Thanks to my beta Kristen! Decided to try a more Abby-centric story, which is not easy with a CIA agent... Only 11 chapters in this one.
For SJ. On the provision she does not jeopardize my fragile health.
Shadows in the Night
Chapter 1: Prologue
Petty Officer Carter Hillman whistled a happy tune as he walked back across the base. He had spent the evening in a little bar just outside the main gate with his best buddy, who was just back from Iraq. It had been good to see Mick again, and they had had a few beers and shared some interesting stories.
They had discussed Iraq, weapons and women. Mick was getting married soon, and he had been invited to be the best man. He was already planning his speech in private. It was going to be highly embarrassing, especially as he and Mick had been friends since kindergarten. There were lots of incidents he could bring up.
The stag night would also be good. He had already decided to sent Mick into a strip club and call the cops just as he slipped out the back. It might be worth starting a fight in there as well. Nothing too serious, but enough to make his friend stew in a police cell overnight. Lots of alcohol would be essential. Perhaps he could take his friend to the wrong church as well.
The night was chilly, but not cold. A slight breeze ruffled his coat and the moon was bright. The stars twinkled in the heavens. Hillman had not bothered to take his car with him to the bar because he always enjoyed the walk back. It was quiet and peaceful.
He thought about Mandy, the woman he was seeing. She was a pretty blonde, short but curvaceous, smart and amusing. She worked in an office just outside Norfolk, but she deserved so much more. She had a young son from a former relationship. He was very cute and nice. Hillman had already realized he was head over heels for this woman, and wondering if they should start talking marriage. They had been dating for a year so it would be a logical progression. He should ask Mick for some advice.
Advice was often hard to come by, he mused. Good advice anyway. People always had ideas and thoughts, but most of it could easily be dismissed. Even the higher ups had crazy ideas all the time. The difference was that they could enforce their opinions on others.
Hillman loved the Navy. He was fourth generation, and was proud to serve his country. His grandfather had died in action, while his father was now running a company of his own back in Alabama. It was another three weeks until he would get leave, and he planned to go back home for a week. It would be nice to see everyone again.
He and Mick had signed up together, along with a few other friends from high school. Some of them had seen it as a big adventure, but he had taken it seriously. They were the only two left in the Navy; one had not made it through Boot Camp, another had gone AWOL, and the third had been honorably discharged after two years and a tour in Afghanistan. Hillman believed that if you signed up to something, you gave it your all.
A light rain began to fall, and he decided to cut across the base to shorten his journey. He knew the best place to do this was just up ahead: a disused aircraft hangar. It would keep the rain off his back and would cut around ten minutes from his journey. It would be very dark inside, but the place had been cleared out long ago so he did not have to worry about tripping over anything.
The moon disappeared behind a cloud and his path turned dark. He whistled an old tune that had always cheered him up and stuffed his hands further into his pockets. Not long now. Maybe next year he would get a place off base. It would make a nice change of pace. He could move in with Mandy. Her boy needed a father figure and he was the right man for the job.
The wind picked up slightly and Hillman shivered. It was as though someone had walked over his grave. He stopped suddenly and looked around him. He was all alone in the middle of nowhere. Only the hangar was nearby. He decided he was being irrational and continued his journey. He was on a Navy base; no one would attack him here!
Nevertheless, he began to jog slowly. He wished he had a knife on him to fight off anyone who came after him. He was fairly sure he was being crazy, but he was not one hundred percent sure. He was not going to take the chance he was wrong.
He ducked inside the aircraft hangar, surprised that the door was open. He decided that fortune was favoring him for the moment, and smiled. If only Mick could see him now! Running to shelter when he did not need to! They would talk about this tomorrow over a beer and they would have a good laugh.
He chose to creep quietly through the hangar, just in case. He took his time. The wind wailed around the outside, making Hillman's pulse rise. Could this place get any creepier?
He had been inside here during the day before, with a few friends. It was a place to share a few drinks, or even bring a picnic. But no one he knew ever came here at night, excluding him. He had passed through here a few times on his way back from the bar. It was a good shortcut.
He did not understand why the Navy didn't just knock the place down. It was disused! They could turn it into storage or something. A few small repairs and it could be operating again.
He tripped over something on the floor, crashing into the floor himself. Whatever he fell over didn't make a noise. It wasn't a bottle then, or some rubbish. Maybe a dead badger?
The moon came out from behind the cloud and illuminated the scene through the open door.
A man lay on the floor. Still. Unmoving.
Petty Officer Carter Hillman had seen dead bodies before. And he knew this person was dead.