Against the weight of the chief’s stare, the Navy SEAL in covert field dress said, “Evers is a risk to security, to our operations. What in the world could he offer up that’s possibly worth our time?”
Just as he had taken a moment to size up the chief, Scott now took a moment to size up the speaker. It was something he normally would have done without a second thought, but he wasn’t thinking straight and this wasn’t a normal situation. It was an extraordinary circumstance. One that had started with the sinking of the Bardot III and culminated in a well-planned, precision attack on both the Sea Shepherd and two heavily armed NSW RIBs.
The one thing he was sure of: The attack was timed and meant to hit the Shepherd and the RIBs. But were the Bardot and the Shepherd targets of opportunity to guarantee a full-scale naval response in the Mediterranean? Or were the Bardot and the Shepherd part of a bigger plan — one that also required a full response from the US Navy?
The SEAL carried himself in a way that spoke of authority and the tall, broad-shouldered man certainly had no qualms about approaching or speaking openly to Captain Howard and Master Chief Roberts. If as Scott suspected, Captain Howard was the Kearsarge’s executive officer, the SEAL was likely the commander of covert operations. If so, that meant the SEAL was the overall commander of all SEALs aboard the Kearsarge and that would explain a lot.
Scott had given the SEALs who tried to board the Sea Shepherd no shortage of guff. But he didn’t want them aboard the Shepherd. It was one thing if the Navy suspected the Shepherd’s crew were cutting nets and sabotaging Tunisian fishing boats, another if evidence was found that they actually were.
Playing on his hunch, Scott turned to the captain and said, “Executive Commander Howard…” Next, he turned to the SEAL and said, “Operations Commander…” Then, finally he turned back to the chief and said, “Command Master Chief…”
He smiled at each of their subtle nods, then continued, “The situation as I see it is this… Everything is out of control. Someone sank the Bardot III in the early hours. The attack was designed to get a direct response from this strike group. Part of your response was to send two heavily armed NSW RIBs, with full crew and SEAL complements, to the Sea Shepherd.
“When the NSW RIBs arrived, a plan already set in motion was carried out, resulting in the sinking of the Sea Shepherd and the loss of the NSW RIBs. You believe all or nearly all of the crews from the Bardot, the Shepherd and the NSW RIBs are lost. You suspect this is the coordinated effort of a terrorist group, but no terrorist group is stepping forward and claiming responsibility.
“Search and rescue is finding precious little to recover. Seek and destroy fighters are chasing ghosts called out by airborne early warning. The fleet admiral of the carrier strike group has ordered a protective patrol, bringing all the ships back as a safeguard against an attack on the group.”
Scott paused for effect. “How am I doing so far? Close enough to right to call it right?”
The Command Master Chief moved next to the Operations Commander. Executive Commander Howard said, “If you think you have answers, we’re listening.”
“For starters, where were the Mason and San Jacinto? Why weren’t they with the main strike group? I also know that right now you’re finalizing plans to launch a response strike force.”
“Classified,” the Operations Commander said. “And if speculation’s all you have to offer, Tinsdale can show you the way back to the infirmary.” He paused, stared directly at Scott, then called out. “Midshipman?”
Chapter 16
Midshipman Meredith Tinsdale heard someone pounding on the door to the women’s lavatory. The tiny room had one private stall with a door that could be closed, a sink, a shower, and a changing area. It also had a lock on the outer door, which she had secured.
She squatted down on the toilet and almost dropped her phone as she shouted, “Just a moment.”
Turning back to the phone, she said to the beautiful little face looking back at her, “Momma’s coming home soon.”
“Promise, momma?” 7-year-old Sarah asked.
Meredith smiled and tried to hold back tears that were welling up in her eyes. “Just like I promised, baby girl. Is Gramma Peg there?”
“She is. Do you want to talk to her?” the little girl replied and there were more tears in Meredith’s eyes at how grown up her baby girl sounded just then. “I love you, momma.”
“Oh, I love you too, baby girl.”
“All the way to the stars and moon?”
Meredith tried to hide her tears as she wiped them away with a tissue. “All the way to the stars and moon. All the way to the stars and moon and back a hundred hundred times.”
She didn’t know why she said it exactly like that. It was just something they said to each other and it always made Sarah’s face light up.
Meredith heard the door to the women’s lavatory open with a bang and she called out. “Um, occupied. Almost finished. Do you mind? I need some privacy.”
Though she didn’t hear a response, she did hear the outer door close again, so she went back to her phone call. In the moment that she’d looked away, Sarah must have handed the phone to Peg and she said silently to herself, “Bye-bye, baby girl.”
To Peg, she said, “I know it’s late and I promised to call earlier. I’m sorry. Have you heard from him?”
Peg pursed her lips. “It’s not late. It’s after 8 in the A.M. here in Utah.”
“I didn’t realize. So much has happened—” Meredith tried to tell Peg she couldn’t call before, that she’d tried to get away so many times but hadn’t been able to, that she’d lost track of time.
Peg didn’t want to hear any of it. “That no account son of mine hasn’t been around if that’s what you’re wondering. Dead in a ditch somewhere maybe.”
“He’s my baby’s daddy, Momma Peg. Please don’t talk like that when Sarah’s around.”
Peg turned away from the camera on the phone. “Aw, she’s off watching her shows. She didn’t hear nothing.”
“Did you give him the gift I sent for our anniversary?”
Peg wagged a finger in front of the phone. “Broke up means broke up and no I didn’t give him nothing. I gave it to baby girl instead.”
Meredith put on her brave face. “I still love him, Momma Peg. He can’t help who is. Don’t hate him for me. Love him for me.”
“You mark my words, child. He’ll break your heart again if he doesn’t break your head first next time.”
Meredith frowned. “I fell, Momma Peg. He didn’t push me down the stairs.”
“Like he didn’t break your arm? Like he didn’t—”
“I have to go,” Meredith cut in. “I love you, Momma Peg. Take care of my baby girl.”
“You know I will, child,” Peg said as she hung up.
Meredith put away the phone. She broke down, sobbing, crying into her hands.
Eventually, she opened the stall door, wiping her eyes with a tissue with one hand while opening the door with the other. Her head was down but her eyes went wide all the same. Someone was standing outside the door, waiting for her.
Meredith pointed at the door. “This isn’t the only lady’s. There’s another just around the corner.”