The Glass Girls by Eric Scott Johnston

Author:Eric Scott Johnston [Johnston, Eric Scott]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2012-07-29T04:00:00+00:00

Present- Phnom Penh, Cambodia

The river ferry’s forward loading ramp retracted causing water to fall from its tip for a few moments. It was probably some sort of vehicle ferry, Michael thought. Three people, whom Michael had never seen before, secured two SUV’s to the barges main deck. The barge was 75 feet long with its bow deck being flat. In the middle of the barge was the small wheelhouse while at the back was a covered area where two tables were attached. Behind that area, a small galley with sleeping bunks. Michael sat at the port side table studying a map of the area they are traveling to. He turned his attention after hearing Henry and Marion guiding two other workers across the gangplank. On their shoulders they carried a rectangular object eight feet long wrapped in cloth. Marion pointed to the top of the second SUV where they lifted the object and secured it to the roof rack. Henry waved at a man standing on the dock.

Michael watched Henry walk across the gangplank and shake hands with that man. He looked about the same age as Michael. The two men spoke for a few moments then Henry pointed at Michael. The man looked at Michael and Henry walked with him across the gangplank.

‘Michael, there is someone who wants to talk to you. This is Colonel Tom Drayson, he runs the detachment in the area responsible for recovering Americans lost in conflicts,’ Henry said. Drayson shook hands with Michael. Henry walked away.

‘Are you with JPAC?’ Michael asked.

‘As a matter of fact, I am,’ Drayson said, pleasantly surprised. ‘How did you know that?’ He added.

‘I did a summer internship at the Oak Ridge Institute in college,’ Michael said.

‘Really?’ Drayson said with the same surprise. ‘Well, I’ll be brief. There is a protocol that needs to be followed when a service member’s remains are recovered. If you find your father, we need to bring him back to the central identification laboratory in Honolulu, to make the proper identification to close out the case file.’

‘I understand, but I would rather just take him straight back to Arizona and bury him.’

‘Unfortunately, I have to insist. But here is the upside, when you find your father, I am going to arrange a helicopter to come and get the both of you. After that we will transport both of you to Hawaii. The identification process won’t take long, then we will release the remains to you and you can bring him back to Arizona.’

Michael thought about what he said. He realized he hadn’t even thought about what he would do once he had possession of the remains. He nodded. ‘Okay.’ Michael and the Colonel shook hands. Drayson began walking away but stopped.

‘Mr. Huntington, you said you did an internship at Oak Ridge,’ Drayson said then paused. ‘Did you ever consider a career working for JPAC?’

‘Growing up, all I wanted to do was find missing soldiers,’ Michael said, chuckling at his childhood dream.

‘What do you do now?’

‘I am a-,’ Michael began but stopped realizing that his job as a judge was probably over.

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