Tuesday, February 3
Dan’s fists were clenched as tight as her jaw as she walked out of Cox’s cabin and into the flat, John following close behind.
She walked back to the empty cabin they’d used before, stepping inside and holding the door until John was in so she could close it herself and they could speak in private.
“How pissed off?” she said, her hands shaking. “I’ll tell you now. If that silly bitch lying to me is the difference between Moore being hurt or not, I’ll…”
She looked up at John, who was listening but saying nothing. That was unusual, he always had something to say.
“What?” she said.
He shook his head.
“Nothing.”
“There’s something.”
“I’m as angry as you are,” he said. “I took my eye off the ball, too, and I’m angry I didn’t push harder yesterday.”
Dan’s phone rang and she answered it without saying anything to John.
“Ma’am, it’s Josie. Can you talk?”
Dan took a breath, trying not to be short.
“I can.”
“Ma’am, LPT Coker didn’t go on the rugby tour. I just spoke to the tour leader. He was on the signal to go, but he canceled weeks before they left. The ship was certain that that’s where he was, so, in short, no one knows where he is.”
“Coker’s not on the rugby tour. No one knows where he is,” said Dan to John, watching as his brow furrowed at the news.
“Yes, ma’am,” Josie said.
“Josie, find him for me,” said Dan. “An address, next of kin, somewhere he might go. We need to speak to him urgently.”
“No problem, ma’am.”
“Also, a petty officer by the name of Gary Black. Find out everything you can about him and bring it down to me on Defiance as soon as you can. I want to know if he’s been the subject of investigations concerning his behavior toward female colleagues, stalking, harassment, and the like.”
“No problem.”
Dan ended the call.
“This doesn’t feel like we’re going to find her drunk in a sailors’ bar somewhere anymore, does it?” said John.
“We need to speak to Black and Coker as soon as possible. We also need to speak to Jason again.”
“Well, Black’s back,” said John. “He was stopped at the gate and turned around. I asked him to be escorted down here. He came on board a few minutes ago.”
“Let’s go see him, then,” said Dan. “And let’s go get Cox. He may want his divisional officer to sit in with him.”
“I think she already is.”