NAVY MEN PRESIDENTS: Book 3 - Eternal Flame Trilogy: Operation Eternal Flame Destiny Achieved

By Ed Delker

Ed Delker writes historical fiction using a photographer's eye to determine character nuance not always possible through just written history. Ed Delker's latest work, Navy Men Presidents - Eternal Flame Trilogy was spawned by a WWII photograph of President Kennedy standing with his Navy buddy. Ed Delker is an avid student of WWII and mid-twentieth century history. He enjoys incorporating his hobbies, horses, dogs, and photography into his storylines. Ed Delker is also the author of Trains In St. Louis, A Guide to Watching Trains in St. Louis.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Outskirts Press
• Release date: May 10, 2019
• ISBN: 9781977213846

Ed Delker

Ed Delker writes historical fiction using a photographer's eye to determine character nuance not always possible through just written history. Ed Delker's latest work, Navy Men Presidents - Eternal Flame Trilogy was spawned by a WWII photograph of President Kennedy standing with his Navy buddy. Ed Delker is an avid student of WWII and mid-twentieth century history. He enjoys incorporating his hobbies, horses, dogs, and photography into his storylines. Ed Delker is also the author of Trains In St. Louis, A Guide to Watching Trains in St. Louis.

Book preview

Chapter 1

1954 Kennedy Compound - Hyannis Port, Massachusetts

Four limos pull into the circle drive in front of the main house on Cape Cod. Janine Teagan and Jack’s sister Patricia lead Jackie, bridesmaids, friends and family out of the house and into the waiting limos. Jack and Red stand in the breakfast room doorway watching the gaggle of women get situated in the limos. Jack is dressed in his favorite casual attire, tennis shoes, sweat pants and his Harvard sweatshirt.

Red asks Jack, You sure you don’t want to go out on the town for an impromptu bachelor party? Jack says, Nah, I just want to read a good book and fortify myself for tomorrow. Just as Jack turns to walk through the breakfast room to the study, a car races into the compound with Jack’s brother, Bobby, at the wheel. The car screeches to a stop in front of the breakfast area. Jack is completely perplexed by Bobby’s reckless driving and just stares at the car. He looks at Red as if to say, What’s going on?" Red gives Jack a sly smile that further confuses Jack.

Completely by surprise Jack is grabbed by two incredibly strong men from behind. Before he can turn and look at his kidnappers, a third man slips a cloth gag around his mouth and a black cloth bag over Jack’s head. Then Jack’s feet and hands are bound by tape. Next thing Jack realizes is that he is being carried and then unceremoniously slung into the trunk of a car. After the trunk lid slams shut, Jack hears a woman say, Move over Short Stuff, it’ll take a real driver to give him the appropriate ride to the other side of Barnstable. The next thing Jack hears in the pitch-black trunk is four or five people getting into the car.

Jack starts to slow his breath down and reasons that since Red only smiled and didn’t put up a fight, it has to be a prank. He tells himself to relax and enjoy the ride. Suddenly the car tires squeal and the engine roars. Jack is thrown violently to the rear of the trunk. The next thing he feels is the car rapidly accelerating even more. The car leaves the pavement and violently bottoms out on the ground. He hears gravel and sand spraying everywhere. Next he feels the front of the car bottom out and then rise suddenly as if they are driving up and down sand berms and small dunes. This repeats for fifteen minutes. Finally, the car slides to a stop and car doors open. Next, the trunk lid rises letting in fresh air. Jack still cannot see anything through the black hood.

Jack is lifted out of the trunk by two powerful sets of arms and dragged across a grassy area. Jack hears a door open and footsteps from several people. After dragged across door threshold, Jack hears the door shut. It is completely silent except Jack can hear several people breathing. Then an ominous voice with a heavy Melanesian accent says, Are you sure this man with daughter? Before Jack can mentally process the man’s broken statement, the black hood is yanked off Jack’s head. At first everything is completely black. Slowly a small candle flame approaches Jack. He frantically ties to speak but the gag muffles his speech.

The candle flame comes directly at Jack’s eyes blinding him. Then slowly the flame starts to lower and a form starts to appear. Jack struggles to decipher the shadow in front of him. He finally realizes it is someone’s head. In an instant the face of a headhunter with war paint appears a few inches from Jack’s eyes. Even with the gag around his mouth the people in the room hear Jack scream, Oh! Shit. The lights come on and the room erupts in laughter. Someone unties Jack’ gag and starts to unbind his hands and feet. Standing in front of Jack is Wa-Tu, a real headhunter from the South Pacific Island, Vella LaVella.

Red walks over to a tall blond woman, Toni Frechette, and they high-five. Red says, I really think this prank is better than when we did it the first time? Toni can’t stop giggling and says, When you first called and said you wanted to repeat a prank on Jack from when we were on Vella LaVella, I thought you wanted to write, Kennedy was here on my chest again. Red’s eyes widen in shock and he stammers trying to say he hadn’t thought about repeating that prank. Toni touches her former lover’s arm and warmly smiles, Red, you know I would never do anything to cause a rift between you and Janine. Red’s tension breaks and he bluffs his response, Oh, I knew that. I was just pulling your leg. Toni pulls close to Red and whispers, One of the things I love the most about you, Red Teagan, you are a horrible liar.

Meanwhile, the headhunter says, Jack, Wa-Tu got teeth fixed. His killer smile like yours, now! Jack can only say, Is there a bathroom around here? I really have to pee! Wa-Tu says, I show you. He takes Jack’s arm and starts to guide Jack toward a bathroom. Jack has an apprehensive look that causes people to break out laughing again. Jack looks around the room and out the windows and says, My father said this house belongs to wealthy man from the South Pacific named Gabriel Sayers. Do you know him Wa-Tu? Wa-Tu flashes his killer smile and says, Wa-Tu is very close to Mr. Sayers.

Jack finally shifts his focus from Wa-Tu and looks at the guests at his surprise bachelor party. One group of friends catches his attention. Bobby is talking with his two roommates from Harvard. One is Bobby’s best friend, Dean Bingham, who attended law school on the GI Bill and played on the Harvard football team with Bobby. The other roommate, Jim Reedy, is Jack and Red’s close friend from PT-Boat school and fellow PT Boat skipper in the South Pacific. He also attended Harvard Law School on the GI Bill. Both Bingham and Reedy are working with Bobby at the Department of Justice. Standing near Bingham are his former commanding officer from the Marines, Arkansas Governor Sid McMarth, and Charlie Landrigan, a former Marine fighter pilot.

Jack and Wa-Tu move toward the veterans of the war in the South Pacific. Jack surveys what he considers a motley crew and says, It’s been over ten years since I’ve been in the presence of this many despicable people from Vella LaVella. A familiar voice comes from behind Jack and he turns around and sees, Navy Captain George Burkley, MD and Senator Lyndon Johnson. Burkley says, I must have done a good job of patching up all you boys during the war. You’re still walking, talking and drinking booze.

Johnson shakes Jack’s hand and says, I can’t believe you of all people is giving up the life of a rich yacht club playboy and getting married. You know I can’t stand you but marrying Jackie has me warming up to you just a tiny bit. You better treat that fine lady right or you’ll have to answer to me. Jack pulls close to Lyndon and softly says, Everyone thinks we’re bitter enemies because we come from so different places. Down deep, I know we like each other. Johnson roars with laughter and sarcastically says, Jack, you’re right. You make me laugh till I cry.

Burkley says, I almost forgot. Dick Nixon sends his congratulations but unfortunately, President Eisenhower has him on an endless road trip. He was looking forward to seeing all the guys from Vella LaVella. Jack says, Give Dick my regards when you see him next. Burkley says, Will do.

As Red makes his way to Bobby and Jim Reedy, Toni Frechette starts taking candid photos of the Navy men enjoying the reunion. She captures not successful men in their thirties and forties but a band of brothers willing to fight and die for each other. Behind the bright eyes are the ghosts of fallen comrades. Each man lives life with a steely determination out of an obligation to their brothers robbed of their futures by war.

Jim Reedy sees Red and says, Red! The same guy we stayed with in Hawaii owns this place! How on earth did you get Wa-Tu here! Red starts to explain that Wa-Tu is Gabriel Sayers’s alter ego but Jim Reedy says, Come with me. You’ve got to see something. Jim Reedy leads Red to a library with deep red cherry wood bookcases and cabinets. A pool table made from matching cherry wood sits in the middle of the room. Four players, two men and two young women stand around the pool table studying the location of balls and planning possible shots.

Red has a flashback to his first night at PT boat training in 1942. Red and three new acquaintances stopped at a local tavern, The House of Harm, for what will be a pivotal moment in their lives. Red, Jim Reedy and two other Ensigns, Vito and Big Tommy start playing pool. Red and Jim Reedy retire from pool after suffered endless defeats at the hands of Vito and Big Tommy. Two pretty local girls challenge Vito and Big Tommy to a match. Before long, Vito falls for a sucker bet by the lady pool hustlers. When one of the girls flirts with Big Tommy, a jealous local patron breaks a pool cue over Big Tommy’s head. An epic bar fight erupts.

Red also remembers how he scoffed at the claims by the two pool hustlers that they used their winnings to pay their college tuition. That earned Red a hard head slap by his future bride, Dr. Janine Sullivan, a world-renowned expert in pediatric emergency medicine. Red realizes tomorrow Jack and Jackie will be married at the same church Big Tommy married the other pool hustler, Betty, a brilliant mathematician.

Red is jolted back to the present when the two young ladies playing pool recognize him and practically run to hug him. At first he doesn’t recognize them. Then he says, With all the boys chasing you two pretty ladies, your dad must be going Wa-Tu all the time! Wa-Tu’s oldest, Catherine Sayers, says, No need to worry, Red. We’ve set some strict Wa-Tu rules for Pops.

Red looks at the pool table and asks, How’s your pool game? Catherine Sayers looks at Red and mouths, Sucker bet time. Catherine returns her attention to the game of Eight Ball. Red cautions Vito, Remember the last time two pretty girls played you in pool at the House of Harm? Vito is just as cocky as back in 1942. He says, Don’t worry Red. This ain’t no sucker bet. Big Tommy looks at Red and rolls his eyes. When Vito turns his attention to his next shot, Catherine winks at Red. Just before it is Catherine’s turn, Red says, I need to make sure Jack is staying out of trouble. He walks out of the library and hears Vito scream, NO WAY! You have got to be kidding me! Did Janine Sullivan teach you that shot? Red chuckles and looks forward to calling home tonight and telling Janine that Vito still falls for sucker bets.

When Jack returns from the bathroom, the party is in full swing and Jack notices Wa-Tu is literally the center of the party. The Marines and Wa-Tu are really living it up. Jack finds that curious but then remembers, Wa-Tu scouted the islands for Sid McMarth’s Marine units. Jack notices Charlie Landrigan sitting by himself sipping a drink. Jack walks over and sits with Charlie. Jack asks, How’s Deidre coping with Rose’s death? Charlie answers, Better than I am. Deidre is focused on becoming a criminalist to catch serial killers like Mastema. She doesn’t want any other teenager to have their mother taken for no real reason. Jack sincerely says, When I look back at my first campaign for Congress, what you and Rose did for me made a huge difference. I can’t thank you enough.

Someone knocks on the door and Bobby opens the door. Instead of inviting the tall muscular man into the party, Bobby just stares at the man. Lyndon Johnson says, Good, our token Republican has arrived with tonight’s entertainment. Bobby, let Congressman Ford come in! Jerry Ford comes in the room and holds up a movie film canister for Lyndon to see. Jim Reedy gets excited and asks, Is that what I think it is, Jerry? Ford grins and says, It sure is. Bobby looks confused and asks Jim Reedy, We have to have a Republican bring the stag film to a bachelor party filled with dozens of Democrats? Jim Reedy says, It’s not a stag film. It is much better!

Jerry Ford hands the movie film canister to Red and says, I hear you’re quite the amateur cinematographer. Toni Frechette looks at Red with surprise and says, You’re into making movies? Red laughs and says, Not really. I just like filming Jack and his family. Some day we’ll look back at my home movies and see what type of a person Jack Kennedy really was. Red then proudly holds up the film canister and says, Now, we have my acting debut! Toni gives Red a look of disbelief and says, You have got to be kidding me?

Red becomes all business and takes the film canister to a movie projector setup in a large living room. He professionally threads the movie film through the wheels and levers in the projector. Red then calls people into the living room. When everyone is settled, Red says to Jerry Ford, Congressman Ford the floor is all yours. When Jerry stands up, the almost exclusively Democrat crowd boos and hisses at Jerry who takes all the ribbing in stride. He speaks in his usual monotone voice, If it weren’t for some fellow Navy Men, I probably would not have been elected to Congress. I was having problems reaching the rural voters. Jim Reedy impatiently interjects, Come on Jerry. Get to the film. Your campaign manager set up a newsreel reporter to film you meeting with farmers. But, all the farmers were off fighting a grain elevator fire. Roll it Red!

Jack provides the background, Dick Nixon and I were freshmen Congressmen. Jerry hosted us on one of our traveling town hall debates in Grand Rapids. Red and Jim Reedy were planning on sailing with me on Lake Michigan. Red says, First up is the unedited footage.

The opening scene shows Jerry talking to a local farmer in front of a dairy barn. Behind the farmer is a tractor with one farmer sitting behind the wheel of the tractor, another farmer leans against the large rear tire and chews on a grass stalk. A third very serious looking farmer stands behind the tractor. At first no one in the audience pays much attention to the participants. Then, Toni Frechette, with her critical photographer’s eye, recognizes the people in the scene. She gasps, Oh my god! Red! You’re the farmer talking to Jerry! Jack’s chewing on a piece of grass. Jim Reedy is sitting on the tractor. And, unbelievable! Dick Nixon is the serious farmer behind the tractor!

The audience can’t believe what they are seeing. Red is convincing as the farmer and has a quirky exchange with a stiff Jerry Ford. Red steals the show when he tells Jerry he’ll vote for him only if Jerry agrees to come back after the election to learn more about farming. When Red tells Jerry he’ll have to help milk the cows, Jerry looks apprehensive. Red then asks, What’s the matter? Haven’t you squeezed teats before? Jerry responds, Ugh, not more than two at a time. The bachelor party guests laugh so hard everyone has tears in their eyes.

The movie continues with the edited version of the newsreel film. Jack and Dick Nixon’s faces are blurred but you can clearly see Red and Jim Reedy’s faces. Toni Frechette says, I can’t believe I’ve seen that newsreel at least a dozen times and didn’t recognize Red or Jim Reedy!

Sid McMarth asks Jack, So, who won the debate? You or Tricky Dick? Jack grins and says, I told Dick he won the debate but I won the vote. Sid looks perplexed and says, How? Jack explains, When we left the debate, I showed Dick nine slips of paper from my female admirers in the audience with their phone numbers. Sid flashes his movie star grin and asks, How many votes did Tricky Dick get? Jack looks incredulously at Sid. Jim Reedy jumps in and says, Zero! Jim Reedy continues, After the newsreel producer tells Jerry’s campaign manager, he knew all along who we were, Jack invites him and his crew to a party on the boat I rented. I then find out Jack has canceled the boat I rented and he rents this huge party yacht. Jack has me call his admirers and invite them to the party. Sid, it was an epic party. We cruised the Chicago waterfront the entire night and got back to Michigan at first light.

As Jim Reedy humors Sid McMarth with the escapades of the people on the all night Lake Michigan cruise, Jack works his way to Red and Toni talking with Charlie Landrigan. As Charlie heads for the bar, Jack approaches Red and Toni. Toni gives Jack a sweet smile and a hug. Jack asks, How did the notorious woman who shot me down in flames end up at my surprise bachelor party? Toni says, Well, and pauses. She looks to Red for support and he just grins. Toni says, Your Dad hired me to take candid pictures at your wedding. Jack asks, We are talking about my father? The man that thoroughly enjoyed telling all his cronies about Toni Freschette? He told them that you said you were a recorder of history and would not be a minor part of my history as one of my conquests? Toni shyly says, Yes. Jack bites his lip and frowns. He then says, That certainly sounds like something he would do. Red and Jack start laughing and Toni cautiously joins the laughter.

Toni relaxes and says, Jack, I didn’t get to spend any real time with Jackie at the Queens Coronation but I did see how genuine she is with people from all walks of life. I really do believe you two are soul mates. Toni’s honest approval of Jackie warms Jack’s heart. Toni looks at her watch and says, You fine gentlemen will have to excuse me. I have an early start tomorrow. Toni kisses Jack on the cheek and leaves.

Through a window, Jack and Red watch Toni walk to her car, a Jaguar XK 120 sports car. She starts the Jaguar and a deep throaty growl comes from the car. She repeatedly revs the engine until it smooths out. Toni puts the Jaguar in gear and accelerates rapidly down the driveway and slides hard into a turn when she reaches the road. Within a second, lights flash and siren whales from the Barnstable constable’s patrol car. Toni pulls onto the shoulder of the road and the patrol car pulls alongside. The constable says through an open window, Good evening, Mrs. Boar. The Barnstable mayor received a request from your husband, Mr. Francis Boar, that I give you a safe AND SLOW escort through our quiet community. When we get off the Cape, the Highway Patrol will escort you to the state line. Mrs. Boar, please proceed and I will follow.

Jack and Red are laughing and Jack says, Now I finally understand why Toni would never let me drive the jeep when we went on her Vella LaVella photo expeditions. A smug laugh comes from George Burkley standing behind Red and Jack. Burkley says, Jack, you’re lucky to be alive. Even the OSS spooks with no last names, Richard and Harold, wouldn’t dare let Toni drive on a mission. Jack looks perplexed and Burkley corrects his statement, Change that. It was Red who had all the fun with the spy guys. Jack looks at Red and says, Really? Red quickly looks around for something to distract Jack from the subject of spies.

An unfamiliar man in his early twenties stands admiring a wall display of ancient knives from various South Pacific islands. Red asks, Who is that guy over there looking at those old knives? Jack shakes his head that he doesn’t know the young man. Burkley says, That’s my driver, Jacob Maxwell. Jack says, Since when do Navy captains rate a driver? Burkley backtracks and says, He’s not exactly MY driver. It’s more like I’m his agent. Jack gets serious and says, Dr. Burkley, can you expand on your last statement? Remember you are talking to a US Senator and member of the Intelligence Oversight Subcommittee. Burkley says, Jacob is a victim of the old saying ‘No good deed goes unpunished’. He used to be on the Secret Service protection detail at Camp David. Jack raises his hand to stop Burkley and says, I was briefed on the incident. So, he’s the guardian angel for some of Eleanor Roosevelt’s Val-Kill girls?

Wa-Tu and Bobby’s friend Dean join Jacob Maxwell in admiring the ancient blades. Wa-Tu describes how each of the different type of blade is used. Some were for hacking and others for throwing. Jacob tells Wa-Tu that he has a number of throwing knives of his own. They adjourn to a patio. The Marines follow and pull off a tablecloth from of a large round table provided by the caterers. They lay the round table its the side and use a variety of red condiments to draw the rings and bull’s-eye of a target. A knife-throwing tournament ensues.

Jack looks at Red and says, Red Head, I think that is a sign to leave the party. Red says, You’re right on that count. Henry is outside with your Dad’s car. Jack says, Good Ole Dependable Henry. Always there when I need him. As if Henry is clairvoyant, he pulls the car to the front door of the home. Jack and Red pile in the back seat and soon they are on their way back to the Kennedy compound.

Jack says to Red, Jackie seems overly fascinated about my escapades before I met her. And, my sister, Patty, and Jackie enjoy a game of identifying whom the next woman who should be rumored to be having an affair with me. They claim it’s a good way to keep my name in front of the public because any research by a competent journalist will disprove the alleged affair. Red asks, Where are you going with this conversation? Jack says, Red Head, I do not want Jackie to find out anything based on facts that could be misconstrued. Specifically, I never want her to find out about Toni rebuffing me or the prank where you wrote ‘Kennedy Was Here’ on Toni’s chest! Red coyly replies, Are you implying I was intimate with Toni and wrote that on her chest? I don’t know how you would get such an idea. Jack says to his best friend, That’s your story and you are sticking to it? OK. Red Head, if Jackie ever learns about that prank, I will hunt you down and do dastardly things to you! Red mocks Jack, Dastardly things? Some times I think you were raised in Victorian England. Dastardly?

When the car pulls into the circle drive at the Kennedy Compound, Red hops out of the car and Jack gets out of the back seat and gets into the front passenger seat. Henry anticipates Jack’s request and says, Shall we drive along the coast for a while, Mr. Kennedy? Jack simply nods his head. Red smiles and realizes Jack once again turns to the sea to calm his soul.

Back at the bachelor party minus Jack and Red, the knife throwing competition takes an ugly turn from too much alcohol. Even Lyndon Johnson and Jerry Ford participate. The participants’ aim starts to go way off target. After a knife breaks a window, a beautiful creature appears. She is lean and tall with reddish brown hair, green eyes and light brown skin. She is wearing sandals, khaki shorts and a white top with an open back.

Jacob Maxwell is instantly in love with the exotic beauty. He says, to Wa-Tu, Get a load of that HOT babe! Wa-Tu says, Yes, her mother made Wa-Tu feel same. Jacob realizes the implication of Wa-Tu’s words and hesitantly asks, Your daughter? Wa-Tu’s eyes get real big and penetrating. He stares deeply into Jacob’s eyes with his most terrifying headhunter look. Wa-Tu breaks of his trance and reverts to Sir Gabriel Sayers and says in perfect Queen’s English, Tomorrow night, please join my daughter, Catherine, and I for dinner at our favorite restaurant in Providence. I am sure Dr. Burkley will not object to your absence while he is at Senator Kennedy’s wedding reception.

Catherine Sayers walks directly to Wa-Tu and speaks with a distinctive Texas accent laced with periodic overtones of a British accent, Daddy! It’s time to put the knives away and for you to put Wa-Tu back in the bottle. Gabriel Sayers says, As you wish. Catherine, may I present Mr. Jacob Maxell. He is one of Dr. Burkley’s associates.

Catherine smiles at Jacob and is obviously pleased by what she sees. Catherine sizes up Jacob and says, You can really throw a knife. You’re not a doctor and you don’t quite fit the Marines. What are you? A spy? Gabriel intercedes and says, He’s a guardian angel. You can learn more about him tomorrow night when he joins us for dinner. Gabriel looks tired but satisfied having been Wa-Tu again with the Navy Men for a short time. He walks toward his private quarters in the house without any fanfare.

Catherine Sayers puts two fingers in her mouth and produces an eardrum-shattering whistle to get everyone’s attention. She yells, OK boys, you’ve had plenty of fun. It time to call it a night. There’s a bus outside that’s taking you to your hotels. No one is driving tonight! Understood? Lyndon Johnson staggers up to Catherine and says, Catherine girl, we’re just starting to have fun. What do you think you’re doing? Catherine replies, My grand parents think enough of you that I’m suppose to call you, Uncle Lyndon. Grandpa Bum also told me if you’re doing something stupid, I should kick you in the behind like Deputy Police Chief Jess Current used to do in the war! Now, get on the bus, UNCLE Lyndon!

The bachelor party guests file out of the house and start boarding the bus. Lyndon is last in line to board. When it is his turn to board the bus, he hesitates, turns around and starts to protest to Catherine Sayers again. She turns Lyndon back toward the bus steps and plants her foot squarely on Lyndon’s butt. Every person on the bus holds his breath wondering how the Minority Leader of the United States Senate would react to such harsh treatment. Then Senator Johnson steps onto the bus and roars with laughter and everyone starts laughing. Lyndon looks at Jacob sitting in the front row next to a window. He plops down in the aisle seat next to Jacob and says, I saw you eyeing that philly. You just be careful, son. In Texas our women are pretty and we raise them to take shit from no one!

By the time the bus reaches the end of the driveway, Lyndon has passed out. When the bus makes a sharp turn onto the road, Lyndon’s limp body falls sideways onto Jacob. A minute down the road, a muffled voice comes from the front of the bus, I can’t breathe! Someone get this big DANDY off of me!

Chapter 2

November 2008: Office of Chief of Naval Operations, Admiral Rowles

Commander Colleen O’Brien walks the deserted corridors of the Pentagon. She checks her watch and realizes she just asked the top officer in the U.S. Navy to stay past 2200 hours to discuss the ramblings of a 93 year-old former Secretary of the Navy. Admiral Rowles stands by himself in his outer office pouring a cup of coffee. His office is deserted. He dispenses with military formality and asks, Commander O’Brien, can I pour you a cup of coffee? It’s been a very long day for you. Colleen takes the cup of coffee and the Admiral motions her to follow him into his office. Colleen complies and follows Admiral Rowles. As she enters his office she says, From what Secretary Teagan told me today, I think we should shut your door, Sir.

Admiral Rowles is taken back by Commander O’Brien’s request and momentarily scrutinizes her body language and demeanor. When he sees Commander O’Brien’s hardness, he is somewhat embarrassed to have thought otherwise. He smiles and says, Even the Chief of Naval Operations receives frequent lectures on political correctness and how to avoid even the slightest appearance of impropriety. Colleen maintains her professional composure and says, My apologies, Sir, I did not intend to put you in a potentially compromising position.

Admiral Rowles gets a sly grin and says, Your mother spoke at the Academy when I was a midshipman. I don’t remember much of her speech but the question and answer session was priceless. Colleen rolls her eyes and says, I can just image what she said! Admiral Rowles says, A retired Marine general that taught pre-law asked your mom if she really threaten to shoot President Kennedy when he allegedly said he was an old sailor lusting for her.

Colleen laughs and says, My Dad told me the same story countless times. He said she was speechless. It had to be the only time in her life! Admiral Rowles also laughs and says, Your Dad was still Chief of Naval Operations and sitting with the retired Marine general. Your mother just glared at your Dad. She said, Red Ted, you’re going to pay for this! Colleen grins and says, Anytime Mom said those words to him, Dad was always sent overseas the next day. Admiral Rowles says, That is one of those flag officer privileges."

Colleen warmly smiles and says, Those two were so cute. Mom would start missing Dad within a day or two. Within a week Dad would return with a beautiful gift from some exotic place. Admiral Rowles shakes his head approvingly and says, Like I said the other day, the Admiral is a real smart man. The funniest thing about that incident was when your Mother pointed her finger at your Dad and the General. She said, Over the years, I’ve been accused of threating to shoot a lot of people including you two jokers. Everyone in the auditorium held their breath until your Dad said, God, I love you. He and the General broke up laughing. Your Mom tried to keep a straight face but she couldn’t and started laughing with them.

Admiral Rowles sits back and seems to be longing for the early days of his Navy career. Then he returns to the business at hand and asks, What did you learn about Operation Eternal Flame from former Secretary of the Navy Teagan? Colleen takes a deep breath and says, We will get to Operation Eternal Flame tomorrow. Today, Red Teagan disclosed information about the assassination of Defense Secretary Forrestall over fifty years ago that could still have repercussions today. Admiral Rowles leans back in his chair and folds his hands and stares at Commander O’Brien before he speaks. He chooses his words carefully and says, The report on Forrestall’s death was unsealed during my predecessor’s tenure and immediately resealed for another twenty years. During our transition meetings, the outgoing CNO told me not to unseal it during my time as CNO.

Colleen carefully says, I’ve read the history books that claim Secretary Forrestall suffered from depression and his death was either a tragic accident or suicide. I also know that the Navy has repeatedly honored him. They named a class of aircraft carriers the Forrestall class. I think the people running the Navy back then knew Forrestall didn’t commit suicide but was murdered.

Admiral Rowles makes a decision and says, First, tell me everything and write up a detailed report on Secretary Teagan’s explanation of events leading up to Secretary of Defense Forristall’s demise. Second, I want you to keep copies of everything but only disclose the contents after I have left public life or I instruct you to release the information. Now, give me the bottom line. Admiral Rowles pulls out a digital voice recorder from his brief case and turns it on.

Commander Colleen O’Brien starts speaking, Sir, in the late 1940’s and early 1950’s, Arabella Draca was an assassin for hire used by both the Soviet Union and non-communist spy organizations and quite possibly the United States too. At some point, she suffered a mental breakdown and terrorized the Southwestern U.S. killing women college professors and U.S. Marine snipers. Rowles perks up and says, You’re talking about the Mastema serial killer! I read a book on serial killers and criminal profilers. It was the case that taught the world about serial killers and how criminal profilers work to catch them.

Colleen says, You are exactly correct, sir. Get this, Dr. Cheryl Chambers, was the profiler who drew Mastema out and actually shot Mastema to death. What is not widely known, is Dr. Chambers was a civilian Navy psychiatrist that worked with the Navy Criminal Investigative Service AND was Secretary Forristall’s therapist!

Colleen has a mischievous look and Admiral Rowles says, Don’t hold out on me. Go on, Commander. She says, Dr. Cheryl Chambers is Red Teagan’s sister-in-law and met with then Senators Kennedy and Johnson, Congressman Ford and Vice President Nixon to tell them Mastema’s dying declaration.

Admiral Rowles looks confused and says, I can’t image those four guys in the same room for more than five minutes before a brawl would break out. Colleen continues, Actually, they had two things in common. James Forrestall sensed something special about each of them and made sure they were positioned to be successful during and after WW II. Also, during the war the four future President’s met on the South Pacific Island, Vella LaVella, and formed a pact to support each other’s presidential aspirations. They made this pact during a dinner also attended by Red Teagan and Navy Captain George Burkley who eventually became the White House Physician for Kennedy and Johnson. They called themselves the Vella LaVella Navy Men or just the Navy Men.

Admiral Rowles reflects on the Mid-Twentieth Century Presidencies and then says, I never understood why a real SOB like Nixon didn’t demand a recount in his 1960 loss to Kennedy. I also couldn’t believe Kennedy selected Johnson as his Vice President. And then after Vice President Agnew was forced to resign, Nixon appointed Ford as his Vice President. None of it ever made a lick of sense to me until now. So, what did Dr. Chambers tell these Vella LaVella Navy Men?

Colleen takes a deep breath and says, James Forrestall had pancreatic cancer and hired Mastema to assassinate him. Admiral Rowles recoils is shock and says, Why? Colleen explains, James Forrestall was President Roosevelt’s best friend. Roosevelt trusted Forrestall implicitly and charged him with setting up and running every covert operation with even the smallest political exposure to the President. By today’s moral standards most of these covert missions would be at the least considered unethical and more likely would be illegal. When President Roosevelt died, many of these operations and their operatives went rouge. Admiral Rowles sees the connection and says, So, Forrestall is dying but if someone with known ties to these rouge covert factions assassinates him, the entire weight of the U.S. Government will come down on the traitors running the rouge operations. Colleen adds, But Mastema double-crossed Forrestall and made his death a suicide for personal reasons or on the behest of the rouge operatives.

Rowles thinks for several moments and then asks, Exactly, how did Dr. Chambers know Forrestall hired Mastema to kill him and Mastema actually killed Forrestall? Colleen says, A former Navy officer who then worked for the Dallas Police Department as a homicide detective witnessed Mastema enter Forrestal’s hospital room. The Dallas detective was working closely with CIS on the Mastema case. And, after Dr. Chambers shot Mastema, Mastema’s dying declaration was that James Forrestall hired her to kill him.

Admiral Rowles has a tired look on his face and raises his hand to signal Colleen to stop. He says in a fatigued and concerned voice, I have heard enough. Commander, write-up this up like I said before. He pauses and then says, You are experiencing something only a handful of people in the entire history of the world have experienced. You are hearing the actual historical truth. Cherish the moment and good luck with finding the truth about Operation Eternal Flame. Admiral Rowles turns off his digital voice recorder.

Chapter 3

The next morning Commander Colleen O’Brien and Lieutenant Mark Brown sit in Red’s study. Before Red arrives, Colleen softly says to Lt. Brown, Let’s start with some small talk. Brown says, Sounds good to me. Right on queue Red walks in with his shuffling gait and sits in his chair. He says, Let’s get right to it. I slept well and feel great!"

Colleen O’Brien asks Red, Some people paint Jackie as just another piece in a carefully crafted JFK persona. Was that true? Red says, It was quite the opposite. Jack and Jackie really were kindred spirits. They shared a passion for history and the arts. They also were great pranksters often at each other’s expense. With her cool sweet sophisticated image, the public never suspected Jackie was one of the most outrageous pranksters.

Jackie was also very in tune with managing Jack’s image. She understood the need to keep up Jack’s image as a womanizer. Jack’s sister, Patricia, was married to a famous movie actor in the 50’s and 60’s, Peter Crawford. Jackie and Patricia were always scheming about which movie star Jack needed to have an alleged affair. They decided that Jack needed to be rumored to have been with the most beautiful actress of her time, Grace Shelly, who also happened to be a great friend of Patricia.

Red says, You probably have no idea about Grace Shelly. Grace Shelly may have been the most beautiful woman of the twentieth century. She was an Academy Award winning screen and television actress. Shelly started her acting career at age 20 and retired at age 26. She did two movies with the famous director Alfred Richcock and did another movie John Dodge directed. Grace starred with the top leading men of her day, Clark, Bing, Cary, Frank and Jimmy. Her co-stars and directors consistently commented on how she delivered her performance with quiet confidence. Cary called Grace his favorite actress because of her serenity. But, that all ended in 1956. Grace retired from acting and married a prince. Red pauses and then says, Grace loved the idea because she, like Jack had the press reporting outrageous alleged affairs. She was dying to play along. To top it off, Patricia and Jackie talked Grace into visiting Jack in the middle of the night in the hospital while he was still incapacitated from his back surgery in 1954.

The morning after Grace visits Jack’s hospital room, Jack tells Jackie, My medicine is giving me the most vivid dreams! I dreamt that Grace Shelly visited me in the middle of the night dressed like a nurse. Jackie takes his hand and smiles ever so slightly. Jack knew that smile and in disbelief, says, You didn’t? Did Patricia put you up to it? Jack then starts to pout and get angry. Jackie asks Jack, What’s the matter? Jack says, I love you with all my heart but you can be so cruel! Jackie asks in a flirtatious tone, What? (Jack always told Jackie she was the most beautiful woman in the world) Jack says, The second most beautiful woman in the world visits my room in the middle of the night and I can’t do a thing! This could destroy my image!"

Jackie still speaking in a sultry voice says, Well, Senator Kennedy, your doctor says you will go home tomorrow and, we’ll see if THE most beautiful woman in the world can RAISE your spirit. Jackie leans over and lightly kisses Jack on his forehead, turns and walks away slowly slinging her hips from side to side. At the door Jackie stops and looks over her shoulder and winks at Jack. Proceeding down the hall, Jackie hears Jack start to laugh but Jack stops and winches in pain. Jack says, Mrs. Kennedy, I still say you can be so cruel!

Colleen O’Brien says, Well, that’s a side of Jackie the public never saw. Red says, The public also never saw the sheer terror Jackie experienced when Jack had an Addison’s Crisis right after she left his hospital room. Red gets a distant look and soon starts reliving what happened next.

Red and Janine patiently wait in the visitor waiting room near Jack’s hospital room. They overhear Jack’s reaction to the Grace Shelly prank and Jackie passes the waiting room with a big grin on her face. Red gives Jackie a thumbs-up sign of approval for a prank well played. Jackie smiles and continues walking to the elevator. She walks in the elevator feeling good she received the coveted thumbs-up from Red, the master prankster in Jack’s circle of friends. As the elevator descends to the ground floor, Jackie’s anticipation of Jack’s return to their home grows.

Jack, alone in his hospital room, reaches for a glass of juice. As if Jack is being stabbed by ice picks all over his legs, lower abdomen and lower back, pain grips his body. He tries to call for help but only a few slurred syllables come out. Jack is confused by the sudden pain and slurred speech. He starts to feel faint and flails at the juice glass on a tray table. In the waiting room, Red and Janine hear the sound of breaking glass and rush to Jack’s room. Red enters first and is paralyzed by the sight of his best friend staring blankly at the ceiling and not moving. Janine shoves her husband aside and calmly starts to examine Jack. He has slipped into a coma and his blood pressure is dropping.

Janine yells at the top of her lungs, NURSE, I NEED YOU IN HERE, STAT! A nurse runs into the room and is confused by the lady examining Senator Kennedy. Janine asks, Has Senator Kennedy been taking his prednisone? The nurse stammers, Well, uh, no. The doctor said the Senator didn’t need it for pain. Janine replies, It is not for pain but for Addison’s Disease!

A doctor in his early fifties enters Jack’s room and admonishes the nurse, Why is some ditzy house wife examining MY patient? Red steps in front of the doctor blocking his way. When the doctor shoves Red hard, Red grabs the lapels of the doctor’s white lab coat and shoves him up against the wall. Red gets close the doctor’s face and says, That ditzy housewife is Dr. Janine Sullivan, a Stanford Fellow. And, Senator Kennedy is my best friend! The doctor breaks his alpha male stare with Red and looks at Janine. He recognizes the famous Dr. Janine Sullivan-Teagan.

The whole time Janine is focused on Jack. She tells the nurse, The Senator will need intravenous glucocorticoids and saline with dextrose IV’s. Please check with the pharmacy and see what the pharmacist has in stock while I confer with the Senator’s doctor. Janine looks up and sees Red holding the doctor against the wall. In her best ditzy housewife voice Janine says, Red, Honey, you can let go of the doctor. It looks like your buddy did not tell this fine doctor about his Addison’s Disease. Now, tell the doctor you’re sorry. Red grins and releases his grip on the doctor’s lab coat. Red readjust the lab coat on the doctor and runs his hands down each shoulder to smooth the collar. Red pats the doctor on his shoulder and says, Sorry about that, doc.

The doctor steps around Red and joins Janine at Jack’s bedside. The doctor quickly realizes Jack has slipped into a coma and asks Janine, Blood pressure dropping? Janine says, Like a brick. The doctor shakes his head and says, There is nothing in the Senator’s medical records about adrenal insufficiency. Janine laments, That’s the problem with high profile patients. They tend to hide their problems. I know of at least one time he was diagnosed with Addison’s and I strongly suspect he has had between two to four previous Addison’s Crises.

The nurse returns to Jack’s room and says, "Dr. Sullivan, the pharmacist