“The chief was pleased with your platoon’s operation during the past month. Sorry we gave you such a large dose. Nothing on the horizon that looks interesting. Following some leads, but none are getting hot. Tell Master Chief MacKenzie to keep cracking the whip. Stroh.”
“I’m afraid we’ve created a fishing monster here, MacKenzie.”
“Do him good. He’s too uptight all the time.”
“And you’re the picture of relaxation?”
“Aye, that’s me, sir.”
“I want you to arrange a leave for all of my men not in the hospital. Get them out of here. Let them get drunk and scream and yell and whore around a little. Do them good. Starting in two days. Do the paperwork.”
“Aye, Commander.”
“Speaking of paperwork, I better get at this. Send me four suggestions for a new man to replace Adams. Oh, are there any JGs on our roster without a platoon?”
“For a replacement or a temporary duty?”
“Right now as a temp. We’ll have to wait and see how DeWitt handles the healing process. I’m hoping he’ll be fit for duty within two months.”
“What if Stroh yells with a problem?”
“Tell him that I’ve got medical reports that put six of my men on the unfit-for-duty roster, and that the platoon won’t be ready for action for at least three months. He’ll have to work with another platoon if it’s that big of an emergency.”
“Har, har, Commander. I like that spunk. I’m moving on those leaves.”
The master chief had just left the office when the phone rang. Murdock checked his watch: 1500.
“Murdock here, Third Platoon Seven.”
“Just wondered if you wanted veal or T-bone steak for your entrée at dinner tonight.”
“Ardith Jane.” That was all he could say for a moment. Then he hurried on. “You sneaked into town?”
“I did. Your condo needed some cleaning up, but it’s ready for company now. What’s your choice for dinner?”
“You… in that thin, wispy silk thing.”
“That’s dessert. Welcome home, sailor. Can’t wait to see you.”
“Three days; you’re late.”
“Don Stroh promised to call me, and he forgot. He owes me. How about the veal?”
“Fine. I’ll be home in ten minutes.”
“I’ll be waiting.”
Later that evening, he couldn’t remember what they had for dinner. They sat in front of the fireplace and watched the flames. She pressed close to him.
“How is Ed DeWitt?”
“Struggling. He’s fighting a couple of medical problems, but his doctors think he’ll come through it in good shape. It’s going to take some time.”
She looked up at him from clear blue eyes that showed a touch of moisture. She wiped at them. “Hey, I could get used to this. Having you here, watching the fire, not even talking. Just… just being together.”
He held her tighter.
“I might quit my job in Washington.”
He pushed her away and stared at her. “Quit? Washington? Are you joking?”
“No. I’ve had a good offer from here in San Diego. A big electronics/computer firm that does a lot of work for the government. They must think I can help them in D.C.”
“What would you do?”
“I’d be in legal and sales and promotion. Mostly promotion with D.C., from what they said.”
“So, you’re considering it?”
“I don’t know. As soon as Dad found out about the offer, he spread the word in the halls. The next day, I had three offers from various agencies and one from State.”
“The State Department?”
“Yes.”
“So?”
“I wanted to see what you thought.”
“We talked about this possibility before. It has to be your decision. If I urge you to come out here and you wind up miserable in the job, we’ll both be unhappy. This has to be what’s best for your career first. I come in second on this race. That’s the way it should be.”
“I could never be miserable if I’m with you.”
She stretched out on the soft rug and pulled him over her. They didn’t say a word for several minutes. She kissed him long and deeply and then gave a little whimper.
“Please, darling. Right now. Right now.”
Later that night, they lay in his bed and watched the shadows the small night light threw on the ceiling.
“Oh, I almost forgot. I saw your father before I left. He said to tell you he missed you by a day in Riyadh. He wanted to go up north to a temporary forward helicopter base near the Iraqi border, but some colonel told him the base came under fire frequently and no civilian was permitted up there except the President himself.”
Murdock laughed. “I wondered where he was this time. Figured he’d wangle a trip over there somewhere. I spent a few hours at that forward base going and coming.”
He watched her in the soft light, so blonde and sleek and beautiful.
“About those job offers,” he said.
“Let’s not talk about it tonight. I was hoping that you would have your paperwork caught up by now and we could drive up the coast. Maybe go to Moro Bay again.”
“Yes. I’m taking off a week. We’ll drive all the way up Highway One along the coast to Carmel.”
She smiled, kissed him softly on the cheek, and leaned back. A moment later, she slept. He didn’t see how she could do that so quickly. At last he went to sleep.
The phone roused them in the morning. It was eight o’clock.
“Yes?” Murdock said, his voice growling.
“Wake up, you two, time to rise and shine and smell the bacon. I don’t want to intrude, but it will be at least a week before I can make it out there for our fishing trip. I want one of those overnight ones so we can catch the big yellows. Something stirring here. Not too sure how bad it’s going to be. We’re watching it. Might not pop for a couple of months yet.”
“My platoon is on medical restriction. We won’t be cleared for active duty for three months.”
“You’re kidding.”
“Talk to my phalanx of doctors.”
“Fight that battle later. What do you know about Libya?”
“Libya is a nothing.”
“What about Colombia in South America?”
“Nothing in Colombia except drugs.”
“What about the Golden Triangle?”
“Drugs, the Far East somewhere.”
“Good. I don’t want to interfere with your reunion. You hang tough and get that platoon back into fighting shape. One of these days, we’re going to need you again.”
“Right, Stroh. Right. I love you, too. And last time, I caught the most fish.” Murdock said good-bye and hung up.
“Colombia, Libya?” Ardith asked.
“Forget it, he’s just probing. I have to call the master chief and tell him I won’t be in for a week. He’ll do the paperwork. When shall we start driving north?”
“Right now.” She paused and giggled like a teenager. “Well, after we get dressed and have breakfast. No, let’s drive awhile, then have breakfast up the coast somewhere, maybe at Laguna Beach.”
It took Murdock two days to relax. Even then, he wondered what Stroh had meant about Libya. Qaddafi had a long history of being a thorn in the side of the U.S. Maybe the CIA had at last decided to do something about him. What? There was no excuse for the U.S. to go in there in force with the military. So, covertly with the SEALs. Murdock threw a stone in the bay and thought about it. Could happen. But not for three months.
He grabbed Ardith’s hand, and they ran for the stairs leading up from the bay. They had a basket full of clam strips waiting for them in that little restaurant that overlooked Moro Bay. That’s all he wanted to think about right now.