Chapter 20 Cleo
Cleo
I know I’ve interrupted as soon as I step through the door.
Kit is on her bed looking at River, and River is on her bed looking at me.
I’m several hours earlier than predicted, but I just couldn’t wait any longer to talk to them as a group, and I figured lunch was as good a time as any.
I saw River and Kit go into the bunk, so I followed them.
In hindsight, I should have realised River was probably going to have a chat with Kit about last night.
“Oh, I’m sorry,” I say, but River waves me off.
“It’s fine, we were just talking.”
Kit looks from River to me and back. She looks like she’s trying to puzzle something out.
“I wondered if now was a good time to have that discussion,” I say to River, who bobs her head.
“No time like the present. Let me go to the dining hall and grab the other two. Might as well do it as a group.”
“Do what?” Kit asks, breaking from her inner musings.
River stands and walks towards me. “Cleo will explain. I’ll be back in a minute.”
She’s gone before either Kit or I can say another word. I’m suddenly aware of how quiet the room is. Turning back from the door where my gaze instantly followed River and her lovely bum, I meet Kit’s eyes and offer her a smile.
Then I realise I’m actually a little pissed at her. Remembering River’s whole demeanour this morning and how she laid into herself because of what Kit said, hits me with a jolt.
Stepping further into the cabin, I sit on River’s bed. Kit is still staring at me silently, and I wouldn’t be surprised if she’s waiting for me to comment. She’s about to get her wish.
“I’d like to have a word before River gets back, if that’s okay.”
She sighs and nods. “Sure.”
“River told me what happened between you last night. To some degree I appreciate your concern, and I know you were looking out for me, which I find a little odd, to be honest.”
Kit frowns. “Why would you find that odd?”
“Because I’m not your best friend. If anything you should have been giving me ‘the talk,’ warning me not to hurt River.”
“We both know—”
“Nothing,” I interrupt. “We both know nothing because this is something brand new to her. I’m not a stupid woman, Kit.
I know exactly what I’m getting into with River.
We spoke at length about it, and yes, it started off with River having a bruised ego, but I saw past that.
I saw underneath all the bravado and bullshit.
We’re not promising each other anything, but we are going to try, and I know it’s not under ideal circumstances.
I’m aware of the consequences and so is she. ”
“What about for the rest of us?”
“That’s what I want to talk to you all about, but for now I need you to understand the damage you caused last night, Kit. Not to me or my relationship with her, but to your friendship. She was devastated this morning.”
Kit shifts forward. “She really spoke to you about it? Like properly?”
“Yes. She doesn’t find opening up easy, but she did this morning. She let me in.”
Kit taps her thigh with her fingertips in silent contemplation. I’m happy to give her some time.
“Okay, that’s new,” she finally says. “River doesn’t talk about things, ever. It’s like drawing blood from a stone, so the fact she’s opening up to you is new and very out of character.”
“Have you ever considered the character she presents to you is just one layer of a very complicated person? Because that’s what I’m sensing.”
“I think you’re right. We’ve just been in the same routine for so long, it threw me when she said she was suddenly giving up the bachelorette ways of life to date. I just saw red flags…for both of you.”
“Understandable, because I saw them too when she first started talking about us dating. We both have baggage, and we both know it’s a one day at a time situation.”
Rubbing her forehead, Kit blows out a big breath. “I was way too harsh on her.”
“That’s for you two to discuss and move past. I just want you to know, she’s not strong-arming me into anything. I want to try this with her.”
Standing from her bed, she walks over to me and drops into a crouch. “Okay, then it’s time I did give you ‘the talk.’ She’s like my sister, and I love her. Please don’t hurt her, otherwise you’re gonna have a ship full of pissed off sailors after you.”
I grin and chuckle. “Aye, aye. Heard loud and clear.”
Noise from the hallways alerts us to River, Cheddar, and Boot’s imminent arrival. River narrows her eyes when she sees Kit crouched in front of me.
“Everything alright?”
“Absolutely,” I reply. Kit stands and makes her way over to River and pulls her into a giant hug. Boot and Cheddar exchange a look before grinning and piling on, too. There is a chorus of banter, laughter and playful scuffles before the group breaks apart and head to their respective beds.
It’s easy to see why these women are so close, and I’m more than happy to see the small rift between Kit and River close. I’m sure they will need a bit more time to forget, but they love each other, and that’s a bond not easily broken.
“So, why did River drag my arse away from my lunch?” Cheddar asks. She reaches into her locker and brings out a bag of Wotsits.
“Are you single-handedly keeping Walkers afloat?” I joke.
Cheddar gives me a cheesy grin. “Probably.”
“Enough about Cheddar’s weird crisp obsession. What’s going on?” Kit asks.
“Cleo has tapped into her inner Suranne Jones,” River says seriously.
Boot looks me up and down. “Nah, she’s too femme for Gentleman Jack.”
“I’m talking about Vigil,” River replies with a roll of her eyes.
“We’re not on a submarine,” Boot shoots back, looking increasingly confused. As am I. How they get anything done when they constantly wander off into these weird little side conversations is beyond me.
“I wasn’t being literal, Boot.”
“Maybe I can take it from here,” I interject before they carry on and we get nowhere. “I’m investigating something—”
“Oh, like Detective Silva, Suranne’s character,” Boot announces with a smile.
“Exactly. I think there’s something odd going on, and I think you four can help me.”
“Sounds exciting,” Cheddar mumbles through a mouth full of cheesy puffs.
“It’s to do with WO Benson,” I say quietly. They all exchange looks but remain quiet.
“I need any information you can give me. Who is he close to? Does he have a problem with anyone else on the ship?”
“Well, he reamed me out earlier for no bloody reason,” Kit says.
“Apart from Grey kissing his arse, the only other person I see him spending time with is Lieutenant Hardman,” Boot chimes in.
“How do you know that?” River asks.
“Ruby was moaning about it earlier, actually. Apparently, she got a bollocking off of Hardman for not having her beret on straight enough and Benson was there with him. She said they’re two peas in a twatty pod.”
“Sounds about right,” Cheddar comments.
River mentioned Hardman this morning as being Benson’s superior officer. He must be the one giving Benson free-range on the unofficial bunk inspections.
“River gave me a list of cabins Benson inspects in the morning. I’ve compiled a list of sailors who are in them. Can you look them over and mark anyone you know personally?”
“So more than colleagues?” Kit asks.
“Exactly.”
They spend the next ten minutes passing the list around and making marks against fellow sailors.
When it arrives back to me, another one of my suspicions is confirmed.
The bunk areas Benson is targeting all have at least one queer sailor attached to it.
Now, I know it’s not enough to prove what I think is going on, but it’s a start.
“Is there a queer officer on board?”
River looks to the side, searching her memory bank. “Lieutenant Pierce is gay, I think.”
“Oh, he is. He has a husband,” Cheddar confirms.
I make a note of his name. “Thank you, that’s really helpful.”
“You think Benson is a raging homophobe, don’t you?” Kit asks matter-of-factly.
Weighing up my options, I decide to tell them where my line of enquiry is heading. It would be super helpful to have more boots on the ground, so to speak. They have the ears of their crewmates and might be able to get more information out of them than me.
“I can’t say for certain without proof, but yes.
When I first heard of Benson doing bunk inspections I was curious.
I may not be completely up to speed with all things Navy, but I know enough to spot inconsistencies.
Add that to his campaign of terror against you guys, and now I find out other sailors who identify as queer, then yes, I think there is a pattern of homophobia. ”
“But his sister is gay,” River speaks up.
“It doesn’t mean he agrees,” Boot says with a shrug.
“Boot is right. We don’t know how he is with his sister.
I’m just following the evidence. Even if I’m proved wrong, Benson is still being given power beyond his rank.
I’m right in saying the Officer of the Watch is the person who should be doing rounds on an evening, right? That’s what you told me, River.”
She nods.
“Yeah, that’s right. It’s not every night because sometimes shit is happening, but usually that’s how it goes,” Kit says.
“So, for some reason, Benson is being allowed to inspect and punish his fellow crewmates when it isn’t his job. Why?”
They look between them, with questioning eyes.
“From what I’ve gathered so far, no other Warrant Officer is doing what Benson is.”
“We have two other Warrant Officer class 2 aboard. Benson is the only one in the engineering department,” River says.
“Yeah, but we have Warrant Officer Ripley who is a class 1, so why hasn’t he said anything?” Cheddar asks.
“That’s what I intend to find out. There are several people on this ship who should be aware of what’s going on. If they are, I want to know why they haven’t put a stop to it.”
“Are you sure you want to do this?” River asks. “I’m not saying it’s right, but I don’t want you getting in the middle of something, Cleo.”
“It’s my job,” I shoot back.
Holding up her hands, she leans away from me, and I instantly feel bad. “I was just asking.”
Laying my hand on her thigh, I give her a reassuring squeeze. “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to snap. I get a little defensive sometimes.”
“I just want you to be careful,” she replies, leaning into me.
“Oh God, gag!” Cheddar calls. Kit and Boot laugh, and River shoots them all glares. Her face starts to heat, and I can’t help but find it endearing. This is the first time she’s probably shown this side of herself with a woman to her friends.
With one more squeeze of her incredible thigh, I pull my hand away. We need to stay professional, and I don’t want River feeling uncomfortable with the attention she’s getting from her bunkies.
“So,” I say, pulling them back into the conversation. “Could you be my ears?”
“I’m in,” Cheddar declares. “That fucker has been a thorn in our sides for years now. I’m happy to have a chat with a few people to see if we can get some more information or evidence.”
“Thank you, Cheddar. That would be really great.”
“We’re all in,” River says. “We’ll need to be careful as to not tip him or Grey off that we’re asking about him.”
“Yes, please be careful,” I implore. “I do not want any of you getting into trouble.”
“Will you tell the captain?” Kit asks.
Nodding, I stand from River’s bed. “When I have enough evidence, and I know who is involved. For now we need to keep quiet, so when you’re asking around, try not to make it obvious, okay?”
“No worries,” Boot says. “Everyone in the department is used to talking shit about him and Grey.”
“What’s your next move?” River asks.
“I have some more interviews to conduct for the article. I think I might add Lieutenant Pierce to my list. See if I can prod about there. I want to know if Benson treats him as he does other officers.”
“Bloody hell, this is like Vigil,” Cheddar gasps, making us all laugh.
“I’m not here to make trouble for you or the Navy,” I begin, “but I also can’t sit by and do nothing when I see a problem.”
“We appreciate it,” Kit says. “I think I can speak for us all when I say the Royal Navy is our home. It’s not perfect, but we love it.”
“And I want you to continue doing what you love, without people like Benson targeting you.”
Everyone smiles and nods my way. River stands and walks me to the door. She pauses and looks over her shoulder. Three sets of eyes are staring at us with silly grins.
“About turn, ladies,” River calls. Her bunkies chuckle but turn their backs to us which isn’t easy considering they’re all sitting down.
Happy we’re not being watched, River turns back to me and grins. “Date two tomorrow night?” she asks quietly.
“I can’t wait.”
She hesitates for a second, but then leans in for a quick kiss.