Tuesday, February 3
Black and Cox were deep in conversation when Dan arrived at the stores office. They were leaning in to each other, Black listening intently to what he was being told.
Cox, in her role as the deputy logistics officer, also fulfilled the role of legal adviser, and this immediately came to Dan’s mind as she saw the two consulting. Cox was also Black’s divisional officer, and as such he was well within his rights to have her present while he was spoken to.
“Quick word, please?” said Dan, watching as Cox immediately came out.
She was smiling and greeted Dan cheerfully.
“I thought you and I could have a quick chat before I speak with Petty Officer Black,” said Dan. “You okay with that?”
Cox nodded. “Sure.”
“What were you guys talking about?” asked Dan.
Cox tipped her head as she looked at Dan. She seemed like a different woman from the one Dan had seen only half an hour ago, happier, more self-assured. She almost rebuked Dan with her eyes for asking.
“I’m his divisional officer and the ship’s legal adviser,” she said. “He’s concerned and he wants me to sit in there while you speak to him.”
“Concerned? Why?” asked Dan.
“Because he knows that I’ll have been required to disclose to you the complaint allegations that Natasha Moore made against him, which of course I have, and because he knows that you’ll have found out that he was accused of some indiscretions on his previous ship. He thinks he’s going to be held accountable for something he didn’t do.”
Dan couldn’t help but watch Sarah as she spoke, animated and friendly, confident and forceful, not the woman who’d wept at their last encounter just minutes before.
“He won’t get into trouble for anything he hasn’t done,” said Dan, “but that’s what interests me. If you know that he’s previously been accused of this type of thing, then when Natasha came forward, why wouldn’t you have taken it more seriously?”
Sarah Cox looked surprised.
“Oh, I took it seriously. I spoke with Black and really thought I’d resolved the issue. Moore knew that I’d spoken to him, and that she should come back to me if there were any other problems; she never did. In fact, when we did talk again, it seemed that things had improved between them. That was certainly the firm impression I had.”
“What did you say to Black just now?”
Sarah Cox’s expression turned serious.
“I explained to him that given the previous allegations against him, if another formal complaint were made, then it would likely be the end of his career in the Armed Forces and very probably could lead to a stint in Colchester, or worse.”
“And how did he react?” asked Dan.
“He was horrified, and I genuinely believe he hadn’t realized how his behavior had been viewed.”
“You should know that I intend to search Petty Officer Black’s office, cabinets, and all of the storerooms where he holds access. I’d like to think I’ll be able to do that now, without delay, or I can have a sentry come down and stand guard until I get permission from your commanding officer.”
“Yes, I suspected you might, and of course that’s fine.”
“Okay.” Dan rocked up onto her toes. “Let’s go, then.”
John and Black were sitting in silence when Dan and Sarah Cox walked into the office.
The four of them made the space feel smaller than she’d have liked.
She moved to the side, allowing Cox to pass her and take the seat next to Black, while Dan sat down in a chair slightly in front of John.
“Petty Officer Black, I’m not going to beat around the bush. I’ve been made aware of some very serious allegations made against you by SA Natasha Moore. I’m awaiting details, but I believe they may be broadly similar to some allegations that have previously been made against you, on board your last ship. So, in light of this, I want you to be very truthful with me from the get-go, so we can get this sorted out as soon as possible. Do you understand?”
He looked terrified, fidgeting in his chair, his right leg bouncing continually, his tongue wetting his lips every few seconds.
“I haven’t done anything. I promise.”
“Okay, so tell me about your relationship with SA Moore.”
“We weren’t in a relationship, we were just friends. Nat was okay with that.”
“Okay,” said Dan, “tell me about your friendship, then. How did it come about?”
His mouth was already moving before Dan had finished asking the question. He was eager to speak, eager to help.
“She joined the ship, and I was her line manager, so that’s how I met her,” he began.
Dan felt surprised at how juvenile his language and thinking were, as if he was an enormous man-child, too simple to inhabit his adult body.
Black seemed to be genuinely an open book, spilling out words in hopes of being understood.
“We became friends straightaway,” Black continued. “Because we hung out down here, away from everyone else.”
“Is that really true, Gary?” asked Dan. “Were you really friends from the start?”
He nodded, big nods.
“Speak up for the recorder please, Petty Officer Black,” said John.
“Yes, Master, it really was true.”
“Tell me how your friendship went,” said Dan. “How did it start and how did it grow?”
“Well, she was very young and new. So I took her under my wing, to help her get settled in.”
“Did anyone give her any trouble?”
His face darkened, again childlike in the way his emotions were so clearly changed and broadcast.
“Yes, she had some trouble, but I helped her.”
“How did you do that?” asked Dan. “Can you give me an example of how you helped her?”
Black looked at Cox, who simply nodded, as though giving him permission to speak.
“What about LPT Coker?” suggested Dan. “I’ve heard there was some friction there. Were you able to help her with that?”
He took in a deep breath, seeming to tense his whole body, and Dan felt John do the same beside her. Then Black exhaled.
“LPT Coker isn’t a very nice person. He’s controlling and manipulates. When Nat came on board, he started sniffing around her. He does it with all of the young girls, but he’s bad news. He doesn’t want to be with them, to love them, only wants to have sex with them, because he can.”
Dan nodded. “Okay, can you tell me what you think happened with LPT Coker and Natasha? Did anything physical happen between them at all?”
“It did. I told him to leave her alone right from the beginning. I told him just to stay clear of her and let her be.”
“Did you say you’d do anything if he didn’t?”
He shrank back into himself, the frown back in place, then looked at Sarah Cox, who again nodded.
“I told him he needed to leave her alone or I’d hit him,” he said, but he looked beseechingly at Dan. “But he’s horrible, he only wanted sex and that’s what he got.”
“How do you know they had sex?” asked Dan.
“Nat told me.”
“Really?”
“Yes.”
“Gary,” said Dan, leaning forward and putting her arms on her knees, as though they might talk with just the two of them able to hear. “You promised me you were going to tell the truth, all of it, and now I feel like you’re holding something back from me.”
He licked his lips, looking Dan in the eye.
“I saw them,” he said, then looked away. “I was in the club, where everyone else was too, and he was pestering her. She was quite drunk, drinking too much, and I’d told her to stop twice, but she wouldn’t. So he started sniffing round her again and I told him to back off and leave her alone. She was only eighteen a little while ago.”
“And did he?”
Black shook his head. “No, ma’am. There was a scuffle between me and him and some of his friends. I didn’t hit him, though, I promise, but the bouncers, they said it was my fault and I had to go, and also Nat was shouting at me, too, saying it was my fault, but I was only looking out for her.”
“Then what happened?”
“I had to go out of the club, but she was still in there, and I knew he’d wait for her, because she was drunk. I couldn’t just leave her there. I knew she’d been drinking. I’m her friend.”
Dan nodded slightly as though she approved of all he was saying.
“What did you do?” she asked.
“I waited outside the club, down the street, for her, just so I could make sure she was okay when she came out, to make sure she got back to the ship okay.”
“Did you follow her, Gary?”
He shook his head.
“No, ma’am, I didn’t. I saw her meet with him again and then…” He looked to Cox, who again nodded her permission. “And then I went for a drink with Chief Pollack.”
“Gary, did you know that sometimes Nat didn’t like you helping her? That it made her feel frightened?”
“I was just trying to help. Like, I changed her duties so she wouldn’t have to see Coker and his mates, and I’d let her stay back here with me so that they’d all be gone off the ship and she could be away from them.”
“How did she feel about that?”
“We were friends, so she was okay with it, appreciated it. We became good friends. We had lunch together and stuff.”
“Did you ever go to her house, Gary?”
He seemed to shrink back at that question, tensing again.
“Did you?” pressed Dan.
“Only to check if she was okay,” he said. “I thought if she was frightened or worried, then she’d feel safe if I was there for her.”
Dan felt John Granger readying himself on the chair next to her, but wasn’t sure why. She felt oddly calm, as though she knew Black wasn’t going to do anything rash, not yet.
“Gary, did you go there before she went missing?”
“Yes,” he said, his voice faint.
“And did she know you were there, or did you go uninvited?”
“She didn’t say I couldn’t go,” he finally replied. “So I went there and slept in my car for a few nights, just to make sure no one bothered her.”
Dan inhaled deeply and watched him carefully.
“Gary, do you have any idea where Nat is now?”
“No, ma’am, I really don’t, honestly. I’m worried sick about her.”
“Do you know anyone who might want to harm Nat? Someone who might want to hurt her?”
He laughed at that, a broad smile.
“No, ma’am, she was lovely, I can’t think that anyone would want to hurt her at all.”
“Gary. I think SA Moore was afraid of you—”
“No, she wasn’t,” he said quickly. “We talked about it.”
“I think she was worried because she knew you’d been outside her house.”
“No,” he interrupted again. “No, it wasn’t like that. We talked about it, she liked me, too.”
John Granger was on the edge of his seat now. Dan could see him trying to look casual, but Black’s manner was becoming more agitated and erratic as he shook his head and explained himself more loudly.
“Did you take pictures of Natasha without her knowing?”
“Ma’am?” he said, and it took a moment for Dan to realize that Black wasn’t talking to her, he was talking to Cox.
“Answer the question please, Gary,” said Cox, her voice calm.
“No, ma’am, well, yes. I had pictures of her, but she didn’t like it and I stopped. I don’t have pictures anymore.”
Dan paused, thought about what she was hearing.
“Gary, I’m going to ask you now to stand up and accompany me off Defiance and down to the SIB offices so we can talk some more.”
He was still shaking his head.
“No, ma’am, listen…”
“Gary. I want you to pass me your keys to your lockable cabinets and stowages so they can be searched.”
“Nat spoke to me,” he said, but he was looking at Cox, his eyes beseeching, begging her for help.
“Do as you’re asked, please, Gary,” said Cox, smiling at him. “I’ll be down to join you very soon. We’ll sort this out, okay?”
Gary Black looked terrified.
“There’s nothing in my bunk,” he said. “I don’t have any pictures anymore.”
“Stop speaking now, Gary,” said Cox, her voice firm and loud. “Just do as you’ve been asked.”
The two looked at each other for a long time, Dan and John frozen, as though time had stopped, the tension thick.
Then Black seemed to relax, and so did everyone else around him.
Dan felt John exhale and turned to look at him, just as Black lashed out.
“No,” he shouted, his face changing from confusion to anger and then to rage. “I didn’t do anything, we were friends!” He swung an arm to push Dan out of the way as he headed for the door.
The movement of his arm seemed slow, Dan saw it coming, though she wasn’t able to do anything to avoid it.
The strength of Black was unimaginable. His swinging arm hit her and knocked her clean off her feet, slamming her against the bulkhead.
She was dazed for a second but saw John Granger move quickly, grabbing Black’s arm and trying to twist it into an armlock to control him.
Black spun round before John could apply the lock, twisting away, using brute strength and pushing John hard with his other arm.
John stumbled backward.
Black was shouting “No!’ over and over again, and before John and Dan could recover, he darted out the door.
Dan rushed for the door and did a double-take as she saw Josie lying there holding the file Dan had asked for. Black had knocked her over, papers scattering as he barged his way out. Josie rolled over and grabbed at Black’s leg, but she was only able to slow him down for a second before he ripped his leg free and fled.
“Shut the gangway,” shouted John.
Dan knew he’d been speaking to Cox.
“He’s not trying to get off the ship,” said Dan, turning for only a second. “He’s trying to get to something.”
Dan ran out of the compartment and up the ladder, John and Josie close behind her. As she reached the top of the ladder, she stopped and scanned around the flat, then went on up the second ladder.
2-deck was quiet, long, doglegging out of sight, and she listened for footsteps and heard none.
“We should stay together,” said John, arriving beside her.
“We don’t have time,” said Dan. “Josie, with me. John, that way. Don’t engage with him, just find him and call for backup.”
She rushed off along the passageway.
The ship felt vast, long, and open, so many places to hide, but she didn’t think he was going to hide, to leap out and attack her. Dan believed he knew exactly where he was going and exactly what for.
She walked quickly, Josie beside her, and looked into flats and passageways. She recognized where she was, near the officers’ flat, and she stopped, thinking of no reason why he would come this way.
Then, as Dan turned to speak to Josie, he was there.
He grabbed Dan by the collar of her shirt and swung her easily behind him, bashing her off a bulkhead and throwing her into the nearby flat.
Dan landed, skidding along the polished floor, and looked up to see Josie with her arms wrapped around Black’s waist, trying to push him backward against the bulkhead.
Black raised his arm and brought it down hard onto Josie’s back. She slumped to the floor, and Black raised his foot.
“No, Gary, don’t!” screamed Dan, sure that he was going to stamp on Josie, but he looked at her, confused, and stepped over Josie’s body as he headed back along the passageway.
“Are you okay?” said Dan as she checked on Josie.
“I’m fine,” said Josie, sounding angry, already rising to her feet and looking as if she meant business.
They heard a sound from farther along the deck and ran to find John on his back.
“He’s heading for the flight deck!” shouted John, struggling back to his feet.
They ran in that direction, Josie at the front, Dan and John catching up behind. They saw Black disappear through the bulkhead door, Josie reaching out instinctively to grab at it.
Dan pulled her back, watching Josie’s fingers slip away from the heavy metal door as it slammed shut.
“Thank you, ma’am,” said Josie, realizing what might have been.
Dan opened the door again and stepped through it into the hangar, just in time to see Black head left out of the hangar. She followed, hesitating as she realized she’d been right, he wasn’t running for the gangway, wasn’t trying to get off the ship.
She exited the hangar a second behind him and saw him stopped a few meters along the flight deck.
He turned and saw her.
“We were friends,” he said, his voice muffled by the wind.
Dan saw something in his hand, a folder made of thick, buff card.
He held it out in both hands and ripped it in half in a single movement, crumpling the two halves together in one hand as though ready to hurl them away.
Josie pushed past Dan, and John was behind her. She and John surged against Black, taking him off balance and forcing him against the safety railings.
Sarah Cox was there now, watching from the hangar.
Dan saw Black push and fight—not to get free, but to keep the bits of the folder away from them.
He was really starting to fight now and he lashed out with his elbow, Josie ducking out of the way at the last moment, and he was still shouting, “No” like an alarm on repeat.
“Gary!” shouted Dan. “Gary, listen, stop fighting. Stop! I’ll listen to you, I promise, but you have to stop!”
He seemed to relax a bit at the sound of her voice.
“Relax, Gary. I promise you, I’ll listen and I’ll believe you. Okay? I promise you that.”
Gary Black stopped fighting, and John relaxed his grip slightly.
Black juddered suddenly, and they all prepared for another fight. Only none came as he started to cry.
He looked at Dan, and then behind her at Cox.
“No one believes people like me,” he said.
Dan was stunned at the words, drawing breath just in time to see Gary Black stand up and throw out his arms with all the strength he had.
John Granger was a big man, but even he was launched across the flight deck, landing several feet away.
Josie fared worse, staggering back and bouncing off the hangar before she slumped to the deck.
“No one will believe me!” cried Gary, and Dan leaped forward as she watched him place his free hand on the flight deck rail and kick his legs over it, throwing himself into space.
She grabbed for what she could, her fingers brushing against the card and only gripping a few sheets of the torn paper as she watched Gary Black fall toward the dark water far below.
She heard the quartermaster react, heard the Man Overboard drill commence. She looked down at the paper in her hands, at the dim, grainy pictures of Natasha Moore, taken from above as she washed her hair in one of the junior rates’ showers.