Ch 11. Where's Kate?
Mike had just left the office and Maxine was looking at the papers in front of her but she didn't see them.
It happened on an evening…
About two months ago
Maxine's POV
After the job I had entered my flat with the purchases and I've them away in the fridge and in the cupboards. After doing that I refreshed myself a bit in the bathroom and changed into civvies. When I just finished supper I've got a phone call on my mobile.
"Maxine White speaking", I said.
"…. Hi, … How…. How's Mike doing?", a voice was asking at the other end. It was a female voice and she sounded rather unsure and sad.
"Who's calling?", I replied determined.
I hate it when people call and they don't say their name!
"How's Mike doing? I just want to know that. Is it that difficult?", the woman asked again, now more tersely and desperately.
My stomach feeling told me to trust the call.
I knew that voice! But, who? Damn who's that?
"Uh, Mike? Well, I've seen him in better days. Still struggling with, yeah, you know what…"
"Oh! … Thank … you", the woman said faltering and she cut the call.
I rose my eyebrows when I looked surprised at my mobile.
Did I really hear a sob after the 'oh'? And did the 'thank you' sounded like someone who was faintly crying?
…
I know that voice. But the connection was bad. Too much back ground sounds. Just like that person was outside.
Who else can ask for the health of Mike? Someone not from here because they see how he behaves nowadays. Who can be concerned about him?
Nikki? Nah, they are friends and she sees him when she's back from a patrol.
Kate?
Yeah she in the first place. But she's dead. Although, we haven't seen a body. Now I recognise the voice. Of course it's Kate! Who else can be so persuasive in asking.
…
Thank God, she's alive!
I redialled the number but I didn't get any connection.
"Hmm, probably she's in witness protection and she's scared to dead", I mumbled.
I wandered to the terrace and overlooked the city.
Can I tell Mike? If I do, he will start asking and looking around and that will make some people suspicious. What can I say? 'Mike, Kate is alive.' Then he will tell me that I'm crazy and he will ask me where she is, but I don't know.
I shook slowly my head.
I have to find out first where she is.
I padded back inside and took a sip from the glass of wine and smiled.
They've played it well. Nobody knew they were a couple, maybe their crew and I.
He nor she did tell it to me after the fight I had with Mike, but I could see the signs. They were always together at the base when they had nothing to do. One day I've got my confirmation when I saw them once in a restaurant, cosy bent to each other talking about everything except about business matters. One week later I saw them together in the supermarket and curiously enough the day after again, on the beach.
Normally I had to pull them apart, but they both are high qualified people, a good team. Why would I pull them apart? It would only have a negative influence on the results. Moreover he's my friend. Why should I be so nasty to him? They may be happy as well.
The last year was a disaster. Mike didn't really get on track again. A few times he was seriously drunk. In the beginning Nikki held her hand above his head and now I'm doing this at Navcom.
The good thing was what I expected. Nikki got promoted and is now CO on Hammersley. Mike and Kate seemed to have her trained well, because she's a hard nut to crack as well. I think that I haven't experienced everything from her yet!
This phone call was heaven on earth! One way or another I have to find out where Kate is!
The next day I called Lieutenant Hawkins from the Fed's .
"Hawkins speaking", the voice grumbled in my ears.
"You're speaking with Commander White from Navcom in Cairns", I said.
"Yes commander, what can I do for you?", Hawkins asked.
"It's about the case of Lieutenant McGregor, one of my people..", but I was cut off.
"Yes commander I know that case", he deadpanned.
"Ok, I want to know where she is", I asked straight away. I didn't like to turn around things.
"You do know she's dead huh", he said.
"No way, she's not! And don't start with that bullshit lieutenant. That's good for the press but not for me!", I said sternly.
"Commander, you're making your own story. She has passed away in that explosion", he said.
"I see, and you seem to be artist in finding good explanations, thus tell me then why I've got a phone call from her last night?"
I didn't get an answer.
"Lieutenant?", I asked and I hope that he didn't close the call.
"Uh, yes. Hmm, impossible, you've heard for sure somebody else", he said a bit too quick to my opinion.
"Nope! I know the voice of my people and moreover she has said her name", I said self-assured. That of her name was a lie, but he didn't have to know that.
"So, I repeat my question, where is she?", I said using the tone when I would interrogate a subordinate who has done something really bad.
"I can't say that! That's confidential!", he snapped.
Yes! With this he just admitted that Kate is still alive. Time for the next round.
"As confidential as the murder on Able Seaman Oliver Lake by your Brigadier Grantley?", I deadpanned.
"Your sailor was killed by the terrorists", he replied irritated.
"Two of my officers have declared the same that Lake was shot by Grantley", I replied.
"That are speculations!", he denied the facts.
"You're doubting the word of officers of the Navy?", I replied indignantly.
Mullholland is still a Petty-Officer, but not for long. I've other plans with him.
"Uh, ah no", he said ill-at-ease.
"Moreover the ballistic investigation pointed out that the bullet in Lake's body was from Grantley's gun", I said using one of my last trumps.
"Uh? You know that? That's classified information!", he said angrily.
"We've got the report before it became classified", I deadpanned.
"Anyhow, this case is classified!", he grumbled.
"Ok, but not from the side of the Navy. When we finish this call, I'm going to talk to the press. I've good contacts you know and they are eagerly waiting for scandals. The one of an innocent sailor murdered by the Feds and that the Feds are trying to shove that under the rug is low hanging fruit for them. Can you see it in front of you already? Lieutenant Hawkins at the front page of all Aussi newspapers with a cover-up scandal. Interesting, not?", I said.
If he doesn't break on this, then he's really ice cold.
I didn't hear anything.
"Lieutenant Hawkins?", I asked sweetly.
"Commander White, you are a bitch!", he grumbled.
Yes, I've got him.
He lowered his voice, "Listen, I'm going to give you an address. If this comes out, then my career is finished and if McGregor dies by your stupidity, then I'll take care that you will be accused to be an accomplice to a murder", he grumbled.
"All right, start telling me something useful now!", I ordered.
"McGregor is Helen Porter now and she works for the Commonwealth Graves Commission in Ypres, Belgium", he whispered.
"Thanks", I said.
"I've never spoken to you!", he snapped and he closed the call.
I couldn't help myself but I had a big smile on my face.
Then I started to realise what he has said.
Ypres? Wasn't that that famous city on the Western Front during World War 1 that has been bombarded for four long years? Around November 11 you see often documentaries about it on tv. Jeez, then she's really at the other end of the planet. Further away isn't possible anymore!
Hmm, now, how do I get our bloke to there without causing troubles?
The next day I searched on the internet site of Defence for participations to commemorations. There were a lot of them in our country, but I found finally occasions abroad. London and yes, Belgium! On November 11 in Ypres and also Anzac Day on Aril 25 in Ypres as well. Perfect!
But I wanted to be sure that that idiot of a Hawkins didn't have said anything to me to get rid of me, so I wrote an email to the Commonwealth Graves Commission in Ypres.
To Mrs Porter,
The historical department of the Australian Navy is actually busy to investigate how many sailors have been involved in the First World War. We are that far already that we have records of the survivors, but we're missing the casualties.
Can you prepare a list of all the buried Australian sailors on Belgian and French soil? We would like to have the name of the cemeteries, its location, the position of the grave, the name, rank and id.
Commander Mike Flynn will be coming shortly to Belgium to participate to the commemoration of Anzac Day on April 25. This is probably the best occasion to hand over the file.
Let me know if this fits for you.
With best regards,
Commander Maxine White
I didn't have to wait long. The next day already I had an answer.
Commander,
The file will be ready and I'm looking forward to meet Commander Flynn at Tyne Cot Cemetery on April 24 at 1500 Hr at the stone of remembrance.
Greetings.
Helen Porter
Yes, now I was sure! 'I'm looking forward', this part of the sentence was obvious. In any other case your style stays neutral. She just not used 'eagerly'.
With a smile on my face I registered Mike as a volunteer for the commemoration in Ypres at Anzac Day. After I had pushed the Register button I felt unsure. Was this a good action? Did I had to interfere with their relation? No? Yes! I only know that she was alive! But what if she had moved on? Then I was going to hurt Mike even more? No! Her reaction was crystal clear!
...
Maxine was brought back to the reality when one of the petty-officers of the operations room knocked the door frame with the latest weather report.
She thanked the man and looked at the report.
Nah! This can wait! I need a strong coffee to process this Mike and Kate thing.
She stood upright and padded to the mess, avoiding Mike's office. She wanted to be alone.
Maxine was spooning milk through the coffee and her thoughts wandered one year back.
How did we get into this shit?
To be continued