“What’s wrong?” Jesse glanced from Lawton’s stern face to the window. Inside his quarters he could see security personnel going through the drawers in the kitchen.
Lawton put his hand on Jesse’s shoulder. “We’ve had a tip that you’re the one behind the breakins on base, Jesse.” He removed his hand after a final squeeze.
His blood heating, Jesse stared at the captain. “That’s ludicrous!” He started past Lawton, who put out a warning hand. Jesse stopped and resisted an urge to bat down his arm. That would get him thrown into the brig.
“The accusations were serious enough to warrant an investigation. I’m sorry, Jesse.”
Was that disappointment in the captain’s voice? Jesse examined Lawton’s expression. Surely the captain didn’t believe any of this. “I see,” he said slowly. “I thought you knew me well enough to trust me, Captain.”
“I’ve learned there is always more to a man than meets the eye.” Captain Lawton turned at a shout from inside the house. “Watch him,” he barked to an SP standing nearby.
Watch him? Jesse was no criminal. He started to follow the captain.
“I’m sorry, Commander, but you heard the captain.” The SP put his hand on his gun.
Jesse unclenched his fists and shoved his hands in the pockets of his shorts. He was too angry to be worried about anything they might find. His supervisor’s suspicion cut like sharp coral.
He stared down the SP until the man dropped his gaze and shuffled. Jesse strained his ears to try to figure out what was going on inside his house. Who could have called in a prank like this? His mind raced through the list of friends who might have thought this would make a good joke. He rejected them all. All his sailor friends would know how seriously an accusation like this would be taken, and none of his civilian friends would even know how to go about calling the captain.
Could it have been Mano? The thought refused to be dislodged from his head. Mano would have the know-how and contacts, and if Jesse was busy defending himself, he wouldn’t be investigating Mano.
The captain reappeared in the doorway holding a booklet. It looked suspiciously familiar. A sick feeling settled in the pit of Jesse’s stomach.
“Can you explain how this happened to be under your mattress, Jesse?” The general opened the booklet to reveal several pages of the schematics of the new missile system. It looked to be the same set that had gone missing after the first breakin.
Jesse forced his gaze up to meet his commander’s. “No sir, I can’t. I haven’t seen them since they were stolen from the safe.”
“I know you, Jesse. I don’t want to believe you could be guilty of espionage. But you must admit the evidence looks bad.”
“Yes sir, it does. But I didn’t put those drawings there. And under my mattress ? C’mon, Captain. The fact that you received an anonymous call has to be suspect. The real spy must be trying to discredit me so I can’t continue my investigation.”
Lawton’s teeth ground together as he thought. He glanced at the booklet then frowned. Turning it over, he rubbed at the ink. “This isn’t the original.”
“See? It’s a practical joke.”
Lawton scowled. “Maybe. Because I know your character, I’m going to give you the benefit of the doubt and not confine you to the stockade for now, but I can’t allow you to have access to sensitive material either, not with the testing of this new system coming up in three days.”
“But, Captain, this proves—”
Captain Lawton held up his hand. “You’d normally be in the brig, Jesse. Count your blessings, and be glad you’re on an island where it would be difficult for you to bolt. I want to believe you’re innocent, but I can’t take any chances.”
Jesse clamped his teeth together. “Yes sir,” he ground out. He spun on his heel and stomped into the house. An SP followed him and watched as Jesse grabbed a duffel bag and began to stuff clothing and toiletries inside.
Jesse felt like a mouse caught by the tail and held up by the taunting cat for ridicule. He’d never had his integrity questioned before, and this experience was not one he ever wanted to repeat. His military record was spotless.
He grabbed his wallet and keys and stalked back outside. The captain showed no emotion as Jesse went past him to his Jeep. Jesse couldn’t bear to look at him. He slung himself under the wheel and cranked over the engine, then stomped on the accelerator. An SP jumped out of the way as Jesse peeled out. He’d dedicated his life to serving his country, and this was the thanks he got? The desolate sensation of betrayal chased him off the base.
Seventeen
You beat me, you little twerp.” Faye threw her Uno cards onto the table and gave Heidi a mock glare.
The little girl giggled. “Let’s play again.” She picked up the cards and began to shuffle them awkwardly.