Advising General Man

29 December, Military Hospital, Military Base, City K

Having had enough at the moment, and worried about what he might say there and then, Matthew exited Lexi's room quickly shutting the door behind him. Turning to the soliders outside the room, he gave them a couple of brief orders before walking the few doors down to General Man's room.

On entering, Matthew was surprised that John Nang was there as well. He carefully shut the door behind him and saw that General Man activated the jamming device he had given him. Thank goodness his concerns about the leaks were being taken seriously.

"Matthew, or should I say General Rong," John said.

Looking to General Man, Matthew said "You told him? The one person who," Matthew looked directly at John, who realised he was about to try and stir him "I know is the worst in keepign secrets..."

"You are still using what I did when we were six against me."

"Well when you cannot keep a secret."

John laughed, and said "As to keeping a secret, I did not let on you were here, and I have been able to keep my true role in the police secret, so there. But seriously Matthew, we need to finish talking."

"True, but my promotion knowledge is meant to be on a need to know basis."

"Matthew he needed to know about it."

"Well you better keep that secret, or I will tell your parents and everyone else exactly what you do."

"Spoilsport."

General Man was sitting there shaking his head and said "You sound like two spoilt children who had their toys taken from them." Matthew and John turned and looked at him. "Sit down please."

"Now, Matthew what can you tell me?"

Matthew, after sitting down told General Man and John exactly what he recalled from the time he was held by the Devil.

After hearing the story, John turned and said "And you are certain that he has an inside source?"

"John, it makes sense. While he did not know about my promotion, and the true nature of everything I have done during my time in the military, he knew what is the material that people within the military could access, and he asked questions around that. My appointment here is not due to go into that information until Monday when I officially take command. So it has to be someone here on the base, or significantly connected to it. That will be something to investigate."

"Can the police help?"

"Technically no, you know as well as I the requirements with this, but I can use you as a sounding board as you have the relevant clearance, if that is alright with you General."

"Matthew, he knows your true rank, so stop that given we have the jamming equipment on."

"Is that OK with you Edward?"

"Absolutely. Spending too much time with me on this will be suspicious to whoever is the mole, but John despite being the police liaison officer is a friend of yours, and spending time with you will not raise those suspicions."

Pausing, John said "Now did I hear Lexi's voice?"

"You did, John and let us just say she is not happy with me."

Edward Man said, "The Devil forced a marriage ceremony performed by an Imam?"

"He did, but I manipulated the situation for that to happen first, and with the recent changes in the law…"

John interrupted "I recall it preserved the positions for Generals about military marriages through registration, consent and ceremony…" After a pause John turned and said "You and Lexi. When? Does anyone know?"

"Lexi does. I just told her, and she is annoyed with me. Plus, I have put significant restrictions on her as the wife of a General…"

Edward said, "You are worried that she will be a target?"

"Absolutely, not just because of her family, but as soon as it is known she is my wife terrorists will target her. Our backgrounds mean that we will not be able to hide that fact for too long."

John laughed and said "The spoilt Miss Lexi is not happy. Stop avoiding things, and answer my questions, or I will cause trouble."

"You know that with respect to military marriages, there was three ways, the third of which is reserved only for senior officers with the recent law changes."

"If I remember, that is a lodgement of an intent to marry by the military member, confirmation of the intent to a military chaplain and the marriage ceremony."

Edward said "In a nutshell, yes. There are a couple of other technicalities, but I know from Matthew's file all those technicalities have been met."

"But Lexi was married, so when … The summer before her marriage. But she was underage."

"Not for the purposes of a military marriage. All the steps before the actual ceremony can occur while the non-military member of the couple is seventeen provided there is not more than five years between their ages. If the requirements other than the ceremony have been fulfilled, and the military member has not invalidated it with the military, a civilian marriage is invalid."

"And you never did it?"

"Well I knew nothing until after Lexi had been widowed, so how could I. As I told her I do not intend to invalidate that marriage for Dominic's sake, but the marriage between her and I is valid."

"Now you have to tell everyone. That will be worth watching."

"Chester and Phillip, and I suspect Andrew will soon arrive. Do you want to come and play peacemaker?"

"Absolutely I want to see who wants to kill you first."

After talking about matters for a few more minutes John and Matthew headed back to the ward where Lexi was.

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