The Captain's Lady (25 page)

Both Joe and Joan nodded. “Please go ahead.” Joan put down her pencil, clasped her hands, leaned forward on the table, and gave the girl her full attention.

"That girl is trouble and I know'd it from the first time we met. I don't know the captain well, just what I heard of him, but from what I do know, there's no way what Gail said was true. That girl made the story up as sure as I'm sittin’ here. She's a schemer, I know her type. I don't know what else I can say to help, but I hope it's enough to get the cap'n off the hook. She's poison just to have around and she's good at getting people to do what she wants."

The more she spoke the more pronounced her southern accent became. Joan assumed the accent was something the girl worked on to remove, as if trying to better herself. But when emotion took hold, the control slipped. Surprised by the girl's sudden personal attack on Gail, Joan fought to suppress the urge to smile at her forthrightness. “Thank you for your statement Mary-Jo. I would appreciate it if you wouldn't discuss it with anyone. Oh yes, I may want to talk to you again."

She stood up and offered a quick salute, acknowledging both Joe and Joan before taking her leave.

For several moments Joan just stared at Joe. “Well, well, well, it isn't looking too good for Miss Carruthers. Let's just suffice it to say that it appears to be a personal vendetta against your captain. Which could be motive enough for her to create this story. The statements we have so far corroborate everything Mary-Jo just told us. From that alone, we could probably make this go away.” She stopped for a breath. “But I think we owe it to the man to try to get his name cleared."

Rising from her chair, Joan shone a broad smile that widened as she paced back and forth in front of the table. “I also would like to bring charges against this lady for filing a false report, but before I can do that I'll need more concrete evidence to corroborate the statements from the women already given. A confession from Gail would be ideal, but best case scenario would be a witness to the incident. And I would also like to talk to this Abby, today if possible."

Joe held up his hand, palm forward, to stop her. She paused and cocked her head to the side, waiting for him to speak. Joe clasped his hands in front of him. “I'm sure you heard Abby just had the baby."

Her head snapped up. “Actually, no I didn't. I'm afraid I haven't talked to anyone yet this morning."

"Late last night. She had a baby girl. She's resting in the captain's cabin."

Joan's brows rose, but she said nothing, instead giving Joe her full attention. He leaned forward, his elbows on the table.

"She went into labor late in sickbay last night. I saw her a couple of hours before. There were no signs of impending labor. I headed to bed.” He shrugged. He didn't know why he felt inclined to go into such detail. Perhaps because he felt guilty for not realizing labor was coming. “I don't know why she didn't call the doc, the phone was within easy reach. Anyway, she made her way to the captain's cabin where she delivered her daughter. She'll be moved back to sickbay the end of the week. We can talk to her then."

Joe pushed himself out of the chair, walked to where Joan sat and crossed his arms. “The captain insists on being present when you talk to her. I hope that's not a problem. She is under his protection right now."

"Protection? Is there something I haven't been told?"

"I'd better let the captain tell you, he knows more about it than me, but I can say it's all related to her presence on board."

She shook her head. “It is totally inappropriate for him to be present."

His voice softened. “Please Joan, this is important to him. I would appreciate it if you would concede on this; he wants to be sure Abby isn't upset."

Joan let out a huff of air, then leveled Joe a look that was quick to relay her doubt, but after a few seconds, and some reluctance, she agreed. “Fine, just make sure he understands I'll be conducting the interview and will brook no interference from him. And by the way, I'm curious, who is this Abby? I mean, a pregnant woman here on a US military ship, in hostile territory. And now she's given birth. Come on Joe, a lot of holes need to filled in here about her, and exactly what the captain's relationship is with her."

"Look, Joan, you need to ask Eric these questions.” Clasping his hands he leaned forward. “Eric's a good man. I'd appreciate it if you cut him some slack, especially where Abby's concerned. He cares for her very much and is very protective of her."

With a heavy sigh, she shook her head. “You're trying to tell me he's going to make this interview with Abby difficult, aren't you?"

Shaking her head at the sheepish smile bestowed on her, she leaned back, unable to suppress the groan from escaping her lips, while waving her hands in the air in a mock gesture of surrender. “Okay, I hear you. I'll cut him some slack."

Joan stood up, walked back over to the table, reached down and picked up the file. She gazed up and fixed Joe with a questioning glance. “I want to ask you something ... off the record, of course. What exactly did Mary-Jo mean by his reputation about hating women?” She gestured toward the door with her hand.

Flinching, Joe rubbed a rough hand over his forehead. He laughed, walked back to his chair and plopped into it, while gesturing for her to do the same. “I'm surprised you didn't already know."

Joining him at the table she sat with a much controlled measure then leaned forward and cocked her eyebrows. She remained quiet though, waiting for him to continue.

"Eric is old school. Actually probably not even from this century. He believes women have no place in the military. He's never made it a secret, either. He believes a woman's place is in the home, looking after her husband and family. He has very strong views on men as providers and protectors of their women and children. He doesn't hate women, as you heard, but unfortunately he is on record stating that they break all the gender rules by wanting a career in the military. I believe this was fodder, and possibly the root, of Gail Carruthers’ accusations."

At that last bit, Joan snapped her pencil in half, bewildered, trying to digest the last bit of information. Realizing he was serious, she was unable to control the hoot of laughter that exploded from her lips. He sat there wearing a confused look as tears glowed then popped into her eyes, she was laughing so hard.

Slowly she regained control and was able to speak again. “Well, that tells me a lot. Frankly, I don't think I've ever met any man who shares those beliefs. Actually, let me rephrase that because it's not true. I've never met anyone who is open enough to voice their opinion like that, and if I understand you correctly, he has no problem telling that to anyone, male or female."

He shrugged his shoulders. “He's honest. And you should know he doesn't sugarcoat anything; what you see is what you get."

She shook her head, then covered her mouth with the palm of her hand, desperate, but unsuccessful in suppressing further laughter. Finally she finished and wiped at the tears with the back of her hand. “Well, he must really love me then—a woman conducting the investigation. That certainly fills in a lot of unanswered questions for me. Thanks, Joe.” She threw him a mock salute.

Joe nodded. “You're welcome. I think."

Joan wanted to grin again. Joe was obviously relieved she had taken it so well. Most women wouldn't.

"Let me guess. Your wife is like me—wants to be her own boss."

Joe gave another nod. “She just smiles, laughs, and walks away."

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Chapter Twenty-Nine

"Excuse me, Captain, do you have a minute?” Joan asked as she peered around the corner in the captain's quarters. It was dusk, after the dinner hour, a time Joan knew Eric was less likely to be disturbed. He looked up with tired kindness, then offered a tight smile.

"Absolutely, Commander, come on in, have a seat.” He waved her in as he sorted his papers together and stored them in the bottom drawer of his desk.

Joan was aware that Abby had been moved back to sickbay that day, after spending four nights in his quarters. Joan was glad of it because this was a conversation she did not want her to overhear.

"Is there something going on with the investigation, something new you have come up with?"

"Actually, I have a few questions regarding Abby that I am not quite clear on.” She watched as he tensed, then locked onto her eyes. She had his full attention now.

"Oh, and what questions are those?"

Here it comes, she thought. “I'm curious, why is Abby under your protection. And who is she? I mean, where did she come from? A pregnant Caucasian woman out here. Why?"

Eric sighed heavily as he hefted himself out of the chair and crossed over to close the door. Returning to his seat, he studied Joan openly then rubbed his bristled chin. She caught a glimpse of anguish in his eyes, before he looked up and away.

"We found Abby in a dinghy floating in the ocean. She had been there for several days. She'd been beaten up.” Joan watched him inhale and waited while he let it out. “She is an American citizen who was kidnapped in Paris. From what we have been able to piece together from Intel and Abby herself, she was sold at an auction and given to a man named Seyed Hossein."

Joan felt the bile burn in her stomach. She was aware this happened to women, and she feared what Eric was going to say next. Just how bad it was for her. What she may have had to endure, and, for a fleeting moment, she didn't want to know. Tears burned in the back of her eyes. She fought to hold them back as she listened to his account of what Abby had survived, her escape, and Eric's suspicions of Seyed's terrorist link.

Joan closed her eyes, trying to shut out the image of Abby being abused at the hands of the kidnappers. She knew whatever she was picturing was a blessing compared to what she'd actually withstood. She felt the warm tear drench her cheek. She quickly wiped it away as she hoarsely cleared her throat.

"Thank you for sharing that, Captain. I didn't know.” He didn't need to say more; she understood now why he was so protective of her. Bless him.

"So what happens to her now? Will she go home?"

"Eventually. We're making arrangements for her transfer to Bahrain now.” He was ending it. Joan saw the hardness in his jaw as he leaned forward.

He said nothing further and she took the cue to leave. Emotionally battered herself, she needed to think and put some perspective on this.

"Thank you again, Captain. I appreciate your candor. How is Abby doing emotionally?"

He looked away as everything about him softened. “She's going to be okay. The baby, too. I'll make sure of it."

Joan just nodded as she moved to the door. “Goodnight."

In the passageway, she leaned against the closed door. Alone now, she wanted nothing more than to break down and cry. It was a woman's worst nightmare. She didn't know if she would have survived were she in Abby's place. What a strong woman. No wonder Eric admired her so.

"Good evening, Commander."

Startled, she pushed away from the door and nodded at the officer in passing. This isn't the place. Pull it together, she reminded herself as she hurried on back to her cabin, and the privacy she needed to get her head together for the meeting with Abby tomorrow.

* * * *

The next morning Eric hung up the phone shaking his head. He turned to look at Joe who sat patiently across from him, waiting to hear the results of the conversation with the admiral.

He let go of a few explicit words. The strain was taking its toll.

"So what did he say?” Joe asked.

"They want her sent to the base in Bahrain; they want to question her about Seyed. It appears your friend Edwin let it slip that this guy may be connected with the bombing of one of the navy ships last year."

"Shit, I'm sorry, I can't believe Edwin did that. When do they want her there?"

"Now!” Eric hissed through gritted teeth. He flung the pen to the desk in frustration. Then, pushing out of the chair, he began pacing, trying desperately to work off the rising tension. He was feeling helpless and wary, not knowing how to stop it. If the CIA got hold of Abby, no matter how innocent she was, they would end up hurting her. Maybe not physically, but the emotional damage they would do by hammering at her could be overwhelming.

Eric told Joe that the admiral had agreed to buy him some time. I told him I thought it was safer to keep her and the baby on board."

"How'd he react to that?"

"He was reluctant, but agreed. He promised to get back to me right away, but in the meantime, Abby would not be able to go home as I planned. No point saying anything to Mary-Margaret yet then. No matter what I do now that's not going to happen."

What new problem was going to creep out of the woodwork at him? He didn't like this whole scenario. It could only mean bad things.

Joe cleared his throat, drawing Eric's attention to him. “Are you sure you want to be there when we talk to Abby? I really think it would be better if you didn't, you know—."

"Don't even think about trying to talk me out of being there,” he said, cutting Joe off. “When are we meeting? And by the way, where is the commander?” Frustration pulsed behind his eyes.

"We should head down to sickbay if you want to be there ahead of Joan. I know she's been talking to the crew, trying to get more statements."

Striding to the door and yanking it open, Eric paused long enough to turn toward Joe, who was still sitting in his chair. “Well, let's go. I don't want her talking to Abby without me there.” The hasty tone was enough to cause Joe to jump up and hurry after him.

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Chapter Thirty

Joan anticipated Eric was going to be difficult about her interviewing Abby, so she made a point of telling Joe an hour later than the time she planned. The story she'd heard about Abby still did not prepare her for this moment.

It took a moment to gather her wits as she stood alone in sickbay with this young mother. It was not what she imagined, especially after what Eric had told her last night. Joan sensed a protective shroud surrounding Abby. A question continued to stick in her mind. Why had the captain, with his reputation, staked her as his territory? It was a very primitive thing to do—something from another century. Then it dawned on her—his reputation. Hadn't someone told her his values were from the Dark Ages?