After Midnight Read Online Free Page B

you’ve decided on.”
    “Take the two days, Sergeant Babcock. Think about it.”
    His face could have been carved from granite. “With all due respect, ma’am, there’s nothing to think about. I accept non-judicial punishment.”
    Jess shot a look at the First Sergeant. A twenty-six year veteran who’d seen about all there was to see when it came to the vagaries of human nature, Ruiz shrugged.
    “Very well,” she said, turning back to the stocky sergeant. “Before we proceed, I need to advise you that you’re entitled to be accompanied by a spokesperson to speak on your behalf. You may examine the police reports and statements I’ve considered in this matter. You may present matters in defense, extenuation, and mitigation, orally or in writing or in both. You may also have witnesses present, or request these proceedings be open to the public.”
    “No one’s going to speak on my behalf.”
    “Someone already has,” Jess said carefully. “Your ex-wife came to see me this morning.”
    His stony facade cracked for a moment. Only a moment. Jess caught a flash of hope, of hurt, of fury, before the mask dropped down again.
    “Whatever she said doesn’t cut soap, colonel. I’m responsible for my actions.”
    Jess couldn’t argue with that.
    “All right. Since you’ve declined to accept legal counsel or present matters in extenuation or mitigation, I’m hereby vacating the suspension and reducing you in rank to the grade of Staff Sergeant. I’m also ordering you to pay full damages to the NCO club, levying an additional fine of $300 a month for three months, and warning you that you’re on notice, Sergeant Babcock.”
    She paused, wanting to make sure she had his attention, and leaned forward to emphasize the point.
    “If you step out of line again, if you so much as spit on the sidewalk, you’ll be out of the Air Force so fast your head will spin.”
    His forehead creased in a quick frown. “You mean you’re not initiating the paperwork to kick me out?”
    “Not this time.”
    His glance rifled to the First Sergeant. Ruiz spoke for the first time.
    “It was the colonel’s decision, Babcock. I advised her to toss your sorry butt onto the street. You owe her for this one. Her and Eileen.”
    The stony expression that descended over the man’s face again indicated a distinct lack of gratitude. Jess held his eyes, her own fierce.
    “Don’t make me regret this, Sergeant.”
    His shoulders snapped back. His chin came up. For the life of her, she couldn’t tell if he was happy with this last chance or not.
    “Is that all, ma’am?”
    “Sign these papers, then you’re dismissed.”
    Ruiz waited until Babcock had departed to gather the signed documents. “Well, at least Mr. Petrie won’t lose his only certified fuels analyst. He was worried about that.”
    “He deserves to lose him. He didn’t help him by covering up his repeated absences.”
    “Billy Jack Petrie is one of the good ole boys,” the First Shirt answered with a shrug. “He takes care of his people in his own way.”
    She reached for the phone. “Then I’d better make sure he understands we’re doing it my way from here on out.”
    “Yes, ma’am.”
     
    Four hours later, Jess aimed the Mustang’s gleaming silver nose south along the causeway that shot straight as an arrow from the Bay Bridge to the beaches that edged the Gulf. A headache tugged at her temples. Christ, what a day!
    The sessions with the EPA and Sergeant Babcock had been bad enough. A late afternoon call from the commander of one of the test squadron commanders had upped the pucker factor even more. One of the avionics modules in a specially configured F-15 had failed and they needed a new one delivered and installed no later than noon tomorrow or they’d have to scrub a multi-million dollar test of a new air-to-air missile.
    Thankfully, the major in charge of the 96th Supply Squadron’s Combat Operations Support Branch knew just how to work the system. After