Chapter 4

Katie sat up until midnight but Brian never appeared.  She didn't know why and had no way of contacting him.  She finally told her dad about what Brian told her.  Her father told her not to get all worried, that it was probably just some prank or something but Katie just didn't believe that.

Katie decided that she would ask Billy's parents if she could go to the base and pick up Billy's personal belongings, in hopes of seeing Brian.  They agreed to let her go since they both had so much to do.  Katie wondered if Brian had told them about Billy but didn't ask just in case he hadn't.

It was a long drive to the base and all Katie could think about was her conversation with Brian.  She kept hearing his words over and over, "Billy's death wasn't an accident."  She had this strange feeling that Brian was right.  Many thoughts ran through her mind about what might have happened, none she really wanted to think about.

When she finally arrived at the base, Katie went straight to the office where Billy's belongings were to be collected.  She kept her eyes open for Brian but saw no sign of him.  She asked the Sergeant at the desk when she signed for Billy's belongings if he knew a Lt. Brian Walker and where she could find him.  He told her he didn't but to go to the personnel office, they would know.

Katie went to the personnel office and asked about Brian.  The secretary said she wasn't allowed to give out that kind of information without proper authority.  Katie told her about Billy's death and that he and Brian were best friends and she just wanted to see him and maybe find out if Billy told him anything before he died. 

The secretary told Katie that she was risking her job, but she would help her.  She typed his name in the computer.  " Well, ma'am, it says here that Lt. Walker was relived of his duties this morning." 

"What?  Well, did he leave an address or phone number?"

 "Yes, he did.  I'll write it down for you." 

Katie thanked her and left to return home.

 On her way home she decided to go to the address Brian had left.  She had been in the neighborhood before and knew approximately where his house was.  After driving around, she found the house.  As she pulled into the driveway, she noticed that there was no sign of anyone living there.  She knocked several times but got no answer.  She peeked into a window but there was nothing to see.  The house was totally empty.  Whoever lived there had moved. 

As Katie left, she realized there was no way to contact Brian.  She had no idea where to even begin to get information.  Now she would never find out what really happened to Billy.

When she finally got back home, she decided to go through Billy's belongings and see if there was anything she might want to ask Billy's parents if she could keep.  She mostly found pictures of her and Billy and also several pictures of Billy and his Army buddies.  On the bottom of the pile was a picture of Billy and someone whose face had been cut out.  She looked on the back for a name but there wasn't one.  She really thought nothing of it and continued sorting. 

There was a metal box with several documents and papers in it.  Katie looked through them.  It was mostly old letters Katie had written Billy and some Army documents.  One document, which was titled, "Army Disciplinary Report" caught her eye.  As she read it she realized that it wasn't a report on Billy but rather a report by Billy about Brian.

From what she gathered in reading it, Billy had apparently caught Brian in "acts unbecoming of an officer."  Billy gave details on how Brian had acted concerning actions toward a female under his command.  Katie thought it strange that Billy never turned in the report after such detail and work.  He didn't even sign or date it.  She knew Billy had written it by the handwriting.  Apparently, she thought Billy didn't think it was harsh enough to turn Brian in and had probably had a talk with him.

After going through all the personal belongings, Katie took them to Billy's parents.  They let her keep what she wanted.  She asked them if Billy ever said much about Brian. 

They told her that he and Brian were best friends and Billy brought him home a few times. 
"He seemed like a nice young man," Billy's mother said.