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phone. I’ve notified both command duty officers. Casualty assistance officers will be assigned in the morning. Staff judge advocate’s been notified, as have the commanding general and chief of staff. I still can’t reach Major Kenyon.”
    Their boss had been incommunicado too much lately. Greg didn’t know what the fuck his problem was, though judging from the stench of alcohol that emanated from Kenyon one too many mornings, Greg had his suspicions. This was one time he and Lani wouldn’t be able to cover his ass.
    “A Key Wives volunteer is on her way to get the kids. One who’s familiar with the family, so the girls won’t have to stay with strangers. She’s been briefed on the basic nature of the emergency but not given details. I need a deputy to go back inside the house with me so I can pack some things for the kids.” Greg patted the logbook in his jacket pocket. “They gave me a list.”
    “No fucking way.” Juarez pushed around to Jordan’s left so the three of them now formed a semicircle around Greg. “I don’t trust you people to not cover up evidence to protect your man in there.”
    Lani lifted her palms. “Protect him from what? He’s dead. Murdered.”
    Damn, she’s sharp . Greg’s chest puffed up. She’d noticed the knife, most likely the shoddy bondage attempt too. Maybe seen things he’d missed.
    “We want to catch a murderer the same as you,” Jordan told him. “Your partner asked me to be here. You know how this is going to go down. You know you’ll be working with NCIS. Maybe your boss will even request we take over. Let’s try to keep it cordial. I don’t want any mistakes.”
    “You can’t be serious!” Heads turned their way at Juarez’s shout. Neighbors started whispering among themselves.
    Greg jabbed a finger in his direction. “Keep your voice down. You wake those kids, and I swear to God—”
    “I need info.”
    “And I’ve got it. The kids talked to me.” Deciphering what they meant… That was going to be tricky. But it was enough to get a good start.
    “How can I be sure you haven’t tainted it? You people are insane if you think I’m going to allow your involvement with this case. How objective can any of you be?”
    Jordan and Lani both drew breath to respond. Greg beat them to it. “First of all, it’s not your call—”
    “One more word from you, and I’ll go posse comitatus on your ass.” Juarez pushed the words out through clenched teeth.
    The man truly was an idiot. Greg felt sorry for Ron Pattison. “Trust me, I have no intention of letting you anywhere near my ass, detective.”
    Lani pressed her lips together and stared at the ground. Jordan didn’t bother to fight a snort of laughter. Juarez’s hand clenched into a fist.
    Greg took a step forward, hoping to cut off a swing. “The fact you even said that shows how little you know. I realize you’re new to working with military. To refresh, local agreements exist that deal with where and when military and civilian law enforcement agencies become involved with investigations. They will be adhered to. As for our objectivity…we’re professionals. Can you say the same?” He glanced at Juarez’s fist, then locked a stare on him, silently ordering him to back down or else.
    Juarez pulled in a shaky breath and relaxed his hand. “What’d you find out from the kids, Sergeant?”
    That jerked Lani’s head up and her mouth open. Jordan took a step back. Greg kept staring at Juarez. The guy couldn’t help that he was stupid.
    “If I didn’t know better, I’d say you were deliberately trying to piss me off, detective. So, for you, considering you’ve lost what little common sense you possess and in light of the magnitude of this scene…it’s master gunnery sergeant . Not sergeant, not gunny, not top. Master gunnery sergeant . Use it.”
    The fist tightened again. Greg had only beaten the hell out of someone once during his twenty years in the Marine Corps. He really didn’t want