| Subject: Storm Clouds Part Four |
Author:
Karen
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Date Posted: 19:08:19 11/30/07 Fri
In reply to:
Karen
's message, "Storm Clouds" on 18:16:06 11/24/07 Sat
A/N: Okay here’s the meeting you’ve all been waiting for…only I don’t think it’s quite what you’re looking for. You’ll have to wait a while for that.
Storm Clouds
Part Four
Norfolk International Airport
Friday Late July
Final Approach of Flight 915
The plane banked slightly and flew over NAB Little Creek, as it lined up with the Norfolk runway. Colonel Sarah Mackenzie was in seat 5A. She reached to tuck the mindless airline magazine she’d been paging through into the seat pocket. Glancing out the window at the threatening clouds hanging about ten miles out to sea, the air went out of her when she heard his voice.
“Well folks, this is your Captain speaking,” he addressed the passengers jovially. “You’ll want to get all tucked into your nice cozy hotel room’s way ahead of this storm. The weather service has downgraded it to a severe thunderstorm when it makes landfall late this evening, but it’s still going to be wet and messy. Hope everyone picked a place to stay that has a good restaurant. You won’t want to be out in this stuff. Thanks for flying Trans-Platinum Air. We try to be the best little commuter service anywhere, and we hope you’ll choose us again for your next flight. Have a good stay in Norfolk.”
She couldn’t believe her ears. Harm, flying a commuter jet? He’d always poked fun at his former flying buddies who had gone to work flying a ‘bus for tourists’ as he’d put it. Was this the only thing he had to fall back on after that fiasco with the CIA? All the more reason never to forgive Webb and his bunch. She may still have to work with them, but she didn’t have to like them.
Remaining in her seat, she made certain all the other passengers had left before she stood. The flight attendant watched her carefully as she pulled her small carry-on from the overhead storage. Was he suspicious because she had delayed leaving the plane?
Walking forward, she addressed him directly. “I’d like to speak to Comm…uh…Captain Rabb, please.”
A faintly startled look flashed across the young man’s face. The Captain hadn’t used his name during the flight announcement.
“He’s an old friend of mine,” Mac softened her request a little. “I haven’t seen him in a long time. We…uh…we’d lost track of each other,” she explained uncomfortably.
Merrick Stevens looked her over. A full measure of cautious mistrust mingled with intense curiosity. “I’ll see if he’s available, miss, uh… That is…Colonel…?”
“Mackenzie, Colonel Sarah Mackenzie,” she supplied. Her voice penetrated the cockpit.
Harm heard her request and swore under his breath. That was all he needed. First Webb, now Mac. What was this? A conspiracy against him ever moving on to a peaceful life? As quickly as the unfair suspicion arose, he pulled himself in. Webb was a surprise, and an unpleasant one, but like it or not, he had to admit that flying this route the odds were that sooner or later he’d run into Mac or another of his former coworkers. It was just damned inconvenient that it happened under these circumstances.
If ever there was a time that he had to look completely uninvolved with anything military or official, it was now. He’d tried to erase her memory, tried hard not to think about her after he’d spoken to Webb, when the spy had so blatantly marked his territory. It was truly unfortunate timing, because he had to admit he actually would like to talk to Mac, to make amends for his behavior the last time they spoke. Instead, he would be forced by circumstances to make it worse. Not for the first or last time, he cursed Webb and his machinations
“Captain,” Merrick’s voice penetrated his thoughts. “There’s a young…uh… a Colonel Mackenzie asking to see you, sir…says she’s an old friend.”
“Fine,” Harm answered somewhat curtly. “I’ll be right there.”
He grabbed a stick of gum from his pocket, gave it two savage chews, and pulled himself from the confined left seat. Turning the few steps possible within the tight cabin, he took a deep breath, mentally changed his entire demeanor, and leaned into the doorway. Looking her up and down his heart skipped a beat. Damn, she looked good. He felt his nerve endings light up the minute his eyes touched hers. At least this part of the ruse would come easily. His body was responding in a completely inappropriate manner, it was exactly the mindset he needed for what he was going to do. Grinning in a too familiar way, he spoke insolently past the wad of gum in his jaw.
“Well, Colonel, to what do I owe the pleasure of a visit from JAG’s finest?”
Taken aback she didn’t have a ready answer. She might have expected indifference, embarrassment, or even anger, but not this formulaic flyboy impertinence. “Uh… I heard your voice, Harm. We didn’t know what had happened to you. Everyone has been concerned. Bud said someone else is living at your place.”
Embarrassment washed her cheeks, she sounded so disoriented, her thoughts were tumbling out of control. None of her ramblings were destined to break through the shell Harm was deliberately wearing, but they gave him plenty of ammunition.
“I leased it to a couple of college kids.” he shrugged, the impudent flyboy grin widening. “Not convenient for me. Somehow, Colonel, I didn’t feel your deep concern the last time we spoke, other than what I might do to make your job easier,” he commented, laughing effortlessly, as though the harsh words had no real meaning for him, as though he didn’t really care anymore. “And as you can see nothing has happened to me. I’m just fine. I have a great job, kinda fun actually.” At least that part was true. He’d never expected the rush he experienced from direct responsibility for so many lives. “I had to relocate. My base is here now.”
It was difficult to soften the blow of his words. He hoped the added information would get past the attitude he was giving her. He couldn’t have any of his co-workers, or any lingering passengers, suspect he had even the flimsiest ties to his previous life. It had to appear that whatever he’d left, and why, it had not been under happy circumstances. He definitely had to appear to be a disaffected former government employee and her sudden appearance gave him the perfect foil. It wouldn’t be difficult for anyone making the most cursory search to discover his former ties. He was using her to prove that those ties were broken. Tragically, he knew after this conversation any hope for making amends would be destroyed.
“I see.” She was left nearly speechless by his arrogance.
“By the way, Colonel, congratulations.” Something withered inside her when his fingertip brushed the new insignia on her collar in a way that was both too intimate and too disrespectful. “I see you got a promotion after I left.” He chewed his gum and grinned wider, allowing the thought to hang in the air, the implication that she was only promoted once again due to his absence. It was a low blow and it worked.
She flushed at his insinuation, anger burning her cheeks now. She was left with little to say. This shouldn’t have happened in front of others. His entire demeanor had been an unpleasant surprise. “Sorry I bothered you, Harm. I just thought we might have time for coffee or something, maybe we could catch up,” she stammered angrily. To think that a few moments ago she’d actually felt sorry for him.
The predatory flyboy grin reemerged and he drawled, “Well the ‘or something’ sounds interesting but…” he turned to look over his shoulder at his pretty co-pilot, “I think I’m going to be tied up this evening. Sorry,” he shrugged.
“Yes, of course.” her face veiled, and the ‘Marine Colonel’ returned to her demeanor. “Well, take care of yourself,” she told him in a tone that said she couldn’t care less.
“Always do. Bye, Colonel,” he used the rank somewhat pejoratively.
Fortunately, she turned away quickly before she caught the look behind his eyes. He couldn’t let her see any more of this charade; he wasn’t that good an actor. Her eyes had filled slightly. Not much, just enough that Harm noticed.
It broke his heart, but he had spotted the man in the walkway behind her while they spoke. Ostensibly looking through a stack of baggage checked at the gate, he was obviously absorbing their entire conversation. It was the man in Webb’s photograph, the liaison to D.C., Richard Patterson. Harm had to cut it clean. He didn’t need her mixed up in this mess, and he needed his cover intact. Damn Webb, just what was he up to? Was this a coincidence or one of his stupid monkey wrenches?
Harm shook his head in thought. Up until a few minutes ago he’d been convinced he never wanted to see her again. The instant he’d heard her voice he realized that wasn’t true. Though Webb had drawn a sharp knife across Harm’s feelings when he made it clear Mac was his, Harm would have loved to talk to her, to at least part friends. In any case, he hadn’t wanted to be mean to her, to hurt her again. They’d hurt each other too much, there was just no point any more.
Harm watched the man behind Mac as she turned into the walkway. He felt, more than saw, Merrick stiffen next to him, heard the slight intake of breath that signaled recognition as he got a clear look at Patterson. Harm arranged his features into a hard stare, as would any Captain suspicious of someone loitering about his plane. The man quickly picked up a bag and followed Mac down the jet-way into the terminal.
Shrugging off the encounter, Harm crossed over to the outside door, and descended the metal stairs to pre-flight his plane. This was a quick turn around. They would fly back to D.C. within forty minutes. He needed his senses alert to pilot the plane. There would be no time to dwell on the ramifications of that encounter. As soon as baggage was loaded, and the fuel replenished, the passengers would board and they’d take off again.
From the corner of his eye, he caught sight of Mac pausing near a window in the terminal. He couldn’t even acknowledge her for fear Patterson or someone assisting him would see the exchange. His mind kept telling him a clean break was better. But his heart was telling him something completely different. Now that the memory of her had been set free by the reality of this meeting, he knew every thought of her would eat away at his soul. It didn’t matter though; it was unlikely he could find a way to fix this. When he glanced back a few seconds later, she was gone.
He’d contact Webb when they landed in D.C., to let him know about Patterson, and about Merrick’s reaction. There was always the chance Webb would care enough to get Mac removed from the Norfolk area. Whatever her case was about, it was entirely likely someone else could take over.
He completed his visual inspection of the plane and recomposed his demeanor as he climbed the stairs. Merrick’s reaction meant something and he had to find a way to discover what that was. Completely miserable he retook his seat, prepared to berate Mari for the slightest mistake she might have made in shutdown procedures, but he found nothing to criticize. Without reason, this made him even angrier. He wasn’t sure if it was because there was no outlet for his emotions or because she’d become so damned perfect.
Fighting his dark mood, he began the preflight, awaiting the signal from the ground crew to restart the engines.
A few minutes later he took a deep cleansing breath and turned to her with his most charming smile, “So now, about dinner. What time shall I pick you up?”
“It’s okay if you go with your friend there, Captain.” she waved a small graceful hand eloquently. “We can always do this another time.” Her entire manner seemed to indicate that she wasn’t particularly concerned whether they had dinner together or not.
“In the first place she’s not much of a friend,” he snorted. “Best I’d call her would be an adversary. Friends don’t play games with friends’ careers.” That was enough information for the elusive Mari. “So what time and where do I pick you up?” He resumed his playboy smile.
“Why don’t we just go from here? It will be 1830, by the time we return and finish for the day. It will be too late to go home and change.”
He cocked an eyebrow, “You want to go out to dinner in uniform?” He’d hoped for a more date-like atmosphere this time, but if she were comfortable in her uniform, perhaps he’d learn more. Their last ‘date’ was an early afternoon lunch when she’d countered his invitation to dinner. He’d taken her to an upscale restaurant in D.C., hoping to unsettle her. She’d been impressed, but unintimidated. They’d spoken casually about their families, lightly touched on politics, as Harm tried to draw her out. He’d hoped this time for a more relaxed atmosphere, maybe a few drinks to loosen her tongue.
Mari had been altogether unimpressed by his behavior towards the Colonel. Though she’d barely glanced at the woman’s face she’d recognized the mask of lost love. “I can eat in anything, Captain, it’s just dinner.” she looked squarely at him, her meaning clear.
Still wearing the vestiges of his flyboy persona, he’d almost responded with ‘or nothing,’ but immediately corrected that thought. His goal was to discover who was helping Patterson, not get himself fired for sexual harassment.
Reagan National Airport
One hour and twenty minutes later
“Did you send Mac down here to mess things up, or did you just think it would be fun to give me something else to worry about?” Harm charged, when Webb answered his phone.
“What the hell are you talking about Rabb?” Webb responded with his customarily aggravated voice.
“I’m telling you Patterson was on that flight this morning and so was Mac. She stopped by wanting to have a little tea party for old time’s sake.” Harm’s voice dripped with rage and sarcasm.
“Damn, he wasn’t scheduled today,” Webb swore. “Look, Rabb, I don’t know anything about it. She’s not working on anything for me.”
“Well see if you can get her out of here. I don’t want her involved in this. If they are doing what you say, they’re dangerous.”
“Oh they’re doing it alright, and in case you didn’t notice she’s a Marine.”
“Didn’t we have a little discussion once about letting people know what’s going on Webb? If you keep setting people up in situations they know nothing about you aren’t going to have anyone left to do your dirty little jobs. Now get her out of there,” Harm wanted to throw the cell phone against a wall, but he still had business to take care of.
“Another thing,” he said in a slightly calmer tone. “Merrick knows Patterson.”
“How? How do you know?” The rivalry evaporated. Webb was all business.
“I don’t know how, but when Mac and I were talking, Patterson was in the jetway pawing through some bags. I could tell by his reaction that Merrick recognized him.”
“Well then I suggest you work your not inconsiderable charm on him and find out,” Webb was back to being Webb.
“You have any ideas how I might do that?” He wanted to see just how far Webb would push.
“Your idea of investigating Mariposa Trujillo is to take her on a date maybe the same tactic will work on Stevens,” the spy smirked.
“That sort of thing may work for you, Webb, but it’s not my style,” Harm shot back.
“You work for this agency long enough, Rabb, and you’ll be surprised what we do to get information,” was Webb’s rejoinder.
“When this job is over, Webb, I’m going to make sure I never work for this agency again, no matter what it takes,” Harm promised.
“You make it sound so easy,” Webb sneered. The tone of the spy’s voice was really beginning to annoy Harm.
“Maybe it is. I’ve never called in very many of my markers, maybe it’s time I did,” Harm replied. “Besides I’ve found I like flying tour buses.”
Webb was still laughing when Harm broke the connection.
End of four
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