Navy Orders

by Geri Krotow

“Oh, I don’t need anything. I’m just here to talk to you.”

  “Let’s sit at the kitchen table, then.”

  They entered the kitchen area and Karen sat down at the round table that was covered with a purple linen cloth.

  “Oh, this is so cozy!” Ro recognized her comment as Karen-speak for “too small for me.” Karen was her boss’s wife, so it was important for Ro to be professional and gracious with her. During duty hours or at official functions. Not off duty in the privacy of her own home.

  There is no off duty for a naval officer. Some of the first words she’d learned as a plebe at the naval academy.

  “I like it. Are you sure you don’t want anything? I can make up a cup of coffee if you’d rather have that than tea?”

  “Coffee? Okay, I’ll take it. As long as you’re having one.”

  “I’ll have tea. I have a machine that makes both, lickety split.”

  Five minutes and two steaming mugs later, Ro broached the unspoken tension.

  “So what brought you out here tonight, Karen?”

  Karen gulped down some of her coffee before she answered.

  “I understand that you and Miles are working on the Perez case. That’s why I saw you two at his house the other night.”

  Tread carefully. You work for her husband, not her.

  “Miles and I are helping things move along, yes. But neither of us are CACOs, of course.”

  “Nor are you NCIS or the sheriff’s department.” Karen’s eyes, although bloodshot, sparked with a keen intelligence.

  “No, we’re not.” Ro sipped her tea and wished in vain it was her leftover chardonnay.

  “But you’re working with them, right?”

  “No, not really. We’re cooperating with all of the LEAs, just like anyone else who knew Perez.” Ro wasn’t going to reveal the assignment she and Miles had been given by the commodore.

  “I need to tell you something that I can’t count on Leo to admit, and I want to make sure he doesn’t get into trouble for anything he’s not responsible for.”

  This was getting dangerously deep, fast. Her fingers itched for her mobile phone. If only she could text Miles and have him here to listen with her.

  “Okay. But maybe you want to tell both Miles and me?”

  “No.” Karen’s answer was unequivocal. She’d come to see Roanna.

  “All right.” Ro tried not to squirm in her seat. Karen’s pained expression made her own muscles tighten with anxiety.

  “Leo and I aren’t doing well, as a couple.” Karen sent her a blank stare and then brought her gaze back to her coffee mug. “I don’t suppose that’s earth-shattering news. A lot of navy marriages don’t make it.”

  “I’m sorry, Karen.”

  “I’ve decided to leave him.” Ouch. This was getting too personal. Karen didn’t even like her, so why was she sharing this?

  “Does the commodore know?”

  “Yes, but he’s in denial.” Karen guzzled her coffee as though it were cold water. No doubt it was a lot weaker than whatever she’d ingested earlier in the day.

  “I see.” Ro didn’t know what else to say.

  “No, you don’t ‘see,’ Roanna. There’s more to me than meets the eye.” Karen squared her shoulders. “I’m gay.”

  Karen stared at Ro as if she expected her to explode or faint. When she did neither, Karen continued.

  “For your generation it’s not a big deal, is it? But for us, for me—it wasn’t something that was ever talked about. I didn’t understand I had choices in life other than what my mother had chosen for herself. The only difference between us is that I got a degree and had a decent career for a few years, before Leo and I had Stefanie.”

  Karen brushed her hair out of her eyes. Ro noted how odd it was to see Karen like this—not at all her usual polished self.

  “Once Stefanie came along, she was the center of my world. As Leo and I grew further apart, I fought to keep Stefanie’s needs first.”

  “I don’t mean to be obtuse, Karen, but I think you need to be talking to the commodore about this. And I don’t see what this has to do with Petty Officer Perez.”

  “Let me finish.” The glint in her eyes was an indication of a steely strength Ro had never given her credit for.

  “It was hard for me to accept, at first. That I’d fallen in love with a woman. It’s been lonely in my marriage for several tours. It’s always about Leo and what he needs done at specific times in his career—none of this is news to you, I know. I worried what my discovery would cost Stefanie. Kids are so mean to other kids.”

  Ro was relieved to hear that at least Karen had been looking out for her daughter. As for the commodore’s career needs, Ro silently sent up a prayer of gratitude that she didn’t have to kowtow to any man or his navy career; the only career she needed to worry about was her own, thank you very much.

  “I needed to make sure it wasn’t just the person I’d fallen for, to prove that I couldn’t have as intimate a physical experience with a man as I’d had with a woman.”

  Ro fought to stay put in her chair. This was way out of her expertise. She was happy that Karen had come to terms with who she was, but still didn’t see why she had to be dragged into the most personal details of her boss’s life.

  “To make it short, I had a brief, one-night affair with a man. It was horrible and a total waste of time. I was drunk and, of course, that made it worse.”

  The self-recrimination on Karen’s face left Ro cold.

  Karen smirked at Ro and revealed the name Ro had already guessed.

  “I had the affair with José Perez.”

  “When was this?”

  “A month ago.”

  “So why does this have to be such a big secret—I mean, as far as you and the commodore are concerned? You’re not on active duty. You didn’t do anything illegal. But...what if the commodore sought reprisal from Petty Officer Perez?”

  “Leo didn’t kill Perez. Leo’s stubborn, has a terrible temper and can be single-minded, but he’s not a murderer.”

  Ro marveled at how a woman who’d been so unhappy in her marriage could still defend the partner who’d no doubt added to her angst.

  “Look, Roanna, I’m not a saint—far from it. The entire island knows I drink too much. Some might say I’m an alcoholic. I’ve got enough reason to drink for all of us. I’ve spent years in a loveless marriage to a spouse who’s the wrong sex for me and I haven’t been able to pursue my career. If not for being a mother, what else would I have?” Karen addressed the empty space between them.

  Ro chewed on the inside of her lip. She really needed to talk this one over with Miles.

  “I need you, and Miles, to let the sheriff’s department or NCIS, whoever, know that Leo isn’t a suspect. Once word gets out that our marriage is over, or if anyone finds out I had an affair with José Perez, the cops are going to pin Leo for a crime of passion.” Karen laughed, a harsh, sneering sound. “Pretty funny, isn’t it? That they’d call it a crime of passion when we haven’t had any passion in so long?”

  Ro didn’t find anything remotely funny about Karen’s declarations, but the way Karen was behaving, she didn’t want to comment. She wanted Karen to finish telling her whatever she needed to, and then get out of her house.

  “I suppose you’re wondering why I told you. It’d be easy for no one to find out about my indiscretion, right?” Tears pooled in Karen’s eyes. Ro tasted blood as her teeth grasped the inside of her mouth once too often. “Well, I had to tell the woman I love what I’d done. She was entitled to know. I’ve probably lost her forever. But while I was telling her, we weren’t alone. I didn’t realize until it was too late that other people were in the office who might have heard us. So if anyone did, anyone who’s aware of what’s going on with the Perez case, they
could put two and two together and think Leo found out.”

  “Are you sure someone overheard you? Did you tell Leo any of this?”

  “I saw the way people looked at me when I ran out of the office. Trust me, they heard.” She fingered her mug. “Of course I told Leo—but only after Perez was dead. That’s how I know he didn’t do it.”

  Ro listened for another fifteen minutes as Karen got the rest of her transgressions off her chest. It was the longest quarter hour of Ro’s life. When Karen asked to use the bathroom, Ro jumped on it and encouraged her to use the one upstairs. As soon as she was alone, she sank to the kitchen floor, her back against the wall, listening as Karen went upstairs and closed the bathroom door.

  It seemed to her that Karen was getting more sober but Ro couldn’t be sure. It was possible that she was sober enough to drive, but Ro didn’t want to take the chance. Karen didn’t need a DUI to add to her personal woes, and Ro wasn’t going to allow a drunk to get behind the wheel.

  She’d either have to put Karen in a taxi or drive her home. It was another miserable complication and definitely took the pleasure out of Ro’s quiet night, but allowing Karen to drive drunk wasn’t an option.

  Ro waited until she heard Karen running water in the bathroom. Then she leaped off the floor and got her phone from the living room end table. Her hands shook as she hit the speed dial for Miles’s number. She saw belatedly that he’d left her several text messages. She’d had her notification alerts turned off.

  “Where are you?”

  “Here, at my house. You have to come over. Or, no, wait, I can come there.”

  “Slow down, Ro. Are you safe?”

  “Safe? Yes, I mean—” The front door shook as several loud knocks reverberated through her front hall.

  “Ro, what is that?”

  “I don’t know. The commodore’s wife, Karen, is upstairs—I don’t know who’s at the door.”

  “Go check your peephole. Be quiet about it.”

  She didn’t reply but crept over to the front door. She was grateful she’d left the lights off and the only lights that filtered into the living room were from the kitchen.

  “Ro, who is it?”

  She looked through the peephole and gasped.

  “It’s the commodore.”

  “Ro, don’t answer the door. Does he see you?”

  She looked through the peephole again. The commodore’s eye was huge in the lens. She jumped back.

  “Ro, I know you’re in there. Open up!”

  “He’s pretty pissed off. I think he’s going to break in!” She breathed deeply, trying to fend off her panic.

  Miles was silent.

  “Miles? Miles!” She hissed into the phone. He didn’t answer.

  The doorbell rang and the commodore pounded on the door again.

  She stood in the darkness of the foyer, shaking and wondering how long it would take Miles to get there.

  She had complete faith that he would.

  * * *

  KAREN CAME DOWNSTAIRS as soon as Ro placed the phone on the hall table.

  “Are you expecting your husband?”

  Karen flipped her hair out of her eyes and frowned.

  “Leo’s here?” She darted past Ro and put her hand on the front doorknob.

  “Wait!” Ro grabbed her shoulder and spun her around.

  Karen yanked her bony shoulder out of Ro’s hand and snarled, “Don’t touch me! I can handle my husband.” Karen turned back to the door and Ro let her go.

  She knew Miles had to be nearby; he only lived a few blocks away.

  The door opened and Commodore Sanders’s arm was in midair, aiming to pound on the door again.

  “What the hell are you doing, Leo?”

  The commodore’s stare went from Karen to Ro and back.

  “I’ve been searching for you.” He let his arm drop to his side. “Are you okay?”

  “Am I okay?” Karen mimicked the commodore so well that Ro bit back a smile.

  “You’ve been gone since dinner.” He lowered his voice. “Can we please go home now?”

  “I’ll come home when I’m ready.”

  “Are you sure you should be driving, Karen?”

  “Go to hell, Leo.”

  “Okay, let’s all chill,” Ro interjected. “Commodore, why don’t you come in? Would you like a coffee or something?”

  “No, thanks, Ro. I’m sorry if there’s been a problem here.” He gave Ro one of his “we’ll talk later, I’ve got this” looks. It was a nonverbal message mastered by all commanding officers. The confident nod that was sometimes even accompanied by a wink.

  Ro contemplated breathing a sigh of relief. If she could get rid of both Sanderses before Miles got here, she’d be able to relax and assure him that she’d handled it, after all.

  “Leo, I’ve told Ro about the divorce, and that I’m gay.”

  Ro winced.

  “Let’s keep our personal issues just that, okay, Karen?”

  Karen let out a string of expletives that rivaled the worst blue streak Ro had ever heard on the carrier deck.

  The commodore’s expression remained neutral, considering that his wife was dressing him down in front of one of his subordinates.

  Ro shivered. With the door open, the evening air swirled around them and the temperature couldn’t be more than fifty degrees Fahrenheit.

  Maybe she was a sweat—navy-speak for worrywart—a nervous wreck who couldn’t handle a real-world mission to save her life.

  Bullcrap.

  “I think it’s an excellent idea that you two go and work out whatever you need to. Karen and I have had enough time together tonight.”

  Karen turned to face her.

  “I wasn’t done.”

  “Perhaps not, but I am.” She wasn’t going to state the obvious—that they were all going to Perez’s funeral tomorrow.

  “Whatever.” Karen looked around the foyer. “Where did I leave my—”

  “Here.” Ro thrust Karen’s designer bag into her midsection. Karen had no choice but to clutch the bag to her.

  “Come on, Karen.” In the glare of the porch light the commodore looked tired. Not for the first time since she’d been assigned the investigation, Ro wondered how she’d handle what he asked her to do.

  But there was a good chance Sanders had committed bribery and defrauded the United States government.

  He might have committed murder.

  She fought the shivers that continued to race up her spine. Where the hell was Miles?

  “Good night.” She waited until they were off her porch and down the driveway. Before she could close her front door, as if he materialized from her thoughts, Miles came out from around the side of her house and bounded silently onto her steps.

  “Hey! Quick, let me in.”

  She stepped aside as he slipped in through the door. She gave one last glance over her shoulder to ensure that the Sanderses hadn’t turned around and seen Miles.

  They were gone.

  * * *

  “IT’S A DAMN good thing Karen Sanders wasn’t carrying a weapon. I could have been dead ten times over with the length of time it took you to get here!”

  “I was here. You left your phone on, just like we talked about at the diner.” Miles appeared completely unperturbed by the fact that she could have been killed.

  She had left it on as they’d discussed. Just in case something like this happened. But she’d forgotten that she’d done so in the heat of her conversation with Karen.

  “You’re right.” She shook her head. “I left it on for you.”

  “I heard it all, Ro, except for the few things the commodore said. Did I miss anything important?”

  “From the comm
odore? No.” She looked at him closely.

  Now that the Sanderses were gone and she was regaining her sense of security, she was able to take in Miles’s appearance. Clad in a black hoodie and equally dark jeans, he filled the description of a man she’d never want to meet alone in a dark alley. He had a Bluetooth earpiece that verified his claim that he’d listened to everything.

  “Wait—why did you put the fear of God into me about the commodore being here?”

  “You mean, why did I bother telling you not to open the door when you were going to do it, anyway?” His exasperation with her was evident.

  “Karen opened the door. She was very convincing about her ability to snap him into shape.”

  “Don’t get cute, Ro. You could have been hurt, or worse. You don’t have a weapon, do you? Your baseball bat doesn’t count.”

  “Karen’s three sheets to the wind. Or least she was, when she first showed up. The commodore went all shades of crazy when he saw her. I think he’s had a rough week.” She heard her own voice and knew her underlying anxiety was perfectly clear to Miles.

  “Funny, Ro.” The muscle leaping below the surface of his jaw implied his belief to the contrary.

  “Go ahead. Call me a sweat.”

  “Tell me you weren’t sweating it a little bit, Ro. Tell me you had complete confidence that neither of the Sanderses were going to do something violent.”

  She met his gaze and swore.

  “Which brings us back to why you were camped out next to my house instead of coming to the door to help diffuse a potentially violent situation?”

  “I didn’t want to tip our hand. I was here, ready to jump in if I had to. But Sanders showed up at my house first, and after he left, I figured out that he’d broken in. I think he wanted to see if Karen had been there, but then he took some extra liberties with my laptop and the papers on my desk.”

  Ro blanched. “That’s awful! He must be suspicious of us and what we’re figuring out. But why would Karen go to your place?”

  “Same reason she came here. To tell one of us whatever she thinks we need to know about her involvement, and Sanders’s culpability—or lack of it—in the case. All from her perspective, of course. She probably doesn’t have a clue that he might have been doctoring maintenance records.”