Read Online Fighting for Control (Against the Cage Book 3) by Melynda Price - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Melynda Price
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chicken parmesan on a ciabatta roll was her favorite lunch from Za’s?
She had her answer when she opened the sack and pulled out the Styrofoam container. Lying on top of the package was a napkin with black ink scribbled on it.
Clover,
Sorry you missed your lunch.
“They’re stonewalling me.”
“What?”
“Camp Pendleton.” Pen handed her Nikko’s release of information. “They won’t give me Nikko’s military records.”
“That doesn’t make sense. Why would they do that?”
“I don’t know. If you want to try to get them, be my guest.” She dropped into the chair across from Vi. “I give up.”
“You can’t give up. That’s your job.”
Pen reached over to her desk and handed her the receiver. “Go ahead, call them. Their number’s on the second page I gave you.”
Really? This was ridiculous. How hard could it be to get someone’s military records? Exhaling an exasperated sigh, Vi took the phone from Pen’s hand and dialed the number. After a few rings a friendly voice answered, “Camp Pendleton records department.”
“Good afternoon. This is Dr. Violet Summers. My secretary called earlier requesting the military records of an ex-officer who is now under my care. Who do I need to speak with to get those sent to my office?”
“Just a moment . . .”
There were a series of clicks and then silence. Did they just hang up on her? “Hello?” Crap . . . “Hello?”
“Dr. Summers?” The deep voice on the other end of the phone startled her. “This is Lieutenant Williams. How can I help you?”
“Yes, thank you for taking my call. My secretary has faxed your records department a release of information for Sergeant Nikko Del Toro.”
Without missing a beat he replied, “I’m sorry, I can’t help you. We have no record of the officer you’re inquiring about. There must be some mistake.”
Her eyes shot to Pen, who was watching her with a smug See, I told you so grin. There was no mistake. The psychologist Nikko had seen for clearance to join the CFA had been clear and detailed in his notes. It was all in Nikko’s file.
“There is no mistake. He was stationed at Camp Pendleton. How can you have no record of one of your officers?” she pressed. “He was in the Marine MARSOC division, honorably discharged from active duty after an injury and advised to begin psychological treatment for PTSD. Seems someone should have a record of that somewhere.”
“Listen, Dr. Summers, do you have any idea how many Marines come through this camp? Do you honestly expect me to remember one from two years ago?” His voice was sharp with impatience.
“I never told you it was two years ago, Lieutenant Williams. It seems you remember my soldier far better than you’re letting on. Why are you refusing to share his records with me? What are you hiding?”
“I’m not hiding anything, Dr. Summers. Nor do I owe you any explanations. If you have any further concerns, I suggest you take them up with the Pentagon. We’re done here.”
Before she could come back with a rebuttal, the line went dead. Well, shit . . . That hadn’t gone how she was expecting it to. Seems the remark Nikko made when he’d signed that release had certainly come to fruition. Waste of time indeed. He’d known this was going to happen. But how? And why? What was he hiding? What was the military hiding?
If Lieutenant Williams’s abrasive attitude was meant to dissuade her, he’d be sorely disappointed. His evasiveness and obvious lies were only making the puzzle that was Nikko Del Toro more interesting, and one she was determined to solve.
W ednesday had come and gone, and still no sign of Nikko with those damn forms. The office was about to close, and Violet had spent the afternoon watching the clock, fully expecting him to walk through the door any moment. She asked him to return the paperwork she’d given him no later than today. The infuriating man was making it glaringly obvious that, while he may
She had her answer when she opened the sack and pulled out the Styrofoam container. Lying on top of the package was a napkin with black ink scribbled on it.
Clover,
Sorry you missed your lunch.
“They’re stonewalling me.”
“What?”
“Camp Pendleton.” Pen handed her Nikko’s release of information. “They won’t give me Nikko’s military records.”
“That doesn’t make sense. Why would they do that?”
“I don’t know. If you want to try to get them, be my guest.” She dropped into the chair across from Vi. “I give up.”
“You can’t give up. That’s your job.”
Pen reached over to her desk and handed her the receiver. “Go ahead, call them. Their number’s on the second page I gave you.”
Really? This was ridiculous. How hard could it be to get someone’s military records? Exhaling an exasperated sigh, Vi took the phone from Pen’s hand and dialed the number. After a few rings a friendly voice answered, “Camp Pendleton records department.”
“Good afternoon. This is Dr. Violet Summers. My secretary called earlier requesting the military records of an ex-officer who is now under my care. Who do I need to speak with to get those sent to my office?”
“Just a moment . . .”
There were a series of clicks and then silence. Did they just hang up on her? “Hello?” Crap . . . “Hello?”
“Dr. Summers?” The deep voice on the other end of the phone startled her. “This is Lieutenant Williams. How can I help you?”
“Yes, thank you for taking my call. My secretary has faxed your records department a release of information for Sergeant Nikko Del Toro.”
Without missing a beat he replied, “I’m sorry, I can’t help you. We have no record of the officer you’re inquiring about. There must be some mistake.”
Her eyes shot to Pen, who was watching her with a smug See, I told you so grin. There was no mistake. The psychologist Nikko had seen for clearance to join the CFA had been clear and detailed in his notes. It was all in Nikko’s file.
“There is no mistake. He was stationed at Camp Pendleton. How can you have no record of one of your officers?” she pressed. “He was in the Marine MARSOC division, honorably discharged from active duty after an injury and advised to begin psychological treatment for PTSD. Seems someone should have a record of that somewhere.”
“Listen, Dr. Summers, do you have any idea how many Marines come through this camp? Do you honestly expect me to remember one from two years ago?” His voice was sharp with impatience.
“I never told you it was two years ago, Lieutenant Williams. It seems you remember my soldier far better than you’re letting on. Why are you refusing to share his records with me? What are you hiding?”
“I’m not hiding anything, Dr. Summers. Nor do I owe you any explanations. If you have any further concerns, I suggest you take them up with the Pentagon. We’re done here.”
Before she could come back with a rebuttal, the line went dead. Well, shit . . . That hadn’t gone how she was expecting it to. Seems the remark Nikko made when he’d signed that release had certainly come to fruition. Waste of time indeed. He’d known this was going to happen. But how? And why? What was he hiding? What was the military hiding?
If Lieutenant Williams’s abrasive attitude was meant to dissuade her, he’d be sorely disappointed. His evasiveness and obvious lies were only making the puzzle that was Nikko Del Toro more interesting, and one she was determined to solve.
W ednesday had come and gone, and still no sign of Nikko with those damn forms. The office was about to close, and Violet had spent the afternoon watching the clock, fully expecting him to walk through the door any moment. She asked him to return the paperwork she’d given him no later than today. The infuriating man was making it glaringly obvious that, while he may
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