Chapter 11
LOGAN
C arter's dusty boots appeared by the right front tire as Logan slid underneath the second L-ATV truck of the morning. He rubbed his hands on his uniform to improve his grip.
"Yeah, I've got the maintenance checklist ready," Carter said. "Do you see any fluid leaks or wet spots in or around?—"
"Goodman!"
Logan jerked at the sound of his name, momentarily grateful he was under the newer, higher clearance vehicle. With the old HUMVEEs from basic training, he'd have probably brained himself.
"Down here!" Logan pushed out from under the vehicle to see First Lieutenant Parker approaching. He climbed to his feet and stood at attention. "What's up, sir?"
"With me," Parker said. "Carter, you can get this beast by yourself for a bit?"
"Uhm, yeah. No problem, sir," Carter replied. "Take your time, we'll get it done either way."
Logan exchanged a glance with his roommate, who shrugged as Logan followed the lieutenant across the motor pool. In a secluded corner of the fenced area, Lieutenant Parker turned to him.
"I was just up at battalion HQ, and I'm going to do this unofficially before anything formal comes. Hopefully we can cut this off before it becomes an official headache."
Logan's internal alarms went off. Lieutenant Parker was invoking unofficial channels—the sort of behind-the-scenes maneuvering that could either save your career or end it. The fact he was doing this at all meant trouble.
"What's going on, sir?"
"Battalion got a call this morning from Garrison Command," Parker said. "A National Guard lieutenant called up, saying he got jumped by an active duty guy Saturday night at the bowling alley."
Logan kept his face impassive. "Oh."
"Now, he didn't have a name, just a description. 'Bout six feet tall, black hair, heavy metal t-shirt. Said this guy tried to start shit in the parking lot."
"The fuck I did!" Logan growled before shutting his mouth. "I mean?—"
"Luckily, there's no security camera footage at the bowling alley," Lieutenant Parker said, pointedly ignoring Logan's outburst. Chastised, Logan let out a long breath, and when he was silent, Parker continued. "Garrison doesn't worry about it since there's nothing classified in a bowling alley."
Logan nodded, hearing what Parker was saying without him saying it. "So... what now, sir?"
"Well, that depends on what you and I talk about right now," Parker admitted. "Apparently this guy doesn't know that you're active duty. Because this guy's looking for someone to be arrested and court martialed."
"You've got to be... fine," Logan growled, taking a deep breath and regaining control of his emotions. "Yeah, it was me and this guy. How'd you know?"
"How many other six foot tall metalheads with black hair were stuck on post over the weekend? Especially ones that didn't get back to the barracks until two in the morning?" Parker's eyebrow arched. "I want to know what happened."
Logan nodded, knowing he'd already said enough to get himself in trouble. He had to lean on Parker now if he was going to avoid major trouble. "Okay, sir. So, I went to the alley. Sergeant Carson said it was pretty much the only thing open on post late at night."
"Late's a relative term, but go ahead."
"I gave him my keys like he told me to, and walked. When I got there, I ordered a burger, fries, and a pitcher of beer. I wasn't planning on tying one on, but it was warm, and a pretty decent walk from the barracks."
"And how much did you drink?"
"About two thirds... throughout the whole night," Logan said. "So maybe the equivalent of four or five beers over the course of four hours. After putting in my order, I found out it was karaoke night. I sat back and listened to the performances."
"That could have been painful," Parker commented, and Logan shrugged. "Did you sing?"
"No sir. I can, but wasn't in the mood," Logan said. "But one of the singers, she got booed by a trio of asshats at one of the tables. The girl blew it off, but it was pretty rude. So I went over to her, told her that I thought she sang well. She did, by the way."
Parker nodded. "Hmmm. And then?"
"The three guys pushed the issue," Logan continued.
"Thought it'd be funny to come up to a girl after she'd already finished and tell her that her music and singing sucked.
All three smelled like they'd had more beer than I had, but weren't falling down drunk.
Just asshole drunk. When I told them to back off, one of them tried to get in my face.
Wanted my name and rank, tried to flex on me.
I told him fine, I wanted his in return and we could go talk to the IG about it. "
Parker lifted an eyebrow. "Are you a barracks lawyer, Goodman?"
"No sir, but I know enough to understand I was off duty, this guy was in civvies too, and that we weren't doing anything related to our military status.
" Logan's jaw tightened with the memory.
"Even if someone wanted to pin disrespecting an officer on me, I had a strong claim against him for sexual harassment, bullying, maybe conduct unbecoming.
That last one would hurt his career a lot more than anything would damage mine. "
Parker chuckled. "Continue."
"The trio backed off after my threat, and I thought that was the end of it.
So I went back to my night, stuck around because the alley's a lot more interesting than the barracks on a Saturday night.
I finished my burger and my beer, played a bit of pool.
To be honest, sir, it felt good to not be called Hollywood for a few hours, or to have my failings described in detail. "
"Are you saying Sergeant Adams is being too tough on you?" Parker asked, and Logan shook his head. "Good."
"Sergeant Adams and I have an understanding.
.. I think," Logan said, recalling their conversation in the laundry room.
"Sir, I hung out in the alley and stopped drinking around ten o'clock.
I was steady and sober by the time I left.
Then when I went outside, the guy was there, alone.
And he wasn't sober, he'd still been drinking.
Where he got the beer I don't know, but he tried to start some shit with me.
I told him I didn't want any trouble, but he threw an empty beer bottle at me, and threw the first punch. "
"You swear you did not throw the first punch?" Parker asked, his voice deep and intense. "Goodman, if you're lying, and I find out, the JAG Corps is going to be the least of your worries."
"On my personal honor sir, I didn't throw the first punch. I decked him in the solar plexus and tried to walk away. He then tried to jump me from behind and I hit out blindly..." Logan winced. "That was a low blow."
"I see now," Parker said, amused but also shaking his head. "You wounded more than his pride, you literally took his manhood."
"I didn't start anything, sir," Logan said, not proudly but not ashamed, either. "And no offense to you, I know you're an officer and that means something. But if I had to do it over, I'd have put him down again."
Logan knew he was hiding information. First and most importantly was Sabby. Defending her might have been okay, but having sex with her on top of a pool table wasn't. He didn't want to cost the girl her job because of one drunk stupid National Guard officer.
"Then where'd you go?" Parker asked. "The alley closes at eleven, you didn't get back for three hours. Where'd you go?"
"I walked, sir," Logan said. "Cooling off, you know? I wanted to just listen to my own damn head without any other influences for a bit."
Parker nodded. "Last question. The Guard lieutenant, you said he threw a beer bottle at you. Are you sure he was drunk?"
"He slurred his words, and the bottle he threw was a brown beer bottle. But I'm not a breathalyzer test." Logan took a deep breath. "So what now, sir?"
"Nothing, yet," Parker said. "Things are still informal since nobody at garrison HQ officially knows who you are.
They called battalion because they're checking with all the units on post. Luckily it was caught while I was up there and my buddy pulled me aside.
So I'll keep my ear out, see what develops.
But if something formal comes, there could be an Article 15 involved. "
Just the thought sent a shiver down Logan's spine. Loss of rank, pay, a stain on his record that would follow him for years.
"I understand, sir."
"Okay then," Parker said, sighing and rubbing a hand through his hair.
"For now, get back to work. I'll see what I can work out.
My unofficial opinion, you did the right thing.
They leave it to me, and I'd give you a counseling statement that would stay within the platoon.
But I can't say what others above my pay grade might want to do. "
Logan saluted and returned to work, where Carter was about halfway through the checklist on the L-ATV. But before he could do much more than ask where the rag was to check the oil, Sergeant Adams came over. "I just heard."
"What can I say, Sergeant?" Logan asked, a knot forming in his stomach. "The guy was being a harassing dickhead. Rank or no rank."
Adams sighed, and looked down at the ground, shaking her head. "Jesus Hollywood, you're giving me gray hair, you know that?"
"I don't mean to, Sergeant," Logan said. "But I won't apologize for protecting myself. Or sticking up for someone being bullied."
Adams nodded, and took a deep breath. "Yeah well, you might have just set the record for the fastest fuckup of anyone in the company. So watch your ass from now on. You fart sideways and someone's going to be coming for your ass, and I'm not just talking about me."
As Adams walked away, Logan leaned against the L-ATV, rubbing at his head.
"So what happened?" Carter asked as he came around. "I've never seen Adams like that before."
Logan gave him the thirty second version, and at the end Carter whistled. "Fuck, bro. Seriously?"
"Yeah. I wasn't trying to make shit difficult for Adams, you know."
"I know, and she knows too," Carter said. "But you might be hurting her career too. You get Article 15'd, that's going to reflect on everyone in your chain of command. That's the sort of shit that keeps a Sergeant from becoming a Staff Sergeant."
Logan groaned, his stomach twisting tighter. The last thing he wanted was to damage Adams' career. "I didn't think of that."
"Parker's a good platoon leader, and he'll work his angle," Carter assured him.
"He doesn't want that heat either. The man's got a reputation to uphold.
Just keep tight, keep your mouth shut other than within the platoon.
You don't even say shit around the barracks unless you're talking with me and the rest of the team. Especially Crews."
"Crews?" Logan asked, surprised. "Why?"
"There's a reason he's not in the fire teams," Carter said. "Fun guy to hang out with, but his mouth flaps in both directions. It's why he works directly for Top. Top doesn't put up with his bullshit."
Logan nodded in understanding, he knew the type. "Thanks."
"Not a thing," Carter assured him with a warm grin. "You'll get through this."
"Yeah... yeah," Logan said, grateful for the support. "Really, Carter. Thanks."
"No problem. Now, can your violent ass find a tire pressure gauge for me?" he said, kicking the right front tire. "We gotta check this thing's PSI."
* * *