The Journal: Raging Tide: (The Journal Book 4) (17 page)

Jim stopped into the office shortly after
0900 hours. “We need to talk with the kitchen as early as possible
for tonight. Are you ready?”

“Just another minute, Colonel.” I turned to
my two assistants. “When you’re done with this project, go over to
the major’s office. Oh, and I want the two of you at our party
tonight!” I left with Jim, leaving those two stunned over the
invitation.

*

“I think that was a very wise move to invite
those two kids to our party, although you do know it’s going to be
mostly officers,” Jim said once we were at the elevator. I’ll sure
be glad when I can run down the steps; it’s always so much
quicker.

“I suppose we’re going to have to submit a
guest list, right?”

“Pretty much, yes. I suggest you get with
Donna about it. I think she’s going to be very different toward you
now, after what they
think
they witnessed last night.” He
let out a hearty laugh. I have a different view of what they
think
they saw, it felt very real to
me
.

“The only ones I want to invite are my two
staff and Sgt. Wilkes. Those three have made my life a lot easier
here and I want to thank them. Do you have anyone specifically you
want to attend?”

“I’ve been too busy with reports, I haven’t
gotten to know anyone,” he said, thinking. “This does bring up
something else. I’d like to hold out some of the liquor we’re
donating for tonight. A bottle of Gray Goose and Captain Morgan’s
for our trip home, a bottle of bourbon for Hogan, and a bottle of
scotch for Kopley for when we get back to Sawyer.”

“Would it be appropriate for me to give
Wilkes a bottle too? He seems like a Jack Daniels kind of guy.”

“Absolutely. I’ll make sure those bottles
are withheld before the case is delivered to the dining hall prior
to the party, which I believe will begin at 1730 hours, followed by
dinner at 1830 hours.” We had arrived at the kitchen and were met
by the supervising officer.

“What would you like for appetizers, Colonel
Andrews?” the sergeant in charge asked.

“I will leave that up to the
lieutenant.”

“I’m sure supplies are limited, Sergeant, so
I will trust you to make the decisions. I hope that makes it easier
for you,” I said. “Though we do have some gourmet treats we managed
to scavenge on our way here to add if you don’t mind. We’ll be here
prior to 1730 hours in case you have any questions and we’ll bring
them then.”

*

Jim left to sort the liquor and I went back
to the office to a surprise: a small pile of wired bugs on my
desk!

“I really didn’t think we would find
anything to be honest,” Billy said. “After the second one though,
we looked harder. There were four in here and three in your
quarters. I suppose the good news is these are really old and
outdated, so they’ve probably been here awhile.”

“Thank you. This makes me feel better. You
know what they say, just because you’re paranoid doesn’t mean
they’re
not
after you!” and I laughed to relieve the
tension. “Now you two get on over to the major’s office. If I don’t
see you later, I better see you at 1730 hours in the officers’
mess.”

*

Donna was a different person toward me.
Instead of bordering on hostile, she was friendly and helpful. She
came up with an invitation list of fifteen officers to invite and
quickly formatted an invitation on Kim’s computer, printing them
out in short order. The small stack waited for Wilkes to return
from an errand to hand deliver.

“Oh,” Donna half whispered to me, “and
congratulations. The colonel is a wonderful man.”

I smiled and simply said thank you. How long
would we have to keep this up?

*

At 1700 hours I shooed my two workers out to
get ready for the party. I took a quick shower and re-bandaged my
foot. After a glance in the mirror I added a touch of makeup. When
I opened my closet, I found that all my spare uniforms had been
expertly pressed, and I wondered who to thank, probably Wilkes.

Jim arrived at 1715, looking fresh and every
bit the senior officer. “I know it’s only a casual uniform, but it
sure looks damn good on you, Allex.” He stepped closer and kissed
me on the cheek. “Are you ready?”

We arrived ten minutes before the scheduled
time to find my three assistants already there and arguing with the
head of the kitchen staff.

“Ma’am, these three don’t have invitations,
and I was told by Major Hogan’s assistant that no one gets in
without one!” he protested.

“These three are the exception since I
personally invited them,” I said, and he backed right off.

Promptly at 1730 hours our guests began to
arrive. Everyone was delighted to have real alcohol instead of what
some were brewing in the basement. The kitchen provided canned
apple, orange, and grapefruit juices as mixers, though most took
their drinks on the rocks or neat. Appetizers of deviled eggs,
cheese, and smoked oysters with crackers were offered by a
circulating staff.

“May I have your attention please?” Major
Hogan said, tapping a spoon on his glass of bourbon. “I know this
is not my party, however, I’m going to take the occasion to make an
announcement.” He paused long enough to take some papers from
Donna. “Private William Toth, please step forward.” Oh, poor Billy
looked stunned and nervous. “For your exemplary service these past
few days, I’m reinstating your rank to Corporal.” The applause was
long, and he waited for it to die down. “And now I can promote you
to the rank of Sergeant.” More applause and I could swear Billy was
going to cry.

“Corporal Kimberly Ki, please step forward.
For your exemplary service these past few days, I’m promoting you
to the rank of Sergeant. Congratulations, Sergeants!” Major Hogan
saluted the two speechless kids. Kim elbowed Billy and they
returned the salute.

“I’m so proud of you,” I told them. “I had
no idea this was going to happen!” I gave them each a hug and Jim
shook their hands. Billy and Kim were besieged with
well-wishers.

It was now 6:15pm with dinner scheduled in
fifteen minutes, 1830 hours. Major Hogan again tapped his glass and
the room hushed.

“I’d like to propose a toast to our hosts,
Colonel James Andrews and Lieutenant Allexa Smeth… the happy
couple. Congratulations! May you have a long and happy life
together!” There was another round of applause.

Jim put his arm around my shoulders and
whispered in my ear, “Smile, damn it!”

April 30

There were a
few last minute items to clean up before we departed. My duffel was
packed and waiting by the door. The case of wine was already in the
Hummer, except for one bottle.

“Donna, I want to thank you for helping me
with the cocktail party last night,” I said, handing her the bottle
of wine.

“Oh, thank you!” she said graciously. “I’m
afraid I wasn’t very nice to you at first and I’m sorry about that.
It’s just….”

“No need to say anything. I really do
understand,” I smiled at her, and I really
did
understand,
I’d felt jealousy before. “Be well, Donna, and I hope that things
with the major continue to make you happy.”

“The major asked me to make sure you got
these. He thought you would like to personally deliver them.” I
opened one of the yellow envelopes and looked inside.

“Oh, yes. I sure do,” I said, a warm tingle
surging through me.

*

“Kim, Billy, I have something for you,” I
announced when I was back in my office. “Sergeant Toth, Sergeant
Ki, I’m so very proud of you.” I know I had a tear in my eye as I
handed over their new chevron pins, plus their promotion orders.
“It’s almost lunchtime. Why don’t you go back to your quarters and
put those on? The colonel and I will be down to the mess hall in a
half hour, and I want to see them on you.”

*

“Sergeant Wilkes, I’m pleased you could come
by on such short notice.” I glanced at the clock, knowing Jim would
be by soon. “You’ve made my stay here so much more pleasant and
productive than I had expected, and I want to thank you for that,
and for everything you’ve done that you didn’t have to do, like
ironing my uniforms.” I smiled warmly at his embarrassment. I
handed him the bottle of Jim Beam.

“How did you know I was a Beam guy?” His
look told me I made the right choice.

“A lucky guess, Wilkes. May I ask one last
favor? Will you take my duffel down to the Hummer? It’s parked
right out front.”

“Anything, ma’am, anything.” He hesitated
and turned back to me. I held out my arms to give him a hug. That
was the one thing he really wanted.

*

Lunch was over and it was time for us to
leave. The Hummer was parked out front and our duffels sat beside
it, waiting. What I wasn’t expecting was that literally everyone
was outside and waiting too. I looked up at Jim in confusion.

“You’ve made more friends than you realize,
Allex, and they all want to say goodbye.”

“I hate goodbyes,” I choked out. Jim put his
arm around my shoulders and I slid my arm around his waist. He
flinched, so I whispered, “Smile, damn it. Act like you enjoy
it.”

He laughed out loud, and leaned down to give
me a quick kiss on the mouth. The crowd roared with approval. He
tossed the duffels in the rear and we climbed in.

“Which way, navigator?” Jim asked in a great
mood.

“The only way we can go is west on M-28,” I
replied.

We traveled in companionable silence for
about a half hour.

“So how did it feel being deep in military
life?” Jim asked.

“I must say I learned a lot. I don’t know if
I could keep up the pretense for very long though.”

“Which pretense?” he asked and I noticed his
jaw tighten.

“Stop the car!” I turned in my seat to face
him once he had pulled over. “Look, Jim, I know what you’re
thinking, it’s been obvious from the start. You think I’m offended
at the thought of us – you and me— being a couple. Well, you’re
wrong. I have feelings for you, some pretty strong feelings, in
fact. The pretense, though, was like jumping from point A to point
D missing out on all the joy and fun and excitement that B and C
might bring. It left me… flustered and frustrated because I know to
you it’s just a game, a sham.”

He grinned. “You really do have feelings for
me?”

“Yes, now just drive, Andrews. We need to
make miles before finding a campsite.”

*

“Do you see the flashing lights ahead?” Jim
asked a while later.

“Yes. I wonder if there’s been an accident.
We should be getting close to Hwy 123.”Jim slowed the vehicle as we
got closer and could see a barricade manned by the military. He
pulled up and stopped.

“What’s going on, Sergeant?” Jim asked the
young man.

“There seems to have been a problem in
Yardley, Sir. May I see some ID, please?” the sergeant requested.
We each reached for the visor in front of us and Jim handed both
laminates over.

“Colonel,” the young man saluted. “I could
pass you on through if you like, sir, but you’re ranking officer
here. Our highest rank is only a lieutenant.” He leaned down to
look at me. “No offense, ma’am. We’re not quite sure what to do
here.”

We both stepped out of the Hummer and
followed the flashing lights to the scene.

“We were on our usual patrol when we saw
this man stagger out to the road here and collapse,” the sergeant
told us.

“Usual patrol?” Jim asked.

“Yes, sir. When the kidnappings started
happening, Major Kopley sent a squad of us from Sawyer to bivouac
in Munising and patrol this corridor. There are only a dozen of us,
so we go out three at a time. We saw this man and stopped to
investigate. He was covered in blood and had several deep gashes on
his arms. That was about a half hour ago. He died shortly after
saying ‘stop her’. We followed his blood trail into Yardley. There
was a young woman standing in the middle of the street holding a
machete. She and the blade were soaked in blood. She looked
catatonic, until we approached her, then she lunged at us with that
blade. Corporal Jones shot her.”

“Self-defense, Sergeant. What else?” Jim
prodded. I was too shocked to speak.

“There are fifteen dead, Sir, and there are
also a few survivors. Do you wish to speak to them? They said the
girl went berserk and started slashing anyone who came near
her.”

“No, that won’t be necessary. Where is the
girl’s body?” Jim asked and then turned to me. “Please, Lieutenant,
stay here.” I didn’t argue; I didn’t want to see, and I didn’t want
to know. He walked away with the sergeant. Maybe fifty yards down
the road, near the first building of the town, they stopped and I
could see Jim stoop down and lift a sheet. Beyond them I could see
the rest of the quiet picturesque buildings of Yardley, looking the
same as they did when we dropped off Patsy and Andrea a week ago.
Jim and two others walked back in my direction. Jim was doing all
the talking until they got close to me.

“Jim?” I asked, afraid of the answer.

“Get in the vehicle, Allex. We’re leaving.”
He pulled around the barricades and sped west on M-28.

*

We drove in silence, making really good
time. M-28 was cleared of any trees or debris, likely from the
regular patrolling, and the broken pavement was minimal. In the
small town of Antenborough, Jim turned south and stopped near a
small clearing. He got out of the Hummer and walked down the road a
short ways. I sat on the bumper, waiting for him.

I stood as he came back.

“It was Andrea, Allex. Andrea had hacked
fifteen people to death.” He took a couple of deep breaths. “Patsy
is fine. She told the sergeant that Andrea just snapped. She
slashed Patsy’s husband - don’t worry, he’s okay. When Patsy
stepped in between them, Andrea ran. She attacked every man she saw
plus a few women who tried to stop her.”