Chapter Three

Mike

It didn't take long before Colonel Gill instructed the dumbasses at the gate to escort us in. OK, so I wasn't being fair. Those guys weren't dumbasses. They were doing their job. Besides, I wasn't too high and mighty to admit that, had I been in the sergeant's position, I wouldn't have bothered a colonel either. What I took exception to was the disrespect to Josephine. I wasn't above killing a woman if necessary. Lord knew I'd done it more than once in Nam. But even if a woman needed killing, I did it as quick and painless as I could. A simple bullet to the head. The sergeant wasn't impressed with Jo's credentials and probably thought he could get away with disrespecting her because she was a woman. Not on my watch.

Once inside the reception area of the colonel's office, Josephine sat stiffly on the edge of her chair. She'd worked herself up to a good pissed off and I found myself looking forward to the confrontation that would soon follow. While I hoped she didn't get us landed in jail, I'd enjoy the shit out of seeing her spar.

"This way, please, Dr. Peyton." A tall, thin man with sharply pressed service greens approached us. He was perfectly groomed, not a hair out of place. The poor guy had a shave so close it had to have hurt. He didn't smile but was completely professional. I pushed off from the wall where I leaned, watching from the background. "Not you, sir. Only Dr. Peyton."

"Where I go, he goes," Jo barked out.

The guy stiffened but nodded his head once. He gestured to the massive wooden door that led to Colonel Gill's office. He opened the door and we stepped inside.

Colonel Rylan "Ry" Gill was a huge man with a permanent scowl on his face. At least, that's what it looked like. He shot Josephine a look when she entered. The cursory glance he gave me might have been insulting if he hadn't looked at Jo with a wary expression. Like he'd sized us both up and knew Jo was more of a threat than me. He'd be partially right. Under normal circumstances, Jo was definitely the one to worry about. But not at the moment. I was pissed. If this guy gave Jo the slightest bit of lip, I was ready to throw him a beating like he'd never had.

"Sorry for the way the guards were at the gate with you, Dr. Peyton." Gill's expression was still one of vast disapproval, but his tone and words were respectful so, for the moment, he got to live. "They were only doing their duty. I'd left orders I wasn't be disturbed."

OK. No self-respecting Colonel explained himself to just anyone. Yet, this guy was treating Josephine like she was his superior. Either he owed her a really big debt, or he knew exactly how dangerous the woman was. This guy went up a few notches in my estimation.

"We need to talk about Alex. The kid who got arrested a few days ago."

With a sigh, Gill reached for a file on his desk and opened it. He flipped through the pages like he was reviewing it. I could tell it was more something to do with his hands while he gathered his thoughts.

"Alex Brown. The kid shot up an airport. What do you expect us to do with him?"

"Just give him a fair shake. He's not cut out for this and if you're the same man I knew a few years ago, you know every man under your immediate command and what they're capable of."

"Alex Brown. Born and raised in Sparta, Mississippi. Left high school when he turned eighteen without graduating. Got duped into joining the Army, but Uncle Sam needs recruits so they wouldn't let him out of his enlistment." He looked up at Josephine. "Kid couldn't kill a bug much less a person, even if they were shooting at him." He sighed and dug his fingers into his eyes. "When they told me he shot up the Standiford Field terminal, I couldn't believe it. He's as gentle as they come. Simple, maybe, but the only trouble he's ever been in was a direct result of his lack of intelligence."

"Kid doesn't need to be in the Army, colonel." Jo leaned over and placed her palms on his desk, looking straight at the man. "I realize he'll have to do some time for what he did, but make it minimal jail time and an other than honorable discharge. Let him go back home to his family."

"Believe me, I'd love to do nothing more. Unfortunately, the JAG prosecutor is out for blood with this."

"Because he shot up an airport filled with civilians? That would make sense."

"With all the racial tension happening all over the country, JAG's taking a hard line with anything that even remotely smacks of racial violence."

"This wasn't about anything to do with that." I knew there was no way Josephine was going to let this go easily. We both knew the kid would have to do time, but she wanted to give him a fair chance. "Kid's scared and, like you said, a little on the simple side. Surely you have some sway. Get them to sentence him to a couple years. No one was hurt or killed. He surrendered peacefully. That has to count for something."

"I'll try, Dr. Peyton. I've got a buddy willing to take his case. He's really good at what he does. If anyone can get him a fair shake, this lawyer can do it. That's all I can promise."

"Ian McGregor," she said.

The colonel tilted his head at her. "Yes. You know him?"

"He's my half-brother. I'll talk to him when we get done here. Can we talk to Alex? I want to make sure he has a way to contact his family. If he doesn't, then I'll get them a message."

"You know you can't have contact with a prisoner, Jo." It was the first time the colonel had used anything other than a formal address when speaking to Josephine.

"Today I can, Ry. Ten minutes. That's all I'm asking for right now. The kid needs a way to let his family know where he is and what's going on."

With a sigh, he nodded. "Ten minutes. Not a minute more. I'll even give you another ten minutes when you get his family here. But Jo?" When she raised an eyebrow at him, he continued. "This evens us out."

"No, it doesn't," she said, with a lift of her chin. "Not by a fuckin' long shot." She stood to leave without another look at the colonel. He sighed but followed her to the door.

As Jo marched out of the office and started down the hall, Gill spoke to the aide who'd shown us to his office. "See to it Dr. Peyton and her escort are shown to a holding area. Have Private Brown brought to them. Tell the guards they have ten minutes with the prisoner."

"Yes, sir." The aide rose and headed off. Josephine and I followed at a discreet distance. I liked to blend in and I didn't like being outnumbered, even if this was a US post on US soil. I wasn't sure what Josephine had in mind, but it was my job to make sure she got what she wanted.

The aide placed us in a room with a steel table and two chairs. I moved to the far corner and did my best to become part of the wall. As much as I was itching to take charge of the situation, this was Jo's deal. I was there for moral support and backup. Jo sat quietly in one of the chairs provided, lacing her fingers together and placing her hands on the table. She was perfectly still. Like she was lying in wait for the enemy when I knew she didn't see Alex that way. Likely, she was getting ready to lay into some dipshit dumbass for abusing the boy, ‘cause that was Jo. A mother hen. Or, rather, a mama tiger.

A few minutes later, two guards escorted Alex to the holding cell in handcuffs with which they fastened him to the table. Poor kid looked terrified as hell. Also looked like he'd taken several blows to the face.

"What happened?" Jo asked without preamble.

Alex shrugged. "Same thing always happens. My face got in the way of some guy's fist." He didn't seem like he was upset, just stating a fact. "It's better here, though. That was the folks in the city jail."

Jo took a breath and let the silence linger for a moment before she reached out and covered Alex's bound hands with one of her own. "Have you called your pa?"

Alex shook his head. "They said I could later, but ain't never let me yet."

"What's the number? I'll get in touch with him so he knows where you are and what's happening."

Alex gave her the number, but Jo didn't write it down. The kid noticed and gave her a disappointed look. "You ain't gonna call my daddy," he muttered.

"What makes you say that?" Jo didn't move and her facial expression didn't change.

"You didn't write it down. You ain't gonna call him."

"Oh?" Then she repeated the number back to Alex. "I have a photographic memory. I remember everything I read and most of what I hear. I won't forget, Alex. Now. Is there anyone else you want me to get a hold of?"

He studied her for a long moment, then nodded. "My girl. Her name's Gracie. Last time I talked to her, she got throwed out the house ‘cause she was my girl. Her pap's pissed."

"Tell me where I can find her. An address. A phone number."

He gave her an address and phone number. Again, Jo didn't write anything down. Fortunately, my memory was as good as she said hers was, so I was pretty sure between the two of us we'd remember.

"You promise you'll let her know what happened?"

"I will, Alex. Assuming you get a military trial, I don't know that she can be there, but I'll make sure she gets to see you at some point if she wants to." Jo squeezed his hand. "She love you, Alex?"

He shrugged. "Said she did. She didn't back down when her daddy said he'd throw her out. I give her my pay so she can have a place to live. I don't know what she'll do now." The big kid sniffled once, his lower lip trembling. "I wanted to be a good man to her. I know I could be. She's got a little one on the way too." He met Jo's eyes, and I knew I was fucked. "How'm I gonna take care of her and my kid from prison?"

Jo shook her head once like she was arguing with herself. I had to grin, though I put my hand up to hide it. If she saw me smile right now, she'd castrate me on the spot.

"I'll figure something out, Alex. Whatever happens, I'll make sure to get word to you. Might take a while. In the meantime, the colonel is trying to get you a good lawyer to help you out. Someone I know. I'll put in a good word for you."

"Why you helpin' me?" Alex looked equal parts hopeful and wary.

"Someone needs to, kid. Just so happens that someone's gonna be me." She stood just as the guard opened the door.

"Time's up," the guard said. "The colonel's aide will escort you out."

"Hang in there, Alex. I can't tell you everything will be all right, but I can promise to look after your girl and to get a message to your pa."

"Thank you, ma'am. Ain't worried ‘bout me. It's Gracie who's gonna suffer the most."

"You have my word I'll do everything I can for the girl."

With a nod, Alex let the guard lead him out of the holding cell and down the corridor.

I kept silent, watching Jo like a hawk. I didn't want to miss even one facial expression. It was easy to see how determined she was. I just wasn't sure what she'd do next. God knew I was looking forward to finding out.