* See previous chapters for disclaimer.
A/N Ok, I had some good reviews of the first two chapters but only one review for chapter three(thank you upsilion)…….really I hate to complain. Please review. Was it good, bad, blaugh? Was it offending? Please review, I love for my ego to be stroked…..but I can take constructive criticism as well. Thanks…..
A friend in need
Chapter 4
Mac peered out the peephole of her front door, her brows furrowed as she unlocked and opened the door to the officer on the other side. Questioningly he looked at her as Harm came up behind her. " Ms. Mackenzie?" Mac nodded opening the door a little wider. The officer pulled out his badge and identification, " I'm Officer Jackson, Detective Reynolds radioed me and asked me to tell you that she would be coming over shortly and for you to stay in your apartment M'am." Harm stepped forward a little directing his question to the officer, " Did she tell you why Officer?" The officer shook his head no, " No sir, that was all she told me…..that and for me to post guard outside of Ms. Mackenzie's apartment until she arrives. "
Mac glanced quickly out the door, seeing the officer at the end of the hallway obviously guarding the stairway. Her heart began to beat faster, and a slight feeling of nausea swept through her. Looking at the officer and then Harm she turned and went to sit on the couch. Harm talked to the officer for another minute and then shut and locked the door again.
Mac reached for the phone and the detective's card laying by it. Quickly she punched the numbers in, Mac waited on the line until she was transferred to her voicemail and then hung up. Glancing around the living room Mac heard Harm in the other room opening some drawers and shuffling papers around. She walked into the office. Her 9 mm was on top of the desk. " You're not going to find the ammo in there." Harm looked back up at her questioningly. " You know you're not supposed to store your ammo and gun in the same place…..it could be dangerous if a child found the two of them together." Harm just nodded, right now he really couldn't care less about the safety issues. " So where is it?"
Mac turned and walked to her bedroom with Harm following close behind. Turning to her dresser she reached into the top drawer and pulled out two loaded clips (a/n does a 9 mil actually take clips?). Harm took them from her and loaded one into the gun, making sure the safety was on he tucked it into the back of his jeans against his back. Smiling at her he couldn't help but respond " You know you're not supposed to keep the clips loaded unless you're going to use them?" Mac gave him a wry look, ignoring his jab she questioned him " What do you think is going on?"
Harm walked back into the living room, this time Mac following him. " I wish I knew. There are a lot of different…" Harm was cut off by the ringing of the phone. He reached out to answer it but Mac stopped him. Picking up the line she said,
" Hello…" The Admiral heard the apprehension in her voice on the line, this did not sit well with him considering he had a little news of his own. " Colonel, it's the Admiral……How are you doing Mac?" Mac sat down, releasing a breath she didn't know she was holding. " Admiral …..I'm…I'm ok, considering sir." Harm sat down beside her, wondering of the purpose of the Admiral's call, after all he had just spoken with him earlier this afternoon. A.J. attempted to make small talk, something he really wasn't very good at; he usually preferred to get straight to the point.
Mac answered his questions and asked about the office staff. After a noticeable pause Mac began again. " Sir is there a reason that you're calling?" A.J. couldn't help the small smile he allowed, taking a deep breath he began. " Listen Mac……maybe I'm being overly cautious, but there was someone here inquiring about you just a little bit ago. The commander filled me in earlier today about the possibility of a suspect being brought in today. Have you heard anything yet?" Mac took a shaky breath. " No sir, were still waiting to hear from Detective Reynolds…..What, did the person want that was looking for me, did they leave a name?"
A.J. began to pace in front of his desk. " A man came in about an hour ago. I didn't see him but according to Tiner and some other staff he was a very large man, about six foot six, maybe around 250 pounds, blonde hair…..brown eyes. He acted like he knew you wouldn't be here…….he wanted information on how to contact you outside of work." Mac started to interrupt but the Admiral cut her off sharply. " Don't worry Mac, nobody here told him anything. Tiner became suspicious at his questions and asked him to wait while he got me. By the time that I got out there he was gone."
Mac nodded, unconscious of the fact that she had slid her hand into Harm's. Harm rubbed his thumb lightly over the back of her hand. Mac decided not to tell the Admiral about the guards currently posted at her door, " Alright Admiral, I'll keep you informed……yes sir, just as soon as we here from her I'll let you know." Mac hung up the phone, she had had a feeling this morning that it wasn't going to be as cut and dried as Maggie had made it out to be. Turning, she explained to Harm her conversation with the admiral.
Detective Reynolds sat down on the couch, she had a very apprehensive and wary marine and what looked like an irate sailor to deal with. Sarah looked really to be doing ok considering the circumstances, she was a bit pale beneath her olive toned skin but had an air of steel determination about her that the detective admired. The Commander on the other, looked ready to break every rule in the book. There was something dangerous about the way he was holding himself…..almost as if, given the means and the opportunity he wouldn't hesitate for a second in protecting his 'partner'. While she did also admire his obvious devotion…….it almost always in cases like this ended with the wrong man going to jail while the other lay cold in the street somewhere. After 16 years on the force she had a pretty good handle on reading people and also reading into their relationships. It was obvious that they were more than friends but this sailor, especially at the moment was just a little to detached. Realizing they were waiting for her to fill them in she began.
" I'm sorry that I wasn't able to talk to you as of yet…….there have been some developments and things started moving quickly." Maggie leaned forward a little taking a deep breath. " We know who we're after…….actually we almost had him. Needles to say, he is at the moment looking for a place to hide I'm sure." She stood up to continue, adrenaline still pumping through her. " His name is John Montgomery…….The little details aren't really that important. We obtained a search warrant and went in, he wasn't there." She turned to look at the two officers, " What was there was your JAG identification badge……he's been trying to look up information on you on the internet." Mac gasped and sat back a little…..she couldn't go through this again. Harm held her hand a little tighter.
" Now, all though we know he's been trying……he hasn't been able to pull anything up on you yet. You're not registered in the phone book……which is good. Actually you seem to have done a pretty good job of keeping yourself anonymous…..I did pull up some information on you through the D.C.P.D., I take it after Coster you made sure you're information wouldn't be as easily accessible?" Mac sat forward again and nodded……she didn't trust her voice right now. It didn't surprise her that she knew about Coster. Maggie sat down again. " I knew I had recognized your name from somewhere……but until I pulled up your file I didn't connect it to Coster…….Anyway, as you know I've posted some men around the building, I've got some going over to JAG headquarters as well." Harm spoke up then, telling her about the conversation with the Admiral. She said she would have the officers take statements from anyone that had seen him.
" Mac, I know you've tried enough cases to know a little about how these guys can think……." Softly she continued, " You're the one that got away,……I don't think he's the type to leave it at that. As far as he's concerned he has something to prove still." Harm stood up then, running a hand over his face. " I agree with you Detective, I want you to place Mac in protective custody." Maggie stood up, looking from Harm to Sarah, Harm looked over at Mac as well. She looked like she was about to throttle him. Wanting to diffuse the situation before there was a fight she looked at Sarah. " It's up to you Sarah, I have to say that I agree with him. But unless you agree to…" Mac stood up, her eyes focused solely on Harm " I will not run from this guy…..I didn't run from Coster and I won't run from this guy!" Her voice was quiet, but forceful. " Mac, come on……be reasonable." She cut him off " No Harm, I won't do it. Just drop the subject…..NOW!" Harm relented, 'God he hated how stubborn she could be'.
Maggie sighed deeply….." alright, if you won't go into protective custody at least stay somewhere else. Let Harm take you to his place……assuming this isn't his place as well." Mac thought quickly……that could work. If she stayed here there was a chance that Harm would get in the middle of something…….but if she asked him to take her to his place, they'd both be out of the way. " Now, if you agree to that I want to put a plant here……a female officer, undercover,…..I know he's going to strike back Sarah." Mac halted, she didn't like the idea of someone taking a chance for her.
Harm nodded quickly, " Alright, I'll take her to my place……you set up the sting." Harm turned his eyes to Maggie, a slight chill ran down her spine at his words.
" Catch this bastard detective…….or I will."
A/N alright…..what do you think? I know this chapter is shorter, sorry. I have a holloween costume to finish sewing. Please review and let me know if I've got anyone's attention. Thanks.