Papal Justice Read Online Free PDF Page B

employees to stay in. The ten bedroom house was perched on the edge of the Gulf. The view of the emerald and aqua water was amazing, and the food was right on par with the best restaurants on the coast. Their secret? TJG’s resident professionally trained chef and former Marine, Master Sergeant Willy Trent. From shrimp boils on the beach to oyster po’boys on the deck, the nearly seven foot tall former Marine stuffed his friends the only way he knew how, first class.
    Cal and Diane were almost to the popular Shrimp Shack , where Diane had already declared that they would be ordering a dozen raw oysters and one of their famous lobster rolls, when the phone in Cal’s pocket buzzed. He pulled it out and Diane nudged him with her elbow.
    “I thought you left that at the house,” she said.
    “You know I can’t do that, babe.” He looked down at the caller ID. “I have to take this. Put in our order, okay? This should only take a minute.”
    Diane sighed, but she nodded and stepped into the tiny restaurant to place their order. Cal walked toward the beach and answered his phone.
    “Yes, your highness?”
    “Cal, I told you only to call me that when we’re in the presence of ladies,” President Zimmer answered immediately, completely serious.
    Cal chuckled. “I apologize. I’ll have to remember to grovel a little more when we go out clubbing next time.”
    The president returned the laugh. “I’m sorry to call. I know it’s the first vacation you’ve had in a while.”
    “No problem. What’s up?”
    “I’m at Eglin, paying my respects. I was wondering if you might have time to drive over.”
    An Army Blackhawk helicopter had gone down two days earlier in a training accident near Santa Rosa Beach. Seven Marine Raiders and four National Guardsmen were killed. Cal and his TJG team had hoisted more than a few drinks to their memory.
    “How long will you be there?”
    “We’re leaving tonight.”
    Cal did the math in his head. Eglin Air Force Base was just over an hour from Seaside, but with spring break traffic it might take longer.
    “How about I leave right after lunch? See you just after two o’clock?”
    “Perfect. I’ll see you then.”
    Cal ended the call and went to find Diane. She was sitting under a white pavilion gazing out over the beach, her blond hair dancing in the breeze. Despite his recent disinterest in eating, he sat down next to her and attacked the raw oysters that Diane was sprinkling with lemon juice.
    “I thought you weren’t hungry,” she smirked.
    Cal could only shrug as he forked a pinch of horseradish and stabbed another oyster. “These are really good.”
    “Mmmhmm. So, was that the boss?”
    Cal nodded. He didn’t like to admit it, but he was growing more comfortable with the notion that Diane knew what he did for a living. She still loved him despite the fact that he disappeared for weeks at a time and plunged headlong into gunfire whenever he could.
    “I have to drive over to Eglin after lunch.”
    She didn’t look surprised.
    “Can I come?”
    It had been Brandon who’d suggested that Cal bring Diane into the loop. She’d even been part of TJG’s last two operations, serving in a supporting role where she utilized her impressive talents from her days as an enlisted Naval Intelligence analyst. They’d even talked about making the arrangement permanent, at least after Diane completed her last semester at the University of Virginia.
    “Sure, why not? If he gets mad, you get to explain that you wouldn’t stop crying until I let you come.”
    Diane huffed and rolled her eyes. “You are impossible, you know that?” She smiled when she said it, entirely used to the constant ribbing from Cal and his friends.
    Cal shrugged. “I am who I am.”
     
    Two hours later, they drove through the main gate at Eglin AFB, the American flag waving at half mast as they pulled past security.
    “Is that for the downed Blackhawk?” Diane asked, pointing at the