Fire for Effect by Kendall McKenna

Author:Kendall McKenna [McKenna, Kendall]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: gay romance, military
Publisher: MLR Press LLC
Published: 2013-11-27T05:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER EIGHT

Jonah whistled the opening bars of the theme song to ‘Welcome Back Kotter’ and Kellan couldn’t quite stifle all of his laughter. It had taken many weeks, some stern words from Senator Gilchrist, and finally a private meeting between the Senator and Secretary Burnett. Kellan wasn’t privy to what had been said in that meeting, but the Secretary had finally relented and approved Kellan and Jonah to fly to Camp Leatherneck in order to interview Gunnery Sergeant Galen Foster.

“I admit, I didn’t think we were going to get clearance to come here,” Jonah said, his breath warm on Kellan’s cheek as he leaned over his shoulder to watch their descent.

“Honestly, neither did I,” Kellan concurred, admiring the stark beauty of the Afghan countryside. “Secretary Burnett is keeping his word and facilitating Hammond’s and Giammona’s investigation, but he has solidly stonewalled us.”

“Which means there’s something there to find,” Jonah concluded darkly.

“Mmm.” The 747 banked and the sprawling features of Camp Leatherneck came into view.

Designed to accommodate 20,000 Marines, Camp Leatherneck was a combination of single-story, pre-fabricated structures and beige colored tents. Marines slept on cots, twenty to a tent or 2,000 to a structure. As austere as it was, it had been built up extensively since its establishment just a few short years before. The 3,282 yard runway they were currently landing on was just one of the new and improved features.

Jonah stood and retrieved their bags from the overhead bins. He pulled their sidearms from inside the bags and handed Kellan’s to him. All through the cabin, passengers were donning holsters and handguns. Their flight had originated at Ramstein Air Base in Germany, so all passengers were military or CIA.

With their nine millimeter Berettas secured in their thigh holsters, Kellan followed Jonah down the stairs of the plane. Jonah paused to place his utility cover on his head. He was dressed in his desert MARPAT cammo utilities.

Kellan had worn and packed the most practical civvies he could find. Cotton tee-shirts, light-weight, long sleeved cotton shirts to protect from the sun, Carhartt canvas pants and beige lug soled boots. He pulled his Padres ball cap down over his eyes and slid on his sunglasses. Jonah called his shades ‘snivel gear’, but Kellan just smiled in response.

“Would you be Mr. Kellan Reynolds, sir?” asked a corporal standing at the bottom of the stairs.

“I am,” Kellan replied, stepping onto the tarmac. “My aide, First Sergeant Jonah Carver.”

“First Sergeant,” the corporal greeted with a nod. “I’m Corporal Ruhl. I’ve been tasked with escorting you to meet with the base commander, Colonel Chuck Mills.”

“Lead the way, Corporal.” Kellan fell into step beside the young Marine, Jonah close on his six.

“I trust you had a pleasant flight, sir?” Ruhl asked politely.

“We did, thank you. Is this your first deployment?” Kellan had long ago mastered the art of small talk.

“No, sir, my second,” Ruhl replied. “When I complete this one, I hope to be accepted into BRC.”

Kellan nodded. The corporal knew exactly who he and Jonah were.

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