The world had changed. It had changed during those events, and it had changed yet one more time.
Megan couldn’t help wondering how many more changes were coming, but she knew they would be there. How long had it been, she wondered as she crossed the living room and gently removed Tabitha Welch’s feet from her couch, since there had been a true innocence in the world?
Tabitha apologized and Megan felt guilty. She told the girl everything was all right. Tabitha hugged the throw pillow she was holding more tightly.
The doorbell rang.
Josh Webb, who had two parents overseas and his grandparents missing, answered the door. He talked for a moment, then looked at Megan. “Mrs. Gander, it’s for you.”
Two uniformed MPs stood at the door. Both of them looked haggard and worn, much older than they should have.
“Mrs. Gander,” one of them said.
“Yes.”
“I’ve got a warrant here, ma’am.” He offered her a piece of paper.
“A warrant?” Megan knew what the word meant, but she couldn’t make sense of it.
“Yes, ma’am,” the MP said. “This was issued by the Provost’s office. Gives me the right to search the premises.”
“Search for what?”
The MP looked past her at the kids that had gathered behind her. “I’m looking for Gerry Fletcher, ma’am.”
This is insane, Megan thought. But she said, “Gerry isn’t here. He was one of the kids that disappeared last night.” God, how could she say that so off-handedly? Chris was one of those that disappeared. It wasn’t natural; she’d never accept it as natural even if, as Jenny suspected, God had had a hand in it.
“Yes, ma’am.” The MP nodded. “You’re probably right, Mrs. Gander. But I was ordered to search the premises.”
“My son.” Megan’s voice became a hoarse, tight whisper. “My son Chris was one of the children that disappeared.” She could still remember the deep sobs that had racked Goose at the other end of the phone connection. How could they be so far apart when there was so much to deal with? They needed each other. She knew that her husband needed her as much as she needed him.
“Yes, ma’am,” the MP responded. “I know.” He looked upset and uncomfortable. “Mrs. Gander, I still have to look.”
Wordlessly, Megan stepped back.
The teenagers stepped back, too.
The MPs filled the room. They looked big and alien and uninvited. The weapons they wore seemed threatening.
“Any of you guys Gerry Fletcher?” the MP asked.
A chorus of “nos” followed the question.
“Well, then,” the MP said, “I’ll have to look around.”
Unable to speak, Megan waved them on into her house. She couldn’t believe what was happening. She had tried to rescue Gerry Fletcher the night before last. Now she was being treated like a criminal.
The search, thankfully, was thorough but brief. Jenny treated the men with icy, reproachful stares during the time they spent in the house.
At the door again, the lead MP held out another piece of paper. “I was also ordered to give you this, Mrs. Gander.”
Tears leaking down her cheeks, Megan took the paper with a shaking hand. “What is it?”
“It’s a summons, ma’am. You’re being ordered to appear in the provost’s office.”
“Why?”
The MP shook his head. “I wouldn’t know, ma’am. That’s all I was told.”
In disbelief, Megan opened the paper. There, in big bold letters, were the words ORDERED TO APPEAR and DERELICTION OF DUTY. She looked up.
“Ma’am,” the MP said. He seemed hesitant. “I know your husband. I don’t know Goose well, but I know that he is a good man and he’s doing his job over there. I don’t know if you can get through to him about this, but if you’d like some advice …”
“Yes, Corporal,” Megan said. “I’d very much like some advice.”
“Get a lawyer, ma’am,” the MP said. “The military will probably give you one, but I’d hire an outside attorney to help represent you. The provost marshal, I don’t know what’s got him so hot on this, but from what I saw this morning, he’s going to be coming after you. And he’s going to try to nail you.”
Oh, God, Megan thought, what else are You going to put my family through? She made herself nod. She made herself say, “Thank you, Corporal,” then she made herself close the door because she didn’t know anything else she could do.
“Megan,” Jenny called.
Unable to speak, Megan waved the young woman away. Aware of the teenagers staring at her, Megan went to her bedroom. She tried to gather clothes to take with her to the shower, but she couldn’t. She saw Chris’ pictures hanging on the wall, all the birthday pictures from age one through five, and knew there would be no picture for age six.
Dereliction of duty.
It didn’t make any sense. But she knew if she were found guilty she would be locked up. A sentence that could last for years.
Was that what life—what God—had in store for her? Years spent in a military prison without her sons, without her husband?
She knelt beside the bed and tried to pray. But she couldn’t. The words wouldn’t come and she felt horribly betrayed.
United States 75th Army Rangers Temporary Post
Sanliurfa, Turkey
Local Time 1956 Hours
Goose sat at the bar in a tavern that had been resurrected that afternoon. The furniture had been cobbled together from wreckage that had been nearer to ground zero of several SCUD strikes.
Other men sat around him. Some of the men were military, from the US, from the UN, from the Turkish army, but others were citizens, displaced villagers, media personnel, and hucksters trying to make money. No one tried to sit with him. He’d claimed a small table as his own and every man there read the warning signs.
Cigarette smoke hugged the dark ceiling where stains and residue
