Fire for Effect by Kendall McKenna Read Free Book Online

and on time.”
    “A nearly impossible task,” Jonah said dryly. “This person already has my pity. Who else do you think you need?”
    “I’d like to have one or two additional investigators who don’t have ties to Keystone. Possibly an MP, NCIS or FBI agent.”
    “You already know a couple of Feebs with expertise in national security as well as the military conditions in Iraq,” Jonah said pointedly.
    “Yes, I do, don’t I? We would need to work out of either D.C. or So Cal, quite possibly both. And we would all need access to basic office equipment and software.”
    “That touches on command and signal.”
    “Again, in a perfect world, I’d like to rent offices in both D.C. and Oceanside and have access to the obvious equipment. Everyone would report directly to me until such time as I delegated projects or tasks.”
    “Please don’t make me your second in command,” Jonah complained.
    Kellan laughed. “As a first shirt, you’d function as my exec. If I could get an attorney, I’d designate that person as next in the chain of command, otherwise one of the investigative agents.”
    Jonah sighed heavily, the sound carrying easily over the connection. “You and I both agree that the under-awarding of Medals of Honor is a serious issue that needs addressing and changing. At the very least, someone needs to have the balls to stand up and admit why the awards are being intentionally blocked.”
    “Agreed.”
    “What are the benefits to our lives and our careers if we do this?” asked Jonah. “And what damage could it do, if any?”
    Kellan took a deep breath. They’d reached the heart of his conflict. This was what he needed to talk out with someone. This was what he desperately needed Jonah’s input on. If Kellan was alone, he’d have already accepted the job and jumped in with both feet. He was now a we, and he needed Jonah’s agreement and moral support, even if he couldn’t give his professional help.
    Before Kellan could answer, Jonah spoke again, “Just tell me this, Kel, is your gut telling you we need to do this?”
    “Yes.” Kellan didn’t hesitate. “Yes, it is.”
    “Then I guess someone is going to have to delay my transfer to MCCMOS. I guess I can move to the barracks at 8th and I, unless you know of someone with a room to rent?”
    Kellan’s heart sank when he realized Jonah had no desire to move in with him when he transferred to Virginia. He swallowed hard, determined to keep his voice steady and not give any hint as to how disappointed he was.
    Jonah made a quiet sound that sounded almost like a muffled laugh. Kellan’s mouth dropped open when he realized he’d been had. He couldn’t believe he’d fallen for it, however briefly.
    “No, you go ahead and move into a fucking Marine Corps barracks.” Kellan coated each word heavily in sarcasm. “You stretch out that six-foot-three-inch body on one of those cots they call beds. I’ll be here, in my big, comfortable house with my soft, king sized bed. Have I mentioned I sleep naked?”
    “Okay, okay,” Jonah burst out laughing. “I deserved that.” There was a long pause. Kellan could feel the mood grow serious, even over the cell phone connection. “Are you sure you have room for me and my stuff, Kel?”
    “Jonah,” Kellan answered softly, “I always have room for you. Always.”

CHAPTER FIVE
    Kellan sipped at his cup of coffee, listening with half an ear to the conversation around the small conference table. His staff of investigators, working on behalf of the Senate committee looking into the questionable policies on the awarding of the Medal of Honor, was gathering to discuss the controversial denial of a medal to a Marine. Captain Mirai Hirata, the lawyer with the Marine Corps’ Judge Advocate Services, and NCIS Special Agent Chris Hoffman had flown in from Camp Pendleton the night before and were expected to arrive from their hotel any moment.
    Beside him, Jonah warmed his own coffee from the carafe in the