Ultimate Issue by George Markstein

relief. So that’s all it was! He had imagined something awful had happened. She had committed some crime, stolen something, run somebody down in her car, got caught up in narcotics and drugs.
    He tried hard not to smile. Poor, frightened Serena Howard, so secluded in her safe, conformist suburban world that when she has an affair she thinks it’s the end of the world.
    “That’s not so terrible,” said Daventry.
    She’s become pregnant, of course, he decided. She doesn’t know how to tell her old-fashioned parents. Silly girl, she doesn’t need a lawyer. She wants a doctor.
    She looked at him. “He’s American,” she said. “An officer, in the air force.”
    “Lots of English girls have fallen in love with American servicemen,” said Daventry encouragingly.
    She still had that ashen look.
    “He’s going to be courtmartialed.”
    “I see,” he said quietly. “What for?”
    She swallowed. “Adultery.”
    ‘Yhat’s the charge? Adultery?”
    She nodded. “It’s a crime,” she said. “In the American forces.”
    “Good Godl”
    “I’m the woman,” she said. “He committed adultery with me.
    “That’s why I need help,” she added.
    She leaned back in the chair, waiting for his reaction. She was half afraid, half defiant.
    “But you’re in no trouble, Serena,” he assured her. “I mean, they can’t drag you into it.”
    “Oh yes, Mr. Daventry. They can.”
    “Who told you that?”
    He was fascinated by the ring she was wearing. It was silver, a mask, leering. It was most unusual. He wondered if it was some sort of engagement ring.
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    “An American officer came to see me. He said that John was going to be tried, and that the prosecution might ask me to give evidence. I said I wouldn’t, and he hinted they could make me.”
    It was ridiculous. “Nonsense,” said Daventry. “You’re a British citizen, on British soil, adultery is not a crime, and no foreign courtmartial here has jurisdiction over a British national. They can’t force you.”
    “That’s not what he said.” She swallowed.
    ‘They’re to bluff you,” Daventry said firmly.
    “No,” she insisted quietly. “I don’t think so. I think they mean it.”
    He began to have nagging doubts. She was so positive. He pulled a pad toward him. “What’s his name?”
    “John.”
    He nodded, gold pencil poised.
    “Captain John Tower.”
    “Where’s he stationed?”
    “In East Anglia. The base is called Laconbury.”
    He made a note.
    “This officer who came to see you. You know who he was?”
    She shook her head. “I don’t remember I was in such a state. He may have told me his name, but I’ve forgotten.”
    “Didn’t Captain Tower tell you he was in trouble?”
    She took a deep breath. “It all happened so quickly. He was due to come to London that weekend. He said he had something important to tell me, but not over the phone. He never came. Instead, this officer turned up and said he was going to be courtmartialed. For adultery.” She lowered her voice. “With me.”
    “That must have been quite a shock,” said Daventry. “I’m sorry. But really, I’m sure you don’t have anything to worry about.”
    He smiled.
    “Tell you what, would you like to have lunch with me tomorrow?”
    She stared at him. “You are going to help me?” she asked optimistically
    “Not at all,” he said stiffly. “I want to check up on the law and set your mind at rest. I think it’s better if we meet informally. That’s all.”
    “Thank you,” she breathed.
    “One o’clock,” he said, writing it down in his leather
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    desk diary. “The Isola Bella, in Frith Street. You know it?”
    “Don’t worry,” she said eagerly, “I’ll find it.”
    He walked her to the door. She stopped.
    “My parents …” she began. and faltered.
    “They don’t know about you and Captain Tower, correct?”
    “Please,” she said. “I don’t want them to find out about this business.”
    “It might be better if you told them,”