Danger Deception Devotion The Firsts

by Lorhainne Eckhart

  A few of the officers had been barely able to control their outrage. They’d yelled curses, and he’d seen in each of their eyes that Gail Carruthers would forever be burned. One day, she’d be brought down.

  “Everyone knows the charges are false. I know some of you are scared shitless that it could happen to you. Let me be clear: The woman lied.”

  “Yeah, she’s got the face of a toad. Fat chance she’d have of getting some guy to fuck her in the back room.”

  Another of the officers barked out, “Only in her dreams.”

  Everyone else laughed. Eric gestured to Joe to rein the guys in.

  Joe stood up. “Okay, everyone, listen up. I’ll be meeting with all relevant crew members to investigate this incident and to question Gail’s credibility. As many of you may not be aware, I’ve assigned a guard to shadow Gail until further notice, for her own safety, of course.”

  A resounding boom of laughter shook the walls of the wardroom.

  When the laughter died down, Eric spoke over their shouts. “Listen up. Everyone is to give full cooperation and to send anyone with firsthand knowledge directly to Joe. Follow protocol to the letter on this one, boys. That’ll be all.”

  Each of the officers either patted Eric’s shoulder or offered some words of support as they passed. It was very much an old boys’ club. Most would help him beat this, he was sure of that, but even in a boys’ club, there were those who lived and breathed survival of the fittest, and if it wasn’t in their best interest to support Eric, they’d throw him to the wolves. As each officer left, he started putting each one of them into categories: those who would hang him out to dry or those who would stand by him for whatever it took. Unfortunately, the latter category was less than half of the officers.

  “Bud, stay behind. Joe?” He gestured to his XO, who shut the door after the last officer left. Bud was a large, stocky man in his early forties. He had worn his hair in the same crew-cut style in all the years Eric had known him. His large arms and chest resembled a barrel, and he walked around with a perpetual scowl on his face, which always made any new sailor wary of him. When he was angry, he had a terrible temper, and Eric could almost visualize the upbraiding that Jennifer had received. With his set of lungs, when he yelled, you would swear you felt the walls shake. He had a propensity to get right in someone’s face when he was angry, within inches, noses almost touching, just waiting for the other person to flinch.

  “So, Bud, I understand you want to bring Jennifer up on charges,” Eric said.

  Without blinking, Bud nodded firmly. “You bet I do. She pulled quite a stunt, considering where we are. What she did could have serious consequences for everyone on this ship. There’s no room for any crew member to start picking and choosing what rules or procedures he or she wants to follow. If she wants to do that, she can get out of the fucking Navy and go work for some poor schmuck and ruin his life.”

  Eric swung around in his leather chair and faced Joe across from him, then Bud at the end of the table. “Let’s reserve that decision until after we meet with her, but let me make myself clear: I agree with you, Bud. What these women did could have compromised everyone on this ship.” Turning in his chair to look at Joe, he indicated to the door. “Where is she?” Looking down at his watch, he noted the time, 0711.

  “Should be here. Told her to be here at seven hundred, no excuses.” Joe stood up and strode to the door on long legs. His head disappeared around the corner of the door, then his arm. Soon, she appeared. He held the door open for her to pass.

  Her long dark hair was neatly pinned up. Small and pretty, the girl next door was how Eric would describe her. Standing, she reached just below Joe’s shoulder, and she was trembling so hard that Eric wondered if she was about to break down in tears. Dread filled her china-like face when she glanced warily at the captain, and he noticed how completely devoid of color she was. Her eyes were red rimmed, with gray circles underneath. Visibly shaking, she came to attention and waited for her superiors to acknowledge her presence.

  “Petty Officer Jennifer Hampton, sir.”

  Waving her to an empty chair at the head of the table, Eric remained at the center, watching her every move. “Sit down,” he said sternly. “Petty Officer Hampton, your recent conduct of events is clearly a dereliction of duty. I want to make it clear to you that charges are being considered against you.”

  Looking straight ahead, stone-faced, she nodded. “Yes, sir, Captain.”

  “First, I want you to explain yourself. I want to know everything that happened in detail, along with whatever possessed you to flagrantly disobey regulations.”

  Her eyes darted to Eric’s. She licked her lips, her anxiety clear in the way the lump in her throat flinched when she swallowed. “Um… permission to sp-speak…” She cleared her throat. “To speak freely, sir?” Her voice cracked.

  Feeling somewhat sorry for the girl, he leaned forward, pushing a pitcher of water and a glass across the table. “Go ahead.”

  Jennifer nodded and poured herself a glass. She took a sip and then set the glass within easy reach. She clasped her hands together on the table. Her fingers were trembling. She took a breath. “Two days ago, Gail approached me, telling of an incident that happened in sickbay. She told me you had it in for her, and since you were friends with her commanding officer, her allegations would never see the light of day.” She paused briefly and met Eric’s eyes, her expression reflecting true remorse. “I’m sorry, sir, but at the time, um… Well, sir, you’ve made it no secret that you don’t like women and have voiced your objection to having us women in the service. Gail suggested that retaliation by peers was common and a criminal investigation would most likely be blocked by you, sir, Lieutenant Saunders, and Commander Reed. You, too, sir.” She looked over at Joe respectfully with what appeared to be regret. “Sir, there have been many reports of abuse in the service. I have met some of these women who suffered harm. Sir, what was worse for them was the retribution from their commanding officers.”

  Eric remained silent but crossed his arms.

  “Anyway, I just wanted to help her. I thought I was doing the right thing at the time, but I do regret my decision now.”

  Bud jumped in, the growl in his voice practically rattling the walls. “You damn well should regret that decision; it was a fucking stupid thing to do. If I had my way, you would be bounced right off this ship and out of the Navy right this second.”

  Eric held up his hand to Bud. “Let’s all calm down here.” Looking over, he could not help but notice Joe’s calm demeanor. It was a character trait Eric coveted.

  Joe stopped making notes on the corner of a manila file folder and looked up. “Did Gail Carruthers at any time indicate to you any of the details of this incident?”

  Jennifer cringed. Her pallor turned ashen as she squeezed her puffy red eyes shut. She stuttered. “A-actually.” Her eyes flitted to the captain and then over to Joe, sitting across from him. Scrunching her eyes closed, she swallowed before continuing. “It was Saturday night in our bunkroom. Gail, well...” She paused with a nervous glance at each of the three men. Her face began to color a light pink. “She was really pissed off with you, sir. She said she wanted to knock you off your high horse.”

  All three men glanced at each other. “Go on. What else did she say?” Eric harnessed his budding anger with all the control he could muster.

  “She said she had a plan to get back at you. I frankly wasn’t interested and left right after Mary-Jo, I mean, Petty Officer Johnson.”

  Joe twirled a pen in his fingers. “A ‘plan’? Petty Officer, just who exactly was there?”

  She hesitated.

  “Petty Officer, I must remind you that you are in serious trouble, and I doubt very much you would want filing a false report, among other charges, added to it. For a young thing like you, you could be looking at confinement, and I somehow think you might be smarter than that. As it stands right now, we are prepared to be lenient, depending on how helpful and c
ooperative you are.”

  The red-rimmed eyes seemed to grow bigger with the realization that she might be able to alleviate some of the trouble she was in, but then she pulled back, as if thinking of the ethics of tattling on her fellow crew members. “I don’t want to say, sir.”

  She looked down, and Joe slid a piece of paper across the table, along with a pen. “Don’t say their names. Just write them down, and while you’re writing them, think about passing them to me. For now, it will stay between you and me.”

  She glanced at Joe sharply and then took the pen, pushing it to the paper and then stopping.

  Just watching her, Eric wondered if she really would walk out without writing their names down. Then, all of a sudden, she started scribbling names, one under the other. Then she folded the paper over and slipped it across the table to Joe. “I’m not a snitch, sir.” She licked her lips again. “At the time, I believed Gail when she came to me for help to get her report filed.”

  Eric leaned forward, deliberately showing her no compassion. “Did it ever occur to you that the report might be false? I mean, for Christ’s sake, have I ever acted inappropriately with you or any other female members of the crew?”

  Her face colored a deep mottled red as she sheepishly shook her head. “No, sir, you haven’t. Not in that way.”

  Shaking his head in disgust, he turned to Joe, allowing him to assume control of the meeting.

  “Petty Officer Jennifer Hampton, what you did may have been done with the best of intentions. Your actions, however, showed a total neglect of Navy rules and regulations. Gail Carruthers was required to report to her commanding officer. There are procedures to follow when filing a report. I would also like to point out that dozens of servicewomen in the Persian Gulf are saying they were sexually assaulted, and they are all investigated. A few have turned out to be unfounded. Do you have any idea what happens to a man’s career, even if charges are unfounded?” Joe asked.

  Numb, with tears in her eyes, she shook her head.

  “The damage is done the moment the accusation is made, and it is damn hard, if not impossible, for a good man to rebuild the dignity and respect he has commanded over the years.” Sucking in a breath, Joe expanded his chest, maintaining a steady calm in his voice. “I’m recommending an investigation into your conduct. Until further notice, you are relieved of your duties and you’ll be confined to your quarters. Dismissed.”

  Standing and saluting, Jennifer, with her shoulders sunk forward, left. Joe unfolded the paper Jennifer had slid back to him, and he frowned as he read the names.

  “Joe, who are they?” Eric asked, but a wary glance from Joe had Eric pausing.

  Joe cleared his throat. “Three names on here. I’ll talk to them first, and I’ll get back to you, Captain. Also, the JAG investigator will be here tonight. I’ll be working with him on the investigation.” Joe’s eyes were focused on something on the table in front of Eric.

  He let his eyes follow Joe’s gaze… to his hands, clenched into fists on the table before him. He unclasped them and lay them flat on the table, feeling the cool wood on his palms. Once the investigator arrived, the charges would be an in-his-face reminder of how bad and serious this was. Worse, suspension of duties was creeping up faster than he liked. There was so much to this, including the tainted mark on his career, even if they were able to prove the falseness of the charges against him.

  Clearing his throat, Bud pursed his lips as his face softened in sympathy. “Captain, I’m truly sorry for my petty officer’s actions. Please accept my sincerest apologies. I feel like I dropped the ball.”

  “Bud, it’s not your fault. What’s done is done. I just want to see this thing resolved. I have a ship to run. I don’t have time to challenge a schoolyard bully who can’t fight clean.”

  Bud stood awkwardly. “You have my full support. Anything I can do to help, please, Captain, let me know.”

  “Thanks, Bud.”

  He watched as Bud left, slamming the door behind himself. Everything about the man was large and loud.

  He didn’t like any of this, because any investigation would probe into his deeply private life, where no one had a right to go. It would be made public. Everyone would know his secrets, what a lowlife scum he’d been growing up. And Abby—his heart ached just thinking of her. He had promised to protect her, and she looked at him now with such softness and caring that it had his heart jackhammering all over the place. When this investigation started and when she found out everything dirty and ugly about him, she wouldn’t look at him that way again. He’d didn’t think he could survive when her look of love and trust quickly turned into hate and disgust. That was enough to make him feel physically ill. Eric sighed aloud, realizing his fists were once again clenched in front of him.

  “What is it?” Joe asked.

  “Abby. There’s no way to keep this from her.”

  Joe nodded. “Did you get a chance to talk to her yesterday? You know, about her nightmare?”

  Eric felt his mood softening. “Yeah, I did.” He plucked a paper clip from the folder on the table and turned it over and over. “I’m a little worried. What she’s been through is nothing short of incredible. You know, not just surviving each day, but how she escaped. I’m no shrink, but I think she’s handling it pretty damn good. She’s definitely one strong young lady.”

  “You know, Eric, it makes my blood run cold, trying to imagine what she’s been through.” Joe shook his head and firmed his lips in a fine white line. “We know what happens out here. Trafficking of women is such a low priority. Governments would rather fight a war.”

  Eric didn’t know what to say in response to that, because he’d never thought of it that way.

  Joe sighed. “So what has the doc said about her? How’s she doing?”

  Eric stretched up his arms, trying to work out the kinks. “He wants her to have a week of peace and quiet. He feels it’s imperative she get through to the end of the week. After that, if she delivers the baby…”

  Joe was normally calm in the most stressful of circumstances, but this time he tensed as he sat up straight. “Eric, you’re not planning on having her stay here to have the baby, are you?”

  “I haven’t planned that far, but in order for her to go to the base in Bahrain, I’d have to be guaranteed of her safety.”

  “Are you still worried the CIA will grab her or Seyed will get her?”

  “Aren’t you?”

  “Eric, she can’t stay here forever.”

  Eric pushed away from the table. “Come on. Let’s get on with things. I’ve got a ship to run, and don’t you have some women to interview?” Eric held the door open and waited while Joe picked up his file and followed. “You’re right, though. I need to be prepared for this JAG guy when he shows up tonight.”

  Eric left feeling guilty for not answering Joe’s last question. It was the real reason he had no idea what he was going to do.

  Chapter Nineteen

  Eric didn’t linger in the wardroom after Joe left. Lately, he’d been doing a lot of soul searching, which was something he had never done. He’d heard others speak of how’d they sit up all night under the stars or with a cup of coffee right at dawn, watching the sun make its way over the horizon as the birds chirped and the sounds of morning came alive around them, and they listened and were still. But Eric had always brushed that off as a waste of time, choosing instead to throw himself into whatever he did with both hands: doing, not thinking things to death.

  Now, at the oddest times, he’d find himself just watching something and wondering if he could have made better choices. What should he do to make things better for him, but first for Abby? If she was happy and safe, he’d be happy, too. He just knew it.

  Eric paced the width of the bridge, clasping his hands behind his back, studying the open sea but not seeing one thing. Even with the radio static, the voices of the crew, the buzz and hum of activity, everything reminded him of Abby.

  “Captain, did you hea
r me?” Deputy Intelligence Chief Monroe called out from the other side of the bridge.

  When Eric glanced over, he didn’t miss the way the crew were watching him, and there was that odd look, or frown, or worried expression, as if each wondered if maybe he was a ticking time bomb who’d snap on any one of them.

  “Sorry, Chief, can you repeat that?”

  “Sir, a British destroyer was spotted miles offshore, navigating toward a naval gunfire support position.”

  “Did you notify the Vincent?”

  “Yes, sir.”

  “Okay, update me when you find out what they’re doing there.” Eric didn’t wait around. He was starting to feel damn awkward on his ship, a ship that was the only home he had ever known, and he didn’t like that feeling at all. He didn’t have a clue where he was going, which was unlike him, but he walked and kept going, crew members jumping off to the side in the passageway as he hurried past.

  He went the one place where his heart ached a little less, to see Abby. When he popped open the door, she was leaning against a mound of pillows on her bed, reading a book. Her eyes immediately darted to him, and she dropped the book in her lap. His heart zinged right to her, and he didn’t know how he made his feet move, because just standing there watching her had turned his feet to lead. Then he was beside her, looking down on her and the bruises on her face that were beginning to fade.

  “How are you feeling?”

  A slight blush colored her rounded cheeks as she looked up and put a protective hand over her swollen belly. “We’re fine.” Then she licked her lips as if gathering courage to say something, and his heart flipped again. “I asked the doctor if I could get up and told him you’d show me around the ship. He said I could as long as I take it easy, but that’s if you’re still able to show me around?”