Chapter Twenty

Ethan

 

After going down almost all of the listed names in my directory, Jensen and I are only able to secure interviews with two men who’ve served under Captain Stern. They’ve agreed to come speak with us and give us their statements in front of Riley.

Of course it would have been better to get even more people to verbally attest to Captain Stern’s involvement in trumped up charges against me. But we weren’t that lucky. I didn’t expect to be, given Captain Stern’s reputation of bullying and harassment. The nature of the crime and charges is too sensitive to make most officers willing to come forward.

Still, it’s better than nothing. Two people willing to talk — to corroborate, in some way what Frederick told me earlier — that’s better than zero. That’s better than none, and will give our case much more weight. It may even be able to save Frederick and these two other gentlemen from being slapped with false statement charges—which could come with hefty sentences.

Jensen and I told the boys to meet us at a more private location which we determined was a hotel outside of the city limits. The same hotel Frederick and I stayed at actually except in a different part.  We have decided to meet in a conference room area, where we are not under as much scrutiny, cameras, or hotel staff bothering us.

Riley is with us, briefcase in hand and ready to act as a lawyer on behalf of our two witnesses. Riley is all set up — all of her paperwork, tape recorder, legal pad and pen ready— when I notice the two officers come into the conference room. They creep inside as if this is the most clandestine meeting they’ve ever been invited to in their entire career. And the most dangerous. Which it may well be.

Officer George, a young man about Frederick’s age with strawberry-blonde hair, blue, almost gray eyes, and a ridiculously Hollywood-heartthrob face, is first to walk in. Behind him is a man I haven’t seen much. He’s younger than Officer George— he must be William Wisely. That’s the name I remember from my sheet.

William is much shorter and stockier than George. He’s also probably about 21, maybe 22 at most. Where George is all blonde hair and bluish-gray eyes, William is red-headed and freckled. His eyes are a beautiful blue-green color, like a lagoon, or a section of rolling Irish hills and stormy seas combined.

They’re in uniform. I stand up to salute and greet them both.

George is the first to sit down, followed by William. He’s also the first to address me.

“Captain Gibson — Jensen,” he says, shaking both of our hands equally. He nods to Riley. They’ve apparently met each other before, though I don’t know the circumstances.

“Glad I could make it. Glad I could help out, though I will need some assurances that I’m going to be protected to the highest of your ability, if I agree to tell you what I know.” George looks meaningfully at William and I see an odd spark there. Something like interest or at least chemistry.

“Protection for William, too.”

“Well obviously,” grumbles Riley, not used to being doubted so quickly. At least not without evidence and exhibits to display otherwise. “I wouldn’t be here if I wasn’t planning to protect you both from any retribution or any attempted retribution in response to what you or your friend here can disclose. Everything you are willing and able to tell us about these incidents with Captain Stern.”

She takes a moment to turn on her handheld digital recorder and catch up the recording to where we are now. Sheleaves hername, date and time, the subjects being interviewed, and the purpose of the interview. Also the alleged situation under investigation. When finished with all of herpreliminary work with the recorder, she starts the interview in earnest.

“I’m speaking to Simon George, and William Wisely, correct?”

“Yes.” They take turns saying this into the extended digital recorder.

She asks questions about their age, occupation, mental health, years of service, type of service in the Navy and so forth. Both Officer George and Wisely answer this in turn. This goes on for at least five solid minutes until all pertinent information is collected.

Once Riley has that out of the way, she gets to the heart of the matter. After all, these officers most likely don’t have permission to be away from base for too long. Not if they don’t want to be noticed by Captain Stern or loyal snitchers who might be there to report on anything suspicious.

“So, Officer George, what can you tell me about Captain Stern? Most notably his conduct with you as you’ve been serving under him? The charges that you and many other young men pressed against Captain Gibson?”

“Captain Stern’s conduct wasn’t what you would call upstanding. At least not after he got to know you and what your weaknesses were,” he answers.

“Weaknesses?” Riley leans forward. “What do you mean ‘weaknesses’?

“Ways that he knows he can manipulate you. Coerce. Those kind of weaknesses.” A pause.

“Eagerness to be out in the field. Eagerness to be given assignments. To ascend in the ranks quickly. Things like that.”

“I see. I see.” Riley clears her throat. “Once he learned these things about you — these weaknesses, as you call them — did he ever do anything that you would consider a misuse of his authority, in order for you to get these benefits? These things that you wanted?”

Officer George doesn’t hesitate. His brow knits and he answers with brutal honesty.

“Yes, I would say that he did. He did this with me, and from what I understand a number of other officers.”

“Don’t speak about others. That’s hearsay. I just want to hear about you, officer.”

Officer George’s eyes narrow and mouth tightens.

“Yes, he most certainly used his rank to force me to do inappropriate and sexually assaultive things in order for favors or other benefits.”

“Who was this?”

“Officer Stern,” he says sternly.

“What did he make you do for these favors?”

Officer George blushes briefly before getting his flustered, upset expression under control. Thankfully it’s not in his voice, so it doesn’t show up too much in the audio.

“He made me perform oral sex on him.”

Riley clears her throat, obviously more than a little disturbed.

“And how many times did he make you perform oral sex on him?”

“Over 30 times,” Officer George answers, sounding exhausted under the admission.

“30 times. Okay.” Another pause. “If you are able, can you tell me when the first occurrence was. What was it in exchange for, and how often you think the other solicitations happened? How long all of this went on.”

For a moment, Officer George is silent, looking like he’s turning a little white under his collar. Then.

“The first time he made me perform oral sex, it was in exchange for my first trip out into the field. On a mission that he wouldn’t have put me in for at least nine months… or so he said.” He lets out a breath, unfolding his hands nervously.

“After that, he came to me about every month or two for another blow job.” He licks his lips. “This went on I suppose for nearly two, two and a quarter years.”

Riley just nods. “Okay. What can you tell me about these charges you filed against Captain Gibson earlier in the week? The charges of sexual assault and misconduct that sound very similar to the ones you’ve accused Captain Stern of.”

“Captain Stern made me put it on Captain Gibson. He said he was disgusted with Captain Gibson’s coming out of the closet, and hated the fact that a man like him has served in the Navy for so long. He didn’t like that Gibson received so many accolades, bonuses and raises and is about to retire with honors. He wanted us to smear his name and get him dishonorably discharged before retirement, in the hopes of stripping him of his dignity and freedom.”

While I’m not happy to hear any of these revelations — that Captain Stern hates me as much as he does, and is rabid enough to try to get me thrown in military prison — I’m glad to hear it, as well as have it documented. It also vindicates Frederick and frees him from the guilt the court and anyone else has been putting on him. Particularly the guilt he’s been putting on himself.

“Did you make these accusations willingly?” asks Riley, her voice and posture intense.

“No, I did not.”

“Then what compelled you to make false accusations toward Captain Gibson?” Riley already knows the answer but she’s walking our witness through the entirety of what happened, so that his testimony is legitimate and uncoerced.

“Because Captain Stern said that he would find a way to kick me out of the Navy — keep me from serving in any government capacity for the rest of my life, if I didn’t do as he had asked. That being pressing charges against Captain Gibson.”

“Anything else you’d like to add? Anything else you’d like to tell me Officer George?”

“No, ma’am,” he says. “That’s all I’ve got for you.”

“That’ll be sufficient then.” Riley looks up from her legal pad and smiles.

“Thank you for your honesty and candidness.”

Officer George just nods.

In the next moment Riley moves on to Officer George’s companion, and as he does (I can’t be 100% sure), I think I see them intertwine hands under the table. They look to be giving each other encouragement, maybe even affection.

Williams’ interview is much the same but he appears more timid and a lot less forthcoming. Nevertheless he tells the same story. That Captain Stern made similar sexual demands of him, forced him to give oral, and even anal sex it seems. But bizarrely, that the anal sex only happened because he didn’t make any noise. He didn’t cry or scream when Officer Stern began to force him out of his clothes.

As I hear this, my heart bleeds for Frederick. I remember when he screamed as I grabbed him and how he reacted when I touched him back then… the time I went to confront him about all of this.

The mood at the table is sober as Williams starts to cry and detail how often the assaults were.  How they went on longer and more often than they did with George— three, maybe four years total. It all started way back when William was being scouted to join the Navy. All when Officer Stern was in charge of running recruitment missions at high schools and colleges where William was picked up.

After about 15 to 20 minutes of solid interviewing, with the final revelation matching George’s, the interview is finally over. Finalizing her end-of-interview monologue on the digital recorder, Riley shuts it off, shakes the hands of our willing witnesses and wishes them a good evening.

When both George and William have left the conference room (arm in arm this time), Riley, Jensen and I celebrate our good fortune.

“Looks like we are going to have what we need to keep these boys from facing any more trouble because of Captain Stern,” I say.

“Yep,” says Jensen, bumping fists with us.

“And if we have our way, Captain Stern is going to face all the jail and prison time he’s tried to get flopped off on Ethan here,” says Riley, smiling at me. “I knew you weren’t a serial rapist and was sure that somehow we would find our way to the truth.”

“Best of all,” she adds, as we get up from our conference table and walk out to the entryway of the hotel. “With the evidence I’ve collected, we should be able to get all charges dropped against your boyfriend Freddie, eh Ethan?”

I blush deeply but I know she means well. She’s just being the big sister I never had. The one who’s always ready and willing to tease me, as she’s doing now.

“Yeah.” I smile, almost afraid of how wide it is on my face. I must be absolutely beaming at all the good luck that’s finally come my way. Boyfriend Freddie, huh? Never thought I would hear that or love hearing it so much.

Riley and Jensen slap me on opposite shoulders, saying they’ll be in touch over the next few days. Once they get everything finalized, new charges drafted and a new court date. It’s already been moved from the original dates, when I was first charged.

From there they leave and head to their car.

While walking to mine, I’ve decided to go where I’ve been wanting to go all day.

To Freddie’s house, since I know he won’t be on base.

I wouldn’t be on base if I were him either. Especially since he’d just taken on great risk, by revealing his true transgressor and abuser.

I’m on my way Frederick. I drive off into the night wishing I could drive faster than the speed limit so I can get back to Albuquerque in less than an hour. I know I haven’t been the kindest to you lately. I know I’ve been jerking you around a bit, but I really do love you. I do need and want to be with you and hope you’re okay. I hope that you’re happy to see me when I finally do make it to your front door.