Page 1

unwritten

M.C. Henson

Copyright © 2006 by M.C. Henson

Published by

Red Press Co.

http://www.redpressco.com

Contact Red Press for permissions.

Library of Congress Control Number: 2007923449

ISBN 978-0-9793869-0-9

Printed in the United States of America

To the men and women

who serve a grateful nation

in the armed forces.

Go Navy!

Thank you Jesus.

To my mother, who always pushes me farther.

To my father, your quiet ways inspire me.

To my Johnny, I love you.

Suzanne- thank you.

Is there anything in the head?

To all of you, too numerous to list,

who have touched my life.

Arrestor Cables- There are four cables on a carrier deck. In a perfect landing, the

the aircraft’s tailhook will touchdown and catch the number

three cable. Catching the number one is bad. It means

the aircraft cleared the aft end of the deck by three feet.

Article Thirty-Two- pre-trial investigation, used to determine if there is sufficient

evidence to proceed with a court martial

ATARS- Advanced Tactical Airborne Reconnaissance System

bird- anything that can fly

bird farm- aircraft carrier

bulkhead- a wall

CAG- Carrier Air Group commander, responsible for everything that flies

COD- Carrier Onboard Delivery

cover- hat

DEW- Directed Energy Weapon

head- bathroom

fruit salad- ribbons worn on a uniform

hatch- door

JAG- Judge Advocate General

Martin Baker- contractor who provides ejection seats for aircraft

Miramar- Marine Corps Air Station, near San Diego, home of Fighter Weapons

School (Top Gun)

Officer Rank- For the Navy

Ensign

[ENS]

Lieutenant, Junior Grade (J.G.)

[LTJG]

Lieutenant

[LT]

Lieutenant Commander

[LCDR]

Commander

[CDR]

Captain

[CAPT]

Admiral, (Rear, Lower Half)

[RDML]

Admiral, (Rear, Upper Half)

[RADM]

Vice Admiral

[VADM]

Admiral

[ADM]

For more information on uniform insignias and ranks visit:

http://www.navy.mil/navydata/ranks/officers/o-rank.html

Peanut Butters- Service khaki uniforms

RIO- Radar Intercept Officer

scuttlebutt- gossip, rumors

scrambled eggs- braiding and embellisment on a Commander or Captain’s cover

(also worn by Admirals, but even more embellished)

screwed-the-pooch- to make a big mistake

SEAL- special forces for the Navy, stands for SEA, AIR, LAND

SECNAV- Secretary of the Navy

six- what pilots refer to as their tail, rear-end

TAD- Temporary Additional Duty

UCMJ- Uniform Code of Military Justice, the law book for the Military

Zulu- Military term for Greenwich Mean Time (GMT)

1

chapter one

miss blaine goes to washington

Tuesday, May 18

Summer House Farms

Franklin, North Carolina

Caroline Blaine gazed upon the fifty acres of growing grape

vines in the valley below. The view from the barn on the hill, where

she stood, was breathtaking. She was completely surrounded by the

land she dearly loved. Her family farm had seen many changes. Over

the last one hundred forty years, their land had played host to cattle,

horses and most recently, tobacco. The valley was now covered with

countless rows of grape vines, silhouetted in the late afternoon sun.

Blaine was thoughtful, dedicated, kind, and generous. She

was truly a southern woman, with the exception of her temper. She

could put up a terrific argument when the occasion called for it. Her

intelligence was apparent upon engaging her in conversation. She was

the kind of woman who commanded respect and attention. Not just

because she served her country in special service to the Navy, but due

2

chapter one

to her integrity.

Today started out like most other days, early. She’d had trou-

ble sleeping for some time now. Although she was tired after working

in the fields with her extended family, she found herself lying in bed

with her mind elsewhere. Blaine, at thirty five, felt like two different

people somehow. One side of her was the normal woman, complete

with a lonely heart filled by the only person she wouldn’t allow herself

to admit she loved. The other half was a deadly enigma due to her job

and all the atrocities she personally had caused or seen. Her job kept

her away for months, with only the odd phone call to her family to

inform them she was safe. She couldn’t fully disclose her secretive job

to them. In essence, she was divided. What kept her grounded was

God.

The Navy demanded almost all of her time. Consequently,

she could not devote herself, as much as she would have liked, to

the farm. The full-time care for the vineyard had fallen on John and

Holly Wheaton, her adopted family and neighbors. John was like

an older brother. Holly was her confidant, much more like a sister.

Blaine’s only true sibling, her older brother Mark, had been severely

injured in a farm accident two years ago. It was expensive to have

him in a private facility with his own dedicated nurse. Her income

was needed to support Mark’s long-term care and run the farm in

lean years. Mark’s presence was missed everyday, and they visited him

often at the care facility, an hour away.

She began walking back to her home just up the hill from

the barn. Since she had arrived back in North Carolina on leave one

week before, her concentration had been entirely absent. Her days

consisted of working in the fields as a diversion. She had checked the

Navy records from home on the day she arrived for a certain Com-

mander and his status. She could practically go through the process

in her sleep to access his record, she had done it so often over the

last two years. She couldn’t seem to get him off her mind no matter

3

miss blaine goes to washington

how hard she tried. Today certainly wasn’t an exception. Everyone in

the family had noticed her distraction while working the fields. The

growing grape vines were simply something to occupy her hands, not

her mind.

As dinner time approached, they had ended their tasks. Blaine

and Holly had already left the field to shower. Everyone was to meet

at Blaine’s home for dinner later. The men would soon follow. Rib-

eye steaks were waiting to be grilled, along with fresh vegetables.

Caroline sat in the porch swing after dinner, on the deck

of her modest home, nestled in the mountains of western North

Carolina. Her family surrounded her. Freshly showered and fed, she

looked upon the tired bunch. John Wheaton, his wife Holly and their

eighteen year old son, Daniel, sat in Adirondack chairs sipping cold

drinks. Noah Wheaton, John’s younger brother, soon joined them

with a glass of sweet tea in his hand. Noah was staying with John and

his family while there- as usual. They had worked hard all afternoon

in the fifty acres of grapes that would yield their harvest within the

next few months. It was only a short time later that Daniel bid his

farewell for the evening, opting to spend his time with his friends.

Noah sat down beside Blaine in the swing and put his glass

of tea next to hers on the deck rail. The six foot two, brown eyed

charmer, pulled her closer to him on the swing in a friendly gesture.

He was in for a few days, just as always. Working for the FBI meant

you didn’t get many days off. But since being transferred back east

from San Francisco to Asheville, these days were more frequent.

Noah stared down at the woman resting her head on his shoulder.

She was the backbone of the family. She was a strong woman, and he

knew it. She was two years younger than him. He had always tried

to protect her. He wasn’t as close to her as they had been as children.

Noah never really took to winemaking like the rest of his family,

chapter one

4

instead opting for all star basketball and college. He had fled North

Carolina for Stanford. He had gone to California for college to find

himself, and then promptly joined the FBI. It had broken his heart to

leave her, but he chose his own path. Things had not been the same

since. He knew she was in love with him when they were teenagers.

They were so young then, and he was unsure of himself. She had

mentioned someone in the Navy most often now. Her affections had

changed, and this Navy man had her attention. Noah wondered who

his competition was exactly. In the five years he heard her speak of the

mystery-man, he still had yet to lay eyes on him.

Blaine was lost in the darkening sky. The last few days had

been tiring but great. She and Noah had buried a few hatchets and

were on good terms once again. They had visited Mark together in

Asheville yesterday and later sat up talking most of the night.

Noah regarded the look on her face. He could tell her mind

was elsewhere. It had been for days now.

Her thoughts were, yet again, on a man hundreds of miles

away in Washington. The memory of the Navy Commander haunted

her mind daily like a ghost. It had been over two years since she had

seen him last. Every day, her mind replayed his face to her.

The shrill ring of her mobile phone broke the silence. She

answered the phone in a quiet manner. Only the occasional word

yielded her southern heritage.

The disembodied voice of a man very familiar to her in-

formed her she had been reactivated.

“Yes Sir. I understand Sir.”

The call lasted no more than a minute. She put the phone

away and looked into the disappointed brown eyes sitting next to her.

Everyone sat and stared as she ended the call. They all knew what to

expect. It had happened before.

“I have to go. I’ve been recalled from my leave.”

Noah began to protest. “I thought you got thirty days?”

miss blaine goes to washington

5

“I thought so too. But I knew it wouldn’t last.”

Noah rose from his seat and held out his hand to her. She

took it and got up to go inside, leaving John and Holly alone. She

grabbed her black travel bag and began throwing in necessities. She

pulled out her garment bag and threw it on the bed. It held all her

uniforms and a few changes of business attire. Noah went into her

bathroom and gathered up her toiletries. He had done this with her

before as well. He knew just what to put in her bags. While Noah was

in the bathroom, Blaine went to her closet and pulled down a lock-

box, carefully removing the weapon inside. She quickly tucked it into

her bag under some clothes, before Noah could see the weapon. She

also put her bullet proof vest in the bag. The whole process of pack-

ing was accomplished with silent expediency.

Less than ten minutes later, they returned to the deck. She

hugged John and Holly-wishing them well.

“Don’t look at me that way John. I can’t tell you where I’m

going and you know it.”

John nodded. “I know. It doesn’t mean I don’t worry about

you. You’re the closest thing I have to a sister, Caroline Blaine.”

Holly smiled at her. “We both do.”

“I’ll call you when I can. Tell Daniel I’ll try to come back for

graduation on Saturday if I possibly can. I love you guys. Bye.”

John, Holly and Noah bid their own goodnight.

Noah drove her to Asheville to catch a plane, in his restored

classic convertible silver Porsche. From the time they left Franklin,

until they reached Dillsboro, not a word had been uttered. He would

drop her off and go back to his apartment in Skyland.

“Doesn’t that leave you with twenty-one days?” Noah finally

broke the silence.

“Yes.”

“So come back soon.” He smiled. “I still owe you a caramel

and vanilla latte.”

6

chapter one

“You do, don’t you. Sorry for showing you up on geography

knowledge, but you knew I’d win that bet.”

“Who knew there was such a place as Vladivostok?”

“It’s a Russian town. It’s the last stop on the Siberian railway.

It’s also a very large port.”

“So you said.”

Noah shook his head. He had, indeed, looked it up. Her navi-

gation skills and cartographic knowledge were frightening.

The tension had eased somewhat between them. Things had

been awkward for years since high school. They had both gotten

pretty drunk the night before he left for college. They had snuck off

to the barn to hide from John and Lizzie, Caroline’s mother. Confes-

sions had been made due to imbibed alcohol. Blaine had begged him

to stay and not leave her. Their inhibitions were taken away, and they

had kissed for what seemed like hours. Then it went further than

either had intended. They hadn’t spoken of it since then, not until

yesterday. Things were better between them now, than they had been

in years. Noah didn’t want her to go yet, just when the air between

them had finally been cleared.

He pulled up at the curb in front of the baggage area to drop

her off.

“Be safe training those pilots Caroline. Call me when you get

back.”

“I will. You be safe too.”

She looked at him carefully. She knew he harbored feelings

for her. She had carried a torch for him most of her life. But the flame

was gone now. Her heart belonged to another, and he would have to

accept that. She would save that talk until later. Right now her mind

was on a trip to Washington. She had left someone important there.

She sat physically in the car with Noah, but her mind already had her

in the capital city, searching out the man she had stood up on a din-

ner invitation to the Willard Hotel.

7

miss blaine goes to washington

They hugged as best they could over the console. Noah kissed

her cheek lightly. Her bags were retrieved from behind the seat as she

exited the vehicle. He pulled away into the night with one last wave.

She stopped by the public restroom to strap on the protective vest.

The plane back to Washington was a private jet, but she would still

have to pass her weapon through security.

As she arrived in Washington, she received another call. She

would indeed be assigned to a senior JAG officer to help with an

intelligence breach and provide armed security. Her heart skipped a

beat as she went to her car to meet up with a man she couldn’t forget,

whom she would now protect.

chapter two

reflections and orders

8

2157 Local Time

Judge Advocate General Headquarters

Washington Naval Yard

Washington, D.C.

Commander David Reese sat at his desk, illuminated by a

dim lamp while reviewing his case load for tomorrow. The office was

quiet this evening. Only the occasional pop from the coffee machine

in the room next door and the copier broke the silence. He rose from

his desk and propped himself against the door frame surveying the

room. The lights were low in the main room where clerks and assis-

tants were burning the midnight oil. He had forgone dinner to wait

on an important call from the Secretary of the Navy. He pinched the

bridge of his nose and closed his eyes. All the paperwork this evening

had blurred his vision. A break was in order.

Reese walked into the next room to pour himself a cup of

coffee. He guessed you could call it that. It hadn’t been made that

reflections and orders

9

long ago, but Admiral Grant Anderson’s aide tended to brew pots that

could strip wallpaper, they were so strong. Such was a pot of Navy

coffee. His own assistant, Lieutenant Mason, entered the room just as

he finished adding some creamer.

“Sir, I have those depositions copied and ready when you

need them.”

“Thanks, Mason. Didn’t you have a final review tonight for

the bar exam?”

“Yes Sir. But I knew you needed those depositions. I also

finished the research for the article thirty-two hearing on Petty Of-

ficer Barnes next week. I have it in the computer and arranged for his

transport here.”

Mason looked intently at the Commander. His thoughts

seemed far from his job this evening.

“Sir?”

“I’ll look at the case in the morning. You’ve done enough this

evening. Go home. I’ll see you tomorrow.”

Reese took his cup and made his way out to his office. Mason

followed and picked up his belongings to leave. He secured his area

and noticed the Commander sitting at his desk staring blankly at the

papers in front of him. He had been concerned over Reese as of late.

The Commander was more than a work colleague. Reese had encour-

aged Mason all through law school and helped him prepare for the

bar himself when he had time. They had known each other for six

years now, three professionally at JAG. Mason respected the senior at-

torney immensely. He was brave and stood for the truth, always. The

Commander embodied the Marine phrase Semper Fi, always faithful,

even though he was Navy. He cautiously approached the Command-

er’s office.

“Sir, I don’t mean to pry, but are you okay?”

“I will be, Mason.”

“Can I get you anything before I leave, Sir? Maybe some din-

10

chapter two

ner? I think I heard your stomach over the copier a few minutes ago.”

“No, thank you. Tell Cassie I said hello. See you in the morn-

ing.”

The Commander lowered his head a bit and began turning

pages in a file.

“I will. Good-night Sir.”

Mason knew the Commander well enough to know he would

talk when he was ready.

Reese watched the retreating form of Lieutenant Chad Ma-

son. He couldn’t just lay it out there, at work, to Mason. He couldn’t

say that he felt something was missing from his life as of late. At

forty-two, he knew something had been missing for a while. In actu-

ality, some one was missing. His career was what he had wanted. He

could depend on it to be there for him. But in truth, his career was all

he had. He envied Mason sometimes. Mason had managed to secure

his future with the Navy and have a loving fiancée. They were to be

married next year. He had seen the two of them together. They were

so in love. He wanted that for himself. That meant letting someone

in, and that wasn’t something he was good at.

After losing his parents and growing up with Aunt Margie

in Georgia, he had trouble getting close to people. He figured if you

only let someone so close, it wouldn’t hurt as much when they left.

That had been his philosophy since he was eight. Few people really

knew who David Reese was. Women who got close enough to him

and his life, scared him. If they didn’t end it when things got too

comfortable, he did. It was how he protected himself. Loving some-

one meant being vulnerable to them. Loving someone meant trust

from both sides. He had never had that.

Only one woman had managed to infiltrate his defenses and

she had disappeared from his life two years before. She was wrapped

in a mystery and cloaked in a conundrum. She appeared when

he needed help on a case, helped to solve the problem and would

reflections and orders

11

promptly leave. He was desperate to find her again. He needed her

like he needed air to breathe. His waking hours left him clinging to

the hope that she would come breezing through his door. His sleep

consisted of the dream of having her in his arms.

Petty Officer Duke St. Clair, the Admiral’s aide, knocked on

the open office door. Reese raised his head.

“Sir, the Admiral would like to see you. SecNav cancelled the

call. He’s on his way.”

“Thank you St. Clair.”

Reese retrieved his dress blue jacket from the back of his chair

and slipped it on. He held up his right cuff and looked at it. He had

worked hard for those three stripes. He was up for promotion to

Captain soon, and another would be added. His stripes and the mill

rinde, the JAG symbol, were constants to him. He straightened his tie

and made his way to the Admiral’s office. He took a deep breath and

opened the door.

Reese stood at attention in front of the Admiral’s desk. The

Admiral’s chair was turned away from him.

“Commander Reese reporting as ordered, Sir.”

“At ease, Commander. I’m sure St. Clair informed you that

the SecNav is on his way.” Admiral Anderson spun around his chair

to face Commander Reese. “What he didn’t tell you is that at seven-

teen twenty hours this evening, a crate of missiles were taken from a

base in Germany that were on their way to Washington. Intelligence

is on it right now.”

Reese’s face dropped.

“Have a seat, Commander.”

The Admiral was a by-the-book Navy man through and

through. He had weathered his time on submarines and destroyers.

Fifteen years before, after losing his taste for having sea spray in his

face, he decided to use his law degree and transferred to JAG. He was

in command of the Naples office-before arriving in Washington eight

12

chapter two

years later. He was tall, fair skinned and having a bald head suited

him perfectly. He liked everything cut and dried.

Reese sat down as the Secretary of the Navy, Thomas Re-

gis, came bursting into the office. Regis was in his middle fifties, of

average height, dark hair, and piercing green eyes that seemed to

look right through you. His temples were showing the first signs of

gray. He wore glasses that were streamlined rectangular frames that

fit closely to his wide face. Regis was a no-nonsense man whose face

never betrayed his emotions-despite what he might be thinking. His

presence in a room alone was enough to command your attention.

“Gentleman, we have a highly intense situation on our hands,

and it calls for extreme measures.” He sat down quickly beside Reese

and nodded his head to acknowledge the two men. “The two missiles

in question just came from research and development and are used in

conjunction with Navy attack fighters. They have the latest guidance

system imbedded in their software.”

The Admiral’s brow furrowed. “Why are you telling us this?

Isn’t this something the CIA and Navy Intelligence can handle?”

“Ordinarily, yes. But these missiles were in a guarded ware-

house that only two people had access to. One of them was a Depart-

ment of Defense official over Navy projects, Cole Peterson, who has

gone missing. I want Commander Reese to be on the scene handling

the investigation personally. Our Navy Officers in Germany are fac-

ing serious charges over this. I want my JAG officers on it, not just

the one’s in Germany. I also want someone to go with him. We don’t

know all the parameters of the situation, and he’ll need someone to

watch his back and help with the investigation.”

Reese smelled something fishy. “What aren’t you telling us

Mr. Secretary?”

Regis knew better than to hold back from Reese and An-

derson. They would get it out of him one way or another. They had

before.

reflections and orders

13

“These missiles can be loaded with chemical weapons set to

detonate over the intended target with precision accuracy. When the

missiles left R&D, they were loaded with a biological payload to be

brought back to the United States and stored. They were under rigor-

ous security because of it.”

“What kind of payload?” Reese’s face gave away nothing.

“I’m not sure.”

Admiral Anderson had jumped to his feet. “What do you

mean you’re not sure?”

“I’m not sure. It could be anything. The lab they were testing

at has any number of agents.”

“Like?” Reese continued to stare at the SecNav.

“Like H1N1, Sarin, Anthrax, you name it.”

“No wonder you want these missiles back so badly.” The Ad-

miral sat back down, his face a mask of anger. “Why would they leave

a payload like that inside a missile? It should have been shipped back

separately.”

“It was done together to save time and money. Our budget

cutbacks have been enormous. You know that.”

“Why send Commander Reese?”

“Truthfully?”

“That’s the only answer I want right now, Regis.”

“Commander Reese was an aviator. If we can recover the mis-

siles, they’re to be flown back. The same person I’m sending to help

will brief him on the way.”

“You want me to fly these things back?” Reese was shocked. “I

haven’t landed a Navy bird in...”

“But you have been flying, on your own time. Yes?”

“Yes. I still don’t see why you couldn’t get another man.” Re-

ese swallowed hard.

“Commander, you’re the best here at JAG. You’re also a pilot.”

Regis zeroed his gaze on Reese. “A damn good JAG officer and a Na-

14

chapter two

val Aviator is what we need. Are you willing to do this to get yourself

back into a cockpit officially?”

Reese took in the words, processing them slowly. Did he have

the courage to get back in a plane after what happened in Nevada? He

hadn’t been an active pilot in twelve years after surrendering his wings

and going to law school instead. He missed the feel of being in a jet.

He yearned for it every time he set foot on a carrier for an investiga-

tion or the smell of jet fuel hit him square in the face. He had been

up in a Navy bird several times on investigations but only when it

called for it. He was still listed as an inactive aviator. An F-14 was

an expensive machine and couldn’t be handed over to just anyone.

He had dreaded knowing the Tomcat’s were to be retired soon and

he would be unable to fly one anymore, period. He would be a relic

of the past with his plane gone. All he could do now was borrow a

friend’s civilian bird and take it up once in a while.

“Commander?” Secretary Regis was waiting on an answer.

Reese deferred to the Admiral. “Sir?”

“It’s up to you. It’s your ass on the line in a plane if they find

the missiles.”

Reese licked his lips quickly and wheezed out, “I’ll do it.”

chapter three

into the night

15

2304

Home of David Reese

Georgetown

Washington, D.C.

Reese had managed to get back to his apartment and pack in

record time. He threw only minimal civilian clothes into a bag and

several changes of uniforms. You didn’t have to worry about packing

most of the uniforms since they were made of polyester. The wrinkles

tended to fall out easily enough. He was just grabbing his shaving kit

when there was a knock. He cautiously opened the front door.

He stood open-mouthed looking into the face of someone he

had seen and talked to on numerous occasions in and out of court, on

and off bases and carriers, and dreamed of for years. Always lurking

just out of sight, but always in-the-know and willing to share neces-

sary information. There she was. A five foot five, gray eyed, short

curly brown haired woman stood in front of him wearing a smile that

chapter three

16

disarmed him completely. She was a spook that disappeared into the

night.

“Caroline Blaine?”

“Surprise.” She laughed softly at the look on his face.

Reese wasted no time as he stepped forward and pulled her

into a bear hug.

She was so nervous coming up the stairs, and here she was.

She’d wanted to see him for so long. Now she was being held firmly

against his lithe body. Reese was holding on for dear life, and she was

too.

Blaine finally could draw a breath when he let go.

“Long time no see, Commander. I’m here to pick you up and

go to Germany.”

Reese looked like a cod fish he was sure, standing in the open

door with his mouth gaping. He had wished for this woman to ap-

pear to him for so long that he couldn’t articulate a response.

“I…come in. I’m almost ready to go. Make yourself at home.”

He walked away from her to the bedroom. He had to get

control of himself, and he couldn’t do that right now if he was in the

same room with her. He couldn’t believe she was here. He had looked

for her for months after she had disappeared the last time. He had

searched every database he had privy to and spoke with every connec-

tion he had and found nothing on her. It was like she didn’t exist.

Blaine entered his apartment, noting how tidy he was. She

was suitably impressed. The lower two floors of the four story build-

ing were a bakery. Reese had the top floor to himself. He had helped

the building’s owner win a lawsuit and was given the top floor to con-

vert into an apartment almost four years ago. He lived there rent free.

She noticed that the wide wooden stairs leading up to the entrance

had been completely refinished and the hallway repainted recently.

The apartment had a nice airy feel with plenty of space. The kitchen

was enormous and had very expensive appliances. It was much differ-

17

into the night

ent from her place, and she liked it. She realized she was actually glad

he had left the room. It had given her a chance to reign in her emo-

tions from seeing him again.

Reese had left her on her own to retrieve his bag.

“How did you know where I lived?”

“I’ve known for three years since the Twenty Nine Palms case.

I had to watch your building after you received a death threat unless

you backed off prosecution.”

“You what?”

He came back from the bedroom to find her walking around

his kitchen.

“I like what you’ve done with your kitchen. The range is nice.

How did you get that commercial range up those stairs?”

Reese was thrown off a bit and shook his head.

“I had help.”

Blaine smiled. “I was ordered to watch your every move while

the trial was going on. You didn’t even know, did you?”

“No. I didn’t think I warranted a bodyguard. I remember see-

ing you in the courtroom every day.”

“You kept me going. I didn’t exactly like getting up at five

thirty to tag after you while you ran. I was grateful when your knee

gave out, and you took up speed walking.”

“I don’t want to know the rest.” He shook his head again and

smiled.

She already knew that smile. It had melted her more than

once. She couldn’t help but return it however. Her phone rang. She

nodded while affirming information a few times before quickly hang-

ing up.

“We had better go. Plans have changed. The missiles are on

the move. They think they’re in Dijon, France. We’re on a plane out

of Andrews in half an hour. I don’t know how Regis managed a pri-

vate jet.”

chapter three

18

Blaine took off her light jacket. The holster holding her Be-

retta gained his attention immediately.

“I know why. You wouldn’t get through security carrying that

thing.”

She acknowledged the gun and nodded.

“Since when does the CIA issue thousand dollar guns like

that?”

“The CIA doesn’t. It’s mine, Commander.”

“Just what agency do you work for? You’ve helped me on doz-

ens of cases before but…”

“I’m on the same side as you. Let’s just leave it at that. We

always have.”

Reese agreed and grabbed his black duffle as they headed out

of the apartment. He locked the door. They made their way out. Just

as they were about to get inside Blaine’s silver Jeep Grand Cherokee,

a black limousine pulled up to the curb. It was the Secretary of the

Navy. They gave their duffle bags to the driver and proceeded to get

in. Reese noted Blaine’s reaction to the car. He’d ask her later. Reese

was surprised to find Admiral Anderson in the black limousine with

Secretary Regis.

“Miss Blaine, it’s good to see you again.” Admiral Anderson

smiled and shook her hand.

“You too.” Blaine directed her attention to the SecNav. “I just

received a phone call Sir. The missiles are believed to have been taken

to Dijon, France. Our pilot has already amended the flight plan and

is-“

Regis cut her off, “waiting at Andrews. I know.”

Admiral Anderson started in next. “Mr. Reese, your case load

will be redistributed tomorrow morning. As of now, this is your only

case. Hopefully, if we can keep everything contained, it won’t garner

media scrutiny. Until you return, the only commanding officer you’ll

be answering to outside JAG channels, is Miss Blaine.”

19

into the night

Reese’s eyes grew wide for a moment as he turned to look at

Blaine on his right.

SecNav Regis regarded them both for a moment. “Miss Blaine

is to help you with your investigation in any way you need. If you

should require anything, ask her. I’ll see that you get it. She is also

your protection. I can’t stress how important it is to get these missiles

returned along with you both. I know you’re used to having your own

hand, but this time you listen to her. She’s the expert on intelligence

and staying alive. You’re the lawyer, and if need be, the pilot.”

“Aviator, Sir. If you want a pilot, find yourself a racecar

driver.”

Blaine finished the remark as though the term ‘pilot’ had of-

fended her.

SecNav Regis gritted his teeth a bit and continued. “Yes, avia-

tor.”

Reese had to control the smirk threatening to come through

on his face. Blaine had brass interrupting the SecNav and correcting

him like that.

“If she gives you an order, listen to her. Are we clear, Mr. Re-

ese?” The Admiral waited on his response.

“Yes, Sir.”

Blaine and Reese sat there staring each other down.

“Alright then.”

The Admiral didn’t know just how this was going to work.

He liked both Blaine and Reese. They were good at their jobs, but

they were both fiercely independent. Sharing control of this situa-

tion would not be easy for either of them. Reese had certainly met

his match in her. The Admiral had seen that five years ago when they

were first introduced. He had heard them argue over involvement

in cases and seen Reese swallow his pride over a few lost battles with

Blaine. They would find a way to get along, he was sure of it- or

Blaine would return the pieces left in a body bag. Admiral Anderson

chapter three

20

turned toward the window and smiled to himself. Yes, this would be

interesting.

Wednesday, May 19

0109

Somewhere over the Atlantic

The jet had taken off almost forty-five minutes earlier headed

for an airstrip outside Dijon. Blaine sat across from Reese-oblivious

to the fact that she was being watched. Her mind was on the maps in

front of her and the intelligence briefings she had been handed when

they boarded the plane. She took a sip from a bottle of water and

noticed Reese finally.

He spoke softly. “I waited for you that night at the Willard.”

“I know you did. I wanted to come.”

“Then why?”

“I left for Okinawa. I was ordered there immediately after the

Ramsey case. I couldn’t tell anyone. Not even you.”

“So you left because of your job and not because of me?”

“I didn’t stand you up for dinner willingly, no. I’d never stand

up a man in dress whites.”

Reese smiled. That comment made him feel some better. He

didn’t know what it was about this woman. She had always made him

feel like he was giddy on jet fuel whenever she was around. They had

never kissed but he always wished for it. She certainly had a way to

light his afterburners with an argument too. She made him feel alive.

“I wondered what had happened to you too, Commander. I

check your record often to see how you are. I felt terrible about leav-

ing you to wonder after not showing up that night.” Blaine exhaled

and sat the water bottle down. She went over to sit beside Reese. She

opened her mouth to say something to him, but hesitated.

21

into the night

“I guess I was almost relieved too. I knew what that dinner

would mean.” She saw his face, and began again before he had the

chance to interrupt. “I got too emotionally involved with you while

working on the Ramsey case. I can’t do that and still do my job. It’s

not that I don’t find you attractive, Commander, because I do. I have

to be willing to walk away from everything I know and love. There

aren’t that many people I love, or have loved. It’s how I keep them

safe.”

That made Reese completely forget what he was about to ar-

ticulate. Did she really mean that? That scared him because he knew

he felt the same about her. A part of him had grown to love her as

well.

“I tried to stay away to keep my brother safe. But he got in

the crossfire back in North Carolina two years ago. Now, he’s in a

long term care facility. He doesn’t know his name or where he is and

lives on a ventilator. I don’t want that for anyone else.”

She turned away from him and made to get up, but he

stopped her.

“I didn’t know about your brother. I’m sorry.”

“Thanks.”

Reese held her gaze. “If you ever want to talk again, I’m here.

I’m very familiar with the term classified, you know.”

Blaine smiled. “I’ll bet you are. I’ll keep that in mind.”

She did get up this time and grabbed the mess of papers from

her other seat. She returned to his side and began to go over their

strategy on this assignment.

Sometime during the flight, Blaine had fallen asleep over a

map. Reese had removed it from her lax hand and was about to place

a pillow behind her head when Blaine’s reflexes kicked in. She had

him pinned under her on the floor of the plane before he realized it.

“Take it easy. I didn’t mean to startle you.”

She let him go, and they both got up. “I know you didn’t. Just

chapter three

22

be careful. You know I do things without realizing it. I don’t want to

hurt you.”

“I have at least a hundred pounds on you and a foot in height.

I don’t think you could do too much damage before you’d realize it’s

me. How many times are you going to sweep me off my feet?” He

flashed his grin at her as he resumed his seat.

Blaine turned away from him, grinning herself, pretending

to stretch. He had to stop doing that. His grin had the tendency

to make her forget her name. It always had. That, coupled with his

broad muscled shoulders and solid build on his six foot four frame

had fueled her dizziest daydreams since she met him. He kept himself

in chiseled shape. Being behind a desk had certainly not made him

soft. He still had all the characteristics of the Top Gun that he was.

Dark chestnut hair, almost black, covered his head. He kept it cut

short, spiked most of the time. He had a steel blue gaze that could

tear right through you too. She had seen him in the court room

enough to know he could be a formidable opponent. Blaine had lost

her heart to this man years ago. She could admit that now. She laid

herself across two seats and tried to sleep a little. She knew he was

watching her.

Reese and Blaine had continued to chat for a while as she lay

there with her eyes closed. They were catching up with each other af-

ter a two year absence, but it was like no time had passed at all. Soon,

they fell into the comfortable easy way they had with each other

again.

He had gone through the intelligence reports and was get-

ting sleepy. Blaine had the right idea. He needed a few hours rest if

he was going to be any good for anything when they landed. He had

seen this woman across from him erratically over the past five years.

She had shown him fortitude with her character and embodied all the

things he admired in someone. What time they had personally, over

the years, he had cherished. Sure their arguments could fuel a nuclear

23

into the night

reactor, but they had shared tender moments as well. She was what he

was missing. The thought jarred him as his eyes continued to droop.

His brain began to fog as sleep claimed him. He knew he was in

trouble with his heart where Blaine was concerned. He had been for

years now.

1347

French airspace

Blaine awoke a few hours later with a stiff shoulder and neck.

The seats were empty across from her. The co-pilot they had met be-

fore take off was sleeping in a seat at the back. She headed toward the

cockpit to find Reese in the co-pilot’s chair, headset on with the yoke

in hand. He was chatting with the pilot. Blaine shook her head. She

wondered how long it would be before he managed to talk his way

into the cockpit.

Reese turned to face her with eyes flashing.

“We’ve been cleared to land in Dijon. We should be touching

down in about twenty minutes. You might want to strap in soon.”

Blaine laughed and patted his shoulder.

“Alright, Captain.”

She continued to laugh. Just before she turned to leave she

added, “Just remember this jet doesn’t have a tail hook, okay flyboy?”

Almost twenty minutes later exactly, they touched down

smoothly in Dijon. Upon disembarking with their meager luggage,

they were met by two French intelligence officials on the tarmac who

offered them a ride to the nearest hotel. Reese listened to Blaine as she

spoke in rapid French with the two men. They smiled and nodded

as she continued her conversation without missing a beat. After they

were dropped off at the hotel, Reese couldn’t stand it any longer. He

had to know what they had said. At one point during the conversa-

chapter three

24

tion, Blaine had seemed embarrassed.

“They told me what they knew on the movement of the mis-

siles. They’re sure they have been moved again overnight and gave me

a contact in Burgundy. We’ve got a train ride ahead of us tomorrow,

and I have lots of phone calls to make this evening. I don’t know any-

thing about the hotel we are staying in so don’t mention any sensitive

information in the room. It could be bugged.”

“And?”

“And they wanted to know if we were together. They wanted

to buy me dinner.”

“Uh huh. I thought so. You seemed a little flustered for a mo-

ment.”

Reese smiled at her.

“That’s just a Frenchman’s way- they flirt with anything fe-

male. I can handle Frenchmen just fine.”

He grabbed their luggage and headed to the room they had

been assigned. “You’ve always known how to handle me just fine.” He

walked away from her a few steps.

Blaine stood there a moment and shook her head before fol-

lowing him.

Upon entering their room, she announced loudly, “I always

find I feel better after a shower. I wonder how well the hot water

works here?”

Reese knew the drill. He waited while she pulled him into the

bathroom with her. She motioned for him to stay quiet as the shower

was turned on, full blast.

Blaine moved to him and began to whisper. “Stay in here for

a few minutes. I’m going to go sweep the room for bugs. I’ll be right

back.”

She returned a few moments later to find Reese sitting on the

toilet waiting.

“The room’s clean.” She shut off the water.

25

into the night

“Good. I’m not. Fancy a shower after all?”

Reese stood and pulled off his shirt.

Blaine quickly lobbed a towel at his head playfully. “Knock

yourself out, sailor.”

She shut the door behind her. His torso was much better in

person than what he looked like in her dreams.

As she stood on the other side of the door, the water came

on. She heard the rest of his clothes hit the floor as he removed them

off. Then shower curtain being pulled forward. He didn’t even have

clean clothes in there. She picked up his kit and eased the door open

slightly to speak through it.

“You might need your bag. I’ll just slide it inside.”

The bag was eased on the floor through the open door.

“Thanks. I just want to wash the grime off and shave.”

His voice echoed to her from behind the shower curtain.

“Could you open the left side compartment and hand me a

razor, please?”

“Sure. I don’t mind the Harrison Ford look you know.” She

couldn’t see it behind the curtain, but Reese was grinning madly.

“I do.”

Blaine entered the bathroom as steam began to collect quick-

ly. Her face was beginning to cool off from seeing him with no shirt

on. Knowing he was completely naked behind that curtain made her

breath hitch. She pulled his razor out and the shower gel. She handed

them cautiously to him without really moving the shower curtain.

She turned away just in case and beat a hasty retreat to the other

room. Her breathing had sped up, her face was flushed again. She

needed to calm down.

Twenty-seven minutes later, he came out clean shaven and

smelling of the shower gel she had handed him. He placed his bag

next to the bed. He had on civilian clothes, just like last night at the

apartment. She was sitting on the bed talking to someone on the

chapter three

26

phone.

Reese noticed the Beretta resting within reach. She had kicked

off her shoes and looked semi comfortable. There were no chairs in

the room, only one full size bed. He sat down on the end of it and

waited. She hung up after a few minutes.

“You sure do take your time in a shower don’t you?” She

smiled. “Did you leave any hot water for me?”

“I think so.”

He smiled mischievously at her. He had thought about com-

ing out in a towel just to see her reaction, but had no reason to do so.

She had brought his bag to him.

She rose and made her way to the head with her own bag in

tow.

“I’ll get cleaned up, and then we’ll go find something to eat in

this town.”

It was only eight minutes until Blaine emerged in a pair of

slacks and a button up shirt. She put on the holster and returned her

weapon back into place. Reese noted she had on loafers instead of

heels.

Blaine noticed his glance at her feet.

“You know I don’t wear heels. I can’t stand them. I barely wear

makeup.”

“I know. It’s one of the things that makes you unique.”

“In a good or bad way?”

Reese smiled at her. “In a good way. Come on, I haven’t had

anything to eat since lunch yesterday. I’m starving.”

They walked to the end of the street to a local café and filled

themselves on French fare. Blaine ordered for them, of course, but

their waiter had heard them speaking in English and decided to be

nice. She got up at the end of the meal to take a phone call outside.

Her phone was on vibrate now. When she returned, there was a

strawberry tart waiting for her.

27

into the night

“You remembered.”

“Of course I remembered. Strawberries are your favorite.” He

picked up a fork and proceeded to feed her a bite. “Well, that and

chocolate.”

She accepted the succulent bite and giggled through a mouth-

ful of tart.

“I’ll share, you know.”

They nibbled on the tart and finished up their late lunch.

1656

Hotel Dijon

Dijon, France

Reese and Blaine had walked through the town to let their

meal settle. Reese collapsed onto the bed upon entering and lay there

staring up at the ceiling. He knew they’d flip a coin soon for who got

to sleep on the bed. He’d most likely get the floor tonight.

“So, what’s our next move?”

Blaine decided to lie down on the bed and turned toward

him.

“We’re waiting on a French intelligence officer to call me

back. We don’t move until then.”

Reese had listened intently last night on the flight as Blaine

told him of reconciling her friendship with Noah after so many years,

and of the record crop they expected this year if the rainfall stayed

even. He closed his eyes for a moment and tried to imagine this

Noah. Blaine had spoken of him so often Reese didn’t know what to

make of it. He managed to keep his jealously hidden from her regard-

ing Noah. He still had his reservations about the whole situation. She

spoke of Noah with such affection in her voice sometimes. He must

be a good Agent though if Blaine said he was. He did think John

chapter three

28

sounded interesting. Retired Navy SEAL’s were quite the characters.

John was the wine master. He had the same coloring as his brother,

Noah. They both had brown eyes and brown hair. They also shared

their height. John had just celebrated his forty-sixth birthday. He

knew how to blend the wines to get the best taste and color. John

had paid attention to his father and grandfather growing up. He had

passed his knowledge on to Holly and Blaine too. Reese thought

perhaps one day he would meet them along with Daniel, her nephew

of sorts. Blaine doted on her ‘nephew.’ He couldn’t believe how easily

he remembered everything she told him. He had trouble remember-

ing case-files from two weeks ago, but things she had shared over the

course of five years, he could recall instantly.

The bed shook as they awoke with a start. Someone was

knocking on their door. They had dozed off. Blaine was on her feet

with her weapon drawn on the door.

Someone whispered at the door. “Caroline? It’s me, Jack.”

She cautiously opened the door a crack and verified the owner

of that voice. She pulled the chain off, and a gray haired man entered

wearing civilian clothing.

“You know better than to do that, Jack.”

“I know, but you weren’t answering your phone, and I got

concerned.”

“That’s my fault. It was on the floor with my shoes. I put it

on vibrate and then fell asleep. Jack Madison, Chief of Intelligence,

this is Commander Reese. Jack’s my boss if you will. He prefers being

hands-on rather than sit in an office.”

The two men shook hands.

“That’s what she calls me, but I’m not foolish enough to think

she actually listens to me. She reports mainly to the SecNav.”

“You watch my back incessantly.”

“I promised your Dad I’d keep an eye on you-like he did on

me in Vietnam.”

29

into the night

“To what do we owe the pleasure of this visit, Jack?”

The three of them sat on the bed as Jack told of the plan to

get the missiles back into U.S. custody. It was good, indeed, they had

not landed in Germany. Two JAG officers heading up the investiga-

tion had been killed last night. The missiles had been tracked to a

small barn on the outskirts of Burgundy. Peterson was still missing.

The missiles were being guarded by four men, and they expected

them to be moved tomorrow afternoon by a truck to the south

French coast and be transferred to a boat for shipment via the Medi-

terranean Sea. They were being sold for their navigation system.

Apparently, the thieves had no idea they were sitting on chemical

weapons as well.

Blaine’s face contorted. “There’s only one catch. The Navy

carrier close enough for us to fly out on at this end of the Med is the

Franklin Pierce. The only birds they have are F/A 18 Super Hornets.

They’ve already retired their F-14’s”

“So? Isn’t that why they sent you?” He motioned to Reese.

“Technically, yes. They sent me to investigate in Germany

also, but that fell through before we landed. I was supposed to fly us

back with the cargo to Washington. She’s my guard.”

“What’s the problem, then?”

Blaine looked into the disappointed eyes of Commander Re-

ese.

“He’s not checked out in Hornets, only Tomcats.”

She flipped out her phone and dialed a number. She put the

phone on speaker and laid it on the bed between them.

“Secretary Regis, this is Caroline Blaine. I’m with Jack Madi-

son and Commander Reese. I’m sure you’ve been briefed on the cur-

rent situation.” She waited.

“Yes I have, Commander Blaine. What do you suggest?”

Commander? Reese couldn’t believe his ears. Blaine was civil-

ian intelligence assigned to the Navy. She couldn’t be a Navy Of-

chapter three

30

ficer, or he would have known by now. Why would the SecNav have

referred to her as ‘Commander’ if she wasn’t Navy? He was confused

as he looked first to Jack to confirm this.

Blaine simply shrugged and turned red. She mouthed the

word ‘later’ to him.

“I say we go ahead as planned,, Sir. I will need your permis-

sion to train Reese on the Hornet since he’s not active. If we get those

missiles back to the Pierce tomorrow night we can be back in Wash-

ington by the following morning.”

“One or the other of you can be a second then if something

should happen. That’s the point. Can you get him up to speed on the

Hornet that fast?”

Blaine eyed Reese thoughtfully. “He’s sharp, and he knows

his avionics, Sir. I can have him up to speed by tomorrow afternoon.

They have everything we need on board. I just have to condense

thirty days into a few hours.”

“That’s settled then. Work with our intelligence officers on

the scene and get those missiles Jack. Blaine, you and Reese get back

to Washington with them. I’ll arrange for you to be picked up in

Dijon by a helo and then taken to the Pierce. You can update Reese

there. Once you have the missiles on board, they are to be separated

from their chemical cargo. We do know that it is a gas. So wear a suit

and dispose of it safely. Anything else?”

“No Sir. See you in two days.”

She pocketed the phone and grabbed her bag quickly throw-

ing anything she had taken out back in.

“Jack, keep me apprised of the situation. You’re going to have

to recover the goods without us. I’ll meet you on the carrier tomor-

row night.”

Jack stood up to leave, wishing them well. Blaine moved

through the room, pulling Reese’s bag with her to follow Jack out the

door.

into the night

31

“Come on, Reese. Get your six moving. I don’t have time to

explain. We’ve got a date with a Hornet.”

All the noise from the multiple helicopter rides didn’t leave

much time to discuss this new revelation regarding Blaine. Reese felt

dizzy with the new information about her. He had so many questions

for her. By the time they reached the Franklin Pierce and settled into

their staterooms, it was well after midnight.

The Skipper had expressed his concerns over the missiles be-

ing brought onboard tomorrow. He had been ordered by the Sec-

retary of the Navy to ask no questions. The Cag was also unhappy

about two intruders leaving the carrier with one of his birds. He knew

both Blaine and Reese and respected them, but he didn’t have to like

it.

chapter four

the need for speed

32

Thursday, May 20

0649

USS Franklin Pierce

Mediterranean Sea

The next morning Blaine was banging on the hatch of Reese’s

quarters.

“Get your six outta bed, or I’ll catapult you off the deck my-

self!”

That made him laugh. He reached for the hatch and pulled it

open. He was already up and had on a flight suit. He noticed the gold

wings imprinted on the suit when he put it on. It had been a long

time since he had been behind a pair of wings-imprinted or other-

wise. Blaine came through the door and regarded Reese in the suit.

He was eyeing her as well. He wondered what she looked like in her

uniform but the green flight suit would do.

“Those wings look good on you, Commander.” She smiled as

chapter four

33

she traced the imprinted wings on his flight suit.

“You too. So should I address you as Commander as well or is

it Lieutenant Commander?”

“It’s Commander and no, call me Blaine or Caroline. The

only time I’m used to being addressed as Commander is when I’m

training hot shots at Miramar or out on a carrier when I’m not play-

ing a spook. Those hotshots do it with so much sugar on it I feel like

I’m drinking a glass of sweet tea at home.”

“You never said anything about training at Miramar or

even…”

Blaine smiled at him and interrupted

“Come on. I’ll fill you in over dinner on me when this is all

over, I promise. We have too much to do today.”

He followed her to the mess to get some coffee and something

to eat. He didn’t know exactly what they would be doing in the next

few-hours so eating a big meal could be bad. If he went up in a plane,

he didn’t want to risk seeing his food again so soon. He wasn’t used to

the hard g’s a fighter could pull anymore. He only knew what to ex-

pect. She ate quickly, and he did the same, noting she had eaten light

as well. It had been two years since he had been in a Tomcat because

of an investigation, and that had been as a RIO.