As John popped the first saucecovered bite into his mouth, he heard his name called.
“Hey, Madison. Over here.”
He turned around and spotted acouple of familiar faces. With mouth and hands full, he nodded acknowledgementand made his way towards them.
“How are you?” Tim asked,offering his hand.
John swallowed the mouthful andswapped everything to his left hand before shaking Tim’s hand. “Fine thanks. You?”
“Could be worse,” Tim shrugged,then one side of his face dropped. “Sorry about Decker.”
“Thanks.” John’s gut tightened. He didn’t need to think about that tonight.
“Liam… Nickolai.” Johnexchanged greetings and commiserations with the others.
“What’s going on?” Tim asked. “There’s at least a dozen ships here. And I’m not talking small things likeyours. Cruisers, destroyers… freaking carriers.”
John finished his drink and shookhis head. “I’ve no idea.”
“You must know something,” came avoice from behind him.
John turned around, taking a stepsideways as the newcomer joined the conversation, the man’s eyes remained onhim.
“After all, you did pick up theMagellan crew.”
John remained silent. He didn’tknow the man and wasn’t giving out anything.
The officer’s demeanoursoftened. “Paul Stirling, Independence,” he identified himself, offering hishand.
John took it. “What makes youthink I’d know anything?”
“It’s the only ship that’s hadsurvivors.”
“I believe you have me at adisadvantage.”
Stirling quickly glanced aroundbefore waving John closer. The group huddled in as he lowered his voice. “About a month ago, we were out running escort for a new colony. We weresupposed to meet up with Oakland. They’d done the preliminary groundwork andwere to hand over their findings to the colonists. When we got to therendezvous point, they didn’t show. All we found was some debris that wasidentified as being part of the ship.”
Tim took up the story. “Oakland’s not the only one that’s mysteriously disappeared. There’s at least three morethat I know of. Something… or someone has got the top brass spooked.”
John pulled back slightly andstraightened up. “Ships don’t just disappear.” He didn’t convince himself letalone the others.
“So what happened to Magellan?”Tim asked.
“She was attacked without warningand destroyed for no apparent reason.”
“They must have told yousomething else. Something that’s not in the official report. She was yourship,” Tim persisted.
“That was a number of years ago. Besides, McReidy and I don’t exactly get on too well.” John avoided a directanswer.
“Well, it looks like she’sgetting on pretty well over there,” Nickolai nodded across the room.
They all turned to see McReidysurrounded by admirals.
John recognised four of themimmediately: Powers, Booth, Jordan and Simpson. All that was needed wasHarcourt and his court martial board was complete. Even at a glance, he couldsee McReidy’s discomfort. He had noticed her talking to Powers earlier. Therehad been a respectful distance between them. Now, Powers was at her side,invading her space. Any closer and he would have been touching her. His voicewas low enough that she sometimes had to lean towards him to hear properly.
John felt a sense of resentmentand turned back to his companions. Nickolai continued to gaze at longingly inMcReidy’s direction.
“I guess we’ll find out soonenough,” Liam told them. “Ark Royal’s due in early tomorrow morning.”
A flicker of warmth ignitedinside John.
“This whole meeting’s set aroundher schedule. Oh… I’ve got to go.” Liam noticed his captain looking for him. He ducked past John and was at the man’s side within seconds.
Liam’s departure ended thetopic. John bailed up a waiter. Stirling and Nickolai joined him in a drink. Tim refused, then changed his mind and took two glasses.
“Looks like my luck’s changed,”he excused himself, heading towards a blonde who had been eyeing him all night.
John’s gaze followed him to thesparkly guest – long legs, long hair, dark alluring eyes.
“Ten bucks says she thumps himwithin five minutes,” John commented.
Stirling smiled. “You’re on.”
Nickolai shook his head. “No. No betting on a woman’s mind.”
They checked their watches.
Five minutes later, they allflinched, as though the woman’s slap to Tim’s face had struck them all.
John held out his hand. “Payup.”
“I don’t have it on me –” Stirling began.
“Forget it,” John told him.
During those five minutes, Johnhad spent as much time watching McReidy as he had Tim. Powers had gone toofar. His arm had slid around McReidy’s waist, holding her almostpossessively. She appeared unable to escape from his grip and the polite smileon her face was becoming strained. No one else appeared to notice.
John gulped down the lastmouthful of drink and mumbled some sort of excuse to his companions. A passingwaiter took his glass as he headed straight towards McReidy. His mouth wasopen before he knew what he was going to say.
“Lieutenant Commander, I’m glad Ifound you. I’ve checked up on that urgent matter you wanted.” He was besideher; a hand on her elbow gently guided her away from Powers.
She turned at the sound of hisvoice, a confused look on her face. His eyes told her to play along.
She followed his lead, turning toexcuse herself. “If you will excuse me, sirs, I really must attend to this.”
The admirals protested weakly,especially Powers whose hand slid from her waist. He grasped at her free arm,grabbing it just above the wrist. He was reluctant to let her go, complaininghow dull the evening would be.
John kept moving, avoiding theglare he knew Powers would be giving him. “I thought you’d want to knowimmediately. It did seem quite important –” he rambled on as he led McReidyout of earshot.
“I could have handled it,” shegrowled, her voice low.
“I know,” he answered, turningback to face her and risking a glance over her shoulder at the admirals. Theroom suddenly crowded in on him. His collar tightened and he swallowed hard. “Let’s blow this joint.”
McReidy nodded.
They turned to the door. Johndropped his hand and let her lead, following close behind. It took them a fewmoments to weave their way through the crowd. The corridor outside was empty.
She stood there, her hands on herhips, eyes cutting through his.
“The man’s being a jerk,” hefound himself on the defensive.
“So you overreact. As usual. You think it’s the first time some guy’s hit on me?”
“No, but
