Fallen Pride (Jesse McDermitt Series) (14 page)

“Be gud ta see yuh, gin, Cap’n,” he said with a big grin.

I took his extended hand. “Good to see you again, Lawrence. These are my friends Jackie, Julie and Deuce. They’re going over to Key West and Jackie will need a ride back later.”

“Be muh pleasuh, sar,” he said. He reached out and took Julies small bag and uniform bag, before she even realized it and carried them to the trunk. “Mistuh Deuce, yuh can ride up in di front, if ya want.”

Before Lawrence got back behind the wheel, I slipped $30 in his hand. He
got in the cab and they drove off, so I went back aboard the
Revenge
, opened the hanging locker by the salon hatch and took the uniform out that Julie had brought. I carried it into the stateroom and tore the plastic off so I could inspect it myself.

I hadn’t changed weight since I left the Corps, so I knew that
the fit wouldn’t be a problem. I checked my shoes first, they looked like they could use a shine, but a quick buffing would do alright. I took the trousers off the clips holding them in place and checked all the seams for loose threads and found none. I took the hanger with the blouse and hung it on the drape rod over the hatch. I only found one loose thread on the left sleeve and snipped it off with a finger nail clipper.

The
six rows of ribbons were in the right order with the stars and oak leaf clusters for multiple awards in the right places and everything was correctly aligned. Shooting badges were also properly aligned as were the scuba badge and jump wings. The brass on the belt just needed a little buffing with a towel, as well as the eagle, globe and anchor on the cover. Over all, everything looked just like I’d left it nearly seven years ago.

I carried the blouse and trousers into the stateroom and put them in the hanging closet, leaving the shoes
, cover, and belt in the salon to touch up later. I grabbed a decent pair of jeans and a pale blue guayabera shirt and went into the head. Looking in the mirror, I suddenly realized I needed a haircut if I was going to wear the uniform.

For five years after I left the Corps, I maintained a regulation haircut, but in the last two years, I’d let it go. I hadn’t had a haircut in several months and it was well past my ears.

I pulled my phone out and called Jackie. “Do you know if the base barber shop is open on Saturday?”

She started laughing, “I was beginning to wonder if you’d even notice. Don’t worry, I planned to bring my scissors and clippers on our date.”

“You can cut hair? To Marine regulations?”

“I cut my exes hair. Of course doing a crew cut might be a little more difficult than a Navy hairstyle.”

“Thanks, Jackie,” I said. “See you soon.”

After I disconnected, I stripped down and took a long hot shower and shave. Lately, I only shaved once every few days, sometimes as long as a week. I’d have to do it again in the morning, too.

Once I was dressed, I grabbed a beer from the galley, set the alarm, locked the salon hatch and went up to the bridge, making sure to bring my phone. The sun was almost to the horizon and starting to turn the water in the marina a soft golden color. There wasn’t a cloud in the sky.

After I finished my beer, my phone chirped. Jackie said she was on her way back, but wanted to go somewhere off base. She said that Lawrence was happy to take us anywhere.

Five minutes later, Lawrence pulled up, got out and opened the back door. When Jackie stepped out, as I was climbing up to the dock, the sight of her almost caused me to fall in the water. She was wearing a short black dress with thin straps and black high heel shoes. Her hair spilled over her shoulders and seemed to snatch the light right away from the setting sun.

“Wow,” I said. “You look beautiful.”

“This old thing,” she said. “Just a rag I pulled out of the closet. Do you like jazz?”

I stopped dead in my tracks and grinned. “Yeah, as a matter of fact.”

“Great. There’s a place called Virgilio’s. You know it?”

“I’ve heard of it before. Didn’t know they had music.”

“Just recently the owner added a small stage and there’s a great little soft jazz band that’s been playing there for the last few weeks.”

I held the door for her as she got in the car and said, “Sounds like a plan to me. Virgilio’s
, Lawrence. With a stop at White Street Pier.”

“White Street Pier?” Jackie asked as Lawrence pulled out of the parking lot.

“So we can say goodnight to El Sol.”

We crossed the bridge onto
Stock Island then on across to Key West and turned south on Roosevelt. When we got to the pier, Lawrence pulled into the parking lot, got out and opened the door for us.

I slipped him a twenty, asked him to wait and we walked out onto the pier. Most of the action at sunset was down at Mallory Docks, but there were a few people on the pier, several fishermen and three couples, dressed for the evening.
Jackie took my arm as we walked out to the middle of the pier. The sun was just beginning to touch the far horizon and we leaned on the railing to watch.

Slowly, the giant red orb slipped further and further into the water, flattening out as it did so. Jackie was standing upwind and I could smell the shamp
oo she used. It reminded me of night blooming jasmine, with just a hint of orange blossom. As the sun disappeared below the horizon, I was watching her reaction. As the last of it disappeared, her breath seemed to catch in her throat.

“Beautiful,” she said.

Looking at her profile, I said, “Absolutely.”

She turned to me and said, “Flattery will get you anything, mister. But not until you feed me. I’m starved.”

We walked back to the cab, got in and Lawrence pulled out of the lot, heading north on White Street. “How’s things been in town since I last saw you, Lawrence?”

“Much bettah sar, now dat Santiago be gone.
Whole heap a people heah owe you fer dat.”

Jackie looked at me questioningly and I just shrugged. “You wouldn’t happen to know Jared Williams? He works at Blue Heaven?”

“Ya sar, met him a time or two. Nice young mon, most di time. Got in a bit a trouble last week wit di police.”

“Does he work Sunday night?”

“Ya sar,” he said as he turned left onto Southard Street. “Works der ever night, cept Monday.”

“What’d he get in trouble with the police about?”

“Was lass Monday, his night off. Whut I heah, he bout tore up Hog’s Breath. Police let him go ness day. He jist been drinkin’ too much.”

Lawrence
crossed Duval Street and pulled over to the curb at the corner. He got out, moved quickly around to the passenger side and opened the door for Jackie. He even held her hand as she stepped out of the car. “Have a good evenin’ Mizz Jackie.” He nodded to me and said, “Have di manager call me when you ready to head back to di boat, Cap’n. He have my number.”

“Thanks, Lawrence,” Jackie said.

We walked around the corner and into the small restaurant. The hostess took us to a table in the back that had a good view of the small stage. The band really was very good and the food was excellent. After dinner we listened to the band for a while and had a couple of glasses of wine. At 2200 I suggested we’d better call it a night since we were going to have to get up well before sunrise. I asked the waitress if she could call Lawrence for me and she hurried off to do so.

We finished our wine then walked outside to wait. Lawrence was just pulling up to the curb. I opened the door for Jackie and we got in the back seat of the big sedan.

“We’ll drop you off at home, then Lawrence can take me back to the boat.”

Jackie laughed and said, “Take us to di boat, mon!”

As Lawrence pulled away from the curb, I said, “Are you forgetting something? You have to be in uniform at 0530.”

“
Her bags be in di trunk, Cap’n,” Lawrence said with a conspiratorial laugh.

Jackie turned to me and smiled seductively, “Friends. With benefits.”

Fifteen minutes later, Lawrence pulled into the marina. He opened the trunk and took out Jackie’s bags. Three of them. “Are you planning on a cruise?” I asked.

“Never know,” was all she said.

Before boarding, she was nice enough to take her heels off. I unlocked the hatch and disabled the alarm.

“Where do you want to do it?” Jackie asked
as she stepped up into the salon.

My face must have registered my surprise. “The haircut, mister. I know where we’re going to make love.”

I woke to the smell of coffee coming from the galley, reached over and turned off the alarm before it started squawking. My watch showed 0357. I always set the coffee maker to brew ten minutes before the time set on the alarm and it always wakes me before the squawking starts. Jackie was curled up next to me in the big bunk, snoring.

I quietly got out of bed, put on a pair of shorts and went into the galley.
I poured a cup of coffee and a moment later I heard the shower come on in the guest head so I held off pouring Jackie a cup. Since we only had an hour to get ready, I finished my coffee and went into the forward head and took a quick shave and shower myself.

When I stepped out I noticed the door to the guest cabin was closed and light was coming from under the door. I could hear a blow dryer going so I went into the forward stateroom and got dressed. It’d been almost seven years since I wore the uniform, but it felt like a second skin, completely comfortable. I went back into the head
and checked everything once more in the full length mirror. Jackie did a great job on the haircut. I had a few gray hairs around the temple, but cut in a high and tight, they were gone. I could easily pass for an active duty Marine, I thought.

I walked in socked feet into the salon with a chrome polishing
chamois and heard the blow dryer switch off as I walked past the guest cabin. It only took a couple of minutes to bring the brass on my belt back to a bright gleam. I wet a clean dish towel and worked on my shoes for another couple of minutes, until the shine came back.

Now fully dressed, I poured another cup for me and one for Jackie. A moment later I heard the door to the guest cabin open and close then Jackie stepped up into the galley
, in uniform also. Unfortunately, her wild mane of hair was pulled back and wrapped into a tight, though sizable bun. I snapped to attention and said, “Good morning, ma’am. Care for a cup of coffee?” She smiled and looked me over from head to toe, pausing for a moment at my ribbon rack and badges.

“At ease, Marine,” she said
. Then she took two quick steps into my arms and stretched up on her toes to lightly kiss me on the lips. “You look good enough to eat.”

I heard
two car doors close outside and the car drive off, then a tap on the side of the bulkhead and a voice said, “Ahoy, the boat.”

“That’ll be Deuce and Julie,” I said. “We have about 30 minutes before Stockwell arrives. Omelet okay?”

“Get the door, I’ll cook this time.”

“Aye aye, ma’am.” I was probably enjoying this too much.

I disabled the alarm and opened the hatch. Deuce and Julie were standing in the cockpit. Deuce was wearing his Navy service khaki’s and Julie was wearing the tropical blue service uniform of the Coast Guard. He said, “Damn, he’s uncovered.”

Julie laughed as she came in
and said, “He’s been looking forward to you saluting him, Jesse. I told him Marines don’t salute indoors, or uncovered. Good morning, Commander, you look nice.”

“Thank you, Julie,” Jackie said.

“I see you have your new stripes sewn on,” I said.

“Yeah, I was up pretty late doing it.”

“Have to guys eaten yet?” I asked.

“
We stopped at the Huddle House on the way,” Deuce said. “But thanks.”

Jackie whipped up two omelets and we ate quickly. At 0455, I heard a car pull up outside and a door close. “We better get outside,” Deuce said.

I grabbed my cover and held the hatch open for the three of them. “Let’s get this over with,” I said then followed them through the hatch. I covered my head, closed the door and turned around. “Your dad would roll over in his grave if he saw me do this.” I came to attention and gave both Deuce and Jackie my best salute, which they returned quickly.

“Yeah, he would,” Deuce said
with a crooked grin.

The four of us stepped up to the dock and fell in
according to rank by the cockpit, Deuce, Jackie, me, and Julie.

“Attention on deck!” Deuce commanded.

Stockwell stepped off the curb to the dock and stopped in front of the four of us. He was dressed in the Army service uniform, with a tan Ranger beret on his head. The four of us saluted him as one and he returned it. “At ease. Fall out,” he said. “And except when the President arrives, that’s the end of military formality. Thanks for putting that on, Jesse.”

We relaxed and I said, “There’s coffee in the galley, care for a cup?”

“Absolutely. I know you Jarheads like it strong enough to stand a horse shoe up in.”

I turned at the rumbling sound of a
motorcycle pulling into the parking lot. Doc parked the bike, got off and put on his piss cutter and strode toward us. He saluted the Colonel as he stepped onto the dock and said, “Good morning, sir.”

Stockwell returned his salute. “You must be Doc Talbot.”

“Yes sir, sorry I’m late.”

“You’re right on time, Doc. Like I just told the others, until the
VIP’s arrive, we’ll dispense with military customs. Me, you, and Jesse are civilians now. I’m Travis Stockwell, please call me Travis.” He extended his hand and Doc took it firmly.

“Please
d to meet you, Travis.”

“Can’t see much of it in the dark, but it sounds nice. Harley?” Stockwell asked.

“Indian Chief,” Doc responded.

“Really? I have a Road King up in D.C. Don’t get much chance to ride it, though.”

We went into the salon and Julie poured four cups for us and got a bottle of water for herself. Stockwell took a seat on the aft section of the L shaped sofa. “This is a beautiful boat. I didn’t expect such luxury in a fishing boat.”

“Thanks, Colonel,” I said as I s
at down next to Jackie at the settee. I noted the blue and tan UN Somalia service ribbon on his chest. “I see we chewed some of the same sand.”

I saw him glance at my ribbons
. “1/7 or 1/9?”

“1/7 then, but I spent some time with 1/9 as well.
3
rd
of the 75
th
?”

He nodded
and just like that we connected. Julie looked puzzled and said, “I’m sorry, sir, I’m new at this. What are y’all talking about?”

“Jesse and I served together in ’92,” Stockwell said. “In Somalia.
With time you’ll get better at it. Ribbons and badges are more than just decoration. They tell the story of a military person’s life. Some are awarded to all branches, while others are branch specific. For instance, Jackie, Deuce and Jesse wear sea service ribbons. Nothing unusual for a Sailor, but it tells me that Jesse served aboard a naval vessel at some time. I can also tell that Doc here was wounded in action and Jesse was wounded in action twice. And since few naval vessels are co-ed and Jackie being a doctor, I would guess she served on either a hospital ship or aircraft carrier.”

Jackie nodded. “The Big E
.”

“You were
wounded twice?” Julie asked. “You never told me that.”

“I never told you a lot of things, Jules,” I said with a laugh.

“I can also see that you’re out of uniform, Julie,” Stockwell said.

She looked down at her uniform, then looked back up puzzled.

Stockwell stood up and walked over to where she stood by the counter. “You didn’t read your transfer papers very carefully, did you?” he said with a crooked grin.

She looked at him, then at Deuce, who was also grinning. “No sir, Deuce took them from Captain Osgood, when I graduated Maritime Enforcement.”

Stockwell reached into his pocket and pulled out a small black case. Opening it he showed her
a medal with a matching ribbon. He removed the ribbon and handed it to Deuce. Then he handed the small case to Julie and said, “Put this in your pocket for now.”

“I don’t understand, Colonel,” she said.

Deuce stepped over and removed the backing clutches on the ribbon. He pushed the pins through her shirt and reattached the backing locks.

“You’re the first woman to wear that, you know,” said Stockwell. “In fact, only 27
men wear it. It’s the Coast Guard Special Operations Service Medal. Your transfer orders say that you’re authorized to wear it. Congratulations.”

She looked over at me then up at Deuce. “You two knew about this?”

I’d learned a long time ago to not hide anything from Julie and Deuce had better learn it quick, I thought. She hates surprises. Raising my hands in defense I said, “I didn’t know anything about it.”

A loud whine came from outside,
the sound of a large jet flying low, approaching the marina from the west. “We’ll talk about this later, Commander,” Julie said.

The five of us went out onto the dock, just in time to see Air Force One fly over.

“Holy shit,” Doc said. “The VIP is the President?”

Stockwell laughed heartily and looked at me. “You didn’t tell him?”

“Never really got the chance.”

“Okay, they’ll be here in fifteen minutes,” Stockwell said. “The advance team from the Secret Service will be here in ten. You’ve all been vetted, so there shouldn’t be any problems.
Get the engines started.”

Julie ran to the
Cazador
and I boarded the
Revenge.
Within seconds the engines were quietly burbling and we joined the others on the dock.

The advance team arrived five minutes later and there was a problem.
Two agents got out of a black sedan and the lead agent identified himself as Paul Bender. He spoke directly to Stockwell. “Colonel Stockwell, good to see you again, sir.”

“Same here, Agent Bender. Allow me to introduce you to Commander Livingston, Lieutenant Commander Burdick, Gunnery Sergeant McDermitt, and Petty Officers
Talbot and Thurman.”

“Nice to meet you all,” he said. “You’ve all been checked
and cleared. The President is looking forward to meeting you and enjoying a day on the water. Are any of you armed?”

I looked at Deuce as Stockwell started to say we weren’t. Deuce nodded imperceptibly and I said. “That’s not exactly true, Colonel.” Agent Bender looked at me with raised eyebrows, so I continued. “I have a small assortment of weapons on board. Locked in a chest, which is locked securely under the forward bunk.”

“That’s a problem, Gunnery Sergeant,” he said. “We’ll need to remove them.”

Stockwell stepped forward
and looked Bender straight in the face. “Agent Bender, Gunny McDermitt is a highly decorated Marine, whom I personally vouched for. It’s his boat and his charter.”

“Doesn’t matter, Colonel.”

I stepped forward, towering over both Bender and Stockwell. Looking down on the Secret Service Agent, I said. “Understand this, Bender and understand it good. I don’t go out on the water without protection and backup. Take it up with the Secretary and the President, or the charter is canceled.”

“Colonel,” Bender said, “you need to get your troops in line.”

I took a half step closer and leaned forward so that my face was inches from Bender’s. “I’m a civilian, Bender. Have been for almost seven years. Before that, I was chewing sand and taking out bad guys when you were popping zits and chasing little girls on the playground. On my boat, I make the rules. Neither the Colonel, you, nor even the President himself, is going to change that.”

That’s when the motorcade pulled up. Three more agents climbed out of the first car and a fourth from the passenger side of the second car. All four took up positions on the four corners of the second car, scanning the area intently. These guys were consummate professionals.

Bender turned and walked over to the passenger side rear window and it came down a few inches. He spoke to someone inside for a moment and the window went back up. A few seconds later the door opened and Secretary Chertoff himself got out and walked toward us. I expected him to be dressed in a suit, but he was in fishing shorts and a golf shirt. I’d only seen him in pictures, but he looked older somehow.

“May I speak to you privately, Mister McDermitt? In your cabin?”

I led him aboard the
Revenge
. “What’s this about personal arms on this boat?”

“Mister Secretary, I work these waters every day. I never go out on the blue without being armed.”

“Show me.”

I took him forward, lifted the bedspread on the bunk and pointed out the digital lock. “Only Deuce and I know the combination.” I punched in the code and pulled the release. The bunk lifted up on hydraulic pistons and I pointed out the large chest. “
And we’re the only ones who know the combination to that box.”

“Open it.”

“No sir,” I said. “With all due respect sir, what’s in that box is my business and nobody else’s.”

“What’s in it?”

“Well, it ain’t no BB gun. I’ve had need to arm several men in a hurry in the past year and if need be, I can arm every one of those agents outside, better than they’re armed now.”

“I doubt that, McDermitt.”