Page 5 of Spring UnVeiled
“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 knoweverythingthat’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.”
