before her desk.
Like her and Greg, Lieutenant Cornwall had yet to change into uniform. Unlike them, he looked like he was dressed for prep school. The only thing missing was a school tie. Lani suspected the man didn’t own a pair of jeans. She’d never met someone more out of place.
“Breakfast sandwich too,” Greg added.
Tempting, but she didn’t think her stomach could handle it. “I already ate.” Besides, she had another mission for the two of them, one they wouldn’t like. Lani would do it herself, but…
“Lieutenant, I’m sure you’ve heard about Staff Sergeant Tipton.” She laced her fingers together on her blotter and leaned forward.
“Not the full details, but yes.” Long fingers absently picked at a white bandage on his forearm. He was constantly toying with something, a nervous habit whenever he was under stress. She imagined her breaking into Kenyon’s office had upset his rules’ radar.
“It could be a while before any of us have the full details.” She forced herself to lean back and appear relaxed and in charge when she felt anything but. “Right now, we have another problem to deal with.”
“The major.” Greg managed the calm facade Lani sought. One day she’d discover his secret. “Still can’t reach him?”
“No. Not on his home or cell phone. I got his wife’s cell from his office.” Just spit it out . “She left him last fall and filed for divorce. She couldn’t put up with his drinking any longer and indicated it had caused other problems in the marriage. Last time Nerine and the kids saw him was at Christmas. He’d apparently moved on .”
“Then he might be with that person.” Lieutenant Cornwall slid his palms over his thighs, leaving sweat behind on the navy blue slacks.
“Or he could be incapacitated at his house,” Lani said. “We have to exhaust all possibilities. Our major needs our help, and I’m embarrassed and somewhat ashamed that I’ve deluded myself into believing otherwise.”
“The blame isn’t solely yours, Captain.” Greg parked his elbows on the wooden armrests and templed his fingers before him. “I’ve known the man for many years. I should have been more diligent.”
A flush covered Cornwall’s face. He said nothing.
“I’m presuming you’d like us to go to his home and check on him,” Greg said.
“Yes. I need to be on hand for the CG.”
Greg pushed his thumbs against each other. “You could anticipate his demand and go to his office now.”
She considered that for a bit then shook her head. “Granted the major has a problem, but I’d rather give him every opportunity to show up for work. I don’t want to have to skyline him if I don’t have to, but I will advise Lieutenant Colonel Seaberg of the situation.”
Major Kenyon’s history with the Headquarters Battalion commanding officer was as long-standing as was the one he had with Greg. Seaberg would be able to help them with an intervention.
“Good plan, ma’am. I’ll call you once we get to his house.” He stood in one fluid movement. Cornwall wasn’t as graceful. Lani had never seen anyone stumble from a chair before. If his eyes got any wider, they’d pop out.
She waited until they cleared the door to call Lieutenant Colonel Seaberg. Corporal Mathias filled the doorway before she could punch in the last two numbers.
“Head shed called, ma’am. The general wants the major in his office now.”
Her back tensed. She’d known someone from the general’s office would be calling. There was nothing else she could do. “Thank you, Corporal.” She punched in the last two numbers. She’d covered Kenyon’s ass long enough. It was time to cover her own and admit her wrongdoing.
Cornwall wasn’t much of a talker. The man had a submissive streak a mile wide too. It irritated Greg more than he was willing to admit out loud. It took balls to be a marine, and as far as he was concerned, Cornwall didn’t have any. He did his job well but lacked
Like her and Greg, Lieutenant Cornwall had yet to change into uniform. Unlike them, he looked like he was dressed for prep school. The only thing missing was a school tie. Lani suspected the man didn’t own a pair of jeans. She’d never met someone more out of place.
“Breakfast sandwich too,” Greg added.
Tempting, but she didn’t think her stomach could handle it. “I already ate.” Besides, she had another mission for the two of them, one they wouldn’t like. Lani would do it herself, but…
“Lieutenant, I’m sure you’ve heard about Staff Sergeant Tipton.” She laced her fingers together on her blotter and leaned forward.
“Not the full details, but yes.” Long fingers absently picked at a white bandage on his forearm. He was constantly toying with something, a nervous habit whenever he was under stress. She imagined her breaking into Kenyon’s office had upset his rules’ radar.
“It could be a while before any of us have the full details.” She forced herself to lean back and appear relaxed and in charge when she felt anything but. “Right now, we have another problem to deal with.”
“The major.” Greg managed the calm facade Lani sought. One day she’d discover his secret. “Still can’t reach him?”
“No. Not on his home or cell phone. I got his wife’s cell from his office.” Just spit it out . “She left him last fall and filed for divorce. She couldn’t put up with his drinking any longer and indicated it had caused other problems in the marriage. Last time Nerine and the kids saw him was at Christmas. He’d apparently moved on .”
“Then he might be with that person.” Lieutenant Cornwall slid his palms over his thighs, leaving sweat behind on the navy blue slacks.
“Or he could be incapacitated at his house,” Lani said. “We have to exhaust all possibilities. Our major needs our help, and I’m embarrassed and somewhat ashamed that I’ve deluded myself into believing otherwise.”
“The blame isn’t solely yours, Captain.” Greg parked his elbows on the wooden armrests and templed his fingers before him. “I’ve known the man for many years. I should have been more diligent.”
A flush covered Cornwall’s face. He said nothing.
“I’m presuming you’d like us to go to his home and check on him,” Greg said.
“Yes. I need to be on hand for the CG.”
Greg pushed his thumbs against each other. “You could anticipate his demand and go to his office now.”
She considered that for a bit then shook her head. “Granted the major has a problem, but I’d rather give him every opportunity to show up for work. I don’t want to have to skyline him if I don’t have to, but I will advise Lieutenant Colonel Seaberg of the situation.”
Major Kenyon’s history with the Headquarters Battalion commanding officer was as long-standing as was the one he had with Greg. Seaberg would be able to help them with an intervention.
“Good plan, ma’am. I’ll call you once we get to his house.” He stood in one fluid movement. Cornwall wasn’t as graceful. Lani had never seen anyone stumble from a chair before. If his eyes got any wider, they’d pop out.
She waited until they cleared the door to call Lieutenant Colonel Seaberg. Corporal Mathias filled the doorway before she could punch in the last two numbers.
“Head shed called, ma’am. The general wants the major in his office now.”
Her back tensed. She’d known someone from the general’s office would be calling. There was nothing else she could do. “Thank you, Corporal.” She punched in the last two numbers. She’d covered Kenyon’s ass long enough. It was time to cover her own and admit her wrongdoing.
Cornwall wasn’t much of a talker. The man had a submissive streak a mile wide too. It irritated Greg more than he was willing to admit out loud. It took balls to be a marine, and as far as he was concerned, Cornwall didn’t have any. He did his job well but lacked
Similar Books
