Page 29 of Fall of the Trident
Someone nearby cleared his voice.“Sir, if you wish to continue your private conversation with Marta, the spare bedroom is down the hall on the right.”
Trevor turned and faced the group as he slid his arm around Marta’s waist.“As you can tell, Marta and I are dating.Before anybody worries about the ethics of reporting us, I’ve already done that.The CNO has approved as long as it doesn’t interfere with our working relationship.Since I don’t believe anyone here knew, I’m confident we can continue our professionalism at the office.”He picked up a piece of cake and a fork.“Dig in.”
“Congratulations, sir.”
“I’m heartbroken, Ms.Merkel.”Lieutenant Woodall slapped his hand over his heart.“I thought you were saving yourself for me.”He waggled his eyebrows.“I have this thing for older women.”
She burst out laughing.“Lieutenant, you smooth talking devil, you have athingfor all women.”She let the double entendre hang in the air, watching the barely thirty-year old squirm.
“Don’t torture my men.”Trevor smiled.“That’s my job.”
“Lieutenant Woodall, most of the women here, who are my age, are single.You know what they say about us older women.”She taunted with an eyebrow wiggle of her own.
Boldly, the lieutenant smiled.“I believe I’ll just have to introduce myself.”He disappeared into the crowd.
Trevor turned his back to everyone and leaned toward Marta.“What do they say about women your age?”
Marta gave him an evil grin.“I think I’d rather show you.If you don’t understand, we can discuss it over breakfast.”
Trevor set down his half-eaten cake.“Do you think anybody would notice if we left now?”
Chapter10
Trevor was exhaustedas Marta drove them to her house.He’d been awake for twenty hours after a restless night.The arrest warrants hadn’t come through until noon on Friday.As a Vice Admiral, Trevor pushed just short of ordering the two-star rear admiral in charge of base operations and the military police commander to meet with him, Captain Don Arnold and Commander Gallagher at an off-base restaurant.Both men had hoped to start their weekends early.Once Trevor explained the seriousness of the situation, they understood the need to cancel their weekend plans.
The nearly fifteen-hundred SEALs stationed at Little Creek weren’t happy either when they were ordered to appear in formation, in dress uniform, at nine on Saturday morning.
Captain Arnold had decided a different strategy from his counterpart on the West Coast.He called the five men to the front of the formation and forced them to face their brothers in arms as they were formally arrested.The military police commander, flanked by Trevor and Captain Arnold, read the important sections of the Homeland Security warrants and gave them their rights.
Then Don, as Group 2 commanding officer, listed the offenses from the Uniform Code of Military Justice that those SEALs would face in a court-martial.He followed that with his version of the Phoenix speech before giving them Monday off.
At Captain Arnold’s request, Trevor had stayed for the meeting of all officers.Many were upset that they had not been informed ahead of time, but Trevor explained the necessary secrecy.
He’d then spent hours knee-deep in paperwork before meeting in Norfolk with other flag officers who’d had men arrested due to the brothel bust.The Assistant Director of Homeland Security joined them midafternoon.Soon, the discussion turned to Homeland’s concerns worldwide and upcoming missions.
Trevor had barely gotten away in time to have supper with all three of his children before flying back home.He’d asked them the hard question; how would they feel if Marta joined them for two weeks of fun in the sun at Thanksgiving?Even Sam agreed that it would be fine.Linda was excited to get to know her even better.Levi was thrilled that he was dating.
He’d boarded the plane home satisfied with hid East Coast trip.He’d missed having Marta by his side.She’d been with him almost every day for months, whether at work or playing on the weekend.With only four other officers on board, the pilot had turned off the overhead lights.Individual lighting was still available but utilized only by a Marine general sitting all the way in the back.
As Trevor tried to sleep, thoughts of Marta at Evan and Genevieve’s party kept teasing his brain.Damn it, he wanted to be there with her.He wanted everyone to know that he was dating the most beautiful, amazing woman.He was tired of hiding their relationship as if it were wrong or dirty.He was proud to have her by his side.
He wanted to be able to take her for drinks at the base club, then out to dinner at the historic Hotel Del Coronado.Hell, he’d like to take her to an upscale resort hotel for a weekend.
But there were so many steps he had to take before he could get to that point.He pulled out his computer and sent an email to the Chief of Naval Operations informing him that he was dating Marta Merkel.To his shock, the CNO, the highest-ranking naval officer in the USA, called him within minutes.
“Trust me, Trevor, I like making calls like this.Usually if someone wearing stars tries to get ahold of me late on a Saturday night it’s because they’ve been caught fucking somebody other than their wife.You deserve to find a good woman, and Marta Merkel is one of the best.I’ve got your back on this one.Just promise to keep it professional in the office.”
“Sir, we will keep doing what we have been doing.I don’t believe anybody has a clue we’ve been dating.”Trevor was pretty sure that was true.
“Good, keep it that way.And while I’ve got you, I like the way your men have handled the arrests after the Homeland Security raids.Pass on my congratulations to them.Have a good night.”
“Thank you, sir.”The line went dead.
One item down.If he got home in time, he’d join his Group 1 men at Evan and Genevieve’s home.The more he thought about it, the more he decided to make a very public display of affection.Since it was late in the evening, he didn’t want to bother his driver, nor warn his aide so he had an Uber waiting for him the minute the plane landed.
A few hours later, he’d successfully put everyone on notice that he and Marta were dating.
Next item, he had to show Marta how he felt about her.
