The General's Secretary

by Debby Giusti

  “What about the man’s voice?”

  “They heard me screaming from my bedroom one night and found me huddled in the corner. I told them not to let the man close the door.”

  “Your mother’s house burned to the ground?”

  She nodded. “Not long after she disappeared.”

  “Was anything salvaged?”

  “Only a few trinkets my foster mother boxed up for me.” Lillie gazed out the window and settled back in the seat.

  Dawson seemed equally lost in his own thoughts until he pulled to a stop in the driveway of her Freemont home. “I’ll wait out here while you change for work.” He reached for his cell. “Pack a bag for a couple nights. I’ll make a reservation for you at the Lodge.”

  “I’d really like to stay in my own home.”

  “I know, but we’ve talked about this before. Your safety comes first.”

  Lillie smiled and the day brightened. “Actually, I’m grateful you’re concerned about me.”

  While she was inside, he called the Lodge and reserved two rooms—one for Lillie, and one for himself across the hall so he could keep watch over her room throughout the night.

  She reappeared, carrying her bag. Dawson met her on the sidewalk and helped her into his car, placing her case behind her seat.

  By the time they arrived at Fort Rickman, traffic jammed the entrance to post. Soldiers who lived off post were heading to their early-morning physical training, and the long line of cars snaked slowly through the main gate checkpoints.

  “Join me for lunch?” Dawson asked when he parked in front of post headquarters.

  “I usually work at my desk through the noon hour, but I could make an exception today.”

  “What about dinner instead?” he asked. “I’ll cook. Although don’t expect anything too elaborate. I’m a meat and potatoes type of guy.”

  “I’ll like whatever you serve. Plus I’m willing to help.”

  She hustled toward the front of the headquarters and turned to wave at him before going inside.

  He headed back to his BOQ to shower and change. What would happen today was important and could alter the future of his military career. If Pritchard had uncovered Dawson’s relationship to Granger Ford, the CID would be able to as well.

  Better to be proactive and let the chief know right away, just as Dawson had wanted to do on Friday. The last thing he needed was for Wilson to hear the news from someone else.

  Entering CID headquarters, Dawson nodded to Corporal Otis, who manned the front desk. “How’s it going, Ray?”

  “Ah, sir, the chief wants to see you in his office.”

  “Now?”

  “He said as soon as you arrive.”

  The look on the corporal’s face wasn’t encouraging. “Anything I should know?”

  “You know what I know, sir.”

  Dawson headed for the chief’s office. He rapped three times and opened the door when he heard Wilson’s command to enter.

  “Morning, Chief.” He nodded to Wilson before he noticed the commanding general, sitting in a chair to the right of Wilson’s desk. “Sir.”

  “Come in, Agent Timmons.” Wilson motioned him forward. “General Cameron and I have some questions about Granger Ford’s death in relation to Lillie Beaumont.”

  Dawson quickly filled both the chief and the commanding general in on the investigation and the information Granger had saved on the flash drive. He told them about Leonard Simpson and his parents and about the college boy in the bar as well as the three Atlanta women and two younger girls who had gone missing over various MLK weekends.

  “I know it sounds somewhat complicated, sirs, but I feel confident the person who killed Granger Ford also killed Lillie’s mother. Right now, a man named Billy Everett is of interest. The Freemont police are looking for him.”

  “You’ve kept Sergeant Pritchard apprised of what you’ve found?” Wilson asked.

  Dawson swallowed. “Not everything, sir.”

  “Oh?”

  “I wanted to check out the information on the flash drive first.”

  “Which you did Friday night.”

  “Yes, sir.”

  “Then you and Ms. Beaumont drove to Atlanta on Saturday to confirm what Granger had revealed on the video.”

  Dawson nodded. “Yes, sir.”

  “And you saw Pritchard that evening as you returned to Freemont, yet you were still less than forthright about what you had uncovered.”

  “Sergeant Pritchard did not indicate he wanted to share information at that time, sir.”

  Wilson raised his brow. “Perhaps because you had the flash drive.”

  “Roger that, sir.”

  “What did Special Agent Jamison Steele tell you on Friday morning about the investigation?”

  “Excuse me?”

  Wilson splayed his hands on his desk. “Agent Steele told you to protect Ms. Beaumont and leave the investigation to the Freemont police.”

  A muscle in Dawson’s neck twitched. “Ah, yes, sir. That’s correct.”

  “Yet you proceeded with the investigation.”

  “I was confirming information I had received, sir.”

  “What is your relationship to Granger Ford?”

  “Sir, he—” Dawson let out a ragged breath. “Anecdotally, I believe he is my father.”

  “Anecdotally?”

  “Yes, sir. His name is not on my birth certificate, but my mother claims he was my father. He was never in my life. In fact, I first talked to him over the phone only a few days before his death, and I never met him face-to-face.”

  Wilson nodded. “I spoke briefly with Agent Steele this morning. He said you were concerned about your military paperwork because of that very issue.”

  “That’s correct, sir, but I want to assure you Agent Steele did not know about the flash drive or my trip to Atlanta.”

  Wilson sat back in his chair and tapped his pencil on his desk. “Why didn’t you inform Agent Steele?”

  “We’re severely understaffed, and he was tied up on other cases. I didn’t want to pull him away from his own investigations.”

  Wilson nodded, then turned to the commanding general. “Sir, is there anything you would like to ask Agent Timmons?”

  “Ms. Beaumont expressed her concern that the investigation could adversely affect the funding drive for the new museum on post,” the general said.

  “Yes, sir. She expressed those same concerns to me as well.”

  “Have you uncovered anything that would paint Fort Rickman in a negative light or anything that would tarnish the military’s stellar reputation in south Georgia?”

  “No, sir.”

  “You will continue to ensure Ms. Beaumont’s safety?”

  “That has my highest priority, General Cameron.”

  “Excellent.”

  Chief Wilson raked his hand over his jaw and eyed Dawson before saying, “I expect a full report on my desk by Wednesday afternoon. Share the information you’ve uncovered with Sergeant Pritchard. He’s in charge of this investigation.”

  “Yes, sir.”

  “I’ll talk to the Judge Advocate General’s Corps on post and ask them to review your military file. I don’t have to tell you, Dawson, if JAG determines you falsified military records, it could mean the end of your career.”

  “I understand, sir.”

  Dawson left the chief’s office with a heavy weight on his chest, knowing his time in the CID could be coming to an end. He had told the general that Lillie was top priority, which she was, but finding her mother’s killer was the best way Dawson knew to keep her safe. Once the killer was brought to justice, Lillie would be able to return to her own home and the life she had lived before Granger’s death. Where would
Dawson fit into the mix?

  Hopefully not fighting his own court battles about fraudulent military records. Ironic that he could be found guilty just as his father had been. Dawson had never thought Granger Ford’s misfortune with the law would rub off on him.

  * * *

  Lillie looked up as Karl Nelson entered the general’s suite, briefcase in hand. “Good morning, sir.”

  “How are you, Lillie?”

  “Fine, sir, but I’m afraid General Cameron hasn’t arrived yet this morning.”

  The aide glanced up from his computer. “The general’s at CID headquarters.”

  Which Mark hadn’t mentioned earlier. Concern tugged at Lillie. What was General Cameron doing with the CID? Surely it didn’t have anything to do with Dawson.

  “I’ll wait until the general arrives.” The construction contractor took a seat on the couch, the same couch Lillie had slept on two nights ago. She noted the afghan needed to be folded and walked over to readjust the throw.

  “May I get you some coffee, Mr. Nelson?”

  He held open his hand. “Two cups in the morning is max for me, Lillie, so I’ll have to say no. Any chance I could spread out the plans for the museum before the general arrives? I want him to see the updated design that just came back from the architect.”

  “There’s a table in the conference room.”

  Karl followed her along the back hallway and stopped in front of the museum model. “Beautiful, isn’t it?” His full face beamed with pride.

  “Yes, sir. It will be a wonderful facility for both the military and civilian communities.”

  “General Cameron and I plan to name one of the rooms after my dad. He worked diligently throughout his lifetime to help the military.”

  “That would be a perfect tribute to your father’s memory.”

  Karl smiled. “Thank you for saying so. I’m not sure if folks understand my need to perpetuate his good name.”

  “Maybe they’ve never lost a loved one who worked so hard to make the world a better place.”

  “I appreciate that, Lillie. You’re probably right.”

  When General Cameron returned to headquarters, Lillie directed him into the conference area, where he shook hands with Karl.

  Wanting to find out why the general had been at CID headquarters, she slipped back to her desk and called Dawson’s cell phone. When he failed to answer, she left a message. Pinpricks of anxiety rumbled along her spine. She shouldn’t be worried, but she was.

  Pritchard couldn’t be trusted to keep the information about Dawson’s dad to himself. The CID had probably been notified.

  Hopefully the disclosure wouldn’t adversely affect Dawson’s career. His father had been released from prison because of an inaccurate blood test. Many folks would probably wonder if he should have remained behind bars, just as Karl Nelson had mentioned the day of the shooting.

  By the time the contractor and the general finished their meeting, Lillie still hadn’t heard from Dawson.

  The general escorted the civilian into the outer office. “The sooner you can get the construction completed, Karl, the better.”

  “My feelings exactly, General. Now that the donations are starting to pour in, I’m feeling even more optimistic. If everything goes according to plan, the museum should be ready to occupy by summer. Just so you know, I’ve restricted access to the site for safety reasons and instructed my crew to start working on the foundation as soon as possible. As much rain as we’ve had recently, I want to take advantage of every good day.”

  “I agree. The ceremony on Wednesday is to build enthusiasm for the project and garner more funding. We’ll hold an even bigger celebration when the building is completed.”

  The general turned to Lillie. “Have we gotten many RSVPs back yet?”

  “Yes, sir. More than forty guests will be in the special seating area. Bleachers will be available for folks from town and the surrounding area.”

  Karl nodded his approval, then winked at Lillie before he turned back to the general. “I hope Lillie and Mark will be able to attend.”

  The general smiled. “Everyone in headquarters will be there.”

  After shaking hands, the general returned to his office. Before the construction company owner opened the outer door, he hesitated. “I’m happy you’re working here, Lillie, and doing so well for yourself. I never knew your mother, but I always regretted that Nelson Construction equipment played a role in her death.”

  Lillie appreciated the older man’s words. “At least her body was recovered.” She paused, thinking of the names on the flash drive. “I fear there might be other women who have suffered the same demise, yet they’ll never be found and their families will always wonder what happened to them.”

  Karl nodded, his face drawn. “There’s so much sorrow in the world these days. Even within families. Sometimes the person we know best can cause us the most pain. Human nature is hard to understand. I was fortunate. My dad was a great man. He lived a life of virtue, the way I try to live mine.” Karl pursed his full lips. “Big shoes to fill. I’m just glad the museum will be a lasting reminder of the man he really was.”

  Lillie wished she could remember her own mother in such a positive way. Just as Karl had said, those closest to a person often caused the most pain. Growing up, Lillie had thought she had done something wrong that had made her mother abandon her.

  Although she hadn’t told Dawson, Lillie had never looked in the box of her mother’s mementos that had been saved from the fire. Secretly, she feared it would contain proof her mother hadn’t loved her.

  By noon, Lillie knew what she had to do. She told Mark she’d be back later and headed for her car. In the parking lot, she met up with the bodybuilder manager from the Freemont gym.

  Tom Reynolds greeted her with a warm smile. “Mark’s taking me to the post fitness center to work on a reciprocal membership for military personnel with our facility in town.”

  “Good for you, Tom.”

  He shrugged off the praise. “Actually, Karl Nelson came up with the idea. He’s always trying to help the army guys and gals.”

  “Karl was here earlier but didn’t mention anything about the gym agreement.”

  “Probably because he’s so focused on the new museum.”

  “He did say donations have been pouring in, which makes all of us happy.”

  “You’ll be at the ceremony Wednesday?” Tom asked.

  “I wouldn’t miss it.”

  Once off post, Lillie grabbed her cell phone and left a message for Dawson.

  “I can’t meet you for lunch. There’s something at my house I need to get, which shouldn’t take long. Don’t worry. I’ll be fine.”

  As she drove through Freemont, dark clouds appeared overhead. She needed to hurry so she could get back to headquarters before the rain started to fall.

  Pulling into her driveway, she felt a sense of relief, as if everything had been blown out of proportion. No one had followed her. She could make a quick stop and be back on post within the hour.

  She entered through the front door, wanting to return to her normal life, and shoved thoughts of what had happened aside. Walking purposefully through her living room, she continued on into the hallway where she had huddled on stormy nights, just as that little girl had so long ago. A little girl who’d grown up thinking she had done something wrong.

  Lillie now knew she could face the truth about the past. She was a stronger woman. She believed in God’s mercy and knew He was always with her and would ensure she wouldn’t be harmed no matter what she found.

  After opening her bedroom closet, she pushed aside the shoe boxes stacked on the shelf filled with off-season shoes, sandals and strappy pumps she wore on warmer days. Stretching on tiptoe, she touched the wooden box in the back of the close
t.

  Swallowing down a lump of apprehension, she dusted off the top with her hand and placed the box on the edge of her bed. Lillie drew in a fortifying breath before she lifted the lid. Her heart warmed when she looked inside.

  The box contained a few pieces of jewelry, not the fake costume jewelry that Lillie usually wore, but what appeared to be expensive items. She held up a strand of fine pearls, perfectly matched and brilliant in color, along with a gold bracelet and matching necklace.

  On the underside of the bracelet, she noticed “14K” etched in the precious metal. Both gold pieces were weighty and would cost a small fortune in today’s economy.

  A tiny gift card was tucked under the jewelry. She opened the note and rubbed her finger across the swirl of ink. The script was bold and the letters perfectly formed.

  “To my precious Irene. I am forever yours.”

  Had the note and the jewelry been gifts from the man Lillie heard in her dreams?

  Returning to the box, she pulled out a brooch in the shape of an American flag, set with red, white and blue rhinestones. Another gift, perhaps?

  Toward the bottom was a piece of construction paper she unfolded. A child’s drawing. Someone had written along the top, My adorable Lillie is such an artist, and the date, just a few days before her mother disappeared.

  Hot tears swarmed Lillie’s eyes. Unable to control her emotions, she lowered her head to her hands and cried for the mother’s love she had lost too early. For a life cut short. For her own mistake in thinking her mother had purposely left her alone on that stormy night so long ago.

  The tears were cathartic. Maybe now she would be able to reach out to her foster mother without fear of being left again.

  Lillie clutched the brooch and held it to her heart. Her mother’s body had been found along the river, not far from the museum construction site. Wearing the brooch to the military ceremony on Wednesday would be a fitting and patriotic tribute to honor her mother, whom Lillie had closed out of her heart for too long.

  She dabbed tissues to her eyes and blew her nose. Then, grabbing the note and drawing to show Dawson, she stuck both papers in her purse. As she started to stand, she noticed a man’s cuff link, partially broken, wedged in the bottom of the wooden container.