'Mr. Sinclair. Sit down.'
He sat automatically, barely noticing the concern on her face.
'I'm very sorry. I'm already involved in the case. I can't discuss it with you.'
Paul finally found his voice. 'Ma'am, it's impossible.'
'That'll be for the court to determine.'
Court-martial? Jen? His shock was replaced by a burst of anger. 'How can you do that do her?'
'I'm doing my job, Mr. Sinclair. It's not always personally pleasant. Evidence was gathered and presented. An Article 32 investigation was conducted. In secrecy, given the sensitivity of the matter. Conclusions were reached and a warrant for arrest issued.'
'You're going to be the prosecutor?'
'Those are my orders.'
His worst nightmare. He knew how good Carr was. He'd seen her do a great job nailing Scott Silver for his negligence. And now she'd be going after Jen. 'Ma'am, can I very respectfully ask that you refuse to prosecute Jen?'
'On what grounds, Mr. Sinclair?'
'Personal involvement!'
'I don't know her. I barely met her once.' Her fist thudded onto the surface of her desk. 'I have my duty to carry out.' Then she turned away. 'Whether I like it or not. Those sailors who died deserve to have justice done.'
'She didn't do it, ma'am. She couldn't. Not Jen.'
'I'm sorry. I can't discuss anything else about it. Lieutenant Shen should have a military lawyer appointed soon. Whoever that is can talk to you about it.'
'Commander, I can't believe there's evidence to support those charges!'
Carr spun around, her eyes flashing. 'Paul, don't make me order you to shut up and get out of my office! You're a good officer and as far as I know a good human being. But I have a case to prosecute to the best of my ability. Lieutenant Shen's lawyer can talk to you about the evidence until you're both blue in the face. I can't.'
Paul stood silent for a moment, then nodded. 'Yes, ma'am.'
'Paul, for Christ's sake-'
'Ma'am, you'll be fair. I know that.'
Carr nodded back. 'Yes.'
'If she's innocent, you'll admit that. You won't try to convict if you see proof she didn't do it.'
Another nod, slower this time. 'I will fairly evaluate all evidence available in the case. I have no trouble promising you that.'
But you'll also do your best to convict her, because that's your job.
Who do I turn to, now?
He hesitated outside of Carr's office. What do I do? Jen. That's priority one. He tried calling her at the barracks where the Maury 's crew were working, but a stunned voice informed him Lieutenant Shen had been taken away under arrest a half hour earlier. He called the brig, but no one could or would tell him anything. He called Petty Officer Sharpe. 'Sheriff, they've arrested Je-, Ms. Shen.'
A moment of silence answered him. 'Damn, sir.'
'She was arrested, but the brig won't tell me anything.'
'I'll get you something, sir. Give me a few minutes.'
Paul waited impatiently for more than a few minutes, feeling a wild urge to charge off and do something but fighting it down. Sharpe finally called back. 'Yes, sir. She's in the brig. Pre-trial confinement.'
'Pre-trial? They're going to keep her there?'
'That's the judge's orders, sir. Confinement until trial.'
'I swear I'm going to find out who did this and-'
'Sir, with all due respect, don't let your temper run away with this. It won't help, and it will hurt.'
'I'll go-'
'The only visitor Ms. Shen is authorized right now is her lawyer.'
Her lawyer. 'Who is that?'
'My contact at the brig didn't know. The lawyer may not've been appointed, yet.'
'So she just sits there? Alone?'
'Sir, I… yes, sir.'
Paul stared at nothing for a long while, then remembered something and made another call. 'Commander Hughes. I hope you can do something.'
Two hours later Paul was sitting on one side of a video screen set to look like a window. On the 'other side' sat Jen, still in uniform but with all her insignia and ribbons removed. She stared back at him with an uncomprehending expression. 'Paul, what's happening?'
'They didn't tell you?'
'They told me. Charges. About the Maury. God. It's a nightmare. Wake me up, Paul. Please.'
'I can't.'
'I'm in a cell. Like I'm some kind of threat.'
'I'm trying to get you out, but they haven't appointed a lawyer to represent you, yet.'
'They said I can't see anybody. How'd you manage this?'
'Commander Hughes. She's giving you counseling, remember?'
'I-'
'She's your doctor, Jen. They have to let you see your doctor.'
The message got through. Jen nodded rapidly. 'When?'
'She's going through search procedures right now. She'll see you in person in a few minutes.'
'Okay.' Jen swallowed and sat straighter. 'It's ridiculous. They'll see that and I'll be out of here.'
'Yes.' A red light blinked in one corner of Paul's 'window.' 'I've got the thirty-second warning before they cut this off. Should I send your father a message?' Not that he'd necessarily get it for a long time with the Mahan out on patrol.
'No! We'll fix this and then tell him.'
The blinking light sped up, indicating only seconds remained. 'I love you. I'm with you.'
'Tha-'
The screen blanked. Paul stood up and left the small visiting room. Outside the door, a master-at-arms stood at parade rest awaiting him. Paul looked at the sailor. Every other time I've seen a master-at-arms I've thought of them as being on my side. One of the good guys. And now they're holding Jen in the brig. Like Commander Carr, they're just doing their jobs. 'Do you know Petty Officer Sharpe?'
The master-at-arms nodded. 'Ivan Sharpe? Yes, sir.'
'He works for me.'
'Yes, sir. That doesn't matter, sir.'
Paul met the master-at-arms's eyes. 'Professional courtesy. He believes she's innocent.'
'Yes, sir.' Totally noncommittal.
Frustrated and angry, Paul realized he'd been off the Michaelson for hours. He headed back for the ship, wondering what to do. Talk to Sharpe. Find out if Jen's got a lawyer assigned yet. Why did Alex Carr have to be assigned to prosecute her?
Approaching the Michaelson 's quarterdeck, Paul rapidly saluted the national ensign aft, then Ensign Gabriel, the officer of the deck. 'Request permission to come aboard.' Gabriel watched after him, startled by his abruptness. Paul turned right off of the quarterdeck and ran straight into Commander Garcia, who glowered at him. 'Where the hell have you been all afternoon, Sinclair?'
'Sir, I…' Paul told him.
Garcia's eyes narrowed, then he nodded. 'You've got the rest of the day off. Put in for as much leave as you need.' He turned away, then looked back with a glare. 'Make sure Chief Imari knows everything she needs to know while you're wrapped up in this.'
Stunned, Paul watched him go through a hatch and disappear. 'Thank you, sir.' Life and death. Garcia's a pain the butt for lesser issues, but when it comes down to life and death he can be a decent human being.
