Pandora's Legion

Michael Derringer and Joseph Wolf traded glances, knowing the full meaning of those four simple words. Forgive me, Father. It has been twenty-six years since my last confession. The retired admiral walked out of the room, a buoyancy in his step that matched the gratitude he felt about one man’s return to the fold, and one woman’s return from the edge of the grave.

On the way to his office, Derringer passed Sallie Ann Kline. “Hi Mike!” she exclaimed. “Hey, Frank’s already putting together another contingency team for the next contract. He says that J. J. Johnson should be back in a couple weeks.” She regarded her uncle and mentor. “What are you going to do now that the excitement is over for a while?”

The less-than-retired admiral patted his niece’s elbow. “Honey, I’m going to call Cap’n Bob. I have some unfinished business with a blue marlin.”