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gross income for the business was a little over twelve million dollars.”
    â€œJust about as much as a JG makes,” Murdock said. They laughed.
    â€œIt doesn’t bother me that she makes a lot more money than I do. She earns it. She’s excellent at designing and has a great head for business.”
    They talked for another half hour. Murdock sensed itquickly, an immediate bonding with the young man. A meshing of purpose, ideals, and style. It had happened a few times before. An immediate rapport, both on the same wavelength.
    Murdock looked at DeWitt and gave a small nod. DeWitt grinned. “About what I was going to say, Commander.”
    Murdock stood and held out his hand. “Chris, you’re our man. I’ll have the master chief put through the paper today. He’ll tell you when to report, but probably tomorrow morning. You better get your desk cleaned out and your gear turned in.”
    â€œHey, good, great.” Chris seemed a little confused. “But the master chief told me there were three men to be interviewed.”
    â€œTrue, Chris,” Murdock said. “I know the other one and he doesn’t stand a chance after we’ve talked with you. Now get out of here and get your papers put through.”
    Chris grinned. “Hey, absolutely right. I can do that, Commander.” He shook his head. “Damn, I’m really gonna be here with the Third. Wait until I tell Wanda. We’re going to celebrate tonight.” He stood, came to a braced attention, and snapped a salute. “Request permission to leave the Third Platoon area, sir.”
    Murdock grinned and returned the salute. “Permission granted, Sailor. Get back here as soon as you can.”
    When Chris left, Ed DeWitt dropped into the chair he had sat in so often and stretched out his feet. He rubbed his wounded leg and nodded. “Oh, yes, Murdock. I think that you’ve caught yourself a good one.”
    Murdock frowned. “Yeah, but not as good as the one I’m losing. What do we do to integrate him into the squad as fast as possible? Like we needed him here yesterday?”
    DeWitt rubbed his nose, as he often did when he was thinking. “Okay, I’m with you here for two weeks yet. Let’s go to the desert for four days, see what this young man is made of. It’ll also sharpen up the men and get them back in fighting trim. We also need a new man for Chris’s squad. Do you have some candidates?”
    â€œMaster Chief sent me over ten who had requests on file. I looked them over and cut out three. First order of businesstomorrow morning when Chris comes back will be to help him pick a new man for his squad. Introduce him to the men in Bravo. Let him see physically who he has to work with. Then we’ll see where we go from there.”
    â€œSounds good from here, oh, wise leader of men,” Ed said, cracking a grin.
    â€œHow does your new outfit look?”
    â€œGood old Second Platoon of Five. Yeah, I’ve met them. Don’t know squat about them yet. I like the JG there, so that’s a plus. Just have to see how it works out. I won’t transfer anyone out unless I absolutely have to. I have the option, if I’m sure I can’t work with any of the men I inherit.”
    Murdock laughed and put his feet up on the desk, then leaned back in the chair. “DeWitt, you’re used to a bunch of oddballs here in the Third. You’ll be able to work with almost anybody. They all are SEALs, so you know they’ve been through a lot just to get into the Team.”
    â€œYeah, yeah, I keep telling myself that. Just have to wait and see. What do you think about the four-day trip to the desert?”
    â€œSounds like a lot of work, sleeping on those sandy rocks and getting up double-dog-tired. I love it. We’ll work out a training sked that will put Chris in the driver’s seat all the way. See how he does.”
    Â 
    The next morning