Major Johnson woke up and stretched and looked around the bedroom. It was familiar and unfamiliar at the same time. He was up at the cabin, when he claimed to be on an inspection trip. It was all part of his elaborate plan to surprise Jennifer with a weekend away to celebrate their first anniversary. She knew that they were going to the SA Arts Gala but she did not know that they would be spending the weekend away. Jennifer's mother was in on the ruse by sending emails asking for anniversary details. She did this at Chip's request. This was beginning to wear on his wife, but he thought that she would enjoy the surprise. But he was bracing for the inevitable backlash if his plan failed.
He would show up Friday in a chauffeured limo and it would take them to the SA Arts foundation Gala. The Gala was at the Rio Rancho resort and they would spend the rest of the weekend together. He had thought to use the cabin but Jennifer needed to be catered to for the weekend. The cost would be the same if he had hired people to work at the cabin. He had a few more details to work out and then the plan would be put in motion.
He sent Jennifer a text "still on schedule will be home today in plenty of time." He sent a photo of a formation of cadets to add to the subterfuge. I just hope that I don't get attacked in the back of the limo. He looked over bags from the department store and started to pack the suitcase that he brought. The bags contained a set of clothes for Jennifer and him. It included a new pair of running shoes that he noticed that she had been admiring. There was also a very revealing swimsuit. He remembered the looks that he got from the sales help at the store. Chip reveled in the planning and the execution of his scheme.
On the JBSA shooting range
Jennifer listened patiently to the instructor and followed her instructions. "Ma'am take aim and squeeze the trigger once."
The gun fired, she was not unfamiliar with shooting guns but the recoil did surprise her a little. "Again ma'am," said the Sargent.
The gun fired again. The instructor had only put two rounds in the gun and Jennifer put the gun on the counter. The Sargent hit a switch to bring the target to them so they could see the results.
"Not bad Major Connolly you're in the center, your target is stopped," said the Sargent.
"You mean the target is dead, Sargent," replied Jennifer.
"Yes Ma'am," said the Sargent.
The instructor placed tape on the two holes and hit the button to send the target back to is position and took the pistol and pulled the empty ammo clip out and replaced it with a full clip of fifteen rounds. She handed the weapon to Jennifer and again directed her to make the weapon ready to fire; then to take the shooting position and when ready, fire and continue firing until the pistol was empty.
Jennifer steadied the gun on the target and began to squeeze the trigger and repeated until the gun was empty. The Sargent hit the button and the target moved toward them and the two women looked at the results. "Major your kind of all over the map, you need to steady your aim between shots, but if the guy is coming at you he is not feeling well right now. A little more practice and you should get all your shots in the center of the target," said the Sargent.
"I will get a picture of my husband that will make me concentrate better," said Jennifer.
"Excuse me ma'am?"
"It is a joke Sargent."
Jennifer shot three more clips concentrating on aiming between the shots. The third target showed real improvement with all the shots generally in the center of the target. "Well Sargent I think I have had my fun for the day; do you need me to help clean up?"
"I will take care of it ma'am thank you for offering," said the Sargent.
Jennifer walked out of the range leaving the pistol on the counter so the Sargent could check it in to the armory.
Her phone started to buzz; she picked it up and read the text there were two messages one from Chip saying that he would be on time and another from Corporal Grace stating that she would arrive at the Major's home at 15:30.
Jennifer heard that one of the clerks in her office was a licensed cosmetician and for a small fee she agreed to come over to help Jennifer get dressed for the gala. Even though she arranged to take the day off she went by the office to see if things were going well. She was in her office checking email when Colonel Barns' assistant called and asked her to meet with the Colonel. Jennifer came over to the Colonel's office and was shown in.
"Sit down Major, I thought you were taking off today?"
"Yes ma'am but I took a lesson at the shooting range and I thought I would come in and check up on my email and make sure there wasn't some crises in the office. I was about to leave when you wanted to meet with me," responded Jennifer.
"So you have met with Capt. Brice and the staff, and your comfortable with the new duties," asked the Colonel.
"I studied the cases on Sunday and met with Capt. Brice and the staff Monday," said Jennifer.
"Good, I really hope that you can light a fire under that group I want some of those cases cleared and off our books. Don't do anything unethical but get some of those old cases brought to an end Major."
Jennifer was taken aback by the Colonel's comments and told her that she would put the spurs to her group to clear the older cases. Jennifer stood and walked out of the office. She went back her office and started going through the cases and noticed that that there were a group of cases that were two years old that showed no progress. She sent out a meeting invitation to her staff and told them to be prepared to discuss cases that are older than one year.
She left the office and headed home to wait for Corporal Grace. On the way home she got madder and madder that Chip was out of town. She did receive the text saying that he would be home in time, but she resolved to give him a piece of her mind over the incident.
The Corporal was waiting for her when she entered the townhouse project and she parked her car in the garage and opened the front door for the Corporal who came in with two cases of equipment and supplies. The two women went upstairs and Jennifer took her uniform off and took a shower. Corporal Grace started to layout her tools and supplies, in the bedroom and brought a chair from the dinning area for Jennifer to sit on.
Jennifer's dress was in a plastic clothes carrier that was lying on the bed. Next to the dress was a shoebox with some new shoes. They were beautiful but even Jennifer could not under stand the $350.00 price, but they looked so good with the dress.
Jennifer emerged from the bathroom dressed in a bathrobe in her right hand was her phone. The Corporal went in to the bathroom and brought several towels and used them to cover the chair. "Have a seat Major."