Lieutenant Charlie Steiner is an investigator for the US Navy. He is a decorated officer, having served with the SEAL teams, a loving husband, and soon to be father. His latest case involving a series of top secret munitions hijackings, is about to change his life, forever. Conspiracies, cover up, sabotage and murder envelope his life, forcing a miraculous transformation to take place. The once Charlie Steiner becomes Cuda; a creature seeking vengeance for the loss of his love, life, and humanity.
CUDA
By Stacy A. WrightAuthorHouse
Copyright © 2010 Stacy A. Wright
All right reserved.ISBN: 978-1-4490-9446-1Chapter One
T-92:00 and counting ...
Thursday morning, Lieutenant Charlie Steiner sits in front of a panel consisting Navy brass, answering questions about the foiled hijacking that he was responsible for, yesterday. He isn't under suspicion. Instead, he is to be commended for his actions and good foot work. "So, Lt. Steiner, in your own words, please explain to this panel how you came to your conclusions."
"Yes Sir." Charlie replies. "It was the driver's name, that tipped me off to an inside leak. The driver is linked to several other shipments that were hijacked over the passed three months. I only regret that I didn't get a chance to see the shipping manifest before the truck left the base. If I had, this incident could have been handled before the shipment reached the gate." Charlie reaches into his brief case and hands out three reports to his superiors. "Everything is in here, Sirs, including a few suggestions for future shipping arrangements."
"Lt. Steiner, we would like to applaud your efforts, and the service that you give this man's Navy. I ..." Admiral Clawson is interrupted by the arrival of an up and coming Ensign, who walks up to the Admiral, hands him a slip of paper, and then whispers into the Admiral's ear. When done, the ensign rises and then gives his superior a salute before leaving. "Now then, as I was saying, I feel a commendation is in order, but it would seem that Admiral Jameson already has something in the works. Take this over to the Admiral's office, and report to him for your new assignment. Good job, Charlie."
"Thank you Admiral Clawson, but that's all I was doing, is my job." Charlie gives his superiors a salute and then exits the briefing room. What could his next assignment be? Maybe it was something a little more casual, like a missing herd of goats on some Italian base. Charlie was getting tired of all of these high risk cases. He has reached the point in his life where he has decided to settle down. In doing so, he can be assured a long life with his new bride so that they can grow old together. For the passed seven years he has lead a life fraught with danger and excitement. As a Navy SEAL, he has seen just about every type of scenario that the teams could offer. In the Navy, he has been to most of the civilized and uncivilized parts of the world. Most of the time, it was the uncivilized parts, where there was never anything to really see, except global corruption and terrorist activities.
Outside, Charlie walks towards his Jeep pondering what awaited him in Admiral Jameson's office. He was sure that it was probably his next case, which was not in Italy. Trying to shed off the rain shower, Charlie doesn't realize that Admiral Clawson had walked up behind him. "Charles, could I speak to you for a second?"
"Of course, Admiral Clawson, what can I do for you, Sir?" Charlie replies after saluting his superior. His hand hits the Admiral's umbrella not realizing that the Admiral was standing so close. Both men are showered by the rain water knocked from the umbrella's wet surface. "Oh Admiral, I am so sorry, Sir."
"Don't worry about it, Charles." Clawson replies with a chuckle, wiping the rain drops from his coat and face. "Your father would be proud of you, Charles. You've turned out to be a fine officer. How is your father, by the way?" Clawson asks while escorting Charlie to his Jeep.
"I'm sorry, Sir, but you must not have heard. My father was killed in a car accident, this passed October." Charlie answers.
"Oh, I'm sorry, son. I guess I've lost touch with everyone now days. Listen, I'm staying down the road, at the Sleepy Sailor Bed and Breakfast Inn. Edna loves the place. We stay there every time we come to the base, and have for the passed thirty years." Clawson lets out a little chuckle. "Hell, son, you should know the place, its where your daddy ..."
"... Met my mother. Yes sir, I know the Inn." Charlie answers with a laugh of his own. Everyone knew someone who met their spouse at the Sleepy Sailor lounge. For twenty years, it was the only place that served liquor, near the base.
"Well, come on down and see me. I'd sure like to catch up on the last five years of Carlton Steiner's life." The Admiral declares. He closes the Jeep door after Charlie climbs into the driver's seat. "Knowing your daddy, you should have a bunch of stories to share. Now, I know you have to run, so I'm going to let you go see your CO. But I'm going to be in town until next Sunday, so I'll be expecting a phone call from you, young man."
"Yes, Sir. I promise I'll call." Charlie gives the good Admiral a nod good-bye and then backs the Jeep out of the parking spot. His next stop is Admiral Jameson's office. "You can't be serious!" He holds the opened letter out in front of him, as if he was inspecting its authenticity. "Ensign Mary Riley, you just made me the happiest man in the world!" Charlie tries to contain his enthusiasm, but to no avail. He grabs the Ensign from her desk and spins her around the room.
"Honestly, Lt. Steiner, shouldn't you be doing this with your wife?" Ensign Riley asks, while trying to catch her breath.
"Sorry, Mary, I just can't believe this is finally happening." Charlie grabs the paper from the floor and reads it one more time to make sure he didn't misunderstand it. "Listen, Is Admiral Jameson in? I need to thank him for this!" Charlie declares as he starts towards the Admiral's door.
"Hold on, Charlie. The Admiral isn't in to see you, today. He called to say that there was an important matter that needed his attention." Riley sits back down at her desk and straightens her hair.
"That's cool. Would you tell him that I'll try to stop by and see him in the next couple of days." Charlie stuffs the letter and its envelope into his pocket, and then rushes out the door. He is oblivious to his surroundings and the people in his vicinity. Several higher ranked officers are surprised when Charlie doesn't stop to give them a salute. It wasn't necessary, but it was customary from Lieutenant Steiner. He is so excited about his new orders that he doesn't even notice the Admiral's car parked two spots away from his jeep. Of course, he was in a rush to get in out of the rain, but even that seemed to be clearing up. This was going to be a great day.
The driver of that said car sits quietly in his darkened office, watching Charlie climb into his Jeep. The Admiral's hands tremble, causing the ice in his glass to clank against the side. He gulps down the remainder of liquor, and then shoves his cigarette into the ice cubes. Even the vilest of criminals has a moment of conscience reflection. Admiral Paul Jameson was having one of those moments. Jameson gave Charlie his first commendation. It was Jameson who brought Charlie to Norfolk, when Charlie's time with the SEALs was up. It will be forever on Jameson's conscience that he was the one who had Charlie killed.
Charlie races across the naval base doing his best not to cause an accident with his reckless behavior. He waves an apology to his neighbor for cutting him off, before pulling into the driveway of the Steiner home. He jumps from the Jeep, hitting his head on the roll bar. "Shit, shit, shit!" Charlie doesn't even notice the Jeep rolling off into the back yard where it takes out the shed, nor does he really care. "Nicky!" he calls out, as he rushes up the front steps. He is greeted with the front screen door to his face, when his new bride rushes out the door to investigate...
