The Journey Home, Part 2 (Ch 16)
Chapter 16
Major Hones hurried to the brig. Even though Lt. Devlin had said specifically that her concern wasn’t an emergency, she obviously hadn’t wanted to talk about whatever it was via her personal comm unit. When she rounded the corner, the lieutenant smiled and raised one hand in greeting. “Hi, Major Hones. I didn’t mean for you to rush right down.”
The major nodded. “Lieutenant, what’s going on?”
Lt. Devlin spoke quietly. “I’m not sure, ma’am. It might be nothing at all. Dr. Messenger came in to take DNA swabs of each of the prisoners. He said the XO sent him.”
“Ah. Is that all? You can rest easy. The CO and XO are instituting DNA tests on pretty much the whole ship, starting with these three.”
“I didn’t question that, ma’am. But something was strange about it.”
The major frowned. “How so?”
“He tested Posey first in Cell 1 Right. I couldn’t hear what they were saying, but there was a pretty good back and forth between them.”
“Okay. So maybe he was just putting the guy at ease.” She glanced past Devlin at Posey. He was sitting fully clothed on the toilet in the corner of his cell, his elbows on his knees and his forehead resting on his palms.
“No, it wasn’t like that, major. When he went into Cell 3 Right, the doctor said hardly anything, and Prisoner Schaeffer didn’t speak at all. I was watching. It was like Schaeffer was focused on something nobody else could see.
“And then in Cell 5 Right, again the doctor said hardly anything, but Prisoner Wilson talked quite a bit, so it was all one-way. Nerves, maybe. But when the doctor was in Cell 1, both the doctor and the prisoner talked.” She paused. “So—I don’t know. I just felt like something was going on between them.”
“But Dr. Messenger is the CMO. You realize that, right? And a claim of collaboration is pretty heavy, especially leveled at what amounts to a senior officer.”
“Yes ma’am, I know. It just struck me as very strange. I even asked the doctor about it on his way out. I asked him what he and Posey were talking about. He put on a fake smile and said he couldn’t remember. He tried to laugh it off as a memory-loss thing. But the guy’s only what, in his 50s?
“Anyway, I didn’t say anymore about it. I was going to let it drop, but he kept going. Said he was sure it was nothing. ‘Just guy talk,’ he said. And then he tried to flatter me. He said. ‘You know how we are,’ meaning guys in general I guess. And then he said, ‘Especially around an attractive young woman like you’.” She shrugged. “Something just seemed off about the whole thing. I thought I should at least let you know.”
Major Hones studied the lieutenant’s face as she talked. Devlin was a good officer. She wasn’t susceptible to flattery, and she seemed to have an in-born bullshit detector roughly the size of Texas. “Okay. Listen, I’m gonna have a chat with Posey, but I’m gonna leave the door open so you can hear what’s said. Keep an eye on him for me, will you?”
The lieutenant nodded slightly. “No problem, ma’am.”
The major turned away and Lt. Devlin followed a few paces behind her. She said, “Open Cell 1 Right.”
When she stepped inside, Posey looked up, grinned and made a show of licking his lips. “Hey! At long last, some entertainment. Come sit on Daddy’s lap, sweet thing.”
Behind her, Lt. Devlin watched Posey closely through the open door. Her right hand rested on the grip of her pistol.
The major didn’t smile. “Shut up, Posey. You sicken me. You do remember I’m the same ‘sweet thing’ who shot you, right?” She sneered. “I gotta tell you, that was probably the highlight of my career. So you just keep flapping your lips, okay pal? Just keep digging the hole.”
He scowled. “That wasn’t funny, goddamnit, you shooting me like that for no reason. I still hurt from that damn shot.”
Hones laughed. “Oh, poor baby. Did little bitty me and my big old gun hurt you? Thanks for letting me know.” She laughed again, then kissed the fingers of her right hand and touched them to the grip of her pistol. Then she put her hands on her hips and her voice quieted to a growl. “Just so you know, if I’d had my way you wouldn’t be hurting at all anymore from anything.” She gestured with her chin. “Go ahead, Posey. Make a move, and I’ll solve all your smelly, stinky, filthy problems.”
His scowl only deepened and he lowered his head to his palms again. “Whaddayou want, bitch?”
“That’s more like it, little boy. I want to know what you and Dr. Messenger talked about.”
Without looking up, he said, “None of your goddamn business. Doctor-patient confidentiality.”
“No, that was back on Earth where you had rights. Up here you’re in my domain. You have no rights, understand? Now what did you and Messenger say to each other?”
“Go fuck yourself.”
“Really? Was that an invitation? Which one of you plays the role of the man?”
He jerked his head up. “That ain’t what we said! It’s what I’m saying to you!”
“Not interested. What did the two of you talk about? Tell me, Posey, you worthless pile of—” She stopped. “Never mind. It doesn’t matter. Messenger already talked to the XO. I just wanted to get your side of it.”
Posey glared at her. “You’re lying! He would never do that!” His face relaxed into a sneer. “Wait. I see what you’re trying to do, and it won’t work.” He lowered his head into his hands again, then raised one hand and wagged it in her direction. “Go away. Leave me alone.”
She muttered, “Fine. Have it your way, scumbag.”
She pivoted on the ball of her foot and was two steps toward the door when he looked up again. “Besides, you’ll all find out soon enough. You’ll all know.” He laughed. “Well, you’ll know for a second or so. Then there won’t be anything but a big-ass fireball.”
On her way out of the cell, the major smiled and winked at Devlin, then said, “Secure Cell 1 Right.” Outside the cell, her back still to Posey, she looked at Lt. Devlin. Quietly, she said, “Looks like your BS detector is in fine form. I’ll go have a talk with the XO. But keep this between us, okay?”
Devlin grinned. “Yes ma’am.”
*
As Major Hones walked away from the brig, she contacted the XO. “I need to talk with you, sir. It’s important.”
“Can it wait? I’m just on my way out. I’m going to the infirmary. Maybe you could meet me there?”
“In that case I’m glad I caught you. All due respect, sir, I think you’re going to want to hear what I have to say before you visit the infirmary.”
There was a slight pause. “Can you tell me what it’s about?”
“It has to do with the DNA testing, sir. Specifically of the prisoners.”
“I’ll wait. See you in a few.”
“Yes sir.”
*
When Major Hones entered the bridge, the adjutant looked around. “Hello, Major.”
Usually she stopped to exchange pleasantries, but her determined gait and the look on her face told him this would not be one of those times. She offered only a tight-lipped smile and a quick nod as she passed in front of him and headed for the XO’s office.
The adjutant followed her progress. The XO usually kept his door locked, but it opened automatically at her approach.
So he was expecting her. I wonder what’s up?
*
When she finished briefing him, the XO’s face didn’t register the surprise she’d expected. He only said, “Is there any reason to believe your lieutenant—Devlin, was it?—might have a personal bone to pick with the doctor?”
“No sir. Absolutely not. Lt. Devlin is a consummate professional. Plus she seems to have an inborn knack for detecting nuances in body language, facial expressions and conversation. Her detection of all three of those nuances in Dr. Messenger is why she contacted me in the first place.” She paused. “I think she’s onto something, sir.”
He nodded. “Maybe something even bigger than you know.” He paused thoughtfully, then looked at her again. “Anything else?”
“No sir.”
“Then that will be all. Thanks for your report.”
“Yes sir,” she said, and turned to leave.
“And Major, please be sure to thank Lt. Devlin for her vigilance for me when you see her again.”
She turned back and grinned. “Yes sir. I’ll do that. Thanks.”
And she turned and left.
The colonel watched her go. His visit to the infirmary was going to be even more interesting than he thought.
The XO conversation with Posey should be fun. 😉