Corps Justice Boxed Set: Books 1-3: Back to War, Council of Patriots, Prime Asset (4 page)

ANDY
(nodding towards Cal): As I’m sure Cpl. Stokes will tell you,
I stepped in and reported at 2355.

GUNNY
(smirking): Well, sir, that’s not really my concern. The point
is when I put you in the logbook, you’ll be reporting in late.
Helluva way to start your tour with this fine battalion.

Just then Cal caught the look of cold anger
flash across the eyes of the young officer. Then just like that, it
was gone. Oh shit. This guy was no candyass.

From the look on the Gunny’s face, it was
obvious he’d missed the warning sign. Cal decided to step in.

CAL
: Hey,
Gunny, the Lieutenant’s right. He checked in right at 2355. I wrote
it right here in my own log.

GUNNY
: You
shut your mouth, Corporal. Looks like you’ll have to come back
tomorrow morning to meet with the Battalion XO, sir. He likes to
come in Saturday morning and check-in with the OOD to see who
fucked up the night before.

Surprisingly Lt. Andrews still stood in
front of the duty desk with a look of complete calm.

ANDY
(conversationally): Ok, Gunnery Sergeant. Why don’t you just
pick up that phone and call the XO right now. If I’m gonna get my
ass chewed I’d rather not wait until tomorrow.

Visibly confused, the Gunny paused to think
about that most unexpected request. Calling the Executive Officer
would put HIS ass in a crack and he was all about keeping his ass
out of cracks no matter who he had to blame to take the fall for
him.

GUNNY
(soothingly condescending): Well, Lieutenant, I don’t think
it’s appropriate to call the XO at this hour. Why don’t you just
come back in the morning and I’m sure everything will be
fine.

ANDY
: I
think I’ll take my chances, Gunnery Sergeant. Why don’t you give me
his number and I’ll call him right now on my handy-dandy cell
phone.

GUNNY
: Now,
Sir, that’s really not how things are done around here.

ANDY
(suddenly loud): Well then how are they done around here,
GUNNERY SERGEANT? It’s obvious you get your rocks off shitting on
us new guys. Get the damn XO on the phone and we’ll get this done.
Now.

The placid demeanor had evaporated and the
look of calm fury now shrouded the young officer’s face. By the
look on his face, the shitbird Gunny was finally getting the point
that he’d messed with the wrong guy. He could either back down or
push forward. Cal hoped he’d pick the first option.

GUNNY
: Now
look here, Lieutenant (he pronounced Lieutenant as someone would
pronounce
Asshole
)
I don’t appreciate…

ANDY
: Get
on your feet Marine! You stand at attention when you talk to me,
Gunnery Sergeant (he intoned Gunnery Sergeant just as the Gunny had
pronounced Lieutenant).

It therefore came as a
complete surprise to Cal (and apparently to the Gunny as well) when
the Gunny jumped out of his seat and popped to attention.
Holy shit!
What was going
on?

ANDY
: Now
as I see it, you have two choices, Gunnery Sergeant. Number One,
you log me as reporting in at 23:55. Number Two, you get the
Battalion XO on the phone right now and he can resolve the issue.
What’s it gonna be, Gunnery Sergeant?

GUNNY
: I’m
just trying to do things by the book, but I think we can trust your
word that you reported in at that time.

ANDY
:
Sir.

GUNNY
:
Excuse me?

ANDY
: I
said you call me Sir. I’m only asking for the same respect you so
kindly asked of me.

GUNNY
: Yes,
Sir.

ANDY
:
Alright, let’s get this done so Cpl. Stokes can get some rack
time.

He’d said this last thing just as the Gunny
was bending over to start his entry in the duty logbook. As he did,
Lt. Andrews caught Cal’s eye and gave him a quick wink and a
mischievous half smile. It was the same smile he’d see years later
on the side of some God-forsaken mountain in Afghanistan as he and
Lt. Andrews were getting ready to rush an enemy position by
themselves.

It was that first meeting and the look in
that young officer’s eyes that made Cpl. Stokes think he never
wanted to get on the officer’s bad side.

+ + +

The bedside phone rang again a couple
minutes later.

CAL
:
Stokes.

BRIAN
: Cal,
I’ve got Capt. Andrews on the phone again.

CAL
: Put
him through.

ANDY
: You
there Stokes?

CAL
: Yes,
sir.

ANDY
: I got
some info on your corpsman.

CAL
: What’d
you find?

ANDY
: Says
here that he served with 1/2 during the initial invasion of Iraq.
He got to be part of that big mess in An’Nasiriyah. Hold on a
minute.

Cal heard mouse clicks as Capt. Andrews
found what he was looking for.

ANDY
: Well,
well. Looks like you’ve got yourself a brother there,
Marine.

CAL
: What
do you mean?

ANDY
: This
record says that Hospital Corpsman First Class Brian Ramirez is a
multiple award winner. Won a Bronze Star in Iraq then a Silver Star
in Afghanistan. Hmmm…The first was for dragging some of his Marines
out of a burning AAV. Says he got some pretty bad burns himself.
The Silver Star citation says that this kid not only saved ten of
his Marines’ lives, but that he also took up a couple M-16’s and
killed a few bad guys.

CAL
: No
shit?

ANDY
: No
shit.

CAL
: Well,
at least I know now.

ANDY
: Need
anything else?

CAL
: Unless
you can get me out of here, I’m good.

ANDY
: Wish
I could, buddy. I’ll be in touch.

The line went dead. Cal
replaced the receiver and laid back in his bed. So Brian was a
warrior.
Interesting
.

+ + +

A few minutes later Doc Ramirez came in to
check on Cal.

BRIAN
: What
do you want for dinner tonight?

CAL
: You
didn’t tell me about your Bronze and Silver Stars.

BRIAN
: You
didn’t tell me about your Navy Cross.

CAL
: Fair
enough. I’d give that thing back just to have my guys alive right
now.

BRIAN
: Me
too. Now, what do you want for dinner? Chicken or mystery
meat?

CAL
(with a
snort): I’ll take the chicken.

As Brian nodded and left the room Cal
thought about the quick conversation. It was rare to find a medal
recipient who bragged about their award. Most just wanted to be
left alone. He’d seen guys give their medals away as soon as they’d
been received rather than once again re-live the memory of their
dying comrades. Funny that heroes come in all shapes and sizes, but
the true heroes are almost always silent about their accolades.

Brian returned balancing a cafeteria tray
with a domed cover. The faint smell of roasted chicken wafted
toward Cal.

CAL
: Hey,
Doc, wondering if you could do me a favor.

BRIAN
:
What’s that?

CAL
: I was
wondering if you could swing by my place on your way home and
pickup a couple things for me.

BRIAN
: You
have a place here in Nashville?

CAL
: Yeah.
I’ve got a little condo down in the Gulch.

BRIAN
:
Sure, no problem. You got your keys?

CAL
: You
actually won’t need any. There are two keypads: one at the building
entrance and one at my unit. I’ll just give you the
codes.

BRIAN
(jokingly): Eww fancy. What are you some rich kid?

A brief look of anger passed across Cal’s
eyes.

BRIAN
: Did
I say something wrong?

CAL
: Don’t
worry about it. Can you run by there tonight?

BRIAN
: No
problem. I get off at seven. I’ll run by after that. What do you
need me to pickup?

CAL
: Call
me when you get there and I’ll walk you through it. Won’t be easy
to find without me telling you.

Brian’s eyebrow rose slightly. What was this
Marine having him deliver? He’d find out soon enough. He was pretty
sure he could trust Cal.

B
rian pulled up to the high-rise condo building.
Jeez. I wonder what Cal does for a living now
that he’s out of the Corps,
he thought. The
building looked brand new. Compared to Brian’s tiny apartment,
Cal’s building was the Taj Majal.

He got out of his car and walked to the
building’s entrance. A collection of mixed citizenry walked the
sidewalks on each side of the street. Brian could see at least two
high-end restaurants within a block of Cal’s building. Looked like
the area was really taking off. He’d heard that there’d been a lot
of redevelopment in the Gulch in recent years. Not a bad place to
live.

The passcode Cal gave him got him in the
glassed front door. A few steps inside he could see what appeared
to be a receptionist glancing over at him. As he got closer, she
perked up.

IRENE
: Can
I help you, sir?

BRIAN
: I’m
good. Just picking up some things for my buddy in the
hospital.

She looked startled and came out of her
seat.

IRENE
: Is
that Cal you’re talking about?

BRIAN
: It
is.

IRENE
: Oh
my God, is he ok? We heard all about it on the news! He’s such a
nice guy. When is he coming home?

BRIAN
: He’s
doing a lot better. I’ll tell him you asked about him…

IRENE
:
Irene.

BRIAN
: I’ll
tell him you asked about him, Irene.

Brian waved and quickened his step to the
elevator lobby. He couldn’t put his finger on it but Irene seemed a
little too anxious to know Cal’s business. Almost like she wanted
to know all the gossip. Not Brian’s cup of tea.

What Brian didn’t see was
once he was safely on his way up to the 23
^rd
floor, Irene pulled out her
cell phone and dialed.

IRENE
(whispering): Hey it’s me.

ANONYMOUS
VOICE
: What are you whispering for,
girl?

IRENE
: I
just wanted to let you know that some guy just came in and is going
up to Cal’s condo.

ANONYMOUS
VOICE
(perking up): What?! Who was
it?

IRENE
: He
said he was a friend of Cal’s. Said he needed to pick up a couple
things.

ANONYMOUS
VOICE
: Did you make sure you didn’t
mess with anything when you went in there?

IRENE
: I
did.

ANONYMOUS
VOICE
: Ok. Good job. Now be sure you
keep an eye out and tell me when Stokes gets out of the
hospital.

Brian reached the
23
^rd
floor and exited the elevator. There were only two doors
visible along the hallway. Cal’s was almost directly across from
the elevator.

He quickly punched in Cal’s
code and entered the condo. The door opened smoothly but Brian
could feel the weight of the door. Standard issue or an upgrade Cal
had installed?
Curious
. This thing felt almost armored. Reminded him of some of the
armored vehicles in the Corps.