A Major Connection Read Online Free PDF

one of your Marines.”
    “ What? ” The harsh swear that followed was justified. “Sorry about that. Ma’am, could you tell me what happened?”
    In concise terms, she relayed the incident, as well as the fact that one of them had run away.
    “It was O’Conner who ran,” Lance Cpl. Miller slurred and hung his head low.
    “O’Conner ran,” she told Staff Sgt. James.
    “I’m sorry to say all three of them belong to us. I’ll be right there to handle this. Ten minutes tops.”
    While waiting for him to arrive, she called the police. Staff Sgt. James pulled into the parking lot in seven minutes flat. He skirted the growing crowd staring at her pathetic group. The staff sergeant had apparently been enjoying a night at the beach with friends, fortunately for April. Un fortunately for the two Marines looking miserable under his harsh glare. Matt continued to say nothing, though he did acknowledge the staff sergeant’s apology.
    James stared at Pinter, who held his shirt to his face, trying to stop the bleeding. “Looks like she busted you up good, Pinter. You dumb fuck.”
    “I did. He’s lucky I wasn’t wearing heels, or he wouldn’t be walking too easily. I have to tell you, Staff Sgt., that I’m filing a report on him with the local police. I have no idea how far things might have gone, but I sure as shit don’t want this happening to anyone else.” She sighed and shook her head, hating to dime out Marines. But no way in hell would she let anyone get away with what they’d tried to pull. What if the Marines had been sober and tried the same thing? What if she’d been a young girl walking along the beach with her girlfriends, unprepared for such disrespect and mauling?
    “Right, Ma’am. Again, sorry for this.”
    A police car pulled in, and she and Matt gave their versions of events to the officer while Staff Sgt. James waited with Lance Cpl. Miller. The cop cuffed Pinter and took him away after reading him his rights.
    After they left, she turned to the staff sergeant, feeling for him. “Hope your night gets better.”
    “I’m sure it won’t.” He sighed. “Sorry again for all this, Ma’am. There’s no excuse for Pinter’s behavior, though truth be told he and the others are our problem children. This just nails it for them. You can bet your ass—I mean, I can guarantee you we’ll fix the situation with Miller and O’Conner. Assaulting an officer is a serious offense.”
    “Yes, it is.” She glared at Miller, who refused to meet her gaze.
    James left with Miller, and she finally turned to Matt. “Are you okay?”
    He gave a weak chuckle. “Thanks to you I am.”
    She saw the small crowd staring at them and took Matt by the arm. “Let’s get inside and make sure we’re good.” They walked quickly inside and to her relief found an unoccupied table in the corner. “I’m sorry about this, Matt.”
    “Not your fault.” So why did he sound angry? “Hell, you saved us.”
    “I got lucky. You didn’t. Where did they hit you?”
    “Right in the gut. I swear I was going to hurl.” He managed a grin. “I need to hit the restroom real quick.”
    “Oh, sure.” She watched him leave and sighed. Talk about a bad night.
    The noise in the bar rose as a DJ suddenly appeared and cranked some dance music. She noted the disproportionate ratio of men to women, no doubt accounting for the many men seeking her out to dance. She smiled and politely declined half a dozen offers before another headache arrived and sat down across from her.
    He looked her age, had a civilian’s haircut and shifty eyes. In no mood to deal with another dickhead, she said, “I’m sorry. My date is using that seat. He’ll be right back.”
    “Hey, baby. How about a dance?”
    Had he not heard her because of the music? “No thanks,” she said in a louder voice. “You’re in my friend’s seat.”
    “That so?” He licked his lips. Not a drunk Marine this time, just a regular dirtbag trying to get lucky. “How