Page 10 of Bullets and Dandelions

The jail was inside a prefab building. There was a small office at the front with security cameras lining the walls. Behind a heavy metal door were five cells. Each cell had a bed, a metal sink and toilet and absolutely no privacy.

The MP removed my handcuffs and locked the cell door. “Your duty officer will be notified of your arrest.”

“Yes, sir.” A wave of weariness rolled over me, and I collapsed on the narrow bunk. I could finally catch up on my sleep.

“You didn’t search her,” Sergeant Stone interjected.

Shit! The last thing I needed was for him to find my derringer and knife. Standing up, I yanked my shirt up and did a slow circle. “Happy now?”

“Damn.” Sergeant Stone’s eyebrows rose. “Are you anorexic? When is the last time you ate?”

Was he serious? He was wearing my chocolate cake. I gave him a one-fingered salute and sat on my bunk.

A grim expression on his face, the MP asked, “Where did you get all those bruises?”

Running from the Taliban, I had tripped and fallen down the mountainside, but he didn’t need to know that. “Where do you think?”

The MP’s eyes narrowed. “What’s your explanation, Sergeant?”

“I never laid a hand on her.”

Which was true, but I wasn’t done with the jackass yet. I let out a sob and curled into a fetal position.

“I’m notifying your commander of this incident.” The MP stormed off.

I smiled.

“Hey, Tinkerbell!”

I sighed. Tinkerbell? “Are you always this annoying?”

“By the end of the day, I’m going to know everything about you, and I do meaneverything.”

I doubted that, but I was so damned tired; I couldn’t think straight anymore. “Whatever.”

“I’m gonna prove you are the Scorpion.”

“I thought because I’m a girl, I can’t be a sniper.” I closed my eyes.

Sergeant Stone shot back, “They say the Scorpion never misses.”

“I don’t.” I fell asleep.

*****

“Release her immediately,” Captain Harris shouted. “Did you hear me, Lieutenant Moss?”

Lieutenant Moss said calmly, “I can’t, sir. She has been arrested for insubordination, and two counts of assault.”

“Assault?” Captain Harris sputtered. “Who did she assault?”

“A military police officer and a Marine sergeant.”

With a groan, I opened my eyes and checked my watch. Two hours of sleep wasn’t enough.

“Is that true Reynolds?”

I sat up. “Yes, sir.”

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