Chapter 17: Accusation
The airbus settled heavily to the floor as Captain Jones powered it down. Tracker watched from the window as Magnum, Animal, and two Security guards walked towards them across the hangar. He touched Antoinette’s arm. She looked away from the window, eyes large and frightened, and angry, then nodded as she took his arm.
As they stepped out, Magnum met them. “Mister Redd, I am placing you under Base arrest, pending resolution of Animal’s charge of sedition against you.” The other Defenders stood nearby, watching.
Animal interrupted. “That’s not good enough. I want him remanded to my custody, and transported under heavy security to National FORCE Headquarters in Washington.”
”Walter, in this Base, we do it my way,” Magnum said levelly. “We may be part of FORCE, but I am the commander of this base. I am not remanding him to you until I am satisfied that a crime was committed. You are a guest of this base and subject to my command. Understood?”
Antoinette said quietly. “M’sieur, it is not true, what Animal has said.”
Magnum inclined his head, but Animal retorted, “And I want her arrested as a co-conspirator!”
”Animal! Shut up!”
Animal glared at Magnum for an instant, then looked at Tracker. “You’re history, traitor,” he growled.
Tracker surged forward, fangs bared, fingers reaching for Animal’s throat. “Non, mon coeur,” Antoinette cried, jumping in front of Tracker. “That is what he wants you to do!” Tracker paused, snarling at Animal. Slowly, the rage faded from his eyes and he turned his back on the others, taking Antoinette into his arms.
Jay caught Louis’ eye and jerked his head toward Animal. Then he stepped up to the man.
”Hi, spy-guy,” Jay said, draping one arm around Animal’s shoulders. “I think maybe we ought to go elsewhere before you do something unmentionable here in public.” Animal shrugged off his arm, glaring at Jay, Louis and Sasha. Then he turned and walked away, followed by his unofficial escort.
After Tracker had calmed down Magnum continued. “While I am not confining you to your quarters, due to the severity of the charges, I must advise you that your movements within Base will be monitored. This doesn’t imply any assumption of guilt or innocence, this is only a security precaution. Do you understand these restrictions?” Tracker replied with a curt nod.
Magnum turned to Antoinette. “About your wedding. Mr. d’Armand asked that I not allow your marriage. I –”
”Non!” Antoinette clutched Tracker’s arm. “Walter is against our marriage. He told me I would regret choosing Tracker over him, that he would prove Tracker was no good.”
”Hang on, Miss Duval, let me finish,” Magnum said. “As I was saying, I told him that was none of his business. Do you still want to have the wedding as soon as possible?”
She stared at him searchingly for a long moment. “Will you promise, on your word of honor, that regardless of the outcome of the trial you will make sure that we can be married by the church?”
”Yes,” Magnum said without hesitation.
She hesitated a moment more, then sighed. “Then I would like you to marry us right now, by law. After the trial is over. we will have the church wedding and we can celebrate, or I can pledge my support to Tracker despite the worst that can be done to him.”
”Okay,” Magnum said. “Let’s go up to my office and get you married.”
”Come along,” he said to Scott and Marsha. “You can be witnesses.” They rode the elevator to the top level and went to Magnum’s office.
After a few preliminaries, Magnum said, “Jon Redd, do you take this woman, Antoinette Duval, as your wife?”
”Yes,” Tracker replied.
”Antoinette Duval, do you take this man, Jon Redd, as your husband?”
”Oui, m’sieur, I do,” Antoinette said.
”Then, under the Charter of the State of Tennessee and by the power invested in me as a FORCE Deputy and commander of this base, I pronounce you man and wife.”
“Red? What mean you, Red?”
Magnum turned to Tracker. “Haven’t you told her yet, Jon?”
“No, sir. There hasn’t been much time and I never really thought to.”
Magnum smiled. “Antoinette Redd, allow me to introduce you to your husband, Jon Redd.”
Tracker turned, taking her in his arms. She clung to him, raising her face to kiss him and opening her lips to receive his questing tongue. After a timeless eternity, they parted, turning to face Magnum again. He grinned at Tracker.
