0556 hours.
Tap-tap, tap-tap. There was a gentle knock at Lew’s door, which he’d left open a crack. “Open,” he said. He swiveled in his chair and saw Indy’s face poking in.
“Hi,” she said. “Got a moment?”
He smiled and put his monitor to sleep. “Of course. What brings you out at this hour?”
She stood just inside the door, holding a sheet of paper. “I saw your light was on. I know you’re in early sometimes.” She sounded apologetic, almost embarrassed.
Lew nodded. “So. What’s on your mind?”
“I…I need to talk to you about something. It’s about Lieutenant Shiflin.”
“Indy,” said Lew patiently. “I hate to say this, but you know as well as I, we’re officially off the case. No more moonlight sleuthing for us nerds.”
Indy gave a soft laugh. “I know. It’s just, there’s something that’s just a little puzzling.”
Lew nodded. “This whole thing has been unsettling, to say the least. I suspect there are a thousand questions we’ll never know the answers to.”
“I know. You’re right. But…”
Despite his best effort to gently close the topic it was clear that Indy was going to persist, so he relented. “All right,” he said. “Come on in. Let’s see what you’ve got.” He gestured to the other seat and pulled it closer to his so they could sit at his desk side by side.
Indy sat, still holding the sheet of paper.
“Early this morning,” she began, “Master Chief Jackson asked me to take one more look at Lieutenant Shiflin’s schedule the week before she disappeared. So I did.”
“And?” said Lew.
“I went back over transcripts of all the interviews and noticed something. Lieutenant Halsey and her roommate both mentioned Shiflin skipping breakfast a few times. I checked once more. Shiflin wasn’t at work on those days, or in the squadron ready room. Or in her stateroom. So where was she?”
Lew thought for a moment, then shook his head and shrugged. “I’d imagine she could have been almost anywhere. Off by herself? Time to think?”
“Maybe,” said Indy. “But this is where it gets curious…”