Beginning with You

by Lindsay McKenna

  “I know.” Rook looked up and saw Chief Jarvis watching them from his office. Compressing her lips, she returned her attention to Tag. “I’ve got an ugly feeling about this, Tag.”

  He completed his report. “What are you talking about?”

  “Last night, when we got back from that SAR case, Jarvis was waiting here for us. I checked the duty roster this morning, and he didn’t have the duty. He looked positively happy when I came into the hangar while he was confronting Annie.” She shook her head. “It’s as if he knew….”

  Leaning back in the steel pilot seat, Tag studied her in the gathering silence. “Knew what?”

  Shrugging, Rook muttered, “I don’t know. I mean, why would he be waiting for us, like a buzzard ready to jump on a carcass, if he didn’t know something was wrong? Annie said she had barely gotten in the hangar before Jarvis jumped all over her case about the ASE hardover.”

  “Poor kid, she’s devastated,” Tag murmured, watching Annie walk slowly back to the metal shop. “She’s got an impeccable performance record.”

  “I know. She’s got all kinds of commendations. No one works harder than she does, Tag.” Rook rubbed her aching temple. “I smell a rat, and I know Jarvis is connected with it, but I can’t prove anything.”

  “Well,” Tag said, getting up, “I’ve got to report this directly to the captain today. This little mistake almost cost six lives. He isn’t going to be happy.”

  Rook chewed on her lower lip. “This is going to wreck her chances of getting OCS. You know that.”

  “I know,” he said softly, apologetically.

  Following Welsh out of the helo, Rook said, “I’m going to have a talk with Annie and tell her your findings.”

  “Okay. See you later.” And then Tag grimaced. “The captain will call all of us in on this one sometime today.”

  And poor Annie will die of embarrassment, Rook thought. “I know. See you later, Tag.”

  Annie sat at the table with the ASE manual in front of her. She looked up to see Rook enter the empty shop. When Rook gave her a slight smile, she rallied.

  “What did Mr. Welsh find, ma’am?”

  Rook came over and sat down opposite her, folding her hands on the table. As gently as possible, Rook told her of Tag’s investigation. She saw Annie pale even more.

  Collecting herself, Annie stammered, “B-but, was there any indication of saltwater on the covering?”

  “No, it was clean.”

  She frowned, staring down at the opened manual. “I’ve been going over and over the electrical schematic on the ASE, Ms. Caldwell. I’ve been racking my brain as to how a hardover could have occurred.” She swallowed, her voice thick. “I swear to you, I checked CG 1224 two hours prior to our takeoff. I lifted that plate on the channel monitor panel and checked for dirt, debris and water. It was clean. Clean!”

  “Mr. Welsh checked the overhead and pilot’s window just to be sure there wasn’t any evidence of water leaking through it and dropping onto the console,” Rook said, trying to soothe her anguish.

  “And?” Hope rose in Annie’s voice.

  “It was dry. No evidence of leaks.”

  Annie buried her face in her hands. She sobbed softly, her shoulders hunched and shaking.

  Wanting to console her, but not daring to, Rook sat there and waited until Annie’s weeping abated. She got up and pulled a tissue from the pocket of her flight suit.

  “Here,” Rook said, handing it to her. “Dry your eyes. We’re going over everything that happened one more time.”

  Sniffing, Annie said, “But, I’ve put it down on my report, Ms. Caldwell. Mr. Welsh read it this morning before he checked out CG 1224. You’ve already heard it all.”

  “I know, Annie, but run over it one more time—for me, please?”

  Eyes reddened, Annie sat there, the tissue clutched between her fingers. “A-all right, Ms. Caldwell.”

  Chappie waited happily out in the hall. To his right stood a very unhappy Locke. Right now, Stuart had the three officers in his closed office, asking, he was sure, plenty of questions about the ASE hardover. Chappie could barely maintain the proper stoic attitude. Occasionally, he glanced over at Locke. She was suffering, that was apparent. Feelings of triumph soared through Chappie as he perused her dejected posture, shaking hands and reddened eyes. This was one time the captain would have to go by the book. He’d bury Locke’s career on this one. No OCS for her. No more dreams of becoming an officer. Bucky Beaver was finally going to get the well-earned kick in her crooked teeth that she so richly deserved.

  Ward winced inwardly when Annie Locke came in. He’d already studied her personnel file and was well acquainted with her record of excellence. He also saw the request for OCS that would have been approved by him and sent in next month. She looked devastated.

  “Sit down, Petty Officer Locke.” His voice was firm, but he kept a gentle edge’ to it. There was no need to be tough with her; she was obviously suffering enough.

  “Thank you, sir.” Annie tried to shore up the broken state of her emotions. Under no circumstance would she break down and start weeping in front of Stuart. She’d already accepted her fate, fair or not. All that remained was for the captain to go through the expected motions. Her dream of OCS was gone—forever.

  Ward leaned forward and softened his tone. “I’ve read Mr. Welsh’s report on CG 1224, and I’ve read Chief Jarvis’s report regarding your insubordination to him. What do you have to say about all this?”

  Clearing her raw throat, Annie faithfully repeated everything she had said to Welsh and Caldwell, leaving nothing out. She wondered why the captain had his recorder on and why he was taking such copious notes. Who would believe a flight mech’s word against such heavy proof in the opposite direction? Was Stuart trying to make her feel as if she were getting a fair hearing? If she didn’t know the outcome of such an error, Annie would have taken hope. As it was, the evidence was simply too powerful to negate and clear her.

  “I’d like your side of the story as to why Chief Jarvis placed you on report, Ms. Locke.”

  Annie’s brows fell. Her voice grew tight with barely veiled anger. “He jumped on me the minute I came in the hangar, Captain. We’d all just come off a very rough SAR case, and I was still high with adrenaline—shaky and jumpy. The chief came running—”

  “Running?”

  “Uh, no, sir. He walked in a hurry toward me. Sorry.”

  “Go on.”

  “He said, ‘Looks like you fucked up real good, Locke. An ASE electrical hardover? What’s the matter, you cheating on your QA checks and just signing them off, instead?’”

  Ward’s eyes hardened. Any form of cursing was banned—especially that four-letter word. Jarvis would say something like that. “You’re sure those were his exact words?”

  “Yes, sir.”

  “What happened next?”

  Ward listened closely to the rest of Annie’s explanation. “He says in his report you called him a bastard. Did you?”

  “I did, sir.”

  “What did he say to draw that sort of response from you, Locke?”

  She avoided Stuart’s incisive gaze, her throat closing with tears. “Do I have to tell you, sir? I admit I called him that name. Isn’t that enough?”

  Ward saw the tears glittering fiercely in her eyes. “Annie, how can I decide whether or not Chief Jarvis should have put you on report if I don’t know the reasons for such a serious charge?”

  Struggling with a deluge of tears that wanted to fall, Annie stared down at her tightly clenched hands in her lap. “I—uh, he said, “Of course, with your looks, maybe work is all you have left to take pride in.’”

  Ward straightened up, stunned. Annie sat there, head bowed, tears dribbling down her cheeks and collecting on her chin. He clenched his fist. Expelling a breath of air from his flared nostrils, Stuart said, “Is there anything else you want to add?”

  Annie shook her head, afraid that if she spoke, she’d cry. Captain Stuart
sounded furious; his voice was lined with steel.

  “Very well, dismissed.”

  Annie quickly got up, stood at attention and did an about-face, blindly walking out of the office. She avoided Jarvis’s sharpened look and the laughter in his eyes. She hurried to the bathroom, where she could cry without anyone hearing or seeing her.

  Jarvis eyed the damning recorder that Stuart turned on after he sat down. Feeling fairly confident of his position in the matter, he relaxed, crossing his legs.

  “All right, Chief, tell me what you know about the ASE hardover on CG 1224.”

  Happily, Chappie said, “Yes, sir,” and launched with enthusiasm into the entire sordid incident that would ruin Locke’s promising career. Maybe then Stuart would change his opinion of him—see that he was a real watchdog, on top of things—and give him his rightful authority back as line chief.

  Ward compared his notes to those of the previous people he’d interviewed. “You say you overheard Lieutenant Scanlon tell Lieutenant Caldwell that the CG 1224 had an ASE electrical hardover?”

  “That’s correct, sir. I’ve been telling Mr. Welsh all along that Locke’s been sloughing off on her QA duties, but nobody would believe me. I’d see her out in that helo, just sitting around. I knew what she was up to—daydreaming about becoming an officer someday and not paying proper attention to her duties—”

  Ward glowered at the man, barely holding his anger in check. “Let’s move on to the next topic. Locke’s insubordination to you.”

  “Yes, sir.”

  Ward pulled out a paper. “Did you say the following to her, Chief?” And he read what Locke had stated.

  Chappie tried to look properly shocked. “Why, no, Captain. I’d never say any of those things to her! That’s against regulations, sir.”

  “That’s called sexual harassment,” Ward growled, pinning him with a black look.

  “Of course it is, sir. I didn’t harass her. I just questioned her about the ASE problems I heard over the radio, that’s all. She got real defensive and started yelling at me. She called me a bastard, just like I stated in my report to you. Sir.”

  “She admitted calling you that name.” Ward reached over to his intercom. “June, get Lieutenants Scanlon and Caldwell up here, will you, please?”

  “Yes, sir.”

  Chappie cocked his head. He almost blurted out, “Why are you calling them back in?” but didn’t. He saw the blackness in Stuart’s eyes and the harsh line to his mouth. What the hell was he up to? Nervously, Chappie uncrossed his legs and let both hands rest on the arms of the leather chair.

  Ward waited five minutes while the officers were located and directed to his office. Both gave him a quizzical look as they stood at ease in front of his desk.

  “Mr. Scanlon, did you mention the ASE hardover on the radio to Ms. Caldwell?” Ward asked.

  “No, sir.”

  Stuart looked steadily at Ty. “Were you on hot mike?”

  “Yes, sir.”

  Chappie gasped and nearly came out of his seat. He gripped the arms of the chair.

  Rook’s mouth fell open. She stared at the captain and then turned to Ty, realizing what the CO was getting at.

  “Were you on hot mike, Ms. Caldwell?” Ward asked.

  “Oh, yes, sir, we were. We were!”

  “And did you, at any time after that, mention the hardover over the radio to the base, Mr. Scanlon?”

  Ty’s eyes widened with realization. He barely checked a smile. “No, sir, we never spoke of it on the radio.”

  Briskly, Ward said, “That will be shown as soon as the radio transmissions are checked on the radio room tapes. Thank you for that valuable piece of information.”

  Ward slowly stood up, facing Jarvis. “Then, just how the hell did you know that CG 1224 had an ASE electrical hardover, Chief? The ICS is not broadcast by any radio and is strictly an interphone system in the helo used by the crew. You, by your own testimony and that of Locke, asked her about the hardover the moment she entered the hangar.” He walked around the desk, lording over the cowering Jarvis, who was now drenched in sweat. His voice came out in a low snarl. “The only way you could have known about that hardover was to have caused it yourself. Not only that, but you weren’t supposed to be anywhere near the hangar last night. Why were you loitering around until that hour of the morning? Were you waiting for the ASE hardover to occur so you could blame Locke and get her into hot water?”

  “Well—I, uh…” Jarvis stammered. And then he shoved the chair back. He stood up with such force that he nearly knocked it over backward. Breathing hard, he rasped, “I want legal counsel! I demand to see a lawyer before this goes any further. Sir.”

  Ward didn’t quite smile, knowing he’d discovered Jarvis’s plan. “I have no objection to you getting a lawyer, Chief. In fact, I’d encourage you to get one—a damned good one.” Ward jabbed a finger toward him. “But I am placing you on report. And mister, you’re going to need a battery of lawyers for your despicable conduct. Nobody messes with my people like this, Chief—no one. You’re on restriction, as of this minute. You are not allowed near the hangar, the helicopters or any of the personnel. Understood? Report to the Officer of the Day for your next assignment.”

  Chappie wiped his brow, his breath coming in sharp breaths. “You can’t do this! I’ve got eighteen years in!”

  “You’re restricted to the base limits, Chief,” Ward said icily. “I suggest you call the District legal officer. You’re going to need him. Dismissed!”

  Rook felt Stuart’s rage. She’d never experienced tangible anger in a room, as she did now. She wanted to whoop for joy. Why hadn’t she or Ty remembered that they were on hot mike? Her admiration and respect for Stuart soared. He’d just saved Annie’s entire career. Barely able to stand still, she waited until Jarvis stalked out in a huff, slamming the door to the office behind him.

  With a cry, Rook threw her arms around Ty, giving him an unexpected hug.

  Ward watched her antics, a grudging smile coming to his mouth. Pretending he’d not seen her enthusiastic display, he walked back around his desk and sat down. Gathering up all the papers and shutting off the tape recorder, he said crisply, “Lieutenant Caldwell, how’d you like to find Ms. Locke and bring her back in here.”

  Grinning, Rook said, “Yes, sir!”

  “You’ll probably find her in the women’s head.”

  Rook smiled at Ward. She liked the man, his sensitivity. He knew Annie would probably be bawling her eyes out in private. “Right away, Captain.”

  Ty’s grin stretched ear from ear. After Rook had left, he cleared his throat. “That was a fine piece of work, Captain. Both of us felt bad about Annie…I mean, Petty Officer Locke, getting written up.”

  “Thank you, Mr. Scanlon. I think the only reason it escaped you and Ms. Caldwell was because you’re tired from the flying. It was a rough case.”

  “Just the same, sir, thank you. Annie Locke’s special.”

  “Yes, she is.” Ward sobered and held Ty’s gaze. “But don’t forget, Mr. Scanlon, even the best of people can make errors. No one’s perfect.”

  “You’re right, sir.” And then Ty brightened. “Annie’s a little more perfect than most flight mechs, though,” and smiled, adding, “sir.”

  “Get out of here, Lieutenant. I’m sure you’ve got some work to catch up on.”

  Ty left, feeling happy. This captain was beginning to show his true colors, and Ty liked what he saw. If the other captain had been here, Annie would have been written up and convicted at a captain’s mast, and her entire career would have gone down the drain. Whistling as he walked down the hall, Ty smiled. Wait until Annie found out!

  Annie’s face positively glowed as Ward said, “The evidence I just discovered vindicates you in my eyes, Petty Officer Locke—and the Coast Guard’s. However,” he went on in a serious tone. “I’m sure that Chief Jarvis will hire a civilian attorney, and he’ll try to prove himself innocent at your expense. No one saw him tamper
with the ASE. It’s basically his word against no hard evidence on our part. He may be able to get off on that charge, as a result. However, corroboration of testimony given by Lieutenants Scanlon and Caldwell makes it clear that you did check out the ASE before the flight, according to procedure, and I’m satisfied, as a result.” He scribbled his signature at the end of the report and then looked up into Annie’s happy face. “Next time, Annie, don’t be afraid to tell what you know. If I hadn’t dragged some of that information from you, you might not have been cleared. Another CO might not have dug as deep. Understand?”

  “Yes, sir, I do. It was a good lesson.” She grinned, exposing her wide, uneven teeth. “Thanks, Captain—from the bottom of my heart.”

  Ward smiled warmly. “You’re a credit to the Coast Guard. And just to keep you from worrying or losing sleep over it, I’ve already approved your request for OCS.”

  Annie came forward and extended her hand. She pumped Ward’s a long time. “Gosh, sir, thanks. You don’t know how much it means to me.”

  Ward retrieved his hand, noting she had a healthy grip. Flight mech responsibility was hard, demanding physically and required a sharp mind. Annie was strong in both. “Lieutenant Caldwell mentioned in passing that you’re scheduled for major dental surgery in a month. I’ve approved the request and sent it over to Dr. Harrison.”

  Distressed, Annie resumed her at-ease position in front of the desk. “But, sir, with Chief Jarvis on restriction, isn’t that going to put an extra burden on the other mechs?”

  Swallowing his smile, Ward nodded. “Yes, and since you’re in a key slot as Mr. Welsh’s assistant, that means we’ll have to move someone else up temporarily or get someone from another air station to take your place while you’re recovering.” He looked up at her. “Does that meet with your approval, Ms. Locke?”

  Annie fairly beamed. “Yes, sir, it does.”

  “Get out of here. I’ve got work to do.”

  Happily, Annie came to attention and turned, fairly bouncing out of the office. In her eyes, Captain Stuart was the finest officer she’d ever had the privilege to serve under. It was only going to make her work harder so that he’d continue to be proud of her.