Authors Note: Ok! None of the events or occurrences in this have happened, they are just figments of my imagination. I have a plot! Or, since this is me, a dozen little subplots tying all my characters together. So please no lawsuits. I'm really poor. Enjoy and review!
3. A week later…
Sanderson walked down the hall of his new office, a building he had been to previously in his past. He'd spent a good part of his career in the Delta Compound and would probably finish his career in the building.
He had just given the all clear for an entire team to deploy. Was trying to get three operators on another team NEST Clearance.
Then there was the current feud going on with the Seal Teams up in Norfolk.
To top it all off there were three people waiting for him outside his office, which he wasn't even on his way to. With a quick check at his watch Sanderson approached the people.
One was a female, his aide.
Another was Master Sergeant Deon Gibson, an Operator.
The other was a guard who had a package.
Sanderson immediately assessed and determined who was dealt with where and when. "Master Sergeant Gibson, I'll meet you in my office."
There was no arguing or anything, the tall black man silently walked into the office and closed the door.
Sanderson turned to the guard who addressed him, Colonel Sanderson, Base Commander Colonel Steele sent this over."
Thanking the man who usually stood watch over the compound, Sanderson tucked the cardboard package under his arm and looked to his aide as the guard left. "Yes Eve?"
She handed him three pieces of paper. "The first fax is from the Pentagon about something. It got boring after the second paragraph so I'll let you summarize it. The second fax is from Captain Gomez from Norfolk, he's threatening to go to the Joint Chiefs over the situation in Indonesia. Apparently he wants his Seals to get the job. Then the bottom piece of paper is a phone number for the school, your son apparently got in a fight at school. Your wife already took care of the matter and brought him to the base hospital for treatment. But the school called anyway since this is the second time he's attacked another student."
Looking upwards for a moment, Sanderson then nodded, "Thanks Eve."
Sanderson then headed into his office, a slight detour.
Knowing he'd deal with Deon first.
Once he got on the phone with the lively Captain Gomez, it'd be a while before he got off.
He didn't want to open the package from Steele yet. Later, when he was alone in his office.
Then there was the matter of the wife and son. Knowing Diana she had everything under control, he just had to talk her into being a traditional Officer's Wife, so far it wasn't going well.
At the Colonel's appearance Deon asked, "Sir, could you close the door?"
With a nod Sanderson did.
He walked in and dropped the papers and package on the desk, "What can I do for you Gibson?"
The thirty something former Green Beret sat straight up and leant on his CO's desk, "Sir, are you familiar with the attacks happening off base on civilian women? The Parking Lot Offender?"
Vaguely remembering hearing about it on the news Sanderson made a face, "The women getting kidnapped, raped, and killed off base?"
"Yes sir. Well sir, last night Rosie and I went off base to the mall. When we left I went and got the car. I told her to wait in the mall because of that…um, sir, I noticed these guys hanging out in the lot. They were watching her from the cars. They never went near her or anything. But there was something wrong about them being there hanging out. It was late when we went…close to closing time."
Sanderson hung on every word coming out of the man's mouth. He sat behind his desk, absent of any personal objects. Only looking for a phone book. "Did you call the local police?"
"No sir…I didn't want them poking around me."
"Did you get a look at them," was Sanderson's next question.
"No sir, not really. Once they realized that I was watching them they ran off."
The wheels began to turn in Sanderson's head.
He looked at one of his fledglings and told him, "I'll call the locals. Just give the wife a heads up, tell the other guys too. I'll see if I can spread the word through the compound and get the colonel to alert the base."
Deon stood and left.
Formality never a big issue among such professionals.
Once the door was closed behind Deon Sanderson flipped through the phonebook for the greater Fayetteville area, found the police number, dialed and grabbed Steele's package. While the phone rang Sanderson ripped it open and peeked inside.
There were two sheets of paper.
Shaking his head in disbelief Sanderson took them out with weathered fingers.
"Fayetteville Police Department how may I direct your call?"
Sanderson pulled the papers apart, "Yes, I'm Colonel Jefferson Sanderson from base and I need to speak to someone involved with the Parking Lot Case."
"Hold on one minute colonel."
His grayish blue eyes scanned the invitation to the highest-ranking General on base's birthday party. One as a colonel he and the wife would be expected to attend.
In formal attire and no less.
