July 16
“I CONSIDER THIS TO BE a form of harassment,” Hodges began irritably as he signed the papers agreeing to the investigation process. Glancing at his attorney, he added, “And this kind of game could hurt my chances of making commander. I’ve done nothing wrong, yet I’m being dragged in here because of Susan Kane. This sucks.”
Cochrane put the signed papers aside. Hodges was blowing smoke and they all knew it. Hell, he was so fixed about getting his commander’s gold leaves that he’d jump through any hoops he came to.
“I think you understand how the commander feels,” Rapaport said soothingly, flashing his foxlike smile at Cochrane.
“Ya’ll are caught up in this dance and I do understand.” As Jim spread his notes in front of him he noticed an envelope. What was in it? He’d been in such a hurry to get over to Giddings on time that he’d jammed whatever was on his desk into his briefcase. He opened it and pulled out four digital photos. Of course, he didn’t allow Hodges or Rapaport to see these teddy bear photos. Because they were irrelevant to this interview, he placed the photos facedown on the table. “I’ll try to make this as quick and painless as possible, Commander.”
Hodges seemed distracted by the photos. “I hope the hell you do, Mr. Cochrane.” He dramatically waved his hand. “And why was my appointment for this interview canceled on such short notice the other day? I’m due to go TDY in three hours. I have to fly north for a meeting up in Seattle, and stay overnight. I won’t get back to Giddings until 1400 tomorrow. I need time to pack.”
“Unfortunate circumstances occurred, Commander. We’re pulled in many different directions, as I’m sure you are in your work. My apologies, sir. It was not done to create stress on you. We’ll make sure you’re out of here in time to go TDY.”
Hodges sat there, drumming his fingers. “It’s just ridiculous, that’s all. I’m an instructor here. I’ve got flights scheduled. There’s enough built-in stress around here to choke a horse. I don’t need this on top of it.”
Cochrane slowly rearranged his notes, allowing Hodges to discharge his long-held bile. He’d gotten word via Sharkman Hillyer that the lieutenant commander had been loud and harsh in his opinion of the Kane investigation over at the O Club. Out of the corner of his eye, Jim could see Ellen’s lips tightening. She didn’t like Hodges any more than he did. His pa had a saying for the likes of Hodges: “Son, ya don’t dare sleep alongside a’ him with yore mouth hangin’ open if ya have gold teeth.” Hodges was a real pecker head of the first degree.
“The lieutenant commander could have the decency to answer our questions,” Ellen said curtly.
“Easy, Agent Tanner,” Cochrane said. “I’m sure the commander is very busy, and we will conclude this interview as swiftly as possible.”
Ellen’s mouth compressed. “I have my own questions, Lieutenant Cochrane. I’ll ask them as soon as you’re finished with yours.”
Hodges scowled at her.
She scowled back.
Cochrane could see that Ellen had just gone from an invisible grain of sand to a major burr under Hodges’s saddle. She was now on the officer’s radar screen, and an acute protectiveness welled up in Jim. He wanted to keep Ellen out of the line of fire from this aviator, if possible. “I reckon we can accommodate your request, Agent Tanner.” Jim returned his attention to Hodges, whose focus was still on Ellen. “Commander, if you’ll humor me and tell me what you did at the Ares Conference, I’d appreciate it,” he stated.
He sat there listening as Hodges went through his expected diatribe. Occasionally, Jim made notations in the margins of the interview transcript they had created over the last week from other officers’ stories. By the time Hodges was done, the man’s thin face was taut, his dark blue eyes narrowed.
“You’ve left out a lot from what I can tell,” Cochrane noted.
“Dammit,” Hodges snapped, “it’s the best I can do! The conference was months ago. Memory fades with time.”
“It was a long time,” Jim agreed sympathetically, picking up his papers and glancing over at Ellen. “You said you had some questions, Agent Tanner?”
She nodded. “Absolutely, Lieutenant Cochrane.” She trained her attention on Hodges, who looked at her with open defiance.
“Commander, did you see Lieutenant Susan Kane at the convention?”
“No.”
“That’s odd,” Cochrane said, pointing to his notes, “we have an eyewitness who stated you were present in the third-floor passageway when the groping of women took place, at approximately 1730 on May 15th.”
“What?” Hodges jerked and glanced at Rapaport, then glared at Jim. “That’s completely false.”
“Not only that,” Cochrane stated calmly, “but the witness testified you were in the passageway when Lieutenants Hawkins, Jillson and Kane were assaulted. This witness states you took no steps to assist or report the incident like a senior officer should.”
Flushing, Hodges sputtered, “That’s a blatant lie! There was always a massive crowd in the third-floor passageway. I could’ve passed within two feet of the aforementioned officers and not even seen them, much less witnessed some alleged incident.”
“Commander,” Ellen said, “two other witnesses place you in the Leopard Radar Corporation suite when a female Navy officer was dragged into the room and then forced to her knees before a dildo by two junior officers. I believe the time was 1700 on May 15th. What can you tell us about that?”
“Not a damn thing! I don’t recall the aforementioned incident.”
“Were you in that suite at that time?” Cochrane made sure his tone was derisive. The aviator seemed spooked, and Cochrane wanted to panic him now.
Sweat popped out on Hodges’s wrinkled brow. “I may have visited that suite at some point during the conference. There were a number of suites and I didn’t keep a log of my activities.”
“You do remember being at the suite in question when this female Navy officer was dragged in against her will and abused?” Ellen asked.
“I have no recollection of witnessing any such incident.”
Ellen continued, “Do you have any idea when you were in the Leopard Radar Corporation suite?” She tinged her tone with disgust, and Hodges’s eyes widened at her unexpected attack.
“Listen,” the man said. “Everyone visited every suite at numerous times during the conference. I just don’t recall specific times.”
“Why?” Cochrane pressed.
“There was a lot going down.”
“Yes, and it appears some suites hired strippers as floor shows,” Cochrane said.
“I never said anything about witnessing, much less participating in, these alleged activities. This was a private civilian function, and some defense contractors held private parties in their suites. Haven’t you ever been to a private party where some of the people were drinking, and some may have been dancing of their own volition?”
Cochrane smiled. “Of course, Commander. I do understand this was a private function and not an official Navy affair.”
There was a knock on the door. Jim put the tape recorder on Pause and asked whoever it was to enter. When the door opened, he recognized one of the petty officers from the secretarial pool, Yeoman Irene Johnson. She was young, in her midtwenties, with a short cap of shining black hair.
“I’m sorry to interrupt you, Mr. Cochrane, but I was ordered to drive over here by Commander Dornier. A message arrived at your office for Agent Tanner, and the commander felt you needed it right now, for your investigation.” She handed him a large red envelope. He passed it to Ellen.
“Thank you, Petty Officer Johnson,” Cochrane said. “If you would kindly stand by? Agent Tanner may have a reply.”
“Yes, sir,” she said, then exited.
Ellen felt all eyes on her as she carefully opened the envelope. It contained a telephone record sheet as well as the official regulations for granting immunity during an investigation. Ellen showed Jim the latter and asked, “Is that what we expected, Lieutenant?”
“Reckon it is,” he murmured, glancing at the telephone memo she held.
“I’ll have to call him at the time he requested,” Ellen said briskly.
“I’m not totally sure where this is going, Agent Tanner.” Cochrane looked at his watch, then glanced over at Hodges, who was staring hard at them, as if trying to figure out what the hell was going on.
Ellen quickly gathered up the regulations, tucked them into the bright red envelope marked immunity, and slid the documents beneath her other papers. Folding her hands, she smiled sweetly at Hodges, who appeared completely shaken by the unexpected disruption.
“Go ahead with your questioning, Mr. Cochrane. I apologize for this interruption,” she said.
Cochrane knew that Hodges and Rapaport were aware that Commander Dornier was his C.O. at JAG. The attorney seemed coolly interested in their ploy. Hodges’s brow was beaded with sweat.
“For the record, Commander Hodges,” Cochrane began, “can you tell me where you were at 2300 on the night of May 15th?”
Hodges scowled. “I—” he raised his eyes to the ceiling, as if thinking “—I believe I was in bed by that time. In my room.”
“What floor was your room located on?” Jim already had the information, but wanted to keep Hodges talking and off balance.
“I believe it was the fifteenth floor,” Hodges growled.
“Hmm,” Cochrane said, studying the screen of his laptop. “That’s odd.” He tapped his fingers on the table-top.
“What’s odd?” Hodges leaned forward, scowling.
“Are you sure you were in bed at 2300 hours on the night of May 15th?”
“I don’t care to keep repeating myself. I’ve answered that question to the best of my knowledge.”
“You weren’t out near the third-floor patio?” Ellen asked, looking over at the paper Jim had underlined in red.
“I don’t recall.”
“How about around the elevators?” she asked.
“I don’t recall.”
Rapaport leaned forward. “Mr. Cochrane, what’s all this browbeating about? Could you spare my client and just present the evidence?”
Cochrane lifted his head and pinned Hodges directly with his gaze. “We’ve got a report from an interviewee who identified at the elevator at 2300 on May 15th, you with Susan Kane in your arms. Care to comment, Commander?”
Hodges’s eyes bulged, and then he caught himself, resuming his mask of confidence. He sat rigidly, and sweat ran down the sides of his temples.
“I believe the interviewee is mistaken. I’ve already stated where I was to the best of my knowledge.”
“Come on, Commander,” Cochrane cajoled in his drawl, pointing to the red Immunity envelope sticking out from beneath Ellen’s papers. “This is a Navy aviator like yourself who saw you.”
“I don’t believe that makes a difference.”
“Are you calling him a liar, then?”
Hodges glared. “He’s mistaken!”
“Answer my question, Commander Hodges.”
“You have some drunken aviator swearing I was at a location where I wasn’t. This is just so much trash, Lieutenant!”
Jim shrugged nonchalantly. “It’s a witness statement.”
Hodges turned to his lawyer. “This is your area of expertise!”
Rapaport leaned forward. “Really, Mr. Cochrane, you’re busting my client’s balls for no reason. If you have proof, let’s see it. That’s the least you can do for us.”
A smile appeared at the corners of Cochrane’s mouth. “Mr. Rapaport, our proof would have to be presented at a trial. Of course, it would be on your discovery list.”
“Oh, for Christ’s sake!” Hodges leaped out of his chair. “This is harassment! You’re trying to set me up and blame me for something I didn’t do! Dammit, Rapaport, speak up! I’m sure as hell paying you enough to defend me!” he said as he resumed his seat.
“Lieutenant Cochrane,” Rapaport said smoothly, “had the witness—the one who alleges the commander was present in the elevator at the time stated—been drinking?” He awaited a reply. When none was offered Rapaport continued. “We both know that my question in regard to the witness having been drinking is meant to address the credibility of the witness’s powers of observation.”
Ellen glanced at her watch and quickly rose to her feet. “I’m afraid I have to make that telephone call right now, Mr. Cochrane. Would you gentlemen excuse me? I’ll return as quickly as possible to continue my questions of Commander Hodges.”
Cochrane held up his hand. “Agent Tanner, I don’t believe this is the best way to resolve this particular item.”
She ignored him and went to the door.
“Agent Tanner?” He saw Ellen turn and halt.
“Look, Lieutenant Cochrane, we disagree on procedure. I’ll be back as soon as I can.” She left with an air of finality.
Shaken, Hodges turned to stare at the closed door. “Hey! What’s all this shuffling around about? Are you two just wasting my time?” He leaped to his feet and stalked toward the door, clearly ready to leave in turn. “This song and dance is just to bust me, isn’t it, Lieutenant?”
“Calm down,” Rapaport snapped at him. “Come and sit back down, Commander Hodges.”
The officer stood his ground. “This is an abuse of power. First I have to give this time-wasting interview, then it’s canceled at the last minute. They get this goddamn envelope and then Miss DOD leaves in a rush. I won’t stand for this.”
Cochrane held up his hands. “Reckon we’re sorry for these unexpected intrusions, Commander. They’re not of our making, believe me. Let me make amends?” He smiled. “How about a coffee break? We’ll get this interview back on track after Agent Tanner returns. Is that fair? Walt, what do you say?”
The lawyer shrugged. “I suppose a short break might be in order. But I would feel better if this could be concluded as quickly as possible.”
Cochrane rose. “Let’s go down to the coffee station.” He opened the door. Yeoman Johnson stood at parade rest at the end of the passageway, and he motioned her over.
“Yes, sir?”
“Kindly remain in our interview room to keep it secure, Yeoman? We’ll be stepping out for a moment.” Jim could not have their interview room or the evidence compromised.
“Yes, sir.” She went into the room and firmly shut the door after they trailed out.
Once in the passageway, Cochrane walked with Hodges and Rapaport past classrooms in session. Halfway down the corridor Hodges slowed his steps. His lips parted and his eyes broadcast surprise. Inside another office stood Agent Tanner with Lieutenant Michelson. She was near the door, handing a bright red file to the man. Michelson took the file, then looked up. His eyes narrowed when he saw Hodges standing at the partly opened door. Hodges hesitated before he strode on ahead of Cochrane and Rapaport. A look of rage and betrayal was written all over his flushed face.
ELLEN SMILED REASSURINGLY at Michelson and gestured for him to follow her. She deliberately didn’t look down the hallway where Jim, Hodges and the lawyer had gone. After opening the door to their interview room, Ellen nodded to Yeoman Johnson, who stood at parade rest near their table.
“Thank you, Yeoman,” she said, then picked up some papers from the desk. As she did so, the photos were revealed, their white sides up. “Here, will you take these documents back to my other office and set them on my desk, please?”
Johnson snapped to attention and briskly took the proffered papers. “Of course, ma’am.”
“Thank you. That will be all, Yeoman.”
“Yes, ma’am.”
Michelson’s eyes narrowed on the photos. “What are those?” he demanded in a tight voice.
Ellen leaned over the desk, searching for another paper he needed to sign. “What?” She lifted her head and followed his pointing finger. “Oh, those. Just evidence.” He didn’t need to see the photos of Susan’s teddy bear Jim had taken earlier at the condo. She quickly found the red Immunity envelope and deliberately placed it on top of them. Looking up, she said, “Here you go, Lieutenant. If you’ll just sign this release form saying your interview is concluded and the report finalized for us, you can go. You’ll be all done.”
Michelson was still staring, like a man who had been gut shot. His eyes were huge. His mouth was open and the look of disbelief on his face surprised her. Why was Michelson coming unglued? Stymied, Ellen waved the paper in front of him. “Lieutenant?”
“What? Oh, yeah.” Michelson grabbed her pen and signed the paper with a shaky hand. His handwriting was nearly illegible, and Ellen was tempted to ask if anything was wrong. But she knew better. Not only that, her analytical mind told her that Michelson was intensely paranoid over the content of the photos. The man definitely was hiding something important.
“That’s all. Thanks,” she said.
Michelson kept his eye on the red Immunity envelope, then looked at Agent Tanner. His scowl deepened as he straightened up and squared his shoulders. Opening his mouth as if to speak, Michelson seemed to think the better of it, spun abruptly on his heel and strode out the door.
AT THE COFFEE STATION, Jim watched as Hodges poured himself a cup with trembling hands. The man kept looking back up the passageway where they’d spotted Michelson and Ellen.
“What’s Michelson doing here?” Hodges demanded.
“Reckon I can’t answer that,” Jim drawled, sipping his coffee. “He contacted Agent Tanner by telephone early this morning. Apparently, Lieutenant Michelson is concerned about his interview.”
Hodges wiped his brow. “His Ares interview?”
“I expect so. Lieutenant Michelson specifically asked to speak only to Agent Tanner. It may appear that I’m in charge of this investigation, but Agent Tanner has the links with Washington, D.C., and mine are to the Navy.” He gave a wry smile. “Does that tell you who’s in charge?”
Hodges’s eyes bulged, and his coffee slopped dangerously, nearly spilling across his hand.
“It’s a shame that this Ares Conference is turning officer against officer,” Jim continued in a low tone. “Since we’re able to create a worldwide network of information about the conference, with almost instant reporting, we can access any officer’s story and either corroborate it or discover its discrepancies. Yup, one little word typed in, and it goes into the big computer back in D.C. All kinds of valuable information come whipping back to us in no time. For example, we typed in ‘a woman in uniform’ to track the testimony about the elevator. You should have seen what came back. Impressive.”
“I—I thought Michelson was done with his interview?”
“Well, he was,” Jim admitted hesitantly. “But he made an appointment with Agent Tanner and she faxed Washington, D.C., for some authorization forms.”
“Authorization?”
Jim nodded gravely. “I really shouldn’t discuss this any further.” None of it was a lie. Michelson had done exactly that, because he wanted a transcript of his interview sent to his lawyer to make sure the i’s were dotted and the t’s crossed.
Hodges went pale.
“We’ve been watching the wall break,” Cochrane said to Rapaport, ignoring Hodges completely. “You know how the aviation arm has this code of silence, that no brother will snitch on another brother? Well, it’s breaking down, Walt. Not only that, but we have amassed nearly one hundred photos from that conference. Imagine that, aviators identifying other aviators. There’s a scramble to be granted immunity.”
Rapaport frowned. “So a source is protected from prosecution if he’ll testify against other pilots?”
“That’s it in a nutshell, Walt.”
“That type of testimony very rarely holds up under cross-examination,” the lawyer muttered. “The pilot with the immunity can be portrayed as a highly unreliable witness. Any lawyer knows that.”
Hodges stared down the passageway. “Michelson is giving more testimony? More than his original interview?”
Cochrane shrugged. “I can’t comment on your question, Commander. A person can be cleared at a trial, but the Navy is a closed community. His career might be tarnished just from allegations.”
Hodges’s mouth was a straight line, hiding his obviously explosive feelings. He set the cup down on the counter with such a bang the contents sloshed out.
Cochrane turned to Rapaport. “I’d like just a moment with your client, Walt.”
Before the attorney could say anything, Cochrane gripped Hodges by the elbow and led him about ten feet away from the coffee dispenser. “I thought you should see this.” He drew the digital photo of Susan Kane on the hotel bed and turned it over so the officer could see.
Hodges instantly grew white and sucked in a hard breath.
“What do you say, Commander? Can you and I talk, officer to officer—without your attorney present? No outsiders. If you do this, it’s off-the-record. You could tell me what really happened—”
“Where’d you get that picture?” Hodges rasped, his eyes widening enormously.
“Isn’t it enough that I have it?” Cochrane said.
Hodges snapped another glance down the passageway, his gaze pinned on Michelson, who stood stiffly outside the interview room. “Son of a bitch,” he snarled under his breath.
“Mr. Cochrane,” Rapaport protested, walking over to them, “you can’t talk to my client without—”
“Get lost, Rapaport,” Hodges ordered sharply.
Cochrane slipped the photo into his pocket before the attorney could see it.
“I’m talking to Lieutenant Cochrane, officer to officer. Butt out,” Hodges said.
“Commander, are you quite sure you want to do this?” Rapaport asked, sounding stunned.
“He said it’s off-the-record. It can’t be offered as evidence,” Hodges said.
“What can’t?” Rapaport asked, assessing his client closely.
“Never mind,” Hodges muttered. “This is between Mr. Cochrane and me. I don’t need your services anymore. Just send me your bill.”
Rapaport stood there in shock. “Well…of course.” He turned away.
Cochrane looked grimly at Hodges after the attorney had disappeared down the passageway. “Shall we take a stroll back to the interview room, Commander Hodges?”
As they walked along the corridor, Hodges said, “I know where you got that photo. Michelson is snitching on me.”
“I’m not at liberty to divulge where this photo came from, Commander.”
“Hell, I can see the handwriting on the wall. Why would Michelson be here now? He wants to save his and his admiral daddy’s asses.”
“A good point,” Cochrane said. “Reckon you might be a sacrificial lamb in all of this. He may be trying to save his career. But immunity is a fool’s path, by the time it’s granted—if it is granted. The guy is considered an unreliable legal witness, and his career in the Navy just turns to crap.”
Wiping his brow, Hodges muttered, “Christ, I don’t know what I should do.”
“You talk and I’ll expose Michelson for the weak bastard he is. And I’ll be able to keep Kane’s photo out of a Washington show trial. Otherwise, I’ll just let Agent Tanner run with this. And even though we both know any charges will be thrown out in court, your career will still be down the tubes, Commander.”
“Yes. I’ll tell you.”
Cochrane nodded. “Nowadays, it’s hard to know whom to trust.” Because Ellen used a red file for Michelson’s authorization papers, Hodges thought it was an immunity agreement. It wasn’t, of course, but that had been Cochrane’s ace-in-the-hole to make the commander break. His conscience was clear since their Plan B ruse had done the job. Hodges was going to talk.
“He’s broken the code,” Hodges said. “Michelson took immunity, turned over the photo and squealed. I’ll be goddamned if I’m going down on this alone. I’ve worked too damn hard for my rank.”
THEY ARRIVED BACK at the interview room and shut the door. Ellen nodded curtly in Hodges’s direction.
“Commander Hodges is willing to tell us what really happened, Agent Tanner.” Cochrane gave her a significant glance that said in effect, play along. “The testimony he gives will be off-the-record.” Jim turned on the tape recorder, explaining to Hodges that it was not legally admissible but they had to have a copy of this interview. Hodges agreed.
Ellen barely nodded. “If you think that’s best, Lieutenant Cochrane.”
Cochrane motioned to the chair. “I do, Agent Tanner.” He turned his attention to the aviator. “Commander?”
Hodges slowly sat down and wiped the sweat off his upper lip.
“Tell me about the photo of Susan Kane on that bed. At least, your side of the story,” Cochrane said.
“I don’t like being framed for what happened,” he snarled. “By God, I know there’s not enough hard evidence. Whatever Michelson expects to accomplish out of this will not benefit anyone. Especially Kane. She’s dead.”
“What happened after you and Kane were seen at the elevator? She was in your arms that night, and we have witnesses to prove it. Are you ready to tell us the truth?” Cochrane asked.
Hodges got up and paced. “Hell yes, I am. Kane had it coming. The bitch.”
“Had what coming?” Cochrane asked.
“She came to me demanding I report Michelson and Bassett to hotel security for roughing up Hawkins a little in the Leopard Radar suite.” He halted and looked angrily at Cochrane. “Any woman who went up on the third floor was fair game and everyone knew it. What did they expect? When they were groped a little, Kane got her nose bent out of joint. She came running to me afterward, telling me Hawkins was in shock. I laughed at her and told her she shoulda had more sense than to go up there in the first place.”
“What was her reaction?” Cochrane asked.
“She got pissed off. As usual.” Hodges threw up his hands. “It took some fast talking on my part to keep her from going to the Reno police to report the incident. I told her I’d take care of it, and the people involved would be punished. I managed to talk her into having a drink with me at the patio bar to seal the deal. I put Rohypnol in her drink while we sat at the swimming pool bar. She didn’t know it and started getting woozy. I hauled her up the elevator. Some guy came into the elevator with us and I told him she was my girlfriend and was drunk. We both had a good laugh over it.” Frowning, he muttered, “We took her to my room.”
“Who’s ‘we’?” Cochrane demanded.
“Michelson, Bassett and myself.” With a grimace, he said, “I wanted Kane to keep her mouth shut about what happened to Hawkins in the Leopard suite. I wasn’t going to do anything I promised her about nailing the guys there. We figured if we stripped her to her waist, put her in my bed, took my web belts, threw them around her wrists and tied them to the bedposts, that would do it. I took five digital photos of her in that position. She was unconscious and didn’t remember anything. We forced her lids open so it looked like she was awake.”
“Why?” Ellen demanded tightly. She glared at the sweaty aviator.
“To blackmail her.” He looked beseechingly at Cochrane. “You understand. If Kane put us up on charges, everyone’s career was down the tubes. The photos were meant to force her to keep her mouth shut about what happened to Hawkins. That was all.”
Hodges wiped the film of sweat off his brow and cast a look around, first at Ellen, then at Jim. “We bundled her up in a blanket, went down the emergency stairs and took her back to her room to sleep off the drug. No one saw us do it. I’ve used Rohypnol before. Women don’t remember anything the next morning. I know Kane didn’t recall anything about it, so we were safe. I kept all five photos with me to show them to her later, once we got back to the station, to ensure she kept her mouth shut about the conference.”
“But something went wrong when Kane came back to the station,” Cochrane said, trying to keep the venom out of his tone. “What else happened?”
Hodges cast a feral look around the room. He grabbed the glass of water that sat in front of him and took a gulp. His Adam’s apple bobbed dramatically. When he was done, he set the glass aside and wiped his mouth. “Everything was smooth when we got back from the conference. Kane didn’t report us. She stayed in her office and taught her classes. All seemed to be forgotten.”
“She knew you had the photos?” Ellen asked.
“No, not at first. When we got back to Giddings, I made a point of going to her office that first day. I mentioned our little drink to resolve our differences and that everyone had parted amicably. I told her she’d left us at the bar and went over to talk with some other aviators. Given the fact that she woke up the next morning naked, with a hangover, and a pair of men’s skivvies in her room, I believe she thought she got drunk and slept with someone.”
“Did this affect her job performance?”
“No, it didn’t appear to have any impact on her flying or teaching skills.”
“So what happened next?” Cochrane asked.
With a grimace, Hodges said, “I was jumpy because I knew I was going to make the commanders list. Michelson and Bassett were worried because they were lieutenants, and both knew the shit would run downhill in this man’s Navy if Kane decided to spill the beans. She came to me one day demanding that I turn in the men from the Leopard suite. It was then I realized we’d have to shut her up. If we silenced Kane permanently, we could save our careers.”
“Whose idea was it to go to Kane and blackmail her into silence?”
Hodges hesitated, looked up at the ceiling, then down at his clasped hands. “Mine, I guess.”
“You guess?” Cochrane pressed.
“Okay, it was my idea, dammit!”
“Tell us how it went down,” Cochrane said.
“I told Kane that she had to get out of the Navy, after I showed her the photo. She said it wasn’t fair.” Snorting violently, Hodges flashed them an angry look. “Fair? Just what the hell is ever fair in life? My mother gave me up for adoption because she didn’t want me. You two tell me, what the hell was fair about that? I got passed through a series of foster homes until I was eighteen. I wanted to make something of myself, anyway. I was going to make them all sorry they didn’t want me. I chose a career that everyone would envy, where everyone would point to me and say how great and smart and brave I was.
“Not only was I going to be a fighter pilot flying the hottest, fastest planes in the world, I was going to be the best damn pilot in the world. Well, here I am—a Top Gun instructor. It doesn’t get any better than this. I have the respect of everyone—with the exception of Susan Kane.
“You know,” Hodges continued, relaxing slightly, “I finally hunted down my real mother after all those years. I kept bugging the hospital until they gave me her name.” He laughed sharply. “Know where I found her? She was an alcoholic married to a coal miner in northeast Ohio. When I met her, I froze. This small, thin woman with a narrow, pinched face staring back at me from the door, looking at me through those drunk, watery blue eyes of hers. She was in her forties, but she looked sixty. Her hair was gray. I’ll never forget it. My God, she had a hard face. I stood there staring at her and not believing I came out of the body of that woman.
“And then, her big, potbellied husband came to the door, beer on his breath. He was in a dirty white T-shirt, his jeans had holes in them and they were hitched up under all that flesh with an old leather belt.” Hodges sneered and lifted his chin.
“They were both filthy. Their house was a tin shack and they lived in filth. I ran off their rickety front porch, dived into my rental car and took off just as fast as I could. I couldn’t believe that was my mother. Once I got on the highway, I swore I’d never end up like her. She was a drunken old bitch. Worthless. She’d have done better putting a gun to her head and blowing out her brains, as far as I was concerned. She had no right to live.”
“But why take all that out on Susan?” Ellen’s voice was thin with disbelief.
He smiled at her coldly. “Women are good for only one thing, and that’s screwing. She marched in here to Top Gun thinking she was Miss Goody Two-shoes. Kane always thought she was better than us—”
“That’s not true!” Ellen protested. Her breathing was chaotic. She actually wanted to hit Hodges! The impulse was so real her fingers closed into a fist. Startled by the power of her rage, she quickly relaxed her hand beneath the table.
“The hell it isn’t,” he barked, and stabbed his finger at her. “Kane was always perfect. Her uniform never had a wrinkle or a crease. Her desk always looked like it was ready for the I.G.” Resentment colored his tone. “She had everyone here at Top Gun thinking she was such a model of perfection. She flew like most of us dreamed of flying. She had all the right credentials, went to all the right schools and got 4.0s. She never picked up a drink. And worst of all, she never tried to fit into our world.” His mouth flattened. “She made me sick.”
“But that wasn’t directed at you, Commander. Why did you take everything she did so personally? I don’t understand,” Ellen choked out in fury.
“Navy brats are something else, Agent Tanner. Raised in luxury and privilege. Well, I came up the hard way,” he said hoarsely. “I didn’t have any Navy captain father helping me get all the plush assignments.”
“You’re wrong, Mr. Hodges. It wasn’t like that for Susan at all,” Ellen protested. “And Susan was not like your mother!”
He glared at her. “You keep my mother out of this!”
“Susan earned everything she ever got in life—”
“Well, so the hell did I! I’ve got dreams I want to fulfill, Agent Tanner. Dreams I’ve had since I was a kid. And no one’s going to stand in the way of them coming true. Once I make my rank, I’m up for assignment to a carrier as a squadron commander. I want that plum. I’ve earned it. After that I’m off to the war college, and later I’ll get placed on the captains list. I’ve got my life mapped out. I’ve gotten my ticket punched at all the right stops. And she was the only fly in the ointment. Because of what happened at Ares, Kane could have ruined my plans. She thought she was so smug, marching up to me on that patio and demanding I put two squadron mates on report for a little ass pinching.”
“It was more than that and you know it!” Ellen struck the desk with her closed fist. “Why should any woman stand for that kind of humiliation and subjugation? You and your men were wrong, Mr. Hodges.”
“Get real, will you? It’s been going on for years. It isn’t my fault Kane walked in blind, deaf and dumb. You play in the men’s house, you play by our rules. Those bitches got what they deserved. I commanded Kane to get her stuff in order. I told her she had to resign her commission within the next five days. It wasn’t up for discussion.”
Ellen’s nostrils flared. “You’re part of what’s rotten within the military system—you know that, Commander Hodges? But you’re not only hurting women, you hurt good men, too, by your attitude and manipulation. Thank God not every Navy aviator is like you.”
Coldly, Hodges growled, “There’s no room in this man’s Navy for women. Especially women like Kane, who won’t abide by the rules and traditions. She was willing to break the code of silence and ruin my career. We didn’t trust her to honor our system. Wake up and smell the coffee, Agent Tanner.” He jabbed a finger at the photo. “I warned Kane that if I didn’t hear of her resigning within five days, I was going to circulate copies of this photo to everyone I could think of—inside the Navy and to her family. I’ll bet her father would have died of shame. I told her that her two brothers’ careers would go down the tubes, as well. I reminded her that she would be the cause.”
“Tell me, where are the photos now?” Cochrane asked, trying to throttle the fury in his voice.
Hodges wiped his brow yet again. “They’re in a desk at my condo.”
Cochrane saw the rage and tears in Ellen’s eyes. He saw her fighting to keep her temper from exploding directly at Hodges.
“Does anyone else have access to these pictures?” Cochrane demanded.
“Michelson and Bassett know I have them at my home. When we came back from Ares, we drove over there and I showed them where I put the photos. There were no secrets. We were all involved.”
“So either of them could have gotten the photos at any time?” He saw Hodges’s eyes narrow with fury. Leaning back in his chair, Cochrane studied the sweating pilot. He was going to let Hodges think that Michelson had taken one and squealed on him. That the photo he’d seen earlier had been turned over by the lieutenant. Hodges couldn’t drive home to look for them. He had a TDY flight to catch in an hour. No, Hodges would have to wait until he arrived back at the base at noon tomorrow to find out for sure. Even though Hodges would find all four of them, but by that time, it would be too late; he’d already have spilled the beans to them, which was what Cochrane had wanted.
“Yeah, that’s right. They could’ve retrieved the photos….”
“Do you know Lieutenant Commander Brad Kane? Susan’s brother?”
Hodges looked at him questioningly.
“It seems to me,” Cochrane drawled, picking up a pen, “that you might know him.”
Running his hand along the edge of his collar, Hodges croaked, “Yeah, I know him.”
“Did you see him at the Ares Conference? At the Barstow?”
“Yes…I did.”
“Was he aware of what you did to Susan? Slipping her a drugged drink and then taking those inflammatory photos?”
“Er…no, he wasn’t.”
Cochrane shifted his gaze to Ellen, who had gone white. Below the edge of the table, her hands were clenching and unclenching in her lap. He wanted desperately to help her, but couldn’t. Their eyes met. He saw the anger, the unfairness of it all, in her green gaze. For the good of the investigation, Cochrane shifted his attention back to Hodges. “Reckon I’m curious,” he said. “We found one of Brad Kane’s fingerprints on the teddy bear that Susan Kane was holding when she died.” He drilled Hodges with a dark look. “What do you know about that?”
“Hey!” Hodges said sharply, suddenly standing and shoving in his chair. “I didn’t kill her! I know that’s what you think, but I didn’t do it!”
“How does Brad Kane fit into all of this, then?” Cochrane asked, keeping his voice deceptively soft.
Pacing back and forth, Hodges muttered, “I contacted him on his carrier and told him that Susan was going to turn several of us in for a misunderstanding over a little bumping and kidding that took place at the defense contractor suites at Ares. I told him Susan was blowing our actions out of proportion, that she was using the sexual harassment boondoggle and was likely to squeal on us. We talked and I told him the only solution was for her to resign for the good of the Navy. He was to arrange emergency leave and talk her into resigning her commission.”
“So, you lied to him. You made him think Susan was going to break the code of silence?”
Bitterly, Hodges said, “Yes. He’s a brother aviator. He’s not about to let anyone break the code among us, not even his sister.”
“Before talking to Susan, Brad Kane knew nothing of the photos you took of her. Is that correct?”
“That’s right.”
“Does he know about them now? Since she died?”
Startled, Hodges retorted, “Hell, no! I didn’t think she’d tell him. I knew he wasn’t aware of them because of our conversations leading up to him going to see her.”
“So Brad Kane took emergency leave. When did he arrive in La Mesa to see Susan?”
Rubbing his brow, Hodges said, “He left the carrier on June 20th and he flew back on June 23rd. After he got back on the carrier, he called me to tell me he’d seen her and told her to resign.”
“What else?”
Hodges stopped pacing for a moment and clasped his hands behind his back, in the classic at-ease position. “I guess they’d had a fight. He didn’t give me any details.”
“Was Susan going to resign?”
“Yes, he said she would.”
Ellen said tightly, “You set them both up. Brad went in thinking that Susan was going to tell all and ruin three aviators’ careers. Susan thought you were going to send those photos throughout the Navy community and to her family.”
Hodges frowned. “Look, I didn’t know she was going to kill herself, for chrissakes. How was I to know? I wanted to put family pressure on her because I wasn’t sure she was going to resign even under the threat of the photos. She comes from a military dynasty. I was relying on the fact she’d do it to protect her family. Okay?”
Ellen glanced at Cochrane, and he could see tears in her eyes. He wanted to shield her from this kind of awful human behavior, but he couldn’t.
He shook his head. “What was Commander Kane’s mood when he contacted you by phone?”
“He was pretty clipped and uptight sounding.”
“Susan hadn’t told him you’d taken those photos of her?”
“No, apparently she didn’t.” Hodges shrugged. “I was sweating that part.”
“Why?”
“Because I wasn’t sure if Brad Kane would condone what we did. I knew he’d back us to keep the code of silence. But I wasn’t sure what he’d do if Susan spilled the beans on us. I knew their relationship was strained, so I hoped the photo wouldn’t be discussed. I knew about the bikini photo of Kane and that married pilot she’d had an affair with earlier. She was defensive about it, so I didn’t think she’d willingly tell her brother about a second sexual scandal. That was the risk in my plan.”
Ellen shook her head and slowly stood up. “What you did is despicable! You make all good Navy officers, men and women, look bad, Hodges.” The therapist in her knew her attack was wrong, but dammit, she didn’t care. He’d killed Susan by railroading her into a corner. The son of a bitch!
He glared back. “I did what I felt was necessary to protect us. It’s that simple. You don’t break the code of silence. No officer rats on another.”
Curling her fingers into her palms, Ellen whispered unsteadily, “Yes, and to make sure that happened, you murdered an innocent woman.”
“I didn’t murder anybody! How the hell did I know this chick would take her life? She seemed stable. In control. I never saw her break down in tears or act like a woman. I didn’t plan for her to die. We just wanted her out of our backyard. Out of the Navy.”
“When you heard about her death, how did you feel?” Cochrane asked.
Hodges closed his eyes. “I was in shock.”
“Maybe a little relieved? After all, Susan wouldn’t be around to tell anyone what happened to her. Everyone’s career was safe when she took her life.”
Hodges opened his eyes. His voice cracked. “Look, I didn’t think anything like this would happen. Not in a million years! Hey, our world is a tough business. How could I know there was a flaw in her that would make her take her life?”
“Do you ever think she could be pushed only so far before she went over the edge?”
“No, I didn’t.”
“So your first interview with us today was filled with half-truths, faulty memory lapses and flat-out stonewalling?” Cochrane asked.
Hodges glared. “Yeah.”
“You lied.”
“I’m not giving up my brothers, Lieutenant Cochrane.”
“Even if you were the catalyst that took Susan’s life?”
His mouth flattened. “I told you—it wasn’t planned. We just wanted her out of the Navy. She could have gotten a nice cushy job as a commercial airline pilot. That’s what I thought she’d do.”
“Hodges, this little unofficial session is over as of this moment. Get the hell out of my sight before I kick your sorry ass clear across this station.”
Hodges glared, then spun around. He slammed the door shut as he left to catch his TDY flight.
COCHRANE TOOK an unsteady breath as he looked at Ellen. “Reckon we need a break. Shall we?”
She sat there breathing raggedly. “That low-life son of a bitch killed Susan.”
“Technically, no.” Cochrane said it slowly as he closed his laptop. Absently, he moved a few papers around. “But the evil bastard certainly set the train in motion.”
“There’s no way we can nail him?”
“No, because Hodges told us this off-the-record. Even with this information there’s still no firm proof that we can tie him to the blackmail. We would have to break Michelson and Bassett. Hodges could claim he had nothing to do with the picture taking. Instead he could argue he was the superior officer of the three, trying to resolve a people issue between subordinates. We already know Lieutenant Morgan can’t identify the man in the elevator with Susan. On top of that, we have Bassett identifying Susan with an unknown man an hour later.”
“This is terrible,” Ellen said, her voice choked with anger.
“Hell’s bells,” Cochrane muttered in frustration. “Hodges could claim he took Susan back to her own room after trying to sober her up at his. Then she went back out to party. And we’d be out of luck—again. Susan isn’t here to tell a jury the identities of the guilty parties involved. She’s dead. All the media would do or remember is Susan lying naked on that bed.”
Running her fingers through her hair, Ellen rasped, “Who is going to speak for Susan? I don’t believe he’s going to get off scot-free. What kind of justice system do we have in this country? Hodges blackmailed Susan, pure and simple. Then he set up Brad Kane to push her out of the Navy. My God!” Throwing up her hands, she stalked angrily around the desk. “It’s so wrong!”
Cochrane sat down. “Hodges would probably end up getting off,” he told her.
“Can’t you get him on any charge?” Ellen demanded, her voice wobbling with disbelief.
“We need reliable witnesses and an airtight case.” Jim felt a wave of frustration and helplessness. “Other than throwing a punch into the bastard’s face and breaking his nose and having him file assault charges against me, I reckon I don’t know of any way to get valid charges filed.”
Ellen leaned down and picked up her knapsack. Tears ran freely down her cheeks and she searched for a tissue. “This is one of those times when I’d be sorely tempted to take the law into my own hands and see that bastard pay. No one can speak for Susan, for the terrible torture and misery that she suffered.”
“I don’t disagree with you,” Jim said softly. “Look, I’ve got to get a yeoman to type this up. Even though we can’t put any of it in the system, because it was off-the-record.” He tapped the appointment book. “When’s the Kane family coming in tomorrow?”
“At 1100, remember? We’re setting up here at Giddings for that interview?”
Grimacing, Jim said, “I reckon that whole thing is going to become a keg of nitroglycerin.” The meeting had been arranged at the insistence of Captain Kane, Susan’s father, who had heard that the police had closed the case. Dornier had approved the family-update meeting without notifying Cochrane first.
Maybe Commander Dornier wanted to force him to close the Kane case and get rid of it and Navy involvement at the same time. The CNO, Admiral Caruthers, would have his legal answer, but not the reason why, and Jim knew he’d have to supply the “why”—through back channels—or else. Susan Kane had a sponsor. Jim suspected it was the CNO himself. And he’d have to tell the Admiral everything. At that point, it would be up to the higher ranking officer as to whether Susan’s photos ever surfaced. Many times, information became compartmentalized or for certain “eyes only” and he knew this was one of them. His job was to give the CNO and Commander Dornier all the info and let the cards fall where they must.
“Maybe the family knows more than they’re telling us,” Ellen said. “Brad Kane has already lied by not admitting he visited Susan just before her death.”
“Why should we assume he doesn’t know about the blackmail?”
“Then, he’d be a worse bastard than Hodges,” Ellen snapped.
Nodding, Cochrane released a long, painful breath. “That’s true. Maybe we can get Brad to roll over on Hodges—if he knows anything.”
“That may be a blind alley. But after what’s happened to Susan, I’m willing to try.” Ellen sighed. “What a terrible loss of an innocent, fine life. All she tried to do was be a good citizen and follow her dream of being a naval aviator. She was a humanitarian. She loved children. What a waste.”
“Hodges is totally self-absorbed. He’s doing what he thinks best for him and his brother aviators. He’s pretty secure behind the code of silence. It’s going to allow him to skate right through this thing.”
“He shouldn’t even be called a human being.” Ellen clenched the tissue in her hand, her lower lip trembling. “Oh, I know I’m an analyst and I shouldn’t be saying things like this. I see how his upbringing helped turn him into who he is. But dammit, not every foster child becomes a borderline personality like Hodges. He can’t distinguish right from wrong. He plays by his own set of laws. It’s a matter of choice.” Her voice fell. “It’s always about choice….”
“At least we’ve got a better idea of why Susan took her life. But there are still a lot of unanswered questions. What did Brad Kane say to her? Did she spill the truth about that photo to him? If she did, did he even care?”
Releasing a tense breath, Ellen whispered, “I don’t know, maybe we’ll find out tomorrow.” She shook her head. “This is just too bizarre, Jim.”
“Well, we’re gonna find out soon enough, gal,” he said. “I think we should be prepared for a lot of fireworks with the Kane family. We don’t know what they do or don’t know.”
With a shrug, Ellen stated, “Your plan to talk to Hodges off-the-record sure worked.” She gave him a look of appreciation. “Breaking up Hodges’s interview threw him off balance. And your Plan B, bringing in Michelson to sign those authorization papers, which could have been signed at any time, was nothing short of brilliant. Did you see how those two looked at one another?”
“Yes,” Cochrane said. “Betrayal was written across both their faces.”
“I love how synchronicity has occurred. Maybe a higher justice is at work,” Ellen murmured.
“Did Michelson say anything to you when he laid eyes on Hodges out there in the passageway?”
Ellen smiled tightly at the memory. “He was angry and really came unglued when we stepped into our office here to sign the papers.”
“Oh? Why?”
“When Walter Rapaport came in to tell me goodbye and that he was leaving, Michelson about jumped out of his skin. He asked Rapaport why, and the attorney told him that Hodges no longer needed his services. Michelson went positively white. He started throwing questions at Rapaport.”
“Like what?”
“Like was Hodges still with you? Was he still giving testimony about the Ares Conference?’”
Cochrane grinned. “That set the hook into Michelson, I’ll bet.”
“Did it ever. I’ve never seen anyone so angry, Jim. Michelson didn’t say a peep. He just kept signing all those papers and then stalked out. He was already at the door when I called to him and asked him why he was so upset.”
Jim chuckled. “That took gumption. Did he respond?”
“He turned to me and said people need to respect the traditions of the Navy. It was kind of a strange reply, I thought.”
“I reckon he thinks Hodges broke the code of silence and told us about their Barstow Hotel fiasco with Susan. That Hodges might resign his commission and the Navy be damned.”
Frowning, Ellen said, “That’s the least that he deserves.”
“But even if Michelson or Bassett cracks and comes forth on the record, Hodges will probably walk free. Maybe with what happened today, Michelson is our best chance at getting testimony. I think I’ll pay him a visit in a day or two and see if he’s willing to come clean. Maybe cut a deal with him.”
“I just can’t believe this will be allowed to happen, Jim.”
He gave her a wry look. “Maybe we’ve primed the pump enough among that threesome to make Michelson tell the truth under oath. Then we’d have a case that would wobble to court, with no guarantee that these three would be indicted.” Cochrane looked heavenward for a moment. “I don’t know of any way to officially open this can of worms. I’m hesitant, because I don’t want Susan’s good name smeared with a weak court case. It’s one of those damned if you do and damned if you don’t things.”
A fresh round of tears came to Ellen’s eyes and she wiped them away. “Right now,” she said, “I don’t care about the three of them. I care about Tommy and Susan. Robert and Brad Kane have a lot on their shoulders, too.”
Cochrane couldn’t stand her tears. He got up, went to the door and locked it. There were no windows, so no one could see the two of them. Ellen gave him a questioning look at he turned toward her.
“Come here,” he urged roughly, sliding his arms around her shoulders. Right now, Ellen needed a little comfort. Hell, so did he. As he pulled her against him, her soft breasts against his chest, her curly hair tickling his jaw, he felt her arms go around his waist. Cochrane tightened his embrace. Then he felt Ellen sob.
“It’s okay, gal,” he soothed, kissing her hair, her temple. “Go ahead, let it out. You can cry for Susan, too….” He shut his eyes and rested his chin against her hair. The scent of jasmine drifted up into his nostrils. Ellen was small, but what a package of dynamite she was. A wry smile pulled at his mouth as he began to slowly massage her tense shoulders. Making slow circles with his hands, he absorbed her sobs of grief. Frustration and anger welled up, too. Feeling her tremble, Cochrane continued to gently rock her back and forth. “It’s okay, gal, it’s gonna work out….” Not the way they wanted, though.
Cochrane eased away a little to dab Ellen’s damp cheek. Everything about her was so natural, and so totally appealing. He slid his hand into her tangled, soft hair. “It’s gonna be okay, gal,” he whispered, leaning down and pressing a kiss to her temple. This time, she raised her face, and her eyes were gleaming with need. Reading the desire in them, Cochrane captured her parted lips. As her mouth hungrily fit against his, he groaned and gripped her more tightly. Her lips were salty tasting. Wet. Slippery. He felt her hands inching up his chest and around his neck. Hungry. She was hungry—for him.
The last hour of the interview had been filled with such pain. Yet it began to evaporate as Cochrane drowned beneath the assertive onslaught of her mouth tangling with his. They needed reassurance from one another that something good was still left in this world. Drowning in the splendor of her tongue sliding across his lower lip and her hips against his, Cochrane felt the ugly little world of Hodges disappear beneath the pulsing heat of Ellen. She was life. Real life. The goodness in life. He seized her lips in return and let her know how much he wanted and needed her.
Breathing unevenly, Ellen slowly broke away from Jim’s mouth. Oh, he knew how to kiss. Throughout her body, she felt the sizzle and aching need to have him—have all of him. Searching his stormy gray eyes, she saw his boyish smile. He lifted his hand and ran it gently through the curly strands of her hair. Somehow, he had assuaged her grief and given her love instead. Love? Where had that word come from?
Jim stroked Ellen’s hair, feeling the fierceness of his feelings for her. How could it be love? It was too soon. Or was he just plain needy and he was calling lust, love? No. He wasn’t built that way. As he gazed down into Ellen’s shimmering green eyes, Jim knew the possibility was there. But how could it happen so fast? Without him seeing it coming? He’d courted Jodi for two years before he realized he was in love.
Giving himself an internal shake, Jim realized that maybe life was handing him a second chance…with Ellen. She was completely different in temperament from his ex-wife. Yes, she had a way of working with him that made adjustments and compromise painless, not pointed.
Grazing her hair, he smiled. “Come on, we gotta get moving. Tomorrow is another brutal day for everyone.”
Nodding, Ellen stepped away. She didn’t want to, but knew they had to. “The Kane family meeting.”
“You sound like it’s a death sentence, gal.”
Ellen walked over and picked up her knapsack and briefcase. “It feels like one—for everyone.”