by Jack Ambraw
“The machine shop?”
“The machine shop. The view from the quarterdeck to the pier side entrance to the shop is blocked by the dumpster. I walked behind the dumpster, threw the trash in, and slipped into the shop. A few seconds later I exited the shop on the other side of the building.”
“How did you know how to do that?” Hack asked.
“It was easy,” Decker said. “Unlike most of my shipmates, present company included, I never like to waste my time. I noticed the shop’s door one night when I was on quarterdeck watch a few weeks ago. I watched shipyard workers coming and going from behind the dumpster so I assumed there had to be an entrance on that end of the building.”
“What about your uniform? Weren’t you wearing it when you left the ship?
“I had two bags of trash. One bag was the real trash, the other bag had my civilian clothes in it. That’s why I have this trash bag underneath the table. I changed in the bathroom at the Spanish Gate cafeteria. I’ll stash my uniform at Vega’s.”
“All that for a half hour?” Hack asked.
“A half hour to the rest of the world, but precious weekend time to me,” Decker said.
“I don’t like taking those kinds of risks,” Hack said. “At least not yet.”
Decker took out his Book of Dates and began writing. “You’ll learn. Just takes time.”
“I suppose,” Hack said, watching Decker scribble into his notebook.
Decker had made it all week without telling Hack about his run-in with the commander’s wife. Though he wanted to keep it a secret, the story was too good not to share, and now he was dying to give Hack the scoop. He stopped his writing, took a sip of coffee, and spilled the whole story.
“She’s the boss’s wife!” Hack said. “What about the ‘don’t look at that’ stuff?”
Decker pulled an envelope from his back pocket and handed it to Hack. “She sent me this two days ago.”
Hack read the note, shook his head, and flipped it across the table. “It’s a thank you card.”
“With her phone number.”
“Even more of a reason to steer clear. So what’s their house like?”
“Typical navy housing,” Decker said, sliding the card into his back pocket. “And she was driving an old Thunderbird. Quite a mess.”
“What’s she like?”
“Nice woman. Intelligent as well as attractive. Grew up in Malibu and you know what they say about Malibu girls, don’t you?”
“No, what?”
“I don’t know either, but I’m sure they say something about them,” said Decker, looking through the dim light at the back entrance. “Enough of Piper, here’s Mo and Vega.”
“Look who I ran into,” Mo said as he pulled up a chair at the table and spread a Stars and Stripes newspaper in front of him. Vega, back from the bathroom,kissed Decker on the cheek and sat next to him.
“How was your week? Was anyone talking about Kippen?”
“Everybody was talking about him,” Decker said. “And it gave me an opportunity to assess the situation.”
“Crap. I was hoping you’d forget about it,” Mo sighed, studying his paper. “Now let me check the scores before you go all Magnun P.I. on us.”
“Not a chance I’d forget,” Decker said, looking around the bar. “In fact, I’ve given the situation a great deal of thought and I’m back to where I left off last weekend. Which is nowhere.”
Mo didn’t take his eyes off the newspaper. “My vote is for an accident.”
“Maybe,” Decker said. “But there are a few things that don’t add up.”
“I agree,” Mo said, excited. “Like this. The Hawks have won three in a row.”
“I’m not talking football,” Decker said.
“Basketball.”
“Whatever,” Decker said, exasperated. “Let’s focus on Kippen.”
“What doesn’t add up?” Mo grunted. “If it was foul play, there’s no motive. Everyone liked him.”
“The inventory,” said Vega.
“That’s hard to believe,” said Mo. “Would someone really kill over missing nuts and bolts?”
“Not just nuts and bolts,” Vega protested. “We’re talking big ticket items that are impossible to find in the civilian world. People pay big money for this stuff.”
“So you’ve said before, but I think you’re jumping to conclusions. You don’t even have any suspects.”
“The guys topside that night are suspects,” Hack said. “And the people in the supply department who have the ability to order repair parts.”
Decker raised his eyebrows. “I overheard Agent Bogen tell the captain that Chief Fray and two boiler techs were topside the night Kippen went overboard.”
“Forget the boiler techs.” Mo folded his paper. “They don’t have access to the supply system.”
“That leaves Chief,” Decker said.
“Yes, but Pinto, Commander Doerr, and Ensign Limpert also have access to the system. They can order parts,” Hack added. “Where were they that night?”
“We know Chief was topside the night Kippen went overboard. But we don’t have anything on the other two.”
“I can’t see Chief Fray doing something like that,” Mo interjected.
“Maybe not, but,” Decker turned to Hack. “Remember last Saturday when you had duty? He came down to Supply Support in a huff. He kicked me out and told you to stay clear of the place. Said he was working on something important before he left on vacation.”
Hack sat back in his chair. “He gave me some work to do in Alpha Storeroom. I guess he thought it’d keep me busy long enough. I didn’t go down to the office the rest of the day.”
“Sounds farfetched to me,” Mo said. “Chief’s a decent guy, and if you think something fishy is going on, you guys should talk with him first.”
“Not if he’s a suspect,” Decker said. “Besides, if I stick my nose in this business, I want to take an indirect approach.”
“What do you have in mind?” asked Hack.
“We can take a look around the office ourselves. Chief has a safe under his desk that I’ve always been curious about it. No one else has the combination. Not even the supply officer. I sit directly behind Chief and I’ve been watching him open it over the past few months. Helps pass the time at sea.”
“Do you have the combination?” asked Mo.
“I think so,” said Decker. “I’m not positive about the last number, but I think I have it. He opens it too fast. I can’t exactly determine where he stops the dial.”
“You should open it when you have duty,” Hack said.
“Not a chance,” Decker said. “Too many people could walk in, including Chief or Suppo.”
“Do it late at night,” said Mo.
Decker shook his head. “There needs to be a lookout.” His eyes widened as if he just had the most brilliant idea in the world. “Hack, you could do it.”
“Why me?” asked Hack. “I’d be worried about getting caught, too.”
“Uh oh, here it comes, Hack,” Mo said with a laugh. “This is where he wrangles you into doing his dirty work.”
“I don’t mean on your duty night,” Decker said, ignoring Mo. “Stop by the ship when I have duty. Tuesday night I’ll be on the quarterdeck watch from 2000 to midnight. That’ll be a perfect time. I’ll be able to alert you if anyone comes on board.”
“How are you going to do that?” Hack asked, his voice laced with skepticism.
“Easy enough. I’ll call Supply Support if Chief or Commander Doerr come aboard. It’ll take either one at least three or four minutes to get to the office. And that’s if they walk straight there. Chances are they’ll stop off at the wardroom or chiefs’ mess first. That’ll give you plenty of time to close the safe and get out of there.”
“Where am I goi
ng to go? It’ll look suspicious if I’m sitting in the office when I don’t have duty. And if I leave Supply Support to head to the berthing, I might run into them.”
“There’s a storeroom directly below the office. It’s a hatch so you’ll have to unbolt it before you open the safe. If need be, just jump down there and close it behind you. If someone walks in, it’s highly unlikely they’ll notice that it’s unbolted.”
“I don’t like the sound of ‘highly unlikely,’” said Hack.
“Go aft,” Mo said. “The emergency diesel generator is back there. Go straight aft from Supply Support, stay on the port side and you’ll run into it. I’ve been on the ship three years I’ve yet to see a supply type back there.”
“Perhaps,” Decker said. “If you have enough time you can go aft. But it’s a clear shot along the passageway from Supply Support to the diesel room. Someone could easily spot you. If it were me, I’d use the storeroom. That way you never have to leave the office.”
Hack thought it over for a few seconds, looking dubious. “Why don’t you come to the ship when I have duty?”
“Won’t work,” Decker said.
“Why not? It only works if I’m the one breaking into the safe?”
“I’d be more than happy to do it, but you’re still new on board. It’s not just Chief Fray and the commander we have to worry about. I know everyone on board and can warn you if I suspect any trouble.”
“Don’t listen to him,” Mo said.
Vega had been silent, listening to how the conversation unfolded. She reached across the table and put her hand on Hack’s arm. “It’ll only take a few minutes. Maybe we’ll learn something about a connection to the black market operation. I don’t know if there’s a murderer on board the ship, but what if there is? You’d be doing Kippen a favor.”
Hack sat back and rubbed his eyes, obviously deep in thought. A few moments later, he dropped his hands. “Okay, I’ll do it,” he said, avoiding Vega’s stare. “But you’ve got to be sure you keep an eye out for me.”
Decker raised his beer bottle. “Believe me, you’ll have nothing to worry about. I’ll be on the lookout. It’ll give me a reason to stay awake while I’m on watch.” He turned to Vega. “Do you have something to write with? I’ve lost my pencil.”
Mo laughed and finished the last of his beer. “You guys are nuts. This is crazy.”
“It’s not crazy at all,” replied Decker, taking a pen from Vega she had dug out of her purse. He glanced behind him to see if anyone was standing nearby. Satisfied that they had privacy, he pulled his chair close to the table and wrote a series of numbers on a napkin. He handed it to Hack and cleared his throat. “Okay, here’s the plan.”
CHAPTER ELEVEN
2015, Tuesday, January 7
The plan was simple. Hack would walk aboard ship on Decker’s duty night while he had the quarterdeck watch from 2000 to midnight, the perfect spot to be a lookout and the perfect time of night to snoop around while most people were off the ship. If all went well, it’d be a routine evening. No one in the duty section would suspect otherwise.
Hack spent the early hours of the evening pensive, walking around base for two hours. He met Lee at the Sampaguita Club for a beer. She could immediately tell something was up.
“You’re acting weird.” she said. “You’re not breaking up with me, are you?”
Hack sat his beer down and put his chin in his hands. “No, of course not. It’s nothing like that. I have to go back to the ship tonight.”
“For work?”
Hack shook his head. “Not exactly. Decker and I are planning a break-in.”
“A break-in of what?”
“Promise not to tell anyone?”
“Of course, silly goose. Who am I going to tell anyway?”
Hack whispered quietly about what Vega had said about the black market operation, its possible connection, in Decker’s mind, to Kippen’s death, and the plan to break-in to Chief’s safe.
Lee listened with obvious skepticism. “I knew Decker’d get you involved in something like this. And his girlfriend sounds just like him.”
“Decker’s not getting me involved. I agreed to help. And Vega’s got nothing to do with it. It’s our idea.”
“It’s Decker’s idea,” Lee corrected him. “So what do you expect to find?”
“We’re not sure, but it’s strange.”
“What is?”
“No one but Chief has the combination to the safe.”
Lee laughed. “What’s wrong with that? That’s the whole idea of having a safe, sweetie. It keeps people like you and Decker out of it.” She sat back in her chair. “How are you going to open it if you don’t have the combination?”
“Decker figured it out. He’s been watching Chief the past few months.”
Lee reached across the table and held both of his hands. “You shouldn’t get involved like this. Do you have any idea what could happen to you if you get caught?”
Hack squeezed her hand, running his thumb in tiny circles on her soft skin. “I try not to think about it. Decker has quarterdeck watch so it’ll be safe. I’ll have a lookout. If he has the right combination, I can be in and out of the safe in five minutes.”
Lee let go of his hands and sat back in her chair. “I still think you shouldn’t do it.”
“I have to. I promised,” Hack said, looking at his watch. 2030. “In fact, I need to be going. I’ll stop by tomorrow night.”
Lee finished her beer and pulled out five dollars from her jeans. “I’ll buy,” she said. “I’ll save the rest of my money to bail you out of the brig, if that’s even possible in the navy.”
“That won’t be necessary,” said Hack. “I hope.” He pushed his chair back and stood, taking a deep breath as if to steel himself for the night’s adventure.
Lee stood, too, and wrapped her arms around his shoulders. “Just kidding. Please be careful, okay? Promise me that?”
Hack kissed her forehead. “I promise.” His eyes drifted around the club. Everywhere people were having fun, partying, laughing and carefree. How was it that Decker had talked him into this scheme of his? He’d much rather be heading back to Lee’s place to spend the evening with her. “What are you doing tonight?”
“I have a few errands to run,” Lee said. She looked up at Hack with a worried expression. “I better get home.
Hack said good-bye and left the club at 2040. He walked up the gangway fifteen minutes later. Perfect timing, he thought, except…. Decker had been on watch for an hour. Hack saluted the officer-of-the-deck, Lieutenant Duncan, and motioned discretely to Decker that he wanted to talk.
Decker led him to the far end of the quarterdeck. “What’s up?” he asked, taking a peek at the officer-of-the deck. “We’re looking suspicious.”
“I can’t get in,” Hack whispered.
“Sure you can. You can be in and out in five minutes.”
“It’s not that. I forgot my keys at Lee’s apartment.”
Decker dug a keychain out of his pocket. Three keys and a yellow Tweety Bird fob around a silver metal loop.
“You actually walk around with this in public?”
“It’s my good luck charm. And don’t leave the ship with it. My rack key’s on there.”
Hack nodded and walked across the quarterdeck and down the portside ladder. Standing on the mess decks, Hack scanned the room to see who was on board. A few guys were sitting around playing cards, others were watching television. No one to be worried about.
He walked aft along the starboard passageway, past the supply berthing and down the port ladder. He continued aft along the passageway to Supply Support, pausing as he inserted the key. Above him, the noise of a shipyard worker using a needlegun scaler on the main deck reverberated throughout the stern of the ship.
Hack looked up and down the passagew
ay. No one in sight. As stealthily as possibly, he unlocked the door, turned on the lights, and nearly jumped out of his shoes.
“Wilson. What are, um, it’s nice to see you,” stammered Ensign Limpert. “I didn’t think, well, I didn’t know you had duty.”
“I don’t. I just came down to do a little work, sir” said Hack. “Were you in here in the dark?”
Ensign Limpert nodded his head. “The dark, well, I don’t like lights on when I’m on the computer. Mine isn’t, um, well it crashed. I thought, um, I figured I’d come down here to do some work.”
“I see,” said Hack. “I’ll come back.”
“No, I’m almost, well, I’m finished,” said Limpert. “Let me get out, um, I’ll shut down the computer and I’ll be out of your way.”
Hack watched as Ensign Limpert turned off the computer, grabbed his hat, and shuffled towards the exit.
“Sorry to bother you,” Limpert mumbled as he opened the door to leave.
“No problem,” said Hack, but Limpert was already heading forward in the passageway.
Hack grabbed the growler next to Chief’s desk and called the quarterdeck. Decker answered immediately.
“Quarterdeck, Petty Officer Decker.”
“Limpert’s on board.”
“Who is this?” asked Decker, smiling.
“You know who it is, damn it. Limpert’s on board. You didn’t tell me that.”
“How do you know?”
“Because he was in Supply Support!”
“You’re kidding?”
“I wish. He was sitting down here with the lights off.”
Decker was silent for a few seconds. “In the dark?”
“Yep, in the dark. He was sitting at Chief’s desk on the computer.”
“Why Supply Support and, more troubling, why were the lights out?”
“He said his computer wasn’t working in his office and that he prefers it dark when he’s on the computer.”
Decker thought for a moment. “That’s odd. Where is he now?”
“I don’t know. He walked out a minute ago.”