by Lynette Mae
"Thanks, but you should take this," Devon picked up the beer and slid another couple of bills across the bar.
The woman placed her right hand on Devon's bare forearm. "I'm Tammy." She was smiling again and Devon found her smile engaging.
"Devon," She found herself smiling as well.
"Don't go away, Devon," she held up a hand to acknowledge a customer who was shouting for a drink. "I'll be right back." Tammy ran her hand along Devon's forearm as she moved away.
Devon followed with her eyes, noting the tight black jeans that enclosed a shapely bottom. She's very attractive. In spite of her earlier intentions to cut out early, Devon felt an unexpected urge to stay. There was an open invitation in the woman's expression, with no hint of reservation. Devon had never been cruised before, at least that she was aware of, and the feeling was a bit flattering and exhilarating. No strings, no expectations, just pure physical attraction. What's wrong with a little adult company? She smiled as she heard Mac's voice in her head and thought now how right her friend was, wondering why she had never considered it before. Her pulse quickened as she imagined the feel Tammy's hands on her skin.
In the far corner of the bar, Susan sat observing her target. The softball team had come and gone and now she watched with interest as Lieutenant James sat conversing with the bartender. All night long she watched the interaction between the two women. She had to admit she was a bit surprised, never had her subject shown any inclination to engage in such spontaneous activity. Susan briefly wondered if they had missed something along the way. Did James know this woman? The last time she had seen her at the club; did she see her talking with the woman?
She wished that this connection had been made with one of the military women. That would be much easier to expose. Susan watched the bartender begin cleaning up the bar and looked at her watch, noting it was one fifty-five. The house lights would come up soon and with the bar now virtually empty, she was in danger of being spotted by James, so she slipped out with a group of young local women.
Once outside, she puzzled over what to do. She had come to the club on a whim, not really expecting to see the lieutenant out tonight, so she had no back up. At this time of the night, following her home or wherever she was going seemed to be out of the question. She would take a few photos from her car parked down the block. At least with the photos and a few discreet inquiries later, they could identify the bartender and attempt to question her.
Susan need not have worried. When the two women exited the club, they walked directly to the Jeep with hardly a look around. Susan snapped pictures as the jeep passed. She turned around in her seat to take a few more when they turned onto the street behind her, but what she saw in the telephoto lens changed everything that she thought she was going to do that night.
Adjusting the focus on two figures exiting a vehicle at the other end of the block, Susan confirmed what she thought she saw. Instinctively she began taking pictures of the pair. When the disappeared inside a nondescript warehouse type building she drifted her car down the block, stopping two doors down. Nothing about the building gave the slightest indication about what was inside. The large metal door opened and pounding music could be heard from within. She watched for an hour, noting that although some patrons were alone and some in pairs, they all had one thing in common. They were all men.
Chapter 40
Devon dug her security badge out of her back pocket and dropped it around her neck as she pushed through the double glass entry door of the building just before 2000 hours. On a Friday night, the majority of the first floor and offices and administrative areas were closed for the weekend, only the interior intelligence centers were alive and teeming with activity regardless of the day or hour. She moved quickly through the empty corridors and upstairs to the now familiar work area of the direction finding unit.
Having come right from the October softball tournament, Devon was still in her uniform, only changing out her cleats for sneakers in the Jeep. Her grey uniform pants were stained with clay and grass from the fielding ground balls. Her hair was unruly and windblown. She normally wouldn't show up at work looking quite this grungy, but Ann was so excited about the intelligence information the team had gathered that Devon had to rush right over to check it out.
Two weeks prior, another attack had occurred at the U.S. Embassy annex just northeast of Beirut, killing 24 people, two of them U.S. military personnel. Devon stayed in the building virtually every waking moment since that time and tonight's game was one of the few diversions she had allowed herself. She knew from her time in Beirut the areas that Hezbollah controlled in Lebanon and had instructed her unit that identifying and locating targets in those areas were the highest priority. Finding those bastards so that the U.S. military could bring them to justice was personal for their lieutenant, and every member of her unit knew it.
She saw Ann training a young airman recently assigned to their unit. Enjoying the excited look on the young man's face, Devon stepped alongside Ann to observe the lesson and his obvious eagerness to learn. Ann glanced briefly up at Devon, smiling at her dirty appearance. A second later he recognized her.
"Hello, ma'am!" The poor youngster practically shouted as sprang from his chair so quickly that he lost his balance. Devon just managed to grab him by the arm to keep him from pitching back onto the floor. The chair did tip over with a low thud. The airman's face flushed nearly purple, "Sorry, lieutenant," he muttered, unable to look at her.
"It's okay, Kevin. Please, relax, okay?" She flashed her trademark electric smile at him, her eyes kind, "You're doing fine."
Pulling her NCO aside, she asked, "Ann, you want to bring me up to speed? Please tell me you have something good. I'm going to need hard evidence to convince the colonel to listen to me about moving up these terrorist groups in our priority order."
From behind them, a deep voice came from the outer office area, "Lieutenant James." Devon turned at the sound of the colonel's voice, feeling a chill in her spine. "I'd like a word with you."
It was not a request. Devon flashed a quick look at Ann who was shooting daggers at their boss with her eyes. When Ann's eyes moved back to Devon, the lieutenant nodded slightly as if to reassure her friend it would be alright. She wished she believed that herself.
"Yes sir," Devon responded perfunctorily and strode surely in his direction, following him through her work area into his large private office.
"Close the door behind you, lieutenant." He sat behind the desk in the black leather chair, assuming a very formal posture. His elbows rested on the desk, his big hands steepled in front of him, his face set hard as his dark eyes stared at her.
Devon stood between the two straight backed chairs in front of the desk, aware that he had not invited her to sit. Her hands were clasped behind her back, her expression neutral, cool blue eyes holding his. She stood silently. Waiting. She knew exactly what he was going to talk to her about.
After a full minute passed, Jefferies indicated the chairs with a quick jerk of his right hand. "Sit." He watched the female lieutenant sit, noting with irritation that her posture was businesslike and confident. He was used to his presence and rank intimidating subordinates, especially women. He could always count on a bit of healthy fear to drive home the lesson that it was his show, and although he could do nothing about the law allowing women to enlist, men ran the Army. As he watched James, he saw no hint of intimidation in her demeanor, and that pissed him off.
"Lieutenant, I am sure that I made myself very clear as to your appearance and the attire that I expect you to wear whenever you are in my work area." He cast a disgusted look at the uniform. "And yet, you persist in violating my direct order. You have an explanation?"
Eyes never leaving his, Devon said simply, "I am off today, sir. However, Petty Officer Baxter had some success with an intercept that we matched with other intelligence
and cross referenced with our fixes-"
"Is that part of the job description for either of you?" He snapped at her before she could finish her sentence. His eyes were black with anger as he leaned toward her, staring hard.
"Sir, if I may," Devon began again calmly, "This is the innovative work that our unit began last year. Colonel Brinkman gave the go ahead for the project before I left for Beirut. Now that I've returned, I had hoped to proceed and-" Jefferies' hand slammed down on the desk, silencing her.
His face was completely rigid and his eyes expressed every ounce of his contempt for her. When he spoke his voice was glacially cold, "I am only going to say this once. Colonel Brinkman is no longer running this unit. You will stick to the job description in the SOP. I do not tolerate insubordination from my junior officers, and I intensely dislike cockiness," He drew a deep breath, eyes still drilling into hers. "I am still waiting for an explanation about your unprofessional attire."
"First, let me assure you, colonel that it is not my intent to be insolent, I only want to push our unit to improve every day." Jefferies eyes narrowed. "As to my dress, colonel, I am off, but when Baxter asked that I come in to assist her, I was excited about her work, so I came right from the…game." She heard Jefferies give a disgusted grunt. "I didn't think there would be any harm on a Friday night. I was only planning on staying a few minutes."
"You are an officer twenty-four seven and as such you are supposed to set an example."
Undaunted, Devon pressed, "Sir, with all due respect, I believe that responding to my NCO's request and coming in on my day off to recognize my team's outstanding efforts is setting a good example, regardless of my attire." As an afterthought she added quietly, "Leadership is about people, not rules."
Jefferies sat still as a statue, save for his clenching jaw and the veins bulging in his neck that was turning deep red as he struggled to control his rage. This dyke bitch dares to lecture me about leadership?! He shoved his large frame out of his chair, slamming his palms down on the desk and leaned menacingly at Devon.
His voice shook with fury as he yelled, "Just who the hell do you think you are?" Devon winced as spittle flew from his mouth in her direction. "Consider this your first disciplinary report, James. I'm not going to put up with your disrespect. You will not enter this building unless you are wearing proper attire, regardless of whether you are on duty or not. You will refrain from deviating from normal procedures when managing this unit. Do I make myself perfectly clear on both issues?"
"Yes sir."
"You are dismissed."
Devon stood without another word and stalked to the door. As soon as she appeared in the doorway of the operations area, all of the enlisted people were staring at her wide-eyed. Devon shrugged and forced a smile for their benefit, "He was mad 'cause I got a little mud on his carpet." No one laughed. "Well, don't let me interrupt your work; I'll just let myself out. Keep up the good work, guys." She waved a hand in the air as she moved toward the rear door to leave.
Ann followed Devon out into the hallway, "You probably shouldn't be seen with me," Devon warned her.
"As if I care," she scoffed.
"I care," Devon countered. "I'm the one he has a hard on for, Ann. You don't need to ruin your career too."
Ann reached out and grabbed Devon's arm to stop her progress down the hall. When she reluctantly turned to look at her Ann saw a mixture of anger and pain swirling in her blue eyes.
"You okay? I-well we all could hear him yelling."
"Great."
When Devon bowed her head, looking embarrassed now, Ann hastened to add, "You listen to me," she leaned toward Devon to catch her eye. "Every one of those people in there," she gestured with her other arm back toward the door they just exited, "would follow you into battle or straight into hell for that matter. We respect you. This is your unit, no matter what that asshole says about you." She had a fire in her eyes that made Devon very glad that Ann was on her side, and the energy lifted Devon's spirit.
"Thanks for the pep talk, but I better go."
As Devon started to walk down the hall, Ann called out, "Would you like to buy me dinner tonight?"
Devon stopped again and looked back over her shoulder at Ann, smiling despite her mood.
"Can I get a rain check? I'm really exhausted."
"Okay," supremely glad to see Devon smile, Ann grinned back, "Friday then, pick me up at seven." With that, she turned on her heals and headed back toward the operations area without waiting for a response.
Devon shook her head and chuckled to herself, "Yes ma'am," she said out loud as she started down the hall again, her sneakers squeaking on the tile floor.
Chapter 41
They decided to try a new steakhouse at the Inner Harbor, not far from where they had gone with Mac back in the spring. The spacious outdoor deck overlooking the water provided a wonderful atmosphere for their meal and the women lingered with another glass of wine after dinner, unwilling to relinquish their table for a bit longer. They chatted easily over dinner, discussing work, their families, Ann's upcoming new duty station, and of course Mac.
"I think that if she would have met you sooner, things might have turned out differently, Ann." Devon said sincerely.
Ann smiled ruefully. "Well, I can tell you that I never wanted to spend more than one or two nights with anyone I've ever met before." Devon nodded. "But," Ann forced a lighter note into her voice, "that's how it goes. We knew it going in and I don't regret one minute of knowing her."
"I know what you mean," Devon agreed, "I guess all we can ever do is enjoy what we are given 'cause time and love are fleeting gifts." She could see Ann scrutinizing her as though she wanted to ask something but was afraid to begin.
"Devon, I don't mean to pry," she hesitated as a Devon braced for the question she knew Ann was going to ask. Normally, she would have stopped the conversation before it started, but she owed Ann a lot. She knew Ann cared, and they were friends, so she waited.
"Well, I mean," Ann continued, "I know that you lost a friend in the Middle East, but was there something else…more?" Devon's eyes fixed on a point beyond her left shoulder. The silence hung in the air them and Ann told herself that she was the biggest idiot in the world for bringing it up.
She stammered, "Hey, I'm sorry, please forget it, Dev…I had no right to ask…I just worry, and…sorry." She finished glumly.
When Devon turned her gaze back to Ann, the hardness was replaced by sadness again and she smiled weakly, reaching out to take Ann's hand. "Don't be sorry for caring." Ann smiled tremulously. "Mac only knows 'cause she was there." Devon said, "Anyway, Alexandra…Alex my CIA contact. I believe you met her last year?"
Ann nodded, "Yes I remember, she was very pretty and smart as a whip."
Devon grinned slightly at that, "Prettier and smarter than I'll ever be, that's for sure."
"I don't know if I have ever told you how sorry I am that she was killed, Devon, I know how loyal you are to your friends. I can't imagine losing my dearest-"
"She was my lover," Devon interjected.
"Oh, my God. I never…Mac never told me. Devon, I am so very, very sorry."
"It's okay," Devon downed the last of her wine. "I could tell there were lots of times you wanted to ask; now you know." She was grateful that Ann didn't press further but only smiled kindly. Devon finished her glass of wine and excused herself to use the restroom. When Devon returned to the table, her trademark laser grin was back on display. She extended her hand, "Ready to go?"
Ten minutes later they pulled into the parking lot of the club. "You sure you're up for a dance club tonight?" Ann looked skeptical.
"Hell, yes, I haven't been here in months. Just what the doctor ordered to lift the spirits, right?" She walked around to open Ann's door.
"If you say so."
"No, Mac says so," Devon corrected, "and beside
s, I can't let you go to Alaska without one more wild night on the town, now can I?" Both women were laughing as they made their way into the club.
Devon spotted the group who were waiting for them at the back of the bar, and waved when she saw Carmen look up at them. All of the women yelled out at once, sending a loud, "Yea!" across the club as Devon guided Ann toward their destination. By the time they reached the table, Carmen was handing Ann a shot before hugging Devon, both women slapping each other on the backs.
"You made it!" Carmen exclaimed, handing Devon her own shot.
"I told you we were having dinner first," Devon reminded her, "that was to give you enough time to get everyone here, remember?"
Elaina leaned on Devon's shoulder, "Honey you know she can't remember what she had for breakfast this morning." With that, she wrapped her arms around Devon's neck and gave her a teasing kiss on the mouth.
