The Grey Man- Partners

by JL Curtis

  Serrano asked, “Do you have a basic familiarity with computers?”

  The old man shrugged, “Kinda. Depends on what you want me to do.”

  Serrano said, “Okay, I can walk you through most of this. Let’s start with the kind of computer it is?”

  An hour later, Agent Serrano had ghosted Manuela’s computer, spoofed her IP address and the MAC address of the computer, and was ready to assume Manuela’s online identity. She said, “Okay, that’s it. I’m in and I have everything I need. Please unplug her computer from the internet, then shut it down and bag it for evidence. We’ll send an agent to pick it up from you.”

  The old man shut the computer down, grateful that he didn’t have to see more, “Okay, computer is unplugged and off. Thanks for all your help and taking this on. I’m out of my depth on this kind of case.”

  Agent Serrano replied, “No problem. The agent we’ll be sending is from Austin, where ICAC actually has a node. For somebody who’s not a member of the team, you did the right thing.”

  The old man asked, “Will we be notified? I’m sure the family will want answers. Also, will they ever get the computer back?”

  Serrano said, “Probably not for a couple of years. And yes, we’ll notify you of any resolution, but I don’t know that we have probable cause for a major felony conviction on manslaughter or better. I need to drop off; I’m going to see if I can reel this perp in.”

  “Good luck!” The old man clicked the end button and shoved the phone back in its holster, then gathered up the computer and other notes. At the front door, he told Hart, “I’m done. You can release the house back to the family.”

  It’s Going to get Drunk Out

  Jesse’s phone rang just after noon, puzzled, she hit speaker and heard Marlene saying, “Just for tonight. And make reservations for dinner too.”

  Jesse said, “Hello? Did you butt dial me?”

  Marlene honked a laugh, “No dear, this is a warning order. You and Felicia need to pack an overnight bag and one for Jace too. Darlene is going to come get Boo Boo about five, and take her to her house. We’re going to spend the night down in San Diego.”

  Jesse looked at the phone, “Uh, say what?”

  There is going to be drinking at your apartment tonight, so us girls are going to have ourselves a pleasant evening without the boys.”

  Jesse said, “Did I miss something?”

  Marlene laughed again, “Apparently Gunner Price and my hubby, along with Mike Brill are going to come over and commiserate with Aaron over the end of his career. He just doesn’t know it yet, but unofficially HQ Quantico is going to medically retire him next month. Please don’t tell him, let Gunner break it to him. And I know from experience, they’re going to get drunk and tell stories, and lie to each other, and get drunker… Matt will probably be designated the sober guy, to keep things under control, more or less.”

  Jesse asked, “Dammit, I was afraid that was going to happen! So, we’re not welcome?”

  Marlene replied, “Not a matter of not being welcome, it’s a matter of we have better things to do. It’s going to be a spa evening for us, and they are paying for it. Darl is making reservations now, and Boo Boo will have a house sitter, along with her dogs.”

  “But Felicia doesn’t get off till five, and I…”

  “Call her and give her a heads up. And don’t worry, this is all covered. Gotta run, see you at six.”

  Jesse shook her head as Marlene hung up, thinking Okay, this is just plain nuts. The Corps is kicking him out, and I’m not going to be there with him to hear it. The guys are going to get drunk and we’re going somewhere for a spa evening… and food… What do I do with Jace? Why doesn’t this make any sense? How can… Gunner, he must have connections…

  Jesse quickly called Felicia, and passed the news to her, with Felicia being even more confused than Jesse already was. Jesse piddled around, packing and repacking a bag, then deciding to put all of her and Jace’s stuff in one bag and be done with it.

  She made a pass through the apartment, cleaning it as she went, much to Jace’s delight as he helped her push the vacuum, and Boo Boo’s terror as she ran from room to room, trying to stay away from the vacuum. At least this time she wasn’t attacking the hose.

  ***

  Felicia had made it back to the apartment early, and she’d packed a bag, asking questions all the while and getting no answers from Jesse. Darlene came by and picked up Boo Boo, smiling and saying she was looking forward to a girl’s night out. She told Jesse and Felicia she’d be back at six to pick them up.

  Aaron finally came in, followed by Matt about five minutes later. Both of them were worn out, but for different reasons. Aaron from the mental strain of the last couple of days, and doing administrative paperwork all day, and Matt from running a full range schedule today including having to pull repairs between relays on a balky pop up target. Both of them hit the showers and Jesse ran to the store for munchies, mentally calculating how much food the men would eat while drinking. She came back with two shopping bags full of chips, dip, cheese balls, and crackers along with a couple of six packs of Coke and Dr. Pepper just in case.

  Aaron came into the kitchen as Jesse and Felicia were unloading the bags, “What’s for dinner?”

  Jesse snorted, “Don’t ask me. Apparently you getting drunk is on the menu though.”

  “What? I’m not planning on getting…”

  The doorbell interrupted Aaron and Felicia answered it. Standing on the walk were four men, two of whom Felicia didn’t recognize, and she looked back at Jesse with a pleading look. Jesse motioned for her to let them in, and the four trooped into the house.

  Aaron looked up and in a Pavlovian response, came to attention, “Gunner Price, can I help you? Gunner Best? What are you doing here?” Mike Brill and Sergeant Major Eberhart followed them in as they gathered in the living room.

  Jesse said, “Gentlemen, please come in.” Sticking out her hand to Gunner Best she continued, “I don’t think I know you, but if I didn’t know better, I’d swear you’re James Earl Jones.”

  Gunner Best took her hand softly, with a rumbling laugh and a deep Southern accent, “You don’t know me, I’m off the east coast. Aaron used to work for me, along with Matt.”

  “What brings you out here Gunner?”

  My gen’rul is out here taking to the redneck’s gen’rul, so I tagged along. I heard what happened to Aaron, and frankly that’s a pretty shitty deal.”

  Jesse nodded, “That it was Gunner. That it was.” She hugged Aaron tightly as the doorbell rang again.

  She let go of Aaron and answered the door to see Toad standing there with Marlene. Waving them in, Jesse turned to see Gunner Price taking bottles of bourbon and scotch out of a bag and sitting them on the kitchen table as Matt walked into the living room.

  Marlene squealed, “Katie! What the hell are you doing here?” and rushed to Gunner Best who rumbled a laugh and hugged her.

  “Marlene, you haven’t changed a bit! Debbie told me to tell you hello and that you need to give her a call.”

  Marlene replied, “I’ll do that.” Looking at Jesse, she said, “It’s time for us girls to go. We’ll be back tomorrow morning to pick up what’s left.”

  As Jesse and Felicia went out the door, they heard Gunner Price say, “Okay, drinking rules are everybody for himself, and Toad, you’re the designated driver.”

  ***

  The women were sitting in the lounge enjoying a cocktail and laughing as Jesse fed Jace chips with guacamole when Felicia said, “Who are we waiting for?”

  Darlene looked up and said, “Oh, there she is.” She started waving at a middle-aged lady standing in the door of the lounge.

  The petite blonde strolled over with an air of confidence, and Felicia said, “Oh, you’re the weather lady!”

  “I’m Charlotte Stone; I’m Eric Price’s wife. And yes, I’m the weather lady,” she said with a laugh.

  Marlene said, “Charlotte goes way back with
us too. She’s one of the girls from Lejeune.”

  Felicia said, “Lejeune?”

  Charlotte laughed again, “Actually much further back than that…”

  Marlene interrupted, “Oh yeah, while I’m thinking about it, ‘Katie’ is here!”

  Charlotte spun around and said, “That sumbitch didn’t bring Debbie, did he?”

  Marlene held up both hands in self-defense, “Hey now, I didn’t…”

  Charlotte laughed again, “Oh no, it’s just the regular pissing match with him. He never brings Debbie on his trips, so I get all the good stuff second hand. Turning to Felicia she continued, “I’m actually a former BAM, and at one time I outranked both KT and Eric.”

  Felicia asked, “BAM?”

  “Big Ass Marine.” Marlene, Darlene, and Jesse all broke out in laughter at that, considering that she was maybe five feet three and a hundred and ten pounds even now. Charlotte continued, “I was a weather forecaster at MCAS Beaufort, which is where I met Eric and KT. Eric and I got married and I got pregnant, so I got out of the Corps and went back to school. I got a degree in meteorology, figuring I could get a job with the National Weather Service wherever we ended up. But that translated into getting an offer to be the weather girl in Jacksonville, and I’ve managed to stay on the air ever since.”

  Darlene said, “And nobody knows you’re married to a Marine. And I’m hungry; let’s go eat before we hit the spa.”

  Marlene replied, “I already have the room key, we’re in the Crown Suite. We’ll figure out the sleeping arrangements later.”

  ***

  Gunner Price poured another round of scotch, and proposed another toast, “May the road rise up to meet you…”

  Matt said, “That’s not a toast Gunner, that’s an Irish blessing.”

  Gunner Price said, “Well, we’re drinkin’ scotch, so that’s close enough.”

  Gunner Best replied, “Figures, an uneducated redneck can’t get it right. Here’s the proper way to do it! We've drunk to the Queen -- God bless her! -- We've drunk to our mothers' land; we've drunk to our English brother, (But he does not understand); we've drunk to the wide creation, and the Cross swings low for the mom, last toast, and of Obligation, a health to the Native-born!

  Toad groaned, “Oh please don’t tell me we’re now going to be quoting Kipling all night…”

  Gunner Best said, “Do you know it?”

  Toad, Aaron and Matt all chimed in, “They change their skies above them, but not their hearts that roam! We learned from our wistful mothers to call old England ‘home’… And Toad said, “The Native Born, eighteen ninety-four. Come on Gunner.”

  Gunner Price chuckled, “Figures, give KT a little education…”

  Gunner Best saluted the others with his glass, “I’ll have you know that ‘I’ am the educated one here. The redneck over there is from McRae, Georgia. It’s a little town down toward the southern part of the state. I, on the other hand, was raised in Athens, Georgia, so I’m much more highly educated.”

  Aaron finished his glass with a hiccup, “Sho… Both of you are from Georgia? How… How long have you known each other? And why do they call you Katie? Always thought you were James… James Earl…”

  Matt laughed, “Way too long!”

  Gunner Price said, “Shaddap Casper, you too, Hick. Y’all may be hogs, but you ain’t shit compared to what we were back in tha’ day.”

  Gunner Best replied, “Actually Hick, my real name is Kenneth Thomas, but the redneck over here called me Katie one night.”

  “And a glorious fight it was!”

  Gunner Best laughed, “Got us both busted too, you little shit.”

  Toad sipped a coke, and relaxed as the tension eased after the gunners woozily shook hands. Then the two gunners started telling stories at that point, and the others just sat and listened.

  ***

  The women were relaxing in the suite after their spa treatment and Jesse sighed, “I didn’t know a spa could be so nice! I don’t think I’ve ever been so relaxed. Even Jace is out like a light.”

  Charlotte replied, “I do this at least a couple of times a year. It lets me put up with Eric a little better.”

  Felicia sighed, “I’ve never had one, and I wasn’t sure I would be comfortable with anybody massaging me, but now… Bring it on!”

  Darlene languidly lifted her champagne flute, “To massages on a regular basis… So that we can put up with the men in our lives!”

  All the women clinked glasses and settled back into the couches. Felicia leaned over and said quietly to Jesse, “How do we pay for this, and how much is it costing?”

  Jesse shrugged, “Dunno, and right now I don’t care! Pampering like this is worth every penny. Hell, I’ll pay for it myself.”

  Charlotte leaned out of her chair and said, “This is on me. The station gets a discount for things here, and I’m not ashamed to take advantage of it. It’s also my way of apologizing to you for what the damn Corps did to your hubby. Eric is a bit more direct in his way of saying sorry, and so is KT, and it usually involves booze. I’m too old for the hangovers in the morning.”

  Jesse looked over at Marlene, “Was it just me, or does ‘Katie’ really look like James Earl Jones? Or am I just too mixed up to think?”

  Marlene laughed, “Yes, he does look like James Earl Jones’ twin brother!”

  Felicia asked, “I wonder if the two of them ever met?”

  Charlotte laughed, “Apparently yes, years ago. Mr. Jones was actually in the Army. But he’s three or four inches shorter than ‘Katie’ and is probably ten years older. I understand there were a lot of double takes that night.”

  The Morning After

  Darlene parked in front of the apartment and waited for Charlotte to find a parking place, while Jesse took Jace out of his car seat and handed him to Felicia. She finally got the car seat unhooked and plopped it on the ground.

  Charlotte chuckled, “Need three hands, don’t ya?”

  Jesse smiled ruefully, “Four would be better. Between trying to corral Jace, get the bags in the car, get him in the seat, and God forbid having to bring Boo Boo, it gets interesting.”

  Charlotte grabbed the car seat as Jesse took a sleepy Jace back, and Felicia picked up their bags. The women walked up the walk and Darlene started laughing, “I wonder how bad it’s going to be? Any bets on who’s still asleep on the floor?”

  Marlene honked a laugh, “Mine will be on a couch or in a chair, and will bitch at me all day about how bad his back hurts. Been there, done that, more than once!”

  Jesse slipped the key in the lock and swung the door open with trepidation. Instead of the disaster area she was expecting, she smelled bacon and eggs, and coffee. The others piled in behind her, and they saw all of the men sitting at the dining table, coffee in front of them and Toad sticking his head around the corner from the kitchen.

  Toad asked, “Y’all eaten yet? I can fix…”

  Jesse waved him off, “We’ve had breakfast already, thanks.”

  Charlotte was standing in front of Gunner Best, who had gotten up from the table when they came in; she was poking him in the area of his belly button saying, “Damn you Katie, why didn’t you bring Debbie with you? I know damn well the General brought his wife!”

  Jesse took in the scene and the look on Gunner Best’s face, and burst out laughing. The absurdity of a five foot nothing woman backing up a six foot six Marine with a look of fear on his face was more than she could take. The ‘Lenes started laughing, and that kicked off a general round of chuckles.

  Jace woke up and wanted to go to Aaron, so Jesse put him down on the floor. Aaron groaned, “Hey buddy,” and picked Jace up, with Jace immediately reaching for Aaron’s cup. “No coffee, Jace!” Aaron mumbled as he moved his cup.

  Gunner Best finally found his voice, saying, “Charlotte, you know damn well Debbie would have come if she could, but she’s up in Norfolk with the grandbaby. She said she’ll call you next week when she gets back home.”r />
  Charlotte grumped, “I guess I’m going to have to get on a damn airplane and go see her myself.” Rounding on her husband, she continued, “How bad is your hangover, Sweetie?”

  Gunner Price looked at her through bleary eyes, “I’ve felt better, and I’ve felt worse. Why?”

  “You promised me we’d get that damn storage area cleaned out today. I think you need to pay for your sins, and sweating them out isn’t a bad way to do it.”

  Everybody laughed at that, as Gunner Price groaned and put his head in his hands, mumbling, “Yes, dear.”

  Toad started handing plates out, as the ‘Lenes and Charlotte headed for their respective houses, with Darlene saying she’d be back with Boo Boo in a while. Felicia had taken her bag back to their bedroom and had not come out, prompting Matt to eat quickly and disappear into the bedroom too. Jesse picked up Jace and slipped an arm around Aaron’s shoulders as he continued to eat quietly. She bent and kissed his cheek, saying softly, “I love you. We can talk later.”

  Gunner Price carried his plate into the kitchen and came back, stopping in front of the table. He looked at Aaron and Jesse, “Aaron, I’m truly sorry for what the Corps has done to you. The official orders will probably be here tomorrow or the day after, and you’ll be formally medically retired thirty days from that date.”

  Aaron replied, “Understood Gunner.”

  Gunner Price drew himself and said to Jesse, “And I’d like to apologize to both of you for not being on top of what was going on. Aaron is a damn good Marine; I’d have no problems going into battle with him. Just so you know, I’m gonna make sure Goss is gone before you are. It ain’t much, but the least I can do is see him out of the Corps.” Turning to Gunner Best he said, “Let’s go Katie, we got work to do at the office before I go do my penance.”

  Aaron got up and he and the Gunners shook hands, and they let themselves out the door. Sergeant Major Eberhart and First Sergeant Brill solemnly shook Aaron’s hand and they too left, leaving Aaron and Jesse standing in the dining area. Toad came out of the kitchen asking, “They gone yet?”