Tanner voiced the inevitable. "You send them TDY as a group."
Dawson shot him a thumbs-up worthy of Caesar at gladiator games. "Exactly. A little temporary duty together is just the ticket."
Kathleen's light gasp tugged Tanner's gaze. Every last drop of color drained from her already pale face until freckles he'd never noticed popped along her pert nose.
Lt. Col. Dawson continued as if Kathleen's telling gasp hadn't slipped free. "Get away from the rest of the squadron. Work together. Ride together. Eat together. Play together. Spend every waking hour with each other until things settle out."
It wasn't the waking hours that worried Tanner. "And what will be our official function during this TDY?"
"I'm sending you two to check out a C-17 accident. Put all that money spent sending you to safety school to good use."
"Crash? I heard something about one on the news earlier. No details released though." Tanner shed his own concerns, nothing in comparison to a crash in their small and tight flyer community. Any accident was personal. "Did anyone die?"
"No fatalities."
Tanner swallowed a relief stronger than the meds pumping through him.
"It's a test crew," the commander continued. "Only minor injuries to the loadmaster. Baker's crew, Daniel Baker."
"Crusty's crew?" Tanner exchanged a quick look with Kathleen.
The commander frowned. "Problem?"
Kathleen straightened. "We all attended the Academy together. But no, sir, that shouldn't be a problem."
Tanner wished he could be as certain. The last thing he wanted was to write up a fellow flyer—a friend.
Folding his arms over his chest, Tanner clenched his jaw shut before he said something reckless. Why couldn't he have kept his mouth closed on the runway the night before?
The commander cleared his throat and resumed the brief. "It happened last night while you were airborne. The crew was running a test mission, dropping a two-pack of Humvees. The drop went bad and ripped the ramp right off the airplane. A lesser crew would have bought it."
Or a crew that was off its stride from losing a team member.
Dawson canted forward. "So I've volunteered you two to head on over to the site and join the investigation team. See if you can figure out what went wrong. Perfect timing with Bennett being grounded for a month. You can even spend Christmas together. I call that downright serendipitous."
Serendipity stunk. The flicker of horror on Kathleen's face told him her feelings flew the same path.
But the deed was done. The best he could hope for was a good locale, one of the bases where they could lose themselves in recreation after hours. Away from each other. "And where was this test mission being flown?"
"At Edwards Air Force Base."
In the middle of the California desert. Tanner slumped back on his pillow.
Lt. Col. Dawson pushed up from his chair and swung it back against the wall. A steely warning flashed in his silver eyes, belying his laid-back attitude. "Lighten up, Captains. This will make for great reading in your performance reports. If memory serves, and I believe it does, O'Connell's got a major's board coming up. Soon, right, O'Connell?"
Kathleen's jaw flexed before she nodded.
"Thought so. This accident should be a snap to wrap up. Investigations can speed right along if the team's working together." Dawson's head cocked to the side. "Or they can drag on for weeks. Hear that, Bennett? Weeks. I sure would hate to reschedule your upgrade slot. Again."
Tanner pulled a weak smile. "Me, too, sir."
"Good enough, then. I've already submitted the paperwork for your tickets back to the states. Be packed and ready by tomorrow night." He dropped a hand on each of their shoulders. "Captains, consider yourselves tied to each others' side for the next month."
The commander nodded and loped out of the room, shooting them both a final thumbs-up just before the door eased closed. How appropriate, since Kathleen looked as if she wanted to feed him to the lions.
Two walk in. One walks out.
Diplomacy, diplomacy, diplomacy, Kathleen mentally chanted with each rapid stride through the Frankfurt airport, Tanner shadowing her. Less controversy translated into a speedier resolution to the accident investigation.