No Man's Land

76

THE CEREMONY WAS carried out in Puller Sr.’s room at the VA. Dignitaries both military and civilian were in attendance, including the Secretary of Defense and the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs. General Coleman presided over the presentation of the honorary fourth star.

Puller Sr. at first did not seem to understand what was going on, but as the ceremony continued and Coleman whispered some words to him and he saw the star, he seemed to grasp the enormity of what was happening.

When it was over and everyone left, though, Puller motioned for his sons to take off his uniform jacket. They helped him out of it and then he tapped the cassette recorder that was on his bedside table.

Robert quickly turned it on and Puller Sr. sat back on his bed, turned to face the recorder, closed his eyes, and smiled as he listened to his wife singing.

They left him there and headed out.

“I don’t think the fourth star meant as much to him as hearing her voice does,” said Robert.

“Not even close,” said Puller. He hesitated.

Robert noticed this and said, “What?”

“Coleman said Dad confronted Jericho. Do you think he ever thought Jericho was responsible for Mom’s disappearance?”

“I think if Dad remotely thought that was what happened he would have gone over and shot Jericho himself.”

“You’re right.”

“So what happens to the stuff they were doing at Building Q?”

“It’ll go on. The company is under a government contract.”

“Anne Shepard described some of the stuff they’re doing there. The liquid armor, the electrical stuff that makes soldiers think faster on the battlefield. Some of it actually sounded good.”

“Yeah, but just think if we spent that money on early childhood education and nutrition.”

“Right.”

“And I can guarantee that somewhere in the military-industrial complex people are working on stuff that will mean one day a million Paul Rogerses will be running around doing the fighting. And then it’s lights-out for the human race.”

“That’s why I like hanging with you, Bobby. You’re always so uplifting.”

When Puller got back to his apartment, someone was waiting for him.

Veronica Knox said, “I heard about the fourth star. I think that’s great.”

“Well, the truth is he preferred hearing my mother’s voice to the fourth star.”

When she looked puzzled he quickly explained.

“I think that’s the most romantic thing I’ve ever heard.”

He looked at her in surprise. “Romantic? I didn’t think you thought about stuff like that, Knox.”

“There’s obviously a lot you still don’t know about me.”

He let her in to the apartment and took a minute to let his cat, AWOL, out. They sat at his small kitchen table.

Puller said, “They said Jericho killed herself. But Bobby got a look at the postmortem report on her. Her spine was crushed. And there was something else.”

“What?”

“A ring was found in her stomach.”

“Really? A ring?”

“It was inscribed with a phrase, For the greater good. And it had the initials CJ. Claire Jericho.” He looked at her. “Rogers wore a ring.”

“That’s right, he did,” said Knox. “I remember seeing it.”

“What I can’t figure out is how Rogers found out where Jericho lived. It was classified. Bobby couldn’t figure it out either.”

“Well, he was a resourceful guy. I guess he found a way. But what does it matter now?” Before Puller could say anything Knox added, “Now, let’s move on to something else.”

She pulled an envelope from her pocket.

He looked at it and then glanced at her. “Don’t tell me those are two plane tickets to Rome?”

“Okay, I won’t, because they’re not. They’re two tickets to a Nats baseball game. And I’ll spring for the hot dogs and beer too.”

He smiled. “The theory being start small?”

“Considering who we are, I think it’s best.” She leaned across the table and kissed him.

“So does this mean no more secrets?”

She eyed him directly. “Can anyone ever promise that, Puller?”

He considered this. “I guess not.”

They took a walk around the neighborhood with Knox’s hand slipped inside his. When she looked at him he seemed lost in thought.

“What’s going on up there?” she asked.

“Just wondering where Rogers is.”

She nodded. “Wherever he is, I wish him a better life than the one he’s had so far.”

The car pulled up to the shack at the end of the dirt road.

The woman got out and walked up to the door. It opened before she got to it.

Suzanne Davis looked at Paul Rogers. He was pale and thin and rubbing the back of his head.

“You ready?” she asked.

“You sure about this?” he said.

“You ask me that again, I’m going to shoot you in the nuts. And I don’t care if you can’t feel pain, that’s still going to hurt mentally.”

They walked out to her car and climbed in.

“Where to?” asked Rogers.

“I just feel like driving until I stop feeling like driving.”

“Sounds like a plan to me.”

“I’m surprised they let you walk away,” she said.

Rogers touched the spot on his head. “They took it out, the implant. It changed me. I’m…better.”

He took a prescription bottle out of his pocket, popped some pills, and swallowed them with his spit.

She eyed him. “Where’d you get those?”

“Friends. In high places.”

“Are they helping?”

“Yeah. In addition to removing the implant they got hold of the tests that Jericho did, and figured out some of what was going on with me. They think there might be a way to reverse it. For now, this keeps me from getting any worse.”

She reached into her purse and held up a plastic baggie.

“What’s that?”

“Prime weed.”

“Where’d you get that?”

“From friends in low places.”

Davis navigated them to a highway, where she sped up and put the car on cruise control. She settled back in her seat and looked at him.

“How did it feel?”

“How did what feel?”

“Jericho?”

Rogers stared out the windshield at the night sky.

“I really didn’t feel good about it,” he said at last, his voice strained. “I wonder what that says about me?”

Davis reached over and took his hand. “I think that’s actually a positive thing, Paul.”

He glanced at her. “This is going to be a rocky road, Davis. Feel free to eject at any time.”

“You remember when I told you my druggie dad died in prison and my mom croaked on crack?”

“Yeah, but you were bullshitting.”

“No, I wasn’t. I stuck with them to the end. I think I can manage you.”

Rogers looked back out the window. “Maybe I can get a job…somewhere.”

“Maybe I can too. Maybe we can get an apartment. Have, you know, a life or something.”

“Is that what you want?” he asked, shooting her a glance.

“Why the hell not?” She tightened her grip on his hand. “Doesn’t everybody deserve a life?”

“It won’t be like living at Ballard’s,” he said.

“That was all smoke and mirrors. I prefer reality, actually.”

“I never thanked you for saving my life. Myers had a kill shot on me.”

“I let you down before, I won’t again.”

“What are you talking about?” he said.

“When you were on the gurney all numbed up. I just walked away and left you there.”

“What could you do?”

“I could have tried, but I just walked away.”

She looked over at him. “I’m sorry.”

He shrugged. “You came through in the end. That’s what counts.”

She held his gaze. “I’ll always have your back from now on, Paul. Always.”

“And why is that?”

“Because we’re a lot alike.”

“How so?”

“Damaged goods. But we have potential.”

“I’ll have your back too.”

“I never doubted it. It’s just the way you’re wired.”

They exchanged a quick smile and then both looked ahead.

They drove on.

To somewhere other than here.