Ghostboat Read Online Free

Joanne possessed one serious character flaw, it was her consistent, mind-numbing, monumental carelessness.
    During a recent disastrous evening at a posh nightclub, the White Pelican, she had managed to demolish one wine glass, one tablecloth, and one waiter carrying a fully loaded tray. Frank’s five-and-a-half-foot frame had shrunk into a corner, ten degrees right of embarrassed. He hadn’t let her hear the end of it for three days.
    He would flare up at Joanne, as he had with all his women, and say things he didn’t mean, and go on saying them because once he was into it there was no way out But at least she was able to take it calmly, without being intimidated.
    And Joanne had other compensations. Frank sat up on one elbow and studied them: long legs, a tapering waist, a full, round bust, and a soft, heart-melting face. Perfect. Except that Frank thought she could do with a bit more in the way of brains: opinions on matters beyond TV, movies, shopping, and suntans. He would grow bored with Joanne, as he had with all the others. But he was determined to make the best of it while it lasted. At least she wasn’t in love with him, sparing him those embarrassing complications. She loved sex—but she only liked him. He smiled broadly and scratched his leg. Then he scratched hers. She stirred, and he waited to see if she was going to wake up.
    Joanne moved, just an inch, and Frank traced a finger across her flattened breast. Again she stirred, and he anticipated the bell signaling round three for tonight...
    The phone rang.
    “Jesus!”
    Frank jumped out of bed and ran to the dresser to grab it before Joanne woke up. He snatched up the receiver, capped his hand over it, and muttered, “Hello?” He looked back at the bed—she was still asleep.
    “Ed? This is Ray Cook.” The voice on the phone waited for Frank to grumble back. “Hey, I’m sorry I woke you, but something’s come up. You’re needed right now.”
    “What for? I’m in the middle—” He didn’t have to finish. Cook couldn’t miss the implication.
    “Ed, this is really urgent.”
    Frank sighed. “Where are you?”
    “Guard desk, Pentagon.”
    Frank digested that, and his mind began to race.
    “Okay, I’ll be over in thirty minutes.”
    He hung up and frowned. Joanne still seemed fast asleep. Frank stumbled to the window and looked out across the capital. He could pick out landmarks silhouetted against the moonlit sky, streetlights bathing parked cars below.
    Fifteen minutes to the Pentagon. Gotta shower and shave and get into uniform, the whole bit. He knew he would be late. He swore under his breath. The Navy calling at two in the rooming. Wouldn’t do that to a goddamned married officer, he growled to himself.
    He padded over to the bed and looked down at Joanne. Suddenly he was hungry for her again. He fell on her and snuggled into her shoulder. Her eyes flew open, and her arms came around him hard.
    Mystifying, he thought. They all mystify. That’s how these things last...
     
    One hour later, he pulled into his parking space at the Pentagon and locked up the Ford. Indian summer. The heat was stultifying. He strode wearily across the lot and nodded to the gaping guard.
    “It’s three fifteen, Commander.”
    “It’s also Saturday, Charlie.”
    The outer lobby was deserted except for the security guard. Frank was admitted and then walked over to an ashtray to load his pipe. He looked out at the floodlit Pentagon grounds and waited while the security guard informed Lieutenant Cook of his arrival. Frank tamped the tobacco down deep into his pipe and lit it. He sucked the smoke and sniffed at the nutty aroma.
    It was five minutes before Lieutenant Cook emerged from a long hallway in a crisp, fresh uniform, his heels clicking across the room, his blond hair and tall good looks contrasting sharply with Frank’s own dark swarthiness and short frame.
    “Hullo, Ed, did I tear you away from something good?” Cook’s grin was infectious during