28. Chapter 28
Chapter twenty-eight
Warlock
Ten days after I was taken into custody, I’m finally escorted to meet with my JAG for the first time.
“I’m Lieutenant Commander Hadleigh, the JAG assigned to your defense,” she introduces herself when I enter her office.
“You sure took your sweet time,” I grumble.
She’s somewhere in her early thirties, straitlaced and all business. Not a single dark hair out of place in her regulation bun. She gestures at the chair in front of her desk, and I take a seat.
“Navy bureaucracy doesn’t move quickly,” she tells me by way of explanation. Hadleigh flips open the file on her desk. “I read up on your career. Your record is impressive.”
I don’t respond. I lived it, I don’t need a recap. I don’t give a shit if she finds my record impressive or not, I’m only interested in what she’s going to do to end this bullshit case against me.
“The prosecutor believes he has ironclad evidence against you,” she tells me when I remain silent.
“Those men were beating and attempting to gang-rape a woman. What was I supposed to do? Turn a blind eye and walk away?”
“That’s our first problem. Their version of events is vastly different from yours. Their account is that one of them accidentally bumped into you and you lost control, attacking them for no reason.
“They also claim there was a previous altercation with them inside McQueen’s several weeks prior. They allege you attacked them due to a grudge and your animosity toward them.”
“They were harassing a waitress. The same woman they attacked. That first night, all I did was advise them it was in their best interest to apologize to her.” I don’t admit I made it crystal clear there would be severe consequences if they refused.
“I wouldn’t call what happened an altercation. I didn’t even raise my voice.”
“I’m less concerned with what you say transpired than what the prosecution can prove.” She sifts through some papers until she finds what she’s searching for. “Our second problem is that all four men come from money. One of them, Cyril Abernathy, is Brett Abernathy’s son.”
“Brett Abernathy? The tech billionaire?”
“The very same.”
“It’s common knowledge Abernathy is a parasite, and most of his business practices aren’t exactly kosher,” I remind her.
“Even so, the man is formidable and used to getting what he wants. And what he wants now, Master Chief, is your head on a pike.”
Listening to my JAG, it’s starting to sink in that Tallahassee might be the only person who can help me.
The problem is, it would thrust her back into the spotlight she’s been running from for three years.
Subjecting her to scrutiny and ridicule?
With her presumed reputation, she’ll be vilified all over again.
How could I be responsible for putting her through that?
To save myself, I’d have to throw Tallahassee to the wolves. How could I live with myself knowing I was responsible for that? But what other choice do I have when she might be my only hope?
Fuck me.
“Master Chief?” Hadleigh’s voice breaks through my disheartening thoughts.
I clear my throat, pretending I wasn’t lost in my own head.
“Look, those assholes are trying to leverage the situation by using Cyril’s billionaire daddy to avoid arrest. What about the woman?
She can testify about what happened.” Until I was absolutely sure we needed her to win this thing, and I discussed it with Tallahassee, I wasn’t going to give my JAG her name.
“They said she was with them voluntarily, and everything that happened was consensual,” Hadleigh tells me.
“She was not with them voluntarily, and I guarantee what they did to her was not consensual,” I growl, unable to keep the anger out of my voice.
Hadleigh ignores my outburst. “Your preliminary hearing is Wednesday afternoon. We’ll know more after the prosecution presents its evidence.
During the hearing, your only job is to listen, Master Chief,” she warns me.
“The prosecutor will present evidence, which will be reviewed by an investigating officer who will recommend the case be thrown out, amended, or sent to trial.
“I’m working all the angles on your behalf. In the meantime, I’ve secured your release from confinement.”
That’s the best news I’ve heard since this bullshit started.
“Command has issued a no-contact order with your team. You’re not cleared to operate and cannot be around them, but you can return to your normal routine. Don’t leave Coronado, Master Chief.”
Return to my normal routine. That’s laughable. I can’t operate. My team is off-limits, and I’m being charged with aggravated assault for protecting Tallahassee from being gang-raped.
There’s nothing normal about any of this.