Home Goes The Warrior (12 page)

The group looked at one another, but they knew better than to talk when Papa was giving them his thoughts on a matter. After a long
moment, he continued, “This thing is just too close to home for comfort. That’s why you’re all here today. I want you to be very careful in the near future. I’ve studied the FBI and their procedures. I believe that I know how they think, and I’m worried. The Skimmers were successful at getting them out of the shipyard a few months ago, but this rumor about the killings will probably bring them back. This time they won’t be as easy to dispose of as they were before. In fact, I think they will try to put undercover people on the job. That’s one of their standard procedures.” He paused. “Now I’d like to hear your thoughts on this.”

A long quiet came over the group. Each person was silently analyzing the words of the chairman against what they knew of the operation. Finally, the stocky man spoke. “Papa, you may be right. But it would be hard to put anyone in the shipyard as a worker. There’s a hiring freeze on right now and, even if someone from the outside were hired, they’d stand out like a sore thumb. Plus, a new hire wouldn’t have the expertise to understand our business.”

The same woman who had spoken before immediately took exception to this comment. “I don’t think we can just assume that this is true. I agree that it would be virtually impossible to bring in a new hire, but there are people who transfer from other shipyards fairly regularly. Plus, they may be looking at it from the murder angle this time, so they may try to infiltrate the shipyard police or even the Philadelphia police force. We can’t assume that they won’t get in our knickers just because the shipyard is so much of a closed shop.”

The chairman nodded his approval at her comment. “This is the correct way to think about this situation. Be suspicious of everyone. All of you need to put on your thinking caps and be very alert. Those of you with official work places in the shipyard will need to be alert for any possible place that the FBI may try to penetrate. If you’re doing your jobs, we’ll know when an intruder emerges. That’s why I brought you together today. Think about this, and don’t be afraid to share your thoughts. We cannot afford to let an undercover agent figure out what we’re doing. Go back to your homes and jobs now, but be alert.”

One of the ladies at the table appeared confused at this abrupt dismissal and spoke up now. “Papa, what do you want us to do if we find one of these undercover people?”

The old man had been rising from his chair as the woman spoke, but now he sat back down. “Good point. Here are my thoughts. If you find one of them, watch him. If he is getting too close, and you have the time, come to me and I will alert Marita.” He nodded at the woman who had been silent so far. “Marita will get the word to the Skimmers and will encourage them to get rid of the intruder. We’ve been successful in using the Skimmers this way in the past, and it keeps our hands clean. But if you’re in a bad situation and you think our operation is in danger, take emergency action and dispose of the intruder. Try to make it as innocuous as possible, maybe a drowning in the Delaware River or an automobile accident, but take care of business. Kill them.”

Again he paused, then continued speaking. “But keep in mind that under no circumstances are you to reveal our real purpose in being in either the shipyard or the Pentagon. This is vital. If we have to, we’ll let them catch the Skimmers. We may even have to sacrifice ourselves to protect our mission. But that won’t be necessary if we stick to our plans. Let the thieves take responsibility for the stealing, and, if possible, let them continue to do the killing. But do not reveal our true mission!”

The tall man, Fedya, spoke up then. “Papa, you always say ‘the Pentagon,’ but I don’t work there. I work in Crystal City, in the Navy Electronic Systems Command. It’s close to the Pentagon, but not actually part of it.”

“I know, I know. But it’s all part of the same obscene military mess down there. A mess, I might add, dedicated to the perpetuation of this horrible government that suppresses people for the benefit of a few high-level thieves. A government that encourages the slavery of the masses while claiming that everyone here is free.”

“I know, Papa. I guess my exact location isn’t really a big thing.” Fedya didn’t really want to have to sit through one of Papa’s famous tirades right now.

“Okay, my son. But let me repeat: Do not allow our mission to be revealed under any circumstances. Is that understood?”

“We understand, Papa.”

The meeting was over.

CHAPTER EIGHT - THE SHIPYARD

he next morning Lee and Maggie prepared for their adventure to end as Maggie packed to fly home and Lee put on his dress blue uniform. He was going to take Maggie to the airport, then report to the shipyard for duty after she was on her way. It was a somber pair that packed and checked out of the beautiful old hotel.

They were silent as Lee maneuvered his Mustang through the traffic and onto the freeway leading south to the airport Once they were on the road, Maggie spoke up. “Lee, I’m going to put in for a transfer as soon as I get back to San Diego. There’s openings at the Philadelphia Naval Hospital, and I’ve been stationed in the San Diego hospital for over three years. I know that I can get transferred here. Heck, no one ever asks to leave San Diego and go to Philadelphia, so I know it’ll work.”

She paused to chuckle, and Lee broke in on her thoughts. “Why would you do that? We can get together occasionally, and this assignment of mine won’t last forever. We will be back together before you know it.”

“No, Lee. We’re a team now, and you’re here. Not only that, but you may be in danger and I’m not leaving you here alone to face that. I’ve been thinking about this since we ran into Bruno that day. I’m not changing my mind. I’ll get myself transferred here as soon as possible. Then we can fight together, if any fighting is needed. I told you last night that I love you, and that’s the truth. I’m leaving this morning, but I’ll be back soon.”

Lee drove on silently, absorbing this idea. He knew that there were times he couldn’t sway Maggie, when her mind was closed to any arguments. Her tone said this was one of those times. He was trying to think of something to say that might delay her and possibly keep her out of danger when she interrupted his thoughts.

“I just have one request, sweetheart.”

“Sure, what is it?”

“Please don’t go out to see your old home or anything like that until I can be back here and go with you. Please?”

The request startled Lee. He hadn’t even thought about the old home recently. But, after his reaction last night in the Warwick, he understood her logic.

“Okay, lover. But I don’t intend to break down and bawl when I see it. Just want you to know that.”

He smiled at her as she replied, “Thank you”.

They pulled into a high-rise parking garage at the airport, unloaded her suitcases, and proceeded across an enclosed bridge to the main airport, walking arm in arm. They made a handsome couple, he in Navy blues heavily decorated with service ribbons and Maggie in a black pants-suit and white blouse.

They were about to enter the main airport when they passed a group of young people sitting on the floor at the end of the bridge. One of them was playing a guitar and the group was idly listening. Lee smiled at the sight. He had always loved guitar music and folk songs.

One of the men sitting in the circle around the singer jumped up, facing Lee and Maggie. Looking at Lee, he snarled, “What’re you grinning at, baby killer?”

Startled, Lee stopped short and just stared at the man.

“I said, what are you grinning at, baby killer?” He was even louder this time. People all around them were stopping to watch now. Lee stiffened and took a step toward the man, who took up a karate stance facing Lee.

Maggie jumped in front of Lee, placing her hands on his chest. “No sweetheart. You don’t need any publicity. Allow me.”

With that, she turned to face the man, who was larger than Lee, but softer around the middle. She walked toward him. The man relaxed
and started to chortle. “Look, the baby killer’s whore is unhappy. Isn’t that too bad?”

Those were his last words for some time. Maggie’s right foot caught him solidly in the groin. The air whooshed out of him as he doubled up. But before he could double all the way, her knee caught him in the face, whipping him upright. Then her right hand chopped across his windpipe and he fell backward, landing on the group in the circle, gagging.

A stunned silence fell over the crowd that had gathered. Maggie turned, her hands on her hips, and stared at the people surrounding the man on the floor. Slowly she extended her right hand, motioning with her fingers in a beckoning gesture as she quietly said, “Next.” The guitar player’s circle disintegrated as the group distanced themselves from the Amazon in front of them.

Then a nearby businessman who had observed the whole scene, shouted “Hooray!” and started clapping. The crowd followed his lead, clapping and yelling their appreciation of this woman who had done what many of them would have liked to do.

Maggie rejoined Lee, and they continued down the passage. Lee was grinning from ear to ear. “Remind me of this if I ever get out of line will you?” He was proud of his woman. She smiled up at him and he bent to kiss her as they walked farther into the airport.

“Now I’m really happy that you’re coming back. I can use that kind of backup!” They were still laughing as she checked her luggage and boarded the plane.

The shipyard commander, Captain Warren Jones, was a large, jovial man. But he wasn’t particularly happy today. “I’m not sure why you’re here, Mr. Raines. Oh, I heard all the bullshit that the FBI guy had to say, but I don’t think that we have any problems here in the shipyard. They already investigated once, but they found nothing, and their investigation just petered out. When they left, I put my civilian counterpart and
a team he hand-picked from the most experienced yard workers on a special detail, investigating to see if they could find anything that the FBI missed. They came up empty. So then the FBI tells me that you’re coming here to do what none of us could. I wish you well.”

Captain Jones had to stop for breath. Lee had been listening intently to him through this tirade, and now he took the opportunity to speak. “Captain, I apologize if you’re somehow offended by my assignment. Believe me, I didn’t ask to be here. If everything is as black and white as you think, I shouldn’t be here very long.” He was going to continue, but the captain held up his hand to stop him.

“Mr. Raines, I’m sorry if I made you feel responsible for this mess. I don’t blame you. I blame the FBI for stirring up this witch hunt in the first place and I blame them for sending a person with your background here. An officer that is typically assigned to a Navy shipyard is normally an EDO
⁵
, and they’re specifically trained in shipyard processes and shipyard paperwork. You don’t have that training, so I don’t know how you will ever find anything that the trained professionals missed. Not your fault, but not a good assignment. I think the FBI guys were distracted by your wartime record and forgot that this investigation is a technical matter, not a battlefield action.” Again he ran out of breath and paused to breathe heavily. He apparently wasn’t in the best physical shape.

Again Lee took advantage of the opportunity. “You’re probably right, Captain. But I’m here now, and I have to try to do the job that I’ve been given. It may be a wild goose chase, but, if it is, I’ll figure that out soon enough and will ask to get out of your hair. But since I’m here, where do you want me to officially be working?”

Captain Jones finally sat back in his chair and relaxed. “You’re right, Lieutenant. I know that. I just wanted you to hear what I think of this. Now that I’ve had my say, I do want you to know that I’ll do everything in my power to help you. If there is any chance that our Navy is being ripped off, it’s our job to stop it. So I’ve given a lot of thought to
how to best put you in a position in the yard that’ll enable you to do the job you came here to do. Here’s my plan.”

Again he stopped. This time, Lee waited until the captain caught his breath and continued, “In the shipyard there’s a group of civilian engineers and technicians responsible for overseeing all of the electronics, weapons, and aviation-related work in the shipyard. They also supervise the testing and certification of those shipboard systems. This group is known as the Combat Systems Office, Shipyard Code 190. The office has about a hundred and fifty people and is normally headed by an EDO with electronic engineering credentials. But our last Combat Systems Officer, a captain, was transferred suddenly and hasn’t been replaced. I’ve let the billet stay open because the other Navy guy in the group is a warrant officer who’s doing a terrific job there. Code 190 is operating better under this warrant officer than it has for years.”