Streamline (50 page)

Leo flipped the page to read the case note for the second session, almost ripping it out of the chart:

29 October, second session: DK continues to seem guarded and angry about her mandated counseling. She did report the deep breathing was helpful, but wouldn’t answer questions about what prompted her to use it.

She appeared to dissociate during session, staring blankly in space for several moments and tensing in fear. Eventually she admitted today was particularly difficult because it was the anniversary of the first night she made love with her former boyfriend. She said he was the kindest person she’d ever met and

“the love of (her) life.” He reportedly doted on her and promised he’d leave his wife once his daughter finished college. They kept their relationship hidden because he was her superior officer and married. DK reported feeling immense guilt about the relationship.

The affair now seems to be over, but she wouldn’t go into further detail.

Leo scanned the intake report, noting the lieutenant’s presenting symptoms of insomnia, nightmares, being easily startled, increased alcohol consumption, and feelings of irritation and numbness. Dr. Ina had given her a preliminary diagnosis of post-traumatic stress disorder, though she’d noted the precipitating trauma remained a mystery as the client refused to discuss it. Leo tensed as he read: When asked about her romantic life, DK shut down completely, and I’m wondering if her past trauma was related to this area. “Men are snakes,” she said. When pressed further, DK added that in her experience men abused their power, and she was determined not to do the same. Her assault of a plebe on 21 October represented, to her, a complete abuse of power and loss of control. She expressed deep remorse.

Leo suddenly closed the chart, the papers slapping together with finality. He sat back with a thud on the floor behind Dr. Ina’s desk, his jaw slack.

Working methodically, he returned the chart to the drawer. His mind reviewed the evidence — the letter Jase and Cam had found, Lt. Keaton’s remorse for striking him, her mysterious trauma after CS discovered her affair, and her general opinion of men in power.

Suddenly he felt sick. Her trauma was not such a mystery to him.

He knew a man who abused his power.

“Audrey,” he whispered as he rocked back and forth, a guttural moan escaping his lips. Tears spilled down his cheeks, and his stomach churned with bile and revulsion.

Leo wasn’t sure how long he’d sat there, huddled on the floor next to a puddle of vomit, when suddenly the lights in Dr. Ina’s office flipped on. Leo looked up, his vision blurry, unsure what was happening.

Then he heard her voice. “What the
hell
are you doing in my office?”

Leo flinched, turning his unfocused eyes toward her.

Ina came around the desk and inhaled sharply. “Did you read my files?”

He seemed to wake from his daze, and his face crumpled. “I’m sorry, I’m sorry,” he cried, rocking back and forth again. “I’m so sorry, ma’am.”

“Did you break in here? Did you read my files?”

“Yes ma’am.” He nodded, scooting away from the mess on the floor.

“Why?” she shouted.

Leo couldn’t remember how to put words together.

She became even more incensed at his refusal to answer.

The drone of the vacuum cleaner stopped, and the janitor, no longer whistling, poked his head into the office. “Everything okay, ma’am?”

Ina spun around, then turned back to stare at Leo. “Call the MPs,” she said, smoothly and coldly. “We’ve had a break-in.” Leo nodded, accepting his fate. He wiped his nose.

“Don’t move, Leo,” she ordered.

“Yes, ma’am. Don’t worry, I won’t run.” He stared straight ahead.

“There’s nowhere to run. I think my life might be over.”

Leo did his best to avoid Dr. Ina’s wounded eyes.

Each refusal to answer her questions pained him a little more.

He felt cruel and ungrateful. Dr. Ina had done so much for him, and it kil ed him to hurt her this way. But he couldn’t tel anyone. That way nobody could interfere with the plan he was piecing together — his plan to make things right. He’d put the real murderer behind bars, no matter what it took.

He actually felt relieved when the MPs showed up to arrest him.

“On your feet,” one ordered.

“Yes, sir.” Leo hopped up, stepping over the mess he’d made.

The other MP turned to Ina. “What happened here, ma’am?”

“I was dealing with a crisis in the infirmary, and I had to retrieve a chart from my office. When I arrived, I found Mr. Scott here — unauthorized.”

Leo winced.
Mr. Scott?
She was all business now.

“Apparently he got in because the cleaning crew had unlocked the office. When I arrived my file drawer was unlocked and ajar, and when I asked him if he’d read my charts, he said yes.” The MP turned to Leo. “You read her charts?”

“Yes, sir.”

“And is that your vomit on the floor, Mr. Scott?” Leo grimaced. “Yes, sir.”

“Why’d you do this? What made you throw up?” Leo remained silent.

“Answer me now!” the MP threatened.

Leo still said nothing.

“It won’t do any good. I’ve tried to get the story out of him already,” Ina said.

“Ma’am, would you like us to call Annapolis PD?” the MP asked.

“We can involve local authorities or we can handle this internally.” Ina paused. “What will happen to him, in both scenarios?” The MP stroked his chin. “We’ll return him to his quarters and post a guard outside while the commandant’s apprised of the situation. Captain Tracker will likely order a Brigade Honor Committee investigation and hearing, which will determine his punishment. I’d say it doesn’t look good for this one to stay in the Navy.” Leo couldn’t believe it, but he felt relief at that news.

“If we call the local authorities, I’m not sure what’d happen,” the MP continued. “They’d send some officers, who’d likely arrest him, and then it would go through the courts.”

“Don’t call Annapolis PD — I don’t want them rifling through my charts,” Ina said. “I want to find out what’s going on with Mr. Scott first. I may involve local authorities later, but right now I want this handled internally.”

“Yes, ma’am,” the MP said.

“Ma’am, you can have the mess on the floor cleaned up, but we’d like you to avoid touching your desk for now, until tomorrow morning,” added the other MP. “We’ll set up a meeting in the commandant’s office, and we’d like you to be there. We’ll call you when we have the meeting time. Is that satisfactory to you, ma’am?”

“Yes, but I still need the chart for my client in the infirmary.”

“Hmm…I guess we’ll have to inspect the drawer now. Ma’am, I want you to slide your desk drawer open and take a look.” Ina complied.

“Does anything look out of place, ma’am?” Leo held his breath. Al he could see was Lt. Keaton’s chart, shining like a beacon, but apparently Dr. Ina saw nothing.

“No, it looks fine.”

“Try to remove the chart you need without disrupting the others, ma’am.”

Ina lifted out a chart, hiding the name with her thumb, and nodded to the MP before closing the drawer. “One other caveat: I’m locking this office, and I forbid anyone from investigating the contents of my desk unless I’m present,” she added. “There’s confidential client information here.”

“Understood, ma’am.”

Leo listened quietly. It was almost like the officers and psychologist had forgotten about him.

But they hadn’t. Nodding at him, the MP ordered, “Let’s go, plebe.”

Leo gulped and exited, flanked by the MPs, without meeting Dr. Ina’s eyes. They marched him away from the therapy room, the place of secrets and hidden motivations. Now Leo possessed some of those secrets, and there was only one person he’d share them with — only one person he’d confront.

“You’re
sure
this is her room?” Leo glanced at the MP and nodded.

The officer again knocked on Ms. Nevington’s door. After a moment came a faint “Just a minute!” from within.

The door swung open to reveal his tall, wiry company commander in a black T-shirt and shorts. Her hair sprang out in all directions, and her sleepy eyes widened upon seeing him.

“Midshipman Nevington, you’re the commander for Second Company?”

“Yes, sir. Would you like to come inside to avoid waking the entire passageway?”

The MP shook his head. “This’ll be quick. We need to advise you that Mr. Scott’s being investigated for a crime and will be restricted to quarters for the near future. He’s not to be out of his room other than trips to the head escorted by an MP.”

Trapped at attention, Leo was unable to hang his head and avoid her disappointed glare.

“What’d he do?” she inquired.

“He broke into an office and read confidential information,” the MP said. “We’ll know more tomorrow — nothing will be sorted out at this late hour. We’ll contact you after the commandant reviews the situation.”

“You’re telling me I’m not allowed to talk to a member of my own company until you allow it, sir?”

“That’s precisely what I’m saying. Good night, Midshipman Nevington.”

“Good night, sir.” As she closed the door, she added, “The drama continues, Mr. Scott.”

“Yes, ma’am.” Leo closed his eyes.

When they reached his room, the MPs shoved him inside and closed the door behind him. Leo stumbled into the darkness and crashed into the garbage can.

“¡Hijole!”
Benito bolted upright. “Are we late?” Leo crossed the room to turn on the lights. “No,
idiota
, it’s zero-one-hundred hours.”

“What’re you doing wearing a uniform at one a.m.?”

“Screwing up my life,” he reported, collapsing on the bed.

“Well, can you turn off the stupid lights? We have to wake up in, like, four hours for PT.”

“I’m not going to PT,” Leo countered.

“What?” Benito looked confused. “What’re you talking about,
hombre?”

“There’s an MP guarding the door, and I’m under arrest.”

“Is this some sort of prank?”

“I wish. Listen, the less you know about this, the better. They’ll interrogate me about what went down tonight, and when I don’t tell them, they’ll start asking you. Just go back to sleep.”

“My roommate tells me he’s under arrest, and he wants me just to fall
asleep?
I got your back, dude. You have to tell me what happened.”

Leo stared at the ceiling. He was so tired and, to be honest, so terrified of what lay ahead. Feeling tears threaten again, he did what Benito had asked and went to turn off the lights.

Returning to his rack, he said softly, “You’ve been a good roommate to me, Ben. The best. You’ll make an awesome naval officer.” Benito’s voice rose. “Why does it sound like you’re saying goodbye?”

“Please,” Leo begged, feeling a lump in his throat. “Please don’t ask me any more questions.” His voice cracked. “I just can’t talk about it right now. I’ll explain things when I can, but I have to get some sleep. If you value our friendship, just let it go for now, okay?” There was silence from the other side of the room, and Leo knew his roommate was trying to figure out his next move.

“I just want to help you,” Benito finally said.

Leo’s voice trembled. “I know. But you can help me by dropping it and going back to sleep. Please,
hombre.”
This time Benito stayed quiet, but Leo knew he wasn’t happy about it. Leo wasn’t happy either.

The MPs had assembled a small work group in the commandant’s office to discuss the future of Leo Scott.

Captain Tracker sat at the head of his conference table. Next to Ina was the MP not guarding Leo’s room at the moment, and across the table were Viva Nevington and Tom Sour.

“So let’s review the facts,” the captain began. “Midshipman Sour, I’d like you to take notes.”

“Yes, sir.” Sour pulled a notebook from his backpack, and the commandant nodded to the MP.

“Sir, we were called to Counseling Services by a member of the cleaning crew at just past zero-hundred hours this morning. We arrived at Dr. Hansen’s office to find her inside with Midshipman Scott, who was sitting on the floor behind her desk. He appeared distraught and had gotten sick on the floor. He admitted to us, and to her, that he’d broken into her desk and read confidential charts.”