Torn Loyalties by Vicki Hinze

Author:Vicki Hinze
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Steeple Hill
Published: 2012-10-17T04:00:00+00:00

SEVEN

With Lieutenant Blake no longer manning the gate to Talbot’s office, Madison wasn’t surprised to see Beecher sitting at that outer desk.

“Been demoted?” Grant asked, a teasing lilt in his tone.

Beecher nodded. “Until this thing with Dayton and Blake is settled, it appears so. But I’m looking at it as a lateral move.”

Madison couldn’t resist piping in to defend Talbot’s choice. “He needs people he can trust close to him.”

“You’ll move up the ranks, Beecher. He’ll see to it,” Grant said.

“Not complaining.” Worry flooded his eyes. “Just hoping when all the dust settles, he’s still standing.”

“What’s going on?” Grant asked.

“It’s best if he explains.” He lifted the phone. “They’re here, sir,” he said into the receiver.

Beecher was more than a little concerned, and for far more than just his own career. That didn’t bode well, and from Grant’s suddenly grim expression, he, too, knew it.

The heavy metal door into Talbot’s office opened and he appeared at it. “Grant. Madison. Thanks so much for coming.” Talbot ushered them into his office, shut the door behind them and then motioned to the visitor’s chairs. “Sit down.”

“You said it was vital we get here right away.” Madison took the seat on the right. The leather seemed to melt under her, soft as butter.

When Grant took the seat beside her, Talbot rounded his desk and sat down in his desk chair. Its springs creaked under his weight.

“It is. I’ve got a dilemma,” Talbot said. “After all that’s happened, I have no right to ask for your help, but I am. This is bigger than me and, frankly, bigger than the two of you. It’s a matter of national security.”

Madison eased her hand in her pocket and rubbed her medal. It clacked against Grant’s pink rubbing stone. “Commander, why don’t you just share what’s wrong? Obviously, whatever we can do, we’ll do.”

Grant nodded, affirming his stance.

“Thank you. Under the circumstances, that’s gracious of you both.”

Gracious? Grant was active duty. He was compelled. Madison wasn’t, but citizens, too, had a duty to assist and a compelling interest in national security. The hair on the back of her neck stood on end. She didn’t know exactly why.

“This is a special case because so much either initiated at the Nest or occurred here. Crawford having access, and now both Dayton and Lieutenant Blake being insiders and indisputably involved in the Crane and David Pace murders...I can’t just haul them into a military court.”

“Dayton knows too much,” Madison said. A vice had to know everything. If anything happened to the commander, the vice had to be prepared to step in and not miss a beat.

“That’s part of it.” Talbot rocked forward, half leaned on his desk. “I’ve had doubts about him, so I’ve withheld everything I could withhold and still remain functional.”

“What brought about those doubts?” Madison asked.

“Actually, you did.” He almost smiled. “Your persistence about the satellite images on the David Pace matter. I thought if you were pushing that hard, it wasn’t to see what was in those images—it was to confirm what you already knew was in those images.

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