“Thanks, Nicki. It looks really good.”
She touched his shoulder. “Don’t eat too fast, my young friend.”
Rita looked at him. “How’s the chest, Picasso?”
“Its sore, but not bad.”
Amanda smiled. “I think his chest is getting swelled.”
Rita laughed. “So do I.”
Alex looked at both of them, looked down at his chest. “I don’t see nothing.”
Rita smiled, glanced quickly at Dianne across the room. She reminded her of Arizona in some way. The shape of her mouth, that was it.
When the trio arrived at the Liaison Office, Alex and Amanda walked the short distance to the pier, as Alex wanted to look at sailboats. Rita entered her office, looked out the large window, saw the pair standing on the pier. She sat at Dixie’s desk and watched them for a while. She thought they made a nice couple, doubted that was likely to happen. Maybe friends were better anyway.
A knock sounded on the front door, Rita saw a female face in the window. Short dark hair and complexion. She opened the door.
“Major Royale, I presume? I’m Captain Carol Yates.”
Rita smiled. “Come in Captain Yates.”
She looked around the office, looked at Rita. “Nice to finally meet you in person, Major. I’ve seen photos of you before.”
“And you, Carol. Your heritage is Indian?”
“My mother was born in India, but I grew up in Canada.”
“What made you want to join Badger Troop?”
“Muslims have killed millions of Indians.”
“Yes, I know. We fight against a determined enemy.”
“Yes, Ma’am. There is no surrender.”
Rita nodded, blew out her breath. She asked, “Is headquarters bugged?”
“I have what we need to listen in. I acquired a vehicle from the base. Its parked just in front of the building.”
“Do you have anything that will tell us if this office is bugged?”
“Yes, Ma’am. I’ll do a sweep of the office and then set up the listening devices.”
Forty minutes later, after a thorough sweep, no bugs were found in either office. Rita’s office was now the listening post. The bugs at the Army base would be monitored twenty-four hours a day by the new Badger Troop women. Carol volunteered the first shift. Two other Badgers were en route to Rita’s house to keep guard and one to accompany Alex wherever he went.
Alex and Amanda entered the main office area, looked at the slender dark complexioned Captain. He smiled, walked to her, held out his hand. “I’m Alex Racine.”
Carol smiled. “Hello Alex. Rita’s been telling me how brave you are.”
“I’m not brave, Ma’am.”
“I don’t know about that.” She looked at Amanda. “Hi, I’m Captain Yates.”
“I’m Private Amanda Slater, Ma’am. Nice to meet you.”
“Army private?”
“Yes, Ma’am.”
Carol looked at her closely. “I suppose the major already told you not to mention to anyone what you see in this office.”
Amanda didn’t see anything unusual. “I understand, Captain.”
Rita smiled. “Are you okay here now, Carol?”
“Yes, Major. The two troopers should be at your house now. I’ll stay here until my replacement arrives later. Someone will be here all night.”
“I’ll be available if you should need me. No matter the hour. There’s a nice restaurant a few doors away.”
She nodded. “From what you told me, probably not much will happen until Monday.”
“I hope not. I need a break from these assholes for a while.”
Carol released a smile, exposed her white straight teeth. “I imagine you do, Major. Don’t worry; the two women staying at your house are more than capable.”
Rita looked at Alex. “You my young man are going to have an escort for the next while.”
“Like a bodyguard?”
“Yes.”
“You said I wasn’t a target, Rita.”
“I know. Just a precaution.”
Amanda drove Alex back to the beach house while Rita followed them in the truck. She hoped the bugging devices would lead to something. She thought about seeing Lieutenant Sweet and Rafa on Monday morning. All there was to do now was be patient and wait. She also thought about the woman named Dianne. Rita wasn’t quite sure what to think about her. Outwardly Dianne was one very sexy woman. But what if Amanda was right? What if Dianne did just want sex and nothing else? Even though a part of Rita wouldn’t mind that, she decided her life needed more than just sex. Sex was nice. Relationships were better. But maybe she could never have another relationship. There would never be another Arizona.
Chapter Nine (Monday, June 28, 2021)
Rita awoke early, showered and made coffee for the guard out front and the one now dressing in the den. She would be watching over Alex, who had decided he was well enough to paint a man’s business today, much to Rita’s amazement and reluctance.
She rode the motorcycle into Sidney, parked behind her office, entered inside, chatted briefly with a Badger Trooper named Patsy, who was monitoring the bugging of the Army headquarters.
Rita stared out the large window at the calm ocean, daydreaming, the sunlight a million tiny sparkles on the smooth green surface. She heard a soft knock on the back door. Rita returned to the moment, walked to the rear entrance and opened the door. Rafa entered quietly, a nervous look on her pretty olive skinned face. She was dressed like a westerner. Tight jeans, sleeveless blouse. Large straw handbag.
The major smiled. “Thanks for coming, Rafa. Would you like a coffee?”
She glanced all around her, shook her head. “No, thank you, Major.”
“The Army man will be here shortly.” Rita led her into her office just a few steps away. “You can keep this door mostly closed and peek through. He won’t see you as I’ll be blocking his view.”
“Yes, Major.” She studied the other young woman in the office, her black uniform, pistol in a shoulder holster.
Dixie and Cathy soon entered, peeked into Rita’s office then sat at their desks. Rita left Rafa in her office with Patsy,
