Code 13 (55 page)

The Lord did work in mysterious ways, she decided, allowing the words spoken by a president two centuries before to assuage her grief as she set out to complete this, her last devotion to the duty she had begun when she arrived in Washington.

This time she spoke the words aloud.

“ ‘It is rather for us to be here dedicated to the great task remaining before us—that from these honored dead we take increased devotion to that cause for which they gave the last full measure of devotion—that we here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain, that this nation under God shall have a new birth of freedom, and that government of the people, by the people, for the people shall not perish from the earth.' ”

And when she had finished speaking, with goose bumps on her arms and tears in her eyes, she looked down at the white gravestone of the only man she had ever loved.

A simple cross was carved into the top, front center, and under that was the inscription:

Peter Jefferson (“P.J.”) MacDonald
Lieutenant Commander
Judge Advocate General's Corps
United States Navy
“Code 13”

A small American flag planted in the ground beside the grave flapped in the breeze, like the thousands of others dotting the massive cemetery.

Off in the distance, perhaps a half mile away, the U.S. Air Force conducted a burial of one of its own. But no one else was around, at least not in the immediate vicinity.

She was here, alone with P.J., just like she wanted it.

She brought her hand to her cover, saluting the grave, then dropped the salute. And then she dropped down to her knees, as if to have a more intimate conversation.

“P.J., I'm sure you're in a better place. And I don't know if you can hear me or not, but I pray to God that somehow he'll open the portals of heaven and let you hear me one last time.”

She wiped a tear from her cheek, and as she did, a cardinal landed on the tombstone.

That brought a smile to her face. God was good.

The cardinal flew away, disappearing into the blue sky.

“I finished the job you started, and today Congress approved the contract. I wrote it just like I think you wanted it. In a way to strengthen us against enemy invasion but also to protect the Constitution. You were such a patriot.”

She fell silent, allowing herself to absorb the beauty of the moment.

“I'm leaving Washington, P.J. I know I just got here, but I asked Admiral Brewer to approve orders to send me back to the fleet. I'm leaving for San Diego in the morning, where I'll take over as senior JAG on the USS
George Washington
.” She wiped another tear. “I always wanted to go to an aircraft carrier. Now I'll get my wish.”

Another cool gust descended across the cemetery.

“Anyway, Paul Kriete is a nice guy, and he's a great officer. Just got picked up for admiral, and it's well deserved. But he's not you.” She paused again. “You're the only man I've ever loved, and you're the only man I will ever love.”

She stood up, her eyes locked on the grave marker just for a few more moments.

“And so now I will take my capacity to love and love that which you loved. My dedication and my service will be to the U.S. Navy, and memories of your smiling face will burn in my heart forever.”

She bent down, kissed the grave marker, then stood and gave him a final salute.

“With fair winds and following seas, my love. Until we meet again—in heaven.”

She turned and walked away.

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

With special acknowledgment and gratitude to my “West Coast Editor,” U.S. Army Veteran Jack Miller of La Mesa, California, who along with his lovely wife Linda, have generously supported the San Diego Zoo, the Lambs Players Theater of Coronado and San Diego, and the San Diego Wild Animal Park.

With special acknowledgment and gratitude to the following churches and their pastors, all of whom have had a positive influence upon the author:

• The First Christian Church of Plymouth, North Carolina—Rev. Tom Banks, Pastor

• The First Baptist Church of Lemon Grove, California—Rev. Jeffrey Lettow, Pastor

• Calvary Church—Charlotte, North Carolina—Dr. John Munro, Senior Pastor

• Forest Hill Church—Charlotte, North Carolina—Dr. David Chadwick, Senior Pastor

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

1. Are you concerned about drones over the United States? Why or why not?

2. Lieutenant Commander P.J. MacDonald struggles over which way he should slant his opinion letter to the Secretary of the Navy, and penned two different letters, one concluding one way, and one concluding another. What was Lieutenant Commander MacDonald struggling over, and can you relate to his struggle? How would you have written your recommendation to the Secretary of the Navy?

3. Lieutenant Commander MacDonald, in his original memo to the Secretary of the Navy, mentions a geographic zone “within 100 miles of the seacoast of all the United States,” which he calls a “Fourth Amendment – Free Zone,” otherwise known as the “Constitution-Free Zone,” where stops can be made without search warrants. Did you know there was such a zone? Does this concern you? Why do you think most Americans don't know about this sort of thing?

4. Are you willing to sacrifice personal freedoms under the Constitution for national security? Why or why not?

5. Are there passages in the novel suggesting that Senator Bobby Talmadge is a believer in Christ? Do you believe that he was a believer? Why or why not?

6. Would you have advised Senator Talmadge to act differently once he was exposed? If so, how?

7. This novel features two principal female characters, U.S. Navy JAG Officers Caroline McCormick and Victoria Fladager. What are the strengths and weaknesses of each character?

8. Which of the two lead women, Caroline McCormick or Victoria Fladager, do you feel is the stronger character? Discuss your reasons.

9. How does the relationship between Caroline and Victoria evolve, and what can be learned by it?

10. Who is your favorite major character, and who is your least favorite character and why?

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Don Brown is the author of
The Malacca Conspiracy
,
The Black Sea Affair
, the Navy Justice Series, the Pacific Rim Series, and a submarine thriller that predicted the 2008 shooting war between Russia and Georgia. Don served five years in the U.S. Navy as an officer in the Judge Advocate General's (JAG) Corps, which gave him an exceptional vantage point into both the Navy and the inner workings “inside the Beltway” as an action officer assigned to the Pentagon. He left active duty in 1992 to pursue private practice, but remained on inactive status through 1999, rising to the rank of lieutenant commander. He and his family live in North Carolina, where he pursues his passion for penning novels about the Navy.

Visit his website at www.donbrownbooks.com

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