Sweepers Read Online Free PDF

right? They could just call you downtown or wherever the cops are headquartered in Fairfax County. But I think they’re actually trying to be discreet. Since you’re a flag officer, that is.”
    Sherman nodded, although it was obvious that his thoughts were spiraling elsewhere.
    “So why don’t I have my office coordinate with your office on the calendars, and then we’ll get this over and done with, okay?”
    “Yes, of course,” Sherman said. “And I appreciate your intervention, Admiral.”
    Carpenter nodded and stood up. Sherman remained seated until he realized the meeting was over. He stood up as well.
    “I’m sorry for your loss, Admiral,” Carpenter said. “And I apologize for just dropping a bomb Re that.” Sherman nodded but said nothing as he left.
    Carpenter scanned Sherman’s bio again while he waited for Sherman to get clear of his outer office. Something about the Vietnam assignment had ticked his memory, but he could not quite put his finger on it. He buzzed for Mccarty, who came in with his ever-present notebook at the ready.
    “Dan, get back to that cop and set up a meeting for tomorrow. Coordinate with Sherman’s office. Plan for thirty minutes maximum. He and the woman were close, by the way. He didn’t know anything about this.’Took the wind right out of his sails.”
    “He knew her and didn’t know the woman had died?
    Damn. I guess I should have checked.”
    Carpenter was silent just long enough to let his EA know that he agreed with that observation. “Yeah, well, those things happen,” he said finally. “He agreeing -away to talk to the cops. Didn’t seem to care about them, or the insurance business. More upset at what had happened to the woman. Said he was divorced and that they’d been dating for a couple of years and then broke it off, friendly like.”
    Carpenter stood and gathered up his cap and briefcase.. “Let me get my hat and I’ll walk down the hall with you,” Mccarty said. “I assume you’re going to handle this one personally?”
    That mental twitch about the bio bothered Carpenter.
    “Yes, I think so. For now, anyway.”
    “Yes, sir. Have you briefed the CNO on this issue?”
    They walked through the outer office and into the corridor before Carpenter, not wanting to talk about this in front of the staff yeomen, replied. “No. Not yet. I want to see how this meeting develops. If it’s a firefly, the CNO doesn’t need to be bothered. If there’s something to it, we’ll need more facts before I approach the throne. Which reminds me. I’d like to have one of our staff attorneys present. Just in case that cop wasn’t telling the whole truth about the purpose of this little sdance. Like if it turns out Sherman needs a lawyer. I’d like to have someone there who can be in on it from the git-go.”
    Mccarty had his notebook out again. “Somebody who could defend him? Or someone who will hold his hand and keep us in the loop at the same time?”
    Carpenter smiled the way he did when his aides read his thoughts with such facility. “The latter,” he said. “And somebody who is perhaps underemployed at the moment.”
    Mccarty smiled. “Oh-ho. A certain lady commander perhaps,” he said as they went down the stairs to the second floor.
    “As always, you’re way ahead of me, Dan,” Carpenter said, laughing now.
    Even the normally taciturn Mccarty managed a brief smile before he remembered something else. “Oh, Admiral, one last scheduling matter for tomorrow. Warren Beasely’s relief has reported-from NIS Carpenter stopped as they reached the second-floor landing leading into the A-ring. “This the guy we heard about?
    Von something?”
    “Yes, sir. A civilian named von Rensel. Wait till you see this guy. He’s huge.”
    “He’s not a fat guy, is he?”
    “No, sir. Just big. Not tall, either. But really big. He scared Chief O’Brien when he showed up this morning.
    Didn’t say anything, just stood there at the chief’s desk until she