Chapter 2
When Mike return back to NAVCOM he walk into Steve Marshal office
"Mike I just got off the phone with Dr Jordan"
"Did he tell you what happen with Grace"
"Yes, I'm shock with the way she acted out like that"
"I know some thing must of cause her to be like that. It not like her"
"I know He waiting for her blood test results to return and he also requested in investigation in to why Grace been called in when she been off duty. Which I agree. He going to do the hospital investigation and Mike I would like for you to do NAVCOM side"
"Are you sure you want me to do it Steve, case what ever I find out and if some one from out there is behind it they would use Grace and my friendship against the investigation" Steve thought about it
"Alright, I'll call Canberra and see if they can send some one up here to find out for us"
"Good idea Steve"
"Has Margret been told about what happen"
"Yes I spoke to her out side the hospital she can't believe what happen her self"
"Alright I'll contact Canberra, and let you know what they decided" Mike walk out of Steve office just as Steve picks up the phone.
Hour later on Hammersley Swain was in the Galley making him self a brew when Charge walk in carrying a cell phone
"Swain you received a text message" He pass Swain his cell phone
"Thanks Charge" Then he check the message and ran out of the Galley
"I wounder what that about" Bomber said
"Don't know it from his wife Sally I hope every thing is ok"
"Yeah"
"Are the muffins cook yet" Bomber grin
"Come back in ten minutes" Charge grin
"I can't hardly wait" Then he walk out of the galley which bomber laughing behind him.
Swain ran to where the computers are and sat down he sign in his e-mail address and pass word then he click onto Sally message. He read what Sally telling him about what happen to Grace. His eyes widen. When finish reading the message he reply back before shutting down. Then he left to go on to the bridge. When he got there he look around before walking over to Kate
"X a word please"
"Can it wait I was just about to call boarding stations there been a may day call, we will be reaching the boat in twenty minutes can it wait"
"I received urgent message from Sally, mad dog collapsed" Swain said quietly. Kate look at Swain
"Dose buffer knows"
"No, not yet. She collapsed while on duty at the hospital and that not all, she went crazy when she regain consignee, she damage a room and wounded two doctors one needed stitches in his arm and the other received a black eye" Kate was shock
"Look we will talk about it after the may day ok"
"yes X... commander Flynn was with mad dog when she collapsed. He might know more about what going on"
"I'll call him later" Then she pick up the microphone
"Hands to boarding stations, hands to boarding stations, hands to boarding station" then she put the mic back in his place.
"Not a word to Buffer"
"He has a right to know X"
"I know but till we know what going on, not a word" Swain nodded then he turn around and walk off the bridge.
Kate turn to Nav "Not a word Nav"
"I know x some thing must of cause mad dog to go crazy like that she strong but what cause her to collapse" Then her eyes widen
"Oh my... the baby"
"We don't know, ok"
"Ok" Then Kate walk to the steps and down them. She turn to RO who was looking at Nav
"I hope mad dog and her baby are ok"
"Same here"
Half an hour later they reach the yacht and fix the problem now they on there way back on patrol after Kate taken care of her gear she went to the radio room and knock on the door knowing that RO is in there.
He open the door "X" Kate walk in and close the door
"I need to contact NAVCOM" he past her the phone
"Commander Flynn is on line for you X I knew you would want to contact him" Kate smile
"Thank RO" He past Kate and out the door, closing it behind him. Kate sat down
"Mike"
"Kate RO told me you know about Grace"
"Yeah what happen"
Mike told Kate about what happen to Grace while Hammersley been out on patrol and what happen in the hospital. When he finish telling her Kate was shock
"Any idea who might be behind it"
"No idea, Steve said that some one is flying up tomorrow morning to start the investigation. Even the top brass are shock with what happen to Grace and they want to know as well"
"I bet they do. Buffer got a right to know what going on Mike"
"Yeah I know... Can you tell him and if he want to find out more get him to contact me"
"Sure, keep me up to date on Grace will ya"
"Sure, I'll e-mail you soon as I know what going on this end"
"Ok, I better get going got a may day report to fill out" Mike grin
"Alright, love you"
"Love you to, give James a hug and kiss from me"
"Will do" then they hung up.
Kate then stood up and walk to the door and open it and step out when she saw RO waiting there leaning against the wall.
"X is Mad dog and the baby alright"
"Yes they are" RO look at Kate with a confuse look on his face
"Later, do you know where buffer is"
"Try the Galley"
"Thanks" then she walk down to the Galley when she heard voices and laughter.
"X want a brew" bomber asked
"Later, buffer a word please"
"Sure X" Pete follow Kate till they were on the back of the boat.
Kate sat down and gesture for Pete to do the same. "What is it X"
"It Grace... She collapsed couple hours ago at the hospital" Pete look at Kate in shock
"What... Why, is she and the baby alright" Kate move ford and put her hand in his
"Yes they are fine. Grace blood pressure is high … Buffer... Pete some one been changing the rosters at the hospital and NAVCOM"
"What do you mean what roasters"
"You know that Grace work different shifts at the hospital"
"Yes"
"And she works at NAVCOM once or twice a week depends on her roster at the hospital"
"Yes, what aren't you saying"
"Some one change them they got Grace working either at the hospital or at NAVCOM and as well called in for any ship medical emergency and as for translator when she not on duty"
"That can't be right, Grace only get called in if she on duty not why she off duty as well... How long has this been happening"
"Since we left port... Mike said he work it out she work for over ninety hours this past week. He went to see her after getting your message, she collapsed in his arms" Pete shook his head
"Mum was right"
"Yes she is but your wife is one hell of a fighter" Kate said with a grin
"I know that X"
"Buffer when Grace regain cosiness she was fighting the nurses and doctors they had to sedate her... she wasn't her self any idea" Pete thought about it and nodded
"Grace told me when she was at the academy group of gap year students went in to her room and woke her up one night, They attack her cause she reported them. They beat her up. She spent ten weeks in hospital. She couldn't fight back cause they hand cuff her hands to the top of the bed. She suffer broken nose seven broken ribs, one of the broken ribs punched lung, eternal bleeding, both legs broken, broken wrist. She didn't scream once. She wasn't going to give them that pleaser"
"Oh god Pete I had no idea"
"Not many knows about it. She was found hours later on the floor naked and she was covered in bruises. When she was found they almost didn't recognised her. When she did recover. She told her instructors that one day pay back will be a bitch then they and every one would know who did it. She spent every free time she got working out getting physical fit. She put all her anger together and use it at the gym and at training till she past every tests that the academy has given and with the scores she was able to get in as officer cadet. The day before graduation she saw the group that attack her in the mess hall she walk over to them and challenge them all hand to hand in the gym. They laugh and started calling her names she called them a chicken so they decided to accept her challenge. Word got around and when the time came every one showed up including the academy commandeering officer. He wanted it stop. Grace walk over to him and rip of her navy badge and put it in his hand and told him 'since you cover up what happen to me I'm going to make your son and his friends pay for what they did to me'"
Kate was shock but she let Pete carry on talking not knowing to Pete that Nav, Swain, Charge, spider, bomber and two dads were standing not far away listening to what going on
"What happen next"
"She turn around and step on the mat and told them 'bring it on' they laugh as her then they went to attack her at once. One of the guys hit her in the face and that cause her to punch him one then the others got in and hit her it was over in under ten minutes. She beat the shit out of them all that anger that was in side of her was realest. Then after wards the CO wanted her arrested for attack the students, she laugh in his face and told him... 'take cadet officer badges and stick them up your ass sir I did not join the navy so ass holes like you could cover up assaults and attacks that your son and his mates have done'... then she turn around when he grab her arm, she turn to him and told him to remove his bloody hand from her arm. He yelled at her telling her that she a weakling, she laugh in his face and told him... 'if I was a weakling then how come I one person was able to beat the shit out of six cadet officers'..." Pete turn and look out over to the sea
"He called her a bitch, a nark and that she deserve to be beaten up. She asked him if he knew about the six that beat her up and left her to die. He said he knew about, his son told him... She punch him once and it knock him out and she look up at the other officers who was shock with what their Co has said and she told them all...'I came to join the navy to help protect Austrian waters, to help save and protect others and not have have things like another officer or crew beating or sexual assault sweep under the rug. I...we shouldn't have to put up with this. If any of you felt the same remove you ranks and drop them on the ground if you feel the same way' then she walk out. Grace said she was out side for few seconds when others started walking out with out their ranks. The Co and the six cadet officers ended up in hospital for three days they all were under a rest for what they did... Graduation was delayed. None of them showed up the next day for graduation. When the top brass found out what happen they showed up to find out what was going on and they spoke to Grace that morning about what happen to her and what happen the day before. The talks lasted for three hours. When she walk out side every one was waiting for her. She told them all that the commodore and the six cadet officers has been arrested and the charges are going to stick and there going to be further charges once the investigation has been completed since some others had come ford giving the admiral their statements on what the six have done to them and how the commodore knew about it." Pete turn back to Kate
"Grace order them all to get change for graduation. After that day the admiral been keeping an eye on Grace for the next five years till he retired."
"What about the six cadet officers and commodore"
"They were charge and sent to prison. The commodore got fifteen years and for the six... forty years each. Grace found out that they sexual abuse seven other cadet officers. They ended up leaving the navy cause of it... two committed suicide a month after leaving. The other five got apology from the admiral and cause of what happen they all get navy pension and full befits for the rest of there lives as pat of the compensation for what happen to them"
"What happen in the hospital with Grace do you think..."
"It could be. She was protecting her self if she came to and saw doctors and nurses hovering over her at once... it could of brought up what happen to her years ago and made her fight them" Kate nodded then she notice Pete was starting to smile
"Grace hated being in hospital even after the twins was born two hours later she wanted to go home. If it wasn't for you and the crew visiting every days she would of walk out of the hospital carrying the twins"
"Well she going to be in there for two or three days" Pete chuckled
"Knowing Grace she will want out tomorrow... perhaps I should call her tomorrow morning"
"Good idea" Pete look out to sea again while thinking then he turn to Kate
"X I think I know who might changing the rosters"
"Who"
"Lieutenant...Robert Marsh. Grace saw him couple weeks ago at NAVCOM,It was his first day there since his transferred. He was shock with her rank and made a comment while she being a translator for Kingston and FFV boat. What was it he said... He said 'she must of sleep her way up to commander' that what he said not knowing who I was since and I showed up my civies. Grace heard him and turn to him and have him a piss off look. After wards when we were in her office she told she heard what he said. She meet him during a course at Watson bay and that she reported him for trying to seduce one of the other female midshipmen. Some how he must of gotten away from captain table or he got a slap on the hand. I don't know. But I think he might be the one"
"Why revenge"
"Could be I don't know"
"I'll go and contact Mike, will you be ok"
"Yes" Then he turn around to the shock crew
"I knew you were there"
"How did you know" bomber asked
"I can smell you guys from here especially two dads horrible after shave" The others laugh
"Hey there nothing wrong with my after shave women likes it" bomber rolled her eyes
"Please, are you trying to make me barf two dads, buffer right it is horror able"
"And how would you know" Two dads turn to her with his hands on his hips.
Bomber did the same while looking in to his eyes "I know cause I'm a women and I hate it" Then she turn around and walk towards the front of the ship. The others laugh
"She got you mate and she right" Swain said as he follow bomber then the others did.
"Come on it can't be that bad" Pete watch them as they walk back the way they came.
He turn around again and look out over the sea doing a lot of thinking for the next couple of hours before standing up and heading in side.
Mike was in his office when Kate called him and told him what Pete told her. When he finish talking to her on the phone he went to find out more about lieutenant Marsh whom is on duty at com center. So Mike was able to bring up his file to find out more about him and about the assault charge that was against him few years ago.
From what he read on the guy file it show he was convected of the attempted to rape but the women in question with drew the complaint with in three days of making it. But it got on his record about what happen and that Grace eye witness testimony was still there. Then he notice two other charges against him for assault one was a man who died in car accident the day after the assault and complaint happen so with out his testimony they couldn't convect the lieutenant.
The women was the lieutenant wife. She divorce him after she found out about the attempted rape on the navy women. He hit his wife once and that she left after that happen and reported him to his CO whom had the lieutenant arrested and charge only to be drop when she didn't show up at the captain table so it would have been the lieutenant word against his CO.
Then Mike check out and notice that the next day the lieutenant was transferred to a different posting. After Mike read what was said in the guy file he printed it out and walk in to Steve office.
"Steve I know who the number one suspect is" Then he past Steve the information
"Lieutenant Marsh, are you sure" Mike look over to the guy who was looking at him then turn back to Steve
"Kate told me. Buffer told her what Grace told him about lieutenant. Grace and the lieutenant did a course together at Watson bay" Mike leans ford and move papers around and point one part to him
"Grace was a witness to the lieutenant trying to seduce a navy officer which almost turn the lieutenant almost raping the women" Steve read what was on the guys file
"How the hell did he manage to get away with it, and why wasn't I inform of these charges"
"I have no idea Steve but from what Kate tells me this lieutenant Marsh would try to get revenge on Grace for what she did to him" Steve look up at Mike
"Change the rosters"
"That my best guest also"
"Ok Mike leave it to me and I'll ford this on to who ever in charge of the investigations. In the mean time we need to find a translator replacements" Mike past him a file
"Here are the other translators what what language they can speck. I've already contacted them and these are the dates that they can do for the next two weeks" Mike past him another file which Steve open it and nodded
"Good work mike, leave it to me" Then the phone rings
"I'll leave you to it" Mike said as he walk out the door just as Steve pick up the phone.