Billionaire’s Achilles’ Heel

Misconduct

Five months earlier

Jessica walked in a boardroom with her head high, wearing her meticulous navy seals uniform. The neat rows of shiny medals on her chest the evidence of her great achievements. Although summoned for a misconduct, the worst thing you need under your records in the military, given the opportunity she would do it again and will never apologise for it. She saluted her seniors, Commander Kate Payne and Commander Jack Storm. The two of them were legends in the military, she had the privilege to be trained under them at some point and had the utmost respect for them.

“Commander Miles, thank you for coming and for your meticulous service. On my right is General Black from the state department, Miss West from the presidency and Mr Anderson from social affairs” Commander Storm said, introducing the members of the committee put together for her misconduct enquiry.

Jessica bowed her head to acknowledge the other members in the room but none had her respect.

Commander Storm did not waste any time and got into the business of the day “On the night of June 21st you commanded a team of seals to apprehend the high profile fugitive, Mr ST. This committee has been put together to get to the bottom of what went down in that mission”

“Yes, Sir” Jessica responded.

“Can you tell us what happened that night, Commander?” Commander Storm asked, not that Jessica had an option not to respond.

“Our mission was to apprehend Mr ST. We had intel that he was hiding in the caves north of the Red Sand desert. At 08:00 meridian time on the 21st of June we stormed the location and apprehended the scum bag, Sir” Jessica explained with ‘as a matter of fact’ tone.

“You mean Mr ST” Commander Payne corrected, secretly amused by Jessica’s attitude. To her, the whole committee and enquiry was stupid and a waste of time but it was decided from the highest office in the land.

“Yes, Ma’am. We handed him over to the state department that same day at 14:05 as instructed” Jessica responded.

“You handed him over with a broken jaw, Commander. Can you tell us how he sustained that injury?” General Black interjected.

“His face landed on my fist, Sir” Jessica responded, maintaining her serious expression.

“Landed on your fist? You hit him, Commander!” General Black exclaimed. He found Jessica’s attitude and conduct unacceptable.

“So the fugitive says, Sir” Jessica responded, looking at General Black in the eyes.

“What do your man say?” Mr Anderson asked, curious to hear her answer. The committee tried interviewing Jessica’s crew but that proved to be a waste of time.

“I don’t know, Sir” Jessica responded with no emotion.

“Your man are highly trained, are they not Commander?” General Black asked, already annoyed. He hated the superiority complex military personnel had especially when dealing with anyone outside of the military.

“They are, Sir” Jessica responded firmly.

“Part of that training is being observant?” General Black asked.

“Yes, Sir”

“Why is it that none of them remember how Mr ST sustained his injury?” General Black asked.

“I don’t know, Sir” Jessica responded with a straight face maintaining eye contact with him. Maintaining a straight face regardless of circumstances was one of the many skills she acquired in the military.

“You don’t know how your highly trained, observant man are suddenly blind and amnestic?” General Black pressed on.

“I am not their physician, Sir”

“Commander Miles, your mission was to apprehend the prisoner, not have him sustain a fractured jaw while under your custody!” General Black shouted, frustrated by her attitude.

“He deserved it, Sir” Jessica responded, maintaining a straight face.

“Commander Miles!” Commander Payne exclaimed. Although she agreed with her completely but Jessica was not making her case easy. This case had become a diplomatic nightmare because a fugitive who happened to be foreigner was injured under their custody before a trial.

“He slaughtered women and children. He is a monster who deserved worse than a tiny fractured jaw, Ma’am” Jessica said in defiance. She had made up her mind that no one would make her apologise for hitting that monster.

“That is not your call, Commander!” Commander Payne exclaimed.

“It’s every decent human being’s call, Ma’am”

“You breached your oath Commander!” Commander Storm said.

“Out there, the oath does not cover everything. Nothing is classical textbook, I am sure both of you will agree that there is no law on how to avoid an i***t from landing on ones fist” Jessica responded, intentionally cutting off the other people in the room who have never been to a war zone.

“Do you think we are idiots, Commander. The prisoner reported that you punched him. How does anyone land on your fist and fracture a jaw?” General Black asked.

Jessica looked at the bold, stout man in front of her. She could tell that she was getting to him, an intentional act on her part “I would like to hear his testimony myself, Sir” she said.

“You know that won’t be possible, Commander. It is general knowledge the Mr ST escaped, therefore it is impossible to hear his testimony” General Black was fuming. Jessica’s lack of remorse was just infuriating.

“My team apprehended the monster, Sir. What did diplomacy achieve? He is out with the wind again, is he not? At least he has a fractured jaw as a surveniar. Help me understand why instead of worrying about how he escaped and how to track him down again we are here worried about how he sustained a broken jaw” Jessica asked, challenging the already fuming General.

“Clearly this conversation is not going anywhere, wait for us outside Commander” General Black instructed, unable to stand her attitude.

“Yes, Sir” Jessica stood up, saluted her seniors and walked out.

“Arrogant and dangerous!” General Black exclaimed.

“It’s what makes her the best” Commander Payne responded, secretly impressed.

“That’s debatable” General Black said.

“We spent 45 billion over two years searching for Mr ST, her team found him in two weeks. Hate her all you like, she is the best” Commander Storm responded.

“Quite honestly, I would love to break that asshole’s jaw too” Commander Payne said, envious.

“You think, the jaw is not the only bone I wish to break” Commander Storm replied, clenching his fists.

General Black could not believe his ears “It’s clear now where your officers get their disregard for the rules!” he exclaimed.

“Our officers apprehended the criminal, what did yours do?” Commander Payne sneered.

“They flushed the 45 billion work down the drain, that’s what. Have you figured out how the highly guarded prisoner escaped in your custody or is that too much to ask?” Commander Storm asked.

“Commander Miles might be stubborn and arrogant but she has a point. Diplomacy f****d up, now every woman and child that monster kills will be on us” Commander Payne said, still unable to comprehend how a heavy guarded fugitive could escape just like that.

“Gentlemen and Lady, we have trailed away for our mission today. Can we do what we came here to do” Miss West reminded them. She was not interested in all the politics between military and state department personnel. She just came to represent the presidency and make sure the instructions given to her were followed.

“Right, another diplomatic bullshit” Commander Payne sneered.

“Do I have to remind all of you that the order comes from high up” Miss West responded, unimpressed.

“Like I said another diplomatic bullshit” Commander Payne responded, standing her ground.

“I don’t care what you think about it, the president wants Commander Miles punished, that’s what we’re are going to do” Miss West said sternly.

“Did the order specify what the punishment should be. Is it a thousand lashes, punches, push ups, do we submerge her under ice water or all of the above?” Commander Storm asked.

Miss West’s eyes opened wide in disbelief “Are you insane! We are to punish not kill her!” she exclaimed, perplexed that anyone would even think of such extreme punishment.

“Here I was thinking that’s a slap on her wrist” Commander Payne said, amused.

“Do you people ever listen to yourself talk? Mr Anderson asked, also shocked. “Maybe we should look into your in humane training of these officers” he added. His department also oversaw labour and human rights laws.

“Don’t even go there, there is a reason we protect the country and you sit on your asses and enjoy the benefits” Commander Storm warned.

“We can loan her to the police department for six months, a collaboration with them is way overdue” Commander Payne suggested.

“Are you serious?” Commander Storm asked in disbelief. He could not imagine Jessica in collaboration with the police department at all, especially after they lost a fugitive she apprehended. “Are you sure those boys will survive?”he added, amused. The idea becoming tempting.

“It should be interesting to see. She might just turn that incompetent department in order” Commander Payne suggested, ignoring disapproving stares from General Black.

“If they don’t all resign” Commander Storm sneered. “Wait and see what her reaction would be, I wish I had a camera to capture this” he added, amused.

“It’s agreed then?” General Black asked, impatient to get out of there as soon as possible.

“Why not?” Commander Storm responded.

A few minutes later, Jessica walked in again with the same confidence she did the first time.

“Commander, this committee has decided to send you to join the state department for an overdue collaboration between our departments for a period of six months” Commander Storm informed her with a straight face.

“I beg your pardon, Sir?” Jessica could not believe her ears.

“You heard me Commander” Commander Storm responded.

“Who would I report to there, Sir?” she asked.

“The captain, Commander”

“Would I still be guided by naval law, Sir?“ Jessica asked, wondering if her seniors had gone mad.

“You will be guided by naval and police law, Commander” Commander Payne responded, fighting the urge to laugh.

“What happens if they clash, Sir?”

“In what way, Commander?” Commander Storm asked, doing his best to keep a straight face. He knew exactly where this enquiry was heading.

“Naval law compels me to apprehend the prisoner and keep him apprehended come hail or high waters, while it might be acceptable to let him ‘escape’ under police law, Sir” Jessica explained.

General Black shook his head, this was clearly a recipe for disaster. Jessica and his seniors obviously had no respect for his department.

The following day, Jessica walked into Captain Sway’s office in state department.

“Good morning, Sir. I am Jessica Miles, sent for the collaboration between military and state department”

“Welcome, Miss Miles” Captain Sway responded, shaking her hand.

“It’s Commander, Sir” Jessica corrected him.

Captain Sway smiled. Jessica’s mannerisms were typical military personnel. General Black had already told him a mouthful about Jessica’s attitude. “You can use workstation 5, Commander. I will introduce you to the team when they arrive” he said.

Jessica looked at her watch, it was thirty minutes before official working time “Yes, Sir” she responded, leaving the office to find her designated station.

“NT537D is on my spot, the owner must remove it immediately!” Lucas shouted, walking in.

Jessica heard her vehicle license place but continued looking at the computer screen, reading through the department policies.

“Do you drive a black sedan with licence plate NT537D?” Lucas asked, leaning over Jessica’s desk.

“Good morning” Jessica responded with a straight face.

“Do you drive a black sedan with licence plate NT537D?” Lucas asked, irritated.

“Correct”

“Remove it” Lucas instructed.

“Why?”

“Excuse me?” Lucas was caught off guard by her question.

“Why should I remove it?” Jessica asked

Lucas could not believe that a newcomer had the guts to ask him that “You are parked in my spot!” he snapped.

“Allocated? Paid for? or your preference?” Jessica asked, clicking the mouse and focusing on the screen in front of her.

“Why does that matter, it’s my spot!” Lucas snapped.

“Formal allocation and paid for make it your spot, preference I do not care for” Jessica said sternly.

“Who the hell are you? Do you know who I am?” Lucas shouted angrily. No one had ever challenged him in the office, even the captain lets him do as he pleases.

“I am Jessica Miles. You must be Detective Lucas More”

“I don’t care who you are, if you do not remove your car, I will have it clamped” Lucas warned, fuming.

“Knock yourself out Detective” Jessica said unbothered and continued looking at the screen in front of her.

Lucas sighed and stormed out, curious eyes from his colleagues following him.

At lunch time, Jessica discovered that she could not drive her car because Lucas had indeed clamped her wheel. “Childish!” she thought to herself and walked to the reception area.

“Excuse me, could you point me to Detective More’s car” she asked the receptionist.

The receptionist smiled, pointing the red sport convertible that stood out in front, thinking Jessica was one of Lucas’ many girls.

Jumping in, Jessica pulled the wires under the staring wheel, made them touch and the engine came on. She drove off just when Lucas walked out. She saw the surprise and anger on his face as he pulled out his phone.

Few minutes later, the aeroplane flew low above her with two police cars in sirens, signalling her to pull off.

Sergeant Luther was about to put cuffs on Jessica when he noticed her face. “Ma’am, are you okay?” he asked, concerned.

“Please don’t let him get me, please” Jessica pleaded, holding the officer’s hand.

“What are you talking about, Ma’am?” Sergeant Luther asked, confused.

“My fiancé, he beat me. I…I.. think I’m having a miscarriage. I need to get to hospital, please don’t let him get me” Jessica pleaded.

“Ma’am this car was reported missing by the detective in state department”

“He is my fiancé, I took the car to get away from him. You see he is a detective, he gets away with everything. He is going to kill me” Jessica cried.

“That won’t happen, Ma’am. You have my word” Sergeant Luther promised. He hated men who beat up women and children. He watched his stepfather beat his mother growing up and vowed to protect as many as he could once he became a cop.

Jessica shook her head frantically “Don’t get involved, the people who help me get hurt. Just let me go to the hospital” she pleaded just when Lucas got off another car.

“You think you can steal my car and get away with it?” he asked angrily.

“Stand where you are and place your hands in the air” Sergeant Luther commanded, pulling out his weapon and pointing it at Lucas.

“What the f**k?” Lucas was shocked.

“Your hands in the air, I won’t ask you again!” Sergeant Luther commanded.

“Do you know who I am?” Lucas asked, livid.

“You are the scum bag that beats up women and abuse your power. You don’t deserve that badge” Sergeant Luther sneered, putting cuffs on Lucas.

“What the f**k man?” Lucas was flabbergasted. The police officer must be loosing his mind.

“You are under arrest for assaulting you fiancé. You have a right to remain silent, anything you say will be used against you in the court of law”

Lucas was about to deny ever being engaged when his eyes landed on Jessica’s face “What the f**k? I swear I did not do that!” he exclaimed. That’s when it downed on him that he was being arrested for allegedly beating up Jessica whom according to the officer was his fiancé. Jessica’s face was all swollen with a blue eye and bruised lower lip. No wonder the officer was furious.

“Ouch!” Jessica cried, holding her tummy. “My baby, I need to go to the hospital” she said in desperation.

“Go, Ma’am. I will make sure this monster does not hurt you again” Sergeant Luther reassured her and pushed Lucas towards the police van.

“Thank you officer” Jessica said, rushing to the car and drove off.

An hour later in Captain Sway’s office, Lucas and Jessica sat across the desk from the fuming Captain.

“Do you two understand the amount of paper work I need to file for this stupidity?” he asked. He spent over four hours clarifying the misunderstanding at the police station to get Lucas out. Although they were all under social department, the police and investigators sides were completely separated with different Captains and did not always get along.

“This is all her fault Captain, I am telling you she is crazy. You should find out why all of a sudden the military wants to collaborate with us. They know that she is crazy and want to get rid of her” Lucas responded, defending himself.

Jessica sat back on the chair, unfazed “Well, it should be easy to figure that out. You are clearly incompetent, loosing a high profile fugitive under your custody, waisting billions of dollars of taxpayer’s money. Besides the captain, the whole department arrives at work late. One wonders what happens behind the scenes here” Jessica sneered.

“Didn’t the military spend two years looking for one guy? That money was waisted by you, not us” Lucas snapped. It was enough that a high profile fugitive escaped under their watch, he would be dammed if the military blamed the money waisted on them as well.

“Is that why you let him ‘escape’?” Jessica asked, intentionally infuriating Lucas even more.

“Both of you shut up!” Captain Sway shouted, already getting a headache. Lucas was one of his best detectives but could be childish when not getting his way. His colleagues tend to let him be but Jessica was not the type to stand down. He could foresee himself being on chronic pain medication for his migraines for the next six months until Jessica leaves the department.

That evening, Lucas came with a plan to get rid of Jessica. There was no way he was going to allow a newbie challenge him in his own tuff.