In Memory Of
By
Shadowwritr
Disclaimer: I do not own any of the Plum Characters, they are the envision of Janet Evanovich, I have just borrowed them to come out and play for a spell. Any other characters that have popped up from my plot are of my own making and those I do own. I am not getting any royalties from any of this, and these characters shall be returned when finished. End Disclaimer
Chapter 1
The grounds were immaculately cut and trimmed, just like the heads on men in the military, flat and smooth. The smell of fresh cut grass still hung in the air. On the steps in front of the Commander's Building sat the young cadet as she looked out across the grounds. The marching group out in the parade yard was doing precise movements with the white rifles in their hands. On her lap lay the United States flag folded in the traditional method of one that had been on a coffin. Her fingers tapped to the rhythm of the marching group. Any other time and she would have been out there with them. She was waiting on Commander Randolph to finish his conversation with the man he was talking with.
George Washington Military Academy had been the only school she had known, but for the first few years of school until she had been allowed to attend. This was the only world she had known, other than when she had been with her father during the summers on various military bases around the world. Up until three days ago, Brigadier Major Daniel Wilson had been alive and well. The funeral had been a few hours ago, and she had picked up the flag in the Commander's office, the medals he had earned sat in box under the flag. Everything had been given to her since her mother had died due to complications during childbirth.
Her decision to stay at the school through the rest of the year or to return with the man inside at his place of residence had been given to her at the reading of the will. This had been read to her the day before and she had been thinking on it as well as the loss of her father. She hadn't made up her mind yet. This man, Ricardo Carlos Manoso, had been given the rights of being her guardian and if she so chose to do so her adoptive father.
The white doors behind her opened and the cadet turned to look up at the man. Her dark blue eyes assessed him as he put the dark sunglasses on covering up his brown eyes. She watched as he took his steps and sat beside her. Her attention was drawn back out to the other cadets on the field beyond.
"I'm sorry about your father, Jessie. He was a good man and I respected him a lot."
Respect. This was one word she had heard plenty of over the last two days, along with honor, and hero. Words that were distinctly given to one in the military, at times the way the word was said, one could know if it was spoken with sincerity.
Turning her head she took a good long look at the man sitting next to her. Her youthful eyes, all of fourteen years, gathered intelligence about him as she had been taught in school. He was dressed in black, the sun coming down on them. Her green dress uniform attracted the warmth of the suns rays; she knew his black form of dress would gather more heat than hers. His black hair was pulled into a ponytail, his dark skin complexion gave way to his Latino Heritage. The chest of Ricardo Manoso pushed tightly against his buttoned up cotton shirt, she could see his arms were developed as well. He was a man who maintained his body in excellent physical condition. His voice had spoken volumes though, it had truly been respectful.
"Thank you Sir." Jessie said.
"Why don't you call me Ric or Ranger." He turned to look at her. "I have a little girl who is four years younger than you. Her name is Melinda. Commander Randolph and I talked about your situation. You can leave with me today or stay and finish out your school year here. It's up to you."
Jessie looked out passed him, her eyes sweeping over the grounds that had been her school over the past six years. This had become her home away from her father and her place of learning and growing. She fell back to watching the drill team with the rifles. She was the youngest on the team; Nationals would be a hard for them if she chose to leave. Cadet Jessie Wilson would miss this the most. It had taken her all of three years of hard work to get good enough to be placed on the team.
"May we stay for the competition Sir." She looked at Ranger. "Thomas Jefferson and George Washington Academies are rivals."
"Why don't you go join your squad. I had planned on staying and watching the competition."
Jessie stood. She handed over her father's flag and medals to him. "Thank you Sir."
Ranger watched as Jessie walked with a military gate over onto the field. The doors behind him opened and Commander Randolph sat down next to him.
"She's a good kid Ricardo. Stand offish at times, but a very good kid." He nodded to the field. "Right there is where she shines. This academy had never won a National competition until she joined the team."
Ranger gave Commander Randolph a smile. The man was proud of his team; he could hear the pride when he spoke about them and Jessie. Ranger turned and watched as Jessie fell in line with the squad. Her movements were poetry in motion with the rifle.
"How long does the competition last?"
"A few hours. Two rival schools getting together is a big deal around here."
The drill team in military academies was the equivalent to a football team on the civilian side. It was a sport, and one that was done with a lot of pride.
"That's fine. I don't have her answer yet. She wanted to stay for the competition and I can't see taking her away from that, not today."
Commander Randolph gave him a pat on the back. "You're a good man Ricardo Manoso. I know Cadet Wilson will be in good hands." He stood. "The stands are around back, the parents and others are already getting in place. Care to join me."
Ranger stood and walked with Commander Randolph around to the field that would be used during the competition. Ranger looked around the bleachers and spotted his second in command for his company he owned. Tank stood up and walked down the bleachers till he stood beside Ranger. He was tall, a well built and broad African American male. His nickname was earned because of it and everyone referred to him as Tank, because he was built like one.
Ranger introduced him to Commander Randolph and both of them joined the Commander. They watched the two teams battling for points that would put them closer to the Nationals. Four rows of Cadets in dress uniforms and white rifles gleamed in the Texas sun. The solo part came and Jessie stepped out in front for her school. She flipped, twirled, and spun the rifle with dead accuracy. The fluid momentum of the rifle leaving her hands and falling back into place, her head staying straight, never did she look to where the rifle went.
Tank leaned over to Ranger after the performance. "I thought my son was pretty good, she puts my son to shame."
"This is all she's known Tank. Good thing we have a drill team back home. I don't want to see her give this up."
First place was awarded to George Washington. Jessie made her way over to Ranger as other students went off to either be congratulated or consoled by a parent. Ranger had a smile on his face as she walked up.
"Impressive, good job." He looked over to Tank. "Jessie, this is one of the men who works for me. His name is Tank."
She looked up. Standing at only five foot and weighting a little over a hundred pounds, she was smaller than Ranger and Tank. She didn't show any hesitation at all and thrust her hand over to him.
"Nice to meet you Sir."
Commander Randolph walked over to them. Jessie saluted her commanding officer on deck. He saluted her back and placed his hands behind his back. "Well Cadet Wilson, another fine match. I have to say, that's one of the best performances I've ever seen you do."
"Thank you Sir."
Commander Randolph gave her a rare and proud smile. "I want you to take the rifle and the uniform if you decide to go with your new guardian now."
"But Sir, it belongs to the school. With all due respect I..."
Commander Randolph cut her off. "That's an order Cadet Wilson."
"Sir yes Sir." She saluted Commander Randolph and turned to Ranger. "I'll go with you now. I need to pack my duffle."
"Go on. We'll meet you outside your barracks with the car."
Jessie saluted Ranger and ran off the field. Ranger's hand had come up and almost saluted the cadet back before he placed back at his side. His old military habits creeping back just being back inside an institution such as this one. Commander Randolph had given Ranger copies of her school records to take with him to New Jersey. A straight A student with only a few discipline problems. She would never be in an institution again, not one with strict rules and guidelines. Her life was about to change, no longer would she be what is referred to as a base brat; a child of a man or woman who serves their country and lives on a military base.
Tank and Ranger had pulled the rental car up next to the front doors of the bunker which housed Jessie Wilson. Ranger had placed the flag and the medals on the back seat of the black car. Both mean were leaning on the back of the car a hushed conversation was taking place between them.
"Do we know how he was killed?" Tank asked.
"Two shots to the head. In the early hours of the morning inside the base housing. He was murdered while he slept."
"The investigating officer find anything yet?"
"Nothing. Not a single fingerprint other than Daniel's." Ranger said and nodded as Jessie walked out, ending the conversation.
Jessie Wilson walked out in army fatigues. Regulation dress for off time, and for PT (Physical Training). She carried a long green army regulation duffle bag over her right shoulder and the white rifle in her left hand. She stopped in front of the two looking up.
"All set?" Ranger asked.
"Yes Sir."
Ranger reached out for the duffle to take it from her. Jessie pulled her shoulder back. "I can handle that Sir."
"I know you can, but let me get it for you."
"Yes Sir."
Tank stood and opened the trunk. Ranger pulled the duffle bag from Jessie's shoulder and placed it inside. She lay the rifle down beside the duffle and Tank shut the trunk of the car.
Ranger placed his hand on her shoulder. "Why did you decide to go now and not finish out the school year here?"
Jessie looked up at him. A thoughtful expression on her face, and then she voiced her reply with honesty. "Well Sir. If I stay here, Commander Randolph won't tell me how my father died. It was a closed casket. I don't think he died a natural death Sir. I think he was murdered."