Disclaimers: Another small offering no infringement intended. Just playing with my favorite characters. This seems to take place very shortly before Mac would have moved the ring over to her left hand. O I will take any opportunity to get rid of Mic. I don't buy the line about not getting these two together but they don't belong to me and I'm ever grateful for the existence of the show for the pleasure it brings and all the wonderful authors who have other ideas of how things can be.
Author’s notes and warnings: The background story is a rather nasty murder, just an excuse really for the conversations that take place during the investigation. A few bad words and a mild shipper moment or two but it should pass most restrictions. For now call it PG-13. I tried extending the ending and making it more graphic however I am not yet satisfied with my efforts.
Conversations Part 1
17:30
JAG office Quantico
I couldn't believe how stubborn she was being. I don't think I have ever seen her be so hostile and unreasonable. For some reason, the hostility was directed at me. I'm not sure what I’ve done now to earn her particular wrath. I didn't insist she come, it was the Admiral's idea. He felt the profile of the suspect required two senior attorneys to investigate. She seemed to jump at the chance. I tried teasing her a little on the way down, but even then her answers were short and unfriendly. I tried just being businesslike and polite, but she somehow took offense at that as well. I think the Admiral made a mistake pairing us up this time.
Except for the fact that the officer involved is a highly decorated Marine on a promotion fast track, this is much the same as many other domestic murders we’ve handled. They’re never pretty, in fact, they are always downright ugly, but this one seemed to get to Mac in some way I never expected. She has become a staunch believer that Colonel Johnson didn't commit the murder and is protecting someone. Funny thing is, the only one he might be protecting is his fiancée, and she is swearing he did it.
The victim, Jennifer Malone, was blackmailing the Colonel, saying her unborn child was his, and trying to force him to marry her. He swears that it wasn't his, but refused to require tests. He thought that would cast aspersions on the 'lady's good name', and as he put it, that would just not be the gentlemanly thing to do. He preferred to try to talk to her and reason with her, see if he could get her to name the real father. As so often happens, the last visit had ended in tragedy. the victim had been stabbed several times in the chest and abdomen, obviously to make sure the baby didn't survive either.
It was brutal, and bore all the signs of a complete loss of control. The Colonel was a tall, rather laid back man, good looking by female standards. In perfect physical condition, he appeared even under these stressful circumstances, to calmly think through each and every action and sentence. Not at all the type to lose his temper, at least not easily. But who knows what a man will do when his future, a future he had worked so very hard for, was at stake. He simply claimed responsibility and made no further statement.
His girlfriend, on the other hand, says she heard the entire argument from the kitchen. She had gone to talk to the victim, however, she was sent to wait in the kitchen when someone came to the door. She couldn't hear the man's words, just the general tone of his voice, but she heard the victim yelling at him about trying to weasel out of his responsibilities so he could be with someone else. Then she heard the victim scream. She opened the door just far enough to see the victim fall to the floor before she ran out the back and around the house. She says she jumped into her car and as she drove away, she saw the Colonel’s car parked around the corner.
Mac doesn't believe his confession, but can't put her finger on why, ‘just a feeling' she says. I have never seen her give an abusive man even half a break, much less defend him. We’ve combed through the evidence at least three times, since we finished our interviews at 16:00, and she still hasn't a reason for her arguments, but she isn't backing down.
"C'mon Mac, we can wrap this up and go home tomorrow. What’s the problem?” I finally try pleading, since reason hasn't worked.
"So that's it, we just take a man’s life and tie it up in a neat little package, so you can rush back to DC, back to your ‘blonde bimbo of the moment’." she accuses acidly. I'm a little taken aback, but God she's beautiful when she's angry. Her words give me the momentary fantasy that she is somehow jealous.
"Excuse me, but it seems, you are dragging this thing out so you don’t have to go back. Is Brumby getting to you, are you making excuses just so you don't have to go back? Or is it the Colonel? You seem to be unusually supportive of someone who just confessed to killing his girlfriend.” Not very polite, but she did start it.
"How dare you! Are you questioning my integrity now as well? She was a former girlfriend anyway, and leave Brumby out of this." she fires back.
"Then you leave my girlfriend out of it, why are you taking this so personally Mac?"
"Who says I'm taking it personally? Just because I think someone who is too pigheaded for his own good, over protective to a fault, and has some misplaced sense of honor isn't guilty doesn't make it personal. If that makes a person guilty you would have been executed long ago.” OK, now the covers are off the guns. Time to attack from the flank.
"So, this is about me, then?” I try my smile knowing it usually gets to her for just a few seconds at least.
"No! I mean I....I didn't say that. I'm sorry; I didn't mean it the way it sounded. This isn't about us.” Us? Hmmm. She sounds contrite and off guard, but this is my Marine. She might just be setting a very slick verbal trap. Can't help myself though, when she looks like that a completely different set of emotions start messing with my higher brain functions.
"Are you sure it isn't about us, Mac?” I figure I will press this advantage and see where it goes.
"beep" Damn! A curse on whoever invented cell phones.
"Colonel Mackenzie"
+++++++
"Look I can't talk now."
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"Maybe, later."
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"Yes he's here.” Aha! Must be Brumby.
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"No, we're still at work. We are trying to solve a murder here." Good, that tone indicates impatience with Brumby. I like that.
+++++++
"Look I have a job to do, and personal calls just aren't a priority right now.” Hot dog, now she has him by the throat.
+++++++
"Well I don't happen to think he did it, and I'm not coming back until I figure it out.” I start marking imaginary points in the air.
+++++++
"No, Mic it has nothing to do with the Commander being here,” she glances at me. I can't resist, my smile registers the boost that just gave my ego. She rolls her eyes.
+++++++
"I just can't talk right now."
+++++++
"Good bye, Mic.” Wow, I believe she just hung up on him. I had to turn my back for a moment to cover my elation.
"You didn't answer my question, Mac.” I say as I turn back.
"We are not having this conversation Commander, I'm going now. I need a shower, some fresh clothes, and food. Then I'm going to go over these files with a fine tooth comb until I find out what, about this whole thing, is bothering me.” Since we drove down together, I have to ride back to our hotel with her. With all the deployments going on, base facilities are unavailable.
"Can I help?” I ask when we reach the hotel. The offer is genuine, and I don't even see the double meaning until she asks.
"With what Commander?"
"Any of it, all of it.” Hey, it was fair, she brought it up.
"I don't think so. I'll see you in the morning.” She gets out of the car and walks away. I'm really torn between helping her with the files, staying the hell out of the line of fire, and just watching her walk. I opt for the latter.
1 Hr Later
"Mac it's me, open up.” I took a quick shower, then quickly acquired her favorite food and soft drink.
"Look, I'm sorry I made you angry. Will you just open up.” I know she’s in there, I can feel her.
"Mac, I brought pizza." maybe bribery will work.
"Look Mac, someone is going wonder about this if I stand out here much longer.” Maybe whining will work.
"You could just go away.” She opens the door just far enough for me to see she’s wearing shorts and a tank top, and, I believe, nothing else. My body reacts instantly and I swallow hard trying to regain control.
"Then I'd have to eat the meat half of the pizza myself. Have you eaten?” I try coaxing.
She shakes her head.
"Then let me in. We'll have dinner, and I'll help you with your research.” I can see she is giving in, probably the smell of the pizza; she doesn't like to skip meals.
"Your mind is closed, you wouldn't be that much help.” Her words are still saying no, but I see just the ghost of a smile, as she steps back so I can enter.
"My mind isn't closed. I just forgot for a minute, to trust your instincts.” Compliments are good, especially when they are genuine.
"Like that's never happened."
"I know, but you know I trust you. Look, maybe we should eat before this goes any further and you kick me out. Then you would have to eat the veggie side too.” I flash my flyboy grin and she almost giggles except Marines don't giggle. I really have to wonder how I have resisted this woman for so long. An even better question is why.
20 minutes later
"What's the matter Commander? Having second thoughts about helping me?”
We made small talk as we ate, but she can see I’ve become distracted. If I told her why, I would wind up on my face on the floor, so I'm going to have to be very careful.
"Never, I'll help with anything you need, all you have to do is let me."
"Then what's wrong, you don't still think this is personal with me and the Colonel do you?" her voice goes up just the tiniest notch.
"No, not the Colonel. You never answered my question at the office Mac. Are you sure this isn't about us.” OK, I didn't mean to be that direct, but it's out there now.
"Why all this flirting Commander, it isn't like you?” Curve ball, new direction. Damn I forgot for a moment she's a marine.
"I'm not flirting Mac.” I look straight into her eyes.
"Could have fooled me. Remarks about Brumby and the Colonel, wanting to help me with my shower, questions about us. We don't have an ‘us’ Harm. What's that all about?” There's a trace of annoyance but her curiosity or maybe something else is taking over.
"Mac the term flirting construes insincerity. I think this is more like a weather report.” I have to keep her talking to me.
"A what? I don't understand the reference, Harm.” Now I have her attention. She stands up and dumps the stuff from dinner in the garbage. Oops, balls in her court. She has a distinct advantage in that outfit; I'm having a very hard, no make that difficult, time keeping my blood supply equalized.
"You don't request a weather report just because you’re bored, or lonesome or just doing mental exercises. You only request one when you are serious about flying, when you need to know if the weather is going to knock you out of the sky.” Oblique, by she's smart.
"What if the skies are clear for takeoff, but there are other storms in the distance.” She has it now, and she's running with it.
"If I have a good sound aircraft and a RIO who trusts me, wants to be there, I can make it.” I respond with solid confidence.
"It would have to be a very strong aircraft, and you would both have to be strapped in tight because those storms could be a hurricane, even a blizzard. A pilot would have to be really sure of himself to attempt it.” She's challenging me, my resolve.
"I'm sure of myself and I believe in the aircraft, I just need to know about the RIO. I need to know if she trusts me to get us through this, if she will stick with me. I can't have her bailing in mid flight.” I don't believe we are saying these things, but I'm not stopping now.
"How would you know if you could trust her that much?” Another challenge.
"I don't know. I guess that's the hard part, I would have to listen to what she tells me very carefully. I won't take off into this storm alone. If she isn't sure, I guess I will just have to cancel the flight.” That should give her what she's looking for.
"Would you ever reschedule it?” She looks away.
"I wouldn't rule it out. I'm just not sure how much longer the RIO will be available. I'm not even sure if she is available now. I guess that's why I was sending up weather balloons, trying to get her attention so I can find out."
"Maybe another RIO would do?” She's not going to make this easy, but maybe I really owe her all of it.
"No, there’s only one for this flight.” I speak very softly, and lean forward to look straight into her eyes. I'm not sure just yet what I am seeing there.
"So, are you saying you would never fly again?” Her eyes are locked on mine now.
"There are different kinds of flying Mac. Just because you are in an airplane and in the air, they aren't all the same. The kind of flight I'm thinking about just wouldn't happen with anyone else.” God how I ache to reach for her, pull her close and just hold her, but I can't, I know at this moment it would spook her, and I'd lose her forever.
"You're very sure of that?” Her uncertainty is deeper than I thought.
"I'm positive."
"What would you require of this RIO, this special one, to reassure you, Harm?” A punch in the gut would have been kinder, but I see what she is afraid of.
"Just her word, and a certain look in her eye."
"That's all, you would take her on faith?"
"I always have, the look is already there, in her eyes."
"How do you know?"
"Because I can see it now.” I can't stand it, I have to reach out and just touch her cheek.
"What are we talking about here, Harm? Are we dancing around something?” She leans against my hand for a split second.
"No. You want me to spell it out?"
She nods.
"I want you Sarah. I don't want to lose you to someone else. I love you. But we have quite a fight ahead of us to make it work, both personal and professional. I need to know if you feel the same way, and if it's strong enough for the fight. Is that plain enough? I'm not trying to seduce you or pressure you. I'm dead serious. You don't have to do anything to prove to me what you feel. Just tell me."
"OK, plain enough.” She takes a deep breath. "I don't know what to say.” She is trembling ever so slightly.
"Just say Yes or No. It's simple, it's been complicated in the past and it will be complicated later, but this moment it is very simple. It's taken a lot for me to get to this point; I'm not leaving without an answer. It's up to you, Sarah."
"Yes." she looks away, then back, "Harm, there isn't anyone else I would ever really want to fly with, it's only ever been you. I have always loved you; I just didn't think you felt the same way. I tried to tell you....to ask you...."
"I know. I didn’t understand. I needed to do a lot of thinking and things happened so fast. You didn’t really give me any time. I only really meant to start something today, not finish it, but here we are and I'm not sorry. I guess sometimes just starting is the hard part.”
I can't believe how good I feel after years of being afraid of this woman and this moment. Because she meant so much I didn't want to risk what I had with her to have more. She nods and lets her eyes slide away. I think we are on the same page now so I decided to relieve the tension.
"Do you want to get back to work on the investigation now? The offer to help was genuine.” I offer gallantly with a huge smile, trying to make her comfortable with what just happened, and what didn't."
"The whole offer?” She's completely relaxed now. I think I just found the Marine I had lost for a while. This isn't the woman who drove down here with me yesterday; or the one I have been fighting with all day. This is the one that has been my partner for six years.
"Well I did get you food, and you already took care of the best parts." I'm going to keep it light. Follow her lead.
"That doesn't mean I’ll never need another shower, besides I think I just figured this case out. I can clear it up with some interviews in the morning. I think I even know what documentation will support my theory, once I get my answers. Then it's just going to be a case of widening our net until we find the real killer. Right now, I would much rather explore the rest of your offer." My heart beats faster, but I have to take this very easy.
"Are you sure? You seemed to think....." I stand and pull her gently into my arms. Just to hold her.
"That wasn't fair, Harm, I guess I was testing you. Not very nice of me, but you mean too much to me, to find out this was all just like the others. I couldn't take it. You told me what I needed to know. Don't you think I've been waiting long enough, that we've been waiting long enough? Are you angry with me?"
“No, never, I need you to trust me. To trust that I need you, the woman who is inside, not just a beautiful ornament to make me feel good about myself. Not just someone to pass time with either. This has taken so long just because you are so important, it has to be forever, Sarah.” Her eyes are so very soft now. Too soft. For this to go any further between us the fire has to come back. This can't just be me; it has to be both of us.
“I'm going back to my room now. This is very difficult, because I so very much want to stay.” She nods her head.
“Would you stay if I asked you to?” I stroke the side of her face with my finger, and lean down to kiss her as gently and softly as I know how. I hold her close for a moment longer, kissing the top of her head.
“No”, I pull back and look into her eyes. “But soon, when you’re ready" she really needs time to think about this and, maybe, so do I.
“How will you know, Harm?"
“The same way I know everything else about you, I'll find it in your eyes."
I kiss her on the forehead and once more on the lips. I think I could lose myself for hours with her lips alone. I want to part her lips with my tongue, but I know better than to even start. After all, I am just a man. There are limits to what I can do. I can't go any further and walk away, and tonight I have to walk away.
“Good night, Sarah.” I let my fingers brush down her arms and finally come to rest in her hands. I am really having a hard time relinquishing the touch. As I step away, I hold her hand as long as I can reach it before letting it fall to her side. I won't sleep much tonight.
Part 2 soon
My thanks to a very close friend for help with the male perspective on things
Conversations
Part 2
07:00
Outside Mac's room
"Mac" I call out, "are you decent, it's me. Open up."
She opens the door and puts a finger to her lips; she's on her cell again.
"Mic, I told you last night I wouldn’t be back until I solve this case. If it takes six days or six months, I'm staying until I find out what I need to know. An officer’s life and career are at stake here. I want the person who did this, but I want the right one. Yes, the Commander will stay too. That's the assignment."
++++++
"You seem to forget, you were in service. You go where your CO tells you, and you do the job you are given. Why is that so hard to understand?"
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"Well, if that's the way you feel, maybe that would be a good idea."
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"No, Mic, I don't think you should wait. I really don't think there is anything more to discuss. No, I really do mean that. I'll send your ring to your mothers address, I'm sure she will know how to find you."
++++++++
"No, I don't want to keep it.”
++++++++
"Goodbye Mic."
She is standing there with a very strange look on her face. Part of it is sad, but more, it's a look of utter relief. I try to convince myself I am imagining it, because it's what I want to see, but I don't think so.
She looks up, almost as though she didn't remember I was there.
"He's going back. Back to the RAN. He said he called his former CO yesterday. He says if I am so dedicated to my career, maybe he should never have left his. He wanted me to talk him out of going, but I don't want to. I think it may have been a bluff, and I called it."
"Hey, remind me never to play poker with you" I try for something light.
"I thought you said my eyes tell you everything. Unless we played in the dark you would know everything I am doing." Hmm the twinkle is definitely back. And so is the banter. This is going to be a very good day. I can't resist the opening she has given me.
"I think if we played in the dark I would still know everything you are doing."
This is the first time in months I’ve heard her sultry laugh. There is a flicker in her eyes as well, threatening to burst into fire.
09:30
Base JAG office.
Major Henderson is in charge of the base JAG unit. It consists only of him a Lieutenant Sanders and a couple of non-coms. However he is proud of his position, and of his staff’s abilities. It’s obvious he resents the veiled suggestion that they could not have handled this investigation. But after seeing what Mac has pulled out of the hat, I totally agree with the Admiral for sending us here. Without her, the Colonel would have been convicted.
This morning she has already re-interviewed the Colonel, taken his statement apart piece by piece. She finally got him to admit he saw his fiancée running from the house, and discovered that he didn't even see what door she came from. Now his statement is consistent with hers. He is beginning to see he jumped to a very dangerous conclusion.
Then she tracked down Major Sandy Parker and took her statement apart as well. The Major realized she not only didn't recognize the Colonel's voice, but the conversation could have been with anyone. She really heard very little. All this by just re-questioning and referring to the original statement for comparison, she skillfully got the answers she needed, and two people regained their faith in one another. Miscommunication is hell; I see why she suddenly sorted this out by listening to us last night.
The lab reports showed there was blood on the Colonel's uniform, but not in a pattern consistent with having stabbed someone. Also there were fibers from at least two other uniforms present. And although military issue to Special Forces, the weapon did not belong to the Colonel. His was still back in his quarters packed in his gear bag. The Colonel was not out of the woods yet, however he did retract his confession. About the time we were leaving the detention center the cable news teams started arriving, and I think they got a shot of us. Those people come out of the woodwork for anything sensational. How did they even find out about this case?
Mac requested the Major have his team round up any regulars of the ‘Off Base’, a bar the victim was known to frequent, and also anyone who could be connected with ever having even bought her a beer. Next, she needed all members of the Special Forces unit on base. They could start sorting alibis to see which held water and make sure they all had their knife. The knife wasn't proof that it was a Special Forces soldier that killed her, but it was a place to start.
We are sitting in the temporary office assigned to us, working up a list of questions so all the interviews will cover the same ground. There will be four of us interviewing, and we need to all be on the same page. A tentative knock at the door interrupts.
"Ma'am? Sir? I have a little suggestion, I'm not sure if you already thought of it, but it might help make this easier."
"What is it, Lt Sanders?" Mac gives her and encouraging smile.
"Well, you see, the base is in a constant state of movement, personnel that is. I was thinking we should eliminate anyone right away who wasn't here six months ago. I mean, after all, if they weren't here they couldn't have been the father right?"
For a moment Mac and I are both stunned by the fact that somehow neither of us thought of this. Then Mac flashes her best smile.
"That is a wonderful suggestion Lieutenant. I have no excuse for not thinking of it myself, but I'm glad you did. Carry on."
"Aye, aye, ma'am" she is visibly relieved. I think she actually expected to be dressed down for thinking of something a superior officer had overlooked. Well she just doesn't know my Marine.
Twenty minutes later she is back with a revised list. “That helped a lot Lieutenant.” She glowed with Mac’s praise. “It seems you’ve pared it down to only thirty-two people who were here six months ago and also here now. Our suspect may not be in that group but at least we can hope to get through the interviews before Christmas." Mac gave her an approving nod, and instructed her to request the Major have these people brought in by base security.
It was amazing how many people suddenly had stories to tell, especially about someone else. The picture soon became clear of a woman who had spent quite some time doing everything she could to get someone to marry her. She was looking for the security of a steady allotment, figuring whoever she married would either be gone a lot, or maybe get killed in action leaving her with a nice little insurance check.
Military wives are a special group as they have a completely different lifestyle from most women; they give wonderful support to our servicemen under sometimes very difficult circumstances.
This woman was something else entirely, just a predator really. She had seen friends of hers play the system. It was sad but these things did happen. If she had stuck with enlisted it might have worked but she set her sights higher and was hunting for an officer.
By lunchtime we had eliminated all but three men. Two were on duty until 14:00 and the third was proving difficult to track down. We ordered Chinese takeout and started going over the information to see what other leads might pop out at us, when….
"beep" My cell this time.
"Rabb"
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"Oh, hi Renee," Mac started to get up, I waved her back to her seat.
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"No I don't think I will be able to make it."
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"I'm not sure if I will still be here or not."
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"No I can't come back to D.C. for the weekend. We have an investigation going on here."
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"Renee, even if I get back in time I won't be going to the dinner."
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"Well I don't think this is the best time to discuss it."
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"Yes, Mac is here."
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"You saw what?"
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"Renee you are overreacting. I'm sure that's not what you saw."
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"No, Renee I'm not denying it, I just don't think you could get that from a news shot."
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"Yes I know you are an expert at these things, but….."
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"Like I said I'm not denying it. I think that would be a good idea."
Suddenly the line went dead. "She hung up on me." I shrug.
"Do you want to share any of that. Especially the part about the news?" she tilts her head.
"She said she saw us on cable news coming from the detention center this morning. She said our body language, and the way we looked at each, other made it very clear that we were…..well, I mean we’re not, not yet anyway,” I amended quickly, “but that's what she read into what she saw. She mentioned that she was an expert at getting people to telegraph their feelings on film, and what she saw was clear to her. I just decided to let her believe what she wanted to believe. However it would be good to get a look at that news spot just to see if the Admiral could have seen the same thing" I suggest cautiously.
"beep"
"Rabb"
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"Oh, hello, Sir” the Admiral I say silently.
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"Yes sir it’s going just fine. I'll put the Colonel on and she can fill you in."
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"No, sir."
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"Nothing, sir."
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"Yes, sir I heard about it from Renee."
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"I'll let the Colonel fill you in on the investigation, sir."
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"You have my word sir" Okay, now I'm sweating bullets. I hand her the phone and make a motion I'm going for coffee. She nods she wants some too. Time for a hasty retreat. Apparently Renee wasn't the only one reading things into that morning news report. Jeez! All we did was walk through a door and get into the car.
When I return with our coffee her head is once again bent to the task of reading interviews. Everyone in the office has copies of all interviews and we have a meeting scheduled for 13:00 to discuss them round table style. A small smile is playing about her lips as she glances up.
“The Admiral says whatever is going on we’re to behave ourselves until this investigation is complete." She looks like a cat that has been in the cream.
"Yeah, that's what he said to me too. Looks like we might run into our first storm sooner than we expected. You still OK with this?"
Her smile and the look in her eyes leave no doubt, but she replies anyway. “More than OK."
15:00
Our conference basically revealed we all have the same idea. We would interview the two people coming in at 14:00, however, we all have our money on the missing Major.
He has a history of violence and isn't exactly slated for a stellar career, but he’s good at training the troops for combat situations, so some things in his past had been overlooked. Mostly some bar fights and being a little rough on trainees. It had never involved women before, at least none who had complained, maybe they were too afraid. He wasn't really known for having stable relationships. Occasionally he picked up someone in a bar who was willing to go with him, but he was basically a loner.
Several witnesses had already put him with the victim regularly about six months ago then it had just ended. Every one of them expressed surprise that he had spent as much time as he did with her, it wasn't his style.
The Colonel ordered a base wide manhunt at 15:30. With the huge areas used for training it would take days to cover everything.
18:50
Base hospital
We just got word that the Major had been hiding in the motor pool. He saw an opening, when the guys were distracted paying for their delivered pizza. He stole a jeep and headed for the back gate. One of the men spotted him drive away and alerted security, when he refused to stop at the gate they shot him. He is in surgery now and it will be hours before we can interview him.
"C'mon Mac, lets at least go get something to eat. We will think better on a full stomach."
"Maybe we shouldn't go together after all the news crews are everywhere," she suggests nervously.
"Look we can't let them interfere with our job, and that's what we’re doing here. If someone wants to read something into the way that I look at you, that's their problem. They can't catch us doing anything improper because were not, so lets don't let them get to us, OK?" And then I blow it by automatically reaching for her hand. I catch myself just in time and she gives me her 'I told you so' smile.
Defensively we decide on the hospital cafeteria. Not the best food but it relieves us of the added stress of running into the press. I force myself to maintain a respectful distance.
This afternoon Mac received another phone call from Brumby. He saw the news broadcast too, and for some reason decided he had to call her and make accusations, just generally giving her a tough time. She finally told him to go back to Australia and hung up on him. I guess we are going to be put to the test sooner than we thought.
We are just finishing our coffee when we hear the page to come to ICU. The doctor’s waiting.
"This man is in pretty bad shape, Colonel, Commander. He’s tough and he will survive with rest and treatment, but I understand that you have some pretty important questions. He is conscious but he may fade on you. You have fifteen minutes, not a minute more." He turned and walked away, his shoulders showing his exhaustion.
"Lets go" I motion towards the door.
"Harm, let me do it. Now listen to me before you get upset. This man seems to have issues with women. I’d be willing to bet he has even bigger issues with women in positions of authority, women who try to control him. Perhaps like Ms. Malone. Maybe I can use that." Sounds convincing. I don't really want her near that animal, but if I say anything it will take her six months to get over being mad at me.
"OK, lets see how it goes, but I'm coming in the room with you” she frowns, knowing I won't budge on this one.
"Harm he's helpless, he can't hurt me."
"As far as I'm concerned he won't be helpless until he's dead. Now do we have a deal?"
"Deal,” she agrees with a reluctant sigh.
We enter the room, it's just dark enough I can stay out of the Major's direct line of sight. Mac moves to the other side of the bed.
"Good evening Major. Seems you have yourself in a little trouble here." She's using that voice. The one that is just too sweet. This guy isn't going to know what hit him.
"I don't have to talk to you."
"Actually, no you don't. I have all I need. I thought you just might tell me why?"
"You don't have nothin', you can't prove I knifed that bitch."
"Oh, I understood she was a friend of yours."
"Yeah, who told you that? I'll kill the lyin' son of a bitch."
"So she wasn't a friend?"
"Females ain't for bein' friends with, they’re only good for one thing."
"And that's what your relationship with Ms. Malone was?"
"She was a barfly, anyone could have her. Nothing in that"
"But she got pregnant with your baby and wanted you to do something about it. Wanted you to take responsibility for what you had done. Wanted you to take care of her and your baby," She pushed harder.
"There's no way, I'd marry something like that. Who the hell did she think she was? She was with a dozen men. It could have been any one of them." He was getting really agitated now.
"But she insisted it was you and was going to do something about it. Let everyone know it was yours and you were abandoning her” I couldn't believe a man in his condition could move so fast, he was out of bed and reaching for Mac in a split second. She jumped back just as I dived over the bed and grabbed him from behind.
"The bitch was going to tell my CO. One more thing and I would have been out on the street. No tramp was goin’ to do that to me, she deserved what I did." He screamed at her. Then he froze as a slow smile spread over Mac's face and he realized just what he had done.
"Now that we have that out of the way,’” she said just as sweetly, "would you like to tell me what you did with the bloody clothes? We really don't need them, in fact we can most likely find them on our own, but it would save some time."
He wasn't fighting me any more, but I wasn't about to turn loose of him. "In the used oil drum in the motor pool." That was the last he said. A moment later several members of the hospital staff rushed in. After they checked him over and put him back in bed I suggested he be secured. Mac called and ordered additional guards and officially arrested him.
22:30
Mac's hotel room
We finally finished all the statements, filled out the official papers and formally charged the Major. We also arranged for Colonel Henderson to be released. It's been a very long day, but the sense of accomplishment makes it difficult to feel tired. Mac brewed some coffee and we are just sitting here trying to unwind.
"Well, back to D.C. tomorrow" I sigh. "This has been a tough one, but you did good. I was wrong Mac, remind me never to doubt your instincts again." I smile ruefully, because I know she won't let me forget this as long as we live.
"Don't worry, I won't" she grins impishly. Then more seriously, “You know we may just encounter some of those storms when we get back."
"I know. But at least tomorrow is Saturday, and we have two days to relax and regroup before we have to deal with the Admiral. Besides, he is going to be so pleased with the job we did here, maybe he will forget about the other" that last part is said with more hope than expectation.
Our eyes meet and hold for a brief moment. Then with a smile we both say it together "Not a chance" and laugh.
I finish my coffee and stand up to leave. She follows me to the door, as I bend to give her a light kiss I realize her eyes are telling me what I have waited to see. I see the fire and passion that hasn't been there for a long time. As my lips meet hers they part and I feel the feather light touch of her tongue. My arms go around her and she melts against me. Tonight I won't walk away.
The End