by Margaret Kay
“Handsome was a Raider, knows his way around Norfolk too. He’ll round the team out well. I’d like six of us on this. Norfolk is a big place,” Lambchop said.
“I could be the sixth man,” Garcia spoke up. “You’re going to need someone with more DEA experience than Handsome has, as Cooper’s brother has none.”
“I’d like all of Alpha Team at HQ in case an emergency request comes in,” Shepherd said. “Are you sure about Bubbles and Handsome, Lambchop?”
Lambchop nodded. “If this entrance point for drugs to funnel directly onto these two ships is real, we need genuine sailors to shut it down. Those on base running it will spot a phony a mile away. Burke and Cooper have both been assigned to Norfolk. They’ll pass muster.”
Shepherd locked eyes with Garcia. “I want a member of Alpha Team scheduled in Ops with non-Operator analysts around the clock while this operation is ongoing beginning at zero seven hundred tomorrow.”
“Roger that,” Garcia said.
“If something else goes down, we can always pull the rest of Charlie Team from the Power Grid Project to combine with Alpha Team,” Cooper said, sensing correctly that Shepherd was not happy about how thinly staffed this would leave them given his current medical needs.
“At least we were able to clear out all the cases that have been backlogged for too long,” Lambchop said with a smile. “Without them pending, I was beginning to worry about job security.”
Shepherd laughed with the others. “Cooper, stay. I’ll want you in on the pre-mission briefing. We’ll loop your brother and Burke in via video chat. I’ll have Ops scramble Delta Team, Brielle, and Requisition Ryan to pull the ammo now.”
“I’ll start packing up my gear,” Lambchop said as he came to his feet.
When they were alone in the room, Shepherd spoke. “I heard your concerns about your brother’s lack of full Operator training. For the record, I was already thinking of including him on this mission before Lambchop suggested it. BT reports his progress as exceptional. He’s already completed all the required FBI course material.”
“I know. I read BT’s updates on Michael.” Cooper sighed and shook his head. “I hate being confined to HQ. I thought the first real mission we sent Michael on that I would be there.”
Shepherd laughed. “I’m sure that is the last thing Michael would want, big brother looking over his shoulder.”
“I know he can handle himself. But he’s my brother.”
“You’ll watch over him from Ops. If any other shit goes down, we will add Garcia to the rest of Charlie Team, add Miller and Doc too, if it’s big. But I need you here, John.”
Cooper came to his feet. “I know. I’ll be back for the briefing. I want to have a conversation with Michael before it. I assume you’ll notify Taco and BT of the staffing change.”
Shepherd nodded. “Doing that now.”
As Cooper left, Shepherd called into Ops. Dupont and Miraldi were on. He gave them instructions and then placed a call to Echo and Charlie Teams leaders, Brody ‘BT’ Templeton and Jimmy ‘Taco’ Wilson. “I am sorry to reduce your staffing, but this mission is important,” he said.
“No worries,” BT replied. “But this will delay completion of this site on time.”
“Understood,” Shepherd said. “As soon as Delta Team gets in, we’ll loop them into the briefing via a video call. Let them know the change, will you?”
“Roger that. We’ll send them back to the hotel to pack up now,” BT said.
“Thank you, gentlemen,” Shepherd said. “Wilson, if anything unexpected comes up, the remainder of Charlie Team will be pulled.”
“We’ll be prepared. Thanks, Shepherd.”
The three remaining members of Delta Team made it in and were seated at Shepherd’s conference table twenty-five minutes later. Burke and Michael Cooper were signed in on a tablet and were on the main screen. Shepherd and Cooper laid the mission out. Two vessels that were getting ready to pull out of port had been identified by the DEA as ships that were due to receive truckloads of drugs before they deployed. The aircraft carrier George HW Bush, CVN 77, and the amphibious assault ship the USS Bataan, LHD-5. There were over four thousand men and women serving on the two vessels.
“There is traditionally less than one percent drug use among active duty because of random drug tests and the zero-tolerance policy,” Sloan said, shaking his head. “I don’t buy this.”
“That’s if the ship is conducting the tests properly. Manning alleges that the UPC and Observers are all in on it,” Cooper said.
“There is no way a Urinalysis Program Coordinator and the Observer would both be in on it,” Michael Cooper said. “Those pricks are so strait laced.”
“Yeah, not buying it either,” Brian ‘the Birdman’ Sherman piped up. “Every pecker-checker I ever met eats, sleeps, and masturbates to the UCMJ. You’re not going to get several on even one ship that are going to falsify test results.”
“Let’s just pretend for a minute that the DEA’s informant is right. What kind of drugs are we looking for?”
“Booze is the number one abused substance by sailors and Marines, because it’s not illegal,” Lambchop said.
“If drugs would be abused on ships, it would be amphetamines to keep sailors awake on long shifts and pain killers, preferably prescriptions that a sailor would be prescribed so it should be in his system,” Sloan said.
“And those are just what the DEA’s informant is alleging,” Shepherd said.
“If a head UPC is the one selling the drugs, he or she could easily cover up the test results,” Mother said. “I’m not saying I’ve ever seen it happen, but I can’t say it never has.”
“If it is going on, we have to stop it before those ships pull out of port,” Cooper said. He looked into the camera on the monitor. “Delta Team will bring your uniforms.”
“And our D.O.D. contact will create assignments to one of those ships for all of you,” Shepherd said.
“Just make sure we’re pulled off those ships before they get underway,” Burke said.
“We’ll wrap this up before either cast off, don’t worry about that. I can’t afford to have any of you out to sea for the next eight months those ships will be deployed,” Shepherd said with a chuckle, knowing he could get them pulled off at any point even after they sailed. “You have a week and a half to get to the bottom of this.”
“Looks like we’re back on active duty,” Sherman said. He took hold of Brielle’s hand under the table and gave it a squeeze.
“Angel’s Aunt Meredith is in her salon waiting for the three of you,” Shepherd said, his eyes sweeping over Sherman, Sloan, and Mother, all of whom had long, shaggy hair. “She’ll send a pair of clippers with you to get those two to pass inspection.” He pointed at the wall mounted monitor so that Burke and Michael Cooper would know he meant them.
Michael Cooper ran his fingers through his dark brown hair. It was much longer than it was when he was on active duty. He liked his longer locks. “A trim only. I never wore it buzzed.”
Several of the men chuckled. Lambchop ran his hand over his smooth, shaved skull. “Don’t worry. I’ll personally take care of you.”
Laughter erupted.
“Okay, gentlemen. The Lear is at Chicago Executive waiting for you. You’ll be wheels up as soon as you arrive. The pilot will send ETA to Bull Shoals to pick you two up. If there are drugs about to be smuggled onto those vessels, stop it from happening and find who is responsible. Go get them,” Shepherd said.
After the men left, Cooper spoke. “Do you really think this pipeline into the base exists, or was this Manning’s way to get us back on DEA Partner missions?”
“Time will tell. At least with this being a military case, we’ll be the ones giving the go order, if one is to be given.”
Hotel
On Monday when Lexi arrived to give Shepherd his massage, he was ready. It was fifteen thirty, much later in the day than usual and he was quite sore. Dr. Diana rescheduled it so th
at his massage would finish just prior to her arrival. Lexi was aware of the confidentiality agreement but insisted on reading every word of it before signing it. Shepherd waited patiently as she did.
He had to admit; he did like the atmosphere at Dr. Diana’s office for massages better. The dark room, with aromatherapy and calming music, did relax him. Here, he kept mentally alert with his phone just inches from his head, which, as he thought about it, was unnecessary. Cooper was in his office and was on as primary. Shepherd knew he’d only be contacted by outside agency heads or internally if it were a dire emergency.
“You’re much more tense today,” Lexi remarked as she worked out knots in his neck.
“I suppose,” Shepherd said. “This will help though.”
Diana pushed through the heavy black door into the Shepherd Security outer office. The pretty, black-haired, pregnant woman sat at the desk behind the glass. Diana smiled and waved to her. As she approached the door to the inner suite, she heard it click. “Hello. I have a five o’clock with Colonel Shepherd.”
“Yes, he’s expecting you,” Angel said. “Lexi is still up with him. I’ll bring you to his apartment.” She struggled to come to her feet.
“When are you due?” Diana asked.
“Not soon enough,” Angel moaned. “Technically six weeks, but I’m counting on going two weeks early like I did with my son, so hopefully just another month.”
“I hope so too,” Diana said. “Do you know if you’re having a boy or a girl this time?”
They reached the elevator without seeing anyone else in the hallway. Diana noticed that it was quiet and most of the lights in the rooms they passed were off.
“No, we found out the first time, but left it as a surprise this time and thankfully, the sonograms didn’t show it clearly. That happened to some friends. They were going to let it be a surprise, but you couldn’t deny it was a boy from the sonogram,” Angel said with a chuckle as she stepped into the elevator.
Diana laughed. “Technology, sometimes tells us everything if we want to know or not.”
Angel led her from the elevator on the tenth floor, right to Shepherd’s door. Diana watched her open it as the others had, palm press and code just as she had in the elevator. She wondered how long it had been that someone escorted Vic before he was given access. “It’s late, are you heading home soon?”
“I’ll escort Lexi back down and then I’ll be out the door too,” Angel said, leading her through Shepherd’s living room. “My mom is at my house with Sammy, my son. She’ll have dinner ready, so I won’t have to do much tonight. It’s great having her here.”
“Your mom was the nun I saw here last week?” Diana asked. She was not Catholic but didn’t think a woman who had a child could be a nun.
“Yes,” Angel said, leading her down the hallway. “I’m so happy she’s here. She will stay for a few weeks after the baby is born.”
The door to the workout room was open. They entered to find him sitting on the table and Lexi standing nearby with her bag in her hands. “How’d it go today?” Diana asked.
“Good,” Lexi replied. “He was stiff, a lot of knots in his shoulders.”
“Well, hopefully you worked them all out,” Diana said.
“I’m taking off after I show Lexi out,” Angel said. “Have a good evening.”
“You too, thank you,” Shepherd said.
“How is the pain today?” Diana asked him after Angel and Lexi left the room.
“Not bad, but I was very stiff. Between no treatment yesterday and this scheduled so late today, I felt pretty cramped up.”
“Let’s see if we can work it out good for you,” Diana said. “Is Doc going to join us?”
“Yes, he’s on his way up,” Shepherd said.
“How has the numbness been?”
“About the same as always.”
Diana was disappointed to hear that. She’d hoped it would have lessened. “I’ll probably give you a quick table adjustment then too and see if that helps.”
Doc arrived and Diana got to work manipulating Shepherd’s limbs. She did a few tests to see what kind of strength he had to press against her. His right side had significantly more strength and control than his left. Despite the marked weakness, he was still able to affect some movement on his left side, which was another check mark on Diana’s list to confirm that he was not truly paralyzed.
After the lengthy session, Doc left as Shepherd insisted that he’d escort her out. The truth was, Shepherd wanted a few more minutes with her, alone. “I heard from Vic today. He was very discouraged seeing his father. It sounds like there was significant damage. Vic says he has a long road ahead of him. He’s planning to take on a few private duty clients in addition to working with his father and wanted to be able to use me as a reference.”
“I’m sad to hear that,” Diana said. “Vic’s a good therapist. If anyone can help his father, it’s him. He interned with me. He stood out as one of the better ones I’ve had in-house over the years. Sheila Jean, the intern I had watch your session last week, shows as much promise as Vic did.”
“She seemed very eager,” Shepherd said.
Just then, Diana’s stomach growled loudly.
“Are you hungry?” Shepherd asked.
Diana laughed. “Yes, I didn’t have time to get much of a lunch today.”
Shepherd pulled his t-shirt on. “Follow me,” he said and then rolled out of the room. He brought her to the kitchen. From the refrigerator, he pulled out a large salmon fillet sealed in plastic and a bag of salad greens. “If you have fifteen minutes, dinner will be served. I was going to make the salmon with a soy sauce, ginger, and garlic drizzle and have it with salad. This fillet is more than enough for two people.”
“You do not have to share your dinner with me.”
“It would have lasted two meals.” He held the fillet up. “Look at the size of it, two large servings. Please, let me make you dinner. It’s the least I can do for you. You have rearranged your schedule and fit me in after a long day that you didn’t even get to eat lunch.”
“That’s very kind of you to offer,” she said, surprised he asked.
“Besides, then I don’t have to dine alone. I’m a pretty good cook,” he said to tempt her. He felt the smile on his face and didn’t try to stop it from spreading. He hoped she’d stay. He wanted to spend some more time talking with her.
Diana returned his smile. Her heart was warmed by the invitation. She nodded her head. “Thank you. Yes, I’ll stay. Where did you get that fish? I’ve never seen a fillet that large.”
“It gets flown in from Alaska, fresh frozen on the boat when it’s caught. I belong to a monthly subscription that sends me a box of whatever the catch is. This month it was salmon and halibut.”
“That’s pretty incredible,” she said.
He motioned to a chair nearby that was tucked beneath the dining table. “Please, have a seat.” Then he pointed to a wine bottle on the counter. “There are two glasses left, if I can interest you.”
“Why, Colonel, you said you rarely drink.” She knew her voice sounded flirty.
“Doctor Diana, it’s really just Shepherd,” he said, glancing up from the fillet he was prepping.
“I’ve never really been one for calling people by their last names,” Diana replied.
“Then how about just Sam,” he said.
“Only if you make it just Diana,” she replied.
Shepherd nodded. He retrieved two wine glasses from the cabinet and lifted the bottle of white from the counter. “Is that a yes on a glass of wine?”
“Sure, I’m done for the day, thank you.”
He poured two glasses and handed her one. “And I rarely do drink. I had a couple of glasses the other night because everything at the office was quiet.”
She watched him whisk the ingredients together to make the drizzle. “That really smells good.” She sat tall in the chair, looking over at what he prepared.
He produced a ce
dar plank from a cabinet. “It’s such a simple recipe. And it cooks fast.” After he finished prepping the fish, he slid it into the oven. Then he shook the salad out onto two plates. He sliced a tomato and put that on it as well. “You do like tomato, don’t you?”
“Yes, I like everything you’re preparing. Thank you.” She sipped her wine. It was a light chardonnay that was smooth with citrus undertones. She lifted the empty bottle from the counter to see the label. She’d never heard of the vineyard.
Shepherd wheeled up to the table. “So, why didn’t you get lunch today?”
“It was one of those time crunched days, too many patients in my clinicals today, so I ate a power bar. But I’m glad I’m studying the Eastern Medicine. It’s very interesting and I think it will give me a few different tools to use, to help my patients.”
