Page 1 of Her Steadfast Hero

Chapter One

Hot, tired and pissed didn’t even come close to covering it. He really didn’t give a shit what Ortiz was saying. He got it. The man had just been hired, and then he’d fired half of the department because of corruption. That was his problem. As a member of the US Army Military Police, David’s problem was to make sure his two men didn’t end up spending the rest of their lives in a Las Flores prison.

Wait a minute.

“Can you repeat that?” David asked the Las Flores Chief of Police.

“In my opinion, your men were in the wrong place at the wrong time. I have one of my questionable officers saying they assaulted him. I’m not buying it. I can’t figure out why he’d accuse them, but he does have a broken jaw.”

“Fuck. Why isn’t that statement in the e-mail my commander sent me?”

“Because I didn’t want it in the official report yet. Like I said, I don’t trust the little shit. Before a member of the Las Flores Police Department decides to make a report against members of the United States Army, I wanted to make sure I knew everything.”

David pulled out his smartphone. “Okay, I only see your write-up of general facts and Rigg’s statement. Where is Harrison’s statement?” David asked, referring to the other American NCO.

“Harrison isn’t talking. We’re just getting name, rank, and serial number. This is a…what I think you call…a clusterfuck,” Ortiz said the last word in English. “Did I use that word correctly?”

“Yep, you used it correctly,” David continued in Spanish. He took another long sip of his coffee so he could take the time to consider all that Ortiz had told him.

“Can I read over your officer’s statement? The one that you haven’t put into the report.”

Ortiz fished his keys out of his pocket, unlocked his desk drawer, pulled out a file, and slid it across the desk toward David.

“I’ve also included private notes. They outline what I think really happened. I knew you would be here asking questions, and I wanted you up to speed.”

Picking up the file, David leaned back to read it.

“Take your time. I know my handwriting isn’t the best.”

“Isn’t he expecting a copy to sign?”

“He’s still in the hospital flying high on pain medication. I figure I have another day to stall. I’m hoping you can get Harrison to speak up by then.”

David nodded and went back to reading. He went over the information four times since it was in Spanish and he didn’t want to miss any nuance, as Spanish wasn’t his native language.

“There are enough holes to drive a truck through,” he said throwing the report onto the desk.

“That was my take, that’s why I included my supposition,” Ortiz said.

“You mean to tell me everybody in the bar stood by while two foreigners decided to beat a cop with no provocation? Then there’s the part where Harrison picked up the pool cue. I’m sorry, but I’ve seen the military files of both men. Harrison is bigger than I am. He wouldn’t need a weapon to break anyone’s jaw.”

“The doctors say my man’s injury was done by a fist. They are quite adamant in their assessment. So I know he is lying.”

“And you’re thinking–”

What?

A jerky tremor knocked David off his chair.

Was it a bomb?

The floor shoved him up and vibrated, shaking him. The trembling sensation increased. Increased. Increased.

Earthquake!

He needed protection. His chair!

Pulling the tipped over leather chair on top of him, just before the ceiling crashed on top of him, David struggled to stay under the scant protection.