Dying For LA by Ian Jones (top fiction books of all time .txt) 📕

one giving instructions. He was in charge, he was here, in the Pentagon, the entire US army at his disposal but the reality was he was ineffective and powerless. Not for the first time he sincerely wished he had never got involved, had never agreed to be part of it but the fact was it had all gone too far.

And people were dead.

Because of him.

And now he had to get out of this. Bur he had no idea how, and the thing that was keeping him awake at night was how scared he was; terrified of the people who were supposed to be working for him.

***

Reed had his foot down, the old Mustang really moving on the way over to Indigo.

‘So, Keane had a bad night, what went on? He start making a load of noise?’ John asked.

Reed shrugged.

‘It sounds like he was making all sorts of threats at first, then he started ranting and raving, demanding to speak to the major. But the guys are well used to assholes, they ignored it, and they didn’t go down there, just as they were told. But if they were in the outer room they could hear him.’

‘Doesn’t sound so bad,’ John said.

‘No, but this morning when they took his chow in, he had been hitting his face on the bars. Got some bruises and some blood. Insisting on seeing the major.’

‘What, is he claiming brutality? Who is he going to do that to?’

Reed shook his head.

‘I don’t know.’

‘It won’t make any difference anyway. It’s pointless. Nobody even knows he is there, it’s all deniable. We could stick him back at the motel and he could say whatever he wanted but nobody would believe him.’

‘I guess, but we put him there to get some answers. If we end up having to let him go then this has all been a waste of time. Major Turner has refused to see him, but I know he is gonna have some concerns.’

‘Tom, he’ll know none of your guys would pull any shit like this.’

Reed sighed.

‘Yeah, I know that. But how does this leave us?’

John considered, watching the scenery outside fly past in a blur, the traffic actually moving for once.

‘Listen Tom, we’ll go and see the major first. Then let me speak to Keane. Alone.’

They reached Indigo and drove through the gates, John’s pass meant they went in without any delays. Reed made his way through the camp and pulled up among the Humvee’s outside the MP building and they walked in.

The same corporal came out to meet them. He didn’t look overly concerned.

‘How bad is it?’ Reed asked him.

‘It’s not much. He’s banged his nose and his forehead, but my guess is he knew what he was doing and didn’t really want to hurt himself too bad. Scared of the pain most likely, don’t blame him for that.’

‘Ok, so no sutures?’

The corporal smiled.

‘No sir, nothing like that. I cleaned him up a bit. He was whining and saying he needs the hospital.’

‘Yeah, I bet he was,’ John said.

‘Good work,’ Reed told the corporal. ‘He eaten since he’s been in?’

‘Yes sir. He ate dinner and also breakfast.’

‘Can’t be that bad. Jesus. ok, so we are gonna go talk to the major.’

‘Yes sir.’

Reed led the way up the stairs and then stopped at a frosted glass panel door. US Army Military Police Executive Officer was stencilled across the top and below in the centre Major A. Turner. Reed tapped on the glass and waited.

‘Come in.’

They walked in.

Turner was sitting behind a grey steel desk, with two beaten visitor chairs in front of it. There was a tired filing cabinet in one corner and nothing else. On the desk was a big old ancient computer monitor and a grubby keyboard, some paperwork scattered across the top and two telephones, one black and one red. Turner looked up at them, smiled and said hello.

John looked around the room. Like every military office he had ever been in. It took him back.

‘Feels like I should salute,’ he said.

Turner chuckled.

‘No, we don’t do that in here. We got other things to worry about, save that for the parade ground. So you hear about Mr Keane?’

‘We heard.’ Reed told him.

‘I’m told it’s nothing, but we got to keep it in mind. I don’t want any shit being thrown at my guys downstairs.’

‘Understood,’ John replied. ‘I’m going to talk to him.’

‘John wants to go in alone,’ Reed said looking at the major.

Turner pursed his lips and tapped them with a pencil, thinking, then shook his head.

‘I’m sorry John. I can’t allow that. Captain Reed needs to be with you at all times.’

‘But …’ John started but Turner interrupted him gently.

‘I am sorry. But this is the only way we can do this. John you were in the military, and you have to understand that we are all way out on a limb here. I can’t risk anything blowing up in our faces. So, Tom goes where you go. Look, I got no problem with any of this, and you seem like a squared-away guy to me. But it’s my decision.’

There was nothing John could say. Turner was absolutely right. And saying they were out on a limb holding Keane in the cells for however long was putting it mildly.

‘You’re right Major. Sorry for asking. I just thought I could play the “I’m not in the army so the rules don’t apply” card, maybe intimidate him. Although Tom is way more suited to scaring anybody than I am.’

Turner laughed.

‘Yeah he is a big bastard alright. But a gentle giant. Lucky, nobody outside knows that, so they all think twice when he walks in the room for sure. I get what you are saying. Captain Reed will use his judgement and I trust him. If he decides to use the lavatory while discussions are taking place then that’s how it is. Fair enough?’

‘Definitely. And thank you Major.’

‘I think we all should be thanking you. But let’s get this done and go for a beer,