LITMIR.BIZ

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on the base talked about how beautiful you are. I see why now.”

      “You’re too kind, Corporal.”

      “Jillian Ely, Ma’am.”

      Rita smiled. “Carry on, Corporal Jillian Ely.”

      “Thank you, Major. Your squad will get my full cooperation.”

      Rita looked at her for a few moments before leaving Headquarters and jumping back inside the Chevy pickup.

      “Did Amanda tell you where on the base she’s quartered?”

      “I know she lives here somewhere.”

      “Why don’t you call her and tell her to meet us at Kats Klub.”

      He nodded, took his phone from his pocket. Rita’s cell rang at that moment.

      “Major Royale speaking.”

      “Major. Its Captain Carol Yates. We’ll be arriving at the base shortly.”

      “Excellent. When you arrive, I need you to go directly to headquarters. Tell the corporal at the front desk to take a break for an hour. She won’t be a problem. Locate Lieutenant Sweet’s office and Colonel Robinson’s office and bug everything. We’ll set up a command post at my office in downtown Sidney. I’ll wait in my office for you. Come alone. Leave the rest of the squad on the base. There’s quarters there for you all. Tell your team to trust no one.”

      “Yes Major. See you at your office.”

      Kats Klub was better than half full. Jazz played softly in the background, women seated at tables and at the bar, most there for the usual Saturday special. Today’s special was fish and chips. Rita and Alex sat at a table; a few women stared at Alex, half-wondered why a male had invaded their turf. Rita took a few looks herself. Amanda soon strolled in wearing sandals, a short navy blue skirt, sleeveless white blouse, no bra, her long dark hair tied behind.

      Alex nodded. “Hey Amanda. I’m having the special.”

      She grinned. “Me too.”

      Rita looked at them both and smiled. “Me three.”

      Nicki placed the beverages on the table, took their order and hurried off to the kitchen. Rita glanced around the room, caught a definite look from a dark haired woman. Quite attractive in fact. She smiled politely to the woman.

      Alex caught the look. “She likes you, Rita.”

      She squinted. “Yeah. Maybe.”

      “Are you ever going on a date again?”

      “Maybe some day.”

      Amanda looked at her. “I saw the picture of your wife in your house. She was very beautiful. Like you, Major.”

      “Thank you, Amanda. Yes, she was beautiful, not just in looks. In other ways too.”

      Amanda fidgeted slightly. “Major, maybe I should have mentioned this before. I’m not sure why I didn’t. When that thing on the pier happened, I overheard Sergeant Lewis talking to someone on his phone. I was one of the guards keeping the people back and he was walking close to me. I had my back to him but I heard him say, ‘One bag is light’.”

      Rita looked at her closely. “Anything else?”

      “No, Ma’am, but I remember thinking he was talking about the three bags next to the dead guys. They all looked full when we got there. I saw them. When they took the pictures of the bags and the bodies, one bag looked different. It looked flatter. I didn’t say anything. I had just arrived two days before and that was my first time out. The new privates, me included, drove in a covered truck and the sergeant had a van. We stopped a half block away from the pier. I wondered why we were just sitting there doing nothing. I asked a corporal and he told me to just keep my mouth shut. So I did. Everyone seemed afraid of the sergeant. Then we heard the shooting.”

      “What about Lieutenant Sweet? Are you afraid of him?”

      “Kind of. He and the sergeant seemed to like each other. I’ve never really spoken to the LT.”

      “Thanks, Amanda. Did you mention this to anyone else?”

      “No, Ma’am.”

      “Do you know a corporal named Jillian Ely?”

      “A little. I think she’s butch. I’m not certain though.”

      “Have you ever seen her talking to the LT or the sergeant?”

      Amanda shook her head. “Jillian works in a different group from me. I don’t really know her except to say hi.”

      “Okay, thanks, Amanda.”

      Rita guessed her team would be bugging headquarters about now. The woman who had earlier smiled at Rita walked to the table wearing what Rita thought was a great looking little white summer dress. Shorter perhaps than she would wear, but quite stylish.

      The woman smiled at Alex. “Hi, are you the boy who painted the outside?”

      Alex was thrilled to be noticed by this older woman. He thought she looked like a total babe. “Yes, Ma’am. I painted the walls.”

      “Very nice. Perhaps you’d like to come and paint my dress shop?” She glanced at Rita, back to Alex.

      “I don’t know anything about dresses.”

      She smiled at Amanda, then Alex. “Well, how about boats?”

      “You want me to paint a boat?”

      “A sailboat on the water might be nice.”

      “I could try.”

      She smiled, handed him her business card, looked at Rita. “Hi, I’m Dianne Franklin.”

      Rita looked up at her. “Rita Royale.”

      “Pleased to meet you, Rita. They’re having a bit of a party here on Friday night. Were you thinking of coming?”

      “I don’t know. I’m very busy at work now.”

      “What do you do, Rita?”

      Rita looked at the wispy woman’s frame, slender legs, long dark hair, dark captivating eyes that smiled, lighting up a quite lovely face. “I’m in the military.”

      She glanced at Rita’s gun. “I should have guessed. You look like a military woman. I hope you find the time to come on Friday. I’d love to get to know you better.”

      Rita squinted. “Why?”

      She just looked at Rita slightly flustered. “I thought it was pretty obvious.”

      Rita grinned, sensed her nervousness. “I’ll think about it, Dianne.”

      She creased her eyes. “Yes, please do think about it.” She smiled at Alex and Amanda and walked back to her friends at another table.

      Alex stared. “She really has the hots for you, Rita.”

      Rita grinned. “You think so?”

      He nodded vigorously. “Yeah. Totally.”

      “Well, when you paint her sailboat you can check her out, make sure she’s okay.”

      “I will, Rita.”

      The major caught Amanda’s eye. “What do you think about that woman, Private?”

      “She’s really beautiful. A total femme.” She smiled a little. “Like me, I guess.”

      “What else did you sense?”

      Amanda thought for a moment. “She’s afraid of your weapon, Major. But I believe she heartily approves of your free swinging and…dare I say it, most excellent tits, Ma’am.”

      Rita laughed. She liked how Amanda could make her laugh. “Interesting observation, Private Slater. You’ll

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