Submerged

by Graysen Morgen

  "Commander, during the time the U.S.S. Lincoln was in port in Rota, Spain, did you ever disembark the vessel?"

  "No, I did not," she answered. Layne and Stewart immediately put their heads together and began whispering.

  "So, you're saying you never got off the submarine in Rota. Is that correct?"

  "Yes."

  He went on asking questions about the shore leave assignments and how they operated, as well as, her duties and whereabouts while the sub was in port. She omitted the part about the two hours she was in command, but she did say she was in the command center for a number of hours. Afterward, she went to her stateroom and e-mailed her sister and caught up on paperwork and took a nap. Just before the last hour of shore leave she was awoken by the captain to begin preparations for departure.

  When Ike was finished, he handed her over to the prosecution. He expected the D.A. to stand up and was surprised when Layne Carmichael walked over to Scooter.

  "Ms. Scuttero…"

  Scooter interrupted her. "I would appreciate it if you address me by my rank. I do believe I have earned it."

  Layne was taken aback by the hardness of the woman across from her. She was so different from the woman she spent countless hours making love with in her bed. This wasn't the woman she couldn't get out of her head. Instead, she was a hardcore military officer with strong lines and the devils stare.

  "As you wish, Commander, is it?" Layne said. When Scooter nodded she went on with her questions about her time aboard the submarine in Rota.

  "You mean to tell me you had four hours to get off that submarine and you just stayed on it?"

  "Yes," Scooter answered.

  "So you didn't take a minute or two to stretch your legs or mail a letter maybe?"

  "No."

  "No shopping for gifts to bring back home?"

  "No."

  "Do you ever get off of the submarine when you are in port?"

  "Sometimes."

  "I see and what made you stay aboard this time?"

  "I had no reason to go ashore."

  "No gifts to buy? Letters to mail?"

  "Objection. Your honor this is repetitive question that is going nowhere." Ike stood up.

  "I'll allow it. Counselor you might think about a new line of questions quickly."

  Layne nodded and went on. "I'm trying to find out why the Commander chose to stay on the submarine at this port, but goes to shore in others." He nodded. "So, Commander, what is your reason again for staying aboard?"

  Scooter felt her back strap muscles tighten. She wanted to throttle this woman. She couldn't believe she was trying to catch her in lie. That meant she believed she was actually capable of doing this horrific offense. "I did not need to go ashore during our stop in port Rota. I spent the time, as I already stated multiple times, in the command center, the control room, and in my stateroom."

  "What about bars, do you frequent those when in port?"

  "No."

  "Never?"

  "I do not drink when I am deployed. It's my choice."

  "I see." She hesitated. "So you don't partake in recreational activities?"

  "I'm not sure what you are asking."

  "Do you meet up with other sailors or possibly locals to say maybe 'have a good time'?"

  "If you are trying to ask if I have sex while in port, that answer is no. I have never had sexual relations with anyone while in port or on the submarine."

  "Is it true you're a lesbian?"

  "Objection," Ike shouted. "I think you have already established that with your witnesses yesterday."

  "Overruled. Commander the policy has been dissolved, you may freely answer the question."

  "Yes," she said.

  "Are you dating anyone?"

  "No."

  "So if there is no one at home for you to cheat on, why not partake in recreational activities?"

  "When I am at sea my duty comes before my wants."

  "How patriotic, Commander." Layne turned her back to Scooter for a minute. Then she began asking mundane questions about Scooter's sex life, which finally got her reprimanded by the judge. After that she went back to her relationship with Stacey Greenfield and her reasons for not going ashore. After two hours of chasing her tail in circles she dismissed the defendant.

  When she got back to the table Layne leaned over to Stewart. "If she's telling the truth we're toast."

  "She's a lying dyke that doesn't deserve the honor to wear that uniform and the pomp and circumstance those fools outside are giving her," he huffed under his breath.

  The judge turned to Ike for his next defense witness. He called CAPT. W. Undell. All of the military personnel in the courtroom snapped to attention when he entered the room and waited until he was on the stand to sit back down.

  Ike went through his line of question and the Captain backed up every answer that Scooter gave. When Layne stood up she immediately went into questions regarding Scooter's shore passes in port. She asked how many times she takes part in the privilege, how long she is usually gone, what ports she usually goes to shore in, as well as, a timeline of her whereabouts during the stop in Rota. CAPT. Undell's answers mimicked everything that Scooter said once again. Frustrated, Layne turned to questioning him about his timeline during that same time. He stated everything except for the time he left the sub. He said he was in the command center during that time. Layne picked apart every single answer he gave her just as she had done with Scooter.

  ~~~

  Layne sat back down at the prosecution table. Stewart leaned over to her. "He just lied through that entire line of questioning, he's covering her ass."

  "Stewart have you thought at all that maybe she's telling the truth and Stacy Greenfield just has some grudge against her or something."

  "What do you mean?"

  "Maybe Stacy showed interest and LCDR. Scuttero turned her down."

  "I seriously doubt that happened. I bet you my paycheck that woman sitting over there degrading that uniform doesn't turn down a piece of ass and Stacy Greenfield is a nice looking young piece of ass. I think she saw something she wanted and took it without asking."

  Layne shook her head. She was in the middle of a very dirty he said, she said argument and all the cards pointed to her side being very wrong.

  The judge asked Ike if he had anymore witnesses.

  "Your honor, I have sixty-three witnesses that will all testify to LCDR. Scuttero's whereabouts while the U.S.S. Lincoln was in port in Rota, Spain. They are all her subordinates aboard the submarine and all were present during that deployment."

  "We will not hear all of their testimonies I assure you." He smiled thinly. "Call the first one starting with the officers and we will see how far we get today."

  Ike called the Supply Officer, Weapons Officer, and the Navigator, followed by the Chief Engineer. They all gave statements that they saw Scooter aboard the submarine during the shore leave time. They also testified to her character as a superior officer. All of the men also stood at attention in front of her before leaving the courtroom after each one was finished with his testimony.

  The judge stopped them for the night at that point. Ike would resume at nine a.m. with the forty enlisted men.

  ~~~

  "I didn't think he would want to hear all of them testify," Ike stated as they were leaving the courthouse. There was no jury since it was a bench trial. The judge would be the one making the final decision.

  "Hopefully, he doesn't or we will be here for another month," Scooter said.

  "Yeah, but you have one hell of a protective group behind you." He snapped to attention. "You've become a great leader, Commander."

  She smiled and returned his salute and walked with Libby to her car.

  "It'll be over soon. It's obvious that woman is lying through her teeth."

  "Yeah I know it."

  "You're exhausted. How about I make us some of mom's noodle soup and you get some sleep."

  "That sounds good." Scooter cracked a sma
ll smile for her sister. Libby was trying so hard to take care of her and nothing seemed to bring her out of the slump she was in, accept seeing all of her subordinates willing to go to the ends of the earth to protect her. That was what the military was about, brotherhood and honor.

  Chapter 14

  "I need to go down to the bar to put together an order and write out next week's schedule. Want to go with me?" Libby asked after dinner.

  Scooter was stretched out on the couch in the den watching a Padres game. She had changed into a ratty pair of shorts and a t-shirt when they got home from court.

  "Not really."

  "You don't like baseball," Libby said when she walked into the den.

  Scooter shrugged. She wasn't really watching the game, it just happened to be on the TV when she turned it on.

  "I'll be back in a couple of hours. Call me if you need anything," Libby said before she left. Scooter was thankful that her sister was there for her through the madness that had turned her life into a living hell, but she didn't want Libby to put her own life on hold. She'd been at Scooter's side since day one; she hoped it was over soon, no matter what the outcome was.

  ~~~

  "All rise," The Marshall announced as the judge walked back into the courtroom. They had finally recessed for lunch after hearing testimony of fifteen of the enlisted men and three of the women. Scooter refused to make eye contact when she ran into Layne in the restroom outside of the courtroom. What she really wanted to do was slam her head into the mirror.

  Six of the eighteen people that testified before lunch also stated that Stacey Greenfield obsessed over LCDR. Scuttero and often made comments about wanting to sleep with her. These testimonies got the judge's attention, as well as the prosecution. Layne tried desperately to get those six sailors to change their stories and catch them in lies, but of course, she was unsuccessful.

  As soon as the judge sat down he opened the file he was carrying and folded his hands in front of it. "I spent my lunch hour deliberating over my notes and the testimony in this case and it has been proven well beyond a reasonable doubt that the defendant LCDR. Scuttero never left the U.S.S. Lincoln during the port of call stop in Rota, Spain. Since the state is lacking any significant evidence proving otherwise and their case is solely based on LCDR. Scuttero being ashore, I have no other option but to rule in favor of the defendant without further testimony."

  "What?" Scooter looked at Ike. "What does that mean?"

  "It means you win." He jumped out of his seat and hugged her. "They had no evidence and he made a ruling instead of dismissing the case. That means they can't come back and try you again because of the double jeopardy rule. Of course they can appeal, but we will deal with that when we get there." He hugged her again.

  Scooter was in shock. Libby flew into her arms with tears streaming down her face. "It's finally over."

  "I can't believe it. I…wow. Just like that, it's over." Scooter wiped the lone tear that fell and hugged Libby again. Ike snapped to attention and saluted her. She returned the gesture before leading them out of the courtroom.

  ~~~

  "I can't believe this. We had it." Stewart slammed his briefcase closed. "God damn it."

  "Stewart, they had over fifty witnesses. It's obvious Stacey Greenfield was lying. There is no way all of those sailors out there made all of their statements up, it's just not possible," Layne said as she grabbed her briefcase and followed the other party out of the room. When the doors opened the commotion in the hallway went silent as the entire group snapped to attention. Scooter stepped out in the hall with a hard expression on her face that immediately turned into a pearly white full smile. The group cheered.

  "S.S.N. Eight-Ninety-Three, Lincoln, attention on deck," She yelled. "Formation, march." She watched as the group quickly snapped in place at attention in three tight perfect rows. She marched them down the hallway to the staircase, choosing to command her group as one instead of riding in multiples on the elevator. Layne watch in awe as the group of over sixty sailors popped and snapped to her every command.

  When they got outside of the courthouse Scooter dismissed them and two of the guys picked her up on their shoulders and continued marching towards the parking lot. Libby walked behind them crying with Ike at her side.

  "They would go into the mouth of hell with her if she asked them to. You don't find a stronger camaraderie than a submarine crew in the Navy."

  Scooter was thankful that the media attention had finally let up after the first two days once they caught wind of a triple homicide.

  ~~~

  Scooter was too happy to sit still at the house, but she wasn't ready to go celebrate just yet. Ike called with the news that he scheduled a meeting with the base admiral for first thing the next morning to discuss her return to active status and either re-commission to the U.S.S. Lincoln or a possible billet change that could easily move her across the country or overseas to any number of jobs.

  "Why so glum?" Libby plopped down next to her on the den couch with two beers. Scooter gladly took one and sipped a quarter of it down before answering. Her nerves were shot and she was still waiting for the hammer to fall.

  "Just nerves. Who knows what they will tell me tomorrow. The media attention on the base was all but good while it lasted and I may easily be shipped off to a dog shit scraping job in Singapore."

  Libby ruffled Scooters short dark curls. "It'll be okay, you won today. Right now, that's what matters. The Navy will see what a piece of trash that Greenfield woman is and kick her out. You'll be back at sea before you can blink your eyes." She smiled and tapped her bottle against Scooter's.

  "I still can't believe it's over."

  "I can't believe that Carmichael bitch. If I ever see her in my bar again I'm liable to go to jail for beating her ass."

  Scooter laughed. "Yeah, what a piece of work she turned out to be. I sure can pick 'em, huh." She took a few more long swallows and set the empty bottle on the table next to her feet. "Don't go and get yourself locked up on my account. That place is disgusting, trust me. Besides, she isn't worth it. If she was then she would've left the first day she realized who I was."

  "I have no respect for her. I'm surprised she was allowed to even try the case since she slept with you."

  "Well, technically, she wasn't, but we were holding that as our wild card. Ike planned to call her to the stand last as a witness to my sexual behavior. I'm just glad it didn't get that far."

  "I am so glad he opted not to continue with the rest of the sailors in the hallway. We'd still be in there next month. Then her subpoena on top of it would've been icing on the cake. I bet that judge would've had a conniption right there on the bench." She laughed.

  "Yeah I know. I told him to save it for last if it looked like we might lose. That would've at least got the case thrown out. I didn't care to have any more of my dirty laundry aired. I still have no idea who those women are that she called the first day. I guess patrons of the bar. I sure don't remember conversing with any of them."

  "Yeah, they aren't regulars that I know of, but then again I'm not behind the bar every night either."

  "Well, obviously she knew them." Scooter stood and stretched her back. "I'm off to bed. Maybe I'll actually sleep tonight."

  Libby reached up and tugged on her jeans hanging way below her waist and holding onto her hips with fear of falling to the floor. "If you lose any more weight you are going to need suspenders, hon. I think you're past using a belt."

  Scooter laughed and pulled her jeans up but they fell right back down as she walked towards the stairs.

  Chapter 15

  Scooter sat in the Rear Admiral's office with Ike on her right side and CAPT. Undell on her left. Her body was stiff and her back was ramrod straight. They were all wearing the full dress blue uniform.

  RDML. Muerk sat behind his desk with a file in front of them that was more than likely Scooter's personnel file.

  "I'm appalled at the situation this base was put in and I'
m honestly disgusted with the accusations against such a decorated officer. I received the paperwork from the judge this morning and he has asked that your record be exempt of this fraudulent charge and that you be allowed to continue your exemplary military service." He closed the file. "I, on the other hand, have to figure out what to do since this base has been in an uproar over the past two weeks, not to mention turned upside down by NCIS, who by the way was still unable to find a shred of evidence against you. Still, the position that the Navy has now been put in is not a very good one. Whether you are found guilty or not has no consequence when it comes to decisions regarding the livelihood of subordinate sailors under your command. LCDR. Scuttero, what do you think your choices are?"

  "Sir, I have every intention of serving any billet that the Navy decides for me,. However, I would like to request to continue under my current billet and re-commission as the XO on the U.S.S. Lincoln."

  "CAPT. Undell, what is your opinion of this request?"

  "Sir, I came here today to request that LCDR. Scuttero be re-assigned to the Lincoln, as well as, re-commissioned as the XO. She is an asset to the S.S.N. 893 Submarine Squad and an outstanding leader. I would be honored to serve with her again and if we were at war, there is no other sailor or submariner that I would want at my side. She is very well qualified, and without my being too forward, I believe LCDR. Scuttero will be outstanding with her own command one day."

  "LT. Duncan, what is your role in today's meeting?" He asked Ike as if he was questioning him for being present.

  "Sir, I am here at the request of JAG to make sure the events of the past few days do not follow LCDR. Scuttero. She has been found innocent and should not be punished by the personnel at this base or any other. If her billet is to be changed, it must be due to other circumstances, Sir."