OUTSIDE THE GATES OF
THE MANDERLEY ESTATE
Sarah and Julie exited the
car first, each looking around, making sure they were alone. Harm
was the last to crawl out of the vehicle, also shutting his door quietly.
You didnt have to come, Sarah told him.
Yes, I did. I wasnt about to
let you do this alone... especially considering... Harm said, looking
her up and down.
I wish youd leave THAT out of it, Sarah
said, moving right in front of Harm. She said something else
quietly to him, then glanced over to Julie.
Harm nodded, then removed a gun from his belt.
Sarah pulled two guns and a small box of bullets from the trunk of her
car, placing one gun in her own belt and handing the other to Julie.
Harm raised his eyebrows when he saw Sarah hand the girl a gun.
Can you handle that thing? he
asked Julie, gesturing to the sidearm in her hand.
Julie responded by grabbing a handful of bullets,
loading the gun and cocking it.
A shocked expression crossed Harms face.
I guess thats a yes, he said.
Sarah smiled at Julie. You and Harm
split up and take the grounds and the beach, Ill take the house.
Harm and Julie jogged along the garden path
leading down to the beach. They came to a small cottage nestled in
the trees. Im going in, Harm said to Julie. Cover me.
Julie nodded once and raised her gun to her
shoulder. As Harm entered the small house, Julie stepped a bit farther
along the path, looking out towards the beach. She was about to turn
and walk the other direction when something caught her eye. From
the far distance, it looked like simply a red blob, but she had a pretty
good idea what it really was.
Harm! she called towards the house, unwilling
to take her eyes off the figure in the distance.
Harm raced out of the house, gun
in hand. What is it? he asked.
I think I found them, she said, pointing
to the red blob.
Together they raced the rest of the way down
the path to get a closer look at the figure. They stopped when the
dirt met the sand. The figure was now clear. It was him.
He was seated on the beach, a small child resting in his lap. Julie
put her gun in her belt and ran down the beach towards them. Harm
hung back, allowing the girl to race ahead of him.
Leigha saw her sister coming down the beach
and jumped up from her fathers lap, running to meet her.
Clayton Webb watched as his daughters met
on the beach, the oldest picking up the youngest and swinging her around.
Julie put Leigha down and together the two started toward their father.
Why? Julie asked when she and Leigha had
finally reached their dad. Why? she asked again, this time tears
welling up in her eyes.
Oh, honey, Im so sorry, Clay told his daughter.
I never wanted to hurt you. I was only trying to keep you safe.
Julie nodded as a tear rolled down her cheek.
Daddy, she said softly, throwing herself against him.
Clay embraced his daughter, lifting her off
the ground and planting a gentle kiss on her head.
The pair finally let go when a man neared
them on the beach. Rabb, Clay said as Harm finally met them.
Webb. Harm replied with an icy tone.
Oh, Julianne, you didnt
drag Sarah into this, did you? Clay said, suddenly realizing why Harm
was there.
I didnt drag anyone into anything, Julie
replied, defensively.
I didnt mean it like that, Clay said, glancing
up the hill towards the house. Is she up there?
Julie nodded. We split up to look for
you.
Wed better go find her, he said, staring
up at the house.
Why? Harm asked.
Clay, ignoring Harm, turned to his oldest
daughter. Take your sister off the grounds.
Dad?...
NOW! he said sharply.
Julie obeyed and grabbed her sister by the
hand, running with her down the beach toward the side gate.
Whats wrong? Harm asked, but Clay had already
begun to march up towards the house. Webb? Harm shouted, running
to catch up with him.
Clay stopped about 25 meters from the house
and crouched down behind a shrub. Keep you voice down, Rabb, he
said quietly as Harm came up beside him.
Whats going on? Harm asked, watching as
Clay pulled a gun from beneath his shirt.
Theres someone in the house with Sarah.
Who? Harm said, grabbing Clay by the collar.
It doesnt matter, Clay said, pulling away
from Harm and beginning to load his gun. Sarahs in there with him
alone. He must have finally figured out where Ive been hiding.
He? Harm asked.
Look, Rabb, youre going to have to trust
me on this.
I find that rather hard to do considering
youve been dead for the past three weeks.
Clay glanced over at Harm. I dont
have enough time to explain, he said, turning his attention back to his
gun. Unless you dont mind getting Sarah back in pieces.
Harm gritted his teeth. Lets go!
Sarah was sitting on the floor in one of the
estates parlors. Her gun had been kicked to the other side of the
room and her eye was beginning to swell from her first encounter with the
man. Now, Sarah, we will wait for your friend to come. I know
he must have figured out I am here by now. The man smiled and stepped
closer to one of the rooms windows looking for Clay.
Taking advantage of the distraction, Sarah
began to crawl towards her gun. The man noticed what she was doing
and walked up behind her, smacking her across the face.
Now, now, Sarah. Perhaps youre not
as smart as I thought you would be, he said, as she fell on her face,
her mouth cut open and bleeding.
The man turned back to the window and spotted
Clay entering the house through the kitchen. Get up, he told Sarah.
She did so, dabbing at the blood coming from her mouth. He grabbed
her and pulled her into a corner. Quiet, he ordered.
Clay entered the room from the doorway, his
gun aimed at the opposite wall.
Well Mr. Webb. What a pleasant surprise,
the man said, aiming his gun at Clays back. Drop your weapon and
kick it away.
Clay did so, then turned to look at
the man and Sarah.
Good, Clayton, the man said. Now,
sit.
Clay once again did as he was instructed and
the man threw her down next to him. Clay looked over at Sarah, who
was still bleeding, and mouthed the words Im sorry.
She stared at him for a moment before looking
away.
So, Simon, Clay said, drawing the mans
attention. Youve resorted to smacking women around again.
Anger flooded Simons face and he raised his
hand to strike Clay.
DONT, Harm said from the doorway, pointing
his gun at Simons back. He had managed to sneak in through the window.
Well, Mr. Webb. Still have a good assortment
of friends around, do we? Simon laughed, then aimed his gun at Sarah.
You shoot, shes dead, he said, turning to look at Harm. Your
choice.
Shoot him, Harm, Sarah said.
Harm looked down at Sarah, deep into her eyes,
and dropped his gun.
Good, Simon said, and pointed to the floor
next to Sarah. Now, sit.
Harm sat, stealing a glance at Sarah before
turning his attention back to Simon.
Now, Mr. Webb. Where are those beautiful
daughters of yours?
A gunshot sounded and Simon fell to his knees.
Right behind you, Julie said, firing two
more shots into Simons back, killing him.
Clay stood and walked over to his daughter,
removing the gun from her hands. One shot would have done it, Julianne.
I wanted to be sure, Julie replied,
her voice shaky. He... he was the one that killed Mom, she said
this not as a question, but as a statement. I recognized his voice.
Clay looked down at the man that
lay dead before him, then back to his daughter. I killed his brother.
Julie turned to look at her dad. Is
that why he shot Mom?
He was looking for me. She wouldnt
tell him where I was, he glanced over at Sarah. He just got out
of prison and decided to come after me and my family. Clay took
a deep breath. Wheres Leigh? he asked.
Hiding in the garden cottage. I figured
shed be safe there.
Go get her. I need to talk with Sarah
alone for a moment, he said. Oh, Rabb, he added before leading
Sarah outside. Call Kershaw and tell him Im here, would you?
Harm rolled his eyes.
Kershaw? Julie asked.
Director of the CIA, Harm replied.
She patted him on the arm as she made her
way to the door. Good luck.
Would you say something? Clay demanded as he gently
dabbed Sarahs mouth with a handkerchief. She was standing next to
him on the houses deck, staring out at the ocean.
What do you want me to say, Clay? she asked,
shoving his hand away. That everythings okay now that youre not
really dead? That I understand why you did this to me... to those
two little girls? She pulled away from his grasp. No.
Ill never understand. Never. She turned back to the ocean.
Sarah, I love you. I did this for my
children. Why cant you see that? Clay said.
Sarah turned and slapped him across the face.
Dont you ever say that you did this for the good of your children.
You werent there to see their hearts breaking. You werent there
when Julie came to me in the middle of the night, unable to sleep because
every time she closed her eyes, she saw images of that decayed body that
she thought was you. You didnt hear your eight year olds cries
or see her tears when I had to explain that she couldnt ever see her daddy
again, she stopped speaking as her eyes filled with tears. No,
Clay, you cant tell me that you did this for their good.
She began to walk away, but Clay caught her
by the arm. I did this for you too, Sarah, he said. I do
love you.
Sarah took a deep breath and closed her eyes
for a moment. No. You couldnt love me and leave me to believe
you were dead. You couldnt have left me with two girls Id never
met to try and explain... no... NO, she pulled her arm free and walked
down the path toward the beach, avoiding contact with Kershaw as she did
so.
Sarah! Clay called after her.
Webb! Kershaw called after passing Sarah.
Clay came down to meet him. I can explain
sir, he said, looking down to Sarah.
There wont be any explaining this time,
Kershaw said and Clay looked at him. In the governments eyes, you
are deceased, Mr. Webb. You will continue to be dead to the organization.
Sir?
Your status will not be reinstated, Clayton.
I have some papers for you to sign and I believe you have a standard issue
gun that I will need back, he stopped speaking and began to walk into
the house.
Clay looked back down towards the beach.
Now, Webb.
1116 EST
JAG HEADQUARTERS
FALLSCHURCH
(3 WEEKS LATER)
She raised her hand and rapped on the wooden
door before her.
Enter! a voice called from the other
side.
Slowly she turned the knob and stepped into
the dimly lit room. She smiled. Sarah was sitting at her desk,
surrounded by stacks of papers, taking a sip from a coffee mug.
Julie! she said, rising to give the
girl a hug.
Sarah closed the door and motioned for Julie
to sit down.
How have you been? Sarah asked.
Good, Julie responded. Really good, she
smiled. How about you? You didnt look so good the last time
I saw you.
Im all right. Marines are tough,
Sarah smiled. So, what brings you by?
I came to say goodbye.
Goodbye?
Julie nodded. Were moving tomorrow.
Moving? West, east, south, north?
Sarah asked, resuming her seat behind her desk.
Julie let out a small laugh. Switzerland.
As in the country of? Sarah asked, leaning
forward on her desk.
The very one.
Wow.
Dad needed to get away from everyone that
knew who he was, what he was a part of... she stopped speaking.
Were all going to start fresh. Leigha will go to a new school,
I have a job lined up at an advertising agency, and Dad gets to be a civilian
for the first time in years.
Sarah smiled. So, youre happy about
the move? I mean Switzerland isnt exactly the most happenin place.
Julie smiled. Dad told us it was either
that or Siberia.
Sarah raised her eyebrows. Good choice.
Yeah, Julie chuckled.
How is he? Sarah asked, fidgeting with the
handle of her coffee cup.
Okay. Hes still getting used to being
a normal person, she pushed her hair back from her face. Im still
having some trust issues with him. And he with me. Hes not
used to relying on anyone. With time, though, Im sure Leigha and
I can change that.
You two are good for him, Sarah said.
Julie nodded and smiled. Id better
get going. I still have some packing to do. I dont want to
leave anything behind.
Yeah, moving across the world isnt exactly
like moving down the block, Sarah said, then chuckled. Or to another
state for that matter.
Julie nodded in agreement. Sarah, I
want to thank you for everything you did for us. I never could have
gotten through it without you. She stood and picked up her purse
from the floor.
Keep in touch, will you? Sarah said,
coming around from the desk.
Julies eyes misted with tears as she stepped
closer to Sarah and enveloped her in a hug. Of course, she answered.
Im going to miss you, she added, gently pulling away.
Me too.
Julie took a deep breath, wiped a tear from
her cheek and opened the door. Bis dann, Sarah, she said, grinning.
Adieu.
