shook his head. “Never mind. Tell the Exec, and if he asks why you waited so long, tell him you figured we were leaving so soon they couldn’t have done anything about it till we got back anyway. That’s true enough, isn’t it?”
She nodded, and he patted her arm.
“Good. I promise you’ll get support, not a reaming.” He leaned back again, then smiled. “Actually, I think what you really need is someone to ask for advice when you don’t want to stick your neck out with one of the officers, so finish your coffee. I’ve got someone I want you to meet.”
“Who’s that, Sir?” Wolcott asked curiously.
“Well, he’s not exactly someone your folks would want me to introduce you to,” Tremaine said with a wry smile, “but he certainly straightened me out on my first cruise.” Wolcott drained her cup, and the lieutenant rose. “I think you’ll like Chief Harkness,” he told her. “And—" his eyes glinted wickedly “—if anyone aboard Fearless knows a way to deal with scumbags like that Grayson without involving anyone else, he will!”
*