Chapter 2 #2
“Today’s itinerary is on the top. You have fifteen minutes with Vice Admiral Maddox followed by a five-minute greeting with Rear Admiral Finger.
Your temporary aide, Lieutenant Commander Jeffrey Harrison, who is recovering from knee surgery, will show you to your new office and get you set up with your new computer and sat phone.
You are to have drinks and supper with Vice Admiral Maddox tonight.
If you’ve already made plans that conflict with those, discuss it with him. ”
“Thank you, ma’am.” Evan wanted to smile but withheld it. That was Marta. Always the efficient gatekeeper. When she returned to her work, he watched her in his peripheral vision.
Her age was starting to show, but, fuck, so was his. She was still a beautiful woman in her early fifties. Her dark brown hair draped stylishly over her shoulders, the ends curling under softly from her chin to her modest scooped-neck blouse. She’d always had a light, natural tan.
“Are you still surfing?” He hoped his casual question didn’t interrupt something important.
Her broad smile accented by laugh lines told him that he didn’t need to worry.
“Every chance I get, which hasn’t been often enough lately.
My beach time these days is usually yoga at sunrise.
” She stopped typing and stared at him for a long minute.
“Genevieve is in the class, too. In full disclosure, we often grab coffee together afterward. We’re friends.
Good friends. I know this transfer was quick, and rest assured, I haven’t mentioned it to her.
She didn’t mention it to me either, so I take it you didn’t call her or let Kylie know you’re moving here? ”
“No,” he admitted sheepishly. “I intend to call Kylie as soon as I get a free minute. I’m hoping we can go out for a drink in the next few days.” He waved the folder. “Can we schedule that in for me?” He smiled and hoped it softened his guilt.
The edges of her eyes tightened, accenting the fine fan lines in the corners. “You know,” she said very quietly, “the baby is due?—”
“Captain Hubbard.” The booming voice behind her drowned out her last words. “Damn, it’s good to see you.” Vice Admiral Trevor Maddox held out his hand for a shake then pulled Evan into his office.
Evan was still reeling. Baby? He must’ve misunderstood. Gen was having a baby? At her age? Was that even safe? Fuck. She was forty-two, no, forty-three years old. And when the hell had she remarried? And to who?
“Have a seat, Evan.” The vice admiral’s order severed Evan’s thoughts of his ex-wife. He took the chair across the desk from his mentor. “Thanks for getting out here so quickly. I hate leaving any position empty.”
“I usually prefer that my commanding officers have a few days at least for transition.” The Vice Admiral frowned. “I’m also sorry that there won’t be a formal change of command. Captain Desmond has already cleared out.” He scowled. “And good riddance.”
Evan hesitated, wondering if he should ask what happened, when the man wearing three stars on his shoulders sitting across the desk shook his head as he continued.
“Sometimes, I wonder how some of these douchebags get promoted. He had no management skills whatsoever. The men had lost their pride in the Trident and replaced it with an attitude of entitlement, and dickhead Desmond was the worst. That kind of shit rolls downhill so it’s no wonder the men were getting in trouble all over the world.
He’s made them believe that they are Gods and deserve anything they want, including women stationed in the same camp. ”
He shook his head again. “Everything you need to know is in that folder. Your eyes only.”
Fuck. This was not going to be pretty.
Evan quickly leafed through the stack of Nonjudicial Punishment summaries.
If most of these have been brought to him, he would’ve told the commanding officers to request a court-martial.
NJP was far too kind for some of the shit that these men were pulling.
These men got a slap on the wrist rather than years in jail.
He stopped at one the vice admiral had personally conducted.
“I know Commander Brenner. I can’t believe one of his men got in this kind of trouble and Brenner didn’t slap his ass in the brig.” Evan pulled the sheet of paper from the stack.
The vice admiral leaned back in his chair and let out a long breath.
“To be honest with you, I couldn’t decide whether to give Chief Huntley a medal or fry his ass.
Yes, he disobeyed a direct order. But, he took official leave, then, on his own dime, he flew to Costa Rica and single-handedly rescued the woman they’d accidentally left behind nearly a year before.
Their mission had been to rescue three nuns from the Los Moreco cartel, which they did.
It wasn’t until they were nearly home, they’d been told about the female doctor from the hospital run by Doctors Without Borders just outside their camp who’d also been taken. In truth, he completed the mission.”
The man Evan respected most in all the Navy rubbed his temples with the tips of his fingers then looked out the large windows toward BUD/S.
“I wish every man out there was more like him. He did the right thing. Unfortunately, he didn’t do it the Navy way.
But tell that to Dr. Madlen Lucine who was captured and tortured by the cartel for nearly a year, doing whatever she had to do to stay alive, praying for the day she’d be rescued.
” When he returned his gaze to Evan, his eyes slammed shut. “No one was going back for her.”
A soft beep filled the quiet room.
Vice Admiral Maddox inhaled slowly. “Speaking of Reece, he’s my next appointment. We’ll talk more tonight. This is going to require drinks. Maybe several.”
That was a dismissal if Evan had ever heard one. He rose and extended his hand. “Thank you, sir, for requesting me. I won’t let you down.”
“That’s why you’re here,” the vice admiral said as he walked him to the door.
As soon as Evan stepped into the outer office, Ms. Merkel held up her hand in the ‘stop’ gesture. She looked at the vice admiral but pointed to Evan.
“He needs to hear this.” She stood as though to make her point. “Captain Hubbard, I believe you already know Commander Brenner. Gentlemen, this is Chief Alister Roosevelt.”
“Ms. Merkel, are you making decisions for me?” The look on the vice admiral’s face was one Evan had never seen before. He couldn’t tell if the man was angry or about to laugh.
She cocked her head and gave him one of her killer smiles.
“Yes. Every day. That’s my job. I make sure you’re on time and on schedule in the most efficient way possible.
That courtesy extends to others as well.
Chief Roosevelt has been officially on leave for the past six hours but chose to report this to his commanding officer.
Let’s not waste any more of his precious vacation time repeating this disgusting story over and over. ”
When none of the men moved, she pointed toward the vice admiral’s office. “Sir, you have exactly twenty minutes for this meeting. I strongly suggest you get started.”
When the others filed in, Evan turned to Ms. Merkel. “What about my meeting with the executive officer?” He didn’t know much about Francis Xavier Finger except that he’d recently been promoted to one star. Rumor had it that he was headed to the Pentagon during the summer rotation.
“Don’t worry about it.” Her smile spoke volumes about the favor she was doing him.
“He’s been in there pouting since his running buddy, Captain douchebag, I mean Desmond, suddenly retired.
You’re not missing anything.” Her eyes tracked to the other door.
“But I guarantee you’re not going to want to miss a word Chief Roosevelt is about to tell you. ”
“Do you know everything that’s going on around here?” He wasn’t sure why he asked the question because he already knew the answer.
She crooked her finger, so he leaned over her desk.
“Every fucking thing.” She whispered in his ear.
Nineteen minutes later, Evan followed the chief and commander out of the vice admiral’s office where Ms. Merkel and a lieutenant commander waited.
He was sickened by what he’d just heard.
This whore-monger, Miss Nami, was stealing money from his men and involving them in international human trafficking. He’d get that bitch.
“Ms. Merkel,” the NSW commanding officer started speaking as soon as he stepped from his office. “Would you please write up?—"
“Sign this.” She stood and handed Vice Admiral Maddox a sheet of paper.
“What’s thi?—”
“The one-day leave extension for Chief Roosevelt.” She handed him a pen. “You sign right here and then Commander Brenner will sign it so the chief can be on his way.
“Thank you, ma’am.” Teddy grinned ear to ear. “You’re the best, Ms. Merkel. Truly Miss Miracle as many of the men call you.” Commander Brenner handed him the signed sheet. “Thank you, sir.”
He turned his grin toward Ms. Merkel. “I can’t thank you enough for expediting this, ma’am.”
“If you leave right now, you and Shannon can be in Big Bear before dark.” There was that smile of hers again.
“How did you—” Teddy started to ask.
“I know everything.” Marta Merkel sat back down and began typing. She glanced up when Vice Admiral Maddox didn’t stop staring at her.
“Were you listening in on our conversation?” He accused.
She rolled her pretty hazel eyes then stood and moved close to him.
“I’ve been sitting in this office for almost thirty years.
I’ve been in this desk for nearly fifteen.
No. I most certainly didn’t listen to the conversation.
Nor can I read your mind, but I know what kind of commanding officer you are even though you’ve only been here a few weeks.
I knew you would extend Chief Roosevelt’s leave.
It was the right thing to do. You lead by example. ”
She handed him a folder. “Now, you’re expected over at the base commander’s headquarters in fifteen minutes for the budget meeting.
Please push really hard for the pool repairs.
They don’t understand how much use—and what I really mean is abuse—that ancient hole in the ground gets.
It’s been too many years since it was resurfaced last.”
“What would I do without you?” He picked up the file.
“Lucky for you, you’ll never have to find out.” She smiled up at him and Evan noticed the little glint in her eye. Did the two of them have something going on?
Then she added, “I’m retiring the same day as you are. I couldn’t stand to break in another admiral.”
“Captain Hubbard, I’m Lieutenant Commander Harrison. Let me show you to your office.”