Read Online An Unlawful Order (The Chase Anderson Series) by Carver Greene - Free Book Online
Authors: Carver Greene
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down White’s mistress.
Shapiro continued. “We think Major White will be used as a scapegoat by those who want to protect the 81.” He released his hold on the woman.
For a second, Chase thought the woman might seriously jump. The woman was shaking. “I hope you’re not planning on running with that kind of story,” Chase said. “We’re in the middle of an investigation, Paul.”
North was standing beside the van, looking their way. She waved, and North acknowledged with the same. “The others are waiting, Paul. As soon as the investigation iscomplete, you’ll know the findings.”
The woman finally spoke. “I told you.” And she dashed toward a small white compact.
Chase and Shapiro stood in silence for a moment. “What’s going on, Paul?” She herded him toward the parking lot. The only cars left now were hers and those of North, Cruise, and Martinez, who were pulling up to the front of the chapel for Shapiro.
“Listen, Captain Anderson,” he said, stopping short of North’s van. “I have information that 464 has been forging maintenance records.”
Another breeze caused Chase to nearly lose her cap, and this time she damned the regulations, and took it off. To look up at him, and she would look him in the eye, shehad to shield hers from the sun with a hand. “Why would 464 need to forge their maintenance records, Paul?”
“Because the truth of what’s happening with the 81 could cause the fleet to be grounded indefinitely.”
“Paul, have you any idea how many channels clear those records?” Before his second deployment, Stone had been 464’s operations officer. His job was to sign off on maintenance records. If something were awry, he’d have confided in Chase. Paul Shapiro was fishing.
“Major White knew about the forged records, Captain. We—I don’t think his crash was an accident.”
Chase switched hands over her eyes. “Who’s your source?”
Shapiro glanced down at his feet.
“Major White’s bereaved mistress?” The shock on his face gave her great pleasure. “Look, Paul, I’ve got to warn you—you need to tread lightly over here. It’s one thing to ambush a few drunk Marines on liberty to get a story, quite another to insinuate a conspiracy.” She walked to the van and opened the door.
CHAPTER 5
T hat evening was crisp for Hawaii, with temperatures in the upper sixties. At home, Chase poured herself a glass of white wine, changed into her favorite yoga pantsand a tank top, and set the table for dinner.
She was outside on the tiny patio, the glass of wine in one hand, grilling chicken with a set of tongs in the other, and lost in a replay of the scene with Shapiro and White’s mistress, when a man’s voice startled her.
“I said, you could use a little water on that fire.” Of all people, it was Colonel Figueredo. Correction: Fig, as he wished to be called. Damned if she would oblige his arrogance.
“Are you lost, Colonel?” She guessed he was looking for one of her neighbors, either Paige’s husband or Samantha’s. Both houses appeared quiet, deserted.
“I tried your front door—” He was smiling again but looked a bit disarmed himself, perhaps just realizing his ownarrogance at showing up uninvited in her backyard. He was wearing jeans and a long-sleeved white shirt that made his features appear even darker, especially in the fading light of sunset.
Chase nodded toward the patio’s sliding glass doors. “My daughter’s probably engrossed in her movie and didn’t hear the doorbell. What can I do for you, Colonel—”
“Fig, just call me Fig.” He was rolling up his right shirtsleeve above one of those large sporty watches with a wide leather band. “Better hand me those tongs,” he said.
“Excuse me?” She flipped over a chicken breast, then rolled over both drumsticks, leaning back when flames shot upward.
“Here,” he said, “let me take over.” His outstretched hand, that she was refusing tofill, created a long, awkward
Shapiro continued. “We think Major White will be used as a scapegoat by those who want to protect the 81.” He released his hold on the woman.
For a second, Chase thought the woman might seriously jump. The woman was shaking. “I hope you’re not planning on running with that kind of story,” Chase said. “We’re in the middle of an investigation, Paul.”
North was standing beside the van, looking their way. She waved, and North acknowledged with the same. “The others are waiting, Paul. As soon as the investigation iscomplete, you’ll know the findings.”
The woman finally spoke. “I told you.” And she dashed toward a small white compact.
Chase and Shapiro stood in silence for a moment. “What’s going on, Paul?” She herded him toward the parking lot. The only cars left now were hers and those of North, Cruise, and Martinez, who were pulling up to the front of the chapel for Shapiro.
“Listen, Captain Anderson,” he said, stopping short of North’s van. “I have information that 464 has been forging maintenance records.”
Another breeze caused Chase to nearly lose her cap, and this time she damned the regulations, and took it off. To look up at him, and she would look him in the eye, shehad to shield hers from the sun with a hand. “Why would 464 need to forge their maintenance records, Paul?”
“Because the truth of what’s happening with the 81 could cause the fleet to be grounded indefinitely.”
“Paul, have you any idea how many channels clear those records?” Before his second deployment, Stone had been 464’s operations officer. His job was to sign off on maintenance records. If something were awry, he’d have confided in Chase. Paul Shapiro was fishing.
“Major White knew about the forged records, Captain. We—I don’t think his crash was an accident.”
Chase switched hands over her eyes. “Who’s your source?”
Shapiro glanced down at his feet.
“Major White’s bereaved mistress?” The shock on his face gave her great pleasure. “Look, Paul, I’ve got to warn you—you need to tread lightly over here. It’s one thing to ambush a few drunk Marines on liberty to get a story, quite another to insinuate a conspiracy.” She walked to the van and opened the door.
CHAPTER 5
T hat evening was crisp for Hawaii, with temperatures in the upper sixties. At home, Chase poured herself a glass of white wine, changed into her favorite yoga pantsand a tank top, and set the table for dinner.
She was outside on the tiny patio, the glass of wine in one hand, grilling chicken with a set of tongs in the other, and lost in a replay of the scene with Shapiro and White’s mistress, when a man’s voice startled her.
“I said, you could use a little water on that fire.” Of all people, it was Colonel Figueredo. Correction: Fig, as he wished to be called. Damned if she would oblige his arrogance.
“Are you lost, Colonel?” She guessed he was looking for one of her neighbors, either Paige’s husband or Samantha’s. Both houses appeared quiet, deserted.
“I tried your front door—” He was smiling again but looked a bit disarmed himself, perhaps just realizing his ownarrogance at showing up uninvited in her backyard. He was wearing jeans and a long-sleeved white shirt that made his features appear even darker, especially in the fading light of sunset.
Chase nodded toward the patio’s sliding glass doors. “My daughter’s probably engrossed in her movie and didn’t hear the doorbell. What can I do for you, Colonel—”
“Fig, just call me Fig.” He was rolling up his right shirtsleeve above one of those large sporty watches with a wide leather band. “Better hand me those tongs,” he said.
“Excuse me?” She flipped over a chicken breast, then rolled over both drumsticks, leaning back when flames shot upward.
“Here,” he said, “let me take over.” His outstretched hand, that she was refusing tofill, created a long, awkward
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