Read Online Yellow Ribbons by Caitlyn Willows - Free Book Online Page A

their heels in the waiting room for the last thirty minutes.
    “Where the hell is Major Kenyon?” he yelled.
    She didn’t flinch, despite his mounting rage. “Missing and unaccounted for, sir. Master Gunnery Sergeant Landess and Lieutenant Cornwall are on their way to his house.”
    “There’s a possibility of alcohol abuse problems, sir,” Lieutenant Colonel Seaberg added.
    Thank God she’d briefed him.
    “Why is this only coming to light now?”
    “Sir, we all dropped the ball on this one, myself included.” This came from the Chief of Staff. It relieved Lani’s guilt considerably. “I suspected, but since there were no problems—”
    “No problems? The major hasn’t shown up for work! I’d be willing to bet this isn’t the first time, is it, Captain?”
    Back ramrod straight, hands folded in her lap, Lani met his glare with calm. “No, sir, it isn’t.” Her cell phone vibrated against her thigh.
    He stared down his nose at her. “Trust me, Captain Hollister, that’s going to reflect in your record, and anyone else’s who was complicit in this cover-up.”
    Lani doubted that would happen, since that included Colonel Reynolds and Lieutenant Colonel Seaberg. But shit rolled downhill, and she was at the bottom. Well, she and Greg.
    Another vibration buzzed her.
    General Drake targeted Jordan. “You look like you’ve been sleeping in a drawer. Do you not own a razor, Special Agent Beck? Clean clothes? Deodorant?”
    “With all due respect, sir. I’ve been at a murder scene all night long and had just left when your call came in. Knowing how concerned you’d be over the incident, I thought it more important to get here rather than detour home to pretty up.”
    That sarcasm was going to cost him. Lani bet he’d be transferred elsewhere very soon.
    “Yes, tell me about these murders.” The general parked his hands at his back. “Explain to me how one of PMO’s CID staff sergeants could be fucking a captain’s wife and now they’re both dead! It seems there’s more being covered up at your shop than Major Kenyon’s drinking, Captain Hollister.”
    “Sir, I was unaware—”
    “You were unaware of a hell of a lot, Captain! What else have you missed, turned a blind eye to, ignored?”
    Yes, the shit ball was headed right for her. The insistent buzz from her cell phone didn’t help matters either.
    “Answer that goddamn phone!”
    She fished the cell from her trouser pocket. Caller ID showed it was Greg. She punched the Talk button and pressed the phone to her ear.
    “Yes, Master Gunnery Sergeant,” she said.
    “We found Major Kenyon dead. Sheriff deputies are on scene.”
    “Who the fuck is it?” General Drake yelled.
    “Master Gunnery Sergeant Landess, sir. Major Kenyon is dead.”
    “Give me the fucking phone.” He snapped his hand out.
    Lani had no choice.
    “How?” he demanded when he put the phone to his ear.
    Greg’s voice carried to them. Either he was speaking extra loud so she’d overhear, or she had the volume cranked up. Something she’d have to correct later. For now, it was a blessing.
    “Preliminary check suggests a combination of alcohol and sleeping pills, sir.”
    “Fuck!” Drake slung the phone at Lani.
    She caught it in midair. A smidge of respect gleamed through the fury in his eyes. She was glad she hadn’t flinched, hadn’t shown weakness. General Drake’s admiration didn’t last long.
    “This is on you, Captain Hollister.”
    “No, sir.” Colonel Reynolds stood. “This is on all of us.”
    The general pulled in a breath, then gave a nod. “I want a full update by close of business today. All parties present. Dismissed.”
    Jordan beat them all out the door, dialing his cell as he went. From what little she caught of his conversation, he was on his way to Kenyon’s house.
    Lani trailed the other two men. Alone in the waiting room, she put the still-active phone to her ear. “I presume you heard that last.”
    “I did.” A weary sigh filtered