Declared Hostile (Miller) - страница 88

“And how do you propose we do this?” Ramirez asked him.

Daniel now motioned to the “seconds” at the table who were taking it all in. “That’s in the details. Details to be left to others.” The men shifted in their chairs, knowing they would have to deliver a plan of action to their kingpins, and soon.

The duty officer in the ready room called Trench to the phone. “XO’s on the line.”

When Trench answered, Annie ordered him to report to her stateroom — with Macho. An uneasy Trench replied, “Yes, ma’am,” and motioned to Macho in the back of the ready room. This could not be good.

“What?” Macho asked in a condescending manner as she walked up to him between the rows of high-backed chairs.

“XO wants to see us in her stateroom. Together. Now,” Trench said under his breath.

Macho felt a surge of adrenalin. This could not be good.

Trench and Macho walked from the ready room through the O-3 level passageways together. With Trench in the lead, the two pilots walked single file to squeeze past sailors transiting in the opposite direction. Both of them were troubled by the unexpected summons to their XO’s stateroom.

“What do you think this is about?” Trench asked.

“I don’t know,” Macho answered. They continued in silence. Although their “hate-hate” relationship was common knowledge among the air wing JOs, the two of them kept it professional and cordial in front of the heavies. When they arrived at Annie’s stateroom door, painted with a large Firebird emblem and the words EXECUTIVE OFFICER, Trench rapped twice.

“Come in,” Annie said. The pilots found her wearing her flight suit. Olive, one of their department heads, stood in the corner.

Oh, shit! Trench thought.

“Please, have a seat,” Annie said, motioning them to her couch. Trench and Macho sat down and faced their XO, waiting for her to speak first.

“I’m sure you are wondering why I’ve called you here together. It’s no secret there is no love lost between you two. As your XO, I see things, and I hear things. I want to offer my help before things get out of hand. What is going on between you two?”

The tight-lipped lieutenants avoided eye contact, each waiting for the other to speak first.

“Trench, as the senior, why don’t you start?”

Trench opened his mouth and tried to find the words. “Ma’am… we do our jobs, but… I mean…. We’re not friends, but we can get along.”

“And you?” Annie asked Macho.

“Ma’am, I have no problem with Trench,” she lied, wondering if she could fool her XO. She didn’t have to wonder long.