The Colonel Gave My Wedding to His Sick Sister novel · Chapter 19 of 24

Chapter 19: Wiesbaden

Kirk's POV

The Vice Chief of Staff had a flag behind his desk and a folder on his blotter, and he did not ask me to sit.

"Kirk," he said. "You've had a hell of a month."

"Yes, sir."

"The Garrison Ball made three papers. A brigade deputy commander in cuffs, in front of the promotion board."

"Yes, sir."

"I'm told you put him on the floor of a parking garage."

"I did, sir. I'll answer for it."

"You won't," he said dryly. "A civilian witness was being assaulted on your post. I've read the report."

He opened the folder and slid a sheet toward me.

"Deputy commander of the Army's European headquarters in Wiesbaden. A second star within the year. Effective in thirty days."

I read the paper twice.

It was the job I had spent twenty years earning, and it was offered with a handshake.

"Sir, who asked for this?"

"Nobody asked. It's earned."

"Who asked for me to leave Fort Kessler?"

The Vice Chief took off his glasses.

"Drummond's attorney sent a letter to six offices. It says you've been conducting a relationship with a witness in an open case, that you've compromised the prosecution, and that Drummond can't get a fair court-martial under your command."

"The IG cleared me."

"The IG did. I'm telling you what the letter will do to a promotion board." He folded his hands. "Take Wiesbaden. Let your successor try the case. Nobody has to write that letter again."

I was quiet for a while.

I thought about Ginny on Gran's porch, with her bare feet on the boards and a mug in her hands.

I thought of the day on the church lawn.

I had stood and watched the wrong thing happen, and I had left her to find out alone.

"Sir, I'll tell you what I told the IG."

"Go ahead."

"I won't be taking this. Not now, and not in thirty days."

"You understand what you're refusing."

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