Retaliation

By R. L. Keller

(Inspired by, but not necessarily based on, several of Pauline’s Contrived pictures. Thanks again, Pauline, for triggering my brain into functioning 😊)

Lee stood somewhat pensively on the walking path, a railing separating him from the actual beach. Behind him a row of tourist-type shops ran just back of a paved portion of the walkway, designed to give visitors a lovely view of the ocean as they meandered along from shop to shop. Today, as dusk was falling, the few people still out and about had a view of Seaview as she sat quietly just offshore. She’d been there off and on for the last few days as Admiral Nelson spent time between meetings on land and doing some underwater surveying for the local marine scientists.

Lee was glad that he had his flight jacket on – he and Nelson had been dropped ashore that morning by FS1 from where they’d been doing the final bit of specimen-collecting for some of Nelson’s personal projects. The evening breeze was coming up and had a bit of a bite to it. The short trip back to Seaview, by skiff when he and the Admiral were ready to return, would be chilly. He’d walked out to the edge of the walkway, expecting to be seen by whoever had the deck watch this hour, and who would send over the zodiac to pick them up. So far, there had been no sign that he’d been spotted. Although puzzled, he was toying with a variety of ‘punishments’ on his XO, and best friend, for the small slight.

A door closing behind him and footsteps approaching turned Lee around and he smiled as Admiral Nelson joined him, having made a quick stop in one of the shops. “It would appear that Mr. Morton has decided that he likes command after all and is in no hurry to pick us up, sir,” Lee teased as Nelson joined him.

“Harrumph,” Nelson snorted, but with a grin of his own. “At least he came back here and didn’t stay where we spent last night,” was added with a grump in his voice, but still with a small grin. “I didn’t think that we needed a radio,” he admitted. “Chip knew where we’d be, and about what time.” Lee nodded, but before he could say anything else there were a couple quick flashes from the top of Seaview’s Conning Tower, and shortly a zodiac came around her nose and zipped toward the two waiting officers. “It would appear that Chip wants to keep his job after all,” Nelson chuckled, giving Lee’s shoulder a slight slap, and they both moved down to the water’s edge.

But their pleasant expressions dropped as Chief Sharkey stopped the zodiac right in front of them. “Where’s Mr. Morton, sirs?” he all but demanded. Lee frowned at the COB’s tone of voice – Chip swore that Sharkey thought himself just under Admiral Nelson in authority. He allowed Lee his captaincy but tried to put himself above everyone else, including Seaview’s XO.

But before Lee could say anything Nelson did, his tone definitely demanding. “You mean he’s not aboard Seaview?” the Admiral growled

“No, sir,” Sharkey answered, his tone now one of more respect. Lee would have smiled if he wasn’t now totally confused. “Once we settled in there,” he waved a hand toward where Seaview rested, “he left Lt. James with the Duty and had me bring him ashore. He’d gotten a message from you…” Sharkey’s voice trailed off.

“I sent no message,” Nelson growled. He glanced at Lee, who could only shrug. “Let’s get back to Seaview and find out about this message,” was the next order.

“And leave him here, sir?” Sharkey all but whined. Lee buried a grin. Sharkey and Chip may have their different ideas of who had the most authority but they did, honestly, value each other.

“We aren’t leaving the area,” Nelson continued to grumble as he climbed aboard the zodiac. “But we know nothing until we know about this supposed message.”

“Yes, sir,” Sharkey answered. As Lee also boarded, Sharkey shoved off, jumped in, and headed back for the sub.

But once in Seaview’s Control Room, confusion still reigned. Lt. James knew only what he’d been told, once called to the Conn; he had no first-hand information about the message. Seaview’s Communications Head, Lt. Sines – who was rarely called anything other than Sparks – when consulted admitted to taking the incoming call, and insisted that he recognized Admiral Nelson’s voice. When Nelson seemed ready to take the man’s head off, judging from the expression that instantly hit his face, Sparks hurried on. “I swear, sir, not only did it sound like you, but you…well…whoever it was, used correct, natural responses and I never got the least idea that it wasn’t you.”

“Did you record the call?” Lee broke in and asked.

Sparks frowned. “I really didn’t think it was necessary, sirs,” he included both officers in his answer.

“Understandable,” Lee told him, but was still thankful when Nelson nodded his agreement. “Anything you remember about Mr. Morton’s end of the conversation?” he asked, now more under control of his temper.

“Not really, sirs,” Sparks told both men. He sent them a slightly embarrassed look. “Mostly it was a bunch of ‘Yes, sir’, a couple ‘No, sir’, and ended with “I’ll be right over, sir’. He had me call Lt. James forward to take the Conn and ordered COB Sharkey to take him ashore; that he needed to meet up with you, Admiral, and return when you and the Skipper were ready to come back.”

“Harrumph,” Nelson grunted.

“Someone who knew we were ashore,” Lee said. Somewhat unnecessarily, Nelson’s instant glare at him plainly indicated. “Sorry, sir,” Lee lowered his eyes.

Nelson snorted softly, acknowledging the apology. “We certainly didn’t keep it a secret,” he admitted.

“No, sir. But I can’t remember any of the people we’ve been meeting with sounding anything like you. I know that you’ve talked to people here that I haven’t met…” Lee’s eyes were still slightly low but his voice was his usual calm firmness.

Nelson nodded, but was still frowning. “So, it was someone who knows we’re here, but not officially part of the reason why.”

“Someone you’ve run into before, sirs?” Sparks broke the sudden silence between Nelson and Lee. “And someone who’s been aboard Seaview.”

“Why do you say that?” Lee wasn’t challenging, but it still came out a bit stiffly.

“Because he knew how to handle the radio call,” Nelson answered before Sparks could, and Lee nodded his agreement. “And whoever it is has kept out of our sight so we wouldn’t recognize him.”

“Yes, sir.” This time it was Lee’s turn to growl softly.

“Someone Mr. Morton ticked off?” All three turned to find COB Sharkey standing quietly close by.

Lee snorted, but shook his head as Nelson glared at him. No way was he going to explain, especially in present company, what had instantly gone through his mind – that the person Chip routinely ticked off was COB Sharkey! But another thought quickly replaced the first. “Lt. Bishop?” he said softly. He shrugged. “We did just kill his half-brother.* Well,” he admitted, “not that anyone else really knows that.”

“But it could have gotten out, despite the gag orders,” Nelson told him. “Sparks?”

“I’ll try to track him down, sirs.” The radioman turned back to his instruments and started flipping switches. Nelson nodded and he and Lee walked to the chart table, still followed silently by Sharkey

The COB only thought silently. Suddenly Nelson turned and Sharkey found himself almost nose to nose with an irate Admiral. “Where did you drop Chip?” Nelson demanded.

“Right where I picked you up, sir,” Sharkey answered, a bit cowed at the sudden change but under control.

“Which direction did he go once ashore?” was the next demand, this time from Lee.

“Actually, sirs,” Sharkey included both of his senior officers, “he seemed surprised that you weren’t there to meet him. I offered to wait with him,” the COB hurriedly added, “just in case there was any kind of mix-up. But he said not to, and walked over to the boardwalk.”

“Did you report this apparent problem to Lt. James when you returned?” Lee continued to press for protocol.

“Ah…” Sharkey cleared his throat. “Ah…no, sir,” finally came out miserably. “Just thought you’d,” he glanced at Nelson, “well, had been detained.”

“Harrumph,” Nelson muttered. He shrugged and shared a quick look with Lee. Nelson was notorious with getting ‘sidetracked’.

“Sirs,” came from Sparks. Nelson and Lee headed back to the Radio Shack, but this time Sharkey went to his usual post just inside the aft hatch.

“Lt. Bishop is reported aboard the SSN Watertown patrolling the Mediterranean, sirs,” Sparks told them. “He could have hired someone?” he added, definitely a question.

Lee shrugged, but Nelson answered verbally. “According to Gregory Bishop, Allen, our Lt. Bishop, is still extremely loyal to me and knew nothing of what his half-brother planned to do.”

Lee sent him a quick glare but just as quickly lowered his gaze, causing Nelson to grin. But it quickly turned to mostly a grimace. “I know, Lee. We can’t really trust anything Gregory Bishop said.”

“No, sir,” Lee instantly agreed, before looking at Sharkey through the clear partition between them, knowing that he’d be easily heard. “Did Mr. Morton take anything with him?”

Sharkey shook his head. “Just grabbed his jacket. I don’t know if he had anything extra in his pockets.”

“Sparks,” it was Nelson’s turn to speak, “call the local authorities and report a missing officer. They can canvas the area better than we can to see if Chip was spotted walking somewhere.”

“Aye, sir.” The radioman turned to his equipment as Lee and Nelson returned to the chart table.

“Now what?” Lee mumbled, mostly to himself.

“We wait,” Nelson none-the-less answered. “If we’ve heard nothing by morning we’ll send out our own search parties. However, I rather suspect that the locals are more likely to talk to their police than strangers.”

“Yes, sir,” Lee agreed, somewhat miserably no matter Nelson’s logic.

“In the meantime, I’m going to call Dr. Christianson and explain the problem. It’s entirely possible that some of his people could start a search as well.”

“Yes, sir.” Lee’s voice this time held more hope. But both men knew that it was going to be a long night.

For the entire boat. Chip was well-respected by Seaview’s crew. Everyone was careful never to tick him off – his ‘punishments’ were legendary. Never cruel, vindictive, or underhanded they were, however, just devious enough to keep everyone on their toes. But he was just as apt to lay praise when due, and everyone greatly appreciated his style of command. News of his disappearance spread like wildfire through the boat.

Dr. Will Jamison heard about it from one of his corpsmen just as he was about to head for the Officers’ Wardroom for supper. “Oh, oh,” was all he said at the time. He and John shared a quick look and Will left Sick Bay. He wasn’t at all surprised not to find Lee there. The first two reactions of stress to hit Seaview’s young captain were lack of appetite and not sleeping. A missing XO, who also happened to be Lee’s best friend, would be causing major stress! Will was a little surprised to have Admiral Nelson walk in just after he sat down, although he kept the reaction well-covered. Nelson poured a mug of coffee, downed it in about three swallows, refilled it, and sat down across from Will, where Lee and Chip usually sat. “I gather no word yet,” Will did say to his boss softly.

Nelson took a long draught from his mug before answering. “It’s early yet.”

Will saw Cookie give him a nervous look from the pass-through to the Galley. He sent Nelson a small smile when the Admiral apparently saw it as well, put down his mug, and went to get a plate and food. When he returned, the plate wasn’t as full as it usually was but Will was just happy to see the man eat at all. “Don’t suppose Lee will show up here.”

Nelson frowned, sent a glance Cookie’s way, and then returned to Will’s soft gaze. “Doubt it,” he admitted before sighing heavily. “Might be a lot of food go to waste tonight.”

* * * *

Chip was confused when Admiral Nelson wasn’t on the walkway to meet him, but not overly worried. The OOM hadn’t been specific about why he wanted Chip to come ashore; Seaview’s XO rarely dealt with the more scientific parts of Nelson’s research beyond what he needed to know to keep the boat where she needed to be. But if Nelson wanted him, then ashore he would go. He did grab a jacket – from what he remembered of the local weather he might need it later in the day. He stood for a bit watching Sharkey return to Seaview before wandering down the walkway. Whatever had delayed Nelson, there was no telling when he’d show up. Chip did wonder where Lee might be – Nelson hadn’t mentioned him during the short call. Chip was careful to keep himself visible as he window-shopped a bit, killing time until one or both senior officers showed up.

There were other people on the walkway, either strolling along enjoying the scenery or going from shop to shop. Or both. Chip smiled to himself as he noticed several couples apparently traveling together. The women would enter the shops while the men stayed outside. He in all honesty wasn’t paying all that much attention until a man, coat draped over his right arm, came up close behind Chip. Chip started to turn, to get out of the guy’s way as he didn’t appear to care how close he came, when a sharp poke in his back from something in the man’s right hand but out of sight because of the coat stopped him in his tracks. “Just keep walking,” came in a threatening voice despite the smile on the man’s face. “Don’t try anything funny.” He gave a little laugh as several women passed them from the other direction, as if he and Chip were friends, his right hand resting against his friend’s back in a casual manner as they walked along chatting.

“Who are you?’ Chip growled, although his voice was low. He was pretty sure that he could take the guy out. Whoever he was, he was about Chip’s height but a good hundred pounds heavier. Also, obviously out of shape as Chip caught a light ‘huff’ to his breathing as they continued to walk, even at a slow pace. But there were too many people around for Chip to risk it. Getting shot himself – for he was all but sure that what was poking him was the barrel of a handgun – barely crossed his mind. The risk of someone else, an innocent bystander, getting hurt had Chip cooperating. At least for now.

The man chuckled again. “You mean you don’t remember your old Academy buddy?” came out pleasantly enough, but Chip could hear the thread of meanness underlying the smile.

Chip took a longer look as they continued to walk side by side. It took him almost half a block to see past the weight, the longer hair, and the full but carefully trimmed beard. “Adam?” He still wasn’t sure.

“Changed a bit since we last saw each other,” came out in a definite snarl.

Chip kept quiet. It had been what, barely fourteen months he settled on, since then Lt. Adam Dawes had come aboard Seaview to oversee the testing of some new charting equipment.** To say the cruise had not gone according to plans was the understatement of the year! Dawes had managed, through deceit as well as outright lies, to undermine Chip’s and Lee’s strong bonds of friendship, not to mention sabotaging parts of the tests. When the truth of his deviousness had come to light Chip had, in a moment of pure hatred, decked the man in front of Nelson and the entire Conn crew. That had never made it into the official report; Nelson had reported the incident as an accident, backed up by corroborating reports from Seaview’s Master-At-Arms and several of the closer crewmen, and Dawes had been unable to refute them. Chip knew that Dawes was planning to leave the Navy anyway and never gave the incident another thought, other than buying Lee a good many beers at BZ’s by way of apology for letting the misunderstandings get as far out of hand as they did. Lee had turned around and bought Chip just as many – for the same reason – and they’d both put it behind them with the promise that it would never get that far out of whack again without the pair sitting down and discussing why – something that had unfortunately not happened with Dawes.

As the pair reached the end of that block and Dawes motioned Chip to take the side street, at that moment bare of other people, Chip stopped walking. “What’s going on? What do you want?”

An even harder poke encouraged Chip to once more start walking but he moved even slower than he had been, waiting for an opportunity to turn on his attacker. “Revenge,” Dawes growled, shoving harder to make Chip walk faster. “Your precious admiral cost me my career.”

“You were going to leave the Navy anyway,” Chip reasoned. “You said so yourself.”

“Yeah. But thanks to Nelson’s reports I was given a ‘Other than Honorable’ discharge and stripped of all benefits.”

“Big deal. You were going to make a bundle with your computer business.”

Dawes actually growled. “Not after Nelson got through. He put word out that I was unreliable, and I couldn’t even get a job at the local computer repair shop.”

“That was your doing,” Chip tried to sound reasonable. “If you hadn’t messed with the calibrations on the new charting equipment…” He didn’t get a chance to finish the sentence. Suddenly he was slammed against the side of a building. A door opened behind him, and the last thing he remembered was the sensation of tumbling down a flight of stairs.

* * * *

Nelson knew that it would be hopeless, but after a meal he didn’t really want but needed to eat he went in search of Lee. He would do his best to get the younger man to first eat something and then get some rest. He’d thought about asking Will and Cookie to whip up a carafe of ‘doctored’ hot chocolate but decided against it. Lee would take one look and know what was being plotted. And Nelson could actually understand Lee’s mood. The two young men had been the best of friends since they first met at Annapolis. Well, Nelson admitted, not the very first. The memories brought a momentary smile to his face. Chip was a bit over a year older than Lee, Lee had entered early on a waver, and Chip wasn’t pleased to be stuck with a ‘baby-faced kid’ for a roomie. That hadn’t lasted long, thankfully. Then the Academy staff began to regret that pairing as it started to become apparent that Chip and Lee, along with a carefully chosen few others, were behind any number of moments of minor mayhem the rest of their four years together. Nothing that even came close to warranting reprimands, although Chip did have to do a “Walking Tour” in the Yard once that Nelson could remember.*** The smile reappeared when he remembered that Lee had actually been the cause, sort of, of the demerits, and asked and received permission to ‘Walk Tour’ with Chip. “Those two,” Nelson told himself with another smile. Chip was never himself when Lee was off-boat, usually for the ONI assignments Lee continued to take. Lee believed them to be part of his service to his country. At least on those occasions they usually had some idea of where Lee was.

In this case Chip had simply disappeared. Well, apparently lured off the boat, and that rankled everyone even worse. No, he could totally understand Lee’s mood. But that didn’t mean that he still couldn’t take a shot at getting Lee to rest even a little bit. There was no telling what he would be needed for in the immediate future.

Easier said than done, Nelson admitted when it took him over an hour to finally track Lee down. He could have simply used the intercom but chose instead to wander around his submarine, in supposed casual pursuit of her captain. After missing him in several locations, crewmen reporting that Lee had wandered through but was no longer there and they didn’t know which direction he’d gone in next, Nelson finally settled at the table in Seaview’s Observation Nose, what was sometimes referred to as ‘Nelson’s Front Porch’. Seaview had remained on the surface since the weather was calm so he watched what he could see out the windows. He poured himself a cup of coffee from the carafe either Cookie or his assistant tried to keep full there. But he didn’t really want it, and it was cold by the time Lee wandered into the Conn through the aft hatch. Nelson watched him walk forward, his eyes dancing over all of the monitors, a habit so ingrained in the man Nelson figured that he wasn’t even aware that he was doing it. He stopped a bit at the chart table and spoke to Lt. O’Brien, who had the Duty that hour. Nelson glanced at his watch – it was almost 1130 hours. “Lee,” he said softly, and watched the younger man say something quietly to O’Brien before joining Nelson at the table, although standing, not sitting down.

“Sir?” came softly. The expression on his face had Nelson figuring that Lee knew exactly what Nelson was up to. It was extremely difficult to get anything past the man. Chip, too, actually.

“If you don’t rest tonight you’ll be in even worse shape tomorrow,” Nelson decided to be direct.

“Yes, sir,” Lee agreed. But he didn’t move.

Nelson half grinned. “Never mind, Lee,” he surrendered. Lee did lower his eyes in the shy look Nelson was so used to, acknowledging his boss. But then nodded quickly and headed back out the aft hatch. It’s going to be one of those nights, Nelson told himself. He stood, poured out the cold coffee, and headed to his own cabin, not holding out much hope that he’d get much rest, either.

* * * *

The news – or lack thereof – wasn’t a whole lot better the next morning. Nelson did notice that Lee, when the pair met in the Wardroom, had at least been to his cabin. His hair was still damp from a shower and he’d pulled on a clean uniform. But Nelson had a feeling that the two cups of coffee Lee quickly drank was all that he was going to have for breakfast and pointedly stared until Lee picked up a plate. There wasn’t much on it when Lee sat down opposite him but at least it was a start.

Will’s wasn’t much better when he came in right after Lee and settled in his usual spot next to Nelson. “I gather no news so far,” he said, not specifically to either senior officer.

“No,” Lee grumbled, started to stand, took a look at Nelson, sat back down, and took a bite of what little food he’d put on his plate.

“The police reported,” Nelson took up the conversation, “that several people did mention seeing a man dressed in khaki’s walking past some of the shops about the time Chip would have been there. But apparently he didn’t go into any of them, and then disappeared. They didn’t really see him walk away, he just was there and then he wasn’t.” Lee rather savagely stuffed a piece of toast into his mouth, Nelson and Will shared a quick look, but Lee chewed slowly and stayed sat. “It was late, of course, by the time the police were notified,” Nelson continued. “We’re going to send a few chosen crew over once the shops open for the day, talk to the shopkeepers again as well as anyone else out and about this morning, and show Chip’s picture around. With luck, someone will remember something, give us even a little bit more information we can use.”

“He can’t have just disappeared,” came from Lee’s direction, barely audible to the other two.

“Has…” Will started but stopped himself, realizing that it wasn’t the time to ask if anyone had checked the area hospitals. He could only shake his head when Lee seemed to read his mind.

“The police checked the hospitals, Jamie, and any doctors who have private offices. No one has seen him.” Will could only nod.

* * * *

Chip slowly regained consciousness, and then wished that he hadn’t. His head was pounding, his vision blurred, and it seemed like every part of his body was sending out messages of pain. He finally noticed that he was laying on hard concrete and tried to move. That’s when he discovered that he was bound, his arms behind his back and attached to whatever bound his feet, his legs bent back at the knees. He wanted to scream but tape was wound over his mouth, and from what he could feel went all the way around his head, leaving him no way to scratch it off even if he could find something to hook it on. Which there wasn’t – the ‘wherever he was’ was a bare room of some sort. He vaguely remembered the stairs, and figured that he was in some sort of basement. There were no windows; there was a door, but in his present state he couldn’t even attempt to get to it. He had a momentary vision of the cabin where they’d finally found Admiral Nelson when he’d been kidnapped a few months earlier, and figured he knew a bit of what his boss had felt when he’d awakened there.* It wasn’t reassuring. On the other hand they did find him. Chip knew that Nelson, and especially Lee, would move heaven and earth to track him down. He just needed to stay alive until they did.

He had no idea what Adam’s plans were. He’d said something about revenge, but what did kidnapping Chip have to do with it? Everything that had happened to Dawes had been his own fault – admittedly with a push to the right people by Admiral Nelson

Seemingly in answer to his thoughts, the door opened and Dawes looked down on him with what Chip could tell even with his distorted vision seemed to be a look of disgust. “Rats. I was hoping the fall would kill you,” he all but spit out. “Let Nelson know what it feels like to lose what he values most,” and Dawes left, slamming the door behind him.

Huh? Chip’s aching head tried to grasp that thought. Why would Dawes think Chip was Nelson’s favorite? That didn’t make any sense. It was Nelson and Lee who had that ‘something special’ connection, the almost father/son relationship. Not that it bothered Chip in the least. He was glad that Lee had that kind of father figure in his life, and knew that Nelson finally had the son he would have wanted for himself. Chip lost consciousness not understanding Adam’s illogical logic.

* * * *

It was a solemn but determined group of Seaview officers and crew who headed for land shortly before 1000 hours, when most of the series of shops along the walkway would open for the day. The search party consisted of Admiral Nelson, who had already contacted Dr. Christianson but was now going to meet with him and his people in person. Lee, of course went, as well as Seaview’s MAA, Chief Hauck; he’d volunteered, and both Nelson and Lee thought that a good idea. Seamen Kowalski and Riley, and COB Sharkey, rounded out the group. Seaman Patterson brought them over in the zodiac and wanted to stay as well. But Lee was unwilling to leave the small craft unattended and sent him back to the boat.

COB Sharkey and Riley headed in one direction, stopping everyone they met and going into every shop, showing Chip’s picture and asking if anyone had seen him. Chief Hauck and Kowalski headed in the other. All carried their cellphones in case they came up with any new information. Lee went first to the police station, just double-checking for any additional information before wandering back to where Chip had last been seen. Nelson called him for any updates and said that he was going to stay with Christianson for the time being. The scientist’s people were out talking to as many people as they could, friends who may have seen or heard anything relevant, and Lee agreed that sounded like as good a plan as any.

As he stood, once more pensively and in almost the same place as he had been the evening before waiting for Seaview to notice him and send the zodiac for he and Nelson, there was a call of “Skipper.” He turned to the right and saw Kowalski wave to him, and he hurried that direction. “Skipper,” Chief Hauck spoke first, “We found a couple who had been out for a walk before headed to dinner. They were pretty sure they saw Mr. Morton with another man. Said they seemed to be friends.” Lee stared at him but Hauck could only shrug. “That’s what it looked like to them, sir.”

“Description,” Lee demanded.

“Very heavy-set; at least 250 pounds or even more. Longish hair but neatly trimmed full beard. They were walking slowly, so when the couple stopped to look in a shop window the woman said she glanced back and was surprised that they were no longer in view.” He pointed. “That side street is about the only place they could have gone.”

Lee grabbed his phone and buzzed Sharkey. “Get back to this end of the shops now. We’ve had a sighting.” He didn’t give the COB a chance to respond before he ended the call but it couldn’t have been two minutes before he and Riley jogged up. Hauck repeated what he’d told Lee and everyone started down the side street, making note that it was more alley than an actual street.

Lee hadn’t noticed until now, but wasn’t surprised to see, a slight bulge at the small of Chief Hauck’s back under his jacket. He’d considered bringing his own service revolver, but without an actual target had thought it might be a bad idea walking into the police station with a concealed weapon. He, Sharkey, and Riley started down one side of the street, checking any door they happened to come to. There weren’t many and all were locked. Hauck and Kowalski walked slowly down the other side doing the same.

They were about two-thirds of the way to the other end, to what looked like it might be another street with shops, when Lee noticed Chief Hauck look down and start searching closely around what looked like a panel of some sort, but not quite a door. Curious, he walked to that side of the street. “There was a scuffle here,” Hauck told him. He pointed down. “And not that long ago. With the mist from the ocean these marks wouldn’t last long.” Lee nodded his agreement. “Nothing to say it had anything to do with the XO,” Hauck admitted.

As Lee nodded, Kowalski happened to put his hand on the panel, sort of leaning on it, and it moved under his hand. “What the…” started out of his mouth. He stopped when he saw Hauck’s revolver suddenly in the Chief’s hand. He looked at Lee.

“Slowly,” Lee warned, and kicked himself for not having brought his own weapon. With a slightly sheepish look COB Sharkey pulled his own service revolver from the small of his back and offered it to Lee. With a shake of his head, as well as a slight smile, Lee waved off the weapon. “You two,” he indicated the two Chiefs, “go first.” Both nodded and looked at Kowalski, who leaned a little harder on the panel. Acting like it was on strong springs, it took the rating a little effort but the panel did open to reveal a set of concrete steps headed down. “Don’t suppose anyone thought to bring a flashlight,” Lee lamented.

Chief Hauck took a step forward. “It’s not completely dark. Must be some partial windows somewhere.” He looked around. “Like that one,” he pointed to a wall of a building on the other side of the street. A grate covered an opening next to the wall of the building, a small window visible in the wall under the grate. “Window well,” he continued. “With grates so no one falls in the hole.” Lee once more nodded to the two Chiefs and the pair started down the steps.

They all startled when the panel snapped shut the instant it wasn’t being held. Once they figured that out, Kowalski leaned on it heavily until everyone was inside, then stepped in himself and let the panel once more snap shut. At a nod from Lee, Kowalski leaned on it from the inside but it didn’t budge. “Well, that means we find another way out,” Lee told his men philosophically. They all nodded and continued down the steps to the bottom. There they stopped again and looked to Lee for their next step.

Lee took a look around; they were definitely in a basement but it looked deserted, like it was no longer in use, and hadn’t been for some time. “Spread out,” he told the group. “Search everywhere you can get into, but don’t get too far from everyone else.” There were hallways headed in several directions and everyone started their search, all keeping an eye on where the two guns were stationed.

Lee was checking along the area adjacent to the street wall, simply because there was a little more light there where he could watch for scuffs made in the layers of dust but not finding any, when there was a yell from down one of the darker hallways. Everyone ran to Riley who was trying to open an obviously locked door. “Thought I heard something,” he told the others. “Could have been a rat,” he backpedaled. “Just saw one scurry off that way,” he pointed down another hallway.

“Needs to be checked out,” Lee assured the seaman, and rammed the door with his shoulder. It didn’t budge.

“My turn, sir,” Chief Hauck said. He handed his weapon to Kowalski, standing next to him, as Lee reached with his right hand to cradle his now sore left shoulder. Hauck turned his back to the door but let loose a hard kick backwards to the area that appeared to be the locking mechanism. The first kick didn’t have much of an affect but the second one splintered some of the wood, and the third popped the door off of its hinges.

“Skipper,” Sharkey, the first through the broken door, shouted, and Lee plowed past Hauck retrieving his gun from Kowalski. Laying in the corner of the dark room was a khaki bundle. Lee didn’t know what else to call it. With a sharp intake of breath he knelt by the bundle, his first thought that they were too late, that Chip was dead, and he almost couldn’t touch him. But a slight rise of the blond’s chest said he was still breathing. Closer inspection showed him to be unconscious, however, and Lee quickly reached into his pocket for the knife that always lived there to start cutting Chip’s bonds. Kowalski, kneeling next to Lee, stopped him from immediately moving Chip and started running his first-aid-trained hands over Chip’s body, checking for major injuries. Lee took a deep breath while the rating went to work, and turned to Chief Hauck.

“Look for a way out,” he ordered the MAA, who immediately turned and headed off while Sharkey continued to stand guard. Riley, Lee noticed, was on his phone, calling Seaview. Lee didn’t think that he’d get a connection down here but the seaman was obviously talking to someone.

Hauck showing up with a “Found it” coincided with Kowalski telling Lee, “I think we can move him if we’re careful, Skipper.” Lee started to help the rating but the shoulder he’d smashed into the door suddenly objected.

“Got it, Skipper,” Riley stepped in.

I’m never going to live this one down, Lee told only himself as he stepped back and watched the two seamen. They carefully sat Chip up then, one on each side, pulled Chip’s arms over their shoulders, gently taking hold of his wrist, then getting a good grip on the XO’s belt they lifted him up between them. Lee walked next to Kowalski as they followed Chief Hauck down a corridor that grew progressively lighter until it ended at a grated gate overlooking a park. Lee knew immediately where he was; the meetings he’d attended were in a building right around the corner. The grate was locked, but gave way to the butt of Chief Hauck’s revolver before he hid it once more under his jacket. The group garnered a good many curious looks as Lee lead them around two corners to find themselves back at the original row of shops, and a shout made them look to where Seaview’s zodiac was just pulling up to the beach.

It turned out Riley hadn’t reached Seaview but he had reached Admiral Nelson, who promptly scurried to the same place as he called Seaview. Besides Patterson, the zodiac held Doc Jamison, immediately all business as he had Chip laid in the bottom of the zodiac. With Chip there, there wasn’t really room for everyone else. Admiral Nelson said that he’d wait, and spend the time calling both the police and Dr. Christianson to stop their searches. Lee said that he’d wait as well, as did Chief Hauck. Lee kept a small grin to himself; apparently the MAA was unwilling to leave his senior officers ashore undefended. Lee had to admit, without knowing exactly what had happened to Chip it made perfect sense. But he still smiled.

In less time than Lee thought possible, Patterson was back with the zodiac to take he and the others ‘home’ to Seaview. Nelson and Lee both made a beeline to Sick Bay to check on Chip. Lee heard Chief Hauck start to double the deck watch, with Seaview staying on the surface. While he thought an attack on the submarine herself unlikely he wasn’t about to countermand the order, just in case.

When the pair entered Seaview’s large medical area they found Will standing alone, writing on a chart. Before Nelson could do more than open his mouth to demand what the blazes was going on, the doctor uttered one word. “X-rays.” Nelson closed his mouth.

“How long?” Lee asked.

Will took a deep breath. “Go get coffee.” Nelson grumbled, but dragged Lee down to the Wardroom.

As they walked back into Sick Bay, both with mugs of coffee in their hands, Frank was just wheeling a gurney, a still unconscious Chip on top, back into the main room from the surgical area that also housed the X-ray equipment. The blond had been stripped of his uniform, his body covered with a sheet pulled up to under his chin. Will was standing in his office scanning X-rays on his computer screen. “Well?” Nelson demanded.

“Battered and bruised over 65% of his body but nothing broken. Amazing.” He shook his head and sent Lee a look. “He’s got a harder head than you. Didn’t think that was possible.” Nelson snorted as Lee glared at the doctor, but Will sent both men a small smile as he joined them, and watched both corpsmen transfer Chip to a lower bunk. “He’s got a concussion, but no sign of a skull fracture.”

“Has he regained consciousness?” Lee wanted to know.

“No,” Will told him, somewhat unwillingly. “But all signs lead me to believe that he will before too much longer. All vital signs are strong. He’s just going to be really sore, and have a really nasty headache, when he does come around.” Lee started to grab a chair, to sit with his friend. “No!” Will told him strongly. Unfortunately for Lee, Nelson backed up Will.

“Neither of us have had any sleep for way too long,” Nelson told Lee, not unkindly. “Our bunks,” he specified in case Lee thought to just curl up in one here. “I know that it’s barely 1430 hours but we all need the extra rest after the last twenty-four hours.”

Lee sent his best friend a long look but finally turned toward the door. “Yes, sir,” he acquiesced, and left.

“That went too easy,” Will mumbled not quite under this breath. Nelson half-heartedly chuckled but patted Will on the shoulder before he, too, turned and left. “Way too easy,” Will told his two corpsmen, still standing close by, who sent him grins for the crack. “Any bets on which one gets here first in the morning?”

“Depends on what you mean by morning, Doc,” Frank smarted back. “I figure the Skipper might make it to 0500 before he shows up.”

Will chuckled. “Good point. John, you’ve got first watch. I don’t trust either one of them to actually get a decent night’s sleep so I’m bedding down in the far bunk.” Both corpsmen chuckled, but they all knew that it was going to be a restless time until Chip was able to explain what had happened.

* * * *

Frank hadn’t been too far off; Lee hit Sick Bay’s door at 0545. Will was already up; he merely shook his head and placed a chair next to Chip’s bunk. Lee ducked his head ever so slightly but immediately settled onto the chair, scooting it a little closer to Chip’s head. He did send Will a grin when Nelson walked in barely fifteen minutes later. But before anything was said, Lee noticed Chip’s eyes start to crack open. “Don’t get excited, either of you,” Will warned. “Chip’s been awake, well, sort of, half a dozen times already.” He got glares from both Lee and Nelson and sent them both a quick nod. “Wouldn’t have done either of you any good; he hasn’t been aware enough to answer questions and would immediately go back to sleep. But he is getting better,” he assured both men.

This time, however, Will thought Chip’s eyes seemed a little brighter, and Will told Lee to try talking to him. “Chip,” Lee said softly, laying a hand on Chip’s arm. Both Nelson and Will came a little closer. The blond groaned, closed his eyes, groaned again, and finally blue eyes met hazel ones. “You awake now?” Lee asked.

Blue eyes once more closed. “Do I have to be?” came out barely loud enough to be heard.

“We would appreciate knowing the license number of the truck that hit you.” Lee decided that if Chip was feeling well enough to be flippant, he could be, too.

Chip groaned again. “No truck,” came out. “Adam Dawes.”

“What?” Nelson roared. It caused Chip to cringe as the volume assaulted his already tender senses. Nelson caught the gesture and immediately softened his voice. “The description we got was a very heavy-set man.”

Chip tried to nod, discovered just how sore he was, and tried to answer verbally. But before he could say anything more his eyes closed.

“Chip?” Lee tried to get a response but the blond was again asleep. As Lee gave his arm a small shake Will stepped in.

“Leave him be, Skipper.” Will’s voice was caring but firm. “He’s likely to be in and out for some time.” Lee turned worried eyes on the CMO. “Chill, Skipper,” Will continued in the same tone. “What he needs most right now is rest.”

“Harrumph,” Nelson muttered, and both Lee and Will looked his direction. “I’ll get on the horn and learn what I can about Dawes’ whereabouts.”

“Maybe someone has a recent picture?” Lee asked. “We could give it to the local police.”

“A long shot,” Nelson told him but nodded, turned on his heels, and left.

“Breakfast, Skipper,” Will tried to get rid of Lee as well. Lee sent him a pleading glance, asking silently to stay. “Didn’t I hear that the Admiral was about ready to head for home?” Will did his best to be logical. “You’re going to be without your XO, meaning you’re going to be twice as busy. You need to keep up your strength for whatever chaos happens next.” It was Lee’s turn to snort, but he shared a quick nod and a grin with the CMO. Unfortunately they both knew the far too possible truth to that comment. With a last look at Chip, Lee rose. “He’s safe now, Skipper,” Will told him. Lee nodded and left.

* * * *

Thirty-six hours later found Lee once more sitting quietly by Chip’s bunk in Sick Bay. This time a small table was next to him, on which he’d placed the dozen or so reports he needed to deal with. The intervening day and a half had been frustrating but uneventful. No matter who Nelson spoke to via the radio, or how loud the conversations became, he was unable to get any information regarding the disgraced former Navy Lieutenant Adam Dawes. The man had seemingly melted into the woodwork after his dismissal, and no one knew a thing about him.

Nor had the local police, once they’d been given a more complete description supplied by a slowly more coherent Chip, been able to find him. They did report thoroughly searching where Chip had ended up – a long-abandoned section of underground used during World War II. They had no idea how Dawes had gained access to it, or even how he’d known it was there. The trap door had recently been installed but was now permanently closed.

Seaview was on her way home. Will told Nelson over a late-night dip into the Admiral’s private stock of scotch that he was sure that he’d felt the submarine herself heave a sigh of relief when she settled into cruising speed. Nelson chuckled. “You’re beginning to sound like Lee, with his connections to Seaview.”

“If you’re going to be insulting, I’m leaving,” Will grumbled before they both chuckled.

Lee was busy jotting down notes on the next to last report – actually one Chip would normally deal with – when he felt eyes watching him. “You going to stay awake longer than three minutes this time?” he said offhandedly as he finished his notes and closed the file, sending Chip a broad smile.

“Why should I stay awake when I can get you to do my reports?” the blond sniped back, and they both chuckled. Chip’s voice wasn’t quite up to its usual level of authority but he was definitely improving. The pair kibitzed a bit about what was happening aboard.

But Lee noticed a hesitation in Chip’s voice, an uncertainty that was very unusual for Seaview’s ultra-competent XO. Lee reached out a hand and laid it on Chip’s arm. “What’s up, pal? What’s wrong?” There was years of friendship and caring in Lee’s voice.

Chip nodded, acknowledging Lee’s reaction, but it took him a few extra seconds to speak. “He just left me there; left me to die,” came out thick with emotion. Lee’s hand on Chip’s arm gripped more firmly. “He was disappointed when I survived the fall down the stairs.”

“He was too much a coward to kill you himself,” Lee told his friend matter-of-factly. Chip stayed quiet, but Lee could see that he was working on something, puzzling over some detail. “What else, buddy?” he asked softly.

Once more it took Chip extra time to put whatever it was into words and Lee sat quietly, patiently. “He was wrong,” finally came out.

“About what?”

“He said he was getting revenge on the Admiral, taking away what Nelson valued most for taking everything from him.” He shook his head slowly back and forth.

“Once more refusing to take responsibility for his own actions,” Lee muttered.

“Not the point,” Chip told him, and Lee raised an eyebrow. “Adam thought that I was the most important thing he could take from the Admiral.”

“Of course,” Lee told him brightly, and grinned when he received one of the XO’s Command glares he was so famous for aboard Seaview. It lacked a little strength but was nonetheless understood and Lee nodded. “He’s a computer nerd,” Lee told Chip. “He doesn’t know anything else. You have control of Seaview’s computers so that makes you the most important person. He has no concept of any other type of relationship.”

“Oh,” came out flat. Chip hadn’t thought about that. “I suppose that I should feel sorry for him.” He saw Lee frown. “But I don’t,” came out with conviction.

“Good!” Chip’s hand came up and Lee grasped it firmly. “Ready to do your own reports?” He pointed to the stack on the table. Chip rolled over, facing the bulkhead, and closed his eyes. Lee laughed all the way back to the Conn.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

* See “Missing” by R. L. Keller

** See “Storm Front” by R. L. Keller

*** See “Walking Tour” by R. L. Keller