Chapter 10
"Hey, George!" Bob Woodward hurried to catch up with Hammond then followed him into the Base Ops VIP waiting room.
"Bob!" Hammond said, holding the door open. "What you doing here?"
"Looking for you."
Hammond made a face. "Don't tell me I'm on your black list, too."
"Nah, just wanted to chat a bit. You headed somewhere?" Woodward took a good look at his friend. George looked even worse than before.
"Aren't I always?" George replied, tossing his briefcase on the laminated table beside the coffee pot. He poured a cup.
"How things been?"
"Just fine," Hammond grumbled. He took a sip of the coffee, grimaced, and dropped it in the trash. "The Joint Chiefs are after my ass, the budget's close to a million over already, my second-in-command's just created an international incident, and I can't get Ka-" He drew a deep breath and looked around the room, away from Bob. "I can't get a cup of decent coffee."
"I can't do anything about the Joint Chiefs, the million, or the international incident- wait a minute an international incident- how'd he do that?"
"Don't ask," Hammond said wearily, waving the question aside. "Too long a story, even if I could tell it."
"Well, if you have a little while, I can do something about that cup of coffee while we sit and talk."
Hammond glanced at his watch and shook his head. "I only got a few minutes- gonna have to just talk, it seems."
Woodward nodded. "All right. George, do you know a Colonel Maybird?"
"Maybird?"
"Something like that."
"I know a Colonel Maybourne," Hammond answered warily.
"He a close friend you yours?"
Hammond snorted. "Never in his or my wildest dreams would we be considered friends."
"Ah, I see." Woodward said, even though he didn't.
"How do you know him?"
"Actually, I don't, but it seems he spoke with Kathryn and-"
Hammond was instantly irate. "What's he doing talking to her? If he threatened or bothered her in any way, I'll-"
"Wait, George! Let me finish." Woodward was alarmed at his friend's reaction. Why would George assume this Maybourne character would hurt Kathryn? What was going on? "Apparently Maybourne talked to her and led her to believe your seeing each other was jeopardizing your career, including your chances for a third star."
He saw Hammond suddenly become very still, his expression almost blank. This, he thought, was not good.
George could bluster for effect and for distraction, and he blew a bit of temper every now and then, but neither was serious. His calm, quiet anger was.
Bob Woodward was neither naïve nor inexperienced. While he didn't know the particulars, he knew George's command was something secret, important, and out of the ordinary and that there would be no investigation should someone disappear on George's order. Probably already had, for good reason.
"Look, it won't do any good if you go-"
"He's been a pain in the ass for my command for years, but this time he's gone too far," Hammond said softly, his gaze focused on a point out the window.
"I have to ask for your word on this, George," Woodman said firmly. He was in the middle and did not want anything happening to his good friend because of what he'd said.
Hammond said nothing, but continued to gaze out across the tarmac, his expression unreadable. Uncomfortable with the thought of what George might do, Woodward was quickly running over a very short list of his options if George refused, when Hammond abruptly answered.
"Don't worry," Hammond said, turning back to face him. "I'll just make him wish he was dead."
"All right," Woodward agreed uneasily. That was about the best he could hope for under the circumstances. "What about Kathryn?"
"It'll have to wait." Hammond said. He took a deep breath and shook his head. "Not enough time to call and I'd rather talk with her in person to try and undo the mess Maybourne made…if I can."
Woodward was glad to see a spark back in his friend's eyes. "Helen and I will call her tonight and ask her and the boys over for ice cream."
George looked away at the mention of the boys and Woodward suddenly realized just how hard this was for George. He loved those boys, as much as he did Kathryn. "She cares for you, George, I know she does. When you explain everything, it'll work out. I'm sure of it."
"Gonna be a long two days," Hammond said, "but not as long as the past few weeks."
The door opened and Hammond's aide stepped inside. "Sir, it's time to board."
Hammond picked up his briefcase and stuck out his hand. "Thanks, Bob."
Woodward shook his hand then walked with him out the door. "Remember, George."
"I will," Hammond called over his shoulder, his voice filled with regret. Striding quickly across the tarmac to the small jet, he spoke to his aide. "Major, I need you to get me an appointment with the President either tonight or first thing tomorrow morning."
"Sir, an appointment with the President on this short notice… I'm not sure I can-"
"Tell them Captain Hammond is requesting a few minutes of the President's time."
The major stopped in his tracks, watching as his commander disappeared into the airplane. "Captain Hammond?"
"What's this about, George?" the President asked, sitting back in his chair, his tie off and shirtsleeves rolled up. He took a swallow of his drink and regarded the man he owed his life to.
"You remember me telling you a while back about that great little gal that came to work at the mountain?" George answered seriously.
"Wait! Don't tell me there's cupid trouble already!" The President grinned broadly.
"This cupid goes by the name of Colonel Harry Maybourne."
"Do tell," the President said slowly, his grin fading. "You name it- what do you want me to do?"
"Well, there is one little favor I'd like to ask…."
Three hours later, shortly before two in the morning, Hammond's assigned staff car pulled away from the side entrance of the White House, the occupant in the back seat smiling broadly. Twenty minutes later, the Air Force Chief of Staff followed him.
Sorry for the short chapters, but it is easier at the moment for me to post this way.
