said.
“I’m pretty good,” O’Halloran allowed with what Julianne, who’d studied his records with a fine-toothed comb, knew was false modesty.
From what she’d been able to tell, there wasn’t a top-ranked computer science school in the country who hadn’t actively recruited him with full scholarships. Which would have allowed him the chance to make millions, maybe even billions, once he graduated.
Yet, for some reason, although he’d attended Cal Poly, he’d dropped out after his sophomore year and joined the Air Force, where, as a CCT, he’d essentially used that near-genius mind for good, in the service of his country as an information warrior.
Another reason, she suspected, that the Air Force hadn’t even considered court-martialing him.
Yet he left the service anyway to go to work with the SEALs with whom he’d obviously formed a Band of Brothers bond during what had to be a horrific day in those snowy Afghan mountains.
“But if all they want me to do is search through the dead sailor’s laptop, just about any competent teenage computer geek could do that.”
Since Julianne had no more clue than he did what he was doing on this investigation, she merely shrugged and turned back to the lieutenant commander.
“What time will we be leaving in the morning?”
“You’ll go wheels-up at zero-nine-hundred,” he said. “From MCBH at Kaneohe Bay. I’ve arranged quarters for you here. Tomorrow morning you’ll be driven to the base.”
Along with having spent two years of her childhood at Pearl, Julianne had also been stationed here herself early in her career. Which was why she knew that although the drive from the naval station to the marine base from where they’d be taking off should take only twenty-five to thirty minutes, during morning drive time they’d be hitting a lot of traffic. A lifetime of living by a strict twenty-four-hour clock had left her a stickler for punctuality; no way did she want to get off on the wrong foot by arriving late.
“As much as I appreciate your offer of hospitality, Commander,” she said, “I believe it might be more practical to spend the night at MCBH . If there are accommodations available,” she added tactfully and with what she hoped was the proper amount of respect.
“You represent the commander in chief.” He sounded no more pleased about that idea than he had the first time he’d brought it up. “The marine housing officer will ensure that you’re both well taken care of.”
He picked up the phone and instructed the ensign who’d led them to the office to make the arrangements. Then he stood up, apparently declaring the brief, less than illuminating meeting over.
“Here’s the information I was given.” He held out the thin manila file to Julianne. “Make this happen,” he instructed her. “ASfuckingAP. Because when it hits the media—and it will when the ship arrives here, if not before—if we don’t have answers, it’s going to turn into one hell of a goat fuck.”
Julianne could not argue that. “Yes, sir,” she said, once again feeling odd not to be saluting before leaving the office.
The master of arms, who’d driven her from the airport, was waiting by the car when they approached and immediately stiffened to attention.
“I guess once you’re an officer, you’re always an officer,” O’Halloran murmured.
“Believe me, it doesn’t earn any brownie points out in the real world.”
He beat the MA for the back passenger door, opening it for her. “Hey, I don’t have any grudge against stripes,” he assured her. “I was just saying.”
“Well, I strongly doubt that it’ll pull any weight on the carrier.” She climbed into the backseat and fastened her seat belt. “In fact, we may run into even more resistance because we’re civilians. And I’m former JAG, which no military personnel ever wants to see show up on the scene. . . . Oh, hell.”
“What?” he asked as he climbed in beside her into the back
“I’m pretty good,” O’Halloran allowed with what Julianne, who’d studied his records with a fine-toothed comb, knew was false modesty.
From what she’d been able to tell, there wasn’t a top-ranked computer science school in the country who hadn’t actively recruited him with full scholarships. Which would have allowed him the chance to make millions, maybe even billions, once he graduated.
Yet, for some reason, although he’d attended Cal Poly, he’d dropped out after his sophomore year and joined the Air Force, where, as a CCT, he’d essentially used that near-genius mind for good, in the service of his country as an information warrior.
Another reason, she suspected, that the Air Force hadn’t even considered court-martialing him.
Yet he left the service anyway to go to work with the SEALs with whom he’d obviously formed a Band of Brothers bond during what had to be a horrific day in those snowy Afghan mountains.
“But if all they want me to do is search through the dead sailor’s laptop, just about any competent teenage computer geek could do that.”
Since Julianne had no more clue than he did what he was doing on this investigation, she merely shrugged and turned back to the lieutenant commander.
“What time will we be leaving in the morning?”
“You’ll go wheels-up at zero-nine-hundred,” he said. “From MCBH at Kaneohe Bay. I’ve arranged quarters for you here. Tomorrow morning you’ll be driven to the base.”
Along with having spent two years of her childhood at Pearl, Julianne had also been stationed here herself early in her career. Which was why she knew that although the drive from the naval station to the marine base from where they’d be taking off should take only twenty-five to thirty minutes, during morning drive time they’d be hitting a lot of traffic. A lifetime of living by a strict twenty-four-hour clock had left her a stickler for punctuality; no way did she want to get off on the wrong foot by arriving late.
“As much as I appreciate your offer of hospitality, Commander,” she said, “I believe it might be more practical to spend the night at MCBH . If there are accommodations available,” she added tactfully and with what she hoped was the proper amount of respect.
“You represent the commander in chief.” He sounded no more pleased about that idea than he had the first time he’d brought it up. “The marine housing officer will ensure that you’re both well taken care of.”
He picked up the phone and instructed the ensign who’d led them to the office to make the arrangements. Then he stood up, apparently declaring the brief, less than illuminating meeting over.
“Here’s the information I was given.” He held out the thin manila file to Julianne. “Make this happen,” he instructed her. “ASfuckingAP. Because when it hits the media—and it will when the ship arrives here, if not before—if we don’t have answers, it’s going to turn into one hell of a goat fuck.”
Julianne could not argue that. “Yes, sir,” she said, once again feeling odd not to be saluting before leaving the office.
The master of arms, who’d driven her from the airport, was waiting by the car when they approached and immediately stiffened to attention.
“I guess once you’re an officer, you’re always an officer,” O’Halloran murmured.
“Believe me, it doesn’t earn any brownie points out in the real world.”
He beat the MA for the back passenger door, opening it for her. “Hey, I don’t have any grudge against stripes,” he assured her. “I was just saying.”
“Well, I strongly doubt that it’ll pull any weight on the carrier.” She climbed into the backseat and fastened her seat belt. “In fact, we may run into even more resistance because we’re civilians. And I’m former JAG, which no military personnel ever wants to see show up on the scene. . . . Oh, hell.”
“What?” he asked as he climbed in beside her into the back
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