Vicky Peterwald: Survivor (Vicky Peterwald Series Book 2) by Mike Shepherd Page B

That gave Vicky a chance to take in her new protection detail. Greenfeld Marines had now been added to Sevastopol Rangers, agents, and uniformed police.
    The place was rather crowded even though it had a strange lack of clientele.
    The admiral put down the menu as the waiter retreated with their order. “I expect that you will eat your vegetables,” he said.
    “How is Gerrit?”
    “My answer to your question depends on your assuring me that you will get a filling and healthy dinner under your belt. I’m told you ate little of last night’s dinner.”
    “Did the commander report that, too?”
    “He was very worried about you.”
    “And then I gave him more to worry about,” Vicky said, and tried not to follow into the dark place that thought led her.
    “He did his duty to you. You did your duty to Greenfeld,” the admiral said cryptically.
    “He did his duty to keep me alive,” Vicky conceded. “What of my duty?”
    “I believe that your questions about that are best answered by the mayor.”
    Vicky glanced up to find Mannie, the mayor of Sevastopol, rapidly closing on their table. He gave her a shallow bow from the waist and settled into the empty seat between Vicky and the admiral.
    The waiter returned. “My usual, Tony,” sent the waiter back where he came from.
    “Will someone tell me how Commander Schlieffen is doing?” Vicky demanded.
    “I’m waiting for her to promise to eat her vegetables,” the admiral put in.
    “I agree. She must take care of herself. She’s going to be a very busy Grand Duchess for the next couple of months.”
    “Will someone tell me about Gerrit before I scream!” Vickyraised her voice enough to make it clear to the men that hers was a serious threat.
    “Doctor,” the admiral said, signaling to a Navy medical officer who had been seated at a distant table.
    In a moment, the officer was at Vicky’s other elbow. “The commander came out of surgery four hours ago. He is still in recovery. They managed to limit the progressive irritation to his spinal cord. However, they were not able to save the leg. It was removed above midthigh.”
    “Oh no,” Vicky said, her hand rising without thought to her lips.
    “The medical facilities on Bayern are equal to the best in Greenfeld,” the admiral began. “They can handle his rehabilitation and clone a leg for him as well.”
    The admiral dismissed the doctor.
    “In two or three years,” Vicky observed dryly, as the medical officer walked away, “he’ll be as good as new.”
    “He is alive,” the admiral said with equal aridness. “That is more than the last two officers who got close to you can say. Three, if we include Admiral Krätz.”
    “I certainly had nothing to do with his death,” Vicky said defensively.
    “You wanted to go out stargazing. He took you. He died. One follows from the other as surely as day follows night.”
    Vicky had no answer to that.
    “Your Grace,” Mannie began, “I would like to personally apologize for the attack on you. We thought our meeting was secret. We thought your security was sufficient.”
    “It was for me,” Vicky said. “Just not survivable for those providing it.”
    “Yes,” Mannie agreed.
    The waiter brought water and tea for all three and retreated.
    “So,” Mannie asked, “is this eat-your-heart-and-liver month, or can we discuss what we decided last night? I wasn’t sure which way it would go, but after we got word back that someone had considered you worth throwing a hasty ambush at, a lot of my people got their backs up, and everything kind of fell into place. We folks in Sevastopol don’t like it when strangers send us a message to butt out.”
    Vicky took a deep breath, letting the storm of emotions swirling around her come in and get out. When she could speak, she asked the mayor, “What fell into place?”
    “We haven’t quite figured out what to call it. The Grand Duchess Victoria Humanitarian Outreach Fund was voted down because it would enlarge