Part Forty-Three

Military Police
Memphis NAS
0835 Local

Perez stared at Harm, "The UA? I don't understand, looking for him is what started this mess."

"Exactly," Harm said. "Actually, what I need is the personnel records of everyone who either arrived at this base or transferred to a different department in the week following Jarvis' disappearance. Just the men," he added.

Walters whistled in appreciation, "You think he assumed a new identity and has been hiding in plain view?"

Harm nodded, "He's a computer expert. I think he created a new service record and then hacked into the system and cut his own transfer orders."

"But why stay here?" Perez asked, "He could have sent himself anywhere. Someone was bound to recognize him at some point, this base isn't that big."

"It wouldn't be that hard to change his appearance," Gunny pointed out. "Dye the hair, grow a mustache, maybe start wearing glasses; even gaining or losing some weight would help. Besides, most people see what they expect to see. Even if he didn't change his appearance at all, they would look at his service record and just say 'Wow, this guy's a dead ringer for that missing petty officer.' No one expects to find a UA back on the same base under an assumed name."

"But Koslov must have known, Jarvis was working for him," Perez protested. "And if that's the case, then Jarvis would be part of Koslov's group, not the Acme Assassination Gang."

"Unless there was a falling out," Harm said. "Koslov took Jacobs' Archangel network and turned it for his own profit. If Jarvis had been recruited by Jacobs, the perversion of Archangel's goals might not have sat well. These people think of themselves ultimately as patriots."

"That's assuming it was Jacobs who did the recruiting. What if it was Koslov? Jarvis could be just as mercenary and that would place him squarely in Koslov's group. Besides, if Jarvis was a Jacobs disciple, why not just pick up the phone and drop a dime on Koslov? An anonymous tip to us would get the ball rolling." Perez continued to play Devil's Advocate.

"It was Jarvis who came up with the computer program," Harm pointed out. "No matter who recruited him, I'm willing to bet Koslov had managed to set it up so Jarvis would be the only one taking the fall if things went south. At some point, Jarvis must have realized it and decided to cut his losses."

"All the more reason to transfer to another base. Why stay where both sides are looking for you?" Walters joined in the conversation.

Harm held up a forefinger, "But both sides weren't. Only Koslov might have been and he might have assumed that Jarvis had fled the area. I think our petty officer was hoping to put his program to use for his own profit before he did disappear for real. Jarvis probably wasn't that worried about Brighton looking into the UA case. It would be a mysterious disappearance with possible foul play but no proof... and Brighton didn't know about Archangel."

"But Colonel MacKenzie did." Perez's eyebrows went up.

Harm smiled grimly, "Yes, she did. Jarvis couldn't have anticipated that Brighton would wind up in the brig and then convince Mac to take a look at the case. Mrs. Jarvis probably called him as soon as Mac and Tyler left. The interviews at his former duty station and with his wife must have thrown him for a loop. It was a safe bet that Mac would ultimately return to the VOQ. He just had to hang out until she showed up."

"But why didn't he go ahead and run then? Things were getting warm, but the Colonel couldn't have been that far along in the investigation. Why not vanish? Attempted murder just focused the spotlight on this case and him." Walters threw in, perplexed.

"And on Archangel, which on this base, meant Koslov." Harm replied. "This was an opportunity to pay back Koslov - providing he could get the attention off himself.

"Do you think he was seriously trying to kill the Colonel?" Perez asked, "The parking lot wasn't the best choice."

"Oh yeah, I think he was," Harm was silent for a moment, remembering the fear he'd felt. "He hadn't taken into account Tyler's reflexes. I think he was hoping to get her files in the confusion, but she didn't die and I grabbed her briefcase."

"And his attempt to get the files from your quarters later failed because you had switched them," Perez concluded. "You think he was our sniper?"

"Yes, remember that every attempt on Mac brought more focus on Archangel, especially considering Crowley's admitted friendship with Jacobs and his attitude towards her. It must have been driving Koslov crazy." Harm rubbed his chin, "Mac was lucky that Jarvis was more computer geek than marksman. It's not that easy pulling the trigger on someone. Anyway, after Tyler and Bell went to the motor pool, I guess Koslov finally had enough and sent his people in."

"Which brings us back to the question, why would Jarvis still be here?" Perez asked.

Harm spread his hands, "Why not? He just has to sit tight and there's real possibility, with everything else that's happened, that his case will be considered at a dead end. It wouldn't surprise me if he eventually planned to date the 'widow Jarvis'."

"What about the Colonel?" Walters asked, he was beginning to feel uneasy. "With Koslov gone and the militia disbanded, will he still think that he needs to get rid of her?"

Harm looked grim, "I really don't know. He must know that the rest of us are aware of what's going on. If he tries anything now, it would be because of revenge more than anything else. That's one of the reasons I don't want her left alone and why I want this guy as soon as possible." He leaned forward and gestured to the computer, "So who fits the profile, Captain?"

Mac's Room
Base Hospital
Memphis NAS
0835 Local

Mac watched warily as AJ strode to the side of the bed. She didn't like feeling this way around her CO and she also didn't like disappointing him. He was so much more than a commanding officer for both her and Harm. She would be truly sorry to not be serving under him any more. He stood by the bed and there was an awkward silence. Finally, Mac took a deep breath, but as she opened her mouth, the Admiral beat her to it, "Colonel... ," he paused and then started again, "Sarah... "

The door opening interrupted them. A petite nurse stood nervously in the doorway holding a tray. Her eyes widened in surprise at the sight of a two-star and she snapped to attention, causing the contents of the tray to wobble alarmingly. "As you were," AJ said quickly, stepping back and gesturing her forward. There was enough breakfast on the floor.

"Yes sir," she squeaked and hurried over to the bed. Setting up the tray, she offered Mac a tentative smile, "Sorry about the wait, Colonel." She glanced at the mess on the floor and gave an exasperated sigh, "I'll give housekeeping another call, too. Someone should have been here already."

"Thank you," Mac said quietly, eyeing her breakfast with mild distaste. If that list was any indication, lunch and dinner wouldn't look much different. She poked at the various items while the nurse checked the IV and consulted her chart. Finally the young lieutenant finished and with a nod to them both, bustled out of the room. AJ stepped forward again, trying to suppress a smile. Mac looked like a kid working up the nerve to eat brussel sprouts. She glanced over and saw the amusement on his face. In a slightly indignant tone, she said, "It's not that funny, sir."

AJ chuckled as he sat down in the chair, "Of course it is, it's not MY breakfast. Go ahead and eat, Colonel, you need to keep up your strength."

"I don't think this is going to do it," Mac muttered, looking at a spoonful of lumpy oatmeal. She doggedly worked her way through the uninspiring breakfast and finished with a sigh. "Forty-one meals to go."

Chegwidden arched an eyebrow, pulled out a small pocketknife and said blandly, "Want to put an X on the wall?"

"I'd rather put one on the doctor who came up with this idea," Mac grumbled. "This puts a whole new spin on 'cruel and unusual'." She gave the tray a final desultory push and looked over at AJ, "I guess it's time to get back to our talk, sir."

"I suppose we should, Colonel," AJ said. He cleared his throat, rubbing a hand across his chin. Leaning forward so his elbows rested on his knees, he looked at her intently, "I'd like to start, if I may." Mac nodded wordlessly. Chegwidden looked down for a moment, "First and foremost, I'd like to apologize." He looked back up to meet her gaze head-on. "It was a mistake to send Rabb out here so quickly. A mistake I compounded by not getting in touch with you. It was certainly not my intention to question your competence in any way." He stood up and began to pace, hands clasped behind his back. "I'm afraid I reacted on a personal instead of a professional level. I was concerned about Sarah, not Colonel MacKenzie." He stopped pacing and regarded her ruefully, "You're not the only one who's had nightmares about Archangel."

Mac stared at him in surprise. He gave her a slight smile, "They were unsettling enough for me and all I had been doing was trying to catch up with you. I couldn't... can't... imagine what your nightmares must be like." AJ resumed his pacing, "Anyway, this internet case was open and shut and I assumed you'd let Singer run with it while reining in her more aggressive tendencies. I knew enough about Crowley to know that, professionally, he could be a misogynistic jackass. But, I had hoped that this close to his retirement and with his political aspirations, he'd keep a lid on his prejudices. When Singer called about your confrontation with Crowley, I knew he had instigated it."

Chegwidden stopped and looked down at the floor, "That you had to put up with that crap after the price you'd paid taking down Jacobs and his network was infuriating. I wanted to come out here myself and wring that SOB's neck. I knew he wouldn't stop. I couldn't come so I did what I thought was the next best thing and sent Rabb. You and Harm... anchor each other. You'd have his support and he'd deflect Crowley. Then you'd be out of there by the following day." He looked back up at her, "I was wrong and again, I apologize." AJ gazed at her and waited for a response.

Mac stared at him for a long moment and then looked at her hands while she considered her reply. Looking back up, she said gravely, "I accept your apology sir, and I appreciate hearing the reasoning behind your decisions. What I need to know is if this type of response is going to continue. Will you be leaping to my rescue at every rough spot?" Mac shook her head, "Because I can't work like that. It undermines my position and tells me, and everyone around me for that matter, that you lack confidence in my abilities." She gave him a wry smile, "I've been dealing with 'Crowleys' for most of my military career and so have a majority of female officers. Our best defense is to do our jobs to the best of our ability and not let them rattle us. They'll always be out there and I'd prefer not to hand them any more ammunition."

AJ regarded her thoughtfully. He knew that women in the military had a tougher row to hoe, but it'd been more of an abstract until now. He cleared his throat, "Mac, it was never my intention to call your abilities into question. You're a fine officer, a damn good lawyer and, I hope, still my Chief of Staff." AJ shook his head and grinned, "You know you're the only one who has a ghost of a chance keeping Rabb in line."

Mac chuckled, "It's not that hard sir. Every now and then, I agree with him. It always throws him for a loop." Her expression sobered, "And I'd be honored to continue as your Chief of Staff." She gave him a sideways glance, "You will stop trying to 'rescue' me, won't you, sir?"

Chegwidden held up three fingers, "Scout's honor, Colonel. You may solve your own dilemmas." He started to walk back to the chair when the door opened revealing an orderly and yet another nurse. They stopped in surprise at seeing him. AJ sighed inwardly and motioned them in, hadn't anyone in this place seen an admiral before? Turning back to the chair, he took one more step before Mac's sudden intake of breath stopped him. She was staring past him, eyes wide. Then he heard the orderly's voice say quietly, "Nobody move." Cautiously glancing over his shoulder, he saw the orderly and the nurse standing there with guns drawn. He looked back at Mac. She glanced at him and said softly, "Sir, about the rescuing? I've changed my mind."