Shattered Blue Line

Chapter 1 United States Air Force AcademySaturday, November 5, 2005No one familiar with the military would have mistaken the lone occupant of the Security Forces holding cell to be a field-grade Air Force officer. He appeared a few years too young, no more than late twenties, and his disheveled black hair pressed the limits of military grooming. Instead of a blue uniform, he wore an expensive silk suit -- slightly wrinkled since he'd spent the night in it -- that far surpassed the budgetary constraints of an officer of his rank.Major Nathan Malone lay on a cot, a tie folded over his eyes to block the light, his breathing deep and regular. Since it was only 7:00 A.M., he could have been asleep, but he wasn't. For the past five minutes, he'd been listening to muffled shouts and the squawking of radios, trying to determine the cause. Twice, he'd been on the verge of asking someone, but decided to wait. If they needed him, they'd let him know...assuming he still had a job.Malone felt a twinge of regret over what had transpired last night, but there was nothing he could do about it now. Officers arrested for a DWI rarely get a second chance. Officers who commanded the local Office of Special Investigations detachment, the Air Force's equivalent of the FBI, never do. As the base's top criminal investigator, he more than anyone should know better than to drink and drive.As usual, a woman was responsible for his predicament. As long as Malone could remember, they'd found his chiseled good looks and spare, six-five frame irresistible. And his affluent lifestyle certainly didn't hurt, funded by an inheritance courtesy of his grandfather, a former military officer who'd made a fortune on Wall Street. At thirty-four, Malone had never come close to settling down because he knew he'd never be able to resist the temptations that swirled around him.For once, he should have tried.The woman at the Officers' Club bar last night had been a stunner. A brunette captain with a body to die for and a face like an angel. She struck up a conversation, batted her lashes and cooed all the right things in his ear. How was he supposed to know she had a light colonel boyfriend, and the guy would show up --Footsteps coming toward him.Outside, the commotion had died off. When the footsteps stopped, Malone removed the tie and focused on the one-way mirror installed in the solid cell door. His head throbbed dully against the brightness of the fluorescent lights, a reminder that tequila and beer don't mix. At the click of the lock, he eased his long frame off the cot.The door opened, revealing a baby-faced security cop and a compact major in Class A service blues. Malone frowned at the major. He'd expected to be released into the custody of his boss, the air base wing commander. Instead, he was looking at Seth Wilson, the executive officer to --"I'll take it from here, Airman Crotter," Major Wilson ordered."Yes, sir."As the cop departed, Wilson entered, cryptically eyeing Malone, who towered above him. "Jeez, you look like a bag of shit, Malone." Wilson sounded pleased. Years earlier, Wilson had been an upperclassman in Malone's basic cadet training squadron; he'd resented Malone's lack of military bearing then and cared for him even less now."Heard about the altercation at the club," Wilson went on. "The lieutenant colonel must have been the one who tipped off the security cops that you were driving drunk. Hell, it had to be him. You were hitting on his girl. Hope she was worth it.""I love you, too, Seth," Malone grunted warily. "What are you doing here?""The boss wants to see you."Wilson's boss was Lieutenant General Neal Crenshaw, the Academy superintendent."Why?"Wilson shrugged. "No clue. I was told to spring you from custody.""Cut the shit, Seth. He going to fire me?"A thin smile was the only response. It was enough. Malone felt stung by the realization thaDavis, Patrick A. is the author of 'Shattered Blue Line', published 2005 under ISBN 9780743499750 and ISBN 0743499751.