An Enemy Among Us
by Subjockey
Commander Lee Crane walked to his office at the Nelson Institute of Marine Research still feeling like pinching himself after his unexpected, but welcomed appointment to captain the SSRN Seaview. This was his first week at NIMR as Seaview's new captain, having accepted Admiral Nelson's job offer on the spot, just hours before docking in Santa Barbara after their harrowing mission. He'd spent four weeks back at Norfolk turning over his boat, the USS Spadefish, after successfully completing his mission in the Arctic aboard Seaview. It had been a hair-raising and tense mission trying to beat a natural disaster and an underworld crime organization at the same time. Fortunately, Dr. Gamma underestimated both the Seaview and her temporary captain as they successfully eluded enemy bombers, an attacking sub, and even an aerial assault on Dr. Wilson's Snow CAT trying to set the nuclear charge that would nullify the impending tsunamis generated from the devastating earthquakes.
No doubt Gamma thought he had rendered the fantastic windowed submarine neutralized after murdering her captain, John Phillips. Of course his primary target was Admiral Harriman Nelson (ret), the designer and owner of the submarine. However, though his hit squad had missed Nelson he wasn't prepared for the young captain borrowed from a Sturgeon Class nuclear sub to step into the captaincy with any true success; nor was he prepared for the formidable foe Nelson and Crane presented together. In the end, the successful mission was all Nelson needed to convince Washington that the best man to stand at the helm of the research vessel carrying nuclear missiles was Lee Crane.
"Hello Miss Fields," Lee said greeting Nelson's Executive Secretary as he passed by her office.
"Good morning Captain Crane," Angie Fields returned.
Lee smiled. "Is my appointment with the Admiral still good?"
"Yes, he's expecting you at 10:30," she returned with her usual bright smile to accompany her typical efficiency.
"Great, see you then," he returned with a professional smile that dazzled just the same.
Angie smiled her reply, a consummate professional and not nearly as affected by Seaview's handsome officers in uniform as some were. Still, she went about the rest of her work with a tad measure more zip in her steps as the pleasant conversation left her humming.
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Lee stopped at his secretary's desk and collected a few messages and then headed to his office. Seaview was setting sail in six weeks and along with familiarizing himself with a new boat, crew, and working conditions; and despite the seemingly long gap between voyages, he still had quite a bit of preparation yet to attend to. He hung his service cap on the coat rack and sat down, turning on his desk top computer almost simultaneously. He had no more than settled into his chair when his phone rang.
"Yes Miss Stone," he answered addressing his secretary.
"A Mr. Harley on line one."
Lee avoided any reaction to the caller's name and answered coolly.
"Very well, put him through."
"Right away," she replied as Lee tilted his head to see her desk, though not in a direct line of sight he could see that she put the call through then picked up her coffee mug, heading presumably for the kitchenette for a refill.
Lee picked up the phone, satisfied of his privacy but avoiding shutting his door; he hadn't closed it behind him upon entering and he didn't want Harley's name to bring about any suspicions.
"Crane here," he answered, as a small pause hung in the air before the caller answered in a near whisper.
"Crane, this is Harley."
"I told you never to call me here," he answered just as quietly.
"The Boss says twenty-five G's."
"Tell him fifty or no deal," he bargained, his eyes narrowing for the exchange.
"He ain't going to be happy."
"Tell him it's not his hide on the line. Fifty or nothing, and don't call me on this line ever again; what do you think the pager's for?" he asked disgustedly, hanging up the receiver lightly and using all his self-control not to slam it into the cradle.
"Amateur," he breathed out between gritted teeth and unlocked his desk to start his day.
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Aubrey stood just short of the door, holding two cups of coffee. She always made sure Captain Phillips was well supplied in coffee and intended to do the same for her new boss. She knew he had a call, so she waited before entering. His voice was too low to know when his call was complete, so she scanned her desk and spotted the light on her phone system go out then waited a polite half-minute before entering cheerfully.
"I thought you might enjoy some coffee," she said as Crane raised his head somewhat surprised she had returned to the office so quickly.
"Thank you," he recovered smoothly and smiled. "But you really don't have to get my coffee," he gently admonished.
"First cup of the day is a freebie, after that you're on your own," the sassy red-head declared with a grin.
Lee returned the smile and received her gracious offer, still wading through the politics of his new office.
"Deal," he replied.
"I used to do the same for Captain Phillips," Aubrey noted sadly.
Lee nodded. He understood that she was still in mourning as Aubrey had been Phillips' secretary for the last six months before he was unexpectedly and brutally murdered.
She recovered, realizing she had slipped into a bit of melancholy and put on a pleasant smile.
"Anyway, coffee straight-up; no cream, no sugar," she recited cheerfully.
"Thank you. Just the way I like it," he replied as she stepped toward the door.
"Would you like me to close your door?"
"Yes thanks," he responded, smiling as she pulled the door closed behind her. His smile faded however once the door clicked shut; as Lee sat back wondering just how much of the conversation she had heard.