IN DREAMS Gunny and Me
- 3 years ago
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09:35 Saturday, November 2nd, 1991 Broadway Ford 2560 Webster St, Oakland, CA 94612 "Gunny, your junkheap is losing compression," Lenore reported as she dropped the newspaper on the table. "Damned thing is hard to start when it's cold." "How do you know its losing compression?" he asked, reasonably. "Well, it's got no power to speak of. When's the last time you drove it? I about had to get out and push it up the hill from Albertson's." "Okay ... what do you want to do about...
06:15 Friday, August 2nd, 1991 7914-B Arthur Street Oakland, CA 94621 Hide it from Dan and Kate "Okay, Gunny. Like Barbara did, something we eat with the hands." Lenore ticked off the points on her fingers. "Something kind of messy, make us all on the same level. Something chilly, since it's summer, something light to go with it, and lots of chilled white wine." The Gunny nodded. "Not ribs. Corn on the cob, sure, maybe shrimp?" At Lenore's eager nod, he grinned, knowing her love...
They were sailing in the Gulf of Aqaba with the fleet, supporting the super carrier George H. W. Bush. They were aboard an LHD amphib with a contingent of over one thousand fleet sailors and about 1,600 Marines. Gunny Atwater was responsible for a rifle company of Marines, with usually about 80 to 100 Marines under her supervision. She had been aboard for six months now and was starting to feel as horny as she had ever been. She had been developing relationships with other Gunnery Sergeants on...
Office Sex18:05 Thursday, September 5th, 1991 235 Montgomery St, Suite 239 San Francisco, CA 94104 "Good night, Gunny." The Gunny looked up, to see Becky leaning in the doorway. "What time is it?" She tsked at him. "Don't you have a wife at home, waiting for you? It's after six. I have to go pick up Danny from Band and make dinner for the kids." The Gunny smiled, an image of Lenore popping unbidden into his mind's eye. "No, no wife, but a serious girlfriend." Becky leaned back out the...
Monday, August 26th, 1991 139 Meadow Ln Novato, CA 94947 Kate frowned at the numbers on the sheet she had spread out on the table and laboriously worked to fill the cells on. Dan came in the kitchen from the garage/shed, and fetched a glass of water, dropping the work gloves on the counter. Seeing his wife, her hair pulled back in a sweatband, blue workshirt with sleeves rolled up, calculator in hand, concentrating on the sheet, he grinned. "After harvest, we'll get a computer with a...
07:15 Saturday, September 7th, 1991 139 Meadow Ln Novato, CA 94947 Lenore was pouring the orange juice into the pitcher when Lynne slipped into the kitchen. She and the Gunny had driven back in the van for breakfast with her guests, arriving only five minutes before. Lynne had an odd mixture of radiance and sheepishness about her, Lenore saw, and she smiled a little, turning away to hide it. "Good morning, dear," Kate told her. "I think three eggs, bacon, and potatoes," she said to...
12:40 Tuesday, October 1st, 1991 Leaving Dwinelle Hall University of California, Berkeley CA 94720 Lenore checked her watch; it was going to be close. She'd had to stay late to talk to the Teaching Assistant (TA) about giving her PolySci (Political Science) assignments to Lynne DiPietro while she was at sea ferrying the Joy Redux to Coronado, and the man had been, she thought, naturally curious. She was getting practice at deflecting questions with non-answers, something Ben had...
18:05 Saturday, November 9th, 1991 1MARDIV Birthday Ball South Mesa Staff NCO Club 20 Area, Bldg 202850 MCB Camp Pendleton, CA The balls were all becoming the same, Meg Haverman decided. The red bunting, the red tablecloths over the NCO club's much-abused tables, the institutional feel of the event was the same year after year anymore. Looking at the decorations, and the décor of the club, she counted herself lucky she wasn't involved with the table decoration committee. She watched...
11:05 Thursday, September 12th, 1991 235 Montgomery St, Suite 239 San Francisco, CA 94104 "First, we'll announce that he's been given a special assignment," the forty-ish woman with the severe navy blue dress suit said. Sharp-featured, with the trademark pageboy haircut that Deb Reineau carried off far more ably, this lady was gaunt to the point of emaciation. Privately, the Gunny wondered if she preferred women, her wedding band and the pictures on her desk of smiling children...
14:35 Saturday, November 9th, 1991 La Costa Resort and Spa 2100 Costa del Mar Road Carlsbad, CA 92009 Junior Harding hadn't made his flight, though American came through, and he'd flown to Dallas, then San Diego. His hotel room in the La Costa was paid for, it had been waiting for him when he – finally – arrived. The long damned walk up the hill from the parking lot with his garment bag over his shoulder, in his now-thoroughly-wrinkled Service Alphas, the drab khaki uniform of the...
She trotted up the wet stairs, feet slick on the dead flower leaves blown and beaten into the treads. Moments later, shoes off, and having seen the Gunny's powder-blue Crown Victoria in the driveway, she called, "Gunny, I'm home!" "In the kitchen, Lenore," and she slid into the kitchen, her happiness at finding him home draining as she saw his expression. "Your cell phone wasn't on," he said. "The battery's dying," she answered. "What did I miss?" Only a split second after she...
11:25 Thursday, August 1st, 1991 Oakland Yacht Club 1101 Pacific Marina, Alameda CA, 94501 "I guess it's time for me to do some of that mentoring thing I was talking about," Deb told Lenore. She flashed a dazzling smile at the Chief. "Don't leave," she said, as the perceptive man was about to depart toward the galley with the lunch dishes. "You're a co-mentor," she said, with a girlish laugh. Lenore shook her head, smiling. If I didn't know better, I'd say Deb was flirting with...
17:35 PDT Wednesday, August 21st, 1991 7914-B Arthur Street Oakland, CA 94621 Her routine was no more, Lenore sighed. The days of greeting the Gunny at the door wearing panties and a smile were over, at least for a while. Almost viciously, she flung the small car through the streets of Berkeley, headed back to Oakland, almost viciously because if she ever needed an interlude with the Gunny, now was the time. Orientation at school was one thing, and her classes looked challenging....
14:40 Friday, September 6th, 1991 139 Meadow Ln Novato, CA 94947 Kate was a little worried. Lenore hadn't given many details on the phone, so she fretted about what sort of vintner the mysterious French visitor might be. Dan knew her well enough to read her mood, kissing her as she stood in front of the closet, trying to decide what to wear. Half of her things, and most of Lenore's, were still in boxes in the back of the giant closet. The previous owners had built quite a house on the...
07:35 Tuesday, July 30th, 1991 Naval Medical Center Oakland (Oak Knoll) Oakland, CA " ... And the parking brake is useless, don't pull on the hood release, and you'll have to cancel the left turn signal yourself," the Gunny said. Laughing, Lenore shoved him out the driver's side door, and hopped over the shifter into his seat. "Don't worry, Gunny. I can drive it. I'll even love it like you do." She pulled his white shirt so that he had to bend down by the window, and she kissed...
07:00 PDT Monday, August 12th, 1991 7914-B Arthur Street Oakland, CA 94621 Tea with Xun Ming was an island of sanity in Lenore's life. After Sandy called on Friday, Lenore had gotten a little introspective. The Gunny didn't seem to mind the extra attention she'd lavished on him Saturday evening and most of the day Sunday. She'd even let him have an extra beer. Lovemaking had been tender and slow Sunday, and afterward they'd talked about the changes in their lives Lenore's enlistment...
17:30 Tuesday, August 6th, 1991 Along Interstate 80 (the Bay Bridge) San Francisco, CA The Gunny was proud of Lenore. The car she must have bought with the change from the change jar was flawless in his opinion, and was absolutely the right car for them. It had the smaller engine, and thus should be economical, insurance should be low on it. The Gunny frowned to himself. If I don't talk to her about money, she won't talk to me about it. Jesus, how much was in that jar? He thought he...
18:25 Sunday, October 20th, 1991 Short-term Parking, Terminal 3 (United) San Francisco International Airport (SFO) "God, you are a sight for sore eyes," Lenore said, and buried her face in the Gunny's chest. He looked down at her, and felt his love for her flow through his arms into her. She's tired. I think if I let her, she'd go to sleep on me, right here. "You okay?" he asked. "Yes. Just wait until I get you into bed," she told him, and bit his nipple through his shirt. He...
18:50 Thursday, November 28th, 1991 139 Meadow Ln Novato, CA 94947 For Thanksgiving, Kate went all out. Effy and Teddy helped. Dan had some of the local florists make up dried-flower-and-twig arrangements for the house, and a centerpiece for the massive table in the dining room. Pies, side dishes, and of course, the turkey – an enormous sample of the species, the scent of roasting fowl filled the house. Kate and Dan had called the family spread around Texas earlier in the day, and Ben and...
14:35 Friday, October 4th, 1991 MLK Student Union University of California, Berkeley, CA 94720 Denise walked by the steps where Lynne sat scanning the crowd, deep in conversation with a girl Lynne didn't know. Relieved, Lynne ran to catch up to the two girls, though this time she remembered to be more polite. "Hi, Denise," Lynne said, when there was a lull in the conversation. Something in her voice must have given her away, though, since Denise snapped her head toward Lynne, and then...
07:20 Sunday, October 6th, 1991 28910 Matadero Creek Lane Los Altos Hills, CA 94022 "Move over, Harry." Deb was holding the paper and a mug of coffee, and Harry was reading Newsweek. With a questioning smile, Harry slid over on the couch. There was time to read, he was sure, since they wouldn't need to be at the vineyard until ten, the first pick was nearly completed yesterday. Sliding in next to him, leaning firmly against his side in her bathrobe, Deb wriggled for a moment, trying to...
17:50 Wednesday, November 13th, 1991 392 7th Ave San Mateo, CA 94401 It's nearly time, Jack Kostowe knew. Tonight, they were to have supper with two couples that had contacted them through the Oakland Yacht Club, inquiring about the berth the Joy Redux wasn't actually occupying. Jack and Deb had discussed possibly subletting the spot out, and she'd advised sounding the other couples out, first, over supper. Deb had done some research, and found both couples were partners on a wooden...
16:45 Tuesday, December 10, 1991 Parade Ground, Hearst Gymnasium University of California, Berkeley, CA 94720 "Good afternoon, Midshipmen, school and classmates. Thank you, Commander." Lenore took a moment to adjust the microphone downward slightly, and smiled when she heard her own voice reflect back off the ranks of the battalion before her. "That's better." "I have to admit, back in September, when I got this special assignment, I had a notion I'd be delivering this speech...
Lenore used the last fifteen minutes to write Ben. Don't forget to send Sandy a birthday card, Ben. Don't you ever take her for granted. Lenore thought for a moment, and then added, You probably think it's girly stuff, but you always did understand your sisters better than most boys would. Deb and Chief Kostowe are together, and she's changed so much, she's so much happier than when you were here. I'll write more next week, I've got this silly duty to 'accommodate' some French Navy...
14:00 Thursday, November 14th, 1991 Parade Ground, Hearst Gymnasium University of California, Berkeley, CA 94720 This will be a good test, Lenore thought. I have to be steady as a rock for the platoon. This will be the warm-up. She was ... empty-feeling, was one way to put it. On tenterhooks, and scared were other ways to put it, also, she knew. The formation went quickly, with routine reminders of upcoming events and obligations – Lenore would have to run a PFT again in January, she...
09:00 Saturday, August 31st, 1991 139 Meadow Ln Novato, CA 94947 Efrain "Effy" Flores considered things to be looking up. He'd had to disappoint his girlfriend for three weekends now, having to work overtime at the Discount Tire just to make his rent, car payment, and student loan. Unexpectedly, things had started to get better. He'd gotten a call from the lawyer that had helped the vineyard he'd used to work for apply for fruit-handling licenses. The lawyer said the new owner might...
12:00 EDT Thursday, October 10th, 1991 The Naval Science Institute Pensacola, FL BM2 Lenore Collins sighed. Absolutely nothing had been left to chance, she saw, and there had been someone to meet her at the airport, her and another PO2, this one a Hull Technician, whose airplane had apparently only come in a few minutes before Lenore. She'd been put in a van, and the driver had taken the two Petty Officers to the Naval Science Institute. Her single bag would be waiting for her at the...
12:40 Monday, November 18th, 1991 San Mateo County Hospital 222 W. 39th Avenue San Mateo, CA 94403 Jack Kostowe felt his head had cleared enough; they'd stopped the really heavy narcotics midday Sunday. "Deb," he'd asked last night, "Please find for me a spiral-bound notebook and some pens that are easy to use." She looked at him steadily, and then nodded. Now, he was writing in the pages, and filling them as furiously as he could. He had to take breaks frequently, and often...
13:30 Christmas Day, 1991 139 Meadow Ln Novato, CA 94947 It's been a pretty good Christmas, Lenore thought. A lot less of the usual fighting in the Collins household. Maybe we're all growing up? Maybe, she decided, it's because of all the guests – we all like them and none of us want to behave badly. I guess that's growing up. Ben and Dillon had gotten into a good-natured argument about which training was tougher, and Lenore came down heavily on Dillon's side. "Ben," she said,...
They were sailing in the Gulf of Aqaba with the fleet, supporting the super carrier George H. W. Bush. They were aboard an LHD amphib with a contingent of over one thousand fleet sailors and about 1,600 Marines. Gunny Atwater was responsible for a rifle company of Marines, with usually about 80 to 100 Marines under her supervision. She had been aboard for six months now and was starting to feel as horny as she had ever been. She had been developing relationships with other Gunnery Sergeants on...
Marine Gunny Holsom and Project Engineer Tucker ByBuck JonesInto the office walked Tucker, the well-educated, temperamental engineer, on the first day of his eight week deadline, a gig taken only because an old military friend was in a bind. Heads turned. The mature, distinguished Inspector inevitably drew everyone’s attention. Standing in front of the open area, Tucker looked about him for the office marked INSPECTIONS. At that moment, Eric Holsom stepped out of his office into the open area....
10:15 PDT Wednesday, August 7th, 1991 Oakland Yacht Club 1101 Pacific Marina, Alameda CA, 94501 Lenore carefully filled out the forms for application to the University of California and the NROTC application, writing on the chart shelf in the Joy Redux' bridge. Chewing the end of the pen, she watched a small white Chevrolet car drive around the parking lot, looking for a spot to settle in. That car looks official, she thought. It might have something to do with the Government license...
07:50 Monday, August 19th, 1991 Rm 4 Building 1091 NAS Alameda, CA "I got a class date," PO1 Dillon told Lenore. He'd picked her up after her morning workout and run with the Gunny, and Lenore had insisted Dillon sit and have tea with her and Xun Ming, much to the Chinese lady's amusement. When Lenore relented and let Dillon whisk her from the house, he'd driven toward NAS Alameda. "This means I've got to go jump out of airplanes with the Army. I leave Wednesday. After the Army...
10:10 Wednesday, August 28th, 1991 28910 Matadero Creek Lane Los Altos Hills, CA 94022 "San Francisco Post, how may I direct your call?" "Melissa Penley, please." Deb waited patiently, with the call on the speakerphone while she typed. Finally, the voice of the Society reporter came on the line. "Hello, what is it?" Deb tsked quietly. "Melissa, I'm Deb Reineau, you'll remember me from a conversation we had last month, at the California Academy of Sciences." The voice was now...
08:25 Tuesday, September 3rd, 1991 28910 Matadero Creek Lane Los Altos Hills, CA 94022 There, that should do it, Deb thought. Working with the high schools' student governments should get us name recognition with the student's parents. She'd been working on the campaign plan for a few hours each day, in between all of her other interests and concerns. She'd call the school tomorrow, and make the offer to the faculty. Deb was stretching, remembering the previous evening with a smile,...
14:25 Saturday, October 5th, 1991 Guadalcanal Jetty, Coronado NAB San Diego, CA Everywhere Lenore looked was asphalt. For variety, there was painted asphalt, but every square inch of ground had either asphalt or a building with a concrete foundation slab. The sun was bright, still high in the sky, and the air was a balmy 75 degrees. She'd heard that it pretty much stayed like this year-round in San Diego. Inland, the mountains looked much the same as they had up in the San Francisco Bay...
16:10 Saturday, October 5th, 1991 139 Meadow Ln Novato, CA 94947 Even a casual study of Melissa Penley would show that she was tipsy. Deb tsked to herself, knowing the vineyard's guests shouldn't drive themselves home, and equally sure that Melissa would not accept an offer to stay the night. Melissa had watched the harvest begin early this morning – she'd driven up an hour after the pick had begun – watched from under a large floppy hat she wore on the overcast day, taking photographs...
13:05 PDT Monday, October 14th, 1991 NROTC, Room 152 Hearst Gymnasium University of California, Berkeley, CA 94720 "Sir, I think I have to ask a favor," Lenore began. The XO sat in his chair, and regarded her over steepled fingers. "Is whatever Commander Fales has you doing down south interfering with your studies?" How do I answer that? Yes, it's interfering with my classes, that's why I'm here, but no, I'm not asking for relief, my grades are pretty darned good. "Yes and no,...
05:15 Saturday, October 18th, 1991 Guadalcanal Jetty, Coronado NAB San Diego, CA 92155 Almost the whole platoon waited for them this morning. Lenore and the Chief exchanged glances, while she started dumping plastic half-liter bottles of water into the coolers with the ice. Gatorade was too expensive, they'd decided, and would try a miracle powder supposedly full of electrolytes that was for sale in the NEX (Navy Exchange) last night. Lenore, of course, left the two cases of Miller's in...
Monday, October 29th, 1991 Outside room 147 Dwinelle Hall University of California, Berkeley, CA 94720 Mark Wheeler walked by the open door of the classroom, glad he was wearing bluejeans and a polyester sweater over a tee-shirt today. This was the heart of the enemy, to his thought, the home of the anti-military left-wing establishment at Berkeley, the legacy of the hippies and the Sixties. Well, maybe it's not that bad, but they'd still call me 'baby-killer' here if I were in...
It went off, Lenore thought, pretty much without a hitch, up to now. After they'd left Chief Kostowe on the boat, they'd paddled ashore in the dark, trotted up the small creek, under the freeway, and formed up outside the cinderblock-and-chain-link fence enclosure. The top of the enclosure was topped with four feet of fence and on top of that was concertina – razor wire. Lenore eyed the wire, and thought, Its California, and there are crazy people everywhere here. No telling who you'd run...
03:55 Friday, November 15th, 1991 Parking lot, south side of Building S-18 NAB Coronado, San Diego, CA 92155 Lenore parked the rental by the small group of other cars in the parking area behind their building, near the picnic tables. Unable to sleep, she'd come over early, hoping to find Oscar Platoon performing their morning PT. Frowning at the empty courtyard-like area between buildings, she trotted around to the front of the building, and saw dark shapes in formation on the beach...
Father Thomas O'Meara had been asked to officiate at this funeral. He'd asked for, and received the deceased's personnel jacket, and when he'd consulted with the next-of-kin, had been in for some very real surprises. The deceased was born and raised Catholic, but hadn't been inside a church in nearly seventy years, he was told. The redheaded Irish girl named his two awards of the Navy Cross, both in World War Two, and what they were given for. She went on to talk about the Gulf of...
04:35 Saturday, December 7th, 1991 SEAL Beach (Silver Strand) west of Building S-18 NAB Coronado, San Diego, CA 92155 PT was miserable for Shiplett, Lenore knew, so she'd taken him to a position on the beach not too near the platoon. She coached him through stretching in formation, and through the various calisthenics. "What did you last score on the PFT?" Lenore was genuinely curious. "Uh, I passed," Shiplett offered. "Where have you been doing PT?" "With the Battalion. I...
13:50 Monday, July 29th, 1991 L&M Autobody & Collision Repair 1220 8th Avenue, Oakland CA 94608 The bell tinkled as the door opened. Chief Kostowe went in first, and held the door open for Lenore. Her eyes took a moment to adjust to the cool dark interior. When they had, Lenore saw that there was thick dust everywhere, the accumulation of years of sanding and paint overspray. The smell was a little odd, too, she thought, slightly sweet. Just then a word came back to her from her...
"Commander Fales. I hadn't expected to hear from you today, Chief Kostowe, you're a few days early. I didn't think you were scheduled until Thursday." Commander Fales was a thirty-nine-year-old seventeen-year veteran of Naval Intelligence, and he was proud of his career. Almost a certain lock to be promoted Captain in the coming fiscal year, he was proud of the role his office played in Desert Shield, and in the air-war phase of Desert Storm. His operations had reduced the number of...
11:15 PDT Friday, August 16th, 1991 Oakland Yacht Club 1101 Pacific Marina, Alameda CA, 94501 "Collins, to splice two ropes, what knot?" BMCM Kostowe asked sharply. "Reef or sheetbend, Boats." The answer was crisp. Lenore was enjoying the game, and her hands flew over the Belfast strands, tying the sheetbend, a knot she'd actually come to appreciate. She laughed a little, as she considered her answer. She'd learned from Dillon the various ratings and ranks over the week. Kostowe...
"Jack, you're quite elegant tonight. I wonder what the occasion is?" Deb had a sparkle in her eye that belied the disingenuousness of her tone. "Merely a meal with a friend, Ma'am. A warm and dear friend, to be certain." Jack was not above flirtatiousness himself, she saw. With a smile he offered her an arm, and they walked arm-in-arm down the path to his car. The drive to the restaurant was quick, and filled with inconsequential subjects. If Jack were nervous, he didn't show it, Deb...
07:35 PDT Saturday, August 17th, 1991 28910 Matadero Creek Lane Los Altos Hills, CA 94022 Looking out the window, Deb saw the car in the driveway behind Jack's. Slipping into the kitchen in her customary silk robe, she found the Admiral sipping coffee behind the newspaper. She was headed to the refrigerator to make breakfast when she stopped and returned to the Admiral, pulled his paper to the side, and kissed him lightly on the cheek. Laughing lightly, she scampered to the refrigerator,...
07:10 Thursday, August 29th, 1991 139 Meadow Ln Novato, CA 94947 Dan was still learning where everything was. Most of the furnishings and all of the agricultural equipment had conveyed with the sale, and he was finding new things daily. In this case, not everything he found was good. There was a hopper wagon, presumably for collecting cut grapes, and a dump wagon, presumably for fertilizer and everything else, and a small Deere tractor to pull them. The previous owners apparently hadn't...
14:30 Wednesday, October 9th, 1991 28910 Matadero Creek Lane Los Altos Hills, CA 94022 "Can you talk about it?" Lenore asked Denise, in the solar at the Admiral's house. Deb had apparently cleared it with the Admiral and Barbara, who were both out for supper and the evening. Deb had put Lynne to bed, and was staying by her until the Valium put her to sleep. That had been hard, Lenore admitted. Listening to the Nurse Practitioner explain was hard, seeing the look in Lynne's eyes when...
19:15 PDT Friday, October 11th, 1991 Stern Hall University of California, Berkeley, CA 94720 "I haven't done this in years," Deb said to Kate. "What, walk on a college campus?" "No, I meant 'wait to get signed into a dormitory'," Deb replied. "You're sure she'll be here?" Kate asked for the fourth time. "Denise was sure," Deb replied, sanguinely. A few moments passed, while Deb smiled at the student behind the desk, and then Lynne trotted out of an elevator. "Oh, my...
14:45 PDT Wednesday, October 16th, 1991 Aboard United 842 The Chief looks comfortable, Lenore thought sourly. Being a Department of the Navy civilian, he could wear what he wanted, and today, apparently, he wanted to wear a polo shirt, khaki pants, and soft shoes. He'd stowed his jacket in his carry-on bag overhead, and looked insufferably at his ease. Lenore, on the other hand, was in her tailored Service Dress, feeling hot and confined. Every time she looked over at him, he seemed...
05:25 Friday, October 17th, 1991 Guadalcanal Jetty, Coronado NAB San Diego, CA 92155 Lenore waited in the predawn twilight for Chief Kostowe. There had been no indication that anyone was in the Dock Master's office when they'd driven up, though the SPs on guard at the base of the jetty let them through without comment. Kostowe drove the rental up, and stiffly extricated himself from the vehicle. Christ, he's so old. I wonder why I never think about that when other people are around?...
13:05 PDT Monday, October 21st, 1991 NROTC, Room 152 Hearst Gymnasium University of California, Berkeley, CA 94720 "Hey, Ell-tee," Candidate Collins greeted him, "got a moment?" Lieutenant Wheeler spine stiffened in his chair and he felt the hair on the back of his neck start to lift, slightly. "Candidate, you probably don't know, but it's inappropriate to greet an officer so familiarly, when you don't have a lot of history with him. Likewise, it's not acceptable to refer to an...
19:05 Friday, November 15th, 1991 Karl Strauss Brewing Company 1157 Columbia Street San Diego, CA 92101 A white top, a new pair of bluejeans and a set of new white Nikes was all she needed from the Navy Exchange on the way off the post. A total of $67.89 on the Visa card later, Lenore was off to find the bar downtown, with Novotny, Lievano, and Cabrero in her rental car. She'd picked them up, and they waited outside her room while she showered and changed. Lenore was wearing her ring...
"Breathe, Shiplett." Lenore frowned at Delafuente, and jerked her head as indication the platoon should go. A few moments later, the second formation that had been doing PT on the beach ran – not trotted or jogged – by, none of them giving a second look to the redhead tending an obviously hurting man in the pre-dawn light. What is it about surf that makes it look like it's lit up from within at night? Or that there's a giant black light – the Dark Moon no one ever talks about – lighting...
"Collins, Shiplett," Chief Vales greeted them as they walked out of the terminal, the sunlight alternating with the shadows cast by the strange overhangs of the Dulles-inspired projecting roofline of the airport terminal. Smiling for the familiar face, Lenore threw her two sea bags into the trunk, and Shiplett's followed. Lenore claimed the front passenger seat, and soon the three were driving out of the airport. "Novotny ran over your dee-minus-three checklist a week ago," Chief Vales...