee went to change in the hotel’s
lobby bathroom. Lee noted he could sleep
there in comfort if he had too. He’d
slept in much worse places, although marble was hard on the back compared to
dirt or sand. Lee fondly remembered a
few dirt naps shared with Roger, Rachael and his other O.N.I. pals. He almost wished for that instead of this
odd wedding, except he’d take the food at the La Fortuna Hotel over M.R.E.s.
any day.
Lee looked
dapper in his whites, although he’d admit the hair was a bit wild for Naval
standards and the whites could use a pressing.
He did what he could to tame the worst of the curls, but as usual,
adding water only made them more prolific.
With ten minutes to spare, Lee headed outside to the wedding site. The grounds were beautiful and decorated to a
tasteful hilt. Lee smiled
appreciatively, although a groan escaped Lee’s lips when he saw that in lieu of
chairs there were portable pews, complete with kneelers. Mass.
Lee would have to sit through an entire mass without falling
asleep. That could prove
challenging. It had been years.
An usher in a
tux asked Lee which side. “Groom’s,” he
said without hesitation. He was led to
the left side where a scant few had been seated, while the bride’s side was
packed and beginning to overflow into the back of the groom’s section. Somewhere, off toward the right side and back
some, something exploded. Most of those
seated startled and turned in that direction.
Lee at first wondered if it was a gun shot. He scanned around but didn’t notice anything
to suggest it was, so he concluded it was probably just a car backfiring in the
distance. As he continued looking
around, Lee caught sight of Rachael in the back. He checked his watch. Eight minutes to go. He placed his program on the seat and hurried
off to say a quick hello.
Chapter
3 - Old Friends, New Troubles
Lee approached
Rachael from behind before remembering that sneaking up on her was a bad
idea. Lee had done it once before and
had regretted it. She had spun and taken
him down, her forearm on his neck, her body on top of his. Lee had stuttered a quick “Hi, Red. Nice move.”
Then they had both frozen there looking into each other’s faces,
awkwardly reacting to the simmering connection that was both unexpected and not
an option at the time. Only JimBob
bursting through the door and pointedly asking “Am I interrupting something?”
brought them out of the moment. “If so,
I could leave.” Rachael abruptly let Lee
up and stuttered something about Lee making the mistake of sneaking up on her.
Nothing like
that had ever happened between them again.
It was the only moment of their friendship when Lee had felt there could
possibly be something there but for the impossible obstacles, or at least the
only moment when he indulged the thought.
Anyway, Rachael wasn’t really his type.
He usually favored the very feminine ones, preferably tall and
leggy. Rachael was medium height and a
body builder; it was one of the few ways to keep the strength O.N.I. work often
required.
Lee looked over
Rachael for obvious injuries, but saw none.
Just a fine looking pair of calves underneath that dress skirt. Rachael.
In a skirt. That was a
first. Lee caught the side view. Shapely.
She’d always been that, but in a pumped up way. That was gone, replaced by a more natural
figure. There were cosmetics too. Lee had never noticed her with more than a
smear of lipstick. She was pretty,
okay, she’d always been that too. He
wasn’t supposed to notice, so he hadn’t.
She was just one of them, closest to Roger. Many had speculated about that.
Rachael still
hadn’t caught sight of Lee. She was
distracted by conversation with a woman that Lee guessed was the wedding
planner. Lee broke in. “Pardon me for interrupting.”
“Lee,” Rachael
said with a spark of enthusiasm that died away quickly. “I didn’t know you were coming to this
farce.”
“I just learned
of it this morning. Been at sea for six
weeks. How are you?”
“Ducky. You?”
“No
complaints.”
“Eh hem, I need
a response, Miss.”
“Do whatever
you think is best,” Rachael huffed.
“Someone just ought to stop this sorry sham.” She looked near tears. “I’m sorry, Lee. I’ve got to get in position. I promised Roger that I’d hold together and I
will. Catch you later.”
“I look forward to it.” Lee briefly grasped Rachael’s hand. He then noticed the scar that wrapped around
her wrist. His heart sank for her. Lee hurried back to his seat. The music seemed to be escalating toward the
grand event.
Lee watched and
waited. Another backfire startled
everyone again, followed by yelling somewhere off to the rear right, probably a
parking area for the caterer, Lee guessed.
It ended as abruptly as it started.
The music shifted again. Lee
checked his watch. Showtime.
The groom’s
party was thin as Roger had warned. Lee
recognized Brian McDowell, who walked a bridesmaid down the aisle then split
off to sit on the groom’s side. There
were six more men seated in the groom’s section none of whom Lee knew, although
one looked vaguely familiar.
Rachael walked
Roger down the aisle. He looked
well. Happy too. Plastered on happy, Lee thought, but Roger
could do that expertly. He shot Lee an
extra big smile as he acknowledged Lee’s presence. Lee responded in kind. Roger and Rachael took their positions.
The bridal
party followed. It was large, at least
in number. All the women were California
fit or skinny even. Melanie’s parents
were impeccable and beamed. Melanie’s
dress was a predictable knockout. So
was she. Not bad for a barracuda. Lee found himself missing Chip. He wanted someone to share the running
commentary with, but instead let it roll inside his head.
The ceremony
began. An interminable full mass, Lee
realized. Thanks to the morning rain,
Lee’s whites certainly would be grass stained by the end. He should have gone with a dark tux. Lee watched and listened, trying hard to not
drift off during the long and boring mass.
His focus continually returned to Rachael. Lee wondered what had happened to her, how
she really was. During the ceremony she
hadn’t bothered to fake happiness.
Instead, she had assumed an emotionally neutral military pose that Lee
knew well.
Roger, on the
other hand, kept that broad smile on his face.
Lee wondered what he was thinking about.
Roger had been very helpful to Lee during O.N.I. training, particularly
in mastering the art of putting on a face.
Lee wondered why Roger might need those talents on his wedding day. Rachael had given him cause to think about it
calling the event a farce and a sham.
Lee also had to admit that he’d thought it himself on first hearing of
the wedding.
As the priest
droned on in Latin, another backfire occurred startling everyone. After initially jumping at the sound, Lee
welcomed the distraction and the shouting that briefly followed it. Lee noticed that Rachael seemed amused by it
too. The priest, however, was barely put
off his game and had only extended a word or two in Latin through the
distraction. Then he indicated for Melanie and Roger to rise (and the rest too,
although the backfire had made that happen independently for many). A little more shouting in the background only
added to the theatre, causing heads to briefly turn and look. Quiet again.
The ring ceremony at last.
A few words
were said about Melanie. While all eyes
were peeled on the lovely bride, yet another backfire punctuated the
proceedings. Most everyone startled
again, turning back towards the rear right again, although Lee instinctually
felt that the noise seemed louder and closer this time. His eyes quickly returned to the
ceremony. This time the priest had
continued, barely faltering in his words, at least until Melanie moaned. A red spot burgeoned on the white silk fabric
just above her left breast. She
swooned. Roger caught her in his arms.
Chapter
4 - Never a Bride
Chaos followed
amidst shouts of horror and fear.
Someone yelled for everyone to stay down, or Lee supposed, it might have
been to get down. After the repeated car
backfiring, few had reacted as if it were anything else. The exception was Rachael. She was lying prostrate on the grass in a
take cover position.
Lee looked
around carefully before he got up, scanning the area for a shooter. There was movement everywhere. Wedding guests, especially from the back,
were tearing out of the pews. Off to the
right side, behind a stand of tightly packed potted yews that screened off the
reception tent, Lee saw glimpses of people running or crouching low. Only those closest to the front of the
wedding seemed too involved or paralyzed to move. Two bridesmaids had fainted.
Lee, keeping
his profile as low as he could, moved left out of his row and went to check on
Rachael, who remained down. “Are you
hurt?” Rachael didn’t answer. “Rachael, it’s me, Lee. Are you okay?”
She seemed to
snap out suddenly. “What happened?”
“That last
noise wasn’t a car backfire. Melanie was
shot.”
“How bad?”
“Bad. Near the heart.”
“I knew this
wouldn’t end well.” Rachael looked
around before taking Lee’s assisting hand.
As Lee helped
Rachael up, Lee observed another scar around Rachael’s left wrist. Together, they moved toward Roger and the
priest who flanked protectively over the bride and groom.
“I’m sure help
is on the way,” Lee reassured. When he
saw Roger’s look and then Melanie’s exit wound, Lee knew it wouldn’t
matter. Melanie was dead.
Melanie’s
parents pushed forward. “Let me in
there,” Richard wedged Lee and Rachael aside.
Rachael caught Doris swooning as she saw Melanie bleeding out. Rachael eased her to the ground and held on
to her. “I’m so sorry, Mrs. Mattingly.”
“My baby. My poor baby.
On her wedding day. My
baby.” Tears poured out. A chorus of bridesmaids seemed to join in the
wailing. The professionally detached
part of Lee couldn’t help notice how similar it seemed to a Greek chorus.
Lee continued to scan the area even as he
tried to comfort Roger with the typical inadequate consolations. His mind was already on another track. After he’d seen the wound up close, he’d known
it had been a very accurate shot from not very far away. He worked out the angle of entry. It had to have been from the groom’s side or
maybe even just outside the seating area on the groom’s side. Lee didn’t see anyone acting suspiciously in
the immediate area now and hadn’t earlier.
He pulled Roger over to the first pew and sat him down. “I want to scope out the situation a
little. I’ll be right back.”
“Rachael told
me this would end badly.”
“I don’t think
she meant it this way,” Lee reassured him.
Lee walked out a path of where he thought the shot could come from,
including checking the pews behind him.
He saw nothing. He then checked
the grassy area between the left side pews and a dense stand of potted yews. Lee found nothing of interest until he was
ten feet left of where Rachael had stood and his foot landed on something
hard. Lee looked down. He’d stepped on a snub-nosed revolver.
Lee’s throat
caught. That shot from a snub-nosed gun
was either the work of a very lucky person or a master shot. Lee gently slid his foot off the weapon. He was
concerned with both preserving evidence and fearful of what that
evidence might mean. He knelt down by
the gun. “Damn,” he whispered. “R.A.M.” was etched in the handle of the
Smith & Wesson. He pulled out his
handkerchief and touched the muzzle through it. Still warm and easily within tossing distance
of where Rachael Ann McAdam had stood during the ceremony. He placed the handkerchief fully over it. A part of him wanted to slip the weapon into
his pocket, but he couldn’t do it.
The arrival of
the police and an ambulance startled Lee.
He stood in place. Looking
wistfully at Rachael comforting the dead bride’s mother, Lee regretfully
advised the approaching police officer of his find. What he didn’t tell the officer was who
“R.A.M.” was.
Chapter 5 - A Host of Troubles
The police
herded those remaining at the scene into a ballroom for questioning.
Lee suggested to an officer that the police focus on the
groom’s side, since the angle of the shot was clear. What was clearer was that the police weren’t
interested in being told how to do their job by a submarine jockey. Apparently those dolphins really distracted
from his marksmanship medals for both pistol and rifle.
Forty minutes
later, Detective Black of the San Diego Police announced himself in charge and
addressed those gathered (members of the wedding party and wedding guests and
workers who had failed to flee earlier).
“We appreciate your patience. We
know how upsetting this must be, but it is necessary to help catch the villain
that did this.” Lee thought his
introduction was a bit over the top, almost cartoonish.
“We will be
interviewing each of you. Also, in a few
minutes, our lab technicians will be here to conduct a simple test on all of
you. It will not hurt or be invasive,
but will involve the use of an adhesive to test for gunpowder residue. If you refuse to submit to this test, let us
know now so that we can seek an emergency warrant to require it. We hope you understand that the sooner you
comply, the sooner you may leave.”
“Detective, I
don’t mind doing it,” one of the ushers offered, “but a whole lot of us are
going to test positive. The whole bridal
party went target shooting yesterday.
Well, the men anyway, and the best man who’s a lady.”
Lee pondered if
that boded better or worse for Rachael.
Eventually he’d have to confront her.
He hoped to do it before the police did. Lee thought about pulling her aside even as
she continued to comfort Mrs. Mattingly and her family but he didn’t want to
intrude and, frankly, her actions had him at a loss. How could she have pulled the trigger and
then acted so sympathetically to the family?
Rachael was not a psychopath. No,
Lee corrected himself, the Rachael he used to know wasn’t a psychopath.
Roger’s arrival
in the room surprised Lee. Roger
certainly did not take the shot. Why
hold him as a suspect? It seemed unfair
to Lee for Roger to be put in this position given the blow he’d just
taken. Lee was one of many who rose to
check on Roger or to offer condolences.
Most drifted away quickly. No one
ever knew what to say in such circumstances.
Lee stayed behind. “Can we pull
up a corner of the room and talk?” Roger
nodded. “Maybe we better make it the
bathroom.”
Lee asked an
officer for permission to go to the restroom in the back left side of the
ballroom. “Be my guest. We’ve got a long day ahead of us.”
Lee checked for
other guests. “I’m going to make this
fast, because I don’t know how much time we’ll have without interruption. Do you think there’s any chance that Rachael
could have done this?”
“Rachael?”
“Yes, Rachael.”
“Why?”
“You tell me.”
“Lee, she was
upset at this whole shindig, but to shoot Mel?
To kill her and the baby, she would never, she couldn’t.”
“Melanie was
pregnant?”
“Oh, right, we
never did talk. Yes.”
“Your baby?”
“It would have
been.”
“In name, you
mean?”
“Yes.”
“So you were
marrying Melanie to be a father?”
“In exchange
for which she got the officer husband she always wanted. Except she wouldn’t really have much to do on
that front as you know. Jesus, Lee, this
is all going to come out now and the shit will really hit the fan.”
“None of it may
be relevant, so maybe not. I assume
Rachael knew all this.”
“Of course she
did. She hated the whole thing,
including Melanie.”
“I wish you
hadn’t said that.”
“Why?”
“I found a gun
off in the grass, an easy toss from where Rachael was standing. It looked like that S&W snubbed-nose that
she used to carry as a backup, even had her initials on it. It was still warm too.”
“Oh god. If she did it, oh Lee, it’s my fault. She’s my best friend. I pushed her to stand up for me even though I
knew how she felt and what she’d been through.”
“I saw her
wrists. Do you want to tell me what
happened or should I ask her?”
“She’s not the
same Rachael anymore, Lee. I wanted her
to be, but how could she be? I made her
stand up there, watch me marry a girl she knew I didn’t love like I love my
best friend even, all to have a baby that Rachael would have given me any day
of the week had I let her. Then after
Kuwait, she couldn’t.”
“It sounds to
me like you are making excuses for Rachael having done this. Is that what you believe?”
“I don’t want
to. I wouldn’t think it possible, but if
what you say about the gun is true . . .
Jesus, what did you do with the gun?
Did you get rid of it?”
“I thought
about it, but no, I couldn’t. It would
have been wrong.”
“I don’t know
what to do, Lee, what to do or say. The
police will ask me stuff. It’ll all come
out.”
“You don’t have
to tell them everything. There’s no
reason to sacrifice your career. It’s
not relevant.”
“Maybe it
is. It led to all this.”
“No,
Roger. Someone had an issue with Melanie
and shot her. She was the target. The explanation lies there.”
“Yes, but if it
was Rachael, it all ties back to me. To
our relationship. If we’re truthful, how
can it not come out?”
“No one has to
volunteer details like that. Rachael
won’t.”
“Others might
have suspicions.”
“That’s their
problem. Ours right now is Rachael and
how we can help her. Tell me what
happened to her in the Gulf.”
Chapter
6 - Rachael’s Story
“Rachael was
deployed to the border of Saudi Arabia and Kuwait a year and a half ago. Thanks to those five hundred words of Arabic
you taught us and more she learned herself, she acted as liaison between local
citizens and the troops both in Saudi and then Kuwait. You know, we win them over with kindness by
distributing chocolate bars and giving medical care, all the while gathering
intelligence for the upcoming ground campaign in Kuwait.
Rachael
actually liked doing it. She liked the
kids, so much so that when her first deployment was up, she extended it. As she reminded me right before she agreed,
she had no other pressing engagements.
She still hadn’t found that elusive right one. Me either, but I still wasn’t giving up hope,
so I deferred our bargain again.”
“Hold up,” Lee
said. A man came, did his business and
then left without hand washing. Lee
thought poorly of him. “Your bargain?”
“Longtime ago,
Rach and I agreed that if by our early thirties neither of us found the right
one and had kids, then we’d marry and she’d have a kid for us. She ribbed me for postponing the deal for the
last few years, pointing out that it was her biological clock ticking. She had a fair point, but I wasn’t
ready. Rach and I have always been
brutally honest with each other.”
“Then what?”
“Disaster. Rachael and her unit were amidst a group of
nomadic women and children inside Kuwait near the Iraqi border when an Iraqi
unit snuck into the village. They open
fired. Mowed them down, villagers and
Rachael’s unit alike.”
“But Rachael
wasn’t killed.”
“She had a
toddler wrapped around her chest when the shooting happened. She got hit in the shoulder, but the kid and
her vest stopped most everything else except for grazes.”
“The Iraqis
didn’t check?”
“No, they threw
a grenade instead. Rachael was buried
underneath a mass of mutilated bodies.
Eventually the villagers pulled her out and discovered she was still
alive.”
“How horrible!”
“It was only
the beginning.”
“The Iraqis
came back and found her? The villagers
turned her over?”
“No, Lee,
although that’s what the villagers told the soldiers that came looking for her
unit, that Rachael had been taken as a P.O.W..
What really happened was that the villagers kept her. Treated her wounds and kept her.”
“What do you
mean?”
“She was kept
to replace the lives she had cost them.”
Lee shook his
head.
“Mothers and
children were wiped out. She was to
replace them. Whether she wanted to or
not.”
“No.”
“Yes. Once she was well enough that they knew she’d
survive, she was kept shackled in a locked hut with the village men free to
come and go as they pleased. After two
months, when it was evident she wasn’t pregnant, they kept on raping her but
also beat her routinely for her failure to conceive as well as for her
continuing efforts to escape.”
“How did she
finally get out?”
“‘Did she get
out?’ might be the ultimate question.
I’d been pressing O.N.I. for months for intelligence on where she might
be held. We were all willing to go
wherever for her.”
“I’d have
signed on, you know that.”
“I’d have
called you too, but there was nothing to go on, not until five months later and
it wasn’t much. A jarhead on a routine
patrol reported an odd bit of business to his commander. A nomad was wearing a bracelet that appeared
to be made of human hair, red hair. He
thought maybe it could have been from a horse, but there were none around. Then there was this odd Arabic yelling or
grunting from a hut that had a lock on the outside, very rhythmic, which the G.I.
recognized as numbers. They said a crazy
old woman lived there, not much left in her mind but counting numbers.”
“That info
actually got passed up?”
“I guess I was
pressing Admiral Johnson hard at that point.
Anyway, it was the numbers that turned out to be the important follow
up. Johnson sent me in alone, because it
was so little to go on, a shot in the dark.
With help from a staff psychologist who did hypnotherapy, we were able
to get the marine to repeat the counting or at least part of it. Four numbers, not in order, that were part of
her service number. Admiral Johnson
still didn’t want to move on it. He said
the four numbers could be random coincidence, but no one just counts in random
order like that. It didn’t matter,
however. Rach’s commander was more than
willing to send troops in with me,” Roger began to weep. “It wasn’t even hard, Lee. They hadn’t many weapons. We found her shackled to a wall in this
filthy hut. She looked like a
concentration camp victim. Even when we
got her free, all she did to communicate was repeat those damn numbers in
Arabic over and over.”
Lee’s eyes were
wet too. He stopped to hug a shaking
Roger.
“She was
whisked off to Germany for treatment. I
was sent back to Kuwait for an emergency extraction and couldn’t stay with her
except for a day. I may never forgive
Johnson for that. When I finally got
back, I took some leave and went to Germany.
She was looking a little better on the outside, but she’d been broken,
Lee, badly broken. For a month, she
barely spoke and when she did, it was only in Arabic. Then there were horrific nightmares. Hallucinations of dead babies suffocating
her. God knows what else. They kept her heavily medicated for fear of
suicide. I just sat with her. Tried to get through to the past with
her. I finally started connecting by
the Arabic lessons you’d given us.
Remember Lee would say this and demonstrate it like this. Then finally she smiled the slightest bit
when I did your banana routine.”
“I stole it
from Monty Python.”
“Yes, but it
was even funnier in Arabic. We all
busted a gut that night, remember? She
remembered. It was a long and slow
recovery after that, but she came back, as well as could be expected I
suppose.”
“P.T.S.D.?”
“Other
permanent injuries too. Scars on the
outside and scars on the inside. All
those months they raped her supposedly because they wanted her to replace their
kids, they scarred her up so badly she could never carry one to term.”
Lee just shook
his head. “So she’s been on medical
leave for the last seven months or so?”
“God, if
only. Her commander signed off on a
medical discharge, but Johnson, that S.O.B. had other ideas.”
“He couldn’t
send her out like that, he wouldn’t?”
“Oh, sure he
could, Lee. He took her back inside, got
her back into shape, put her through some special training and thought he had
the perfect soldier. More than willing
to die in the service of her country, maybe even hoping to die. He sent her out twice -- without backup.”
“To do what?”
“Assassinations. All he had to do was to show her a picture of
those villagers and her unit as they found them, suggest the man was
responsible for that or something like it, and point her in the right
direction.”
“Mucked up as
she is, she came back afterwards from those on her own volition?”
“He promised
her more of them.”
“All of which
led to her current state?”
“No, there was
one more mission. It pushed her
backwards. She took out a chieftain of a
small tribe who was collaborating with the Iraqis. His little boy jumped in the way as she took
the shot. Bullet passed right through
the kid’s arm into the father’s chest.
Rachael lost it. She ran and
grabbed the child, hugged and cradled him, sobbing more than the kid who got
shot.”
“You were her
backup?”
“Wasn’t
supposed to be, but JimBob and I, we went rogue. We were in the area and found out where
Johnson had sent her. We were afraid for
her. The villagers came out, armed, as
she held the child. They were going to
shoot her with the child in her arms.
She yelled at them to stop, to let him get clear, then they could shoot
all they wanted. We didn’t let them do
that. In the meantime, she pulled out
her Beretta and was about to blow her brains out. Luckily, the gun failed. Sand got in the firing mechanism. We ran in and hauled her out. She’s been out since. Me too, courtesy of Admiral Johnson. Out without pay for three months as
punishment. Nothing to go on my
permanent record, of course.”
“Maybe Johnson
felt guilty and wanted her cared for?”
“It’s
possible. JimBob got off with just a
warning. Johnson’s always had a soft
spot for Rach even if he is a heartless bastard.”
“Should we get
in touch with him now?”
“He won’t
protect her from this. He couldn’t. If she did it, he’ll be busy trying to figure
out how to protect himself for letting her out on the streets with her head so
messed up.”
“Then it’s
going to fall to us to help her.”
“I’d do
anything for her, you know that. It’s
going to a complicated mess though.”
“Roger, have
you seen Rachael with the S&W recently?”
“No. She hasn’t wanted to touch a gun since Iraq
as far as I know. She was a reluctant
participant in the target shooting yesterday.”
“How was her
aim?”
“A little shaky
at the beginning, but it didn’t take long for her to impress Melanie’s
relatives and friends.”
“What did she
shoot with?”
“My Sig
Sauer. I watched her like a hawk. It’s still hard to get that image of her
turning the Beretta on herself in the desert out of my head.”
“You don’t
think she’s still suicidal?”
Roger
shrugged. “The boy wasn’t hurt that
bad. We took him out with us for medical
assistance because I was afraid of what she might do if she didn’t know he’d be
okay. Still, I worry. Something else, something like this could
send her back down that road.”
“We better
stick tight to her, then.”
Chapter
7 - Time to Call a Friend for Help
When Lee and
Roger emerged, Rachael was sitting alone on a pew away from everyone. She appeared rigid and vacant. Lee slid along one side of her and Roger went
on the other side.
“I think we
need to get her out of here,” Roger whispered.
Lee knitted his
eyebrows. How long would it take the
police to take names and figure out a R.A.M. was present, positioned at an
angle to have taken the shot, and had been standing near where the weapon was
found? Hell, they must have been
halfway there already. Anyone with
knowledge of guns knew the snubbed-nose S&W was typically considered a
woman’s handbag or pocket gun.
Lee got up and
approached an officer at the back of the room.
“I need to call my superior officer to advise him I’ll be delayed. May I do so?”
Lee, with
police escort, was permitted to use a phone outside the ballroom. Privacy was a different matter. In hearing distance of the officer, he
called Admiral Nelson. “Sir, I went off
to a surprise wedding which has been interrupted by a surprise murder. I will not be able to report for duty tonight.”
Nelson stroked
his chin, recognizing Lee’s implication that their conversation was not
private. “Go on.”
“I’m at the La
Fortuna Hotel in San Diego at Roger Cresson’s wedding. You remember my good friend Roger from that
trip to D.C. and his cohorts too. They
made an impression on you as I recall.”
“You mean the
crackerjack redhead in particular, don’t you?”
“Yes,
exactly. I know that Admiral Johnson
needs the two of us for that urgent matter, but well, some arrangements would
have to be made with the police for us to return to base just now, assurances
given and the like.”
“I’ll, uh, I’ll
see what I can do, Lee. Anything else
you need?”
“A room, a
shower, an alibi -- just kidding officer, that was for your benefit entirely.”
“Time to go
back in.”
“Ah yes, my
sense of humor can get me in trouble, can’t it, admiral?”
“Try not to let
it get you or your attractive friend in jail, Lee.”
“Therein lies
the challenge, sir. I look forward to
hearing back from you soon.”
Lee returned to
the room chatting with the officer. “I
was just kidding, honestly. To prove it,
I promise to be first in line for the gunshot residue test.”
“You were
probably with them at the shooting range yesterday anyway.”
“No, as a
matter of fact, I stepped off my submarine for the first time in six weeks at
5:00 a.m. today.”
“Crappy way to
start leave.”
“First there
was the burst water hose in my condo.”
“Sorry.”
“Eh, feels
pretty insignificant now.”
“Bride sure was
a looker.”
“That she was,”
Lee sighed.
Chapter
8 - Fishing for Clues
Lee reassumed
his position by Rachael. Roger’s arm
was wrapped tightly around her shoulders.
“Hey
beautiful. How are you?”
“First time you
ever called me that.”
“We’re not
working now.”
“Stick with
‘Red’. That boat’s done sunk.”
“Ouch. My pride, my ego. I’m wounded.”
“It’s not all
about you.”
“I’m just
kidding, Red. We’ve got some serious
problems in front of us, so let’s maybe cut through the preliminaries.”
“No
foreplay. Same old.”
“Red, this is
serious. I found a snubbed-nose S&W
on the grass.”
“So?”
“With the
initials R.A.M. and it was hot.”
“That’s
impossible.”
“What do you
mean?”
“I haven’t seen
that gun in over a year. I didn’t have
in on me when . . . when . . .”
“It’s okay,
Red, you don’t have to go into it. Where
was it when you last saw it?”
“Saudi. Base camp.
It was just a back up popgun for covert missions. I never carried that in uni. My sidearm and a rifle, those I always had.”
“Okay, so it
must have gotten sent back to the states.
Where would it have been sent?”
“My place,”
Roger realized aloud. “The Marine
battalion was scheduled to decamp Saudi last month. I got a call about Rach’s effects. I told them to send them to my place. I never received them.”
“Well someone
did, unless it’s a replica.”
“I didn’t shoot
her, Roger. I wouldn’t, I couldn’t, not
with her pregnant anyway.”
“Not funny,
Red,” Lee said.
“It’s true.”
Roger
nodded. “I believe you, although I don’t
think you’d have done it even if she wasn’t pregnant.”
“No, because
you wouldn’t have been marrying the stupid cow then.”
“Red, get it
under control. There are ears
everywhere,” Lee chided.
“Sounds like
I’m screwed anyway. What difference does
it make?”
“It does to
us. We won’t let you get railroaded for
something you didn’t do.”
“Jail’s as good
a place for me as any other.”
“I see. Well, I would prefer that it be a friendly
one so let’s see what our friends, Admirals Nelson and Johnson, can come up
with quickly.”
“You didn’t?”
Rachael shook her head.
“Any port in a
storm, Red.”
“Why didn’t you
ever tell me that when I gave a shit, Curly?”
“Hey guys, keep
it down. We’re starting to sound like
the Three Stooges. We don’t need the
attention.”
“Shouldn’t you
be with your bride-to-be’s family now?” Rachael snapped.
“She’s right,
Roger. It’d be better for appearances if
you tended to them now.”
A few moments
later, the residue testing began in alphabetic order. Lee was fifth to go. It took only a minute. During that short interlude, Rachael had
drifted out of her chair. Lee scanned
the room, not seeing her. He felt a
little panicked knowing that she’d been suicidal several times in the past
year.
“I need to
check on a friend,” Lee told the cop by the bathrooms.
“You were just
in there forever.”
“The ladies’
room this time.”
“You a
pervert?”
“She’s a Gulf
War vet suffering from PTSD. The
shooting really rocked her.”
“The redhead
who’s best man, lady, whatever the hell they call it?”
“Yes.”
“Go on. She did look kind of freaked if you ask me.”
Chapter
9 - An Awkward Place to Talk
“Red, it’s me,”
Lee announced as he entered. “Show
yourself.”
Lee pushed open
the stall doors one by one until he reached a locked one with nice legs
showing. “I know you’re in there. Come on out.”
Lee didn’t wait but hopped up on the seat in the stall next door. He pitched himself halfway over the door and
grabbed Rachael’s hand when he saw that she was attempting to pierce her
jugular vein with her cluster insignia.
“Suicide by
your rank insignia, Commander? That’s
just gauche.”
“Leave me be.”
“No, I am not
going to let you kill yourself to avoid prosecution for something you didn’t
do.”
“How can you be
certain of that? Maybe I just put on a
show for Roger’s sake? You check my
file. Registered psychopath. I almost got my silver cluster out of Johnson
for acting like one.”
“I’ll dip this
one in sterling if that’s important to you, but you and I are walking out of
here now!”
“You were
always the bossy one.”
“The sensible
one too.”
“I want out,
Lee.”
“You’re no
quitter.”
“Things
change.”
“Then we’ll
change them back.”
“You’re as
relentless as Roger.”
“Maybe that’s
why you like us.”
“I like
Roger. You just piss me off.”
“Okay, so keep
being pissed off. Whatever it takes to
keep you going.”
A knock on the
door stopped them both.
“Excuse me
folks, but there’s a military escort out here for you two.”
“Nelson never
lets me down. Maybe Johnson came through
too. Come on, Red. Let’s figure this out elsewhere.”
Behind their
escort, a naval lieutenant commander was arguing with Detective Black. “Admiral Johnson assures you that they will
be at your disposal shortly.”
“What the hell
does that mean -- today, tomorrow, a month from tomorrow?”
“They’ll be on
base here for the foreseeable future.
You have Admiral Johnson’s promise.”
“I’ll be
permitted to see them when I want?”
“Yes.”
Lee and Rachael
moved out behind the ensign leading the entourage as the official conversation
trailed off in the distance. Lee was
directed to the front seat. Rachael was
directed into the back, flanked by the ensign and a master-at-arms. Moments later, the lieutenant commander slid
behind the wheel. “Let’s get out of here
fast, before Detective Black changes his mind.”
Lee understood
only too well why. “Commander, is
Admiral Johnson in town?”
“No, he’s in
Washington.”
“Damn.”
“I have full
authority to investigate.”
“Are you with
O.N.I.?”
“No,
sorry. I didn’t have time to introduce
myself earlier. Saul Jackson, Special
Agent, Naval Criminal Investigative Service.”
Jackson peered in his rear view mirror as he spoke his name.
“I thought
N.C.I.S. had gone civilian. What’s with
the uniform?”
“The change just
took effect recently, but the local cops don’t know that much about us. There was no way that you two would have been
released that fast into my custody without the reserve uniform.”
“I see. Well, it’s a pleasure to meet you. Mind if I ask you exactly what N.C.I.S. role
will be?”
“Well, for a
start, Detective Black and I are going to have a pissing contest.”
“Seriously?”
“Yes. For the time being and much to the chagrin of
the San Diego Police Department, N.C.I.S. will detain Commander MacAdam while
we investigate the murder with the cooperation of the local police.”
“Are you
arresting Rachael?”
“No, it’s more
protective custody at the moment. I’m
not prepared to instigate official proceedings yet based on what little I
know.”
“Which is
what?”
“A recently
fired gun with her initials was found at the scene.”
“What if the
police decide to press charges first?”
“The second
pissing contest begins, this one a jurisdictional one. I’ll win that one for certain. Now, how about if you bring me up to speed on
the facts as you know them?”
Lee sat quietly
a moment, wary of providing evidence against his friend and colleague.
Jackson
whispered to Lee. “I take it by your
silence that you have concerns she may have done it. So does Admiral Johnson.”
“I think it’s a
frame.”
“Then how about
sharing what you know with me.”
“What if
Johnson is in on it?”
“Then she’s
probably screwed no matter what you tell me.
Just know that I am not the enemy.
I’m the farthest thing from it.”
“How can I know
that?”
“I suppose this
can wait until we get to base.” Jackson
looked back briefly at Rachael as if expecting a response of some sort from
her. None came.
They sat in
relative silence until they arrived on base and exited at headquarters. The
master-at-arms followed them until Lee, Rachael and Jackson entered through a
door marked “N.I.S.” and then into Jackson’s office. Jackson answered the question before Lee could
ask it.
“We don’t have
our civilian office up and running yet.
That transition is coming in a few months as funding gets released.”
Jackson closed the door behind them.
Lee nodded,
then whispered to Jackson. “I take it
from our friend outside that you are aware of Commander MacAdam’s status and
that she needs special handling.”
“I’m standing
right here, asshole. What he means,
Jackson, is that I’m on suicide watch.
Again.”
“Yes, Ma’am.”
“I’m very
resourceful, you should know.”
“I am aware of
that Commander.”
“I hope you are
up to the challenge.”
“Commander, I
don’t wish to be challenged that way.
You have served above what can be asked of any officer and it would be a
tragic waste to end your own life.”
“Maybe you’re
right. Firing squad might be a better choice. I plead guilty.”
“Don’t even
think about it, Red.”
“He’s right,
Commander MacAdam. With your service
record and mental health history, no one -- neither the state of California nor
the Navy - would give you the death penalty.”
“Damn it, Lee. Why didn’t I know that before I shot the
bitch? I mean, allegedly, shot the
bitch.”
“Stop it,
Red. I know you don’t mean it. Roger knows it too. Don’t fake guilt because it’s an easy way
out.”
“Sometimes you
play the cards you’re dealt.”
“That’s not the
best scenario here. Let me help. Let us help.”
Lee held Rachael by both shoulders.
“I’m going to
give you a few minutes alone. Try to
talk some sense into her,” Jackson backed out of the room.
“I can’t be
cooped up again, Lee. It brings back
memories.”
“Just give us
some time. A window of opportunity.”
Rachael paused
a few moments before she answered. “Five
days. I think that’s about all I can
take locked up. Then it’s a crapshoot. Take the pins, the shoelaces, the silverware
and I’ll still surprise you.”
“Maybe after
five days of thinking you can find a nicer way to surprise me.”
“I told you,
Curly, that ship done sunk.”
“I’m a sub
driver. We just blow ballast and
un-sink!”
Rachael leaned
into Lee, smiling, and kissed him on the cheek.
“That may be the single dirtiest thing I’ve ever heard you say.”
Lee’s face
flushed in embarrassment.
“Okay,
Red. Just tell me what about Melanie got
under your skin so bad?”
“She was using Roger.”
“Roger knew
that. He’s no dope.”
“More than you
think.”
“Stop it. This isn’t helping anyone. What’s your specific beef with Melanie?”
“You might say
she had more of a beef with me.”
“What do you
mean?”
“She was
jealous.”
“Of what?”
“Look, she may
have been settling for two of three items on her checklist, but she hadn’t
given up on the rest!”
“What rest?”
Rachael reduced
her voice to directly whisper in Lee’s ear.
“She thought she could turn him.”
“Oh.”
“If only I got
out of the way.”
“Seriously? Did you tell Roger?”
“No. He wanted what she had to offer. He knew he’d never make captain’s rank until
he had the whole package. Look at you.”
“Hey, no
fair. My issues are different, you know
that. I’m only reserves now. Not very promotable.”
“Yeah, if you
say so.”
“Red!”
“Curly,” she
cooed, “I’ve got news for you. Melanie
was right about me. I am an
albatross. You should cut me free. Leave the blade behind.”
“Did Melanie
threaten you?”
“You’re
joking?”
“No.”
“I’m not sure I
would have recognized what she considered a threat. She tried guilt.”
“Sounds to me
like she had a little success there.”
“Go to hell.”
“Did you ever
say anything to anyone that’s going to come back to haunt you?”
“D’uh. You heard me.
I’m not exactly a model of behavioral control right now. Unless of course you have someone you want me
to take care of, then I’m your gal.”
“Rachael, you
need to stop this.”
“I can’t. My head’s screwed up. And let me tell you something else, Curly,
Johnson likes it that way.”
“Do you know
anything about Melanie worth investigating?”
“Whose the
daddy? Is there really a daddy? Follow the blow?”
“Do you know
that for a fact?”
“I know way too
much about way too many things, Lee.
Johnson’s not gonna let me out again, not unless he controls the
situation.”
Jackson, with
the master-at-arms by his side, walked into the room just as Rachael mentioned
Admiral Johnson.
“Give me
something useful just in case Johnson’s a problem. I know you must have something on him,” Lee
begged.
Rachael leaned
into Lee’s ear and whispered loudly enough for all to hear, “Ras al Hanout.”
“That’s a
spice. You’re not making sense, Red!”
“You’ve caught on
at last. Bye, Curly.” Rachael walked over to the master-at-arms
and placed her arm on his. “Shall we go
for a walk?”
“Stop it,
Rachael.”
“I do have some regrets, Lee. I never did get to see you blow
ballast!” She pulled the master-at-arms
a step outside the door. He planted his
feet and looked towards Jackson.
“Go ahead,”
Jackson nodded. “I’ll come see you soon,
Commander.”
Rachael studied
Jackson’s face for a moment. “I know
you.”
“I wondered how
long it would take you to remember.
Morocco.”
“The beard
suited you.”
“That’s what my
wife said when she saw it, but the regs, you know.” Jackson nodded and the master-at-arms
escorted Rachael out the door.
Chapter
10 - Dirty Tricks
“What was that
all about?”
“Why you should
trust me to do whatever can be done for Commander MacAdam.”
“A look of
recognition won’t cut it.”
“Three years
ago, Commander MacAdam spirited me out of a small Moroccan prison. I owe her a lot.”
“Good start,
but it’s not enough to build trust.”
“She
infiltrated the prison guards with a group of whores, actually mostly the wives
of men imprisoned who were posing as whores.
They drugged the guards and let all the prisoners go. It was a very sweet and neat operation she
conceived and executed. I don’t think
I’ll ever forget her pulling off her hijab and unloosing those red locks.”
Lee
nodded. “You hadn’t convinced me until
that last detail. I’ve seen that
maneuver a dozen times, mostly from under knit caps!”
“Glad we know
we’re on the same side. Call me
Saul. Now tell me what we’re up against
and what we have in our favor, Lee.”
“You know the
first bit. The police possess a gun that
probably belongs to Rachael, which is likely the murder weapon. It bears her initials, was found at the scene
and was warm to the touch when I found it.”
“Pretty
damning.”
“Except she left it in Saudi. She hadn’t seen it in nearly a year. The Marines were supposed to send it and her
other personal effects to Roger Cresson’s apartment last month, but Roger says
the package never came.”
“That could cut
two ways. Go on.”
“A second angle
to consider is that the bride was pregnant.
The groom wasn’t the father. He
knew as much and it was not an issue between them. That said, there might be a cast off lover
out there who was unhappy about the situation.
I should note that Rachael raised some doubt whether Melanie really was pregnant,
but she didn’t give me any facts to support that supposition. She was also convinced that Melanie was
involved in some recreational drug use -- cocaine to be specific. I’m less clear what the relevance of that
might be versus passing off someone else’s baby.”
“I could drum
up a scenario or two. For instance, if
the dad was a heavy user or dealer, Miss Mattingly might have wanted to protect
the baby by giving it to Mr. Cresson to raise.
Anything else?”
“This may be a
red herring, but the more I think about it, I find it damn odd. There were a series of car backfires which
occurred just before the wedding and twice during it, once extremely close to
the actual shot. I’m wondering how much
of a coincidence that was or whether it was a purposeful distraction.”
“All
right. That’s a lot to chew on. This could take some time to sort through.”
“We don’t have
much time.”
“Meaning?”
“Rachael said
she’d give us five days.”
“Then what?”
“She’ll kill
herself.”
“She’ll be
under constant supervision in the Medical Center.”
“That’s
probably what’s driving her to the decision.”
“I’ll advise
the staff to be extra vigilant. Lee,
she’ll get the care she needs here.”
“I hope so, but
I don’t trust Johnson. He always has an
agenda.”
“I guess we’ll
just have to guard against that too.”
“You could just
be his shill.”
“I could be,
but I’m not. However, right now I’ve got
nothing to show you one way or the other on that front, and if we’ve only got
five days to protect her from herself, I’d hate to waste my time on that.”
“I’d like to
offer my services to help.”
“Given our
limited time, your familiarity with the players, and your extracurriculars for
Johnson, I won’t refuse although I probably should. You are a material witness, after all.”
“What do we do
first?”
“Find the baby
daddy. You work on that. I want you to avoid any forensics unless I’m
present.”
“Understood.”
“I’ll be back
in a few minutes. I want to make certain
Commander MacAdam arrives at her destination without incident. Feel free to use my phone.”
Chapter
11 - An Angry Detective Wins a Round
Lee sat quietly
in the conference room for a few minutes before he came to several unpleasant
realizations.
First, he was
essentially in N.C.I.S. custody. His car
had been left behind at the hotel along with his clothes. He was stuck on base in his stiff, grass
stained dress whites. What he’d give to
change out of them!
Second, Lee
expected Detective Black to show up any minute for an uncomfortable interview
with him. Rachael had said many
potentially incriminating things to Lee.
Lee was uncertain how much of what she said he could or should
believe. Dare he repeat those ramblings
to the police? Should he?
Third, Lee’s
realized he had no clue where to begin looking for the father of Melanie’s
baby. What had he gotten into offering
to help in the investigation? Lee
decided to do what he often did when in doubt.
He called upon Admiral Nelson for advice.
“What the devil
is going on, Lee?”
“What I told
you earlier, sir, more or less. Either
Rachael killed Roger’s bride-to-be at the altar or she was framed. Either way, she’s a mess.”
“Define mess.”
“She was held
hostage for five months in Kuwait.”
“Oh my. Physical injuries? Emotional?”
“I have limited
details, but her mental state is the biggest issue. I can’t guess what she’ll be like from
minute to minute and she’s suicidal.”
“What does your
gut say about the murder?”
“That she
didn’t do it.”
“So how can I
help?”
“She said
things to me which could be considered incriminating.”
“Did you
believe them?”
“No, mostly
not.”
“I take it that
you have not yet been interviewed by the police and you are concerned what to
repeat?”
“Yes. It’s bad enough that I found and turned over
the probable murder weapon leading them right to Rachael.”
“Do what you
feel is the right thing to do.”
“The right
thing for whom is the question?”
“Follow your
instincts, Lee. I’ve put my life in them
time and time again and I’ve never been disappointed.”
“Thank you,
sir.”
“What else can
I do?”
“Nothing. I’m going to stick around a bit and see if I
can help her and Roger.”
“What is it you
think you can do for her while a police investigation is ongoing?”
“I’ll be
working with an N.C.I.S. officer who’s investigating the matter. He’s in Rachael’s corner, for the time being
at least.”
“Where are you
staying?”
“I’ll be on
base, which is a good thing for now. I
may be in a little hot water with the local police.”
As if on cue,
Detective Black opened the door.
“Call you back
soon, admiral. Thanks again.”
“Yes, Commander
Crane, you are in more than a little trouble.
You knew very well whose gun you found at the scene. Funny how you whisked Ms. MacAdam away
without mentioning that to us.”
“It’s
‘Commander’ not ‘Miss’ and there are extenuating circumstances.”
“So Jackson
said. I, however, don’t find any of them
a justification for your actions. You
are a material witness who left the scene of the crime without being
interviewed. I could arrest you for
that, or even as an accessory after the fact.”
“As I recall,
we secured your permission to leave.”
“Under false
pretenses! You and MacAdam are coming to
headquarters. Now.”
“I’m afraid
not,” Lt. Commander Jackson stated behind him.
“You may interview Commanders Crane and MacAdam on base, but they are
not going anywhere.”
“I’ll get a
court order.”
“I’ll get a
federal court order which would override it.”
“What game are
you playing at? This is a homicide
investigation. A lovely, young woman was
mowed down at the altar in front of two hundred of her family members and
friends.”
“None of us
dispute that, or the horror of it, Detective.
However, since an officer in the military is under suspicion, N.C.I.S.
has every right to pursue the matter and take sole jurisdiction of it should we
choose.”
“She was
discharged six months ago! It’s a
civilian matter now.”
“That’s not
accurate. She was recommended for a
medical discharge following injuries suffered as a prisoner of war. However, she was never officially
discharged.”
“I don’t
believe you. I demand to see proof!”
“You are free
to disbelieve what I say, but the fact is that Commander MacAdam remains on
active status and furthermore her work involves national security matters so
you will not be shown anything about it.
Therefore, whether you like it or not, any prosecution of her -- should
the facts warrant it -- will be handled through court-martial proceedings.”
“Which won’t
ever happen, because you plan to bury the whole incident to protect the
Navy! Well, I won’t let it happen. The Mattinglys won’t either. They are a prominent and respected
family. All the evidence points to
MacAdam.”
“If we feel
that is the case after a thorough investigation, I assure you she will be
court-martialed.”
“So you’re
confirming that she isn’t formally under arrest yet? I knew it.
I want to see Miss MacAdam immediately!”
“As I’ve just
explained, she is still Commander MacAdam, and yes, you may see her now.”
Lee’s head
whipped toward Saul Jackson. He assumed
they’d keep Rachael as far from the police as possible. What game was Jackson playing? To find out, Lee accompanied Jackson and
Detective Black in a jeep to the Medical Center. Through a large one way mirror, he observed
Rachael sitting placidly on a bare mattress in a padded cell. She wore light blue scrubs and was
shoeless. Her glazed eyes suggested
she’d gone some place else mentally. Lee
doubted it was a good place.
Detective Black
looked at Lt. Commander Jackson with a glint of concern.
“I can’t tell
you what to expect when you talk to her,” Jackson said.
“Can I take in
a chair? This could take a while.”
“It would be
best not to bring in anything that might be used as a weapon. That includes a chair and certainly your
gun. In fact, it’d be best if you
removed anything loose before you went in.”
“Setting up an
insanity plea?”
“No need to set
anything up. She has a well documented
case of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder.”
“Right, but the
Navy kept her on active payroll involved in national security matters
anyway. Who the hell would believe
that?”
“Me,” Lee
whispered, his head shaking.
“I’m taking the
tape recorder in.”
“I’d hold on to
it tightly.”
“Okay, my
officer comes in with me.”
“Same
constructs.”
“You think
she’s going to try to hurt us? You think
she could?”
“I assure you
that she could. I don’t think she would
without cause. Now that might be as
simple as to her trying to get something off you to hurt herself. Then again, she may want out from confinement
badly. P.T.S.D. isn’t a predictable
thing. I think it would be best to send
Commander Crane inside with you instead of the officer. She’s familiar with him. He may be able to keep her calm. At the least, he’s personally familiar with
and will react quickly to her tactical resources.”
“Only on the
condition that you keep your mouth shut inside, Commander Crane. Your interview is right after hers.”
Lee readied to
go inside by taking off his jacket and hat.
He even pondered removing his belt, but didn’t think it necessary. Mostly he wondered what Saul Jackson’s game
was, playing up Rachael’s mental issues and pushing Lee inside for her
interview.
When they
stepped inside, Rachael didn’t react.
“Hey, Red. You up to some questions?”
Rachael didn’t
blink.
“Miss Mac. . .”
“It’s
Commander,” Lee interrupted.
“Lieutenant
Commander MacAdam, then,” Detective Black huffed.
“Try again,
Detective. Her rank may be lieutenant
commander, but she is addressed as Commander MacAdam.”
“Are the
inmates running the asylum now?
Jeez. Commander MacAdam, on
behalf of the State of California, I am placing you under arrest for the murder
of Melanie Mattingly.”
Lee looked
toward Saul to stop the “arrest” but Saul shook him off. Meanwhile, Black recited the Miranda warnings
to Rachael. “Do you understand your
rights?”
Rachael nodded.
“I need a
verbal response.”
“Yes, I
understand my freaking rights.”
“I shall be
recording this interview and it may be used as evidence against you. Did you shoot Melanie Mattingly?”
“Don’t answer,
Rachael. We’ll get you a lawyer.”
“Commander
Crane, you are an inch from being arrested for complicity, and I will take you
in for questioning next, so kindly shut the hell up as agreed. Now again, Miss -- Commander -- MacAdam, preliminary ballistics
test match the gun found near you to the bullet that killed Miss Mattingly, a
specially bored gun bearing your initials.
Did you fire the shot that killed her?”
Rachael looked
up pensively at Lee before answering Detective Black. “Yes.”
“No, Rachael,
that’s not true.”
“Commander
Crane, if you can’t shut up while I’m taking my statement, get the hell
out. I’ll take my chances with her
alone.”
“Did you plan
this murder in advance?”
This time
Rachael peered straight at the detective, her eyes more than a little wild
looking. Lee feared she might do
something stupid and held a hand up as if to warn her against it.
“Yes, Detective
Black, I killed her. I killed her with
all the malice aforethought a girl could have.”
“Why?”
“To keep her
from Roger. Roger is mine. I wasn’t going to lose him to that lying
slut.”
“I take it that
Commander Cresson did not return your feelings?”
“No, not that
way, but I couldn’t lose him to her. I
just couldn’t.”
Lee glared at
Rachael as she confessed. He was
rewarded with an eye roll during the last part of her confession. Detective Black didn’t notice it.
“Did anyone
know of your plans or assist you, either before or after you killed Miss
Mattingly?”
“Hardly. Good buddy here turned in the gun, didn’t
he? Led you straight to me.”
Lee felt stung
at the accusation. He had no real
choice. Rachael knew that. This was a game. He glared at her firmly and the smile he got
back confirmed it for him.
“Just to
confirm then that you admit that you planned and committed the murder of
Melanie Mattingly, and that you have given this confession voluntarily, waiving
your right to counsel.”
“Yes.”
“I’m done for
now, then. Guess I won’t need your
statement after all, Commander Crane, but make sure you keep yourself
available,” Detective Black warned. With
the door open, Detective Black confronted Saul Jackson. “I’m taking this to a judge immediately for
an order that ensures she doesn’t go anywhere pending trial and sentencing,
both of which better happen damn fast.
You violate that Jackson and I’ll make sure that anyone driving off this
base two miles over the speed limit gets ticketed, targeting officers first.”
“You have my
assurances.”
“I don’t like
it and I’m not certain I believe it either.
Don’t cross me.”
“Good day,
Detective. Ensign McGill will escort you
out.”
Chapter
12 - A Befuddled Friend
After the door
was closed, Lee sat down on the mattress next to Rachael. “Why Rachael?
Why did you go along with that nonsense?”
“It’s all true,
Lee. My gun. My feelings.”
“Oh,
bullshit. You didn’t do it. Why confess?”
“Come on out of
there, Commander Crane. I think
Commander MacAdam needs some rest.”
Lee pulled close
to Rachael’s face. “He put you up to
this, didn’t he? You’re the sacrificial
lamb.”
“Better me than
Roger.”
“Now Crane,
out!”
“You
S.O.B.! Some other asshole is going to
get away with this murder.”
“She thinks
otherwise, Commander, and if you step back a minute, you’ll see that what she
just did was quite admirable.”
Lee stepped out
of the room. The master-at-arms closed
and locked the door behind him. “What
the hell is the game being played?”
“Come to my
office to talk,” Jackson led Lee out of the building back to his office.
“Saul, please
explain what the hell is going on here!”
“Commander
MacAdam’s personalized gun was the murder weapon. She’s been heard objecting to the wedding by
several people. She had fired a weapon
recently. The shot did come from her
direction. Very few people could make
that shot with that weapon. She’d just
shown her prowess to one and all the day before.”
“Lots of
circumstantial evidence, I concede.”
“Commander
MacAdam would therefore be the central focus of the police investigation. How thoroughly do you think the police would
look at other avenues considering that evidence? Remember, objectively they have no reason to
share your belief in her innocence.”
Lee thought
quietly for a moment. “They’d pay lip
service. Maybe they’d try to figure out
how she got reunited with her gun after a year, but not too hard. Frankly, if there’s proof it was delivered to
Roger’s apartment, then he might begin to look complicit in claiming he didn’t
know what happened to it either.
Jesus. Rachael would want to
protect him . . . .”
“Loyalties to
Commander Cresson aside, have you considered another more calculated value to
what Commander MacAdam’s confession accomplished?”
Lee shook his
head.
“Upon learning
of Commander MacAdam’s confession, the real killer will think they are
scot-free. They are likely to get
careless in covering their tracks any further.
By confessing, she not only has protected her friends from unwelcome
inquiries, she has given time to the people who believe in her to find the
evidence before it disappears forever, time unobstructed by disbelieving local
police.”
“Five days, she
only gave us five days.”
“Then I suggest
we start using that time as best we can.”
“The hotel, we
need to go back to the hotel.”
“Let’s go,
then.”
“We’ll need
more resources than us two.”
“I have others
of my own and I think we can count on Admiral Johnson to rally more troops in
her defense as needed.”
Lee nodded as
he hopped into a jeep with Saul Jackson.
Chapter 13 - Scene of the Crime
On the way to
the hotel, Lee and Saul ran down a list of things to investigate.
“The pictures
of the wedding might show something. We
should get the photographer’s film, probably from the police,” Lee said.
“I’m sure that
Detective Black already has that in process.
The police use the same photo lab as N.C.I.S. does for film. We can probably get a set of duplicate prints
with a phone call. I’ll take care of that
from the hotel. I’ll also be collecting
any of Miss Mattingly’s personal effects.
Maybe they’ll be something among them that gives us a hint at the perp. I want you to focus on finding out as much as
you can about Melanie from Commander Cresson, no matter how uncomfortable it
may seem to you. That means sex, drugs,
and so on.”
“Roger wouldn’t
have anything to do with drugs. If he
knew Melanie did them, he’d have walked.”
“Don’t assume
anything, Lee. You ask or I will. Find out how they met, how long they’ve been
dating, what they do, where they went, who they know.”
“Roger briefly
met Melanie in Santa Barbara a couple of years ago. I brought him to the club for a round of golf
when he was visiting. Her father was part of our foursome. He introduced Roger to Melanie before we hit
the links. As I recall, Melanie
surprised us with an invite to dinner, but we declined for other plans.”
“Did you really
have other plans?”
“Only to catch
up with each other more privately than we could on the golf course. O.N.I. stuff.
Besides, I didn’t want anything to do with her and I knew Roger wouldn’t
either.”
“Why?”
“She was known
to be officer hunting.”
“Any special
reason for that?”
“I tried not to
get sucked in deeply enough to find out.
I’d guess social status. Maybe
economic security. Could be she just
likes a man in uniform.”
“Do you think
she left some broken hearts behind anywhere?”
“Not to speak
ill of the dead, but escaping Melanie seemed to be a cause for relief.”
“Oh.”
“She had a lot
of personality. My XO compared her to a
barracuda.”
“So how do you
think Roger Cresson fell into her jaws?”
“I don’t
know. Nothing happened back then and I
didn’t know they’d ever connected again.
I was more than a little surprised when I got home this morning from a
six week cruise to see the invitation for a wedding today.”
“So you and
Roger haven’t really talked about how they connected yet?”
“No. Frankly, I was more focussed on Rachael when
I did finally talk to Roger after the shooting.
Sounds kind of callous considering.”
“We have strong
instincts to protect our friends and there’s nothing we can do for the
dead. Look, since you knew Melanie,
you’re well positioned to make inquiries into her life without ruffling as many
feathers as I would. I’m increasingly
curious about all the backfiring you mentioned.
I’ll follow that up on that.”
“It could have
been a total coincidence.”
“One that
dulled everyone’s reaction to the real gunfire.”
“Except
Rachael. She knew it was the real deal.”
“Why would she
go down if she took the shot? Did she go
down during the other backfiring?”
“Not so I’d
noticed. The time before the real shot
she definitely didn’t. It was deep into
the mass and frankly after we’d both been startled by it, I think we both found
it kind of an amusing distraction to mass.”
“Which
direction did the backfiring come from?”
“It was off to
the far back, on the right side, opposite the side Rachael and I were on. It happened that way three times, once before
the ceremony, once early in the ceremony and again right at the end of mass
before the ring ceremony. When the real
shot happened, even I turned in that direction.
It was like a conditioned response.”
“It’s likely
most other folks did the same thing after the real shot was fired.”
“Yes. That said, I realized quickly that the sound
was a little different and closer that last time.”
“Most people
wouldn’t have picked up on that.”
“If that’s the
case, if the two were related, that might suggest two perpetrators. One who fired the shot and one who
intentionally caused the backfire.”
“Maybe, maybe
not. Suppose you knew a vehicle was
going to be kept running but had previously removed the catalytic convertor or
punctured the exhaust system?”
“You couldn’t
predict the backfiring then, either the timing or the frequency.”
“Yes, Lee, but
it’s not like anyone tried to cover the shot with the backfire.”
“True. The real shot came fairly quickly after the
last backfire. Maybe the timing of the
shot wasn’t all that important to the shooter?”
“More likely
the timing of the backfiring was not of critical import. Holding the real shot until the ring
ceremony, that pretty much guarantees that everyone’s eyes would be locked on
the bride. It could be a very clever use
of calculated distractions. I can’t
dismiss that as a coincidence. If it’s a
rabbit hole, it’ll be mine. You go to
work on finding possible motives. Meet
me in the lobby at 2300 and I’ll take you back to base.”
“I’ve got a car
in the garage, so I can find my own way back.
Heck, I probably could get a room for the night here now. I have a feeling they have some vacancies.”
“Up to you,
Lee. Now that Rachael’s confessed, I
don’t think Detective Black will bother you.
Just let me know.”
“If you promise
to keep a close eye on Rachael, I’ll stay here tonight. I suspect the bar will be busy tonight with
people who might talk freely.”
“Good
point. We’ll catch up in the
morning.”
“Would you also
follow up on the gun -- the package that the Marines were supposed to
forward? See if anyone signed for the
package or if it was ever attempted to be delivered?”
Saul nodded and
handed Lee a business card with his phone numbers. Lee went to book a room. It was easy.
Many guests, including ones not at the wedding, had departed following
the afternoon tragedy.
Chapter
14 - Blind Leading the Blind
“I embarrassed
to admit how little I knew about Melanie’s circumstances,” Roger said.
“When did you
two meet again?”
“When I came
back three months ago. I ran into
Melanie at the hotel bar. She seemed
different, really sad and down. We
talked, not really about much of anything.
She was depressed about not meeting anyone worthwhile here. She thought she’d fare better here than in
Santa Barbara.”
“When -- and
why -- did you get serious?”
“I was a little
down myself, dealing with Rachael, being on forced leave.”
“You might have
called me?”
“How many days
in the last three months have you been home, let alone available?”
“Uh, yeah,
never mind. So explain to me how you
connected.”
“Melanie’s
pushiness got me back up and running.
She helped me keep the smile plastered on.”
“What did you
do for her?”
“Escorted
her. Danced with her. Mel liked to be the center of attention. She liked to party. I accommodated her.”
“Mel’s
partying, did any of it run to illegal substances?”
“No, I’d have
been out the door fast if I’d seen anything like that. Why do you ask?”
“Rachael said
something about blow.”
“You can’t
believe everything Rachael says. She’s
in such a dark place that she sees things that aren’t there.”
“I want you to
think hard on that one, buddy, because if there’s one thing I remember about
Rachael, she’s particularly observant of behavioral details. Remember how she could mimic all of us?”
“Mercilessly! It’s been so long, so different this past
year, that I forgot about that. Still, I
don’t know any basis upon which Rachael might claim Mel did coke. Did she tell you anything more?”
“No, and I’ll
admit at the time she said it, it sounded like a cheap shot at Mel. The more I think on it, though, the more I
want to follow it up. All kinds of crazy
stuff can happen if drugs are in the mix.
I’d like to meet some of Mel’s friends.”
“Most of them are still here, I think. I’ve had a steady stream of calls and
visitors.”
“I figured the
bar tonight would be a good place to find some of them. Give me the names of her friends who might
know her best.”
“Better yet,
I’ll go with you to introduce you.”
“I don’t think
that’s wise.”
“Why shouldn’t
I drown my sorrows at the bar, especially if it will help my best friend?”
“About that, I
suggest you contain your optimism.
Rachael confessed to the police a little while ago.”
“You let her do
that? Why?”
“I wasn’t
exactly empowered to stop it.”
“Johnson could
have.”
“Maybe, maybe
not. I think we have to look at the results
more than the act. She’s better off in
the Naval Medical Center than in jail.”
“Has she tried
anything yet?”
“No. She’s giving us five days.”
“Five days to
do what?”
“Prove she
didn’t do it.”
“What if we
can’t?”
“She’s not
planning to stick around for sentencing.”
“You agreed to
this?”
“I bought a
little time. It was all I could do.”
“Why is she
doing this?”
“Rachael’s not
seeing anything positive in her future.
The deck is stacked against her.”
“I’m here for
her future. She knows that. I need to talk to her.”
“I also think
she’s trying to contain collateral damage.
The thing you worried about most.
If she goes down without a fight, without lots of investigation, then,
well, you know.”
“Oh screw my
career! I’ll find something else to
do. I’m sick of the pretense anyway.”
“I don’t doubt
that, but coming out now isn’t going to help Rachael. Don’t throw away all you’ve built for
nothing.”
“Sometimes I
just want to go the window and yell out, ‘I’m loud, I’m proud, I’m gay!’ just
to prove that the world won’t end!”
“It wouldn’t,
but your working life would, and for no good reason.”
“I have a good
reason. So all the self-righteous
bastards have to deal with the fact that a gay man has stood among them, fought
their battles side by side, and never once forced himself on anyone!”
“I’m pretty
sure you ogled me when we met.”
“For like a
millisecond. A guy can hope. Hey, nice effort at distraction, Lee.”
“The point is
that obviously there are people who know, who hold you dear, who respect you
for all you have done and will do and don’t give a damn. Neither Rachael nor I want to see you cut off
your nose to spite your face. If you go
down just because Rachael does, what interest is served?”
“I don’t know.”
“You feel a
need to strike out, I get that. Someone
you cared about has been murdered and your best friend has been accused.”
“Worse. She confessed. What exactly did she say anyway?”
“That if she
couldn’t have you, Mel couldn’t.”
“Seriously? Then my coming out might help her.”
“I doubt it.”
“It would show
that Rachael lied.”
“Not
necessarily. Rumors have flown about you
and Rachael for years. Lots of people
believed them.”
“I know. She fueled them purposefully. I played along too.”
“Showing
Rachael has lied and would lie to protect you.
Maybe she’d kill to do it, to protect you from someone she perceived to
be a viper, even if your relationship was chaste.”
“Chaste. God, you sound so old fashioned sometimes!”
Lee shrugged.
“You do know
that Rachael had a crush on you once?”
“Really?”
“Didn’t take
her long to realize she wasn’t your type.
Well, that and the regs against fraternizing kept her in check. The Navy really was, is, all she’s ever
had. She wasn’t about to risk losing
that. It made for a lonely life for her
at times.”
“You too, all
of which goes to explain the attraction of Mel to you, I suppose. No real marital obligations to guilt you out,
a child to share, a more than decent salary for a good life for you both. I see how it could be tempting.”
“I suppose.”
“What aren’t
you saying?”
“I thought that
was the picture, but it may not have been all of it. Rachael may have been honest about Mel
thinking she’d make me love her, you know, that way. Mel wasn’t the most realistic girl I’d ever
met.”
“Is there
more?”
“I’m not sure
my salary would have been enough to keep her happy in the end. Mel wasn’t very good at managing money, which
is how she ended up living at my place during the last month and a half. Her dad had set a strict limit on her
allowance after years of threatening to do it.”
“What’d she spend
it on?”
“She had an
expensive apartment, an expensive car, liked to shop and regularly treated all
her friends when they went out. That’ll
empty your wallet quickly.”
“Drugs would
too.”
“As I said, I
never saw anything to suspect that.”
“Why do you
think her dad was serious this time? I
kind of figured his money would always be in her future in addition to what you
brought.”
“I didn’t have
a clue about their finances until the wedding planning hit full stride, but I
could tell there was a strain about the cost.
Dick and Doris were arguing a lot.
Once I overheard him lecturing Doris that she had as much to learn about
controlling her behavior as Melanie, and that it had better be soon because
there was no other choice. I wondered if
his firm might be struggling.”
“Lots to chew
on.”
“Yeah, but does
any of it point to a killer other than Rachael?”
“What about the
father of the baby? How much do you
know?”
“Virtually
nothing. Mel said it was a one night
stand. My guess was that it wasn’t a
lucrative prospect or she’d have shown up at his door pregnant with a shotgun.”
“Right, we can
probably can rule out officers then.”
“Not
necessarily. It could have been a
married guy.”
“Oh.”
“Alcohol might
have been involved. Mel didn’t skimp on
that, rendering her judgment not so hot at times.”
“Do you know
any details about him at all, a single thing to go on?”
“Two
things: ‘Blonde and blue, he’ll look
like you.’”
“Interesting. Mel’s family, they’re mostly that too,” Lee
nodded in understanding. “How far along
was she?”
“A little over
three months. She had just found out
when we met again. She wanted to get
married before she started to show.”
“Had she?”
“Not that I
noticed, no. Not that I looked that
closely either.”
“Then I guess
it’s time to buy you a drink after I change clothes. Between here and the elevator, decide how you
want to play your grief.”
“It’s not all
play. I wanted to be a father. I wanted some stability when I’m home.”
“I’m sorry. Believe me, I do understand that. Quite well.”
Chapter
15 - Digging for Dirt
A hush settled
over the buzzing bar the moment Roger Cresson entered. People ceased all movement, faces gaped, and
muted comments were whispered.
“Hey folks, I
know it seems strange for me to be here, but I just couldn’t sit alone in my
room another minute. I hope you don’t
mind. I really need to be around friends
right now, Mel’s and mine. You know this
is where we reconnected three months ago, this very bar. Karen, you were here. Lisa, you too. I just want to be with you all, okay?”
“Come on,
Roger, let me buy you a drink,” an attractive blonde called.
“Karen,” Roger
whispered to Lee, “one of her nearest and dearest.”
“Me too,
Roger,” someone else called out. Roger
identified this one as Mel’s cousin Sara.
“Hey, we’re all
here for each other,” someone else chimed in.
Roger didn’t know her.
Lee moved
forward with Roger. “This is Lee, an old
friend. He knew Mel from way back in Santa
Barbara. Today was the first time he’d
seen her in a long time.” Roger played
it masterfully. “It rocked him badly
too.”
“Come here,
darling. I’ll give you comfort,” a
beautiful brunette offered. Lee, sleek
and handsome in a black turtleneck with dark jeans, peeled off from Roger. He had no doubt that they’d make better
progress working separately.
Lee’s brunette
was Rhonda. Rhonda had only known Mel
for a year, but went on and on about her generosity.
“So you knew
Mel before Roger came into her life? I
remember her always having a man on her arm.
Was she still like that?”
“On her arm, in
her bed. Is there a difference?”
“Maybe a drink
or two’s worth is my recollection.”
“Oh, you really
did know Mel then! Roger was kind of a
surprise choice for her. Loads of fun,
but so accommodating and considerate.
It’s hard to find that kind.”
“Most of the
others weren’t so kind and considerate?”
“Well, no. Loud sometimes attracts loud, you know. That was Mel’s problem until Roger. Lucky her.
Ooops.” Rhonda stopped to slosh
more of her drink. “That was terrible of
me!”
“Grief can make
us say all kinds of things. Forgive
yourself. Can I tell you a secret? Mel pursued me for a while.”
“How’d she do?”
Rhonda let her fingers run onto Lee’s chest.
“We weren’t
well matched. Besides, Mel always
favored the Teutonic type -- maybe it was a daddy thing -- you know blond and
blue.”
“Thass so
true,” Rhonda splashed a little with the hand that was not still resting on
Lee’s chest.
“I take it she
didn’t have much luck in that department while you knew her?”
“Not so
much.” Rhonda took another sip. “You want some?” she offered her glass at Lee
sloshing a few drops on his shirt. “Oh,
I’m so sorry, tall, dark and handsome.”
She blotted at the drops with a cocktail napkin far longer than
necessary.
Lee realized he
looked odd without a drink. “No problem,
and yes, I could use a stiff one.”
“Me too,”
Rhonda snickered.
Lee expected
that reaction and smiled coyly as he signaled the bartender. “Another one for the lady and a scotch and
soda on the rocks for me. So, Rhonda,
there wasn’t anyone special in her life until Roger?”
“Oh, I wouldn’t
say that. Just no one worthwhile
enough. She thought she had one snared
just before Roger appeared, but I think he wasn’t what she thought.”
“Not really
blond and blue?” Lee laughed.
“Of course he
was that. Just not an officer and a
gentleman. Well, I’m not sure she
required the gentleman part, except in public.
That was important.”
“Someone fooled
Mel? Wow, I thought she was sharper than
that.”
“Honestly, I
think there was a certain desperateness about Mel. You know, she wasn’t getting any younger or
prettier. And just between you and me, I
don’t think Daddy Warbucks was going to support her forever.”
“Well, that
makes me glad that she found Roger when she did, knowing she had some good
times before this tragedy.”
“I heard rumors
that his best friend might have done it, that she was some kind of crazy after
coming back from Iraq and that she was very jealous of Mel too.”
“Really? Who told you that?”
“Mel, for
one. She knew the friend didn’t like her
and, what with being crazy with some syndrome from the war, Mel didn’t like her
being in the city, even if she was cooped up at the Naval base most of the
time.” Rhonda stopped to inhale another
sip. She missed her mouth and a giant
blob hit her shirt. She handed Lee a
cocktail napkin to dry it, but he didn’t take the bait. “Guess I’d better change out of this. Promise me you’ll be here when I get back or
I might not leave.”
“If you could
find me a more interesting party, I’d be out the door with you. I think I may need something more than
alcohol tonight.”
“Oh, that’s not
my scene at all. Try screaming
Mimi. She’ll be tearing her hair out by
the end of the night if this is all there is.”
“Which one is
she?”
“The slutty
one.”
“I’m sure that
should tell me, but we guys aren’t that smart you know.”
“The blonde
with the pink dress. Kind of improper
for a wake, but that’s Mimi.”
“To be fair, I
don’t think anybody expected a wake tonight.”
“True
enough. See ya later handsome, if you’re
smart enough to s-s-tick around.”
Lee waited a
bit. Mimi had the attention of two men
currently, leaving no room for him. He
picked another target. He looked
familiar to Lee.
Chapter
16 - A Male Perspective
“Hi. I don’t know if you remember me at all. I think we met at the country club in Santa
Barbara a long time ago. I just wanted
to give you my condolences. Mel was a
great gal.”
“Boy, it must
have been a long time ago, because Mel was fun, but a great gal, that’s up for
debate, not that I should talk about that tonight of all nights.”
“I’m Lee.”
“Randall, Mel’s
first cousin. I work for her father.”
“Let me
guess. You work hard for the money,
while Mel just waits, waited, for Daddy to send the checks every month.”
“Something like
that. Mel didn’t understand the first
thing about money, except that she liked to spend it.”
“I do remember
that about her.”
“That’s why I
was surprised she was going to marry this guy.
He does fine and all as an officer, but I don’t see how he could expect
to keep Mel the way she liked.”
“Did he have
reason to expect that?”
“Guess you’d
have to ask him that. I only know that
Uncle Dick drew a line in the sand with Mel.
He had to.”
“Business not
so great?”
“You must not
read the papers much. There was the
structural failure of that last plane the Navy ordered. We haven’t had any big orders since then even
though it wasn’t our fault. I’m just
praying we get a chance at components of the new bomber design.”
“I hope it works
out. Dick and Doris are good people.”
“That they
are. Shame they’ve plowed so much money
into Mel. Bad payoff. I’m sorry.
I shouldn’t have said that. Loose
lips sink ships after all.”
“A sudden death
like Mel’s affects people in strange ways. People want to only remember the good, but
there’s a certain self-protection in remembering the bad too, as if maybe the
person somewhat deserved what happened or caused it to happen, and you are
alive because you didn’t. It’s not a
conscious thing anyone would admit to, but I’ve seen it often.”
“You near dead
people a lot? You a priest without a
collar or something?”
“No. I’ve just seen my share of friends die during
war time and from other things. Some of
them made bad choices how to cope with the horrors of war when they got back.”
“Like drugs and
alcohol, you mean?”
“Like those.”
“Mel sure had a
taste for those.”
“Mel did
drugs?”
“Coke. Caught her in the guest bathroom when she was
visiting her folks. I’ve been staying
there to economize.”
“Did you talk
to her about it?”
“Me, talk to
Mel? No, I just avoided her. She wasn’t about to listen to her annoying
younger cousin. Mel wasn’t a soul-barer,
at least not to her family. Maybe she
was different with her friends.”
“You didn’t
tell her father?”
“No, he had
enough problems without adding that worry to his list. I mean, she was still Daddy’s little
girl. I don’t know how he and Doris are
going to handle this, especially Dick with all the business troubles too. I hope they bring her killer to justice
quickly.”
“Me too.”
“You were
sitting right up front when it happened, weren’t you?”
“Yes, I’ve
known Roger for a long time.”
“He seems a
good man. I feel badly for him, I
do. Did you see anything up there? The shot had to come from the groom’s side.”
“Are you a
ballistics expert?”
“No, but I
shoot well enough. The way the bullet
hit, it was kind of obvious what direction it came from.”
“I agree, but
no, I didn’t see who took the shot.”
“Many people
are speculating it was Roger’s best man, that redhead. I just can’t see a woman doing that at her
best friend’s wedding. I suppose you
know her too.”
“We’ve met a
few times, but I wouldn’t claim to know her well.”
“Were she and
Roger ever an item? I mean, that could
be a motive.”
“Not to my
knowledge. People speculated, of
course.”
“I suspect it
unsettled Mel that his best friend is a woman.
Mel wasn’t a good sharer.”
“No, she
wasn’t, but it was Mel who got shot, not the friend.”
“True
enough. I just wondered how the friend
felt about Mel. Even if she and Roger
weren’t involved romantically -- which I gotta tell you I don’t get because I’d
go to bed with her in a minute -- maybe
she wanted Roger for herself and resented Mel.”
“The first time
I saw Commander MacAdam since Mel and Roger got engaged was ten minutes before
the wedding, so I didn’t get to hear anything to make me think that. Did you hear or see otherwise?”
“Well, there
was something a bit weird yesterday, which seems even more disturbing now.”
“Did you tell
the police?”
“No, I figured
I’d wait and see how the hunt for suspects was going since it wasn’t anything
you could act upon.”
“Then there is
something you should know. I didn’t see
her do it, but I understand the police confronted her and that she confessed to
killing Mel. I don’t know the specifics
of why, though. What you heard or saw
might be relevant.”
“If she
confessed, it hardly matters now.”
Randall seemed rather ponderous at Lee’s revelation.
“I hear you,
but now you have me dying of curiosity.
Could you at least tell me what happened the other day?”
“Oh, sure. At the shooting range, right before she took
her turn, the redhead, she toasted -- with bottled water of course -- to
Mel. Then she plugged ten chest shots in
a row. It just seemed a little creepy,
you know?”
“More than,
especially in light of today.”
“If you’ll
forgive me, I better go check on Uncle Dick and Aunt Doris to see if they know
about the confession. It will give them
a little peace, I hope.”
“Sure. Good to see you again, even under such
terrible circumstances. Take care.”
After Randall
left, Lee shook his head. Rachael had
been a loose cannon. If she didn’t do
it, she done a brilliant job in acting the perfect patsy. Still, Lee had to wonder if Randall seemed a
little too happy about Rachael’s confession.
Chapter
17 - Screaming Mimi
Lee fought off
exhaustion as he moved in towards Mimi when her companions whittled down to
one. Lee was confident that he could
displace the young woman whose attention seemed to bore Mimi.
“Hey,
beautiful. Glad to see a sea of
brightness in this mosh pit of gloom.”
“Mel wouldn’t
have minded me wearing pink tonight. She
was an in the moment kind of girl, like me.”
“Me too. I’m an in the moment guy, I mean.” Lee winked.
“Oh, I can see
that. I saw it across the room while you
were talking to Rhonda. She was sloshing
it down fast. What horrible things did
she say about me?”
“Nothing
bad. She just told me that if I liked
after parties, you were more up my alley.”
“You? I wouldn’t have guessed it.”
“Never judge a
book by its cover.”
“Fair
enough. Why don’t you come up to my room
then?”
“I was hoping
to start with something a little more sociable, which is not to say we couldn’t
end up there. I need more of a distracting
atmosphere if you get my drift.”
“Sex isn’t
distracting enough for you?”
“I just don’t
think I can get there real easily now.
I’m more in need of something that makes me forget today.”
“I know. Alcohol will just bring us down further. I have an idea. You have a car?”
“Yes.”
“Let’s go
then.”
“Let me just go
say something to Roger first, okay? I’ll
meet you at the door.”
Mimi ran her
hand down Lee’s shirt (what was it with women and his chest?) before she headed
toward the door. Lee moved in on Roger’s
untended port side and whispered his intentions.
“Be careful,
Lee. Mimi’s judgment isn’t great.”
“Will do,
buddy.”
Lee took Mimi’s
hand as they walked to the valet at the front door. Mimi squealed when she saw the Cobra. “Oh, I think I like you very much, Lee.”
“Where to,
Mimi?”
“You know your
way around the Mission district?”
“I know my way
to it, if you can guide me to our destination.”
“Fair enough,”
Mimi curled in towards Lee. Lee shifted
up, jarring Mimi.
“Sorry, I
didn’t realize until after I bought her that she looks more romantic than she
drives. Too late to get my money back.”
Mimi directed
him to a dance club. Mimi greeted the
bouncer by name and he let them enter immediately. Once inside, Mimi led the way through the
dance floor to a door guarded by another bouncer. “Hey, Meeno.
How’s tricks?”
Meeno glared at
Lee.
“He’s
cool. He’s with me.”
Meeno opened
the door. Mimi pulled Lee down the
steps.
The intensity
of the party going on downstairs easily doubled that upstairs. There wasn’t a doubt why. People were snorting lines in plain sight. Lee was out of his element, but tried his
best not to look it. The frantic noise
and action made him anxious. That grew
worse when Mimi ordered four lines for the two of them and pointed to Lee to
pay since she hadn’t brought her purse.
Lee opened his wallet and let the waiter (is that what you call them, he
wondered?) take what it cost. Forty
bucks. The night wouldn’t last long if
Lee was buying. Lee hadn’t visited a
bank since before the last long mission.
Mimi inhaled
two lines quickly before turning over the mirrored board to Lee. Fortunately, Mimi’s attention was away from
him. Lee leaned over the board, palming
a handkerchief under the near end. He
bent over with a straw and pretended to inhale as his preceding finger wiped
the lines down into his handkerchief. He
slipped the hanky into his pocket until he could find a trashcan.
Mimi was on the
dance floor, oblivious to all but the music playing and whatever was going on
in her head. Lee began to think he’d
made a mistake. Lee joined Mimi on the
floor. He knew he had to try. “You come here a lot with Mel?” he nearly
yelled to be heard over the noise.
“I thought the
point of coming here was to forget Mel!”
“Not as easy as
I thought. How about for you?”
Mimi looked
annoyed. “Mel came here plenty, but it
wasn’t much fun with her. She always
needed to be the center of attention, no matter what. Blow didn’t change that.”
“I’m sure
you’re not the only person who felt that way about her.”
“You too?”
“Not just me.”
“No, she could
be a real buzz killer, couldn’t she?”
“Yes, she was
single minded.”
“Me, me, me,
Mel!”
“In the end, it
didn’t work out so well for her.”
“Road there was
plenty bumpy too. If she hadn’t been
Miss Money-pockets, no one would have put up with her for long.”
“Men too?”
“Especially
them. All the time she was looking for
a sugar daddy, she was the one who looked like a gravy train. Once they found out differently, they were
gone.”
“Was there any
one she cared about?”
“There was one
guy. He looked like a big spender, but
he was all show. Mel really fell for
him, until she learned the truth.”
“Let me guess,
blonde and blue?”
“Yes.”
“Ever see him
anymore?”
“Not for a
while. Except . . .”
“Except what?”
“I need to do
another line.” Mimi frantically waved at
the waiter. He came over. Lee opened his wallet and edged out a twenty
in readiness.
“You want
another too?”
“No.”
The waiter
shook his head. “Only one for her. We’ve got rules here.”
Lee suppressed
a “who knew?” crack. The waiter pulled
out a ten sitting next to the twenty.
After Mimi inhaled, Lee didn’t wait. He doubted she’d make sense much longer, not
that he really knew what to expect. This
wasn’t an area of expertise for him.
“What happened
to Mel’s last boyfriend?”
“She dumped
him.”
“Have you seen
him again?”
“Not for a
while, but I thought maybe I saw him today.”
“Where?”
“This
afternoon, at the wedding, a guy dressed like a waiter looked just like
him. Couldn’t have been Ollie though.”
“Why not?”
“Well, what
would Ollie be doing at Mel’s wedding?
She dumped him after all.”
“Maybe he
wasn’t over her?”
“Oh, he was
over her, at least for a while. Trust me
on that.”
“How can you be
so sure?”
“I don’t want
to talk about this anymore. We came to
forget Mel. All you want to do is talk
about her.”
“You’re
right. I’m sorry. It’s harder than I thought to forget.”
“I know. It’s like I expect to turn around and see Mel
doing some lines any second. Buying for
everyone. At least until a couple of
months ago.”
“Bet that’s
when this Ollie guy really cleared out, when he found out that Mel wasn’t going
to be his meal ticket.”
“No, it wasn’t
like that. Ollie’s a scrapper. Works in the movies, sometimes he has blow or
weed to sell. He was really into
Mel. He just didn’t measure up to her
childhood fantasy.”
“How so?”
“Ollie wasn’t
really ever an officer.”
“I’m sure he
had plenty of other qualities.”
“That’s for
sure. That boy rocked in bed. I . . . I mean that’s what I heard.”
“Hey, Mel
dumped him. You’re a free agent.”
“Except he was
still into her, even if she dumped him.
I don’t think she had entirely let go either.”
“You think they
were still seeing each other?”
“Something
happened between them last month. I saw
Mel cutting out of here with him one night.
I haven’t seen him since, not until yesterday . . . if it was him.”
“You don’t
happen to know Ollie’s last name, do you?”
“No.”
“How about
where to find him?”
“Why? Why are you so damn interested in Mel’s love
life? She’s dead. I’m not digging this at all, Lee. I thought you were interested in me. You better leave. Now.”
“I should make
sure you get home safely.”
“I’m a big
girl. If you don’t leave soon, I’m going
to make a scene. There’s something
creepy about you.”
Lee didn’t wait
to be told again. He disappeared into
the men’s room, disposed of his handkerchief, then fled up the stairs and out
to his car. Except the Cobra was gone.
Chapter
18 - Endless Day Turns into Endless Night
Lee stared at
the place where he’d parked the Cobra.
He then paced up and down the block wondering if his memory of where he
parked could have been faulty. No, even
in his worn out state, he was certain.
He returned to the parking spot again.
Stolen! It had to have been.
Lee knew he had
to report the theft to the police, but he dreaded dealing with them after
things with Detective Black had gone so badly earlier. He also worried the cops would know about the
club near where he’d parked. He dreaded
being associated with it, but what else could he do? And now that he was off base, what if
Detective Black tried to haul him in for questioning? “Damn it!” Lee cursed aloud as he walked to
the nearest pay phone.
“Try B&D
towing by the airport.”
“What? My car was stolen.”
“Nope. You were six inches into the yellow zone.”
“You’re kidding
me. A whole six inches?”
“Law’s the
law. They only take cash.”
“How much?”
“Between $75
and $125 would be my guess.”
“Just great!”
Lee slammed down the phone. His next
call was for a cab. He hoped the twenty
left in his wallet would be enough.
The cab ride
wiped out Lee’s cash. He’d have to beg
or borrow to get through until his bank opened later in the morning, assuming
he could get to a branch of his bank without a car. Lee stopped at the desk. “I’m in 526.
Any messages?”
“Yes, sir. You’ve apparently been much missed tonight.” The night clerk handed Lee a raft of messages.
Lee took the
pile and headed to the elevator. That’s
when he remembered he hadn’t yet even visited his own room. His suitcase was still in Roger’s room. Lee checked his watch. He decided not to disturb Roger so late. He’d manage until morning.
When Lee
entered his room, he flipped through his messages. “Just checking in. Call me tonight. Saul Jackson.” “Touch base soon. Nelson.” “Saul Jackson. Meet him at R.C.’s apartment at 8 a.m.” “Hey tall, dark and handsome. Call me later! Or just visit. Rhonda, 235.”
“Just got word. So sorry. Need anything, call me. Chip.”
“Worried about you. Call
anytime. Nelson.”
Lee quickly
debated whether to return any calls. It
was 3:00 a.m. No. All he wanted was to shower, a long hot
shower to end the day that wouldn’t end.
Afterward, one naked, exhausted sub captain quickly succumbed to sleep
in the luxurious comfort of the hotel’s high end linens.
Lee dreamed
something was ringing. Bells? Buoys?
Whatever it was, it didn’t stop, not until Lee rolled over and his arm
knocked the phone off the hook.
“Lee, Lee, are
you there lad?”
“Damn.”
“Lee, is that
you? Is everything okay?”
Lee dragged his
weary arm along the floor, fished up the curly phone cord and pulled until he
had the receiver in hand. “Admiral?”
“Yes, you were
supposed to call me back. I was worried
about you.”
“Sorry. Sleep was a priority, but I’ve had a good 45
minutes of it now. What’s up?”
“Here? Nothing.
You want me to stay out of it?”
“I appreciate
your willingness to help, but I don’t think there’s anything for you to do just
now.”
“Did you pack
enough clothes?”
“The hotel has
a laundry service.”
“Do you have
enough money?”
“At least
forty-six cents.”
“I’ll wire you
some. What else do you need?”
“Depends on how
much it takes to get my car back. They
charge per day, don’t they?”
“Who charges?”
“The impound
lot. It was towed.”
“Why?”
“I was six inches over the curb marking. Given how tired I am, I was probably lucky I
wasn’t on the sidewalk.”
“Where is your
car?”
“Some lot near
the airport, B&D or D&B, something like that. I don’t have time to deal with it. I’ve got to meet someone early tomorrow. Today.”
Lee rubbed his forehead.
“Admiral, no offense, but if I don’t get some shuteye, I’m not going to
be good for anything later.”
“Okay,
okay. I hear you. Go to sleep.
I’ll make arrangements for your car and cash.”
“I’m a big
boy. I can handle my responsibilities.”
“You’re trying
to save everyone else, Lee. You could
accept a little help.”
“Sure,
admiral. Thanks. Sleep, please?”
“Okay. Just stay in touch.”
“Yes, Mother.”
Lee blindly
felt for the receiver, but it was out of reach.
He pulled on the cord again until he hauled the base onto the bed and
depressed the receiver. He pushed the
illuminated “0”. “I need a wake up call
at 0700. Be persistent, please.” Lee left the phone on the edge of the large
bed and rolled away from it.
At 0710, a
knock on Lee’s door accomplished what the ringing phone had not: waking him up. “Damn,” Lee cursed, realizing he was
naked. “Who is it?”
“Wake up call
and coffee, sir.”
“Thanks. Would you mind just leaving the coffee? I’m not decent yet.”
“No problem,
sir.”
Nice stiff
upper lip for no tip, Lee chuckled, as if his forty-six cents would have been
appreciated anyway. Lee threw on the
hotel robe -- he could be tempted to steal this one -- and retrieved the
coffee. Coffee. Not sludge. Lee quaffed the pot, stopping only to call
Roger.
“Good morning.”
“If you say so,
but my head says otherwise.”
“No, it’s just
been one long nightmare, buddy. Listen,
I need my bag. Would you mind bringing
it to me so I don’t have to travel the halls in a robe?”
“You were
wearing clothes last I saw you. You lose
them in a strip poker game or something?”
“No, but where
they’ve been, well, I’d rather not wear them until they’ve been sterilized.”
“Rhonda and
Mimi in one night. That was a lot to
tackle. Did you escape with your virtue
in tact?”
“That’s about
all that was left in tact.”
“Be there in a
minute for the scoop.”
“Good. While your at it, bring your keys.”
“Keys to what?”
“Car, apartment
too.”
Roger appeared
in minutes. He looked as wrung out as
Lee expected. “What’s going on and why
do you want my keys?”
“I’m supposed
to meet Saul Jackson at your apartment in a half hour. I need your car to get there and I figure
you’d prefer we use the key to enter rather than break and enter. Suit yourself.”
Saul handed
over his keys. “These are for the
apartment. The valet has the car
keys. Park in it space 14 so it doesn’t
get towed. What are you looking for in
my apartment?”
“Beats me. Clues, I guess.”
“Think I should
come?”
“No, I’ll call
if we have questions.”
“Should I get a
lawyer?”
Lee shook his
head in the negative.
“You find out
anything interesting last night?”
“Some leads,
nothing earth shaking.”
“Me either.”
“No one’s going
to speak ill of the deceased to the groom on the wedding day.”
“I didn’t say I
learned nothing.”
“Anything you
want to share?”
“Only that I
may have been a little naive about Mel.”
“No fooling,
Sherlock. We’ll talk later.”
“Lee, I’m
worried about Rachael, but I don’t want to mess up anything you’re doing. Do you think it’s okay to go check on her?”
“Your best
friend who just killed your fiancee? I
think you’d best stick to phone calls for now.
The press will be all over this today.”
“I hate this.”
“Me too, but
that isn’t going to help us. Now give me
directions to your place. I don’t have a
clue where you live!”
Chapter 19 - Clues?
“Good morning,
Lee,” Saul Jackson chirped.
“If you say so. Any word on Rachael?”
“She made it
through the night fine. I hear she even
ate a good breakfast. How about you?”
“I haven’t
eaten anything since mess on Saturday night, if you want the truth of it. It’s been coffee and scotch since then.”
“I’ll buy you
breakfast after this. Here are some
gloves. An N.C.I.S. photographer should
be here in a minute. We’ll wait for
him.”
“I wondered how
legal we were keeping this.”
“This is an
evidentiary search. We’ll properly
preserve anything we find.”
“We may not
share it with the local police, however?”
Jackson didn’t
answer. Instead, he pulled out a set of
lock picks.
Lee shook his
head. “Why don’t we just use
these?” Lee inserted the house key
correctly on the first try. He left it
in the lock as they waited for the photographer. “You have any news on your end?”
“We’ll have
wedding photos later today. The M.E.
matched the shell casing to the gun.
Prints on the gun were not particularly helpful. A clean one belongs to a marine who’s still
in Saudi who probably packed the gun.
Rachael’s partials are all over the weapon including on the handle
although those were the least clean of the prints. The handle was smudged.”
“Someone with
gloves?”
“It’s possible,
but there’s no definitive evidence of that and Rachael could have easily done
that on purpose. Otherwise, blood work
confirmed the bride was pregnant. The
M.E. also ran a tox screen for us.
Official results will take a while, but he didn’t see evidence of recent
drug use in her blood, although he said urine tests could show older use.”
“She definitely
had been using before she was pregnant.
I’ve had confirmation from a couple of sources, but I don’t know if she
continued. I don’t even know that
investigating that has a point except to smear her reputation.”
“Might be the
case. Might not. You never know where a fact might lead.”
“Well, here’s
news. If you can accept the word of a
drugged out girlfriend, it’s possible that Mel’s ex-boyfriend, a possible baby
daddy, was at the wedding dressed like a waiter.”
“You give it
any credence?”
“I’d like to
follow up. Of course, it would help if
Ollie, blue eyes, blond hair, maybe works in movie business and may deal coke
or weed had a last name.”
“We’ll talk to
someone in the narcotics squad, see what they might know. Maybe he’ll show up in the wedding pictures
for a lucky break, although I can’t see a photographer shooting decent pics of
waiters for any reason.”
“The photographer
and half the guests were wearing tuxes too.
I’m not certain I could have distinguished a waiter from an usher if you
asked me.”
“You can’t
distinguish Armani from polyester? You
do know clothes make the man!”
“No, but try me
at different kinds of kelp if you want to be impressed. More on topic, but of questionable import,
Mel’s father may be in financial trouble.”
“We’ll store
that fact away for later too.”
“Any leads on
how Rachael’s gun appeared?”
“We should have
a facsimile copy of the delivery receipt later today.”
“Delivery to
where?”
“Right here.”
“Damn. Do we know who took delivery?”
“I’m told the
signature says R. MacAdam, but until we see it, we can’t assess if it really is
hers.”
“Is it
possible?”
“Yes. Roger checked her out of base care pretty
regularly. The delivery date is a day
she had been off base.”
“I guess we’ll
have to ask Roger whether he ever left her alone in his apartment. She could have answered the door while he was
in the head. He might never have
known. What else?”
“So far the
only thing we know about the backfiring vehicle was that it was a white panel
van left parked and running near the side delivery entrance. We have no leads on who was driving it or
what they delivered, if anything.”
“Someone left
it idling for a long time. Kind of
suspicious in itself, isn’t it?”
“Some delivery
guys never cut the engine. Gas isn’t
coming out of their pockets so they don’t bother. What’s more suspicious is that the van was
locked while left running. After the
third backfire a hotel bellhop had figured out where the backfiring was coming
from and tried to get in to stop it. He
couldn’t.”
“Any hopes of
identifying or locating it?”
“Not much
progress so far, but we’ll focus more on that today when the afternoon shift is
back on duty at the hotel. It’s possible
there may be some useful surveillance video too. We’ll also chat with the catering personnel
and florist. Someone there had to see
the van or who came or left in it. Oh,
good, Walter’s here. Let’s get this
started.”
They confined
the search of Roger’s apartment to the common areas and the guest room where
Melanie had stayed. That was
sufficiently tedious as Walter photographed everything before and after Saul or
Lee touched any surface, along with any items found deemed of possible
interest.
Lee was
surprised at how much a voyeur he felt searching through Melanie’s things. He didn’t see anything of obvious import, but
observed that Melanie was a bit of a slob, possibly owing to having too many
clothes and shoes for the available space.
Receipts were also stuffed everywhere.
He and Saul packed these up along with a raft of other papers to examine
later in detail.
Only two items grabbed Lee’s attention,
although neither seemed to provide any explanation or motive for Melanie’s
murder. First, in Mel’s dresser,
stuffed beneath her underwear was a manila envelope holding a recently issued
insurance policy on Roger’s life in the amount of two million dollars. Lee wondered who paid for it, but saw no
relevance to the investigation. Still,
he had Walter photograph it before adding it to the box to be taken as
potential evidence. Then, in the guest
bathroom, Lee found two home pregnancy tests, one used with a plus mark and the
other unused. Sadness overtook Lee. Mel may have been difficult, but she didn’t
deserve to die, and certainly her innocent child didn’t. That said, something about the tableau
niggled at Lee. He called Walter over to
take a picture.
“That’s kind of
sad. Why do you want to photograph
it? Trying to guilt someone out?”
“No, something
just seems odd about it. If you got a
positive test, would you keep a second test around?”
Walter
shrugged. “Probably best to ask a woman
about that.”
“It’s probably
just me. Years in the Navy and on subs
mean I don’t keep what I don’t need.”
Lee quietly finished out his search.
He felt very down at the end.
“You look ready
to collapse. Let’s go get some food in
you. I’ll drive. Just leave Roger’s car here for now.”
Chapter 20 - Mad Dogs and Englishmen
A hearty
pancake breakfast with an enormous serving of fruit and several cups of black
coffee revived Lee somewhat. Still, he
couldn’t shake the depressing feeling that he’d learned a lot about Mel, but
none of it was useful to saving Rachael.
Saul took him
back to base and deposited him in a conference room where the boxes taken from
Roger & Melanie’s apartment were soon hauled in by two ensigns. A suitcase had been left waiting for them in
the room.
“Melanie’s stuff from the hotel,” Saul
explained. “The delivery receipt for
Rachael’s stuff and the photographer’s prints will be here later. I’ve got a couple irons in the fire to follow
up on. If you want to start going
through the stuff without me, go ahead.
Otherwise, maybe you should cat nap.
You look wiped.”
“I think it
might be helpful to have Roger here to go through this stuff. He might understand or recognize stuff we
wouldn’t.”
“Why don’t you
call him and take care of that? I’ll be
back within the hour.”
Lee started to
call Roger then remembered how snarky he had been with Admiral Nelson in the
night.
“No apologies
are necessary, Lee, except mine for disturbing your sleep. I should have known how little you had. Since we spoke, I’ve had your car and cash
delivered to your hotel. Also, a courier
will arrive tomorrow morning with your blues, a few changes of clothes, and a
plane ticket.”
“A plane ticket
and my blues?”
“Did you forget? We have a meeting in D.C. on Wednesday with
Farrow Industries and half a dozen congressmen.
Angie switched your ticket so you can fly out of San Diego tomorrow
night.”
“Damn.”
“I’d like you
there, Lee. I may need your calming
influence.”
“Admiral, a
friend’s life is at stake. Can we delay
it a week?”
“No, there are
too many conflicting schedules at issue.
Can’t you leave for a day or two and then come right back?”
“No, I have a
very limited window of time to clear Rachael.”
“Lee, I’ve seen
the news this morning. What exactly do
you think you can do for Commander MacAdam given she’s confessed?”
“I don’t think
she did it.”
“Then why confess?”
“It’s
complicated.”
“By what?”
“Post Traumatic
Stress Disorder and personal loyalties.”
“Well, if you
truly think you can help her, stay.
You’ll be a valuable resource for her as you’ve been for me. I suppose Chip will just have to grin and
bear it.”
“He’ll forgive
me eventually.”
“Not soon, I suspect. How are Dick and Doris?”
“As you’d
expect, although I haven’t spent much time with them.”
“I know Melanie
was a handful at times, but it doesn’t make it any less sad. I’ll check in on them when I get back. I assume they’ll be back in Santa Barbara by
then. Do you know about funeral
arrangements?”
“No, not
yet. I’ll let you know when I do.”
“Lee, be
careful.”
“Of what?”
“Johnson. If he jumped in to help this fast, he may
have an agenda.”
“He always
does.”
“It might not
be the same as yours.”
“I know.”
“Don’t hesitate
to call if you need contacts outside of Johnson’s channels. I have plenty of friends in San Diego.”
“Thanks,
admiral. Just wish me luck.”
“Good luck,
lad.”
Lee felt buoyed
at the trust and faith placed in him by Nelson.
Even if things did sometimes get wickedly tense between them, those
times were exceptions. Lee called Roger
next.
“Find anything
interesting at my place?”
“Not
particularly. I did find the brand new
life insurance policy Mel had on you interesting, but not particularly
relevant.”
“Given what I
do, it seemed only fair.”
“Who paid for
it?”
“Me.”
“Just swear to
me you didn’t have a similar one on Mel.”
“I swear.”
“Good. Saul and I would like your eyes going over
her stuff and the pictures. It could
take a while, so you might want to bring a change of clothes.”
“Maybe I could
grab a room on base for the night?”
“If you want,
I’m sure.”
“Reporters are
everywhere. I don’t think my apartment
would be any better than the hotel.”
“No
kidding. Saul took the phone off the
hook right after we entered. It was
ringing from the moment we arrived. I’ll
ask his secretary to get us both a room.
I was planning on checking out too.
Can’t exactly afford the La Fortuna Hotel for long. Would you mind bringing my suitcase? While your at it, pick up a package from
Nelson at the front desk for me and my car since I took yours.”
“I’ll be there
in about an hour.”
“Just be
careful with my car, buddy.”
“Have you ever
seen me mistreat a lady, Lee?”
No, Lee thought
as he hung up without responding, he never had.
Chapter
21 - Baby Bamboozle?
Though a nap
sounded tempting, Lee had imbibed too much coffee. He decided to check up on Rachael while he
waited on Saul and Roger.
Lee observed
her from the one way window for a few minutes.
She seemed to be behaving. Lee
went to talk to the aide at the desk who had camera watching duty.
“She’s been
pacing some this morning. She did eat a
decent amount of her breakfast.”
“No utensils,
correct?”
“Paper plates,
bowls and cups, not even plastic silverware.”
“Good. Anything unusual from the prior shift?”
“Notes say she
slept restlessly. Lots of tossing and
turning. Buried herself under the
blanket so there wasn’t much to see.”
“I’d like to go
in and talk to her.”
“Sure. I’ll tell the master-at-arms to admit
you. You know the rules for entering,
right?”
“Yes. No weapons or anything that can be turned
into one, which if you knew Commander MacAdam might mean I should only go in
naked.”
The aide
laughed. “I’d pay to see that.”
Lee smiled and
headed to Rachael’s room.
“Morning,
Red. How’s tricks?”
“Tick tock,
tick tock.”
“I want to run
some things by you.”
“I want to run
out of here.”
“No can
do. Confinement getting to you already?”
“Love it. Love the decor. Don’t you?
Modernism at its finest.”
Lee bent toward
the mattress. He saw the shift in her
eyes immediately. “This bed certainly
isn’t going to pass inspection.” Lee
pulled off the blanket. Lee shook his
head. The corded binding of the foam
mattress had been pulled apart, and the cord inside had been removed. Lee flipped the mattress across the
room.
“Halfway to an
impressive gallow’s knot.”
“Spoilsport.” Rachael made a play for the noose by grabbing
one end.
“You have
plenty of time to come up with something else.
Come sit with me and talk.” Lee
pulled her closer using the loop she’d crafted and held one end of. “I’m not sure this would have been strong
enough even if you finished it, Red, or how you could have actually used it.”
Rachael
shrugged. “I didn’t have much to work
with.”
“You were right
about Melanie and coke.”
“BFD.”
“Unfortunately,
at the moment I’d have to agree. We
haven’t found any useful ties to it and her being killed, but we still
might. The ex-boyfriend may have dealt
as well as impregnated her.”
“If she really
was pregnant.”
“Forensics
confirmed she was. Did you really doubt
it?”
“I didn’t
believe a damn thing she said.”
“You really are
bitter toward her. Why?”
“Didn’t you
hear my confession? Neither of us were
willing to share Roger, and in case you hadn’t heard, I’m into assassination on
a regular basis now. Gets easier every
time.” Rachael pretended to shoot.
“You mean like
the one Roger and JimBob bailed you out of, where you hit the kid first and
lost it? No sale, Red.”
“Yeah, but I
never believed Melanie was preggers.”
“You wouldn’t
have chanced it. Look, I do need your
insight into something, probably irrelevant, but it struck me as odd. In the bathroom at Roger’s, Melanie had two
home pregnancy tests. One was positive
and the other was unused. For some
reason I can’t put my finger on, it struck me as odd. Why would she keep those?”
“I don’t
know. They sell them in two-packs most
of the time, I think, and they’re not cheap.
I don’t know how long they are good for, but I don’t suppose you’d hurry
to throw out an unneeded one. . . .
Shit, I might have been right after all, at least at the beginning.”
“About what?”
“Curly,
supposedly she was preggers before she moved in with Roger. Why the hell would she have moved either of
the tests?”
“She might have
been sentimental about it.”
“Seemed like
she was anything but. It was a huge
problem for which she needed Roger to bail her out. Would you take that positive test with you?”
“I suppose not,
but the M.E. confirmed she was pregnant.”
“How
pregnant? Maybe she wasn’t really
pregnant when Roger took her in? Did you
notice even a hint of a baby bump? Maybe
it was all a ploy?”
“To what end?”
“I don’t
know. I just know the whole thing was
wrong.”
“We do know
that Mel needed money for support right away, but Roger wasn’t exactly going to
be the same gravy train as her father.
Frankly, he would have been worth more to her dead.”
“Huh?”
“Mel had an
enormous, brand spanking new life insurance policy on Roger. He even bought it for her. For her and the baby.”
“I think you’re
a dud as a detective, Curly. In case you
missed it, Roger’s perfectly healthy.”
“I know. I suppose that’s a lead to nowhere. I think I’d best focus on the baby’s father,
and whether there was a baby then no baby and then a baby again?” Lee scratched his head in confusion.
Rachael
laughed.
“What’s so
funny, Red?”
“I’ve got you
believing now.”
“Believing
what?”
“What a lying,
scheming bitch she was.”
“How so? Maybe she was pregnant and miscarried. Roger was marrying her to share a child, so
if that happened, maybe she wanted to keep up her end of the bargain.”
“Curly, if that
was the case, why not be honest and ask Roger to donate his sperm and give him
a real baby of his own instead of using some other asshole as a sperm bank?”
“What would he
have done?”
“Mr.
Honorable? Please. Hand him a jar.”
“I think that
all just leads us back to the original question: how the real daddy felt about being used as
Mel’s sperm bank?”
“How would you
have felt?”
“For Mel? That might have been the donation that kept
on giving, in ways one could regret.”
“You’d consider
it for someone else?”
“Maybe. I’ve never been asked.”
“I considered
it.”
“I’m
flattered.”
“You should
be. I’m very choosy.” Rachael laughed maniacally, then suddenly
pushed Lee aside. “Get the hell out of
here. Now.”
“What’s the matter,
Red?” Lee wrapped his arm around her
shoulders.
“I’ve already
been killed with kindness once. I don’t
need you doing it again.” Rachael
abruptly pulled away and crossed to the furthest corner of the room where she
slunk down against the wall, her arms folded over.
Chapter 22 - Killed with Kindness
“What do you
mean you’ve been killed by kindness?” Lee asked as he slowly approached
Rachael.
“It’s ironic,”
Rachael chuckled.
“What is?”
“You could say
Roger sort of killed Melanie with kindness too.
By pitying her, by marrying her.
Just for a baby.”
Lee moved
closer to Rachael, backing up next to her along the wall and sliding down to a
sit. “What do you mean that you were
killed by kindness, Red?”
Rachael’s eyes
looked glazed. “I didn’t even tell
Roger. It’s dark.”
“I’ve been
through some dark stuff, Red. I don’t
know if I can help, but I can at least listen.”
“Was anybody
ever so kind to you that they ending up hurting you more than people who you
expected to hurt you?”
“No.”
“You know what
happened to me? Roger told you
everything?”
“I think so.”
“He doesn’t
know about Ahmed.”
“Who was
Ahmed?”
“He was the
kind one. The one who tended my
wounds. Fed me antibiotics provided by
my unit. Brought me decent food. Helped me bathe. What he wouldn’t do was help me escape.”
“Why not?”
“He wanted the same thing the others
wanted. For me to replace the wives and
children the Iraqis killed because we were there. He just wasn’t so concerned with punishing me
for it like the others. So when Ahmed
came through the door, I was always relieved to see it was him even if I knew
he would fuck me. He was kind and
gentle. He said sweet things. He even apologized. He treated me as kindly as could be imagined
under the circumstances. I guess you
could say he was the nice rapist.”
“Stockholm
syndrome?”
“No, Ahmed
didn’t have the intellect to play that game and I had too many other miserable
visitors for it to matter.”
“Then what
happened?”
“I’d been there
nearly three months, relieved as always when I saw it was Ahmed who had come
through the door. Just like always, he
was kind and sweet. He did what he was
supposed to do without unnecessary roughness, with tenderness even. Then he withdrew and saw blood all over his
cock. I’d begun menstruating. Ahmed went into a rage. I’d been unclean with him. He railed about how I’d repaid his kindness
by defiling him and not getting pregnant.
Then he beat me worse than any of them had before. That’s when I broke, Lee. When the last hope died. He came back nearly every day after that to
continue what he’d started. My sole
solace turned into my worst nightmare.”
“I’m so sorry,
Red. I can’t imagine.”
“No, you
can’t. I just wanted to die. How can we want so badly to die and our
bodies betray us?”
“Maybe because
second chances are still possible?”
“Yeah, some
second chance. I’m certified cuckoo now. Can’t have a baby either. Guess that’s for the best considering.”
“You’ve still
got friends.”
Rachael
exploded into Lee, pinning him down on the mattress. She pressed her right forearm into Lee’s
jugular. “Friends turn on you. Haven’t you been listening?”
Lee stayed
beneath her, remaining placid, drawing in shallow breaths, waiting her
out. They stared at each other, neither
moving. Lee didn’t feel afraid of her
after a few seconds. Instead, he felt
the same electricity he’d felt the last time they were in this position. Rachael soon dropped her arm from his
neck. Lee reached his arm around her
neck and kissed her. “Some things are
worth sticking around for, Red.”
Rachael
skittered up and away from Lee, turning toward the wall and then slumping down
in a heap along it. “Get the hell out of
here, Crane. Don’t come back!”
“Oh, I’ll be
back, Red. We have unfinished business.”
Lee dropped his
hand to retrieve the noose off the floor and knocked at the door until he was
permitted to leave. Outside, he leaned
against the glass staring at Rachael wondering what the hell had just happened.
Chapter
23 - Coalescence
Roger was in
the conference room when Lee arrived.
“How’s
Rachael?”
“Screwed
up. Worse than I imagined. Understandably so. I don’t want to talk about it. We’re on borrowed time.”
Saul Jackson
breezed in the room with a stack of pictures and an envelope. “Photographer’s pics and the delivery
receipt. Roger, look at the delivery
receipt. Is that Rachael’s signature, if
you would know?”
“No, this is
definitely not Rachael’s.” Roger looked
upset. “It’s Mel’s. She must have signed for it when I wasn’t
home.”
“Are you
positive?”
“The ‘M’ in
MacAdam, that loopy feminine one, is definitely Mel’s. I’ve seen it enough in the past week alone to
be certain.”
Saul reached in
Mel’s handbag for her wallet. He opened
it up. “He’s right.”
“Damn,” Lee
carped. “What does that mean for
us? Without Mel to ask about it?”
“There are only
a few possibilities, Lee. She might have
thrown out the whole package and someone else got hold of it. Maybe she gave the package to Rachael. Maybe she opened it and then disposed of the
gun somehow. She could have sold or
pawned it.”
“Rule out the
first two. If Mel signed for it, she
definitely would have opened it. She
never would have given Rachael the gun.
As to the getting rid of it, it’s probable.”
“Why?”
“Mel didn’t
care for guns. She wouldn’t join us at
the firing range and she was really very firm about what I’d need to do to
secure my weapons when the baby came.”
“Then she gave
the gun away or sold it. How the hell
are we going to trace that?” Lee asked.
“Interview her
friends, for one. Check local pawn shops
for another. Are you sure you can continue
to work on this, Lee? You seem really
rattled,” Saul said.
“I am a
bit. Too little sleep, too much
caffeine, and Rachael threw me off balance.”
“You want to
take a break? Roger and I can push
forward.”
“No, I want to
follow up on some ideas Rachael and I talked about, like the pregnancy. Roger, exactly how pregnant was Mel and how
did you know?”
“Oh, don’t tell
me Rachael pushed that idea in your ear?”
“Someone fill
me in what you are referring to, please?” Saul asked.
“Just how
pregnant Mel really was, when did it happen, et cetera. So, Rog, objectively speaking, what did you
know?”
“Mel had just
found out she was pregnant when we met.”
“At a bar?”
“Look, Mel
wasn’t about to turn into an angel for a baby.
Her mother survived cocktail hour and she said this baby would too.”
“So that was
about three months ago?”
“Yes.”
“You told me
earlier that you didn’t notice her showing at all.”
“No, but I
didn’t look that closely and it’s not unusual not to show that early according
to the books I read.”
“You would.”
“Yes, I would.”
“So how could
you be certain she was pregnant?”
“Morning
sickness. She had prenatal vitamins from
her Ob-Gyn. That was enough for me, at
least until Rachael kept pushing me and pushing Mel for details.”
“What
happened?”
“I’m
embarrassed to admit it, but about a month and a half ago, Rachael got to me. She had been over -- when Mel was out -- and
started in on questions about why Mel had feminine hygiene products in the
bathroom if she was pregnant. I didn’t
see the big deal. You might have noticed
that Mel was a bit sloppy. I figured
that when she moved she dumped stuff from her drawers into a box and then back
into drawers at my place.”
“That was the
end of it?”
“No, Rachael
challenged Mel. There was a phone
call. Mel was upset by it.”
“I assume you
told Rachael to back off?”
“I did, but I
did ask Mel some questions that I hadn’t earlier. Like who her doctor was. The due date.
Could I go with her to an appointment?”
“What’d she
say?”
“She picked up
the phone and made an appointment for us after the wedding. She explained that the doctor didn’t want to
see her until then anyway unless something went wrong. Mel got a little upset at it all. She asked me if that was enough proof for me. I said it was fine. She just had to understand where Rachael was
coming from.”
“Did she?”
“No, which was
ironic given that Mel was doing for me what Rachael would probably have done
otherwise. Well mostly.”
“Rachael would
have used your sperm.”
“Right, but of
course Mel was already pregnant so that never came into discussion. Anyway, a week or two later we were talking
about buying a house before the baby came and Mel came in and showed me a home
pregnancy test she’d taken so I could get Rachael to shut up. It was positive.”
Saul rubbed his
temple.
“You have a
thought, Saul?” Lee asked.
“Yeah, I
do. Let’s go through Melanie’s stuff
from the apartment and her personal items next.”
“Focussing on
what?” Roger asked.
“Receipts
first. Store receipts. Then maybe her calendar and phone book.”
A half hour
later, Saul softly said: “Bingo.” Lee and Roger snapped to attention. “I’ll be back in a couple of minutes.”
Lee and Roger
stared at each other puzzled.
Saul returned
five minutes later.
“What did you
find?” Roger asked.
“A receipt dated just over a month ago for a
home pregnancy test, a two pack.”
“That just
confirms what I said earlier,” Roger said.
“I’m not
certain. When Lee first found the tests,
I ran the idea by my secretary -- she’s expecting her fourth kid any day
now. I was puzzled like Lee by why
Melanie would have moved the tests with her, including the used one. My secretary said if it was hers, had it been
an unwanted pregnancy, she’d have hurled it in the trash right away. She couldn’t imagine a different response.”
“Yes, but now
we know she didn’t move them, just proving my point that she was showing her
good faith to me.”
“Ah, maybe
not. I just asked my secretary about
that possibility, that if someone demanded proof, how you’d go about it if you
were already certain you were pregnant.
Her answer was that you wouldn’t spend nearly double the amount on a
two-test kit when one would obviously suffice.
They sell them singly.”
“She doesn’t
know Mel. Mel just probably grabbed the
first one she saw, top shelf brand, top shelf price.”
Maybe, maybe
not. Maybe something else was going on?”
“I think we are
spinning wheels here, guessing at Mel’s shopping and storage habits,” Lee said.
“That’s why I
put in a call into the clinic where Mel went for the vitamins. Let me see if Susan has heard back.”
Moments later,
a very swollen bellied secretary came into the conference room.
“You got it?”
“Yes, and you
promised time and a half today, right?”
“Double time if
this is good.”
“It is. Dr. Lara Wildman confirmed Melanie
Mattingly’s pregnancy with a blood test three months and seven days ago. She prescribed prenatal vitamins and set up a
return visit that should have been last week.
Four weeks later, the patient experienced bleeding and came to the
clinic. She had miscarried. The patient was very distressed. A routine D&C was performed. The outcome and prognosis for future
pregnancies was considered excellent.
The patient was counseled regarding future attempts at pregnancy and
encouraged to wait six months. The
patient returned for another blood test just over four weeks later. Pregnancy was confirmed and prenatal advice
given. Patient was given appointment
scheduling calendar. Patient called and
scheduled an appointment for approximately two weeks from today.”
“Rachael knew
it. How the hell did she know it?”
“She’s very
perceptive about people, Roger. We’ve
known that for a long time.”
“I didn’t
listen. If I had, Mel would be
alive. Rachael would be free.”
“This isn’t
helping, gentlemen. What will help is to
find the father and the shooter, if it isn’t the same as the father. Roger, you go through Melanie’s handbag and
look for a phone number, a date, an address, anything that might relate to this
guy named ‘Ollie.’ Lee and I will go
through the rest of the stuff from the apartment. Then we’ll go through the pictures
together. I have doubts they’ll be much
help.”
Lee
nodded. They quietly began to paw
through Mel’s possessions. Saul got up
to use the phone. “Susan, order in lunch
and coffee for us. Triple time,
sweetie. Afterward, go home and put up
your feet. Thanks.”
Lee flipped
through more of Mel’s receipts and notes.
It was an indiscriminate mess of stuff.
He found nothing. Saul brought up
a box that Lee hadn’t seen collected.
“It was in a
high kitchen cabinet, stuffed in a back corner.
I needed to stand on the counter for it.
The loopy handwriting on the outside reading ‘Personal Stuff’ suggested
to me it was Melanie’s. Odd hiding
place, however.”
“To keep it
away from Rachael,” Roger said absentmindedly, his focus on a calendar
page. “Damn. She really played me.”
“What have you
got?”
“I’m no expert,
but this appears to be a countdown.”
“Go on.”
“From MP to
Ovulat. It ran from nearly two months
ago forward.”
“Sorry, Roger.”
“What does it
mean? She didn’t trust me enough to tell
me? Or she didn’t want me to be the real
daddy? This makes it seem like she
really wanted to pass off someone else’s baby as mine.”
“Backed up by a
hefty life insurance policy on you,” Saul said.
“I’m
alive. She isn’t. That can’t be the right focus!” Roger slammed
a fist on the table.
“There are
generally two motives for murder:
passion or money. Maybe Melanie
had a deal with the baby’s father that went bad or that she couldn’t go through
with. Who knows? It could be related, it might not be. We just have to keep plugging,” Saul
insisted.
Then Saul
stopped in his tracks as he pawed through the “personal” box. “That answers that mystery.” Saul put the oversized air mail envelope on
the table. “The stuff they sent back to
Rachael.”
Chapter
24 - Unpleasant Blasts from the Past
“Kind of flimsy
for personal effects, isn’t it?” Saul remarked.
“It was just
supposed to be an envelope. They didn’t
bother sending her clothes back and Rachael didn’t travel with any personal
possessions other than her weapons.”
“O.N.I.
training,” Lee added.
Saul picked up
the envelope and dumped the contents in front of him. “Letters from you, Roger, all opened. A couple of letters in Arabic. They’re still sealed. Guess we’ll need to get a translator in
here. That could take a while.”
Lee reached for
the envelopes. Roger saw Lee gulp.
“Lee, what do
they say?”
“Rachael
MacAdam, 466-298-0328.”
“Her service
number,” Roger sighed.
“Well, they do
belong to Rachael. Maybe we should take
them to her,” Saul offered.
“No!” Lee said as he felt through the thin paper of
one. “There’s something in this one
other than a letter.”
“It’s too small
to be a bomb,” Saul reassured.
“Let me see
it,” Roger said. He felt through
it. “Oh, Jesus. It might as well be a bomb.” Roger’s hands shook as he opened it. A bracelet made from bright auburn hair fell
out. Roger turned and threw up.
“Why the hell
would this be in with Rachael’s personal stuff?” Lee grabbed the envelope and reached inside
and found a note, also in Arabic. Lee
couldn’t understand every word, but he understood enough.
“Do you know
what it says? Who it’s from?” Saul
asked.
“It’s got
nothing to do with Mel’s murder. I can’t
tell you. Leave it at that.” Lee reluctantly reached for the other letter
and opened it. “More of the same. We need to destroy them.”
Saul reached
across the table for them. Lee stopped
him by grabbing his wrist roughly.
“Lee, they are
evidence in a murder investigation. I
can’t let you destroy them.”
“You still have
the envelope with the other stuff. You
don’t need these. There’s no possible
connection to Melanie’s murder.”
“Maybe they’ll
be helpful to Rachael’s treatment?”
“No.” Lee pulled back with the letters in
hand. He threw them into a trash
can. He reached back to the credenza and
pulled a lighter off of it.
“Lee, I can’t
be party to this,” Saul said.
“Then I suggest
you go out for a few minutes.” Lee set
fire to a corner of one envelope and dropped it back into the waste can.
“What was in
those letters, Lee?”
“Bad memories.”
“I’m glad she
never saw them then.”
“Mel did her a
favor by intercepting these, Roger. She
paid a hefty price too.”
“I’ll get rid
of the bracelet later. I don’t think my
stomach could take the smell of burning hair right now.”
“Agreed.”
Chapter
25 - Pictures Don’t Lie or Do They?
Saul returned
twenty minutes later with lunch. Nothing
more was mentioned of the letters. They
ate quietly, Roger quite lightly after his vomiting episode. Then they began the tedious task of going
through the wedding pictures.
“Remind me what
we are looking for?” Roger asked.
“The baby
daddy, anyone with a grudge, anything out of the ordinary, like a blond and
blue waiter.”
It was quickly
evident to Lee that blond and blue was most of the bridal party and plenty of
others. “Focus is on the groom’s side or
just outside of it.”
The
photographer’s pictures were tight to the ceremony and there wasn’t much to see
outside the pew area. There wasn’t much
focus on the groom’s side either, perhaps owing to the sparse attendance.
Roger flipped
picture after picture saying little.
“Crappy shot. Surprised he
printed it.”
“He was told to
print them all,” Saul reminded. “Crime
scene pics, not wedding pics, remember?”
“Here’s
another. Blurred.”
“That was
probably during a backfire,” Lee noted.
Roger kept
flipping, reaching yet another motion blurred picture taken on the grounds
during set up.
“There’s a
corner of a van back there,” Lee remarked, “but nothing identifying about
it. Damn.”
“We’ll get it
blown up, just in case. We may still get
some video from the hotel cameras. It’s a tedious process getting their
tapes. They’ve insisted on a subpoena
that is very specific, to protect the privacy of their guests. You’d think they’d be more interested in
solving the murder of a guest.”
Lee and Roger
kept passing pictures around the table.
“Aw, geez,”
Roger sighed and passed the print to Lee.
“Damn.” They’d reached the sad picture capturing Mel
beginning to bleed.
They kept
going, the mood in the room going in a downward spiral.
“There’s
nothing here!” Lee complained.
“Go through
again in case you are missing something,” Saul advised.
Roger started
back at the beginning of the pile, the rehearsal pictures.
“Mel sure does
have lots of Teutonic looking relatives,” Lee observed. “That’s her cousin Randall. He was an usher, right?”
“I . . . I couldn’t say for sure who that is.”
“Why?”
“Look at this
rehearsal picture again.”
“They all look
similar. These two are dead ringers,
though.”
“Right, Randall
and his twin, Thomas.”
“I think one of
them walked me to my seat. I didn’t see
him in a picture, but I’m certain an usher with similar looks sat a row or two
behind me, far left. I couldn’t guess
which one though,” Lee said.
“We’ll have to
follow up on that with interviews,” Saul said.
“Randall made
it sound like he was on the other side,” Lee said.
“That’s an odd
turn of phrase.”
“He’s an odd
duck. He suspected Rachael before he
knew about her confession. He intimated
to me she foreshadowed the shooting the day before while at the shooting
range.”
“Unfortunately,
she did, Lee, whether or not she meant to,” Roger shook his head.
“So much for
discounting Randall,” Lee carped.
“Still, there was something about him that seemed off. He seemed kind of gleeful when I told him
Rachael confessed.”
“Wouldn’t you
be if you were a relative? Beats a long
manhunt and trial,” Saul said.
“I suppose.”
“Hey, look at
this one,” Saul pulled one from the box.
“Another blurry
one, so?” Roger asked.
“What does this
look like to you?”
Lee
answered. “Tripod legs, behind and
between the potted plants that partitioned off the wedding from the grounds on
the groom’s side. But that doesn’t make
sense. The photographer was positioned
at the back of the center aisle.”
“Maybe there
was an assistant?” Saul asked.
“Behind the
plants?”
“There’s a few
inches gap, enough to stick a lens through if you wanted a better angle of the
ceremony.”
“It’s
possible. The priest wouldn’t let the
photographer up front for close ups during the ceremony. We had to use rehearsal pictures for
that. Maybe Mel wanted photos of the
real thing and arranged for it to be done on the sly. I wouldn’t put it past her.”
“Except there
are no photos from that side. Roger,
what do you know about the photographer?” Saul asked.
“Nothing. Mel took care of that. She took care of nearly everything. You were sitting over there, did you notice
anyone taking pictures?”
“I couldn’t say
one way or another. Wedding
photographers are kind of everywhere yet invisible.”
“I’ll call the
photographer,” Saul volunteered and stepped out.
“Look at
Rachael in this one. She wore makeup for
me. I feel like shit for forcing her
into this now. How is she today?”
“She ripped
apart the mattress binding and was crafting a noose from it.”
“Shit.”
“She’s . . .
erratic. Crazy one minute. Not so crazy the next.”
“That’s how it’s
been for months. I had no business
involving her in the wedding.”
“I’m not
usually one to play the blame game, but I’m going to agree on that one.” Lee got up and paced, regretting taking the
cheap shot at Roger. He fiddled with his
pockets. “Oh, here are your keys. Glad to see you’ve upgraded your taste in
cars. I wouldn’t have guessed you for
that shade of blue but it beats your nasty old brown sedan fetish.”
“That wasn’t my
car you took. It was Mel’s.”
“Figures.”
“Mel wouldn’t
be caught dead in my sedan, even though her top leaks. She risked getting her wedding dress wet she
was so adamant that we take her car to the hotel instead of mine.”
Chapter 26 - Catching Breaks
Saul returned and took a phone call.
“We’ve got a
partial plate on the van, but I'm not optimistic given how generic it is,” Saul
announced upon arrival. No one seems to
know to whom it belonged. Maybe if we
narrow down the make.”
“Ford,” both
Lee and Roger said.
“You know this,
why?”
“The picture
earlier. We’ve been transported in that
one enough times,” Roger volunteered.
“O.N.I. training special.”
“Okay, maybe
that will help.” Saul picked up the
phone and suggested narrowing the search to a Ford. He then switched lines to take a waiting
call. “The photographer worked
alone. Before the ceremony started, he
caught sight of a man with a professional grade videocamera and a tripod, but
he didn’t know him, and he says he knows all the good videographers. He never had a chance to talk to him or ask
about him. Do you know anything about
hiring this guy?”
“No, I wasn’t
involved in any of that. Mel never
mentioned video specifically. Maybe her
family knows. Dick would have written
the check.”
“Would you call
and ask him?”
Roger moved to
a side desk with a phone to make the call.
Several minutes later he reported.
“No, they don’t know anything about a videographer.”
“What else did
the photographer say about the guy?” Lee
asked.
“He was wearing
a tux and was a blonde. Absent the
expensive video recorder, he could have passed as a guest, a waiter or even an
usher. This Ollie guy -- Mimi said he
worked in the movies some. Maybe he does
camera work?”
“That’s not
much to go on,” Lee said.
“So what’s
next?” Roger asked.
“The tedious
part of investigative work. We go
through every piece of paper of Mel’s, call every phone number asking for
Ollie.”
“It would help
if she had kept a phone book,” Lee said.
“She did.”
“Where is it?”
“I don’t know.”
“Her car,
maybe?”
“Knowing Mel it
as easily could be stuffed between the sofa cushions.”
“Let me go back
to your apartment to check.”
“I can go.”
“No, you’re
more likely to recognize names and connections of Mel’s in this stuff. Stick with this.” Lee
headed out the door.
Roger followed
Lee out with keys in hand. “You’ll need
these back.” He closed the door behind
them. “Lee, what did those letters say?”
“You don’t need
to know the details.”
“Was there
anything in there that might help me help Rachael?”
Lee paused a
moment. “Don’t be too kind to her.”
“What does that
mean?”
“Be her O.N.I.
comrade, not her best friend. She may
respond better to tough love.”
“I don’t get
it.”
“It’s not for
me to tell.”
“She held back
stuff from me?”
Lee
nodded.
“She told
you? Why you?”
Lee
shrugged. “Maybe because I pissed her
off.”
Roger moved in
close to Lee and whispered. “F.Y.I., I
didn’t want to mention this in front of Saul, but when I met her cousins
Randall and Thomas I was certain that I’d seen one of them before. At a bar.
You know.”
“Do you think
that’s relevant to anything?”
“Can’t see
how. Just putting it out there. Lee, I don’t suppose you could get a ride to
my apartment and bring my car back? I
hate depending on anyone for rides and it seems like we may have to do some
field work to track down this Ollie person.”
Roger dangled his key ring in front of Lee.
“Yeah, I’ll do
it.”
“Dare I ask
where to find it?”
“You already
parked next to it.”
“Right, another
baby poop colored Grandpa mobile. Just
remember what a good friend you have in me because you know I’d rather be
caught dead than in that crate!”
Chapter
27 - Why Did I Have to Open My Big Mouth?
Lee’s renewed
search of the apartment didn’t turn up a phone book. His search of Mel’s car fared better. He headed back inside the apartment to call
Saul & Roger.
“I found a
phone book in her glove compartment, but it looks kind of old and full of scratch
outs. I don’t see any Ollies or Olivers
in it.”
“Bring it
back,” Saul said. “We’ll just have to
try them one by one and see what shakes out.
I’m also getting phone records for Roger’s apartment and Melanie’s old
place.”
Lee groaned
audibly at the prospect of going through those records looking for a needle in
a haystack.
“If you want to
avoid the paperwork a while longer, you can follow up on possible lead to the
van. It’s a long shot, but it’s the
first partial match to come in.”
“Sure, anything
to avoid the drudgery.”
“It’s a house
-- more like a cabin - in Palomar Mountain.
Owner of record is a corporation, so we’re guessing it’s a rental. We probably won’t be able to track down
tenant info until tomorrow. It’s your
call to go or wait.”
“I’ll go. Give me the address and let me talk to Roger
a minute.”
“I got loads of
maps in my car, buddy. Enjoy the
drive. It should be beautiful, although
I’d get out of the hills before dark if I were you.”
“Dangerous
area?”
“To drive in
the dark, yes. One of the curviest
stretches around.”
“If that’s the
case, I’m taking Mel’s car.”
“Fair enough.”
“You got a
weapon in your place?”
“Yes,
several. Safe is in the bedroom
closet. Take your pick.”
“Combination?”
“Are you too
rusty to crack it?”
“I thought you
suggested I get home by dark?”
“12-16-”
“75,” Lee
finished. “O.N.I. graduation.”
“You’re not so
rusty after all. Enjoy the drive.”
Lee headed out to the garage. He’d chosen the Sig Sauer P226 from Roger’s
safe, the O.N.I. training model. Lee
grabbed its holster too, along with a windbreaker from Roger’s closet to
conceal the gun. In the garage, Lee
hopped into Mel’s cute convertible which he’d backed into the spot the prior
day. As he moved forward, a thumping
noise from the rear passenger side led him to brake suddenly. He hopped out and walked around. A flat.
“Damn.” Lee pulled the car back
into its space. He checked the spare and
was dismayed to find it too low on air to use.
With a look of deep disappointment, Lee headed for Roger’s brown sedan.
At least
Roger’s car was neat as a pin inside, a trait not shared by Mel’s car. Lee flipped the radio on, not surprised to
find news as the preset. He switched the
radio to beachy music. He needed to
lighten up his darkening mood. The
happy music channel lost range as he headed up Palomar Mountain. Lee regretted not having taken the Cobra or
fixed Mel’s flat. The terrain yelled for
a stick shift and the glorious weather deserved a convertible, and a tape deck
would have been nice too. Roger’s
stripped down sedan was simply a drag to drive on those wonderful curves. Little did Lee know.
Just five miles
out from his destination, on the descent, Lee noticed that the brakes seemed
very soft and low to the floor. Lee
downshifted the transmission to D2 to slow the engine and remove some strain
from the brakes. The problem continued
and Lee downshifted to D1, hoping to reduce his speed to a crawl. Gravity took its toll, however, and Lee had
to use the brakes some, except the brake pedal now went to the floor. The brakes were gone. Lee looked at the dramatic curve ahead. Lee pumped the brakes to no avail. Lee slowly pushed the emergency brake pedal
down. The rear wheels ratcheted
sideways. Lee pulled the handle to
release it, which dragged the car the opposite way. The guardrail was perilously close on the
passenger side, but the turn was too steep to pull parallel to it and use it to
help stop the car. Lee steered the sedan
to keep it on the roadway, chancing driving too fast in the middle of the
little used road instead of going over a cliff.
A few seconds
later, Lee tried the emergency brake again.
He pushed the pedal forward as slowly as possible while compensating for
the directional shift that he expected.
He ended up swerving onto the wrong side of the road, a better result
than going through the guardrail to the canyon bottom. Unfortunately, the next turn was a duplicate
of the two prior ones, steep and extreme.
The car continued to pick up speed.
Lee doubted he couldn’t stop the car with the emergency brake on this
grade. He also didn’t know how long it
would be until the grade lessened or whether he could continue to maintain
control of the car with the emergency brake until it did.
Lee had only a
second or two to decide. He released his
seat belt, opened his door, and slowed the car as much as he could by slowly
pushing in the emergency brake. As the
car began to fishtail, he bailed out into the mountain side. His momentum took him into a gravel and dirt
ditch next to the mountain, where he continued to tumble downhill for nearly
twenty feet. Lee barely registered the
explosion that followed.
Lee didn’t move
for a minute. He opted first to take
stock of what might be hurt while the adrenaline was still pumping. The arms of the borrowed windbreaker were in
near shreds. To Lee’s amazement, however, his face and head seemed fine. He’d managed to protect them at the cost of
his arms. Rivulets of blood ran down the
shredded sleeves. Lee began to pull out
small pieces of imbedded gravel from his forearms. He hoped he wouldn’t need stitches.
Lee slowly
pulled the jacket off. His upper body
was sore and stiff, but everything worked.
Lee continued pulling out pieces of gravel and dirt, avoiding what he
knew he had to do next: seeing if he
could stand up. His jeans had stayed
mostly in tact, except for the knees.
Lee pulled tiny bits of gravel out of that area. “Courage, man,” Lee castigated himself
bracing for the test. He leaned his back
against the mountain side and pushed up.
Lee took a shaky first step and then a second. The legs worked. The feet were fine. “Whew!”
Lee reeled as he took a third step too quickly and became dizzy. He leaned his back up against the
mountainside and caught his breath for a minute. He stayed there hoping someone might drive
by. After ten minutes, Lee gave up and
crossed to the far side of the road to descend.
Down was the only direction that seemed possible just then.
Around the
bend, Lee saw a gap in the guard rail.
He tracked his eyes down the canyon where Roger’s car had exploded in
flames. He sat down on the rail for a
minute regretting that he wouldn’t be able to verify his suspicions about
Roger’s brakes. Mel wouldn’t step foot
inside Roger’s car. Roger’s brakes were
bad, as Roger would find out when he returned from his honeymoon. Mel had a large insurance policy on
Roger. Coincidence or attempted murder?
What a lousy attempt at murder, however. Roger would have handled the emergency much
like Lee and could have survived just as well.
Of course, Roger would have more likely been doing sixty on I-5 when it
happened. Different techniques could be
used, but danger to others would necessitate absorbing more danger to
himself. The result could have been
worse. Could have been better, too. Lee shook his head in confusion. It seemed such an amateurish way to try to
kill someone. Not so real life. “Kind of movie like,” Lee gasped aloud when
he realized what he’d said.
Lee removed the
gun from the holster and tossed the holster after the car. Who’d pick up an obviously toting
hitchhiker? He wrapped the gun in the
shredded jacket and waited. Fifteen
minutes later, a pick up truck going in the direction Lee had been headed
stopped.
“Happy to give
you a ride, although medical care’s the other way.”
“I’ve got a
friend a few miles from here if you could help me get closer.”
“Sure, no problem. Just point the way.”
“That’s awfully
kind of you, thanks.”
“Yeah, well, we
Navy boys always help each other, don’t we?”
Lee’s Annapolis
ring had given it away. “We do.”
“Course, I
ain’t no officer.”
“Right now you
are a godsend. Beats an officer any day
of the week.”
Charlie -- also
known as “Wobbles on account of my lousy sea legs” -- Watson dropped Lee off
half a mile from the property. “Sure I
can’t take you closer? Or do something else for you?”
“Matter of
fact, when you get where you are going, call this man and let him know you
rescued me and where. Tell him I’d
appreciate a ride out in case my friend can’t get me home tonight.”
“Good as
done. I’ll call from the next pay
phone.”
Lee marveled at
his good fortune in the midst of bad before he skulked towards the cabin in the
woods. What had once been a cabin in
the woods, Lee thought as he smelled the overwhelming scent of smoke. Gun in hand, Lee carefully poked around the
charred remains of the cabin. The small
structure had been swallowed quickly by flames.
Lee poked around looking for any sign of life, knowing no one inside
could survive it. He didn’t find
anyone.
Lee rested a
few moments. He had no basis to connect
this fire to Mel’s death. It could be
coincidence. With full breath back, Lee
decided to poke around the surrounding woods a bit. When he found the burned out remains of the
Ford van wedged between trees some fifty yards in the woods behind the house,
he could no longer discount a connection.
Close up to the vehicle, he could see that the gas tank had
exploded. Wrapping his hand in the
shredded jacket on the off chance fingerprints were obtainable, Lee opened the
side door of the van. The seats were empty,
but when he looked toward the back of the van, he saw it. The body.
Whether the victim had been blonde and blue, Lee couldn’t be
certain. However, the charred remnants
of a tripod and video recorder suggested he’d just found Ollie, or someone he was
supposed to believe was Ollie.
Disgusted and
defeated, Lee moved out to the road to await his ride. He started a small fire for visibility. Just after dark, Saul Jackson pulled up to
him. Saul’s gun was drawn, as was
Lee’s. They chuckled at each other. “Can’t be too careful in these hills,” Saul
said.
“The guy who
lived here sure wasn’t. He’s dead and
there’s not much left behind to tell a story.”
“I’ll get a
forensics team out here first thing tomorrow, unless you think time is of the
essence.”
“I think
someone already did their best to destroy evidence and is done. I’m surprised Roger didn’t want to come along
for the escape.”
“I’d like to
tell you that it was because he was devastated to hear about his car, but I
don’t think you’d buy it. There was an
incident with Commander MacAdam. He
stayed behind with her.”
“Define
incident.”
Chapter
28 - Mind Games
“Rachael pushed
the mattress up against the window, wrapped herself in a blanket and crashed
through the window.”
“Is she hurt?”
“Less than you.
She needed a couple of stitches for a cut in her arm.”
“What did she
do when she got out?”
“She pushed
down the master-at-arms, flew by him to the stairwell, went down three flights
and sat down just in front of the exit door.”
“What do you
mean she sat down?”
“Bizarre, I
know. She was completely
ambulatory. If she had wanted to get
out, she’d have been clear. She came
back in with the master-at-arms, no fuss.”
Lee shook his
head. “I don’t get it.”
“None of us
do.”
“What do we do
now?”
“We find out
who the dead body is and go from there.”
“If it is this
Ollie guy, what good will that do us? We
needed to talk to him.”
“Even dead men
talk.”
“Not clearly
enough to exonerate a living woman who’s confessed.”
“She can
retract it. Plead insanity. That’s a guaranteed out.”
“She’ll be no
better off, Saul.”
“When we get
back, you get your cuts taken care of and get a good night’s sleep. We’re not out of ideas yet.”
“What’s left?”
“Maybe Ollie
did it, maybe not. Maybe someone killed
Ollie to shut him up or maybe to cut him out of a deal.”
“He supposedly
dealt drugs. If it is him, his death
might be completely unrelated.”
“Let’s see what
facts we can find before we worry about those we can’t. We also need to look at Roger’s car. Maybe there will be some evidence left.”
“After that
fall?”
“Yes, Lee. Same with that van. You’d be amazed at modern forensics.”
“I hope so.”
“If Roger’s car
was tampered with, we have to figure out why.
I see only two possibilities:
because he knows too much and someone wants him out of the way or the
insurance.”
“Mel’s
dead. She can’t collect.”
“True, which
brings up the question of who would benefit from that policy in that situation?”
“Murder is
about money or passion, that’s what you said.”
“Lee, I think
it’s time to ask Roger some difficult questions. Are you able to do that?”
“You think
Roger is a suspect?”
“I didn’t say
that. I think we need to explore Roger’s
relationships to determine whether someone he knows is a suspect.”
“Besides
Rachael? He told me there wasn’t
anyone. I believe him.”
“Then press him
some more. If you don’t, someone else
will have to. I don’t think I need to
explain the likely consequences of that happening to you.”
Lee felt sick
to his stomach. He leaned up against the
car window until they returned to base.
At the Medical
Center, Lee received twelve stitches, mostly in bits and pieces on his arms and
knees. Afterward, he went to check on
Rachael. She’d been moved to a different
room, but remained guarded by a master-at-arms.
This room contained only a small window in the door. Rachael seemed to be sleeping
peacefully. Lee decided not to disturb
her, but warned the guard. “Hope she was
searched well before you put her in here.”
“The nurses did
that.”
“I’d remain on
high alert if I were you. That lock is a
piece of cake.”
The
master-at-arms shrugged off Lee’s cautions.
Lee went to check with the nurse.
“She’ll be
fine. Dr. Paulino checked in on her a
while ago.”
“What kind of
doctor is this Paulino guy?”
“A
psychiatrist, I think. He’s not normally
on rotation here.”
Lee saw an
opportunity and decided to take it. He
swooned a little and begged the nurse to get him some water. She couldn’t resist him. Unfortunately, she didn’t go far from the
desk for the drink. Lee plopped into her
chair. “Do you mind? I’m a little wobbly on my feet.”
“I could get
you a wheel chair, if you like.”
“No, I just
need a few minutes. If you want, I’ll
stay and keep an eye on the camera. You
could take a break.”
“I probably
shouldn’t, but I could use a ciggy.
Helluva day.”
“I know what
you mean.”
After the nurse
left, Lee removed Rachael’s file from the inbox. Three visits from this Dr. Paulino in less
than 48 hours. Each visit lasted about
an hour. The doctor wasn’t one to make
elaborate notes. After the first visit,
“Level 1 conditioning; Confinement Protocol test 1 (Limited Preparation)
initiated.” After the second
visit: “Test 1: failed.
Subject interpreted directive in self-destructive manner. Level 2 and 3 conditioning applied. Confinement Protocol test 2 (Limited Action)
initiated.” After the last visit, “Test
2: Excellent results. Limits followed exactly. Level 4 conditioning applied. Confinement Protocol test 3 (Safety Zone)
initiated.”
Lee observed
the pattern immediately. The first
night, Rachael had begun the unfinished noose.
The next day, Dr. Paulino deemed suicide preparation a failure for
“limited” escape preparation. He further
conditioned her. Then came an actual
breakout by Rachael, the one where she inexplicably stopped before the exit. Dr. Paulino deemed that a successful “limited
action”. Dr. Paulino was programming
Rachael. To what end, however? What the hell was Johnson’s game? And what was to come next? What could “Safety Zone” mean?
Lee slapped the folder back in place. He ruminated as he waited for the nurse to
return. Then he called for a ride back
to bachelor’s quarters, conceding he was too stiff, sore and exhausted to walk. The nurse handed him a bottle of ibuprofin on
his way out. Lee thanked her and popped
three on the way to the elevator.
Chapter
29 - No Rest for the Weary
Lee’s head
spun. He’d hit the wall, literally and
figuratively. Unconsciousness would be a
relief from the events of the past two days.
Instead he had messages waiting: the
admiral, Chip, Roger. Three people for
whom Lee would lay down his life. He
already had. Couldn’t they all wait
until morning? No, Roger would be guilt
wracked about Lee nearly dying in his car.
Lee called him.
“Are you really
okay? What the hell happened out there?”
“I’m scraped
up, sore, stiff and tired, but I’ll live.
Maybe. If I can get a few hours of
sleep.”
“Sorry. This is all my fault.”
“Probably.”
“Hey, not
intentionally.”
“The way to
hell is paved with good intentions.”
“Yeah, I’ve got
a better view of that now.”
“Rog, I’m going
to crash soon. Keep . . . keep an eye on Rachael.”
Lee fell into
the bed. A weary Roger tried to figure
out what his friend had meant. He
decided it couldn’t be literal, since Rachael was under lock, key and guard. Then again, she had escaped earlier in the
day. No.
Security was tighter now. He’d follow
up with Lee in the morning.
Lee fell into
bed, too exhausted to tend to the hunger and thirst that also plagued him. Dead to the world, a recurring dream kept
piercing his slumber. That damn ringing
again. Lee reached out toward the
bedside table. The phone fell to the
floor. Its incessant ringing
stopped. “Later!” Lee moaned.
Lee slept the
sleep of the dead after that. He awoke
with a startle at 3:30 a.m.. He heard
nothing, but felt as though someone was in the room. Lee reached for Roger’s gun on the bedside
table. A hand pressed down hard on
his. “Leave it be, Curly.”
“Red?”
“Yes.”
“What are you
doing here?”
“I . . . I
don’t know.” Rachael sank into a sit on
the bed next to Lee.
Lee rose up and
switched on the light. “You don’t know
why you came to see me or why you are here at all?”
“Both.”
“How’d you get
out?”
“Picked the
lock with some metal fragments.”
“From what?”
“I can’t
remember.”
“Red, you do
know you got out earlier today?”
“I knew the
room was different.”
“How’d you get
past the master-at-arms?”
“Knocked him
out. Kind of had that déjà vu feeling.”
“It happened
once earlier today.”
“Shit.”
“What’s this
Dr. Paulino doing to you?”
Rachael
shrugged.
“Tell me.”
“Whatever
Johnson tells him to do?”
“Did he tell
you to come to me?”
“I can’t
remember.”
“Come here,”
Lee said. He wrapped her in his arms and
held her tightly spooned against him.
Rachael shook
for a few minutes before she fell asleep in Lee’s arms. At five a.m., Rachael rolled over. Lee felt an arm on him and startled. Rachael kissed his cheek. Lee debated whether to react. Rachael was such a puzzle. She kissed him again, this time on the
mouth.
“Morning,” Lee
said. “Sweet as this is, I’m not sure
this is such a good idea.”
Rachael pouted.
“Last night you
couldn’t remember why you came here.”
“Because it was
safe.”
“That’s me,
safe. Okay. Safe from what?”
Rachael
shrugged then leaned in to kiss him again.
Lee kissed her
back. He let her lead the way forward
after that, concerned about her unpredictability and not wanting to be any kind
of aggressor given her recent past.
Minutes later, Rachael rolled off to Lee’s side. “Nice way to blow ballast, sailor.” She leaned in to kiss Lee.
“I told you I
was unsinkable.” Lee kissed her
back. They nuzzled and fell back to
sleep. At 5:50, Lee felt Rachael stir. He watched with one eye squinting as she got
up and got dressed. “Where you heading,
Red?”
“Back.”
“Back where.”
“To where I
was.”
“Why?”
“I’m supposed
to. Gotta hurry.” Rachael ran out the door.
Lee shook his
head. A few minutes later after Lee
had called him, Roger came in through the door Rachael left ajar. “You okay, Lee?”
“Fine.”
“Right,
fine. How many stitches?”
“Just a
handful. Less than a couple of
handfuls.”
“Restless
night?” Roger noticed the disheveled
bed. He sat down on the edge. He picked up a stray hair.
“You hiding
company somewhere?”
“No.”
“Either you had
some or housekeeping should be fired.”
“Rachael showed
up in the middle of the night. She just
left.”
“Then what are
you doing in bed? We’ve got to find
her. If she gets off base, she’ll be in
deep shit.”
“She isn’t
going off base.”
“You know this
how?”
“She told me.”
“You believed
her?”
“Yes.”
“Why would you
believe her?”
“This Dr.
Paulino character is experimenting with her, putting her through some sort of
conditioning trials.”
“How do you
know this?”
“I pulled her
file at the Medical Center last night.
I had a hunch and then when she turned up here, acted the way she did,
and no alarms or calls about her escaping came, I was certain about it. That, plus when she left I spotted a tail on
her.”
“Why did she
come to you and not me?”
“You tell me,
Roger. She was supposed to go some place
safe. Are you no longer safe for
Rachael?”
“What the hell
is that supposed to mean”?”
Chapter 30 - Grilling a Friend
“Is there a
reason that Rachael might no longer feel safe around you?”
“No.”
“Have you been
dating anyone?”
“No, no one
seriously anyway. If I had, I wouldn’t
have been marrying Melanie. Do you
suddenly doubt me?”
“I nearly got
killed driving your car last night, only to run into another dead body.”
“You were going
to take Mel’s car. That’s not my fault.”
“Hers had a
convenient flat.”
“I haven’t even
been home since the wedding! What are
you getting at? Why would I rig my own
brakes?”
Lee
shrugged. “Saul keeps reminding me that
murder is usually of two kinds: for
money or for passion. You didn’t stand
to benefit financially from Mel’s death, did you?”
“You have got
to be kidding me? No.”
“You didn’t
take out a reciprocal policy on Mel?”
“No, I told you
before. I didn’t. Lee, this is nuts. I didn’t want Mel dead. I can’t believe you would think that.”
“Then maybe
someone wanted her dead for you?”
“There is no
one. I wish to hell there was, Lee, but
there isn’t.”
“There’s
Rachael.”
“We know that
she didn’t have the gun, Lee.”
“No, we
don’t. She could have searched the
apartment. She could have found it. Mel could have given it to Rachael with a
suggestion to use it on herself. Even
you could have even given it to her. The
irony then would be that Mel set up a potential alibi for the gun being out of
Rachael’s possession.”
“Lee, Rachael
and I did not conspire to kill Mel.
Rachael did not kill Mel. You
have to know that.”
“Maybe you have
a stalker of some sort.”
“I’m a trained
professional, Lee. I’d know.”
“What if you
didn’t?”
“Rachael would
have known. Are you daft?”
“Daft. Sore.
Tired. Confused beyond all get
out.”
“Me too,” Roger
plopped on the bed.
“Maybe Rachael
did kill Mel. Maybe Johnson’s lackey
told her to.”
“Why would he
do that?”
“Maybe as a
test? Kill a pregnant woman. Survive better than the last time. Be at our beck and call to kill again.”
“I can’t
believe Johnson would stoop to that.
Rachael’s good at what she does, but she’s hardly the only agent who can
point a gun and shoot accurately. It
makes no sense.”
“If she fails,
her mental state makes her disposable.
Unaccountable. Rogue even.”
“No. I don’t believe he’d go that far, Lee. The absurdity of using a prominent Navy
contractor’s pregnant daughter as a test assassination subject is too far out
there even for Johnson.”
“I can’t put it
past him.”
“Lee, you’re
part time. I work for the man 24/7. I know that he cares about his agents. He cares about Rachael.”
“I’ve been
waiting to hear those details.”
“I don’t have
details. I just know that Rachael and
Johnson have a connection of some sort.
I couldn’t put a name to its nature or how far it has gone, but I think
you nailed it when you suggested my unpaid leave was for her benefit not my
punishment.”
“Well, as it
turns out, not so much,” Lee smiled.
“Laugh it up,
buddy. If you and Rachael did what I
suspect here, Johnson will probably be gunning for you next,” Roger flung a
pillow into Lee. “Ooh, unless it was his
idea?”
“Of safe?” Lee rubbed his forehead. “I may need to see a psychiatrist now!”
“You should be
flattered. Johnson or his agent deemed
you were safe. Now, did he mean that in
a no emotional entanglement way or was he judging your probable technique?”
Lee whacked
Roger back with a pillow. They both
cracked into laughter.
“I feel so
used!”
“Well used, at
least,” Roger snickered. “Rachael, she
was really okay?”
“Do we need to
have this conversation?”
“Uh, no. I trust you, and I’m hoping that despite your
earlier efforts to break me into confession, you still trust me.”
“With my
life. Sorry. Saul pushed me to push you.”
“Well, I
suppose I should appreciate that gesture from him. You too.”
“Indeed. Listen, I still have an itch about Mel’s
cousin, Randall. Is there some way you
can find out for certain which of the brothers is, you know?”
“Gay as three
dollar bill, you mean?”
Lee nodded.
“A phone call
or two should do it. You think it might
be relevant?”
Lee
shrugged. “Who knows? Sometimes it’s just better to scratch the
itch than ignore it.” Lee’s phone
rang. “We’ll be there in a couple. Yes, we.
Remember the car I was last using went off a cliff. Roger just swung by to give me a ride.”
“Awkward
moment?” Roger laughed as Lee hung up.
Chapter 31 - The Devil is in the Details
Coffee, danish
and mounds of paper awaited Lee and Roger.
“Good morning,
gentlemen. We have lots of fun
investigative work today. Pouring over
phone records for a start.”
“Oh, goody,”
Lee rubbed his forehead again.
“You prefer
field work like last night?”
“Absent the
failed brakes, yes.”
“Tampered with,
most likely. Forensics looked at Roger’s
spot in the garage. There were a few
spots of brake fluid on the ground.
Probably a pinhole was made.”
“Why tampered
with as opposed to damaged?”
“Roger, are you
in the habit of working underneath your car in the garage?”
“No.”
“Is that spot
always yours?”
“Yes, it’s an
assigned spot.”
“Forensics
found some fabric fibers on the ground in contact with the drops. They thought it an odd coincidence.”
“Yeah, but what
a completely dumb way to try to kill someone.
I’d have been able to stop the car by using the gears and the parking
brake. I might have gotten hurt, but
killed, heck, Lee drove it under the worst possible scenario. I’ve seen him worse after a bar fight.”
“Liar.”
“San Juan,
Spring of 1987.”
“I only had
eleven stitches that time.”
“You had a
freaking six inch knife wound, Lee!”
“Okay,
children, point taken. Nevertheless,
someone seems to have done it.”
“Maybe
Ollie? Someone slightly involved with
movies who doesn’t know that much about cars for real?” Lee offered.
“Possibly. While we don’t have confirmation on the body
at the cabin yet, nor word from the owner of the property as to the tenant’s
name, we have located telephone records for that address. The phone company lists the number to one
Herbert Oliver.”
“No wonder he
went by Ollie!” Lee exclaimed.
“Roger, look at
those first. See if you find any calls
to your apartment or Miss Mattingly’s old number or anything else of interest.”
“Wow. Guy used the phone a lot.”
“It’s six
months worth. Start at the end and work
backwards is my advice.”
“And me?”
“Look through
Melanie’s phone records for this guy’s number or anything else interesting.”
“Good thing the
coffee pot is full.”
“When we get a
little more info on Herbert Oliver, we’ll start calling film studios for better
leads.”
Lee and Roger
drank coffee, ate doughnuts and circled items of interest for thirty
minutes. Lee yawned throughout the
process.
“Trouble
sleeping last night, Lee? Driving over
cliffs in your dreams?”
Lee looked up
at Saul with surprise. “No. You really don’t know?”
“Know what?”
“Rachael busted
out late last night. Paid me a late
night visit.”
“She what? Why the hell wasn’t I notified?” Saul kicked a chair across the room. “I’m responsible for keeping her in custody! Wait a second, where is she now? Jesus!”
“Calm
down. I’m pretty certain she’s back in
custody.”
“Pretty
certain?” Saul had picked up the phone
as Lee spoke. “Where the hell is
Commander MacAdam? . . . . . . How the
hell did she get out and why wasn’t I called?”
After a few seconds, Saul slammed down the phone. He glared at Lee and Roger. “What’s this all about?”
Roger and Lee
stared at each other, both wondering whether to say anything. Neither did.
“I’ll throw
both of you off this investigation if you don’t tell me.”
“Some
psychiatrist is conditioning her, I suspect at Admiral Johnson’s direction.”
“You know this
how, Lee?”
“Snooped at her
medical file the other night. It wasn’t
very detailed. The doctor must be
keeping a bigger file on her somewhere.”
“What about
medications she’s being given?”
“I didn’t
notice. Even if I had, I doubt I would
have understood.”
“I know she’s
been on antidepressants since we got her back.”
Saul
sighed. “Just great! Psychiatric drugs and conditioning. Maybe she did do it. Maybe it was suggested to her.”
“I can’t fathom
that,” Roger said.
Lee looked
pensive.
“Your thoughts,
Lee?”
“It could have
been an unintended result.”
“Explain.”
“Well, last
night she was directed or suggested to go someplace she felt safe. Imagine something vague and open to
interpretation, like do something to protect a loved one or deal with a nagging
problem.”
“Dammit.”
“Yes, Roger,
damn it! This could sink her if we don’t
find another perp, and heaven help us if she breaks out of the base. . . .
I’ll be back in a bit. Get
through those records. Find something
useful.”
Lee and Roger
spent the morning highlighting records.
About an hour into the tedious process, Lee went backwards and
highlighted a couple more. “Recognize
these numbers, Rog?”
“No. I know it’s a Santa Barbara area code, but
it’s not Mel’s parents’ number.”
“One way to
find out,” Lee said as he picked up the phone and dialed. “Sorry, I misdialed,” Lee said and hung up.
“What? You have that look.”
“Why is Herbert
Oliver calling Mattingly Industries?
Seven times last week.”
“That’s
interesting.”
“Yes, but it’s
just a trunk number. There’s no telling
who he talked to.”
“Maybe Saul can
get Mattingly’s records. Maybe there
were calls back and forth.”
“We can
ask. Just for the last couple of weeks
at least. Might be interesting to see
what happens if we ask Mel’s father for them on a voluntary basis.”
“Unlikely.”
“Richard doted
on Mel, Lee. He might have been cash
strapped, but he wouldn’t have hurt his baby.”
“Maybe he had
two million reasons. He could have been
desperate.”
“The policy was
on me, not Mel.”
“You forget
your brakes were tampered with.”
“He wouldn’t
have had her shot! He couldn’t.”
“I can’t see it
either. A drug overdose, something
gentle, maybe.”
“Maybe this
Ollie guy was trying to blackmail Richard or something?”
“I guess we’ll
let Saul make the decision how to follow up on this.”
Saul returned
at 11:45, at which time Lee was dozing and Richard was finishing off his fourth
doughnut.
“Detective work
is just so glamorous, isn’t it boys?”
Lee snapped
awake.
“Progress?”
Lee and Roger
filled him in.
“What about on
your end?”
“Herbert Oliver
has several aliases, but did use his social security number to obtain phone
service. He rented the cottage under the
name Ollie Smith.”
“How clever,”
Lee yawned.
“He told his
landlord he did contract film work for several studios. Lee, here’s a list of studios he mentioned
and some others nearby. Call the
personnel departments and see if any of it was real. Use the social security number as well as
Oliver, Ollie, Herbert, Smith, whatever.
Roger, you and I are going to call Richard Mattingly on a recorded line. Come with me.”
“You get all
the fun!”
“Didn’t you
have enough last night?” Roger retorted.
Lee shrugged
and yawned.
Chapter 32 - Synthesis and Sneakiness
“Richard
Mattingly disavows knowing Ollie at all.
He’s having someone copy phone records for every extension, including
his, and will courier them to us. He’s
even volunteered to have his secretary go through to look for Ollie’s number
and advise us if she spots anything before we get the records here.”
“I assume they
are sending a complete list of the company’s extensions with it?”
“I’m not an
amateur, Lee.”
“Sorry, I’m
punchy.”
“Any luck with
the studios?”
“I’m waiting
for call backs. What did Mr. Mattingly
know about the insurance policy?”
“Not a thing,
he claimed. However, he did know the
agent who wrote it. It’s the agency that
Mattingly uses personally and for the company’s executive life policies.”
“Would Mel have
known this person?”
“Mattingly
didn’t think so. I’ve left the agent a
message, so hopefully we’ll know more soon.”
Lee reached to
grab a ringing phone, hopeful it was one of the studios. “For you.
Sounds Scottish.”
“Ducky! I’ll take this outside.”
Lee and Roger
exchanged puzzled glances. They stared
at each other and around the room waiting for phone calls that didn’t come for
nearly twenty minutes until Saul returned.
“Good news?”
“No, not yet,
but by the end of the day we may know more than we want to.”
“What the devil
does that mean?” Lee asked.
“About what?”
Roger simultaneously inquired.
A ringing phone
prevented Saul from answering. Lee took
the call.
“Super. . . . .
Interesting. . . . . Can you fax
me the records? . . . His application
and whatever information might help me find people who worked with him. . . .
Probabilities will suffice if you can’t give details. Thanks.
You’re an angel.”
“Sweet talked
one?” Roger asked.
“Ollie Smith
did some work at Universal in the last few years, on a piece work basis. He got booted off his last job there for
dealing drugs.”
“Like that’s
considered a problem at the studios?” Roger quipped.
“In plain
sight, it can be. Ollie apparently was
not sufficiently subtle and he met with a small piece of misfortune: being on the set with a star who is a
recovered addict. They threw Ollie off the
set and barred him from the studio permanently.”
“So who’s the
lucky one who gets to interview the star?” Roger asked.
“No one. He’s back in rehab in Europe.”
“Lee, if you
are feeling up to it, why don’t you drive to L.A. now and call me when you get
there. I’ll let you know who might be
worth talking to from what comes in and see if there are other interviews in
the area you might do.”
“Why do I get
the feeling I’m being shuffled off to Buffalo?”
“I’ve got too
much to do to leave and since Roger may be a target still, I’d rather it be
you.”
“Hey pal, if I
were you I’d check your brakes before you get too far! Maybe look under the hood too,” Roger jibed.
“You two are up
to something,” Lee accused as he headed out the door.
Eight hours and
many phone calls back and forth later, Lee returned from visiting three studios
where Ollie had worked. He caught up
with Saul and Roger in the Officer’s mess.
“Ollie was something short of a prince.
He dealt cocaine and marijuana.
He claimed to be an expert at all kinds of endeavors but failed to
distinguish himself at any, including stunt work. He was a dreamer with no great talents.”
“That’s all?”
“He worked
stunt support crew on at least two movies which involved the premise of cutting
brake lines on a car to kill someone.
Apparently he was also very comfortable around firearms. He bragged that he was an expert shot, and he
kept trying to correct actors’ positioning and aiming. The efforts weren’t appreciated by the
directors, however. It hardly matters
with fake guns or blanks as ammo.”
“Ollie wasn’t
lying about being a marksman,” Saul added.
“He did a stint in the Navy as an enlisted man. About the only thing he did do well was
shoot. He was discharged ‘under other
than honorable conditions.’ Drugs
apparently. He lied about his service
record on his application to several studios.
That said, we still have nothing concrete to tie him to Melanie’s
murder.”
“Not directly,
no, but we do have reason to believe that he was at the wedding now. He failed to report to work for the last two
days and a camera man on the set was upset because Ollie had borrowed an
expensive videocamera from he that he hadn’t yet returned.”
“Okay, that
something to go on. We need to find a
picture of Ollie to show to the photographer and wedding guests to see if we
can get a positive identification at the scene, one better than drug-addled
Mimi’s recollection.”
“Great, so we
have a dead man who could have done it, probably did do it, but we have nothing
to prove it,” Lee complained.
“I’ll admit
that right now the case against him is as circumstantial as the one against
Commander MacAdam. The important thing
is that facts are beginning to break open.”
“The phone
calls?”
“To a
point. There were return calls from
Mattingly Industries to Mr. Oliver, but they were only from conference rooms,
no one’s personal extension.”
“Damn.”
“Yes, but Mr.
Mattingly also called his wife and had her courier their last few months’ itemized
phone bills as well. He wanted to show
us that he didn’t know Oliver and save us the trouble of a subpoena.”
“Except it
turns out that there were calls to Oliver’s number from the home phone,” Roger
smiled.
“Maybe when Mel
was visiting?”
“No, the dates
don’t match up to her calendar.”
“Then who? I mean, why would the Mattinglys volunteer
those records under the circumstances?”
“Inevitability?”
Saul suggested. “The calls weren’t just
a few seconds, but several minutes long.”
“Her cousin
Randall! He told me he’s been staying
with the Mattinglys to save money.”
“Correct. We were saving this for when you got back,
Lee. The agent who wrote the policy on
my life was referred to Mel by Randall.
There were two phone calls from Randall’s extension at work to Mel this
month. Interesting, yes?”
“Yes, and
curious too. Randall presented himself
to me as very distant from Melanie.
How’d he put it? . . . He said he
avoided her, that she wasn’t about to listen to her ‘annoying younger cousin.’”
“You know,
there was an entry in Mel’s calendar from a few weeks back. Lunch with R.
It’s possible it was Randall,” Roger said.
“Maybe we have
a conspiracy between Randall Mattingly and this Ollie character?” Saul
said. “What could their common interest
be?”
“I don’t see
one other than they both might have had gripes with Mel. Ollie might have been upset that Melanie was
going to pass off his baby as Roger’s.
Randall resented Mel leaching her father dry while Randall worked hard
for the money and the company was struggling,” Lee said.
“Yeah, but
didn’t Mimi say that Ollie and Mel were on good terms as recently as a few
weeks ago? Mel might even have hired
Ollie to video the wedding,” Roger said.
“Maybe, maybe
not. Maybe she didn’t even know he was
there. He was on the periphery behind
giant potted plants,” Lee said. “Look, I
was probably twenty feet or less from the tripod but I never consciously noticed
it. I certainly never saw it being
used. I’d hazard a guess that Ollie
didn’t even move into position until after the ceremony started, when no one
would be looking in that direction.”
“We’re circling
around the question, gentlemen. What
would her cousin Randall possibly get out of a deal with Ollie to kill
Melanie?” Saul asked.
“Randall’s
setting himself up to succeed Richard Mattingly in the business, assuming the
business survives the current crisis,” Lee said.
“If I may
observe something, gentlemen, we have finally circled around to a potential
intersection of motives. Passion for
Oliver. Money for Randall Mattingly,”
Saul stated.
“What money?”
“Okay, this
involves some supposition on my part.
Ollie is the shooter. He’s rigged
Roger’s car, expecting that will result in his death soon. He kills Mel as part of a deal with Randall
to split the insurance proceeds on Roger in the near future.”
“That doesn’t
make any sense. The contingent
beneficiary on Mel’s policy was her dad,” Roger said.
“True, but he’s
going to plow it right into the business.
That gets the business through the current crisis. Maybe Richard was next in line to die?”
“Sounds a
little far-fetched,” Roger said.
“Maybe there’s
also a policy on Mel that we don’t know of yet,” Saul said. “What we do know for certain is that there
was contact between Oliver and Randall.
Why? It’s cause for continued
digging. Reasonable doubt is all we need
to get Rachael off the hook.”
“No!” Lee
pounded the desk. “Rachael won’t let it
go to trial.”
“How can you be
so certain?”
“Lee’s right
about that.”
“We’ll keep her
under suicide watch.”
“That’d require
a straitjacket. Besides, you can’t do
that to her, confine her like that, not after what she’s been through!” Roger
argued.
“I’d have to
agree with the gentlemen, Saul,” a man entering through the door said.
“Lee Crane,
Roger Cresson, is Dr. Donald Mallard.
He’s a medical examiner with N.C.I.S..
He happened to be in L.A. for a conference and was kind enough to ditch
it to do a friend a favor.”
“No offense,
but I don’t see how an M.E. can help,” Lee said.
“No, of course
not. I’ve only recently become an
M.E.. I was a practicing physician on
the front lines until recently.
Afghanistan. Fascinating
geopolitical history that area . . .”
“Sorry to
interrupt Ducky, but time is of the essence.”
“Ducky? Oh, Mallard, right,” Roger connected.
“Dr. Mallard,
you said you agreed with us about confining Rachael?” Lee asked.
“Well, let’s be
clear, a straitjacket or anything similar would be a mistake. Supervision, however, remains essential.”
“What did you
learn?” Saul asked.
“This so-called
doctor has been conditioning her using a dangerous combination of psychotropic
drugs. Unfortunately, withdrawal from
these must be carefully graduated.”
“I meant more
along the lines of whether Commander MacAdam killed Melanie Mattingly,
knowingly or otherwise,” Saul said.
“Knowingly, I
don’t think so. That said, her clarity
of mind has been -- I shall avoid medical jargon for your benefit -- interfered
with. Her memories of recent activity
are untrustworthy. You could not put her
on the witness stand.”
“So an insanity
plea is an option?” Saul asked.
“Not a good
one, I think. I believe that even after
she is removed from all but the antidepressant medication, you will still find
her driven to suicide if she is kept closely confined.”
“What about
getting her away from this doctor?” Lee asked.
“It is a fait
accompli. Dr. Paulino will not see
Commander MacAdam again in the near future.”
“How can you be
certain?”
“She has been
removed from the infirmary.”
“Where is she?”
“She is
currently with a friend of yours, Lieutenant McDowell.”
“He’s got his
hands full,” Lee smiled.
“Commander
MacAdam is resting comfortably now and shall remain so for a few more hours.”
“What happens
after that?”
“I have secured
Dr. Paulino’s detailed notes. I have
cursorily studied them and shall peruse them further this evening so I can
recommend a course of treatment. In the
meantime, I would prescribe that she be kept close to those she trusts and
those who trust her.”
“Where is she?”
“She is in
officer’s quarters, yours Commander Crane.”
“Why?”
“Nothing else
was available?” Saul shrugged insincerely.
“Roger and I
could bunk up.”
“No, I would
leave the rooming arrangements as is,” Dr. Mallard said. “She indicated she feels safe with you,
Commander Crane. That’s important for
her now.”
“Why not me?”
“She feels she
poses a danger to you, Commander Cresson.
That makes her not feel safe with you.”
“Oh, I guess
that makes sense, sort of.”
“Now that we’ve
cleared up that adolescent pissing contest, you two can call it a night. Ducky and I need to catch up.”
“One moment,
please. Commander MacAdam had a session
with Dr. Paulino before we secured her.
She was instructed to satisfy a craving.
I suggest you gentlemen indulge her as best you can so that she remains
willingly in your custody.”
“What happens
if we don’t?”
“I have no
magic tricks to break the conditioning and as I said earlier, she must be
removed from the drugs at a measured pace or she may face both physical and
psychic harm.”
“You’ve left
instructions on medicating her in the interim?” Lee asked.
“Not yet. That is why you will need to be vigilant for
mood changes, whilst I sacrifice several hours of slumber ascertaining the
appropriate methodology of withdrawal.”
“Thank you, Dr.
Mallard.”
“My
pleasure. I was spared having to listen
to yet another of Doctor Assam’s tedious lectures on blebbing, an interesting
subject but certainly not for the sixty minutes that he will inevitably take
speaking down to the room as if only he can comprehend his topic. For that, I should thank all of you. I also should inform you that I spoke to the
county coroner a few minutes ago. Your
Mr. Oliver suffered blunt trauma before the fire that consumed his flesh.”
“We’ve had a
team out there today looking for clues.
Maybe we’ll have something helpful tomorrow,” Saul said.
“Hard to
imagine what anyone could find in that mess.”
“Oh, you’d be
surprised, Lee. Roger’s car may yield
some as yet too.”
Chapter 33 - One Crazy Redhead
Lee and Roger
both headed to Lee’s quarters. A
master-at-arms trailed behind Roger and another one sat in the living area of
Lee’s quarters.
“She’s been
quiet since we brought her here.
Lieutenant McDowell is in the bedroom watching over her.”
“May I inquire
what your instructions are?”
“To make
certain she does not leave the base. A
policeman has been positioned at the entry who is checking all vehicles leaving
the base.”
“They know
she’s broken loose then,” Roger said.
“Someone must
have tipped them.”
“Are you
worried about that, Lee?”
“No, I’m more
worried about how Admiral Johnson is reacting to her being broken out of his
custody.”
Roger and Lee
both peeked into the bedroom. Brian
McDowell acknowledged them and exited silently.
Roger and Lee each took a side of the bed and flanked Rachael as she
stirred awake.
“Hey beautiful. How are you?” Roger asked.
“More like
where am I and how did I get here?”
“No memory?”
Lee asked.
“I was talking
to this kind of cute older Scottish sounding guy, a doctor I think, then
nothing. Jesus, if I am having blackouts
maybe I actually killed her.”
“I don’t think
so, Red, though we definitely do have a problem or two with what Johnson’s
doctor has been up to with you.”
Rachael
shrugged. “I’m starving. Is there any food here?”
“No, but I can
run down to the Commissary and beg. It’s
late.”
“Pizza. I want white pizza with anchovies from
Nardo’s.”
“No,
Rachael. They’ll be closing soon.”
“Roger, why
don’t you give them a call. I think we
can try to accommodate that simple a request.
You can take your friend outside for a ride to pick it up.”
“Clothes, real
clothes, too. Shoes. Can’t I have some shoes? Where’s my stuff anyway?”
“Not a clue,
Rach. I’m guessing they cleared out your
room at the base hospital and put the stuff in storage somewhere. I’ll see what I can scrounge up. Keep your expectations low at this time of
night.”
“Thanks,
Rog. Are you okay?”
“Me? Very funny.”
“What’s so
funny?”
“My best friend
is accused of murder. How okay could I
be?”
“Roger, what if
I did it but I can’t remember?”
“You
didn’t. If you really want that pizza,
we can talk about this more later.”
“God, yes. Pizza.
Don’t forget hot peppers!”
Roger
left. Rachael sat up on the edge of the
bed. She leaned her head on Lee’s
shoulder. “You’ll take care of him,
Curly?”
“Listen Red,
things are breaking open some. There’s
another suspect.”
“Who?”
“The
ex-boyfriend. The only problem is that
someone killed him.”
“Shit.”
“Hey, at least
we know it couldn’t have been you. You
were under lock up. Be positive. We have a trail.”
“Don’t you have
something I could change into? I could
really use a shower. No, a bath. I could kill for a bath.”
“Watch the
threats, Red! Take a bath. I can lend you a shirt at the least. Those scrubs are awful with your complexion.”
“They are so
inconsiderate in the psych ward. No
sense of fashion or style. Elastic
waistbands are just so déclassé”
“Hey, don’t you
even think of asking me for a belt!”
Rachael looked
around the ceiling and shrugged. “Not
too much I could do with it here.”
“You better not
try anything on my watch, Red, I’m warning you.”
“Then maybe you
shouldn’t let me out of your eyesight.”
Rachael stripped off her scrub top as she entered the bathroom. She leaned over to start the tub.
Lee fought the
urge to follow her in. Rachael turned
back toward him and removed her bra. Lee
sighed and turned away. “Leave the door
open so I can check on you.”
Twenty minutes
later, Rachael emerged in a towel. Lee
handed her a T-shirt and turned away.
“Guess I must
just have imagined the other night.”
“What about
it?”
“We’ll leave it
in my imagination. Only odd thing was
there were all these fresh cuts and bruises on you, and a bunch of tiny
stitches.”
“Maybe someone
told you about my accident the other night?”
“What
accident?”
“I was tracking
a lead in the mountains using Roger’s car.
The brakes went out and I had to bail.”
“Maybe someone
did tell me then.”
“Come on Red,
do you doubt your own mind that much?”
She
shrugged. “There have been a lot of
drugs. I hate them.”
“I can
understand that, but I think you are giving up too easily. Maybe you remember something else?” Lee leaned in to kiss Rachael, then pulled
back. “Does that ring a bell?”
Rachael looked
back questioningly. She kissed Lee
back. She began to kiss down along the
front of his shirt. When she got to his
abdomen, she pulled up the shirt. “You
son of a bitch. Isn’t my brain mucked up
enough without you adding to it?”
“I’m
sorry. To what are you referring?”
“That
scar. How could I have imagined that?”
“See, you can
trust yourself to remember.”
Lee was caught
unawares when Rachael plunged both her hands into his chest, knocking him back
on to the bed. He stayed back, uncertain
what to expect next, and letting Rachael make the next move. She glared at him for a second. Lee couldn’t refrain from smiling at
her. She was on top of him moments
later. “Don’t you think I’m screwed up
enough that you don’t need to add to it?” she asked between kisses.
“Nope. I think you can take anything I or anyone can
dish out, Commander, so long as you believe in yourself like I do.”
By the time the
pizza arrived, Lee and Rachael had redressed.
Roger looked accusingly at both his friends. He put two pies in the oven and then handed
Rachael a plastic sack. “Best you can do
in the middle of the night. Drugstore
chic.”
Rachael kissed
Roger’s cheek. “Thanks.” She darted off to change. She emerged in cut off shorts, a beachy
Hawaiian looking shirt with Lee’s black T-shirt underneath. Flip-flops and oversized sunglasses completed
the ridiculous look.
Both men laughed.
“It beats
scrubs!”
They all dug
lustily into the pizza, polishing it and half a second pie off quickly.
“Sack time for
me, boys and girls. Hope you don’t get a backache from curling up on the couch,
Lee,” Roger winked and left.
“Beach. What if I never get to the beach again?”
“You will,
Rachael, soon.”
“No, now.”
“We can’t leave
base.”
“I want to feel
the wind in my hair.”
“Red, there are
limits here.”
“There are some
Navy 26s on base for recreational use.
Come on, Curly. Show me your
captaining skills, the other kind. Just
for an hour or so. Work off that
pizza. Please.”
“Let me talk to
the master-at-arms a minute.”
Lee returned a
minute later. “We are going to get heat
for this. You better remember the chance
I took for you, Red, and return the favor.”
Rachael
smiled. The master-at-arms drove them to
the dock. They puttered under the
moonlit skies for about forty minutes.
That was when Rachael pulled a gun on Lee, Roger’s Sig Sauer.
“Jump off and
swim to shore.”
“Don’t be
ridiculous.”
“It’s an easy
swim for you, Lee.”
“So you can do
what? Go along the coast and run? Sail out to deepwater and capsize? No dice.”
“Don’t make me
shoot you, Lee.”
“Only you can
make yourself do that, Rachael, and you won’t.”
“No, you’re
right.” Rachael put the gun to her head.
“Talk about a
gut punch, Red. You sleep with a guy,
then blow your brains out in front of him.
What a parting gift!”
“Okay, so I’m
being selfish.” Rachael turned the gun
back on him. “Hit the water so you don’t
have to watch.”
Lee reached out
to her arm and took the gun. She didn’t
fight it. “You know, Red, I’d have been
much more scared had it been loaded.”
“Why the hell
are you carrying around an unloaded gun?”
“Well, I have
this mentally unstable friend who keeps showing up unexpectedly so I figured I
should be extra careful.” Lee released
the sheet and let the sail go into irons while he pulled Rachael into a
hug. The hug quickly morphed into deep
kissing. Lee pulled back. “You are deeply corrupting me. Give me a minute to drop anchor.”
Lee kept his
eyes on Rachael as he moved to the bow to drop anchor. He couldn’t trust her from minute to
minute. When he saw her stand up and
remove her outer shirt he smiled. The
next second she dove off the stern. Lee
snagged the anchor tight and dove in after her.
He was on her in seconds.
“What the hell
were you thinking?” he asked as he dragged her back to the stern by the neck
and chest. He pushed her up the stern
ladder.
“Are you a
dolphin or something? How did you get to
me so fast?”
“I’m that good
in the water, and don’t forget it again.”
“You’re pretty
good on land too,” she smiled.
“What the hell
was that all about?”
“I don’t
know. I felt sad all of the sudden. I didn’t want to keep fighting that
feeling. I just want to stop feeling. I
don’t want to hurt you or anyone else.”
“Just accept
that if you hurt yourself it will hurt me, and Roger, and Saul and others. Stop this shit.”
“I told you
that I am screwed up bad.”
“It doesn’t
have to be a forever thing.” Lee pulled
her in close and hugged her. “How about
focussing on what makes you feel happy instead of sad?”
Rachael rubbed
up against Lee tweaking him on the butt.
“Weren’t we
heading that way before the swim, Red?”
“It was a
mistake. I’m sorry.”
“Apology
accepted.”
“That wasn’t my
real apology. This is.”
A few minutes
later, Lee -- a little breathless -- wondered whether the cockpit of the Navy
26 had ever been used that way before.
It was certainly a first for him.
Fun, but more than a little crazy.
He laughed. He’d just described
Rachael. “All right, Red, time to go
back and dry off. Here’s something to
keep you busy while I pull up anchor.”
“That sounds so
slutty, Commander.”
“Oh, quit it.”
Lee was tying
an elaborate knot around one of Rachael’s wrists, which he secured to a
cleat.
“Bondage? I never would have guessed you the type.”
“This is just
in case you get any stupid ideas about jumping ship while I get us shoved
off. That knot should keep you busy
until we dock.”
Rachael made a
raspberry at Lee as he headed to the bow.
Fifteen minutes later, Lee sailed them into the dock. The master-at-arms silently shamed them, Lee
felt, but he was smart enough not to say anything about it as he drove them
back to quarters. After a quick shower
together, sleep was all that happened for the rest of the night.
Chapter
34 - The Morning After
A weary Lee was
dressed and drinking coffee by 0630.
Roger showed up shortly afterward with breakfast food for all. “I figured you could use a little energy. She pull any tricks last night?”
Lee’s eyes
twinkled at Roger as he postulated the several ways he might answer the
question. “Nothing I couldn’t handle.”
“Saul said we
were to stay with her until Dr. Drake arrives.”
“He’s joking,
right? Last night, Mallard. Today, Drake?”
“Didn’t seem to
be but I do detect a theme.”
Rachael slid
quietly into the room wearing Lee’s T-shirt and her undies. “I smell coffee.”
Lee poured her
a cup and set it down at the table.
“I could make
some crack about everyone’s cravings being satisfied here, but it seems so
cheap,” Roger said after he took a sip of coffee. He nearly spit it out as he broke into
laughter afterward. Lee did spit his.
“Could someone
let me in on the joke?”
“That lovely
psychiatrist, Dr. Paulino, whom you are no longer seeing, has been conditioning
you. The night before last when you
escaped you were told to go someplace you felt safe. I was flattered that was here. Last night, you were told to satisfy a
craving.”
“That would
explain the white pizza with anchovies.”
“Yeah, just the
pizza.” Roger was doubled over
laughing. Lee desperately tried to
suppress his own laughter, but failed.
Eventually Rachael joined in the laugh fest. It continued for a solid minute, when
Rachael’s eyes began tearing as she laughed.
Finally, she stopped.
“You okay?” Lee
asked, uncertain about the tears.
“I think that’s
the first good laugh I’ve had in . . .
well a long time. It felt good.”
“I promise you many more yucks ahead if you
have a little patience with us as we get you out of this mess.”
“I’m trying,
Lee”
“The doctors
are going to wean you off f the drugs that Paulino was dosing you with. Hopefully that will help.”
The room went
silent. The return to present
circumstances was necessary, but unwelcome.
The arrival of a handsome young doctor proved a pleasant distraction. “Behave yourself!” Lee yelled as they left
Rachael with him.
Lee and Roger
walked to Saul’s office, trailed by Roger’s personal master-at-arms. “I hope something breaks today.”
“I think
Rachael forgot her deadline.”
“Don’t be
fooled, Rog. She pointed my gun at me
last night and ordered me overboard.”
“Overboard? Huh?”
“We went for a little
sail.”
“Brilliant,
buddy.” Roger shook his head.
“At least my
gun wasn’t loaded.”
“So you didn’t
have to walk the plank after all?”
“No. She wouldn’t have shot me anyway. She turned the gun on herself pretty
quickly.”
“Shit.”
“That’s when I
told her it was empty. She gave it up
for a while, before she jumped overboard.”
Roger
laughed. “She really isn’t in her right
mind if she thought she could out swim you!
Mark Spitz might, but a normal human no way.”
“I know. So don’t be fooled by her. It’s not all good suddenly.”
“We can expect
some shit to hit the fan today when Admiral Johnson finds out about Saul’s
stunt.”
“Guess we
should go see if that’s happened yet.”
Saul was
already immersed in paperwork in the conference room, his eyes sagging. “Morning gentlemen.”
“You look like
you went off a cliff last night,” Roger said.
“This morning,
eastern time, courtesy of Admiral Johnson.”
“Ugly?”
Saul
shrugged. “He can moan to my boss. I’m not in his direct chain of command.”
“Like that will
stop him!” Roger laughed.
“He’s got your
back, Roger. That was the one useful
piece of information I got out of him.”
“Useful
how?” Lee asked.
“It seems that
before Miss Mattingly’s murder, Admiral Johnson was the recipient of certain
anonymous letters disparaging Roger’s character, one of which bore a Palomar
Mountain postmark.”
“Coincidence?”
Lee wondered aloud.
“You’ve been
there. How likely do you think that is?”
“Maybe we could
get a handwriting analysis?”
“Lee, think
about what you are suggesting. It’s not
something we would want to use in court even if it were admissible. Frankly, I’d prefer to keep the letters
anonymous and ascertain the significance of what their being written might be.”
“I don’t give a
shit at this point. If it will help get
Rachael cleared, bring it on,” Roger said.
“The letters
themselves won’t. They only establish
that Mr. Oliver appeared to have issues with your . . .”
“Sexual
preference, Saul. You can say it out
loud. I’m ready to shout it from the
rooftops if it helps Rachael.”
“Why would
Oliver set out to ruin you, Rog?”
“Maybe he
really loved Melanie and thought if he outed me, it would end. Lord knows, I’d be out of a job.”
“Why shoot
Melanie if that’s the case?”
“In Mr.
Oliver’s rantings to Admiral Johnson he appeared to equate homosexuality with
child predation and molestation. If he
truly believed that, might it be possible that he would be so desperate to keep
his baby from you as to kill Melanie and her fetus?” Saul asked.
“That’s nonsensical. Why not just kill Roger if that was his
issue? Aren’t we confidant that he’d
already sabotaged Roger’s brakes? He had
a clean line to shoot Mel, so he also had to have a good one to shoot
Roger.” Lee scratched his head.
“Correct, which
is why I think we are missing a piece of vital information. Maybe Melanie and Oliver conspired
together. Miss Mattingly offered up her
baby to Roger in exchange for obtaining large amount of life insurance on
Roger. Mr. Oliver sabotaged Roger’s
brakes in furtherance of their deal.”
“Stop it. Mel wouldn’t have. Mel wasn’t violent and couldn’t even stand
violence like that. We really did have a
deep friendship.”
“You may be
right, that she never intended to follow through or wanted you dead. But was Miss Mattingly above gaming the
situation? What if Miss Mattingly was
stringing Mr. Oliver along. She needed a
baby and promised him the moon to get him to play along. Then she kicked him to the curb. Maybe Mr. Oliver figured it out and took his
revenge on her?”
“If it were
true, how the heck could we prove any of this with both of them dead?” Lee
asked.
“Therein lies
our problem. Two things I want to happen
today are this. You two are to follow up
with the studios today and any other leads on Mr. Oliver’s friends and
relationships. I want any personal detail
you can find. Someone killed him; we
need to know if the reason relates to Melanie Mattingly’s murder.”
“The second
thing?”
“I’ll be
interviewing Randall Mattingly later to see what if anything he’s willing to
impart about Herbert Oliver. I also
want to find out what he met with Miss Mattingly about. Something about him seems off kilter to
me. My gut says he is our wildcard.”
“I agree. He was openly disdainful of Melanie. I can’t figure out why he’d have bothered to
hook her up with the insurance agent in the first instances. It seems too random, especially with all the
calls that followed between him and Oliver.”
“Uh, guys, I
followed up on the brothers Mattingly the other night. I’m more than a little confused now,
however. If Oliver felt that strongly
about gay men, what was he doing calling Randall Mattingly? He’s queer as -- well, me.”
“Maybe he
didn’t know? It wasn’t the first thing
that crossed my mind on meeting him,” Lee said.
Saul cocked his
head and nodded. “You know, that raises
an interesting thought. What if Randall
Mattingly knew of Oliver’s feelings on the subject? He might have manipulated Oliver.”
“Oh, that’s a
nasty thought,” Lee said.
Roger just
shook his head. Saul left them alone to
ponder and make more phone calls. At
half past eleven, Lee yelled, “Direct hit!”
“What?”
“Oliver got
tossed off a major studio lot after spouting off his thoughts about the leading
actor on the set, particularly about him working with child actors.”
“Oh.”
Roger then
picked up a ringing phone. By the time
he’d put it down, five minutes later, Roger looked like he wanted to throw
up. “I guess we’ve got some context for
Oliver’s issues now, mistaken though his facts were. Turns out that he was a victim of molestation
as a young boy.”
“Got any
details? If they are relevant.”
“A gym teacher
in elementary school who coached after school sports. It was an ugly situation. Apparently quite a number of children were
involved, girls and boys.”
“Which somehow
led Oliver to despise homosexuals?”
“Despite the
fact that his molester wasn’t one. He
was married, with children of his own, and abused both girls and boys. Many people just don’t get that child
predation has nothing to do with homosexuality, that on being caught, these
folks overwhelmingly identify as heterosexual.”
“Okay, so now
we have confirmed what we already knew.
Oliver had issues with homosexuals.
Does that get us anything new?”
“Not to my
mind. If he was so worried about me and
his baby, why wouldn’t he just kill me?
Why go after Melanie?”
“If he were a
poor shot, we could have suppose that he meant to kill you, but he wasn’t.”
“Yes, but who
knows how much he kept up with it?
Rachael’s gun might have been unfamiliar to him. It has quite a recoil for a little gun
because she had it specially bored.
Maybe he had no chance to practice?
We were only standing a couple of feet apart.”
“Maybe Melanie
was in with him on an insurance deal and he figured out she was double crossing
him?”
“What would he
get out of that? A dead ex-girlfriend, a
dead baby, and no insurance proceeds to share.
Unless he had insurance on Melanie.
Is that possible?”
“Beats me. I don’t know much about life insurance.”
“I know you
need some relationship to get it on someone.
I just don’t know if someone having your baby would suffice or if any
agent would issue a policy based on a paternity claim like that.”
“We’ll ask
Saul. He should be calling in any minute
from Santa Barbara.”
Lee and Roger
continued to make calls and jot down thoughts until Saul called in. Roger put him on speaker phone.
“I only have a
few minutes before I meet with Randall Mattingly. Find anything helpful?”
Roger filled
him in on what they’d learned.
“That dovetails
beautifully, gentlemen. I think we are
about to crack the murder of one Herbert Oliver a.k.a. Oliver Smith. Forensics has confirmed arson at Oliver’s
place. They also found recent tire
tracks from a Land Rover.”
“Great, but
exactly how does that help Rachael?”
“Oh, it’s all
tied together. While I’m questioning
Randall Mattingly, forensics will be taking tire imprints from a Land Rover
registered to Richard Mattingly, which Randall was driving during the days in
question.”
“Does Randall
know he’s a suspect?”
“Suspect? No, he’s just a material witness,
gentlemen. This will be a voluntarily
given, noncustodial interview. No
lawyers are involved. Keep your fingers
crossed. Randall may crack, especially
since Richard Mattingly is voluntarily cooperating in every way possible. Randall may have underestimated Richard
Mattingly’s love for his daughter. I’ll
keep you posted.”
“Hold on a
second, Saul! Susan just came in with
something.”
“Hey boss,
forensics says Oliver’s van matches the description and partial picture of the
backfiring van at the wedding. While it
was in bad shape from the fire, they found no remnants of a catalytic converter
and confirmed several holes -- all too regular to be natural -- in the exhaust
system.”
“Thanks,
Susan. Lunch is on me. Wish me luck, gentlemen.”
“Good luck,”
Roger and Lee both repeated, before they both shook their heads.
“Should I order
up some lunch for you two?” Susan asked.
“Thanks, but
no. I think I could use a walk to clear
my head.”
“I want to go
check on Rachael.” Lee said. “Bring back something for us if you don’t
mind.”
Roger shot Lee
a sly look.
“I’m worried
that Johnson has gotten through to her somehow.”
“You could just
call over there.”
“No, I feel the
need to see her.”
Chapter
35 - Rattling Cages
Rachael was
pacing around quarters when Lee arrived.
“A bigger cage
is still a cage, huh, Red?”
Rachael
sighed. “Any hope, Lee? I’m so tired of being confined.”
“It’s been a
long time, I know.”
“Guess you
would. How the hell can you stand being
on a submarine for weeks or months at a time?”
“Months are
hard on everyone. Weeks are much more
manageable. Seaview has some advantages
over Navy subs, however. It has windows
to the outside, larger corridors, more spacious cabins. I can’t claim it doesn’t get to me
sometimes. No truthful submariner could.”
“How do you
handle it?”
“Do my
job. Fill in any extra time with
activity.”
“If Roger
hadn’t been sent back here with me, I’d have gone completely bonkers.”
“Red, you are
completely bonkers.”
“No,
seriously. Roger was the only one
allowed to take me off base.”
“Or buy you the
occasional white pizza?”
Rachael
nodded. “Any progress?”
“I think
so. Specifics are murky, but we think it
was the ex-boyfriend and Mel’s cousin Randall working together.”
“The gay one?”
“What do you
know about him?”
“Not much other
than that.”
“Was it that
obvious, because I didn’t know that from a casual meeting with him?”
“Not at
first. At the shooting range the day
before the wedding, he asked me some questions about handling the Sig. He said he’d never handled a handgun that
size. I, uh, tried to show him some
technique.”
“Why don’t you
show me exactly what you did?”
“I don’t have a
gun.”
“Use an
imaginary one.”
Rachael assumed
a stance with her arms stretched out as if she held a gun. “Now come behind me and put your arms around
mine. Closer.” When Lee didn’t come in tightly enough to her
body, Rachael pushed back into his body.
Her intended point of contact couldn’t be missed as she rubbed up and
down a little.
“Jesus, Red,
tell me you didn’t!”
“When he didn’t
react, I went for this move.” Rachael
swung her free hand behind Lee and cupped his tush. “No reaction to that one either. Gay.”
Lee pulled away
from Rachael. She turned toward
him.
“Maybe he just
wasn’t interested in you?”
“Certainly not
like you appear to be at the moment, sailor!”
Rachael eyed Lee’s privates, before she moved in to make further
advances. Lee offered no protestations.
Lee was dozing
with his arms around Rachael when she whispered to him. “I’m gonna’ miss you, Curly.”
“Huh?” Lee prised his eyes fully open. “What does that mean?”
“This. I’m gonna miss it. Wish we’d done it sooner.”
“Where exactly
do you think you’re going?”
“This is going
to end soon, one way or another. You’ll
go back to your ship.”
“Boat. Subs are boats.”
“Boat then.”
“I do come off
it occasionally.”
“Of course.”
“Where do you
expect to be?”
“Elsewhere. Where is out of my hands.”
“I’m not
following.”
“If I’m not
cleared, you know.” Rachel mimicked
shooting herself in the head. “If I am
cleared, it’s up to Johnson.”
“You could walk
away. You should.”
Rachael shook
her head.
“You want to
explain your relationship with Johnson to me?”
“It’s
complicated.”
“I can handle
complicated.”
Rachael shook
her head.
“You’ve slept
with him?”
Rachael looked
straight ahead. She didn’t answer.
“I won’t think
any less of you if you say yes.”
“Why not?”
“I’m well aware
of the pressure put on women in the service by their superiors, from the
intended to the unintended pressure.”
“Johnson’s not
a bad guy, Lee. You know he lost his
whole family in a car crash fifteen years ago.
He’s just lonely and afraid of being alone, if you can believe that.”
“That seems a
stretch. How did it start?”
“Panama
Canal. We were both pretty toasted. The next morning was more than a little
awkward.”
“I imagine so. How long ago was that?”
“Five
years. It’s not a regular thing.”
“Just when he
wants it, right?”
“He’s the one
with the stars.”
“You could have
resigned. Why didn’t you?”
“As I said, it
wasn’t that regular a thing. Besides, I
got things out of it.”
“Like
what? I know you earned your rank.”
“Yes, I
did. Maybe twice over!”
“Sorry, I
didn’t mean to demean you.”
“He’s been my
advocate and protector. Hands off,
Johnson’s watching! It wasn’t a bad
tradeoff to avoid some of the scum out there.”
“Someday it
will change, I hope.” Lee wrapped his
arms around Rachael.
“For
women. For Roger. God, I hope.”
“He used the
threat of exposing Roger to keep you in line, didn’t he?”
“Not exactly. I threw myself on that land mine years ago.”
“And again
recently?”
“Why should
Roger go down for being kind to Melanie?”
“No, I don’t
mean that. You know about the letters
Johnson got, don’t you?”
Rachael
shrugged.
“What does
Johnson want from you?”
Rachael
shrugged again.
“Tell me. Maybe I can help.”
“Lee Crane,
Commander Goody Two Shoes. You don’t
spend enough time in the espionage business anymore. The hats are all shades of grey now. No more black and white. Not me, not Johnson.”
“This is black
and white, Red.” Lee caught his bad
phrase and laughed. So did Rachael. “I bet Admiral Johnson can’t do this for
you.” Lee caressed her. “When you’re ready to get out, you will let
me know?” Lee tried his best to ignore
images of Johnson in his head as he began to kiss Rachael.
The next thing
Lee knew, Roger was bursting into the bedroom.
“Jesus, you two. Did you not hear
me pounding on the door? Could you not
answer the damn phone? Apparently
not! Too busy screwing each others brains
out?” Roger crossed his arms over his
chest and huffed. Then he cracked up. “Put some damn clothes on and meet me in the
living room!”
Embarrassed
(Lee was at least, Rachael not so clearly), they complied with Roger’s
demand.
“Is there any
leftover pizza?” Rachael yawned.
“It’s your
damned freedom, Rach, and you’re thinking about pizza?”
“I’m hungry.”
“What’s up,
Roger?”
“Confirmation
of Randall Mattingly’s involvement. The
Land Rover tracks matched. They even
pulled out mud and vegetation matching Palomar Mountain’s from the tires.”
“That’s
it? Muddy tires are supposed to excite
us? I’d prefer pizza.”
“How laissez
faire we’ve become, Rach. Has something
changed that I should know about?”
Lee shook his
head ‘no’ behind Rachel. Roger took the
hint and backed off.
“I already
confessed. Absent a better confession,
none of this matters.”
“Your
confession won’t hold up. We’ve got a
list of psychiatrists who can testify to your mental state and confusion.”
“I won’t let it
get that far. I’d still be locked up and
your career would be wrecked.”
“Stop with that
already. Not once I have ever asked you
to sacrifice yourself for my benefit. If
I’m tossed from the Navy, then screw it.
I’m a big boy, Rach. I’ll
manage. What I can’t cope with is you
committing suicide or going to jail to protect me. Read my lips closely. I will not allow you to martyr yourself. Why don’t you start thinking about some of
the things you want out of life? I know
it hasn’t gone like we expected, but you can work around nearly anything. Next to this bozo, you are the most
resourceful person I ever met.”
“Excuse
me? Exactly how is Lee more resourceful
than me?”
Roger hesitated
a moment. “He can fly this yellow saucer
thing.”
“The Flying
Sub.”
“It’s the
craziest thing you’ve ever ridden in,” Roger smiled.
“No, it isn’t,
because I never have.”
“I can fix
that, Red.”
“Can you teach
me to fly it?”
“Uh, not so
much.”
“Why not?”
“It’s not
mine. You’d have to change jobs, train,
and um, well, we don’t exactly have any women on the Seaview on a regular
basis.”
“Chauvinist
pig.”
“Navy
regs. I’d change them. For you at the very least.”
“Yeah, so I
could live at sea with a hundred plus horny sailors trapped in tin can. No, Navy got that one right. Now, can we do something about some lunch?”
Chapter
36 - An Abrupt Change of Course
Rachael
demolished half a pizza, cold, as Lee nibbled halfheartedly on a sandwich Roger
had brought from the mess hall.
Roger pulled
Lee aside. “Something wrong, buddy?”
“I just have an
odd feeling.”
“About what?”
“I can’t quite
put my finger on it.”
“Good or bad
feeling?”
Lee
shrugged. The phone interrupted
them.
“Saul
called. He said to turn on KGTV and
wait.”
Roger turned on
the set. The three friends positioned
themselves on the couch with Rachael in the center.
“Not my
favorite soap opera,” Roger remarked. A
minute later, the three of them were on the couch speculating and encouraging
bad behavior from characters about whom they knew nothing. As 1500 hours approached, they’d gotten
positively silly to avert boredom. Near
the end of the hour, local news broke into programming.
“KGTV has
learned that investigators have solved Sunday’s mysterious shooting death of a
prominent socialite during her wedding.
The alleged killer of Melanie Mattingly was the bride’s cousin, Randall
Mattingly. He reportedly confessed to a
federal investigator and family members shortly before he committed suicide in
front of them. An earlier confession by
the groom’s best friend, a female soldier who had been under medical care for
Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, has been completely refuted by this
revelation. Tune in to the local news at
five o’clock on this station for details on this breaking story.”
Roger flung his
hands around Rachael’s neck. “You’re
free.”
Lee hugged her
afterward. “Better now?”
Rachael didn’t
react.
“Rach, what’s
going on? Why aren’t you happier?”
“I’ll be back
in a bit.” Rachael headed toward the
bathroom.
Saul called
moments later. “You heard?”
“Yes, it was
kind of abrupt,” Roger said. “Hold on,
I’m putting you on speaker.”
“It felt abrupt
and I was there. Let’s just say that
Randall Mattingly was beginning to drown in circumstantial evidence. The crooks always think they are smarter
than everyone, that they can cover every track.
Then they foul up in the most ridiculous ways. All those phone records. Then he used the Land Rover to go to Oliver’s
place. Can you believe that Mattingly
stopped on the way to Palomar Mountain to buy a gas container, which he had the
attendant fill for him so he didn’t get his hands dirty? The attendant remembered Randall Mattingly vividly
because of that, especially because Randall was wearing driving gloves at the
time!”
“Did he really
tell you everything?”
“Oh, yes, once
he was cornered, it was like a brag fest.
Randall was proud of how he manipulated both Melanie Mattingly and
Herbert Oliver. He recounted in detail
how he set the whole thing in motion, first by persuading Melanie to take out
the insurance policy and even getting Roger to pay for it. After all, a man in active service like Roger
owed his family protection!”
“So I was the
real target?” Roger asked as Rachael wandered back into the room.
“Yes, ideas
began spinning in Randall’s head when Melanie brought you to Santa Barbara meet
her family. Roger, Randall had met you
before.”
“Damn. This was all my fault.”
“Hardly. Randall Mattingly had been looking for ways
to free Richard Mattingly from his daughter’s leeching long before you came
into the picture.”
“Oh, that’s
better. I’m just a tool.”
Lee and Rachael
both laughed.
“What’s going
on there, Romper Room? I’m trying to
tell you the whole story!”
“Sorry,
Saul. It’s just a bit of a release for
everyone. We’ll behave,” Lee
promised. “Go on.”
“When Randall
met up with Melanie to bring her the policy, he decided to warm up his
relationship with his cousin. He took
her to an expensive lunch, plied her with a drink or two, and slipped her some
spending cash knowing that daddy had cut her off. Melanie responded by opening up a little to
Randall about some concerns in her life.
The day before meeting with Randall, she had taken delivery of Rachael’s
personal effects. She was still
carrying them around with her because Rachael was expected to visit with Roger
at the apartment after the delivery came.
Melanie didn’t know what to do with the stuff, especially the gun. She told Randall all about Rachael and
Roger’s line of work, as well as her concerns about Rachael’s state of mind and
continuing presence in Roger’s life.
Melanie said that Rachael scared the shit out of her. She was afraid for herself and the
baby.” Saul paused a moment. “I was waiting to hear the ‘thud’ that just
occurred there, folks. I know it
happened when I heard it.”
“Thud!” Roger
and Lee said together.
“Giant freaking
thud,” Rachael added.
“So of course
it was Randall to the rescue. He offered
to take the gun from Melanie for safekeeping and she was only too happy to get
rid of it. Randall’s wheels really began
to spin then. After a few days’ thought,
he called Melanie to drop a bombshell of his own. He told her that he was quite certain that
the baby wasn’t Roger’s. He doesn’t want
to hurt Melanie, but if Melanie won’t tell him about the baby’s real father, he
will tell her parents the truth about Roger, quote ‘all of it.’ Randall assured her that it was only so he
could protect the family from any threat, not to hurt Melanie. Melanie was understandably upset, but told
him about Oliver anyway. She had some concerns
about him too, and she really wanted it to work with Roger. Randall found it quite amusing that Melanie
believed she could really change Roger’s nature.”
“Poor Mel,” Lee
said. “As if she didn’t have enough on
her plate already.”
“I’m
sorry! I might have meant to make her
run away, but I never threatened to physically harm her.”
“You were
freaking scary at times, Rach! You
didn’t have to make actual threats for her to feel threatened,” Roger scolded.
“I’d take it
back now if I could. Well, most of
it.” Rachael got up and stalked out
towards the bathroom.
“Do you all
want to hear the rest?” Saul
interrupted. “Randall approached Oliver
to feel him out. When it was clear to
Randall that Oliver was still hung up on Melanie, it was just a matter of
discovering how far Oliver would go to get her back and what might push his
buttons.
It was during a
visit to a shooting range with Oliver that Randall learned all he needed to
know to come up with a plan. First,
Randall was an excellent shot. Second,
Oliver had -- as you discovered earlier -- a rabid hatred and fear of
homosexuals.
A few days
afterward, Randall met up with Oliver and explained to him that Melanie’s
upcoming marriage to Roger would be a sham.
Melanie really wanted to be with Oliver.
Melanie was marrying Roger for money only and had taken a big insurance
policy out on his life.”
“Anybody who
knew Mel knew she couldn’t kill a bug, let alone a person!” Roger interrupted.
“That’s exactly
what Randall counted on Oliver knowing.
Oliver ranted that he didn’t see what good an insurance policy would do
them. Randall then began to pour it on
thick. He told Oliver what kind of work
Roger does. He could die in the line of
duty any day. Oliver smartly noted that
he apparently survived doing it for a long time already. Randall them hemmed and hawed about a secret
that he wasn’t sure he wanted to share with Oliver. Mel wanted Oliver to know, but Randall was
afraid that Oliver wouldn’t be able to control himself if he did. Randall demanded assurances before he
revealed to Oliver that Roger is gay.
Oliver cursed and ranted some, but he still didn’t show the hand that
Randall was looking for, so Randall took things to another level.
He told Oliver
that Melanie was marrying Roger knowing he is gay and knowing that he would die
soon because he has AIDS. Randall
explained it was just a matter of time before Oliver and Melanie could be
together and with plenty of money too.
That was what Mel wanted more than anything and why Randall was sent to
talk to Oliver. Randall has just one
concern, one that Mel was a little worried about also. What if something were to happen to Melanie
and the baby before Roger died naturally?
Randall points out that there have been plenty of cases of accidental
transmission of AIDS, after all.
That pushes
Oliver over the edge. The words ‘I’ll
kill the bastard before he can hurt my baby and Mel’ followed quickly. Randall told Oliver that if he meant it, he
had an idea of what to do. He just
needed to talk it over with Melanie first, because if Oliver acted without
Melanie’s approval, Oliver could end up with nothing.
Randall lets
Oliver stew for twenty-four hours before he got back to him. He told him that Melanie was on board, but
has asked two things of Oliver. First,
to please make it as quick and painless as you can. She didn’t want Roger to suffer.”
“Oh lucky me,”
Roger interjected.
“Second, under
no circumstance is Oliver to talk to Melanie directly or they risk
discovery. After all, Roger is in the
intelligence business.”
“I sure wasn’t
acting like it,” Roger castigated himself.
“Well, you may
have been blind to some things, but on the whole, I’d have to say you got
screwed merely by acting honorably and expecting the same of others,” Saul
said.
“I wonder if
Randall encouraged Oliver to write to Johnson?” Lee asked.
“He didn’t say
and I didn’t want to get too far off track by asking.”
“What I still
don’t understand is how Melanie ended up dead instead of Roger? And how do you explain Oliver tampering with
Roger’s brake line? It doesn’t make
sense to me,” Lee said.
“Randall’s
original idea was to wait until after the wedding to kill Roger. He wanted to plan everything out in
impeccable detail. Unfortunately, Oliver
got a little cocky waiting for Randall’s plan, so he came up with one of his
own. Oliver knew Mel well enough to know
she’d walk before riding in Roger’s sedan.
The night before the wedding, Oliver proudly called Randall and told him
that he’d taken care of everything quietly by piercing Roger’s brake line. He’d be dead the next time he drove his car
on the freeway.
With two
minutes of thought, Randall figured out that the chances of killing Roger that
way were remote at best. He felt they
needed to move fast, because frankly he was concerned with what evidence Oliver
might have left behind. So Randall quickly
worked out a plan to shoot Roger at the wedding and frame Rachael for it. Melanie had put the general idea in his head
when she gave him the gun. To quote
Melanie, ‘I can just see that nut job taking a shot at me on my wedding day.’”
Rachael emerged
from the bathroom at that point. “Hey, I
resemble that remark!”
“A little too
true for comfort,” Saul said. “Anyway,
Randall knew the set up of the grounds from the rehearsal earlier in the
week. That gave him a leg up in planning
the murder. The difficult part was
figuring out a distraction to pin it on Rachael. He and Oliver jointly concocted the
backfiring van scheme. Oliver borrowed
video gear, and set up a tripod just outside the potted yews so nothing looked
untoward if anyone spotted him there. He
didn’t move into position until the ceremony was well underway to avoid being
noticed. Even if he had been noticed,
it probably wouldn’t have mattered. He
could pass for a guess in the tux and no one pays much attention to the
photographers after a bit.”
“Except Mel’s
friend Mimi thought she’d seen him, not that the testimony of a coke head was
likely to mean much if it came to that,” Lee said.
“Come on! You still haven’t explained why it was Mel
who got shot instead of me?”
“Yes, well you
know the saying. ‘The best laid plans of
mice and men often go awry.’ Melanie
did spot Oliver before the wedding began.
She told Oliver to leave, she didn’t want him there, and that he would
ruin everything. Oliver assumed someone
must be listening in and that she was acting.
He whispered to her. ‘It’s okay,
baby. We’ll be together soon. We’ll have lots of dough. It’ll be great.’ Melanie shook her head. ‘Roger’s more of a man than you ever were, in
and out of the sack. Get out of here.’”
“Excuse me?”
Rachael turned to Roger.
Roger
stalled. “There was a night when Rosser
came to town. I came back home drunk as
a skunk. I have a hazy recollection of
Melanie crawling into bed next to me, trying her best to get me
interested. She took it as a personal
mission. I have no recollection of her
succeeding, however.”
“Truth wouldn’t
stop her from claiming victory, one way or another,” Rachael said.
“Given that
Randall pumped Oliver’s head full of fears about Roger having AIDS, you can imagine
Oliver’s reaction to the idea that Melanie had slept with both Roger and him.”
“So he shot
Melanie instead of me, because of what she said. Jesus.
That’s just sick.”
“Yes, well, but
for the gun jamming, there might have been a second shot that took you out,
Roger. Forensics just added that little
detail to the report this afternoon.
Sand in the firing mechanism.”
“Sand in
freaking everything over there,” Rachael complained.
“Let me guess
the next part,” Lee said. “Randall was
upset at Oliver for deviating from the plan, upset enough to kill him.”
“Yes, although
Randall intended to kill Oliver in any case.
After Oliver changed the target, Randall worried that Oliver would come
unhinged. Randall knew he had to
hurry. Randall called Oliver around
midnight. Oliver explained what had
happened. As Randall expected, Oliver
was distraught and probably strung out too.
Randall couldn’t predict what Oliver might do next even with Rachael
having confessed. So right after the
call, Randall hurried out to the La Fortuna Hotel garage where he is captured
on time-stamped video leaving in the Land Rover. Then Randall stopped for gas on the way, even
getting the attendant to fill a gas can strapped to the back of the car too, a
can that wasn’t on the car when it returned to the garage later. Careless moves, yes, the gas can and the
arson, but even then Randall professed that he wasn’t too worried.”
“No, of course
not. Rachael had already confessed to
Mel’s murder and her own gun was the murder weapon. When the police eventually would find
Oliver’s body, who would connect it to Melanie’s murder?” Roger asked.
“No one, at
least no time soon, is what Randall figured. Yes, he wished there were no phone records to
tie him to Oliver, but on the whole, he was still confident. He could explain away the calls and any
meetings as dealing with Oliver trying to harass Melanie, and Randall trying to
handle the matter to protect the family.
Besides, Oliver dealt drugs. He
figured the whole thing would be written off quickly by the cops.”
“It might have happened just that way, Saul,
if not for you,” Lee said.
“I had fine
help who all believed the same thing that I did.”
“That the nut
job didn’t do it?” Rachael said.
“What a
waste. Mel, the baby, Oliver, Randall,
all dead,” Roger said sadly. “For what?”
“Uh, yes, about
that, Roger. Melanie appears on the
rolls of Mattingly Industries as an officer, a nominal position of course, but
nevertheless real enough. Randall had
also arranged for the company to buy a policy worth two million dollars on
Melanie’s life.”
“Okay, but none
of the proceeds from any of the policies would have gone directly to
Randall. I don’t see what he really
stood to gain,” Roger said.
“The company is
a small, family held business. It’s
Randall’s heritage and, in his mind, was his birthright. That and he is, was, the Treasurer and Chief
Financial Officer. Chances are his hands
would have gotten to the money. That
said, I don’t think he ever intended anything untoward regarding Richard. He idolized him. He wanted to work by his side and take the
company reigns over in due course. He
wanted to protect it from Melanie.
Randall really had deluded himself that he was doing this not only for
himself but for Richard.
When it really
fell apart for Randall wasn’t when I confronted him with all the circumstantial
evidence. It was when Richard failed to
show his appreciation for what Randall had done. You could see Randall deflate as Richard grew
increasingly upset at him. By the end,
Richard was yelling distraughtly at Randall.
‘You killed my baby! My joy! My life!
I could never forgive you. I hope
you burn in hell.’ Let me tell you that
he meant it. No one could doubt it. That was when Randall opened his desk drawer,
pulled out a gun and didn’t hesitate before shooting himself in the head.”
“I suppose that
wasn’t the worst result possible,” Roger said.
“I’d have
preferred he’d done it in private.”
“Nasty business
to watch,” Lee stated and glared at Rachael for having threatened to do that in
front of him earlier. “When will you be
back here?”
“Late, maybe
9:00.”
“Maybe we can
grab some dinner out to . . . to . . . I can’t exactly say celebrate, but to
commend our good work,” Lee said.
“I’m not sure I
could eat given today, but a drink, for certain. I’ll swing by your quarters after I get back
and changed.”
“Great. Thanks for all your hard work,” Lee said.
“Same to you
guys too.”
Both Roger and
Lee glared at Rachael. She’d said
nothing, no words of thanks.
“What?”
“You might
thank the man.”
“Thank you
man.”
Saul hung up without further word. The friends were silent for several minutes.
“If we are
going out, I’d like some real clothes instead of Daisy Duke shorts and a luau
shirt.”
“I suppose we
could get you a uniform.”
“Yes, could you
make it one that says I’ve just been let off the hook for murder so watch me
drink myself silly?”
“I don’t think
you should drink with all the medicine you’re taking.”
“Spoilsport.”
“I’ll run into
town and see if I can do better.”
“Why can’t I
go?”
Lee and Roger
looked at each other for answers.
“Let’s wait
until Saul’s back just so we can be certain what your legal status is.”
“I’m not
certain what it was before.”
“Me either,
Rach. Sorry.” Roger knew better than to wait and pulled
out. Lee followed him just outside the
door. “Keep a close eye on her, Lee.”
“I had the same
thought. That feeling I had. Things just went our way, but I don’t feel
completely settled about it.”
“It was rather
a clunker. Maybe it’s because we weren’t
there for the ending?”
“Maybe,
although I’m glad I missed it.
Hmmm. Looks like Rachael’s
personal master-at-arms hasn’t been called off yet.” Lee scratched his chin wondering.
Chapter 37 - An Unexpected Turn
Lee showered
and changed after assurances from the master-at-arms that he would not leave
without letting Lee know first. Lee was
pleased to see that Rachael had not tried to take advantage of the opportunity
to flee. Roger returned an hour later
with clothes that suited his gal pal well.
Rachael went off to clean up and change, leaving the men alone.
“I think I
could use you as my personal shopper too.”
“You might not
like what I attract for you so much, pal!”
“Hey, you’re
the one who always seems to have a beautiful girl nearby. Me, I only have the gray lady. She’s beautiful in her own way, I suppose.”
“When do you
sail again?”
“I don’t
know. What day is today?”
“Just been one
long one, it feels.”
“Next Tuesday,
if all is on schedule.”
“Some great
leave you’ve had!”
“It all worked
out. Got to spend quality time with you
sifting through phone records and receipts.”
“Quality time
with Rachael too. Think you two will
stay in touch?”
“Why wouldn’t
we?”
“I’m sure
you’ll come up with something.”
“What’s that supposed
to mean?”
“It’s not a
personal attack, just an observation.
You have trouble maintaining relationships with women. It’s inevitable given what you do. What sane woman would wait around for you to
visit every two to six weeks and give her a few precious minutes of your time?”
“Rachael’s not
sane. That could work in my favor.”
“Lee, be a
pal. Don’t even think about stringing
this along.”
“Excuse me?”
“For her
sake. She really needs some stability in
her life. I love you buddy, but I don’t
think you’re it.”
“I feel a
little hurt at that. Besides stability
is not my problem, availability is.”
“Forgive my
poor word choice, then. Listen to my
content.”
“Am I supposed
to just disappear, no contact at all?”
“No, I’m not
saying that. You know what I mean.”
“Well, maybe I
don’t like it then!” Lee threw a pillow
across the room.
Rachael emerged
dressed and sassy. “What the hell were
you two shouting about?”
“We’re fighting
over you, darlin’. I get dibs
tonight.” Roger glared at Lee.
Rachael glared
too, puzzled.
Lee had no
comment. Roger went to put some music on
the radio to distract them all.
Classical music.
“May I have
this dance, milady?” Roger took Rachael
in his arms. It was obviously a well
rehearsed routine between the two.
“May I cut in?”
Lee interrupted after thirty seconds.
Roger glared but yielded when Rachael nodded.
She pulled in
tight to Lee. “What’s going on between
you two?”
Lee whispered
back. “He’s afraid I’m going to
disappoint you. He may be right.”
“Don’t worry
about my big brother over there, Curly.
I have no expectations of you.
Not beyond tonight at least,” she winked.
Lee felt
himself relaxing suddenly. Saul came to
the door just before the dance ended. “I
see I missed the beginning of the party.
Hope you saved one for me.”
“Of course.”
“Later, I
meant. We have reservations.”
“Could we hold
up a minute, Saul? I think I speak for us all that I’d like tonight not to be
about Mel’s murder, but I did want to follow up on something.”
“Sure thing,
Lee. What’s on your mind?”
“Mel’s car, the
flat. Did Randall or Oliver do that?”
“No, Lee it was
pure dumb luck -- bad luck -- on your part.”
“Assisted by
Mel, no doubt,” Roger nodded. “She was
brutal on sidewalls.”
“Actually, I
have one last question for you, Roger, if you want to answer it,” Saul
said. “If Melanie had told you about
losing the baby, would you have, you know, donated your sperm or whatever?”
Roger looked
pensive. “You mean impregnate her the
old fashioned way? No, I doubt I could
have physically. I just don’t roll that
way, and if I’m being completely honest, even though I felt hurt by Mel’s
deceit, I can’t swear we’d have gone forward with any of it, baby making or
wedding if I’d known she lost the baby.
I liked Mel, I really did, and I wanted to help her, but without the
situation existing, I . . . I don’t know . . . so I guess I understand her
desperation a little.”
“It was a sad
situation all around,” Saul said, “but now it’s time to move forward. Come on,
we’re due at the restaurant in fifteen minutes.”
Except for
Saul, they all dug heartily into steak dinners. Afterward, Roger directed them to a hotel
bar with soft jazz. They took turns
dancing with Rachael. Lee couldn’t have
imagined such a pleasant evening after all that had happened during the week. As they waited for Rachael to return from the
powder room, Lee thought ahead to how he might enjoy the end of the
evening. Only the minutes stretched and
Rachael didn’t return. Saul asked a
waitress to check on Rachael. “She’s
gone.”
“Damn. How could we let our guard down like that?”
Lee asked.
“She helped us
do it. Set it up like the pro she is,”
Roger said.
“Where do you
think she went?” Saul asked.
“Not a clue,”
Roger said. Lee nodded in agreement.
“Do you think
she had something planned?”
“Yes,” Lee
admitted with embarrassment.
“What are the
odds of us finding her if that’s the case?”
“Zero,” Roger
said.
“Saul, we
hadn’t had a chance to bring it up, but what exactly is Rachael’s legal status
now?”
“After our
discussion with Ducky, I’d be more worried about her medical status. She needs to be weaned off the drugs. She’ll be highly unstable if she isn’t.”
Lee and Roger
looked knowingly at each other. “She
hasn’t exactly been stable on them, Saul,” Roger said.
“I know
that. It could get worse, however.”
“What can we
do?”
“Bulletins to
airports, bus and train terminals. Not
much else.”
“She doesn’t
even have an i.d. or any cash.”
“Which means
she’s got to steal something . . .”
“Or this is
prearranged,” Lee said. “Johnson. We should have expected him to make a play.”
“This fast?”
Roger said halfheartedly. “This fast,”
he sighed in acknowledgment.
Chapter 38 - Sacrifices
Lee, Roger and
Saul returned to base. Numerous phone
calls resulted in no information.
Admiral Johnson was “unavailable.”
They knew that wouldn’t change anytime soon. The men split up until morning.
Lee turned
sullen. Rachael was gone. He accepted full responsibility for it,
whether he bore it or not, and he didn’t like the fact one bit.
At midnight,
his phone rang. He picked up quickly,
certain it was Rachael.
“Lee, I saw the
news. Will you be home soon?”
“Um, yes,
admiral.”
“Sorry for
calling so late.”
“It’s okay,
sir. I’m happy to hear your voice”
“Been a tough
week, lad?”
“Yes, sir.”
“Will you be
heading home soon?” We got those new
contracts.”
“Good work,
sir. Yes. I suppose I’ll head back tomorrow.”
“You don’t
sound very happy about it. Want to
talk?”
“It’s . . .
it’s complex.”
“Right, Lee,
because I can’t handle complexity.”
“Not
intellectually complex. Emotionally
complex.”
“I’m all ears.”
“I can’t just
now.”
“Okay, when
you’re ready, I’m here.”
“Thanks,
sir. It’ll be good to get home. Back to normal.”
Lee hopped into
the shower. He headed to bed. As bone weary as he was, he still reached out
expecting her there. Stupid, he
self-chastised. Whatever had happened,
he was headed back to his boat, his lady, at the end. Why should that bother him now? Oh yes, because Roger had waited. Rachael had waited. Too long.
Both had been denied the futures they’d imagined and lost them. Lee also kept waiting. There was work to do. Adventures to be had. Only room for one steady lady. It was a choice. A lonely choice, it seemed at the moment, but
one he’d rarely regretted. How long, he
wondered, before that would change, before life would change things irrevocably?
Was what happened with Rachael just pity? Sympathy?
Or did Lee have wants and needs that he had deluded himself about? Did it matter? He didn’t make the choice. Rachael did, by leaving. Without a word. Why did it bother him so?
Lee eventually
drifted off to sleep. He awoke at his
customary time and put the coffee on. He
drank it alone. No one drifted in
attracted by the smell. At 0700, Roger
called.
“I’m heading
back to D.C.. I’ve been reactivated.”
“I guess that’s
good.”
“More like a
miracle after Randall Mattingly’s confession.”
“I was worried
about that.”
“Saul edited
his official report a lot. He said Dick
and Doris didn’t even believe the nonsense that Randall had spouted. They told him they would never say anything
about it to anyone. I made their
daughter happy and that was all that mattered to them. Good folks.”
“I hope they
meant it.”
“Hey, it’s just
one more ticking bomb in my file! I
think I’m going to get to work on an exit strategy soon. In the meantime, a man needs to earn a
living.”
“You think
Rachael’s there?”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“Because I’ve
been reactivated. Johnson wants to keep
me close. Just in case, I suspect.”
“Tell her . . .
tell her that she has options.”
“You are not an
option. Rachael and I do not lie to each
other.”
“Roger . . .
don’t make decisions for us. Think
about it, please.”
“Okay. You were there for us. Went off a mountain for me, I suppose. I won’t forget that, I promise.”
“Don’t. Keep in touch.”
That was
it. Lee headed home. His condo was fixed up like new. Many thanks were owed to Sharkey. The only flaw was how empty it seemed. Lee sat on the balcony nursing a beer for
lunch. It wasn’t even one of his. Sharkey left one over. It wasn’t very good, but it was there. Lee hadn’t the energy to shop, nor the
incentive. Chip was coming over to take
Lee to dinner, at Nelson’s insistence, Lee suspected. Tomorrow and after he’d be at the Institute
for meals. The pattern of his life would
quickly resume. He felt at once
reassured by that fact and also threatened.
What would be there for him in three years? Five years?
He drifted off
in the lounge chair watching the surf.
He barely heard the doorbell. By
the time he got there, the courier was gone.
A thick manila envelope leaned by his door. Lee retrieved it. Inside was a videotape and another
envelope. He emptied the package onto
the coffee table. A small note fell
out. “Curly, be more careful next time!
XOXO.”
Lee popped the
videotape in as he sat on the couch and opened the envelope. Lee’s hand came to his brow as he saw the
tape. He stopped it. He didn’t need to see more. He poured out the contents of the inner
envelope. Stills of the video. Another note:
“Thanks for everything, sailor.”
How foolish he’d been. That club.
The coke he’d bought for Screaming Mimi, the lines he’d pretended to
snort. It was all caught on film, bereft
of evidence of his innocent intent, and not catching his subtle disposal of the
lines into his handkerchief and, later, the trash. He’d left himself wide open. Johnson didn’t hesitate to use it. He’d used Lee against Rachael just as he’d
used Roger. Lee hung his head in his
hands. “I might as well be an
amateur. Damn him!” Lee tossed a pillow at the T.V.. It didn’t make him feel better.
Lee tried to
see the positive. Rachael was accepting
of Johnson, even forgiving. Maybe
whatever she was doing was what she really wanted. Yeah, right.
Lee didn’t believe it. In fact,
he began to doubt everything Rachael had told him about her relationship with
Johnson that last day. It felt like a
set up for this. She was doing whatever
she needed to protect her friends. Cost
had ceased to matter to her after what she’d experienced in Kuwait. But how could Johnson sink so low? Lee pulled out the videotape from its casing
and tossed it along with the stills in the fireplace. He burned the reminders of his mistake
although he felt confident others still existed.
Lee’s thoughts
ran wild for an hour. No solutions came
to him. Roger had been right. Lee wasn’t an alternative for Rachael in any
kind of realistic way. It didn’t stop
Lee’s aching for her sacrifice or for what he might have lost himself. At last Lee let it go. Thinking what might have been was never
productive. He had his life, his
friends. He’d go on unchanged. Okay, a little changed. Probably no one would notice in a week, even
Lee. That made him feel a little sad
again. Only Chip’s arrival roused Lee
out of his funk.
“You look wrung
out. Want to talk about it?”
“No, I think
I’d rather be distracted.”
“Great. Let me tell you about those meetings in D.C.
I had to sub for you in. Enthralling.”
“You sealed the
deal. Good work.”
“I’d have
rather mopped the poopdeck.”
“We don’t have
a poopdeck.”
“Which shows
how desperate I became.”
Lee
smiled. “I missed you.”
“Hey, at least
you got lucky.”
“How did you
know?”
“Because you
look so lost now.”
“It’s that
obvious?”
“Yes.”
“What am I
supposed to do?”
“Besides
finding that mythical perfect sailor’s wife?
Beats me.”
“You found a
great gal.”
“With a supportive
family of her own plus my own gigantic clan to help, yes.”
“I don’t have
the same playing cards, is that what you’re saying?”
“That and you
have more responsibilities. You aren’t a
shirker. You could work on that some,
you know.”
“I don’t think
your wife would appreciate it.”
“There are
others. We’re getting older, Lee. The next generation has to learn to take
over.”
“Or be taken
over.”
“Let’s not go
there. It’s been a while. I’m hoping those days are past. In fact, maybe we just imagined them.”
“Maybe.”
“Want to head
out to dinner?”
“I suppose.”
Lee let Chip
carry the conversation for the evening:
the meetings, the boat, another child on the way.
“Another
blue-eyed blonde,” Lee muttered. That
somehow led Lee to imagine Rachael, her wild red hair flying as she held a
small boy in her arms. Except in the
next image there was a bleeding bullet hole in the child’s back, the color of
his blood clashing with Rachael’s hair.
“Hey, where did
you go, buddy?”
“No place
good.” Lee tried to shrug it off.
“I think what
you need is sleep.”
“I could stand
to catch up.”
Chip dropped
Lee off at home. Lee headed straight for
the bedroom, but a red blink from the answering machine caught his eye.
“Lee, it’s
Roger. I guess she’s okay. I got an interesting package from her
today. It was posted from D.C., so
hopefully I’ll track her down soon.
There’s not much question that she’s back under his thumb. Call me soon.”
“Hi Lee. It’s Saul.
I got a call from Ducky, Dr. Mallard that is. He ran into Rachael at Walter Reed. He knows her doctor and consulted. He thinks she’s being treated
appropriately. I asked him to keep an
eye on her if he could. He seemed quite
intrigued by the proposition. He’s a
good man for her to have in her corner, so I guess I’m suggesting that you
shouldn’t worry too much. Telling myself
that at least. Anyway, thanks for all
your hard work. I don’t think she’d have
made it through without all of us supporting her. I had hopes that I could convince her to
break free of Johnson and come on board at N.C.I.S.. I think she’d be a great asset. I don’t know that I’ll ever get the chance,
but well, if you have any opportunity to put a bug in her ear . . . well, you
know what I mean. It was good to meet
you and work with you. Don’t be a
stranger.”
Lee left the
messages on the machine. He’d listen
again tomorrow for any nuances his tired brain might have missed. He peeled off his clothes, prepped for bed and
quickly fell into a hard sleep clutching a pillow between his outstretched
arms. When he woke in the same
position, he felt sad that what lay between his arms was only a pillow.
Chapter 39 - News Arrives
Two weeks
later, Admiral Johnson publicly announced he would be retiring in two
months. A week after the retirement
date passed, Lee received a letter from Roger as well as a parcel posted from
D.C. with no return address. Lee opened
the parcel first. He found a note and an
inner envelope.
“Curly, the
cupboards have been emptied. No more
worries.”
The inner
package contained a file of photos and negatives as well as assorted
reports. There were things that Lee had
never thought of as incriminating, but which out of context could be
interpreted as such, including the negatives of the stills from that club. Lee knew that Roger would have received an
even bigger package.
Lee’s emotions
were mixed. On the one hand, he was
relieved. If Johnson had unleashed
pictures of him appearing to snort cocaine, Lee might have lost his
command. Nelson would have believed
Lee’s explanation, but the Navy ultimately had the power to remove him from the
ship. Nelson’s nuclear sub operated at
the indulgence of and -- face it -- ultimately under the command of the
Navy.
Lee also felt
rage at Johnson for using Rachael as he had, to protect her friends, as he
stockpiled weapons of blackmail and control.
He was mad at Rachael too, for having sacrificed herself for him and
Roger.
Lee decided not
to dwell on it further. He burned the
evidence and moved on to Roger’s letter.
A Washington Post newspaper photo clipping from four days earlier fell
out as he unfolded the letter. The
photo of was of Johnson and Rachael dressed in formal wear. The text:
“Just married: Admiral Robert
Johnson, USN (ret.), and Lt. Commander Rachael MacAdam, USN. Wed in a private ceremony, the newly retired
admiral and his bride, now on reserve status, plan to travel extensively in the
next several months.” Lee sighed and
inhaled deeply before he read Roger’s note.
“Lee, by now
you’ve heard from her as have I. You’re
probably as mad as I am at the two of them.
That said, I wanted to let you know -- for your own comfort in the days
ahead -- that things are not entirely what they seem. I trust her with my life and you should too.”
Lee scratched his head at the crypticness
of Roger’s message. He was tempted to
call him, but knew better. Roger had
revealed all that he would for the time being.
Lee’s life
continued on its normal course, work and more work. Chip toiled desperately at finding fix ups
for Lee, but even though Lee had expressed a desire for what Chip had, Lee
didn’t show much interest in seriously pursuing a relationship. Chip couldn’t help but wonder what it
meant. Had Lee been so hurt by what had
happened that he was unwilling to risk it again? Or had he accepted that he wasn’t willing to
change his life for that particular want?
Lee wasn’t talking, however, so Chip let it drop.
Six months
after Roger’s wedding fiasco, during a layover in Peru, the command crew
visited the American embassy. Inside,
Lee observed Nelson roll up a newspaper and stuff it in his briefcase. Lee found it odd because Nelson glanced
toward him as he did it, but said nothing.
Lee dismissed the act by assuming Nelson read something interesting that
he ultimately decided wouldn’t appeal to Lee.
Back on the boat that evening, Harry invited
Lee to meet him in the front porch for a drink.
Harry poured Lee two fingers of scotch without asking.
“What’s up,
sir?”
“That
transparent, am I?”
“We’ve served
together for a long time.”
Harry
nodded. “I, uh, came across something in
Stars and Stripes when we were at the embassy.”
“Why not show
it to me there?”
“I wanted you
to feel free to react naturally to it.
Page 23.” Harry handed over the
paper and waited for Lee to read. “He
lost his entire family in a car crash years ago. Still, I’m surprised at this age he would
start over with children.”
Lee smiled
thinly. “I guess he had her back after
all.”
“What do you
mean?”
“Rachael wanted
children, but after Kuwait, it wasn’t a physical possibility. Given her mental health history since then,
traditional adoption routes wouldn’t be an option. Johnson could take that out of the equation,
I suppose.”
“Yes, he
could. He is talented at both collecting
and suppressing information.”
Lee nodded
knowing only too well. “I’m happy for
her.”
“Lee, there’s
something else. Look closely at that
picture.”
Lee studied
it. “Rachael looks happy.”
“No, look at
Johnson.”
“I’ve seen him
look better. He’s thinner than I’ve ever
seen him.”
“There are
rumors that he isn’t well. That’s why he
retired when he did.”
“Sorry to hear that,
I suppose.”
“Kind of odd to
adopt a child if that’s the case, don’t you think?”
“If you want
the truth of it, sir, I suspect it was part of an arrangement between
them. I’m just glad he kept his
word. You never know with him.”
“I suppose that
I’m being a little too subtle, lad.”
“I guess
so. What am I missing?”
“You know I’m
not one for spreading gossip or innuendo, Lee.”
“Yes, sir, I
know.”
“Johnson’s
duplicitousness may run deeper than you know, kind of an ingrained way of life
for him. I don’t say this in a
judgmental way, Lee.”
“Understood. I’m all ears.”
“There are
those who’ve speculated through the years that Johnson was in the closet.”
Lee’s head
snapped. “I -- uh - I never thought it.”
“He never
remarried. Never dated again as far as
anyone could tell.”
“He wouldn’t be
the first guy accused of being married to his work. It doesn’t mean anything about his sexual
preferences.”
“Lee, I guess
I’d just better spit this out. I made
some calls after I saw this. The rumor
is that Johnson has AIDS, that he retired to avoid a scandal and minimize
fallout.”
“I don’t see
it. If that was the case, why would he
marry Rachael?”
“I can’t answer
that. I can’t speak to what their
relationship entails. My only concern is
for your welfare. If she put you at risk
. . . .”
Lee knocked
back a swig of scotch as he processed Admiral Nelson’s concerns. Lee’s mind swirled with confusion. He just shook his head at his thoughts,
coming to no consensus. Then he
remembered Roger’s letter.
“I don’t think
so, sir. Rachael’s more the kind to take
the risk herself than to expose someone else.”
“Something you
two share in common,” Harry smiled.
“Still, there are tests now. You
might consider that for peace of mind.”
“For the safety
of the crew too, yes, sir, I have no problem doing that.”
“I didn’t think
you would.”
Chapter
40 - Fallout
Lee did follow
through with H.I.V. testing in the next month and was scheduled to repeat the
test in another six months, just to be cautious. In the interim, Roger called.
“I heard from
Rachael, a quick call from Thailand.
Johnson’s in a private hospital there.
It won’t be long. She figured
you’d heard by now and asked me to tell you that you had no cause to worry.”
“You could have
been a little more upfront with me before, Rog.”
“I told you
before that I never completely got her relationship with him, the nature of
it. His generation worked so much harder
to hide it, and honestly, once I got a hint, I never knew if he ran both ways
or just one. I did kind of wonder that
he protected me through the years, but then again, he also used it against
me. Kept me off balance that way. In retrospect, I can see that Rachael served
as window dressing for both Johnson and me.
Funny that makes me feel a little jealous, that she was protecting him
just like she did me.”
“Try to think
of Johnson as more of a father figure to her if that helps.”
“That’s closer
to the truth than you know, buddy.”
“Yeah, well, I
feel relieved to get images of them that way out of my head. That was bad enough without the threat of
deadly illness.”
“There’s a
lesson there for us all, buddy.
Everybody on my side of the street may not take the necessary
precautions, but we know we should. Your
side too.”
“Lesson
learned. You doing okay?”
“How much
detail do you want?”
“As much as
you’re comfortable sharing.”
“Life is good
right now, real good. I met a guy. I think he’s a keeper. It’s something that I want to pursue and I
don’t want to do it in hiding, so I’m resigning my commission. I’m taking a civilian position with N.C.I.S.,
thanks to Saul.”
“That’s
wonderful. Next time I come to D.C., I
expect an introduction.”
“How about you,
Lee?”
“Same old
routine.”
“You might
think about change too. Find a family
before it’s too late.”
“I have an
enormous family, my crew. It’s enough
for me.”
“Liar.”
“As long as I
believe it, it’s good.”
“Okay, keep in
touch. I’ll let you know if I hear
anything more from her.”
“Not
necessary. Keep me posted on you. If she wants to keep in touch with me, we can
skip the intermediary.”
“Fair enough.”
Three months
later, Lee was returning from yet another grueling six weeks at sea. Parts kept breaking, delaying the conclusion
of the mission and canceling shore leave twice.
Tempers flared among crewmen and even a little amongst the command
staff. Even Bobby O’Brien, the most
even-keeled of them all had gotten edgy.
Lee was relieved to arrive home, finally escaping them all. As he entered, his phone was ringing. The machine picked up before Lee could get
to the phone. “Hey, skip. It’s Sharkey . . . .” Lee dropped his bag and hurried to pick it up
even though he harbored dread at hearing Sharkey’s voice so quickly after he’d
left the Institute.
“Sorry to
disturb you so soon, skipper, but not long after leaving the Institute two
ratings got into a bar fight with some two bubblegummers, one of whom pulled a
knife. Rettig is at L.A. General and
N.C.I.S. is holding Warder and the two navy twits in L.A.”
“Thanks for
letting me know, Chief.”
“You gonna do
anything about it, skipper?”
“I’ll check to
see how Rettig is faring and let their families know so they can get lawyers.”
“Is that all?”
“They’re not
children, Sharkey. They were off duty.”
“But sir, they
were, well, they were defending the honor of the Seaview. Don’t you think we owe them more than a phone
call or two?”
“What do you
mean -- no never mind, I’ll follow up.”
Lee saw no point arguing with Sharkey knowing Sharkey would just get
more worked up. Lee called information
for the N.C.I.S. phone number in Los Angeles.
He was both surprised and pleased to hear Saul Jackson take his call.
“I expected
that I’d hear from you or your admiral soon, Lee. How are you?”
“Fine. Tired.
I just came back from a hellaciously long mission.”
“So your rating
said.”
“How much
trouble are they in?”
“Less than the
other guys.”
“Are you going
to hold them?”
“One’s still at
the E.R., not too seriously injured from what I hear. The other, well, I’d prefer to release him
into the custody of a mature and guiding influence such as yourself.”
“Right now, I’m
just a tired curmudgeon.”
“I’ve seen you
rise to the occasion. Come on down. I promise I’ll make it worth your while.”
“Good luck with
that!” Lee snorted, knowing he’d go anyway.
His crew was his family after all.
“Can you give me some time for a shower and change? I literally just walked through my front door
when I got word.”
“Absolutely. Take your time and arrive in your dashing
best. Nothing would delight me more than
letting these guys sweat a little longer.”
Two and a half
hours later, Lee arrived at Saul’s office.
Saul warmly embraced Lee. “So
good to see you again.”
“Mind if I ask
what are you doing in L.A? Johnson’s
revenge?”
Saul shrugged
noncommittally. “It’s for the best. My wife’s family lives here and we’re
expecting. Plus this office is targeted
to focus more on international threats and counterintelligence than San
Diego. Less petty crime.”
“You mean like
the one you called me in for today?”
“Yes. Come on back.
We’ve been waiting for you before we take Warder’s official statement.”
“Wouldn’t
waiting for a lawyer have made more sense?”
“He said he
didn’t need one.”
Lee
grumbled. “Is coffee possible?”
“Absolutely.” Saul led Lee to a conference room. Around the table sat a stenographer, two
disheveled naval ratings, an N.C.I.S. agent whose name tag Lee couldn’t yet
read, and his crewman Warder.
As Lee sat
down, Saul deposited a cup of black coffee at his side. The two sailors looked at him and whispered
something between each other.
“You two
bubblegummers should be thrilled to know that Mr. Rettig is expected to
recover. Whether your careers are likely
to recover is a much more serious question,” Saul chided. “Now, to proceed with statements. Mr. Warder has volunteered to go first.”
“Uh, sure
thing, but does the skipper really need to be here? This might be kind of awkward.”
“Most assuredly
he does, sailor,” Saul said quickly covering his mouth with his hand to hide a
grin that Lee saw.
“Well, um, we’d
been out for six weeks, a long six weeks, and Rettig and I stopped at a bar to
blow off some steam before we headed home.
We hadn’t had any shore leave at all during that time. It got cancelled twice, not that we blamed
you, skipper.”
Lee nodded it
was all right; he understood.
“Well, we
stopped at this dive just off U.S. 1.
Didn’t know anything about it, which was our first mistake. Anyway, we order beers and these two
bubblegummers spot our Institute outfits and start cracking jokes about -- sir,
I really would prefer it if the skipper wasn’t here.”
“Just go ahead,
Warder. I don’t think anything you could
say will bother me that much,” Lee assured.
“Well, they
asked us if we were together, and as I said, we were beat and didn’t really get
what they were getting at, and Rettig told them we’d just got back from a long
mission on Seaview. Then they started
with the jokes about submariners.”
“What jokes,
son?” Saul asked with false earnestness.
“The stupid old
ones. ‘It’s not gay if we’re underway,’
right? And ‘is it true that 110 men go
out and 55 couples return?’ Lame middle
school shit.”
Now it was Lee
who suppressed laughter behind his hand.
“Then they
started going on about the captain and the admiral.”
“How so?” Saul
prodded.
Lee kneed Saul under the table as Saul covered
his mouth to hide his grin.
“Well, you
know. Neither the skipper or the admiral
are married. We, Rettig and I had heard those rumors before we were aboard, but
I swear, we’ve never seen anything
improper between ‘em, not that I’m judging or anything, what happens off
the boat. That sounded funny. I mean to say that I’ve never heard any one
say that they’ve seen anything like that between them on or off the boat.”
Lee was barely
holding it together then.
“You two
bubblegummers, what do you have to say for yourselves?” Saul asked.
“We were just
having some good natured fun. Didn’t
mean anything by it. Those guys just
took it too seriously. That Rettig has a
nasty left hook.”
“He was a
Golden Glove winner in high school,” Lee explained.
“Who threw the
first punch?” Saul asked.
Warder was
reticent to answer. The sailors quickly
offered “Rettig.”
“I don’t care
if he did throw a wicked left. Pulling a
knife was a ridiculous stunt, Montreat!” Saul scolded.
“I know,
sir. I overreacted when Lilburn went
down with a single punch.”
“Afraid you
were next?” Lee jibed.
No answer.
“What do you
think we should do with this lot, Captain Crane? Press charges?”
“I suppose that
depends on exactly how severe Rettig’s injury was.”
The door had
quietly slid open behind Lee during this exchange. “It was just a scratch on his arm. A couple of stitches and he’s fine.”
Lee whipped
around at the sound of the voice, then he sprang out of his chair. “Red!”
“Commander,”
she smiled.
“Saul, do you
mind if we step out a minute?”
Saul smiled
broadly. “Not at all, commander. Please do.”
The occupants
of the room sat silently waiting for the return of Captain Crane. All eyes except Saul’s were staring out the
window moments later. Saul swung his
chair around a little to see what everyone was watching.
“Well,
gentlemen, and I use that term loosely, I think you can put a certain rumor to
bed, not that the truth or falsity of it was ever any of your business and it
certainly was no excuse for a fight!”
Saul then tapped on the desk impatiently. Lee and Rachael were clenched together, some
serious tongue kissing underway. Saul
went to the door. “May I remind you,
Special Agent MacAdam, this is a place of business.” Rachael and Lee broke off kissing but
continued talking outside.
“Hey, I’ll
pitch in for getting them a hotel room,” one of the sailors joked.
“You keep your
mouth shut. That should be lesson number
one you take away from today. The second
is never be so stupid as to pull a weapon when you can walk away! Now, subject to the recommendations of those
two, you’ll either be doing time in the brig or just getting a write up.”
Lee and Rachael
entered the room.
“Do I hold them
or spring them?”
“Spring them,”
both said.
“You two dumb
shits better appreciate what just happened.
Think twice before you open your big mouths or go judging anyone. Get them out of my sight,” Saul directed his
other agent. “You can go too,
Warder. I’ll let your captain deal with
you, although I have a feeling he’s lost interest.”
“Go home,
sailor. Stay out of trouble until you
report back or don’t report back. Got
it?”
“Yes, sir,
captain. Thank you, sir.”
“Tell Rettig
the same for me.”
Saul, Lee and
Rachael were left alone in the conference room. “I suppose some explanations are in order,”
Saul said.
“No, that’s all
right,” Lee said.
“Well, I had
been thinking of giving Rachael the rest of the day off, but if it’s not
necessary . . . ”
“She’ll take
it,” Lee volunteered quickly.
“All
right. I’m leaving. I’ll see you in morning, Rachael.”
Chapter
41 -- Reunions
“Would you like
to have this conversation someplace less official?” Rachael asked.
Lee nodded.
“Come on. I’ll show you my new digs. Don’t expect much. I just got here last week.”
“I guess I can
overlook you not calling me in that time.”
“I did. You were at sea.”
“You could have
left a message.”
“You want to
catch up this way? What I didn’t do?”
“Sorry, I’m
worn a little thin.”
“I’ll say. What say we pick up some food on the way?”
“White pizza?”
“I don’t know
where to find one in L.A. yet.”
Lee
smiled. “I do.”
They took the
pie back to a minimally furnished apartment in West Hollywood. “Hola, Carolina, estoy aqui!”
A woman came
out of hallway and spoke rapid fire Spanish to Rachael before leaving. “Come on, Lee, come see him.”
Lee looked at
the baby sleeping the in crib. “He’s
beautiful. What’s his name?”
“Roberto Roger
Lee MacAdam Johnson.”
“I’m only third
in the list?”
“Hey, I’m
fourth and you’re the only one in the list I ever slept with.”
“Distinction
enough, I suppose.” Lee leaned down to
kiss Rachael’s head.
“Let’s take
this out of here, so we don’t wake him.
Carolina just got him down a few minutes ago.”
It was only a
few minutes until Lee and Rachael were down too, on her bed. Lee went to reach for his wallet before they
continued.
“I don’t mind,
Lee, but I’m clean. After Kuwait, well,
I was tested a few times. There’s only
been you since.”
“That whole
history about you and Johnson that you gave me the day you disappeared, it was
bull, just a set up for your leaving, right?”
“Yes. Johnson was keeping tabs on Saul’s
investigations. He knew I was about to
be exonerated. I had orders to pull out
after it happened and orders what to tell you.
It was in all our best interests.”
“You mean
considering that Johnson was basically blackmailing all of us?”
“He suffered
more than his share, Lee. You’re a big
enough man to forgive him.”
Lee
nodded. “I suppose, but I’ve got some
crewmen who bore my grumpiness for a few weeks after you disappeared who might
not be so generous.” Lee set his wallet
aside and resumed kissing Rachael before moving on to other things. Afterwards, he fell asleep.
Lee awoke
slightly disoriented until he processed the sounds of a baby gurgling outside
the room. Lee pulled on his pants and
his undershirt before he headed out to the living room. He watched Rachael and the baby from the
hallway. A smile erupted on Lee’s
face. “This is good. Care to introduce us now that we’re both
awake?”
“Certainly! Roberto, this is your Uncle Lee. From him you can learn to be a fine,
upstanding gentleman. You can trust him
with your life.”
“Roberto, it is
my pleasure to meet you. I can only hope
to live up to your mother’s description should you allow me to be a part of
your life.”
“You know he
doesn’t get any of this, Lee?”
“I know. It’s just our way of having that
uncomfortable discussion that neither of us really wants to have.”
“I don’t have
any expectations of you, Lee. You should
know that. I mean, I would like for
Roberto to have some strong male role models in his life, like Roger and Saul,
and you, if you’re game.”
“It would be my
pleasure. About us, however, would you
consider that maybe I want you to have some expectations? That maybe I might want you to?”
“What kind of
expectations?”
“Regular calls,
visits, dates?”
“You can’t do
that, I know.”
“I can try at
least, that is if you’re willing to work with me some.”
“I might call
this many things, Lee, but work, no.”
“I mean I can
see something more down the line potentially.
We can play it by ear, but I could see you as part of my other extended
family.”
“Then you
should know your Admiral Nelson was checking me out the last time we met.”
“That’s how you
know he’s a genius. This job, how
important is it to you?”
“Very. How many civilian jobs do you think call for
my talents? The pay is decent too.”
“Johnson didn’t
leave his money to you?”
“I didn’t marry
Johnson for the money. We kind of blew
through most of what he had by the end, between the trip around the world and
the private hospitals.”
“He didn’t
deserve you.”
“Yeah, like I
came without baggage!”
“He used and
manipulated you, just like the rest of us.”
“Welcome to the
world of intelligence. It didn’t bother
me like it bothers you. I’m not wired
that rigidly. Maybe that’s why you could
only be a part-timer.”
“Maybe. I need time to get over my anger between
assignments.”
“Johnson wasn’t
a bad man, Lee. He had his reasons. I didn’t like them all, but I respected his
judgment. He was like a father to me
from the day I came on board. We had a
special connection.”
“You knew he
was gay from the beginning, didn’t you?”
“Yes.”
“How?”
“My father
was. I recognized the tells, the
covers.”
“Your father is
dead, isn’t he?”
“Long ago. He couldn’t stand living a lie anymore and
wanted out of the marriage. My mother
tried desperately to hold on to the charade.
She threatened to ruin him if he left.
His suicide didn’t leave much room for that. I hated her for years for pushing him to
it. I almost skipped her funeral.”
“Did she know
when they married?”
“Yes, but she
convinced herself that she could change him.
He warned her. He gave her
everything they’d bargained for, but it wasn’t enough for her.”
“Sounds a
little reminiscent of things attributed to Melanie.”
“No need for me
to further blaspheme the dead, Lee. Her
parents didn’t deserve what happened.”
“Nor did she.”
“I concede
already. You’re right.”
“I didn’t
expect you to be so malleable to my will.
Maybe we could find you a job closer to Santa Barbara?”
“Nice try, but
no.”
“It’s going to
make it harder for us.”
“We’ll figure
out if it’s worth it soon enough. Hey,
do you know how to change a diaper?”
Rachael didn’t wait for a response, but thrust Roberto into Lee’s arms.
“That could be
one advantage of being at sea!” Lee said as he went off into the nursery to do
the deed. Afterward, Lee helped feed
Roberto, played with him and tried to put him down for a nap. The last part didn’t go so well.
“I’m still
practicing this part, too,” Rachael admitted.
“He likes singing and rocking until he’s out, but when you put him in
the crib he often startles awake.”
“I suppose
letting him cry it out is not acceptable?”
“Could you?”
”No.” Lee rocked him a while longer, humming, and
then set him down so gently that he never noticed the transition.
“You’re hired.”
“Let’s discuss
my salary.”
“All the pizza
you can eat.”
“That’s not
enough. Sweeten the pot.” Lee’s lips showed how he wanted that to
happen. Rachael was happy enough to
comply.
Chapter
42 - Epilogue
Lee returned to
Santa Barbara the next day. He headed to
the Institute to deal with some paperwork before he intended to return to L.A.
for a few days. Admiral Nelson caught him
before he could leave.
“Lunch, Lee?”
Lee looked at
his watch. “Sure, if it’s not a real
long one.”
They walked to
the cafeteria. “Planning on using some
of your leave for a change instead of working right through it?”
“Yes, sir.”
“Good. I hope you’ve got something fun lined up.”
Lee smiled, but
didn’t share. They settled into a
private dining room and gave their orders to a waiter.
“Lee, I want
you to know that after long and difficult consideration, I have decided to
pursue financing for a sister sub to Seaview to be based in the Atlantic. She’ll be significantly smaller and carry
only minimal defensive weapons. She’ll
be faster and more maneuverable than the Seaview.”
“I know it’s a
tedious process, sir, but I’m glad to hear it.”
“I’ve been
working on it since that last Atlantic cruise.
I did listen to you, even if I didn’t like the message.”
“What about it
troubles you so?”
“Besides the
hassle of making it happen? The
implications for the crew. Change,
lad. I like things the way they
are. I have a great comfort level with
you and Chip both here. I know that I
can’t uproot Chip’s family to the East, so I rather assumed you would go. I’m not sure I’m ready for that.”
“It wasn’t
about me personally, admiral. Frankly, I
never thought through those sorts of details.”
“Now you’ll
have to.”
“O’Brien is
more than ready and capable to captain his own ship.”
“That’s a
relief to me,” the admiral smiled.
“Well, a few
months ago, I might have given you a different answer.”
“I’ve noticed
changes in you. Care to let me in on
them?”
“That whole
incident with Roger and Rachael put my mind in a new place. Well, not exactly a new place, but it
highlighted the fact that I’ve become a little more isolated than I’m
comfortable with.”
“There’s
nothing wrong with craving a family, Lee.”
“Only how to
make it work doing this job.”
“That’s the
challenge for certain. If and when you
want to take a stab at it, maybe we can get creative. You may have to give up some control, however.”
“I know. I don’t want to overwhelm Chip, though.”
“You can’t have
it all is what they say. Everyone
compromises to get the things they want.
For instance, I’d be willing to have you as a half-time captain rather
than not at all.”
“Half-time? How could we work that?”
“You and Chip
essentially share the load now. Let’s
say that as we get the Atlantic project off the ground, we alternate trips some
giving you and Chip both more time off.
We give O’Brien more opportunity to lead, groom two new execs, one for
each coast, and then by the time the Atlantic project is operating, you and
Chip should be able to regularly alternate trips. The devil will be in the details, but I’m
sure that we can work it out. When
you’re interested, that is.”
“Rachael’s
back. She’s living in Los Angeles,
working for N.C.I.S.. I just found out
yesterday. I saw her. I’m heading back there for a few days.”
“I guess we’ll
be working on those details soon, then.
I’m glad for you. She’s very
self-sufficient. I think that bodes well
for maintaining a relationship in your current circumstances.”
“Why do I feel
like I just got my father’s approval?”
With a twinkle
in his brilliant blue eyes, Harriman Nelson unleashed a broad smile and a wink
to answer to Lee’s question.
The End
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