I heard two car doors close outside and the car drive off, then a tap on the side of the bulkhead and a voice said, “Ahoy, the boat.”
“That’ll be Deuce and Julie,” I said. “We have about 30 minutes before Stockwell arrives. Omelet okay?”
“Get the door, I’ll cook this time.”
“Aye aye, ma’am.” I was probably enjoying this too much.
I disabled the alarm and opened the hatch. Deuce and Julie were standing in the cockpit. Deuce was wearing his Navy service khaki’s and Julie was wearing the tropical blue service uniform of the Coast Guard. He said, “Damn, he’s uncovered.”
Julie laughed as she came in and said, “He’s been looking forward to you saluting him, Jesse. I told him Marines don’t salute indoors, or uncovered. Good morning, Commander, you look nice.”
“Thank you, Julie,” Jackie said.
“I see you have your new stripes sewn on,” I said.
“Yeah, I was up pretty late doing it.”
“Have to guys eaten yet?” I asked.
“We stopped at the Huddle House on the way,” Deuce said. “But thanks.”
Jackie whipped up two omelets and we ate quickly. At 0455, I heard a car pull up outside and a door close. “We better get outside,” Deuce said.
I grabbed my cover and held the hatch open for the three of them. “Let’s get this over with,” I said then followed them through the hatch. I covered my head, closed the door and turned around. “Your dad would roll over in his grave if he saw me do this.” I came to attention and gave both Deuce and Jackie my best salute, which they returned quickly.
“Yeah, he would,” Deuce said with a crooked grin.
The four of us stepped up to the dock and fell in according to rank by the cockpit, Deuce, Jackie, me, and Julie.
“Attention on deck!” Deuce commanded.
Stockwell stepped off the curb to the dock and stopped in front of the four of us. He was dressed in the Army service uniform, with a tan Ranger beret on his head. The four of us saluted him as one and he returned it. “At ease. Fall out,” he said. “And except when the President arrives, that’s the end of military formality. Thanks for putting that on, Jesse.”
We relaxed and I said, “There’s coffee in the galley, care for a cup?”
“Absolutely. I know you Jarheads like it strong enough to stand a horse shoe up in.”
I turned at the rumbling sound of a motorcycle pulling into the parking lot. Doc parked the bike, got off and put on his piss cutter and strode toward us. He saluted the Colonel as he stepped onto the dock and said, “Good morning, sir.”
Stockwell returned his salute. “You must be Doc Talbot.”
“Yes sir, sorry I’m late.”
“You’re right on time, Doc. Like I just told the others, until the VIP’s arrive, we’ll dispense with military customs. Me, you, and Jesse are civilians now. I’m Travis Stockwell, please call me Travis.” He extended his hand and Doc took it firmly.
“Pleased to meet you, Travis.”
“Can’t see much of it in the dark, but it sounds nice. Harley?” Stockwell asked.
“Indian Chief,” Doc responded.
“Really? I have a Road King up in D.C. Don’t get much chance to ride it, though.”
We went into the salon and Julie poured four cups for us and got a bottle of water for herself. Stockwell took a seat on the aft section of the L shaped sofa. “This is a beautiful boat. I didn’t expect such luxury in a fishing boat.”
“Thanks, Colonel,” I said as I sat down next to Jackie at the settee. I noted the blue and tan UN Somalia service ribbon on his chest. “I see we chewed some of the same sand.”
I saw him glance at my ribbons. “1/7 or 1/9?”
“1/7 then, but I spent some time with 1/9 as well. 3rd of the 75th?”
He nodded and just like that we connected. Julie looked puzzled and said, “I’m sorry, sir, I’m new at this. What are y’all talking about?”
“Jesse and I served together in ’92,” Stockwell said. “In Somalia. With time you’ll get better at it. Ribbons and badges are more than just decoration. They tell the story of a military person’s life. Some are awarded to all branches, while others are branch specific. For instance, Jackie, Deuce and Jesse wear sea service ribbons. Nothing unusual for a Sailor, but it tells me that Jesse served aboard a naval vessel at some time. I can also tell that Doc here was wounded in action and Jesse was wounded in action twice. And since few naval vessels are co-ed and Jackie being a doctor, I would guess she served on either a hospital ship or aircraft carrier.”
Jackie nodded. “The Big E.”
“You were wounded twice?” Julie asked. “You never told me that.”
“I never told you a lot of things, Jules,” I said with a laugh.
“I can also see that you’re out of uniform, Julie,” Stockwell said.
She looked down at her uniform, then looked back up puzzled.
Stockwell stood up and walked over to where she stood by the counter. “You didn’t read your transfer papers very carefully, did you?” he said with a crooked grin.
She looked at him, then at Deuce, who was also grinning. “No sir, Deuce took them from Captain Osgood, when I graduated Maritime Enforcement.”
Stockwell reached into his pocket and pulled out a small black case. Opening it he showed her a medal with a matching ribbon. He removed the ribbon and handed it to Deuce. Then he handed the small case to Julie and said, “Put this in your pocket for now.”
“I don’t understand, Colonel,” she said.
Deuce stepped over and removed the backing clutches on the ribbon. He pushed the pins through her shirt and reattached the backing locks.
“You’re the first woman to wear that, you know,” said Stockwell. “In fact, only 27 men wear it. It’s the Coast Guard Special Operations Service Medal. Your transfer orders say that you’re authorized to wear it. Congratulations.”
She looked over at me then up at Deuce. “You two knew about this?”
I’d learned a long time ago to not hide anything from Julie and Deuce had better learn it quick, I thought. She hates surprises. Raising my hands in defense I said, “I didn’t know anything about it.”
A loud whine came from outside, the sound of a large jet flying low, approaching the marina from the west. “We’ll talk about this later, Commander,” Julie said.
The five of us went out onto the dock, just in time to see Air Force One fly over.
“Holy shit,” Doc said. “The VIP is the President?”
Stockwell laughed heartily and looked at me. “You didn’t tell him?”
“Never really got the chance.”
“Okay, they’ll be here in fifteen minutes,” Stockwell said. “The advance team from the Secret Service will be here in ten. You’ve all been vetted, so there shouldn’t be any problems. Get the engines started.”
Julie ran to the Cazador and I boarded the Revenge. Within seconds the engines were quietly burbling and we joined the others on the dock.
The advance team arrived five minutes later and there was a problem. Two agents got out of a black sedan and the lead agent identified himself as Paul Bender. He spoke directly to Stockwell. “Colonel Stockwell, good to see you again, sir.”
“Same here, Agent Bender. Allow me to introduce you to Commander Livingston, Lieutenant Commander Burdick, Gunnery Sergeant McDermitt, and Petty Officers Talbot and Thurman.”
“Nice to meet you all,” he said. “You’ve all been checked and cleared. The President is looking forward to meeting you and enjoying a day on the water. Are any of you armed?”
I looked at Deuce as Stockwell started to say we weren’t. Deuce nodded imperceptibly and I said. “That’s not exactly true, Colonel.” Agent Bender looked at me with raised eyebrows, so I continued. “I have a small assortment of weapons on board. Locked in a chest, which is locked securely under the forward bunk.”
“That’s a problem, Gunnery Sergeant,” he said. “We’ll n
eed to remove them.”
Stockwell stepped forward and looked Bender straight in the face. “Agent Bender, Gunny McDermitt is a highly decorated Marine, whom I personally vouched for. It’s his boat and his charter.”
“Doesn’t matter, Colonel.”
I stepped forward, towering over both Bender and Stockwell. Looking down on the Secret Service Agent, I said. “Understand this, Bender and understand it good. I don’t go out on the water without protection and backup. Take it up with the Secretary and the President, or the charter is canceled.”
“Colonel,” Bender said, “you need to get your troops in line.”
I took a half step closer and leaned forward so that my face was inches from Bender’s. “I’m a civilian, Bender. Have been for almost seven years. Before that, I was chewing sand and taking out bad guys when you were popping zits and chasing little girls on the playground. On my boat, I make the rules. Neither the Colonel, you, nor even the President himself, is going to change that.”
That’s when the motorcade pulled up. Three more agents climbed out of the first car and a fourth from the passenger side of the second car. All four took up positions on the four corners of the second car, scanning the area intently. These guys were consummate professionals.
Bender turned and walked over to the passenger side rear window and it came down a few inches. He spoke to someone inside for a moment and the window went back up. A few seconds later the door opened and Secretary Chertoff himself got out and walked toward us. I expected him to be dressed in a suit, but he was in fishing shorts and a golf shirt. I’d only seen him in pictures, but he looked older somehow.
“May I speak to you privately, Mister McDermitt? In your cabin?”
I led him aboard the Revenge. “What’s this about personal arms on this boat?”
“Mister Secretary, I work these waters every day. I never go out on the blue without being armed.”
“Show me.”
I took him forward, lifted the bedspread on the bunk and pointed out the digital lock. “Only Deuce and I know the combination.” I punched in the code and pulled the release. The bunk lifted up on hydraulic pistons and I pointed out the large chest. “And we’re the only ones who know the combination to that box.”
“Open it.”
“No sir,” I said. “With all due respect sir, what’s in that box is my business and nobody else’s.”
“What’s in it?”
“Well, it ain’t no BB gun. I’ve had need to arm several men in a hurry in the past year and if need be, I can arm every one of those agents outside, better than they’re armed now.”
“I doubt that, McDermitt.”
“All six of them are carrying Sig P229’s chambered for .357. Three of them are carrying Belgian FN P90’s, under their suit coats.” The P90 is an ugly looking bullpup type of submachine gun. But with a 50 round magazine and capable of firing 900 rounds per minute, it’s extremely effective and can be carried on a shoulder sling under a coat and be hardly noticeable. He looked surprised, so I grinned and added, “If the President would like, I can up-arm all six of them.”
“You brought an arsenal to take the President fishing?”
“No sir. Like I said, this chest is always on board. Everything in it is cleaned and ready for use. That’s one of the reasons Deuce and I are still alive to take you guys fishing.”
“So I’ve heard. That little trip into Cuba was armed by you?”
“Yes sir. We didn’t have time to wait for armament.”
He looked at me a moment and at the cluster of ribbons and badges on my chest. “Wait outside with the others. I’ll talk to the President.”
On the dock, he walked back to the car and got in. Stockwell looked at me and raised an eyebrow. “Just a few toys,” Deuce said. “Nothing to get too excited over.”
The five of us were standing in a loose line, with Stockwell standing at an angle next to Deuce at the end. Bender lifted his hand to his mouth and spoke into his sleeve, just like they do in the movies. I made a mental note to tell Chertoff that I could upgrade their communications, too. Bender said something to the four agents at the corners of the car and the rear passenger door opened again.
Chertoff and the President climbed out of the car and started walking toward us. The President was wearing jeans and a polo shirt, with a long billed fisherman’s hat on that had the Texas Lone Star flag on it. The jeans and hat were well worn.
“Attention!” shouted Stockwell. The five of us immediately aligned ourselves and snapped to attention.
Instead of the usual hand salute command, Stockwell said, “Present Arms!” I couldn’t help but grin just a little.
As the President walked toward us, he snapped a return salute and Stockwell said, “Two!”
The President stopped a few feet in front of Stockwell and with a slight Texas drawl said, “Good to see you again, Travis. Mike tells me y’all might be prepared to go to war?” Before he could answer the President looked right at me and said, “I suppose a Texican should be able to trust a Silver Star recipient. If a big ole shark comes at me, you be sure to shoot him for me, Gunny.”
I grinned and said, “Aye aye, sir.”
With the ice broken and apparent permission to keep the weapons on board, he stepped forward and shook hands with Stockwell.
“Mister President, this is Commander Russell Thurman, my team leader. We call him Deuce.”
“Nice to meet you, Deuce. How ‘bout you introduce me to our crew here.”
“My pleasure, Mister President,” Deuce said. This is Lieutenant Commander Jackie Burdick, MD. She’s the Second Mate on the boat you’ll be on, sir.”
The President shook Jackie’s hand and said, “A Navy Doctor as Second Mate?”
“It’s an honor to meet you, sir. Actually, I think I was only invited so I could meet you. I’m a friend of Jesse’s.”
“You were the doctor that treated these two guys?”
“Yes sir, I was.”
“I read the report from Admiral Arthur. He had nothing but high praise for your action and skill.”
“Thank you, sir,” Jackie said with a slight coloring of her cheeks.
Deuce said, “This is Gunnery Sergeant Jesse McDermitt, retired. He’s the Captain of the boat you’ll be on.”
I took his offered hand and said, “Truly an honor to have you aboard, sir.”
“The honor’s mine, Jesse. Mike told me about what you did in Cuba a few months back. If you were active duty and the mission could be talked about, you’d be wearing a bronze star on that Silver Star ribbon.”
“Thank you, sir.”
Going down the line, Deuce said, “This is Petty Officer Second Class, Robert Talbot. He’s my team’s Corpsman and will be First Mate on your boat.”
“Good to meet you, Doc. That is what those Jarheads call you guys, right?”
“Yes sir. Very honored to have you aboard, sir.”
“I read the after action on your part in the mission. Very good job, son. Ever think about reenlisting? The Navy needs men like you that can keep their head in battle.”
“Thought about it many times, sir. Thank you.”
“Lastly, Mister President, is Coast Guard Petty Officer Third Class Julie Thurman. She’s the most recent person to join our team, just graduated from the Maritime Enforcement School. She’ll be the Captain on the escort boat and I’ll be her First Mate.”
“It’s an honor to meet you sir,” Julie said taking his hand.
“First woman to graduate that school, right?”
“Yes sir, it was a tough school.”
“What I heard, you could have been one of the Instructors. I understand you’re getting married next week?”
Julie looked surprised and glanced at Deuce quickly.
“Yes sir,” Deuce said. “She has agreed to allow me to be her First Mate permanently.”
“Congratulations to you both,” the President said with a chuckle. “Now, I hope y’all aren’t planning
on staying in those uniforms the whole day are you? I thought we were gonna slay some denizens from the deep.”
“No sir,” Stockwell said. “We can change while we’re under way.”
Before we split up to the two boats, the President surprised me. “Paul, make sure your men step lightly. Those hard soled shoes play hell on fiberglass and teak.”
“Of course, Mister President,” he said and relayed the order to his men over his sleeve mic. Four of the Secret Service agents joined Deuce and Julie. Bender and the agent that drove his car, along with Stockwell, Chertoff and the President joined us on the Revenge. Julie and Deuce had a change of clothes on the Cazador and could change in the small head in the engine room, under the console.
The agents took the Secretary and the President into the salon, along with Stockwell, then took up positions on either side of the bridge, facing aft. Jackie and I climbed up to the helm and I shouted down to Doc and back to Julie, “Cast off!”
Doc had the lines loose in seconds and looking back, I could see that Deuce had done likewise. Julie was using the bow thruster to swing the bow away from the dock. The agents on her boat were standing fore and aft the console, much like they had around the President’s car. Julie nudged the throttle and idled past me and into the channel. I followed about twenty yards behind. Once we cleared the outer markers, Julie’s voice came over the radio, “Going up on plane, Jesse.”
“Roger,” I said and nudged both throttles up to 1300 rpm, both boats lifting up on plane simultaneously. “Switching to alternate com, Jules.” Deuce and I had already planned on using encrypted ear wigs for communication once we were away from the dock. Both he and Julie had one and I had two, one for me and another for Doc. Julie and I had already discussed many options on where to fish yesterday, but I suddenly realized I hadn’t even asked what they wanted to fish for. I was well stocked on bait for anything they might want to catch, so I turned to Jackie and said, “Why don’t you go down and ask our guests what they’d like to catch, then you can let me know over the intercom in the forward stateroom while you get changed.”
“Aye aye, Captain,” she said and climbed down to the cockpit.
As she disappeared through the hatch, I called down to Doc, who was busy setting up fishing tackle. “Hey Doc, go get changed. Then you can spell me up her, so I can get out of this monkey suit.” I put the ear wig in my right ear and turned it on. Speaking low, I said, “Com check.”
Fallen Pride (Jesse McDermitt Series) Page 12