E & E Ch. 02

"Yes to all that General, we are working on clearances for Mrs. McDermott. I understand she is a prominent attorney and could be of great help to you in this matter. Would you like her temporarily employed as a legal assistant, a GS-18? That would give her full credentials to travel and assist you in this investigation."

Mack grinned at his wife and she smiled back nodding her head.

"Yes Sir, That sounds like a good idea. I have another request, Sir, could you have every bit of available information on the case sent by courier to my Atlanta address for delivery after three o'clock this afternoon. That will give my wife and I several hours during which we can review the case before we have to leave for Washington."

"Yes, General, that will be done. I look forward to meeting you and your bride. Thank you."

Mack turned to Ginny and pulled her to him. "I love you girl. I wanted to just say no. But when your country calls it is hard to do. I am so glad you wanted to be with me."

"Mack, what choice did I have. You are my husband. I go where you go. Besides I think it will be lots of fun to work with you. I am very good at reviewing case information and finding the salient facts. I think I can help. I want to get it over with and to be home for the birth of our baby."

"Let's get on the road. I'll call and cancel our fishing trip. Then I'll start unhooking us. Why don't you get out some frozen waffles and sausage and get breakfast ready while I rush around. I'll leave the power and water on 'till the last second."

Mack and Virginia looked up at each other and smiled. They were sitting in a Marine Corps car headed for the Executive office building. The car bore a red flag with three silver stars on each front fender. Ginny smiled to herself, it was almost worth all of this to see her husband in his Marine uniform, the three silver stars on his shoulders and all the badges and ribbons on his chest were impressive. God, he was handsome and distinguished looking. She was so damned proud to be his wife it tingled down to her toes. She grinned; her sex slave was on leave to save his country. She was giddy just thinking about it.

They were ushered inside to an office suite. A grinning Brigadier General Jack Zeigrfeldt greeted them. Mack grabbed his hand and asked about Jan, Jack's wife. "She is trying to get us settled in our temporary quarters. You guys will be right next door. She is dying to see Ginny again."

Ginny kissed Jack on the cheek, "Jack, I would go help her but I know I have papers that must be signed and I think I can be some help in getting things organized."

Jack smiled, "Yes Ma'am, I know you can help us. I just finished reading your bio. Damn, you are one high-powered lawyer. It was nothing but raves about your skills and intelligence. I still don't understand why you were attracted to a big old dumb Marine." He grinned at Mack.

"Oh! Jack, how wrong you are. My husband is a first rate chef, a wonderful fishing guide and instructor, an entertaining raconteur, a magnificent househusband, and above all else, he is the world best sex-slave."

Jack laughed and said, "I can vouch for the first three and I can add that he is a great pilot and a super Marine. I'll have to take your word for the last two activities."

The two generals took off their uniform blouses and they were all seated. Jack gave them a rundown on the staff they had to work with. Most were government workers. There were several Marine officers and an Army Colonel Liaison Officer. There were also two Iraqi interpreters. Only two of the Government Service workers had reported as yet.

Mack asked if the interpreters were available. They were and Jack called for them. When they arrived Mack had one wait out side the office while he talked to the first.

She was a very pretty young lady who was obviously very pregnant. Her name was Cookie Mahoney, she smiled and told them her husband was a Marine Lieutenant.

She said she was on loan from the CIA. She was a native Iraqi, her parents lived in the U.S. and she was educated in the US. Mack asked when the last time she was in Iraq. She said it had been six months ago.

Ginny smiled at her, "You must have met your husband there. You look like you are about six months along now. The girl laughed. "You are right Ma'am, but this will be our second baby, I have an eighteen month old son down the hall in the nursery. He is my pride and joy."

"Ginny smiled, "Oh! I have to see him. I am almost four months pregnant with a boy." The two women smiled at each other.

Mack Smiled at them, "Girls, back to business. Cookie we have here several eyewitness reports and narratives about a case we are investigating. I will give you just the original documents; I want you to translate them. I also want your candid opinion of each report as to accuracy and veracity. Do not compare notes with any other person. I want YOUR thoughts and feelings about what you think happened. OK?"

"Yes General, I understand what you want. How soon do you need this?"

"Young lady, I want it yesterday, I know that's not possible. Just do it as fast as possible but I don't want you to get overly tired or stressed over it. Another thing, do not take one second away from the care of your little son. Nothing is as important as your health and the well being of your son. Tell the other interpreter to come in on your way out."

Ginny said, "Mrs. Mahoney, please stop back before you go to check on your son. I want to see him."

"Yes, I would love that."

The other interpreter was given the same instructions about the papers.

When the man was gone Mack looked at Jack, "When you have a chance check out Cookie and her husband. Something rings a bell with me but I can't put my finger on it."

"Mack, I have all that right here. I haven't had a chance to read it yet. Let me see, Hummmmm. Wow! Her husband has three Navy Crosses; he was a sniper in Iraq. She was a field agent and is now a top analyst for the CIA."

"Jack, see if we can get Lieutenant Mahoney to help us. He is used to independent action as a sniper, I'd bet my boots he would be a great investigator."

"Right, I'll make a few calls. I think I see where you are going with this. You really want to start from scratch. Right?"

"Right Jack. It's the only way I know to do it right. Ginny agrees with me. We talked it over for the last couple of days. Now let's see who we have assigned to us as investigators. I suspect we will have at least one from each intelligence agency. Probably assigned to watch us."

Ginny said, "Dearest, I would like several independent background checks on each of the witnesses in Iraq. I know the Army has to have run character checks on each of the accused soldiers since the incident. I didn't see them in our papers."

Mack looked at her for a second. He picked up a phone. "This is General McDermott, please put me through to the Secretary of Defense or his assistant. I'll hold."

"Hello Mr. Secretary, how are you today? Well, Sir, my wife asked me a question I couldn't answer about the case. We were not provided a copy of the post incident back ground and character checks run by the Army on the accused and on the witnesses."

"No Sir, we did not receive them and I can only assume that they had to have been done. They have been aware of the charges for almost a month now. Any commander worth a shit would have requested them the first thing after he was made aware of the alleged incident. Please excuse my language Sir."

"Yes Sir, she does ask a lot of questions, I think they are damned good ones though."

"Yes Sir, we would be delighted to join you and Mrs. Richardson for cocktails at your home tomorrow at six. Yes Mr. Secretary I will call if my wife has any more questions."

Mack hung up and laughed at Ginny, "I am glad you didn't hear what he said when I told him we didn't get those reports. He swore like an old trooper. Are you up for cocktails tomorrow? I can make excuses if we need to?"

"No, I think I would like that."

They reviewed and discussed what they knew about the case. The listed the things they wanted or needed to know but didn't know. They decided they would start with the soldier's stories. Draw out a time line and narrative of everything leading up to the event. Then lay out the event time line. Then the post event time line would come later.

They decided they would have a staff member assigned to each of the accused soldiers. That person would try and account for as much as they could of each movement and action of that individual soldier for the whole event. They would question and assist the soldier in reconstructing what had happened.

There was a knock at the door and Cookie Mahoney asked if Ginny wanted to see her son. Ginny jumped up and left with her. Jack smiled at Mack, "I like Ginny more and more the more I get to know her. She surprised me with her ideas and insight about how to reconstruct the case. She doesn't miss a thing."

"Well she does this for a living in a way, and she is at the top of her profession. She is nice to have around too!"

"I agree there, I would much rather look at her than at your old sour puss."

"Watch it or I'll tell Jan."

"Jan told me when she heard we would all be working together that I should make sure all my insurance was paid up before I even looked at Ginny. She seems to feel you might be a little protective of Ginny. I told her I would just as soon just take a nosedive off a twenty-story building as to mess with your wife. Not that I could ever cheat on Jan anyway."

"Hey, buddy, I've known you for twenty-five years, I make it a policy to never leave my wife alone with handsome guys like you anyway."

A buzzer on Mack's desk sounded and he picked up the phone. "General McDermott." He answered. Then he said, "Send him in."

A young Marine Second Lieutenant stepped in the door and said, "Lieutenant Mahoney reporting. Sir."

"Sit down over there, Lieutenant, I'm General McDermott and this is General Zeigrfeldt. We met your lovely wife this morning and were very impressed with her. In looking at her background we came across your records too. We thought you might be able to help us. Have you heard of the incident where four Army soldiers are accused of rape and murder of the Iraqi President's granddaughter?"

"Yes Sir, I have heard of it."

"Do you have an opinion about the case Lieutenant?"

"Yes sir I do."

The door opened and Ginny and Cookie entered. Ginny

was carrying a large baby. Cookie saw her husband and she started toward him. He stood and his arms went around her and they kissed. He jumped back, snapped to attention and said, "Sorry Sirs, I beg your pardon."

Mack smiled at him, "Son, as long as you are in our presence you have our permission to greet your wife that way and you may tell her you love her too."

"Thank you Sir."

Cookie pulled Ginny over and said, "Ginny, this is my husband, Mike, Mike this is Mrs. McDermott."

"I am very happy to meet you Mike, I was just going to show your handsome young son to my husband."

Mike held his hands out and took the baby and lifted him and kissed him. The baby giggled and touched his father's face. The stern face of the Lieutenant melted into a broad grin. He handed the baby to its mother. The three- star general laughed and told everyone to sit down.

"Mike was about to give us his ideas about our case. Go ahead. Wait, My dear Mrs. Mahoney, have you discussed the case with your husband before?"

"No Sir! Never."

"I will have to ask you to leave while he talks to us. I do not want you influenced by what he might think."

"I understand Sir, I'll take Little Mike back to the nursery."

"Lieutenant, as you have probably guessed we are tasked with investigating this case. Your wife is translating the Iraqi witness' statements; we don't want her work tainted by your ideas. After she is finished the two of you can discuss it. OK?"

"Yes Sir, I believe the charges are false. It is an old Arab ploy and has been pulled off for years. It is usually against a tribal leader to turn him away from a faction that some people don't like. It was very likely a set up deal. The soldiers were probably enticed into the house where a whore offered sex for nothing. That's about all I know about it, Sir."

Mack and Ginny grinned at Jack.

"Son, would you like to help us prove you are correct?"

"Yes Sir. I sure would. They may be just Army dogfaces but they are American dogfaces, Sir. American guys."

"OK Mike you will be assigned to us TAD (Temporary Additional Duty.) until this is over, if you don't mind. I understand you are unassigned right now anyway, is that correct?"

Mike grinned, "Yes Sir, I rescued Cookie from a oasis in Iraq and we fell in love. She was a field Agent for the CIA and they wanted her to go back. She wanted out to be with me. She made a deal with them that she would work for them as an analyst as long as the Corps kept me in the Washington Area. The Corps sent me to Quantico and now they are trying to figure out what to do with me."

"Well Mike with that chest full of ribbons I believe they don't want you to get way. There are not many Navy Cross wearers out there. You have three and I don't know of any others with five Purple Hearts; and you are still very young."

"Thank you Sir, I was 'in Country' when you earned your Cross Sir. I don't believe I could run towards a grenade."

"Bullshit, Lieutenant, you don't think about it. You just do it."

"You are right General."

"Mike we really have nothing for you to do right now. Report tomorrow in civilian clothes please. I think you may get further that way with some things I want you to do. Nothing fancy, Jeans and a sports coat ought to get it. You and Cookie can ride in together.

"Jack see if we can scrape up a average civilian sedan with a local tag for tomorrow."

Jack picked up a phone and started making calls.

Mack was ready to send Mike off the next day to interview some of the people who were in the same unit as the accused men but had not been involved.

Cookie was not finished with her translation and at the end of the day nothing important had happened. Mack and Ginny rode to their quarters in the Marine car and had him wait until they were ready to go to the Secretary of Defense's house for cocktails. Ginny was stunning in her favorite little black dress. It was knee length with a square neckline, which displayed her lovely cleavage. She wore dark stockings and ankle strap stiletto heels. Mack wanted to take to bed and forget the party. Jan and Jack were also invited and they met at the car. It was only a short drive to the party. The house was quite elegant and the Secretary and his wife greeted them at the door. Ginny was wearing a wrap against the slight evening chill and Mack helped her remove it. The Secretary stood and stared at her. His wife laughed, "This is the first time in thirty years of marriage to Tom when I have seen him at a loss for words. You are simply gorgeous my dear. Welcome to our home, I am Helen Richardson."

There were about fifty people at the party. Many were Military Officers in uniform. Mack felt Ginny grip his arm tightly and he looked down at her. She raised her head, "The next time you wear your uniform."

He smiled fondly at her, "Honey when I am standing next to you no one even sees me. I could be naked and no one would notice."

"The ladies sure would." They talked with the Secretary and his wife for some time neither of them could believe Ginny was a very successful attorney. Ginny excused herself to use the ladies room. Mack had a hard time finding her. Then he saw a crowd in one corner. He walked over and saw Ginny surrounded by six or seven men. She was smiling and talking with all of them. Mack stepped forward and a man shoved him back. He turned to Mack, "Isn't she the hottest thing you have ever seen?" Mack agreed with him. "She has a perfect face, tits and ass. Man I'd love to fuck that." Mack said, "Me too." The guy grinned, "Fat chance, I heard she's married to some old general. Trophy wife I guess. That Army colonel seems to be trying to stake a claim though." Ginny glanced around and saw Mack. "Mack!" she cried. There you are Darling. I have been missing you so much." She threw her arms around his neck and kissed him passionately for a long time. She pulled back and grinned at him. "God you can kiss good. My panties are wet now. Take me home to bed."

"Mack smiled gently at her. He bent and whispered in her ear. "Did anyone get out of line? You looked a little pissed when I first came over here." She looked quickly at him. "No Dear. It was just that the Colonel was a bit free with his hands and wouldn't stop." Mack took Ginny's hand and stepped in front of the colonel. Mack smiled and said, "Your name please Colonel."

"Jergenson." Colonel George Jergenson."

Mack smiled again and said, "Mrs. McDermott informs me that you are a bit free with your hands. I think you owe the lady an apology.

"What?"

"I said you owe the lady an apology."

"Old timer you are pushing your luck."

"If you do it again I will remove it."

"Remove what, Pop."

"Why, your hand---from your wrist."

The Colonel grinned a nasty grin. "Really."

"Sonny boy, would you like a demonstration?"

A good-sized crowd had moved around them now and were watching carefully.

Mack softly said, "I'm going to tap you on your face, your belly, and your chest in that order. You are welcome to try and stop me if you can. I will start on the count of four. One. Two. Three. Four." Whap-p-p.

The colonel stood staring at Mack his hand slowly rose to touch a reddening spot on his cheek. He blinked, "I never saw them coming. I was helpless."

"That is correct Colonel. Now please apologize to my wife."

"Your wife?"

"My wife, I am Lieutenant General McDermott, United States Marine Corps."

"Oh! God! Mrs. McDermott I apologize profusely. Please forgive me." Tears ran from his eyes.

Ginny said, "You are forgiven. In the future be very careful. Not all men are as forgiving as my sweet husband."

Mack stepped closer to the man and very quietly said, "I forgive you too. She is enough to make any man act silly. Pay close attention to the words Stop and No from any woman in the future."

Mack turned and took Ginny's arm and walked slowly through the crowd of people. The Secretary and his wife rushed up and began apologizing for the Colonel's actions. Mack held up his hands, "Please, It was no fault of yours. The man obviously had too much to drink. It is offensive to my wife because being pregnant she can drink no alcohol. I abstain too in sympathy."

Mrs. Richardson exclaimed, "You are pregnant? Your little tummy is as flat as a board. How far along are you?"

"Only three and a half months. I think I am just beginning to show a bit. This is my first child and I am very excited."

"Well dear you are very young yet. When you get to be forty like I am then you worry about a pregnancy."

"Oh! You are about a year older than I am."

"What? I can't believe that, I would have guessed 25 to 30."

"Thank you, Dear Lady, Thank you."

The next day Mack asked Mike Mahoney to step in his office for a moment before he started his day. He looked at the young officer. "Mike, I was going through your service record this morning. It says you have completed the translators course and are an accredited translator for Arabic."

"Yes Sir, Cookie helped me with it a lot. I spoke some before, but it was what they call Tactical Arabic. You don't get real fluent in it, just enough to understand most of what you hear. Cookie made me speak it at home for over a year before she was satisfied. She wouldn't make love to me if I made too many mistakes." Mack grinned, "Wow! I bet that got your attention in a hurry."