Once again I must apologize for not making the plot line clear. I should probably ask my wife to edit and proofread these for me before I post them.
To make things clear: in CPT Cho's office right now are Jody's company commander (CPT Cho), Cho's first sergeant (First Sergeant Jones), your first sergeant, and you. Whenever you see "First Sergeant," we're talking about your first sergeant. When you see "first sergeant," we're talking about a position instead of a proper noun- there are many "first sergeants," but only one "First Sergeant." Just like there are many "moms" in the world, but only one "Mom." Sorry about the confusion.
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“Let’s do it now, first sergeant,” you say, turning towards Jones. “But first, can you give us a little background on this guy?”
“Yeah, kind of typical troublemaking Joe, young, first enlistment, kind of a shithouse lawyer if you know what I mean," Jones says. "Gets in trouble a lot, mild insubordination, shows up late for work on occasion, generally it’s not something that we can really slam him for. At least not until I met you two. He was the company armorer for a while, but he wasn’t up to the job.” Jones pauses, “His platoon sergeant is really fed up with this guy. Let me get him on the phone.” Jones calls Schum’s platoon sergeant, SFC Back, and tells him to come down to the office. “I have some people here you’re going to want to meet,” he says.
Jones continues, “He’s been hanging out with this girl Brenda- I guess Mrs. Bradley; she’s kind of skanky but a real looker.”
“Ex-stripper,” says First Sergeant.
“Figures,” says Jones. “I wondered what a girl that good looking was doing with a guy like Schum. Guy’s got no money, no personality, he didn’t even have a car before he met Brenda. I kidded him once that she must be messed up in the head to be hanging out with him. Guess I was right,” Jones said, referring to Mrs. Bradley’s brain tumor. "He said they met because they were neighbors in the same apartment complex. Now he’s driving around in some sporty little white Corolla that he says Brenda gave him.”
“Yeah, that’s SGT Bradley’s car,” says First Sergeant, “at least it was before Bradley got killed in Iraq.”
“This is a messed up situation,” sighs Jones. “Brenda has been coming to all of our family support group meetings for about the last five months, she and Schum were talking about getting married because Brenda’s pregnant,” he adds.
“He knocked her up?” First Sergeant asked shaking his head. “Wow, you can’t make stuff like this up.”
There’s a knock on the door and two new people walk into the room. From their uniforms, you discern that they are SFC Back and SSG Red, who Cho introduces to you as Schum’s platoon sergeant and squad leader, respectively. Jones quickly brings them both up to speed on what has happened with regards to Schum.
“Yeah, dumbass kid was thinking with his little head instead of his big head, thinks he was in love or something,” Back says after the introductions, “She taught him a lesson though; she DX’d that shitbrick the moment her insurance check came in. Got herself a new car, some new tits, and a new boyfriend.”
“So they’re not together anymore,” you ask, “ I thought she was pregnant with his kid?”
“Yeah, Schum used to brag about how he was hittin’ it, he mentioned she was pregnant and that they were going to get married. This was like, three months ago. I saw her in the PX a couple of days ago though, and from what she was wearing, if she was knocked up I don’t think she is anymore,” Back replies. “She also said that she wanted her car back.”
“Well, why don’t you get him in here and after we’re done chatting with him, I’m sure we can find a way to get Mrs. Bradley her car back,” you say.
“That sounds like a good idea,” says CPT Cho. "Sergeant Back, bring him in."
Next post: the confrontation.
