by Margaret Kay
Cooper shook his head. “Not sure how the hell he knows everything he knows about our work with the DEA and the offer from the CIA, but it’s nice to see he has our back.”
“Lambchop is not going to like this one bit,” Shepherd remarked. “Letting one of his men be publicly busted. Unless he has a guard in the brig, there is no protection on that man once he’s locked up.”
“I don’t like it either,” Cooper said. “And my brother better not be the one to raise his hand. He’s the newest, just might want to, to prove he’s a team player.”
“I’m thinking the Birdman or Handsome, possibly Mother,” Shepherd said.
“Not the Undertaker?”
Shepherd shook his head. “A drug bust is worse for a medic. Could really fuck over his ability to operate in the future, which in turn could hurt the team.”
“The damage to a nuclear engineer could be just as bad if he ever wants to entertain a civilian career. Shit has a way of sticking to a person’s jacket,” Cooper said. “It’s off the table for Michael too.”
“Agreed.”
Later that evening, Cooper was in Shepherd’s office for the video meeting with the team on the ground in Norfolk. Shepherd watched the expression on Lambchop’s face grow angrier as he laid out the request from SecNav. “If we entertain this, it is by volunteer only, and I am stating right now that it is off the table for the Undertaker and Bubbles due to your ratings.” He saw the outrage on both men’s faces. “Even though this isn’t supposed to stick, if it does, the two of you would be the most damaged by it and that could hurt the team in the long run.”
“I say no,” Lambchop barked. “The case gets made another way. I cannot protect a man in the brig.”
“SecNav can get you stationed as the Master at Arms in that holding area of the brig when the bust goes down,” Shepherd said.
“Great, one shift out of three I can be there to watch over our man.” Lambchop shook his head. “Not happening.”
“How close are we to making a case any other way?” Cooper asked.
“Not close enough,” Mother replied.
“My ship will sail before I have anything solid,” Handsome added.
“I have met all the UPCs on my ship,” the Undertaker said. “I don’t get a hinky feeling from any of them.”
“And the background checks on none of them flag anything suspicious, either,” Cooper said. “No unexplained windfalls of cash. No debt. If any of them are in on it and making money off it, their personal accounts don’t reflect it.”
Shepherd rolled his shoulders. He’d ended up cancelling his appointment at Dr. Diana’s because the time wouldn’t work out, and now, he was regretting it. He was stiffer than hell, even though he did squeeze in a short therapy session with Doc doing his best to stretch his limbs. But he had made appointments for Thursday, switching his days of therapy at her office this week. And she would, of course, be by after her classes the following evening.
“We could let you be on those ships when they sail,” Shepherd said. “Maybe you will get more evidence once they are underway. We could pull you off at any time.”
“Is there any way you can arrange to get me selected for a piss test in the next few days?” The Birdman asked. “It would be interesting to see if the pecker-checker offers me a deal to report negative on me after I pop positive. I’m willing to pop positive with SecNav covering my ass, but not willing to get caught selling.”
Shepherd respected that.
“A positive pop can get overturned with a medical override with an explanation of prescribed meds,” the Undertaker chimed in. “An arrest for selling, not as easy to erase, not that I don’t trust SecNav.”
“Agreed,” Shepherd said. “Lambchop, are you good with this?”
Lambchop’s bald head nodded. “I want the Op to take place while I’m on duty. If a deal isn’t offered and the ship’s Master at Arms is called, I want it to be me that is responding.”
“I can have SecNav make sure you are stationed in the drug screening office area at the time the testing is taking place,” Shepherd offered. “I’ll call him now and get it set up for as soon as possible. That takes care of running an initial test on the Bataan. Do we do something similar on the Bush?”
“I have another suggestion,” Mother spoke up. “I’m seeing more prescribed meds in use in my unit on the Bush than I’ve ever seen. What if it’s someone in the medical unit selling the meds and covering the tracks with what looks like legit prescriptions? I got my hands on one of my bunkmate’s prescription bottles a few hours ago. It was supposed to be an anti-inflammatory, but it sure as hell looked like Adderall to me. I wasn’t able to swipe one to have it tested. There were only three left in the bottle and I’m sure he would notice one missing.”
“Do you know which medical officer he saw?” Cooper asked.
“No, but I can find out,” Mother replied.
“Work that angle,” Shepherd said. “And keep us informed.”
After the video call concluded, Shepherd reached back out to SecNav with the plan. He’d take care of the arrangements and let Shepherd know when the sting on the Bataan would take place. Cooper had not moved from his seat at the conference table, even after the phone call with SecNav was disconnected. Shepherd knew that meant Cooper had something on his mind. He waited in silence, tapping out a few notes on his laptop until Cooper was ready to share.
“Something is bothering me,” Cooper finally said.
Shepherd felt his lips tug into a smirk. “I’m all ears.”
“Something is off. This case would traditionally be handled between the DEA, Military Police, and NCIS. The fact that they have called us in and SecNav is having secret meetings with us, tells me he suspects someone high in those agencies of being complicit, which makes no sense.”
“From our conversation with him earlier, I get the distinct impression Manning’s AIC in Norfolk is not high on SecNav’s list, too close to retirement for his liking is what he said. He didn’t need to say incompetent, but I’m not sure I gathered that he thinks someone is complicit.”
“He also spoke of Manning having housecleaning to do, and no-load bureaucrats that have no business running field missions that need to go,” Cooper reminded him.
“That is not an indictment of suspected complicity.”
“It just feels like more than incompetence. The other agencies would have been invited to the meeting earlier if he just thought they were incompetent. They were excluded so they would not even know. That’s what’s bothering me. I would never think SecNav is setting us up, but keeping the others in the dark regarding our movements doesn’t provide us much cover.”
Shepherd thought about that for a moment. “Okay, let’s say for the sake of argument, SecNav thinks there is a leak in one or more of the agencies. Maybe not someone complicit, but an information leak. That explains why the others are being kept in the dark, so that our team can operate. Only Manning and the DEA know we are on the ground. Remember how SecNav phrased it. He’s got a problem in Norfolk. And his problem is either with the Military Police or his NCIS Team there. This Op, he suggested, busting one of our men for selling on base would not involve the DEA until after the fact, but the Military Police and NCIS would definitely have a hand in the initial handling of the situation.”
“So, it’s bigger than just the drugs getting onto the ships. It’s the drugs getting onto the base and maybe with his criminal investigations unit either tipping off the offenders or burying an investigation.”
“Relay those concerns to Lambchop, will you?” Shepherd asked.
Cooper nodded. “I’ll have a call with Lambchop on my way home, unless you need me for something else tonight?”
“No, I’m stiff as hell, going to go down and soak in the hot tub before bed.”
“I thought you were getting some relief with this new treatment plan,” Cooper said.
“I am but had to cancel my treatments today. My schedule got all fucked up.”
Cooper came to his feet. “I’ll be in by zero eight hundred tomorrow.”
The Birdman swallowed a small dose of a controlled substance Wednesday morning, so he’d fail the screening test when giving a urine sample. Shepherd waited all day for word from SecNav that he was ready to move forward with the sting. He spent the majority of his day “standing” at his desk. His pain level was lower than it had been in months. Using the lift in his office made a huge difference. He even found that he was supporting his weight longer. He felt fatigued, but somehow, stronger too. He couldn’t wait to confer with Diana about it that afternoon.
Diana watched the numbers count up as the elevator ascended to five, noticing the camera in the corner for the first time. More security measures; go figure. But given that she was coming and going from this building after normal hours, when she was normally the only one in the elevator car, the added security did give her comfort. She would have to look around the parking garage for cameras as she left. In the dark and usually vacant parking garage was admittedly the place she always stayed on high alert, moving quickly between her car and the building.
It was a little before five when she pushed through the door into the Shepherd Security office. Angel smiled from behind the glass and she heard the buzz indicating the inner door was unlocked. “Hi,” she greeted Angel as she entered.
“Hi. Shepherd is in his office waiting for you. Do you remember where it is?” She pointed down the hallway. “Last door on the left tucked behind the stairs.”
“Yes, across from the elevator,” Diana confirmed. As she headed down the hallway, unescorted, she felt as though she had graduated to a higher level of trust, which made her chuckle to herself. Sam’s door was closed. She knocked.
“Come in,” Shepherd called to the door, his eyes scanning his watch. That would be Diana. His smile spread as she entered his office. “Hi.”
Diana was pleased to see him standing at his desk. “Hi. Glad to see you got your lift and the stand-up desk installed. How do you feel?” She walked into the large office, her eyes taking in the inner sanctum of Sam Shepherd. She suspected he spent more hours awake here in his office than in his residence on the tenth floor.
“It came yesterday. I’ve spent the majority of the last two days standing. Although I feel a great deal more fatigued, the pain and numbness aren’t nearly as bad as usual.”
“That is fantastic to hear,” Diana said. She glanced around the office at the leather couch seating area, the conference table, and his large desk flanked by the wall of floor to ceiling windows. “Nice office. You must have a great view from there.”
Shepherd glanced out the window. He didn’t want to admit that he rarely took the time to gaze out it. “It overlooks the mall, but out on the horizon you can see the planes stacked up on approach to O’Hare.” He wouldn’t mention that when the agency C-9 was out, he’d watch for its approach to O’Hare when it was due back.
“Are you about ready?”
“Yes, and Doc will join us again today. He did a decent job yesterday with the PT. I’m sorry for the schedule changes and then not making it at all. It was a complicated day yesterday.”
“Lexi messaged me after she gave you your massage this morning that you were really tight. How do you feel now?”
Shepherd rolled his shoulders. “I think I’m working my muscles in a different way with all this standing. I’m a little sore again. I was stiff as hell last night. Even a soak in the hot tub didn’t help for long.”
Diana nodded. “Yes, the stresses on all your muscles are different standing all day.”
“And I am supporting my weight for longer periods of time.” He was sure that had to confirm her thoughts, that maybe he wasn’t paralyzed after all.
“Be careful you don’t overdo it.” She watched him lower the lift to his wheelchair and transfer himself to it, knowing she was wasting her breath. Sam Shepherd was not going to take it easy. That was not in his make up. He would push standing to its limit.
After his physical therapy session, she gave him a quick table adjustment. She had him lie on his side. She folded his legs up to his chest and adjusted him, still suspecting some disc involvement. He was holding her prior adjustments well.
Doc left shortly after. Watching Sam rub his neck and angle his head, she went behind him and massaged his neck and shoulders. His muscles were very tight. She gave him a quick massage, working out a few of the knots that were in his shoulders as they talked about her day, which he always asked about. She wasn’t sure if he was truly interested in acupuncture and Chinese medicine or if he was just being polite. She had to admit that she was not in any hurry to leave. She enjoyed Sam’s company, and she enjoyed sharing her excitement about the material she was learning with someone.
“Can I interest you in Chinese for dinner this evening?” Shepherd asked, hopeful she’d stay for dinner again. He’d purposely brought enough of the left-over lunch order up for them both.
“That depends, is there fried rice?”
“Of course,” he said with a smile. “Orange chicken and Mongolian beef too.”
“That sounds much better than what I planned for this evening,” she said, even though she had hoped to be invited for dinner again. “But really, Sam, you do not need to invite me for dinner every night. Please do not feel obligated.”
“It is the least I can do as you are sacrificing part of your evening to treat me after a busy day. Besides, I enjoy your company, Diana.”
She felt her cheeks heat. “And I am enjoying getting to know you as well.”
Shepherd was happy she replied as she had. He knew he was going out pretty far on the limb by declaring that. He’d never lacked confidence with women before he was shot, not that he was ever one to chase women. He had had a few meaningful relationships over the years. It had been a long time, though. And if he were giving his life a fair evaluation, he would have to admit that his career had always been his primary focus. Personal relationships had always taken a backseat to the mission.
“Let’s go to the kitchen.” He motioned her out of the room in front of him.
They each prepared a plate and microwaved them to reheat the food. Then they continued their discussion of the health benefits of Chinese herbs to treat certain conditions over western medicine. He wasn’t surprised that Diana was an advocate of the most natural treatment possible.
“How did you get interested in chiropractic care as well as Chinese medicine?” He asked.
“I was in a bad car accident during med school. The jaws of life cut us out of the car. The flight for life helicopter was called in for one of my girlfriends. It was bad.” She paused, collecting her thoughts on it. “There were three of us in the car. My girlfriend, Savanah, who was flown out, had several surgeries, multiple transfusions. She lost her spleen and one of her kidneys, but she lived. She’s married and has two beautiful kids now, but it was a long road to get there. My other girlfriend who was in the car, Bonni, came out of it with some damaged discs and vertebrae. Her dad was a chiropractor, and I saw firsthand how quickly he healed her. He started to treat me as well, and I became a believer in chiropractic care. I finished med school, and I knew I wanted to do physical therapy too, so I went back to school and completed my doctorate program in physical therapy first before applying to the Palmer Institute, the best chiropractic school in the country.”
“I’ve often said that it is the sum of our experiences, sometimes the horrible ones, that shape the people we become and the good we do. If you are one who believes in God, it is attributed to him, his plan that you experience what you do to become the person he means you to be.”
“And do you believe in God, Sam?”
“I do,” he replied. “It’s hard to see what soldiers see on the battlefield without a belief in God. I’ve seen men both develop faith and turn from it when they are in hell with death all around them.”
“I can’t even imagine,” Diana said honestly. “So, you were not
comfortably stationed at safe bases during your career?”
Shepherd schooled his reaction to that question. Of course, she had no way of knowing his past. “No. I led on the ground, in some of the harshest environments. I wrote more letters home to grieving families to tell them how wonderful their soldier was, how he or she served with honor and distinction, and how they gave their life to save others than I would have liked to. A good leader will never ask their people to do what they themselves won’t do, and they will never shrink back from leading them into the battle. I’ve done both, fighting alongside my men as I lead them into the fray.
“Do you have any regrets?” She asked softly.
Shepherd shook his head. “Regrets are for those who failed to make a decision. I never suffered from that malady.”
Diana’s lips tipped into a grin. Sam Shepherd was not in indecisive man. “No, I imagine you did not. As you said, it is your experiences that have made you the man you are.”
