(Standard disclaimers regarding characters from JAG, NCIS, and Sister Jane Arnold mystery series)

January

Chapter 1

Admiral AJ Chegwidden looked out of the window of the car transporting him back from the Pentagon to the JAG offices at the Washington Navy Yard[i] . The holiday decorations were melting away, along with the recent snowfall that had stalled operations in and around the DC metro region. The promise of a sunny day made the New Year even more welcome. He, for one, was glad that the holiday season was finished. The obligatory cocktail parties were trip-wired with the well- meaning wives of comrades who were intent upon introducing him to any unattached female of their acquaintance. He'd had his fill of conversations with Washington socialites of a certain age. Most of them were as jaded about romance as he was since Meredith had smashed their wedding plans with her unfaithful, fickle behavior and he felt no urge to try for another relationship. He had felt a flicker of interest for a possible acquaintance over the weekend but in spite of his friends' assurances, she looked very much occupied by a man with a very full head of hair. He'd spent most of his adult years separated from love and had achieved a certain comfort. Meredith had broken through the barriers, but because of her actions, he had withdrawn behind his protective wall, content in bachelorhood, focused on the duties of his rank and his career. His end goal had always been four stars[ii] and a pathway had just opened up that just might carry him that far. His three years at JAG had turned into four and it was time to move up or retire.

His cell phone rang as his driver negotiated the turn off the Southeast Freeway onto South Capital Street. Just minutes from his office, he didn't want to be drawn into a long conversation. "Tyner, what is it?"

"Admiral, Commander Turner has a lady he'd like you to meet."

"So does everyone else in this damn town," he barked back then immediately regretted it. He pinched the bridge of his nose between his thumb and forefinger trying to clear up his headache. He had the Secretary of Defense to thank for that one.

"My apologies, Admiral. I should have made it clear that Mrs. Strasser believes she has information regarding the disappearance of Lt. Loren Singer last year."

"Singer? That case has been settled for some time. We know who killed her and why."

"Yes sir, but we don't know who was the father of her baby, or why her airline ticket was for Dublin, Ireland and not San Diego. Commander Turner believes that Mrs. Strasser may be able to shed some light on those questions. You can meet with her at 0930 hours. Special Agent Gibbs isn't available but his deputy, Special Agent DiNozzo is available at that time."

"Why the hell do we need NCIS?"

"Commander Turner suggested it, sir as they were the lead investigators on the case." "Very well, Tyner. I'm just entering the gates." A.J. automatically returned the salute of the soldier at the gate. "Get me some coffee and the Singer file."

"Yes sir."

In spite of small aggravations, Tyner was a suburb yeoman. He easily traded the Admiral's coat and briefcase for the requested file and a steaming hot cup of black coffee. It was 0915 as AJ entered his office. He laid the file on his desk, sipping the black coffee as he looked out at the flag flying high above the Navy yard, silhouetted against the blue sky. Stars. Stars and bars. Chief of Naval Operations. Or retire.[iii] Was there really a choice? He smiled briefly to himself.

"Admiral, Commander Sturgis is here with Mrs. Strasser. Agent DiNozzio is on his way up."

"Send them in." AJ set his coffee aside.

Sturgis presented himself and then his companion. "Mrs. Strasser, may I present Admiral Chegwidden. Admiral, Mrs. Strasser has come to us with some information regarding Lt. Loren Singer's recent history."

"Good morning, Admiral Chegwidden. Thank you for taking the time to see me."

Her voice was soft and hinted of southern roots. Her eyes were an azure blue that he had seen at sea on certain, perfect days. She was as different from Meredith as the sun was from the moon. Where as Meredith's and hair flapped everywhere, this lady's dark hair was contained in a neat chignon topped by a shaped warm brown felt hat trimmed with a gorse ribbon and a feathered jewel. Her brown wool suit was superbly tailored for her tall, slim but curvy form, with a bit of flare in the skirt and turned back cuffs on the jacket where a practical, flat gold watch glinted on her left wrist. But no wedding ring. He glanced quickly at her right hand. She was a widow. He pulled himself together and accepted her offered hand. "At your service, Mrs. Strasser." He managed to stammer, then stepped back, offering her a seat.

"Agent DiNozzio, Admiral." Tyner interrupted.

"Rosalind!" he exclaimed. "What are you doing here?"

"Good morning, Tony. I thought someone from your office might turn up." Rosalind smiled. "I hope you don't mind. I was at a loss and since it was a Navy matter, I called on an old friend." Suddenly, she looked younger, prettily confused, dressed in her mother's second best suit for a tea.

"I don't mind anything, Rosalind. If you'll just explain why you're here." Tony guided her toward the chair the Admiral held. "Hello Admiral, long time no see."

"Not nearly long enough DiNozzio," AJ growled. "Sturgis, take a seat. Tyner, bring another chair when you have time."

He took refuge behind his desk and put his attempts to figure out this woman's connection to both Sturgis and Tyner out of his mind. "I understand you may have some information in regard to the death of Lt. Loren Singer."

"More correctly, perhaps I have some information about her life." Again, that soft drawl. "I have a weekend house in Virginia, just a small one, as Tony could attest. He's visited a few times with my younger daughter."

That explained the connection. Why did he feel relieved, though if he had a daughter dating DiNozzio, he'd be worried. He flicked a glance at the younger man who grinned. "It's a nice house, Rosalind. Very comfortable."

"Are you involved in this case, Tony?"

"I was part of the investigation of her murder, yes." Tony replied.

"I'm sorry I didn't make the connection last year, but you did catch her killer, I understand."

"Yes, we did." DiNozzio was unusually patient. "But we'd like to hear whatever information you have."

"Very well," Rosalind Strasser set her gaze on the admiral. "Do you recall the New Year's day brunch at the Smith-Clyde's?"

"Of course!" Recognition dawned. "We didn't get a chance to meet." She'd been one the antithesis of this composed presentation, dressed in fox-hunting clothes, somewhat mud-splattered with her hair in tendrils about her flushed face. He'd felt a spark of interest, but was prevented from conversing with her by the presence of an attentive Irishman with a full head of hair who apparently shared her passion for hunting and horses.

"In spite of Maggie's best efforts. We were at school together, Custis Hall girls[iv] . I've recently moved back to the area, and Maggie has been shopping me around." She flashed a conspiratorial grin that belied the stiff formality of her clothes and posture. "My little house in the country isn't far from Fairmount, and I've been pulled into the activities of the Jefferson hunt, which Maggie and Clyde are wholehearted members. Now she has Sister Jane Arnold pulling at me to move into first flight," she laughed.

"A nun? First flight? What is all this?" Tony interrupted. "Rosalind, try to stay on point."

"Tony, I am. First flight is the initial group of fox hunters – the very best riders on the strongest horses. There's always a second flight of less able riders, sometimes a third, and always a group of hill toppers, those who are mounted, or perhaps in cars, who follow the hunt from a distance and not get into the melee. And you know Sister Jane; you met her at Thanksgiving. She's no nun." Rosalind laughed. "At any rate, it all came together at the Smith-Clyde's. The admiral was there, Johnny Dunlap was there, and we'd just been hunting. It suddenly came to me that I'd seen Lt. Loren Singer there, at that very same hunt, last year, apparently only days before she was killed."

"She was pregnant and in the hunt field?" AJ was astounded.

"It's not unknown, but in this case, she didn't hunt as far as I could tell. The field was very muddy that day and I am really just a hill topper these days. I'd seen her early in the season – she was quite a rider, always in the first flight, just behind the Master. I don't believe she ever lost her seat. She was a regular guest, then inexplicably stopped hunting."

"She was assigned to sea duty in November," AJ explained. "Mrs. Strasser----"

"You're saying that Lt. Singer was a member of that old money fox hunting club? Tony interrupted. "And you didn't think to mention it?"

"DiNozzio!" AJ barked.

"Excuse me, Rosalind. Why didn't you make the connection last year when the case was in the news?" His impatience thickened the air.

"I was very much occupied, Tony. You do remember that Libby broke her leg skiing that week? The concussion was very worrying. And, you don't talk about your work, so how would I know you were involved? At any rate, the information I had was very sparse. I only saw her in a very intense conversation with Johnny. I didn't hear what they were saying."

"Yes, I remember. I'm sorry. What triggered your memory?"

"There was an item on the Washington News last week. Apparently some unfortunate soul deliberately jumped off of that bridge. The reporter added a bit about Lt. Singer's death, noting that she had, in fact, been murdered."

"And we know that she was murdered by a man whom she was carrying on an affair, a Commander Lindsey. He confessed and the forensic evidence confirmed it," Tony stated emphatically.

"But Peter tells me that she was expecting a child and that man was never found."

"Who in the hell is Peter!" Tony demanded

"DiNozzio!" AJ bellowed.

"That would be me, Admiral." Sturgis interrupted. "Mrs. Strasser and I are old friends."

"Then how come he's calling her Rosalind and you're calling her Mrs. Strasser?" AJ demanded. "And why is she calling you Peter?"

"The situation calls for that formality, sir," Sturgis glanced at Tony who remained unrepentant. "And Peter is my given name."

As his commanding officer, AJ should have recalled that fact about Sturgis' name, but he was distracted by this convoluted story and by Rosalind's amused blue eyes. Were she and Sturgis an item? If so, why was she allowing her friends to make introductions, and admit it in front of him? There were a great many questions he'd like to ask Rosalind Strasser.

"Look, she's practically my mother-in-law," Tony said defensively. "How would you like to find out that your fiancée's mother has information on a year old murder investigation on the Monday after you've spent the entire weekend at her "small country house", which by the way, is huge by normal standards."

"Perhaps you could continue, Mrs. Strasser. At your own pace," AJ looked pointedly at Tony.

"Thank you, Admiral." Her smile was a gentle balm. "The news item had a photo of Lt. Singer – her military photo, with her hat. She looked much like she did wearing her hunting hat. It then occurred to me that the last time I'd seen her was in the company of Johnny Dunlop, an Irish steeplechaser. He spent all last fall in the region and often was present on weekends when Lt. Singer was hunting and she was clearly enamored of him, though they weren't a recognized couple. Suddenly picked up stakes and went back to Ireland after the New Year hunt. I didn't see him again until this most recent New Year's Day at the Smith-Clydes and he took great pains to tell me exactly where he'd been in the past year and what he'd been doing in nauseating detail and deliberately kept me when I would have moved away to greet other friends. He was particularly determined to keep me from meeting Admiral Chegwidden."

"Rosalind, this Johnny Dunlop could have a perfectly reasonable motive for wanting to keep your attention on him." Tony looked embarrassed. "You're a very attractive lady."

"Thank you, Tony, but I can indeed tell the difference between a man who was interested in my attributes and a man who is intent on a different agenda and Johnny very definitely wanted me to know that he'd been spending all of his time in Ireland, England and France since last October.

"But you said you saw him with Lt. Singer at the New Year hunt," Sturgis pointed out.

"Indeed I did," Rosalind smiled. "But he was at great pains to convince me that he'd last been in the States in October."

All three men leaned forward in their chairs.

"Are you sure she had a relationship with this man?" Tony demanded.

"Her airline ticket showed Ireland as her destination," Sturgis pointed out.

"Dublin is a connector to many airports across Europe. If you will recall, for a time, we thought she might have been on her way to Russia." AJ focused his attention entirely on Rosalind. "Your path of logic is understandable but is there any real proof that Lt. Singer and this Johnny Dunlop had any kind of physical relationship? "

"I wasn't close enough to be privy to their conversations," Rosalind confessed. "But I have two daughters and a large number of female friends. I can recognize a woman frustrated with the course of a relationship." She hesitated. "If you are satisfied that you have her killer then her relationship with Johnny Dunlop is insignificant."

"On the contrary. There was there was some force in her life that pushed her toward blackmailing Commander Lindsey," Sturgis mused. "And it was that need that killed her. Lindsey can insist until time ends that her fall against the bridge railing was an accidental slip on the ice, but I'll never believe it. I'd bet she demanded a great deal more than $500 from him and he needed to do something to quiet her."

"Was she having an affair with him as well?" Rosalind asked. "Or, did she just threaten to tell his wife that she was having his baby because he was an easy target?"

AJ frowned. "What do you mean?"

Sturgis cleared her throat. "I explained to Mrs. Strasser – Rosalind – that Lt. Singer and Commander Lindsey were united in their efforts to demoralize several officers in your command, sir. Also, Commander Lindsey vehemently denied any affair; only meeting her as part of a conspiracy to even some scores."

AJ nodded thoughtfully. "So, if she is having an actual affair with this Johnny Dunlop, and he decides to end the relationship –"

"Then she turns to Lindsey as an easy mark," Tony agreed. "But she pushed the wrong buttons."

"What do you know of Dunlop?" AJ asked.

"He is definitely a former steeplechase racer, and now brokers horses between the states, Ireland, England, and France. He passes himself off as minor aristocracy. It's patently not true but people let him get away with it because he's an interesting dinner guest. Even though she was a clever girl, Lt. Singer might well have been fooled. " Rosalind hesitated. "There's something else you should know, but I have absolutely no proof, only the word of someone whom I implicitly trust. After my rather lengthy conversation with him, a good friend who is a position to know so, informed me that Johnny has worked for the IRA, using his travels as a cover for raising funds and support."

The admiral thoughtfully leaned on his elbow and laid his finger along his cheek. "The peace process in Northern Ireland may have put him out of a job, but then there's always work for a weasel."

Rosalind smiled just for him. "That's exactly what Clayton said."

"Clayton?" Tony leaned forward. "Who's he?"

The admiral dreaded her answer.

"Clayton Webb. He's a liaison with the state department." She spoke with bright determination.

She knows he's CIA. The admiral telegraphed Sturgis.

Yes sir, but she'll never admit it. Sturgis replied.

"I've met Mr. Webb," AJ carefully chose his words. "Would you mind if I spoke with him regarding this matter? Perhaps he could provide some additional information regarding Johnny Dunlop's activities.

"It was he who suggested I come to you, so please do so," she looked relieved. "I'm sure he'll be helpful." She rose, slipping her handbag over her forearm, and all three men rose as one. "I hope I haven't wasted your time, Admiral Chegwiddin."

"Not at all, Mrs. Strasser. The information you've given us has the potential to fill in some important gaps in Lt Singer's life. I will call Mr. Webb." He took her hand in parting. "And I do agree, it would be best for you to steer clear of Dunlop." Even if he does have a full head of hair.

"Thank you and I most certainly will do so!" she said emphatically. "Peter?"

"Admiral, if you will excuse me, I'll escort Mrs. Strasser out." Sturgis offered his arm and returned her smile.

"Of course, Sturgis. Have Tyner set up some time with me this afternoon. We'll sort this out."
"Yes sir."

DeNozzio looked as though he wanted to gallop after them, but was torn by his desire to have a set to with the Admiral.

"She's a widow," he said. "Her husband was an Army Ranger – killed in the first Gulf war. She has three children, a son, and twin daughters, one of whom is my fiancée and if you drag her into anything I will personally…"

"Perhaps your time would be better spent investigating Mr. Dunlop and removing him from her presence," the Admiral said with quiet fury. "Get out of my office DeNozzio."

"Yes sir!" he said smartly and turned heel to depart. AJ had the feeling he hadn't seen the last of him.

AJ drew a deep breath. If he were leaving JAG, this needed to be put to bed fast. He punched his phone. "Tyner, find me Clayton Webb and get Commander Rabb's six in my office now."

"Yes sir!"

"So she was seeing this Johnny Dunlop at the same time she was seeing my brother?" Harmon Rabb Jr. shook his head. "You know, Sergie really believed there was good in her."

"Then don't despoil him of the notion, Rabb. Everyone should have at least one person who remembers them kindly." AJ replied. "I'm going to talk with Webb personally. I want you to work on a timeline. Pull together all the information at hand – from both Mac's and Commander Mannetti's investigations."

"Yes sir." Rabb looked relieved to not be reminded that he had privately asked Commander Mannetti to seek out information regarding Lt. Singer's personal life.

"I would have given her money – a place to stay, whatever she wanted." Rabb said with quiet fierceness. "All she had to do was tell me the baby was Sergie's. But she didn't lie about that."

"Don't put that down to good character," AJ said wryly. "Sergie is a helicopter pilot in the Russian army. She may have thought that Dunlop was an Irish lord and if he was in fact the father of her baby, she must have gambled that he'd change his mind and if not, you'd always be there."

"This doesn't change anything," Rabb noted. "Lindsey killed her."

"Legally, no. Dunlop has no connection to her murder. But ethically, he may well have put her in a position that she felt she had no other recourse than to blackmail Lindsey, which was the action that caused her death. He should answer for that."

How he could be made to do so hung in the air between them.

"I'll put that timeline together, Admiral." Rabb took his leave.

AJ sat back in his chair. As a commanding officer, he'd failed Loren Singer. He'd not been able to break her bad habits, which included countless attempts to ingratiate herself into investigations that would enhance her possible promotion. Unfortunately, he could definitely see her targeting a man she thought to be wealthy and titled like a heat seeking missle, but the pregnancy was a wild card. He was sure she hadn't intended that to happen and her frustration and missteps in attempting to deal with it had gotten her killed.

Commander Turner presented himself in the Admiral's office at 2 pm that afternoon.

"Webb is 'unavailable' at the moment," AJ informed him. "When did Mrs. Strasser speak with him?"

"I understand he was at the New Year hunt as well, sir but that would have to be confirmed with Mrs. Strasser. I can provide you with her telephone and address." He handed the Admiral a slip of paper.

"Thank you. There may need to be some other questions clarified." He glanced at the address when Sturgis finished. "I thought she lived in Virginia. This is a Georgetown address."

"She is a writer and teaches literature, sir."

AJ raised his brows. "And she's in Washington because…"

"She was offered a visiting scholar position at Georgetown after it was …vacated, sir."

Then it dawned on him. Rosalind Strasser had filled the place left by Meredith when she moved to Italy to be with her lover. "O, how full of briers is this working-day world!" he quoted softly.[v]

Commander Turner remained steady "I've known Rosalind since we were children, sir. Her father was a doctor – an army surgeon. My father was a chaplain. As you might expect, they had a great deal of interaction. You know the military was still struggling to integrate during the Civil Rights movement and when my sister was invited to her birthday party, none of the other children came and Sally and I knew we were the reason. Rosalind and her parents never missed a beat, laughed and played like we were the only children her age in the world. I would have done anything for her because of how kindly she treated my sister. The next year, her father was serving at a forward base in Viet Nam and he was killed during a rocket attack. Her mother moved back to her hometown and I lost touch with Rosalind for many years, though I heard she'd married an Army ranger . We met again last year at the Cherry Blossom fencing tournament. Her son was competing that day".

"DeNozzio said that her husband was killed in the first Gulf War."

"They're an Army family, sir. Her daughter's husband is in motion for his third tour."

AJ folded his arms. "And DeNozzio is engaged to the other daughter?"

"I only just learned that myself, sir."

"And her son, is he in the military?"

"No sir. He teaches history at the University of Virginia and is a world class fencer."

"Well, she's brought us some interesting information. I've asked Rabb to develop a timeline to see if we can make enough of a connection between Singer and this Dunlop character. When I find Webb, he'll fill in some pieces. Dismissed."

"Thank you sir," Turner hesitated.

"What is it, Sturgis?"

"I wouldn't like to see her in any danger sir."

"Neither would I, Sturgis, but I imagine Special Agent DeNozzio is all over that."

"He may need some reinforcements. Rosalind has always been somewhat willful, sir and in spite of her protestations, she definitely courts first flight." Sturgis fell back on the fox hunting term to describe Rosalind's tendency to rush headlong into a situation.

AJ leaned back in his chair. "That was obvious, indeed," he allowed himself a He tapped the card with her address and telephone number in his hand. small smile. "Are you saying I should do something, Sturgis?"

"Well sir, you might prevent her from doing something impetuous if she should see Johnny Dunlop before this new investigation has concluded," Sturgis suggested. "Bye your leave, sir.

Perhaps he could be of some assistance. AJ thoughtfully tapped the card with her address and telephone number on his desktop. But who could control his own impetuous actions?

January - Chapter 2

"Mother, you didn't!"

"Didn't want darling?" Rosalind turned to see the younger of her twin girls staring at her with exhasperation. She immediately concluded that Tony had contacted Libby about the visit she had paid to the JAG offices at the Navy Yard yesterday.

"Didn't accept the Colonol's invitation to dinner!"

"No, I didn't!"Rosalind replied with some exhasperation. Since her husband's death in the service of his country, she had dated sporadically and not always with her children's approval. It wasn't that they didn't want her to be happy, she often told herself. They just wanted the perfect man for her. Well, he didn't exist, she had decided somewhat grimly after she had allowed some of her friends to make introductions to potential men.

"Well, then, who is AJ?" Libby handed her a telephone message. "He called while you were in the shower?"

"A Navy admiral, actually. He was at the New Year hunt at the Smith-Clydes."

"He'd like you to call him." Libby grinned. "Anybody but the Colonol is fine with me."

"I'll remember that," Rosalind replied with a tight smile, wondering if she should just confess the whole story to her daughter. But it was too long and too sordid and involved Libby's finacee, Tony DeNozzio. She really should speak with him before saying anything to Libby.

"Well, call him!" Libby urged. "I'll wait."

Rosalind dialed the telephone number somewhat unsteadily. What would she say if he asked her to clarify some of the statements she'd made yesterday.

"Rosalind Strasser returning Admiral Chegwidden's call," she said when Tyner answered the telephone then waited to be put through.

"Good morning, Mrs. Strasser," his low voice underlined with Texas drawl was warm in her ear. "I realize it's a last minute invitation but I was hoping you might be available for lunch today -- say 2 PM at Georgio's?"

"I -" Rosalind glanced at Libby. "Do you mind if I go out for a bit today?"

"Not at all," Libby smirked at her.

"Alright, then." She spoke into the telephone. "Two at Georgio's -- that's on K street?"

"Yes, next to the coffee bar. I'll have a table waiting."

"See you then."

She pulled another suit out of her closet then tossed it back in favor of tailored slacks and a cashmere blazer under which she wore a matching turtleneck. She knotted a scarf around her neck and pinned a scarab on it. "My God, I look like my mother," she muttered.

"I wonder if I'll be saying that one day," Libby skulked around the corner. "Mother, you look wonderful. Very chic. You left here yesterday looking like Miss Marple."

Rosalind blushed. She'd felt like Miss Marple, a batty old maid snooping on other people's lives. But the information she had needed to be told. And, apparently, told again.

"Have fun!" Libby cheered her into a cab. "I'll be back late tonight. I'm meeting Tony for dinner."

A short cab ride later, Rosalind entered the restaurant with some trepidation. "I'm meeting Admiral Chegwidden," she murmured to the matre'd.

"Of course, ma'am. This way."

AJ was waiting for her, looking very fit in his Service Dress Blues, the gold at his cuffs glinting in the subdued light. She gave a passing glance at his ribbons as he reseated himself across from her. She recognized those indicating Viet Nam era service and then the liberation of Kuwait. She couldn't move past the purple heart, just below the SEAL trident. Her heart fluttered just a bit.

"My husband was in the first Gulf War," she burst out inexplicably.

"Commander Turner told me of your loss," he said gently.

"My daughter's husband is preparing for his third tour," she took a deep breath. "The country talks about supporting the troops, but they really don't understand, do they?"

"No, they can't," AJ agreed. "How are you managing? Is there anything I can do?" he hesitated then reached out and took her hand. "I never met your husband, but I know he was a very brave man, as was your father. Your family has given a great deal and continues to do so."

"Thank you," she whispered. She took a deep shuddering breath and summoned a smile. "I am sorry - it was all your ribbons, you see. It's been over ten years, but still there are moments. I'm fine now. Truly." She became aware of her hand warm in the loose grasp of his fingers and slowly withdrew, her fingers tingling along his palm. "Please forgive me."

He smiled at her. "There's nothing to forgive, Mrs. Strasser."

"After all of that, you must call me Rosalind."

"From the east to western Ind, No jewel is like Rosalind," he quoted.V1 (As You Like it 3.2.96 )

She stared blankly at him for a moment, then whispered, "Oh, no."

"I'm afraid so," he murmured.

"You were the most talked about man in the English department," she confided.

"How so?" he raised a brow. "Rosalind, please. Let's get it out of the way. It's been over a year. Nothing you will say could hurt me now."

"Dr Callender was not the most popular faculty member in the department," Rosalind confided. "She was very - reckless in her relationships. You were not the first man to be hurt by her."

"She confessed as much," AJ admitted. "She knows she has a problem, but I couldn't be the experiment for her to fix it. Perhaps her Italian lover will prove to be so."

"You are more than generous," she said softly. "Admiral, I -"

"Please," he smiled. "After all this, call me AJ."

"Happily," she smiled. "I know you wanted to talk with me about Lt. Singer and Johnny Dunlop.

"In a way," he waved the waiter away. "Commander Turner suggested that I might convince you to keep your distance from Johnny Dunlop."

"No one need convince me of that, to be sure!" she declared with some spirit. "Did he also tell you that I dislike being managed?"

"That was suggested," he said with humor, "but in the kindest possible way."

Her lips twitched into a smile. "Whatever must you think of me?"

He smiled back. "I think you are quite the most enchanting lady and I really need to thank Charlie and Maggie for suggesting we meet."

"So, its like that is it?" she tilted her head.

"I'm afraid so," he confessed. "Do you mind?"

"Not at all," she replied somewhat giddily, amazed at herself. "Do you think we could order lunch then?"

He laughed openly. "Of course. What would you like?" He signaled the waiter.

[i] The television JAG headquarters is in Falls Church, but in reality the JAG offices are located at the Washington Navy yard.

[ii] The Judge Advocate General of the Navy is a three-star vice admiral or lt. general by statute. The appt can be extended to four years, but is generally three.

[iii] "The CNO is the principal naval adviser to the President of the United States, the Secretary of Defense and to the Secretary of the Navy on the conduct of war.[2] The Chief of Naval Operations is nominated by the President for appointment and must be confirmed via majority vote by the Senate.[5] A requirement for being Chief of Naval Operations is having significant experience in joint duty assignments, which includes at least one full tour of duty in a joint duty assignment as a flag officer.[5] However the president may waive those requirements if he determines the officer is necessary for national interest.[5] By statute, the CNO is appointed as a four-star admiral.[5]

The position of CNO replaced the position of Aide for Naval Operations, which was a position established by administrative law rather than statute." (Wikipedia)

[iv] The Virginia girls school appearing in the Rita Mae Brown "Sister Jane" mystery series. All fox hunting references are crossovers from this series

[v] As You Like It" 1.3.13.

[VI ] As You Like It 3.2.96