| Subject: 'Dissonance' - Part Seven |
Author:
Daenar
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Date Posted: 15:12:21 07/24/02 Wed
In reply to:
Daenar
's message, "'Dissonance' - Part Six" on 15:09:11 07/24/02 Wed
‘Dissonance’ – Part Seven
Author: Daenar
Disclaimer: See Part One
Wed, June 10th
2253 ZULU
Nick’s World Wide Wafers
Long Island, N.Y.
Mac was smiling to herself, shaking her head. She was definitely losing her wits if by now even opening an email could cause sudden heat to flow through her body. But since the incredible weekend every allusion, word or image whatsoever that could possibly remind her of Harm in some way, produced a similar effect. ‘God, don’t let me run on constant high adrenaline for the rest of my life,’ she pleaded, chuckling to herself. ‘I’d be a terrible mother, no such thing as patience.’ She moved her mouse to the ‘open’ button and resolutely clicked.
To: Harmsmarine@freemail.com
From: Harmon Rabb (Sarahssailor@freemail.com)
Subject: What have you done to me?????
My dearest Marine,
How could you be so cruel and leave me alone in my current state of mind? I’ve hardly been able to get anything done in the last few days. My sense happily left me. Guess it didn’t like being squashed between the myriads of thoughts that are spinning in my brain, every single one of them about you.
This is so mean of you, jarhead, to deprive me of what makes me fit for my job. I’m stuttering in the easiest of situations, just because there might be something I accidentally see or hear that reminds me of you. I catch myself daydreaming all the time, or worse – I’m caught daydreaming by someone else. And at night... Mac, it’s worse than ever. Before last Friday I had finally gotten accustomed to get a little sleep without you by my side. But now it’s hopeless.
But I’ll stop complaining because when I’m lying awake you’re with me, Sarah. The memories are so vivid I can actually feel you in my arms. That helps a great deal.
Last weekend was incredibly beautiful, Mac. Thank you for being with me. I don’t think there’s any man in the world feeling what I do right now. Okay, I’m sure there are many who’d claim the same thing for themselves, but I’m convinced I’m still better off. Just the idea of being loved by you the way you showed me makes my world spin. Once again: what did I do to deserve you? It’s beyond my capacity of understanding. I love you so much I don’t know how I can make you see the full extent of my feelings. But I swear I’m gonna show you once we get out of here!
Maribel’s been a little distant these last days. I think she’s mad at me for not having spent the weekend with her. Well, as much as I’ll hate it, I’m going to make it up a little to her. But don’t be alarmed – nothing serious is going to happen. The very thought makes me want to throw up. Anyway, Maribel’s got no reason to be angry. She told me she went up to the Adirondacks, hiking, with a friend. I guess she had her share of fun while we did... See? That’s what I mean. One sentence, one association, and I’m carried away with my imagination.
Have a little pity with a poor, mentally disturbed sailor who in his current state wouldn’t dare to fly any planes (Imagine me saying that, Mac!), but who on the other hand does a great job expressing his feelings (Don’t I? Please, tell me I’ve at least improved on that ground, otherwise I might think I lost it completely!),
I love you,
Harm
With a huge grin on her face, Mac clicked on the ‘reply’ button. ‘I’m just glad to hear I’m not the only one,’ she thought, relieved. Just as she wanted to start writing, she felt a hand on her shoulder and gave a start. She quickly moved another Internet window on top of her mail program and turned around to find Jeannine smiling at her.
“God, Janni, you scared me to death,” Mac tried her escape, “Lesson finished?”
Jeannine grinned. “Closed your dirty page, did you?”
Mac felt herself blush. “Er... no. Okay, I’ll tell you, but keep it a secret. It’s a rather silly game page I got addicted to. It’s German, www.moorhuhn.de, but you don’t need the language to play. You just shoot these silly-looking grouses. I’ll show you, if you like.”
“I’d like to,” Jeannine answered, “But let’s do it another time, okay? We don’t have much time left until we have to get back, and, uhm...” She looked at Mac rather embarrassedly. “Pat, do you have a tampon you could give me?”
Mac smiled, her previous tension lessening as Jeannine seemed to buy her story. “Sure. Take my purse, it’s in the little compartment with the zipper. Meanwhile I’m gonna finish an email I was writing.”
“Already on my way back,” Jeannine said, taking off for the restrooms. Mac instantly went back to writing.
To: Sarahssailor@freemail.com
From: Sarah Mackenzie (Harmsmarine@freemail.com)
Subject: Contagious!!
Hi, my flyboy lover!
I don’t have much time, ‘cause the café’s cramped and I had to wait to get to a terminal. Jeannine’s lesson is already over. I just wanted to tell you two things: first, Pablo’s not as unforgiving as I thought. Mad as he was at me when I told him I had to go home for the weekend, he’s now as nice as ever. We’re making rapid progress, I fear, not only with my Spanish. I’ll have to think of something to keep him at a little distance without causing suspicions. He’s taking the concept of a ‘latin lover’ very seriously. But don’t be afraid: you said, thinking of Maribel made you want to vomit? Well, I almost knocked out Pablo instead.
Pablo yesterday came to wake me up in the morning, sneaking into my room, can you guess??? He admitted he stole my spare key from me during Monday’s Spanish lesson. Good job, thinking he got to do with a U.S. Marine. Don’t let the Corps hear that, okay? Anyway, when he was creeping to my bedside I woke in shock, jumped to my feet and introduced him to my right hook. After that I guess I made it quite clear to him that I wasn’t too amused about his stunt. I just had to hold myself back from bringing out the colonel while yelling.
I could tell he was impressed, only stammering he’d thought it might be a welcome surprise waking up next to the man of my dreams... He’s got a big black eye now that he’s trying to cover with some make-up I gave him. But he hasn’t got an aviator who knows how to paint things! (Snicker...)
Second thing: yes, it would damn right be a welcome surprise waking up next to the man of my dreams. Harm, I miss you so much it hurts. I’m out of my senses at least as much as you are, I can tell you that for sure.
Last weekend was... I can’t tell just what it was. The only thing I know is that I’ll remember every single second of it as long as I live.
Gotta go, love you!
Mac
Same time
Ladies’ restrooms
Nick’s World Wide Wafers
Long Island, N.Y.
Jeannine opened Mac’s purse, glad her friend was able to supply her with what she needed. Being in summer whites made you repent even more if you forgot to count the hours during your ‘female’ days. Searching for the little zipper bag, Jeannine twisted and turned her friend’s purse, frowning. Then she’d finally located it. The zipper didn’t move.
‘What the...’ Jeannine’s thoughts didn’t get any further than that. While making an effort to open the little bag, Jeannine’s fingers slipped off the zipper. The sudden movement gave the purse a rather strong momentum and sent it flying against the wall and falling down with a ‘thud’.
“Sh...ame!” Jeannine exclaimed, quickly kneeling down to gather all of her friend’s belongings that lay spread on the floor. Seeing her friend’s wallet had opened, Jeannine picked it up to close it again to make sure nothing could fall out.
Just then, something sailed to the floor. Jeannine grabbed it... and stared. It was a black-and-white portrait photo of none other than Commander Harmon Rabb, Jr., and on the back was written something. Normally Jeannine respected the privacy of others but this particular case was just too much for her curiosity. She turned the picture around and read:
‘To my Sarah, my favorite Marine, my life, my love. Always, Harm.’
Jeannine stared at the words, her hands beginning to tremble. Something wasn’t right. Something about Pat, the girl she’d come to trust completely in her desperate situation, wasn’t right. Who was Sarah? Fear of being misled and left alone gnawing at her nerves, Jeannine took up the wallet again and watched it more closely. The picture had obviously fallen out of a hidden side-compartment that was normally closed by a button. Upon impact, the button had opened.
With trembling fingers Jeannine reached inside and pulled out a small ID that proved her fears to be true: Cadet Patricia O’Hara, the friend of her utmost trust, didn’t even exist. She was holding in her hands the personal belongings of one Sarah Catherine Mackenzie, born back in 1967, JAG lawyer and Lieutenant Colonel in the United States Marine Corps. And not only her friend, someone else had deceived her, too, by planting a spy right in her apartment: Commander Harmon Rabb, Jr., the one person she’d risked her life to meet. Hot tears stinging in her eyes, Jeannine leaned back against the bathroom wall, slowly sliding down into a crouched sitting position, desperately searching to control her feelings.
Mac was beginning to wonder what was taking Jeannine so long. Finally, she got up and went over to the ladies’ restrooms to look for her friend. She found the girl sitting on the floor, firmly clutching the purse, traces of tears glistening on her cheeks. Worried, Mac started to kneel down when she saw the look in Jeannine’s eyes: hostile, cold, hurt. Luckily, no one else seemed to be in the room.
“Janni, what...”
“That’s Cadet Stiller to you, ma’am!” Jeannine spat.
Mac felt hot fury well up inside herself. “Did you snoop through my wallet, Cadet?” she said icily, her hands clenched to fists, trying to stay calm.
“It happened to fall out, ma’am.” Jeannine stressed the ‘ma’am’ in bitter mockery.
“You had no right to invade my privacy!” Mac raised her voice, stressing every syllable. Her stare would even have intimidated Lt. Singer, but Jeannine was too furious to notice it.
“You damn sure invaded mine!!” she yelled, starting to sob. Seeing Jeannine cry somehow brought Mac to her senses. She knelt down and put a hand on the girl’s shoulder.
“I’m here to protect you, not to use you as a cover for my investigation.”
Jeannine violently shook Mac’s hand off and glared at her, tears still flowing. “That’s not the point, ma’am! You sneaked into my life! You lured me into trusting you and betrayed my trust by pretending to be someone who doesn’t even exist! Does the word friendship mean anything to you? Did you ever hear it’s got something to do with mutual trust and bonding? Did you know being let down by someone you trust can hurt big time? You offered to sustain me in this hell I’m going through and I accepted because I just lost the closest friend I ever had! And now I find all was just set up to get you inside the college for an investigation that could advance your career. Where does that leave me? Well, I guess that doesn’t matter, ma’am, because you’re quite above caring for some insignificant girl like me!”
Gritting her teeth, Mac drew herself up to full height. Her face was white with rage and her hands were trembling. “Get to your feet, Cadet,” she hissed, deadly serious, her glare sending daggers at the raging girl who slowly got up and reluctantly came to attention.
“Right now I’m feeling very much inclined to tell Captain Wells to expel you for insubordination and disrespecting an officer.” Mac’s voice was trembling with the fury she tried to hold in check. “But I won’t because it wouldn’t be helpful with the case. Actually, we’ll have to play being friends a little longer, Cadet Stiller, if you like it or not. And this is the only reason why I’m going to tell you something I’d never tell anyone who insulted and hurt me the way you just did.”
Mac paused a moment, trying to calm down. Jeannine watched her in silence, noticing the emotional struggle the other was fighting. Mac’s voice was low and strained when she finally spoke. “I know damn well what it means to be let down, Cadet! I’ve been through that situation more often than you’d like to know. I know how the feeling of being hurt and betrayed can eat you up from inside. And it eventually led me to the point where I thought friends didn’t even exist.”
Another flash of fury lit up Mac’s eyes. “And don’t you dare tell me I didn’t know the concept of real friendship, Cadet. Some years back I got to know someone who trusted me without even knowing who I was, although at one point I even pointed a gun at him and lied to him. He saved my life more than once, putting his own on the line. He showed me what real loyalty and friendship are like and I’ve been trying to be just the same anchor and source of strength for him as he is for me. We went through bitter times but our friendship survived. Because we knew what it means to us. I’m sure you never even came near yet to experiencing what friendship can be, Cadet. But I have. So, once again: don’t you dare accusing me of not honoring the concept!”
Mac’s voice had risen to full volume on the last sentence, causing Jeannine to wince. The girl looked at the tall woman’s face that showed anger, hurt, defense, passion and... love? Jeannine’s fury slowly began to fade away as she understood that Lieutenant Colonel Sarah Mackenzie had an affectionate heart, very much like Pat O’Hara, the girl she’d come to like so much during the last few weeks.
Closing her eyes for a brief moment, Mac took several deep breaths to calm down. When she opened her eyes again, she found Jeannine looking at her, her gaze not friendly but not cold either.
“You were talking about Commander Rabb, ma’am, weren’t you?” Jeannine asked quietly.
“I...”
Just then, a woman entered the restrooms. Mac and Jeannine busied themselves washing their hands.
“Let’s continue this someplace else, Cadet,” Mac muttered under her breath.
“Aye, ma’am.”
They exited the café and set off in the direction of the beach, not caring that they would be late for dinner. After a rather long period of silence, Mac spoke up.
“You were right, Cadet. I was talking about Commander Rabb.”
“I... I saw the photo, ma’am,” Jeannine admitted uneasily.
“I guessed as much,” came Mac’s guarded reply.
“How long have you known him, ma’am?”
“Seven years.”
“Are you married? Excuse me if I’m impertinent, ma’am, but I think I have a right to know whom I told so many details about my own life.”
Mac couldn’t help smiling a little at Jeannine’s last remark. It held a striking logic. They were supposed to be friends. So why not tell her? “If we were married we couldn’t work together, Cadet.”
“But isn’t it just the same working with your husband or with your boyfriend?”
“Technically, yes. At least for the military.”
“So how come you...”
“Nobody knows,” Mac cut in quietly.
At the admission, Jeannine lost her guard and openly stared at the officer. “You’ve been going against regs for years and succeeded to let it go unnoticed?”
Mac’s smile was just a little sad. ‘I wish we had,’ she silently said to herself. ‘We’ve lost so much time.’ “Three months, Cadet,” was all she replied aloud. The answer made Jeannine’s eyes get even rounder.
“I’m sorry I’m dwelling on the subject, ma’am, but you mean you’ve been together for so long and never got involved until recently? That’s an incredible achievement.”
Mac’s chuckle carried a trace of bitterness. “It’d be more appropriate to call it cowardice, beating around the bush, misunderstanding, backing away, whatever you like. On both sides,” she added.
“Oh...”
They walked on in silence, both contemplating the situation. They knew they had to get to at least some kind of a working relationship. Again it was Mac who made the first move. Like when she’d first presented herself to her new roommate, she thought straightforwardness might work best. She stopped her pace, causing Jeannine to stop as well and look at her expectantly.
“Let me make a proposition. It’s up to you to accept, I’ll be okay with any decision you make, although I hope you’ll consent. It’s true that I was sent to Dwayne Myers in order to be your undercover bodyguard and to investigate a case the CIA’s involved in. Actually it’s the matter Meryl might have stumbled over. But I have to admit that, apart from the investigation, I really enjoy college life.”
Mac let her gaze wander to the open sea, shading her eyes with her hand. “You know, before joining the Marine Corps my life’s been one big mess. I was an alcoholic at sixteen and my abusive father succeeded to turn my home to hell. Being a member of a rich family and going to college without really worrying about anything has been a singular experience for me. My new life’s easy-going and full of incredible events. But most of all, apart from having to keep up my cover, that is, I could just be myself. Especially with the marching band. I love being together with all of you. I rarely had so much fun. And though you may find it hard to believe: you got to know the real Sarah Mackenzie, not some made-up person. People may call me Patricia O’Hara, but the person they are friends with is none other than Sarah Mackenzie, living a part of her youth she never came to know.”
Turning her head to face a very thoughtful Jeannine, Mac continued: “So the person you trusted and called your friend will always be the same, the name doesn’t really matter. I’m sorry I couldn’t tell you the truth but I wasn’t allowed to. That’s what I hate about undercover ops. You even have to lie to the people who mean something to you. But now that you found out anyway I can only tell you that I never betrayed your trust, neither did Harm. We’re both your friends, and if you decide to see me as exactly the same person you considered your friend, we can continue our friendship as before.”
Jeannine smiled an unsure smile, obviously glad to have her friend back but not knowing how to react. “I... I’d be glad to, ma’am.”
Smiling, Mac held out her hand and presented herself in her unique minimalist manner: “Mac.”
Jeannine’s smile widened as she took the offered hand and squeezed it. “Janni.”
“We must come up with something why we couldn’t be on time for dinner,” Mac said after a little while, thoughtfully chewing her lower lip.
“Maybe Cmdr. Rabb could help?” Jeannine suggested with just the hint of a smile on her lips.
Mac raised an eyebrow. “You think I should call him?”
“Yep,” Jeannine grinned.
Chuckling, Mac pulled out her cell-phone, happy about the unexpected opportunity to talk to her sailor.
On the third ring he picked up. “Rabb.”
“Hey, flyboy. It’s me.”
“Mac!” His voice conveyed real surprise and joy. But concern immediately took over. “You’re not supposed to call me. Something wrong? You okay?”
Mac smiled at his rushed questions. “No, everything’s fine. Could you just meet me at the Internet café as soon as possible, please? Something’s come up.”
“I’ll be right there. By the way: I love you, jarhead.”
“I love you, too, squid.” With a smile Mac ended the connection and found Jeannine still grinning at her.
“What?”
“That was cute, ma’am... uhm, Mac,” Jeannine corrected herself at seeing Mac’s raised eyebrows.
“Thanks. Harm will meet us at Nick’s in five.”
Chatting, they set off to return to the café.
Harm hurriedly entered the café and to his astonishment found Mac sitting in a hidden corner, together with Cadet Stiller. Disappointed that they wouldn’t be able to talk freely, Harm snapped to professor’s mode and casually strode over to his students.
“Good evening, Cadet Stiller, Cadet O’Hara,” he said, casting Mac a questioning glance.
She just chuckled. “Save that for your lessons, flyboy. Janni found out.”
“I see...” He was unsure how to react to her comment. Mac signaled him to sit down and quickly gave him a peck on the cheek, causing him to blush and Jeannine to chuckle at the sight of the embarrassed commander.
“Okay,” he said, nervously clearing his throat, trying half a flyboy-grin. “What can I do for you, ladies?”
“Sir,” Jeannine spoke up with a smile, “We need you to come up with an excuse for us. We’ll be late for dinner, and that means trouble as in t-r-o-u-b-l-e.”
“Uh huh...,” he drawled, grinning. “Any propositions, Cadet, Colonel?”
“Actually, yes,” Mac said, causing Jeannine to look at her in surprise. “I just had an idea. I saw it once in the movie ‘Curly Sue’.”
“Mac,” Harm replied, dreading what was coming. “You were damn lucky you saved my life in Afghanistan with something you saw in a movie. You can’t be sure luck will always be on your side.”
“No, but this time no one’s life is at stake, sailor. You just have to knock me down with something heavy and take me to the college’s medical department afterwards, claiming Jeannine called you ‘cause I fell and hit my head hard.” Mac smiled nonchalantly at his shocked expression.
“No way, Mac. I won’t hurt you.” Harm’s glance was icy. Jeannine watched the exchange with amusement. ‘One mule just met another,’ she thought.
“Oh yes, you will,” Mac shot back, still smiling. “It’s the best we can come up with right now. And they’d believe everything you tell them.”
“Mac, I could never...”
“Do I have to make this an order, Commander?” Mac asked pointedly.
Jeannine stared. “You can order him?”
Mac’s grin was nasty. “Yep. I’m three months his senior in rank.”
Harm stared at his partner. “You wouldn’t...”
“Yes, I would. In fact, as you seem to be reluctant: Commander, I order you to knock me down and take me to the college’s hospital. Now.” Mac openly grinned at her wincing partner.
Harm started to object but understood that opposition would be pointless if her mind was made up. And she was right: if, for being late, she and Jeannine would be confined to college grounds, the Carnegie Hall concert and even the investigation might be in danger. Sighing heavily, he asked: “Okay, where do we go?”
“There’s a quiet back street around the corner.”
They set off and arrived in a deserted little lane full of garbage. Mac took a look around and then grabbed a metal pipe. “Okay, this will do,” she stated, handing it to Harm. “Now hit me on the head. Hard.”
Harm’s stomach was origami-folding itself inside his belly. “Mac,” he almost whined, “Don’t do this to me, please. I could never forgive myself.”
Mac put her hands to her hips indignantly. “Don’t be a coward. Consider this a matter of national security if it makes you feel better. Do you know what James Belushi tells his film-daughter when she’s got to hit him? He says: ‘Hit me as hard as you love me.’ And she does. So: do you love me?”
“Of course I do, but...”
“Then hit me. Now!” Mac was getting exasperated.
Closing his eyes, Harm took a deep breath. “I’m gonna regret this,” he muttered. Then he raised the metal pipe and with a heartfelt “Forgive me, Sarah!” let it come down on her head. Mac immediately went down on the concrete. Harm dropped the pipe and knelt down at her side. “Mac, do you hear me? Mac!”
Jeannine just stared at the scene. ‘I think I understand what Mac meant when she said I’d not yet known what real friendship can mean.’
Mac slowly opened her eyes. “Thorough work, Commander,” she said with a strained smile, blood trickling down her cheek from a gash on her forehead.
“I’m so sorry, Sarah,” Harm whispered, gently stroking her face.
“Don’t be,” she replied, “I ordered you.”
“But I am,” he stated with a sigh.
“Then you can work off your guilt by applying your make-up arts to my face, flyboy. Now take me to the college. Jeannine called you, remember? And, let’s say I hit my forehead on the curb.”
Harm easily lifted her into his arms and set off for his car, signaling Jeannine to follow him.
Thu, June 11th
0323 ZULU
Medical facility
Dwayne Myers Naval College
Long Island, N.Y.
Jeannine was sitting at Mac’s bedside, watching over her sleeping friend. She was impressed by what the colonel had gone through just to save them from being confined to college grounds and to save the concert. And somehow she felt proud, too, to be a person the colonel liked to be friends with. ‘I wouldn’t mind being like her one day,’ she thought.
The door was cautiously opened and Harm tiptoed into the room. “How is she, Cadet?” he asked in a soft whisper.
“Much better, sir,” Jeannine replied just as softly. “She’s incredibly brave, sir,” she added, admiration shining in her voice.
Harm smiled warmly as he looked at the sleeping woman. “She’s incredible in every respect,” he said.
Jeannine was touched by the amount of feeling the commander’s voice conveyed. “This investigation must be hard for you two, sir,” she stated quietly. “I’ll leave you alone. Don’t worry, I’ll stick to my room. I’ll be safe. Give her my love when she wakes, sir.”
“Thank you, Cadet Stiller,” Harm replied warmly, “I will.”
Same time
Clayton Webb’s office
CIA Headquarters
Langley, VA
Just another long night at the office. Webb finished his twelfth cup of coffee and ran a hand through his hair. The Dwayne Myers investigation was proceeding far too slowly for his liking but it couldn’t be helped. He trusted his JAG friends to work steadily and thoroughly. Harm had supplied him with a lot of useful details. The facts strongly pointed to the Gonzalez family. But they were still lacking one decisive hint that would justify an operation. Webb knew all he could do was wait for his friends to supply it but he hated having to be patient. Just as he had decided to go get his thirteenth cup of coffee, the telephone started to ring. Frowning, Webb lunged for the receiver. Who’d call him at this late hour?
“Webb.”
“Mr. Webb? Nelson here.”
The Secnav. What could he possibly want from him? “Good evening, Secretary. What can I do for you?”
“Actually, I’m calling to ask if you decided yet about the kind of operation you’ll set up once Rabb comes up with the missing link.”
“We’ve not decided anything yet. Personally, my preference lies with a quick in-and-out op.”
“That wouldn’t be a quiet one, would it?” Nelson carefully asked.
Webb suppressed a grin. “Not really.”
“Is there... do you see any possibility you can keep this quiet, Mr. Webb?”
“It’d be a little complicated but I guess we might be able to. Why, if I may ask?”
“Well, Dwayne Myers suffered some critique recently, saying it was a high society place that didn’t really succeed to form students to become promising officer’s candidates. You know, Dwayne Myers students tend to have excellent connections in society. So the percentage of them who get good jobs in the military is higher than with any other naval college throughout the U.S. The navy invested a lot of effort to convince the public that concepts like valor, loyalty and unselfishness were just as strictly held up at Dwayne Myers as at any other naval college and that Dwayne Myers students are just as hard-working. A drug syndicate connected to the college might be the total ruin of its reputation and to the reputation of its students and their important families as well. And the navy would surely face enormous difficulties with fund-raising and with people suing the college.”
“I see,” Webb consented. “So you’re asking me to make it go unnoticed.”
“Yes, I am,” Nelson stated.
Webb’s thoughts were flowing rapidly. The Secnav would owe him. And he, Clay, owed Harm and Mac for sending them to investigate. Why, this was the opportunity to get his debts off his back!
“I think we can do that,” Webb said and then casually went on: “But, as I happen to talk to you, would I ask too much if I bade you to do me a little favor concerning Cmdr. Rabb and Col. Mackenzie...?”
Thu, June 11th
1235 ZULU
Harm’s apartment
Dwayne Myers Naval College
Long Island, N.Y.
Harm woke as his fax started to beep. Silently swearing, he got up to retrieve the message. He had only gotten one or two faxes since he was at the college. Why did they always have to arrive when he could sleep in a little longer or when he went to bed early? Surely this would be just another ad telling him how to reduce his debts or what to do to prevent his skin from aging. He grabbed the two sheets and was just about to throw them in the nearby dustbin as he noticed the Secnav’s letterhead on one of them. Curious, Harm sat down on the sofa and studied the papers. His astonishment grew when he found the first to be in Clay’s handwriting.
Harm,
I feel I need to motivate you and Mac to get me the missing information ASAP. That’s why I took the liberty of trading a favor the Secnav owed me. I intend to pay back my own debts to you two by doing so. You’ll receive the original document the next time we meet. I just wanted to tell you that the Secnav wants the whole affair to be kept quiet. And I suggest you better do it. There’s too much at stake with what he offers in return. Make the most of it.
Clay.
Totally at a loss about Clay’s cryptic message, Harm took a look at the second page and his heart skipped a beat at what he saw.
Subject: Regarding Commander Harmon Rabb, Jr. and Lieutenant Colonel Sarah Mackenzie, both assigned to the Judge Advocate General Corps
Answering to a special request ventured by Undersecretary of State Clayton Webb, referring to a wish expressed by the USN Judge Advocate General, Rear Admiral AJ Chegwidden, I declare that the senior lawyer team assigned to JAG Headquarters, Commander Harmon Rabb, Jr., USN, and Lieutenant Colonel Sarah Mackenzie, USMC, receive the guarantee not to be obliged to change designator, regardless of whatever facts might suggest the necessity.
Any event or situation whatsoever that is connected to Cmdr. Rabb and Lt. Col. Mackenzie and might cause conflict with chain-of-command regulations is to be considered of minor importance. In the interest of achieving continuity, regarding thoroughly conducted investigations and carefully researched and successfully argued court-martials, JAG Headquarters must not be deprived of its most efficient and successful personnel who set an example of excellent work to the entire JAG staff.
Signed,
Secretary of the Navy Nelson,
Department of Defense
With trembling hands, Harm put down the letter. “Thanks, Clay,” he whispered to the silent room. ‘Now we owe you,’ he thought, fighting his commotion, ‘But how on earth could we possibly ever repay this?’ He longed to call Mac, to tell her at once what Clay had done for them. But he knew it was too risky, and then, even though she had been released from the hospital and had returned to her own room for the night, she had still been allowed to miss classes to recover from her injury. Harm would never wake her up now. But he had to talk to someone or he felt he’d burst.
And all of a sudden, an idea sprang to his mind. ‘Well, she’ll probably shoot me for calling in the middle of the night, but when I tell her this...’ He grabbed the phone and dialed the familiar number. He had to wait an endless minute until she picked up.
“Burnett?”
“Mom, this is Harm.”
“Harmon! Is something wrong?”
“No, Mom, I’m fine. Sorry for waking you but I had to talk to someone.”
“Anything wrong with Mac?” ‘Please, don’t let it be, Lord,’ Trish silently prayed. To her astonishment she heard her son chuckle softly.
“No, Mom, on the contrary. The most extraordinary thing just happened and I need you to do me a big favor...”
To be continued...
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