Chain of Command (19 page)

It was what Mason was good at. The service taught you to be a chameleon. Sometimes you had to kiss a little ass and sometimes you had to kick some. Mason figured that he probably could’ve picked up another star if he’d wanted to, but by the time he’d met Whitworth, he’d gotten bored with the Army. Training had thrilled him and combat had fueled him. But those days were gone. Now all he had to look forward to was getting old and being some sort of worthless figurehead. Glen Whitworth had changed all that.

Whitworth wanted to revolutionize the military supply chain for the 21
^st
century. He wanted OrionTech weapons in the hands of every soldier, sailors cruising the Persian Gulf on OrionTech ships and Air Force pilots flying OrionTech jets. He already had an impressive foothold, but he wanted more. Mason could relate.

While Whitworth wanted to wine and dine the political elite, Mason wanted to be with the troops, smell the briny ocean and feel the downdraft of a lifting chopper. It was a perfect match. While Whitworth stepped out of his role as CEO and redoubled his efforts on Capitol Hill, Mason could focus on his public role as CEO to help the troops. It didn’t hurt that he’d be making millions in the process.

So to Mason, the marriage with Whitworth and OrionTech was as close to a four leaf clover that he’d ever found. He could go on experiencing the thrill of military life while earning a very comfortable living.

He was thinking of all these things when he heard a knock on his door.

“Come,” he said reluctantly.

His secretary poked her head inside. “General, I have someone here who would like to speak with you.”

“I told you I needed the day. No meetings,” he replied.

“But, sir, the gentleman has a letter from the Commandant of the Marine Corps himself.”

That got Mason’s attention.

“What does he want?”

“He said he’d been instructed to ask for your assistance with their latest…problems.”

It was too good. The very entity he was trying to crush was coming to him for help.

“Please show him in.”

The secretary disappeared and a moment later a young man in a button down shirt and sport coat walked in. He looked vaguely familiar, but Mason couldn’t place him. The door was pulled closed by his secretary, who retreated back to her desk.

“How can I help the Marine Corps today, Mr.…?”

“You don’t need to know my name, General.”

Mason scowled.

“I was prepared to assist you in any way I could, but if you insist on being—”

“Cut the crap, General. Think a little harder and you’ll figure out why I’m here.”

Mason stared at the man and recognition finally slapped him in the face.

“You’re Stokes.” He’d only seen an out of focus picture of the man that Weston Moore had sent him, but he was sure.

Stokes smiled. “The Commandant has asked me to escort you to his office.”

Mason’s unease fell away. “Tell me why.”

“First, I’m sure he’d like to have a chat. And second, the MPs will be waiting to throw you behind bars.”

“And why would that be, Mr. Stokes? What is it that I don’t know?”

“I’m sure you know plenty. Gower. Dead Marines. OrionTech.”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about. Let’s turn the tables, shall we? It’s obvious by your lack of entourage that you have no evidence. You’re pulling the old ‘Marine charge the hill routine,’ right? See if General Mason will admit to something he didn’t do. Well that’s not going to happen. You can tell Winfield that I’m not coming.”

Stokes didn’t move. In fact, he didn’t show a flicker of alarm. “I probably shouldn’t tell you this, but Congressman Steiner is in FBI custody.”

Mason’s stomach lurched, but he kept his face neutral. “Why should that bother me?”

“I have a feeling that the FBI is about to find out that you and Gower are somehow attached to Steiner’s report.”

“You think I would be stupid enough to be a source for him, even anonymously?” Mason laughed. “Maybe Joe Gower is that stupid, but not me, boy.”

“And where is Admiral Gower? Still at the Sandals resort in Ocho Rios, Jamaica?”

Mason crossed his arms over his chest. “If you have an issue with Joe Gower, I suggest you take it up with him.” It was good to know that the Jamaicans had done their job properly. Nobody would ever see Gower again.

Stokes shrugged as if he didn’t care.

“We’ll find him in time, I’m sure. But you’re the one I really want, General. I have a feeling that you were the one that had our Marines killed. We’re close to having everything. And when we do, you and your men are going down.”

Stokes headed for the door. Mason had to give it to the kid, he had some balls marching into the Pentagon and confronting an Army general. He wondered who this Stokes guy really was and how he’d gotten close to the Commandant. That gave him an idea.

“I have a deal for you,” said Mason.

Stokes turned to face him. “Unless it’s a full confession, I really don’t have time.”

“What if I told you that you could get everything you want? Gower. The operatives behind the attacks. Everything.”

“And what do I have to do to get that?”

Mason stood up from his desk.

“Are you a student of history, Stokes?”

Stokes nodded.

“Are you familiar with the tradition of gentleman’s duels?”

Another nod.

“I was thinking that we could do the same.”

“Why?”

“Well, you come barging into my office, questioning my honor. Shouldn’t I have the chance to defend myself?”

“So you want to go outside, stand back to back, take ten paces, and then see who can kill the other?”

“No. I had something more…entertaining in mind. I assume that you have a team at your disposal? One that has seen the flash of enemy gunfire and experienced the glory of battle?”

Stokes frowned.

“I’ll take that as a yes,” said Mason, warming to his idea. “I propose a gentleman’s duel. My team versus your team. I choose the location and the method by which we fight, and if you win, you get my confession and everyone who helped me.”

“Is this what you do all day, concoct moronic ways to pretend you’re still on the front lines?”

The jab hurt Mason more than he would’ve expected.

“I’ve shed more blood for this country than you ever will,” he replied.

Stokes grinned. “I doubt that, but let’s assume I don’t go along with your cowboys and Indians game. What happens then?”

It was Mason’s turn to grin. “If you don’t agree to my terms, there will be more horrific attacks on your beloved Marine brethren.”

Chapter 34

Headquarters Marine Corps

Arlington, Virginia

9:33am, December 11
^th

General Winfield listened as Cal delivered a summary of his encounter with General Mason. He had a half a mind to call the man himself, or better yet, send a platoon to pluck him out of his hiding spot and drag him to jail.

“I can’t believe you’re considering this, Cal. The man is deranged.”

“I don’t know how to explain it, general, but I think he’s all there.”

“So you think he’ll put up his hands and surrender if we win this stupid game?”

“Isn’t it worth a shot if it’ll save Marine lives?”

“We’ve already got our units on high alert. If we somehow—”

“I don’t think that will help. As much as I hate to say it, they really did a number on us before. To wipe out two companies without us knowing? They’ve got friends we haven’t even seen yet.”

“That’s what makes me think that this whole idea is one big diversion. Come find me in the woods while I take a few more pieces out of the Marine Corps’s foundation. It stinks, Cal. Don’t you see that?”

Cal nodded. “I’m not saying it’s perfect. God knows it’s not. But if I can take a small team in, you’re still free to use whatever resources you need to exploit the situation on your end.”

“But we don’t have anything.”

“I have a feeling that General Ellwood left something for us to find. Mrs. Ellwood said that Moore kid was pretty hyped up about it. Why else would he kill himself with an L-pill?”

Gen. Winfield didn’t have an answer. From the start of the whole affair he’d secretly blamed Doug Ellwood for the entire mess. Consciously or not, the man had erred. What would have happened if Ellwood had never been involved? But that was a moot point. It was done. They had what they had.

At every turn it seemed like the enemy was three steps ahead. Yes, the president had turned the tables on Steiner, but a new cloud had just appeared on the horizon, one that could possibly decimate more of his Marines.

Maybe Cal was right. Maybe they should take a chance. He saw now more than ever why the president put such trust in the young man. It reminded the crusty veteran that the United States had been founded by men the same age as Cal. What did that say for his aging generation?

“As long as it’s all volunteers, I’ll go along with your decision,” said Winfield, hoping that he wouldn’t come to regret his decision. Was he just sending five more men off to their deaths?

Stokes nodded. “Don’t worry, sir, it’s the only way we operate.”

They exchanged grim smiles, each already planning for their own contingencies.

+++

9:57am

Gen. Mason almost couldn’t contain his excitement. Stokes had agreed to his proposal, and that meant that the Commandant was on board too. This was what he liked. Head to head. Nothing held back. Only the strong would survive.

Of course, he would have to stack the deck in his favor as much as he could. With the help of OrionTech’s assets that wouldn’t be a problem. After all, what good commander didn’t utilize all the weapons in his arsenal?

+++

Falls Church, Virginia

10:15am

Even though there was plenty of security at the house, Mrs. Ellwood answered the door.

“I’m Neil Patel, Mrs. Ellwood.” Neil stepped to the side so that Diane could introduce herself.

“I’m Diane Mayer, Ma’am.”

The two women shook hands.

“Thank you both for coming. Let me show you to my husband’s office.”

Neil had suggested to Cal that he scour the Ellwood computers for anything that might help the investigation. While Cal doubted that they held whatever Moore had been looking for (surely that’s the first place Gower and Mason would’ve looked), he’d agreed because they’d run into a dead end with Admiral Gower. It was like the guy had been swept from the planet by a cosmic backhand. None of Neil’s techy intrusions had managed to come up with a hint of his whereabouts, and the Jamaican authorities were still searching.

Even though it might be a lost cause, Cal had agreed because there wasn’t much else for Neil to do. While most of their operations necessitated Neil’s assistance, whether through some new gadgetry or hacking, this go-around would be different. Mason had been clear. No electronic gear. Except for the helo they’d be flying in on, they’d be doing it old school. Rifles and non-electronic gear were fine, but anything else was off limits.

“We’ll have ways of knowing whether you follow the rules,” Mason had said. “If you don’t, the deal’s off.”

The guy was an egomaniac, but Cal didn’t doubt the soldier’s ability to turn on a dime. Best to follow the program and win on their own terms.

Diane had come along both to help Neil if needed, and to give a little female companionship to Mrs. Ellwood. The general’s wife was smart enough to understand that the presence of her friends or daughters-in-law was impossible. She’d even seemed pleased when Cal made the suggestion.

“Another woman in the house might do wonders,” Mrs. Ellwood had said.

Diane liked Cassidy Ellwood immediately. Despite everything that she’d been through, she held herself with a strength that Diane could not help but admire. She hoped that her being there would help.

“Is there anything I can do for you, Mrs. Ellwood?” Diane asked as they left Neil in the office.

“Yes. First, you can stop calling me Mrs. Ellwood. My first name Cassidy, but my friends call me Cassy.”

“Okay, Cassy. Was there a second request?”

“Yes. You can tell me how long you and Cal have been dating.”

Diane blushed.

“Oh, I don’t mean to embarrass you, honey. And before you ask, no, he didn’t tell me.”

“Then how did you know?”

Cassy shrugged. “It was the way he talked about you. It’s not the first time I’ve seen a Marine in love.”

Diane smiled. “Was it the same for you and General Ellwood?”

Cassy Ellwood gave a small shrug and girlish smile. “Why don’t you come into the kitchen. I’ll make us up some coffee, and then I’ll tell you about the pitfalls of falling in love with a Marine.”

Chapter 35

North Carolina Airspace

2:44pm, December 11
^th

“How long do you think this guy’s gonna keep us in the air?” MSgt Trent asked over the pounding rotors of the MV-22B Osprey that the Commandant had loaned them. Cal had insisted they find their own transport, but Gen. Winfield was adamant.

“If I’m going to send you into combat, you’ll be flying in on a Marine bird.”

Thankfully they had accepted the Commandant’s offer because they’d been flying in circles for hours. Mason had given Cal a rough outline of where they should loiter, but the large area gave them no clue as to their final destination. The crooked general was supposed to call when he and his men were in position. Then, and only then, would Cal have the coordinates of the objective. Mason said they were free to pick any insertion point they wanted, but that they had until midnight to conduct their final attack.

That would make things more than a little tricky. Mason and his men knew the land. Cal’s team would have minutes to analyze the location, come up with a drop off point, plot an ingress route, and coordinate their attack plans.