Read Death in Her Eyes (A Mac Everett Mystery Book 1) for Free Online
Authors: Nick Vellis
questions…”
“No son, as you can see, I’m in a bit of trouble. Someone’s trying to cancel Christmas. This dropped in my lap and I don’t know what it’s about. I can’t go to the local police, not until I know more. There are always things…”
“There are always secrets. The owner of a secret should decide when to let it come out, if at all,” I said. “There are three kinds of information about people General Hunt, public, private, and secret. With the internet, today, none of it’s safe.”
The general looked right through me yet again, and then said, “Told you an ex-army Intel man would be sharp.” Turning to me he said, “I’ve beat my brains out trying to figure this one, Everett. Will you help me?”
“I go where the evidence leads General, no glossing over the rough spots. I don’t stick my neck out for anyone. I’ll keep your confidences and it just happens I’m not working on anything now so I can give this my full attention. I have one question first though, why me? I haven’t exactly been on the cover of PIs of the Rich and Famous. You can afford to hire anyone in the state.”
“I’m active in RMOA, the Retired Military Officers Association.”
“Never heard of it, but I wasn’t a Boy Scout either.”
“Doesn’t matter, they have access to Official Military Personnel Files . I found your name through the RMOA database. You were Intel, you grew up in the Orlando area so you know the lay of the land, and you were an effective, decorated officer.”
“You got my OMPF, well I guess money talks General.”
My host’s eyes narrowed again for a moment, the sparkle disappeared. He didn’t like my crack. The general had a temper, but he had it reined in pretty damn well.
Maybe I should zip my lip.
“What that file doesn’t tell you is I failed as a local cop…”
“Yeah, so you got fired, so what. You beat them in court,” he replied.
He had done his research. It should have been my second red flag. The first one being he’d called me at all.
“I wasn’t fired. I resigned,” I bristled.
“Have it your way,” the general said. “You think you can handle this on the QT, son? ‘Whoever goes about slandering reveals secrets, but he who is trustworthy in spirit keeps a thing covered, Proverbs eleven, verse thirteen.’ ”
I didn’t care for him spouting scripture, but I knew what he wanted to ask. He wanted to know if I could stay off the sauce long enough to do my job.
“Look General, the army was good to me,” I replied, “until Iraq. I came back with some citations and a footlocker full of bad memories. I’m going to the VA. Is that enough for you?”
“But can you handle this, captain? Stonewall Jackson said he feared alcohol more than the enemy’s bullets. Do you have the personal courage to…?”
“Yes, sir I do and I remember my Army Core Values too.”
“You remember them…, but do you still live by a higher standard. Do you… never mind,” he said. “We won’t talk about your… issues.”
“I was always big on the integrity, general,” I said. “Separating right from wrong, acting according to what you know is right and saying openly that you’re acting on your understanding of right versus wrong.” I knew I didn’t need to quote the Army’s values to this man, but I did it anyway. I wanted him to understand. “I think that’s the one that messed me up. I did what I was ordered, but …”
“ ‘Whoever walks in integrity walks securely, but he who makes his ways crooked will be found out,’ Proverbs ten, verse nine,” he said. “You decided you weren’t so sure your orders were the right thing to do,” he replied.
He did get it. “Something like that,” I said.
This was an interesting man. After a long while, he gave a little chuckle. He extended his hand and this time the handshake was that of friend.
We spent the afternoon checking out scenarios. General Hunt had no clue what the notes were about, but he had
“No son, as you can see, I’m in a bit of trouble. Someone’s trying to cancel Christmas. This dropped in my lap and I don’t know what it’s about. I can’t go to the local police, not until I know more. There are always things…”
“There are always secrets. The owner of a secret should decide when to let it come out, if at all,” I said. “There are three kinds of information about people General Hunt, public, private, and secret. With the internet, today, none of it’s safe.”
The general looked right through me yet again, and then said, “Told you an ex-army Intel man would be sharp.” Turning to me he said, “I’ve beat my brains out trying to figure this one, Everett. Will you help me?”
“I go where the evidence leads General, no glossing over the rough spots. I don’t stick my neck out for anyone. I’ll keep your confidences and it just happens I’m not working on anything now so I can give this my full attention. I have one question first though, why me? I haven’t exactly been on the cover of PIs of the Rich and Famous. You can afford to hire anyone in the state.”
“I’m active in RMOA, the Retired Military Officers Association.”
“Never heard of it, but I wasn’t a Boy Scout either.”
“Doesn’t matter, they have access to Official Military Personnel Files . I found your name through the RMOA database. You were Intel, you grew up in the Orlando area so you know the lay of the land, and you were an effective, decorated officer.”
“You got my OMPF, well I guess money talks General.”
My host’s eyes narrowed again for a moment, the sparkle disappeared. He didn’t like my crack. The general had a temper, but he had it reined in pretty damn well.
Maybe I should zip my lip.
“What that file doesn’t tell you is I failed as a local cop…”
“Yeah, so you got fired, so what. You beat them in court,” he replied.
He had done his research. It should have been my second red flag. The first one being he’d called me at all.
“I wasn’t fired. I resigned,” I bristled.
“Have it your way,” the general said. “You think you can handle this on the QT, son? ‘Whoever goes about slandering reveals secrets, but he who is trustworthy in spirit keeps a thing covered, Proverbs eleven, verse thirteen.’ ”
I didn’t care for him spouting scripture, but I knew what he wanted to ask. He wanted to know if I could stay off the sauce long enough to do my job.
“Look General, the army was good to me,” I replied, “until Iraq. I came back with some citations and a footlocker full of bad memories. I’m going to the VA. Is that enough for you?”
“But can you handle this, captain? Stonewall Jackson said he feared alcohol more than the enemy’s bullets. Do you have the personal courage to…?”
“Yes, sir I do and I remember my Army Core Values too.”
“You remember them…, but do you still live by a higher standard. Do you… never mind,” he said. “We won’t talk about your… issues.”
“I was always big on the integrity, general,” I said. “Separating right from wrong, acting according to what you know is right and saying openly that you’re acting on your understanding of right versus wrong.” I knew I didn’t need to quote the Army’s values to this man, but I did it anyway. I wanted him to understand. “I think that’s the one that messed me up. I did what I was ordered, but …”
“ ‘Whoever walks in integrity walks securely, but he who makes his ways crooked will be found out,’ Proverbs ten, verse nine,” he said. “You decided you weren’t so sure your orders were the right thing to do,” he replied.
He did get it. “Something like that,” I said.
This was an interesting man. After a long while, he gave a little chuckle. He extended his hand and this time the handshake was that of friend.
We spent the afternoon checking out scenarios. General Hunt had no clue what the notes were about, but he had