Chapter 5 - Marine just Around the Corner
The Next Day…
2245 Zulu
Chegwidden's Office - JAG Headquarters
Falls Church, Virginia
Chedwiggen had stepped out of his office to yell at Tiner when mail was delivered. "Tiner, I…"
The Post Master set a tape down on Tiner's desk that was almost identical to the tape that had been on his desk the day before. This one though was marked 'Marine just Around the Corner' with the M, A, and C all bolded. "I found another tape…it looked like the one from yesterday, I thought I'd give it to you," the Post Master explained.
"It was in the box downstairs again?"
"Yes, Sir…it's strange."
"Yes…it is…" Chedwiggen agreed picking up the tape. "Thank you."
"You're welcome," the Post Master said and then headed out of the office.
Chedwiggen stared at the label for a minute. The bold letters worried him. "Mac…" he said to himself quietly. He snapped out of his daze and looked over at Tiner who was staring at him. "Tiner, get me Rabb and Turner."
"Yes, Sir," Tiner said and went off to find them both as Chedwiggen retreated back into his office.
A few minutes later there was a knock at the admiral's door. "Come in," he said. The door opened and Rabb and Turner walked in and stood at attention in front of his desk. God, Rabb hasn't slept… Chedwiggen thought to himself. Maybe I should have watched the tape first. Chedwiggen held up the tape, "tape number two."
"Another tape, Sir?" Turner asked surprised.
"Have you watched it yet, Sir?" Rabb added.
"No, take a seat," the admiral told them handing Turner the tape to put in. "The tape is labeled Marine just Around the Corner, with the M, A, and C capitalized and bolded.
"Mac," Harm spoke up.
Turner took the tape while Harm took a seat. Sturgis turned on the TV and VCR, injected the tape, and then pushed play. He stood off to the side of the TV and watched.
The tape began with a pan and scan of Harm's apartment bedroom as before.
Harm started to feel sick. How did they get into my apartment and out without someone seeing them?
The camera stopped on Mac who was lying on the floor like before. She started to stir.
"It's okay, Marine, just go back to sleep now…" a familiar soothing voice came as Mac was injected and her eyes slowly closed again. The tape continued to focus on her for a minute before going black.
That voice… Harm thought. It's not possible…it was mine… His mind began to swim with the thoughts of what was happening to Mac, and if she thought it was him.
"Commander?" the admiral questioned looking over at Harm as Sturgis turned off the TV and VCR and returned the tape to the admiral.
"Sir?" Harm asked back.
"That was your voice."
"It appears so, Sir."
"Commander, I don't believe you're behind this. I don't think you could harm Mac, but the authorities are going to know where you've been for the last two days."
"Sir, I was here at JAG with Sturgis when Mac was taken."
"They could say that you had her kidnapping planned," Sturgis said taking a seat next to his friend.
"I've been here for the last two nights weeding through old files trying to figure out possible suspects."
"I'm going to have your apartment searched again," the admiral told him. "You will stay with Lt Roberts and Lt Sims until this can be resolved."
"But…Sir, I don't want to…"
"Commander, Bud and Harriett would LOVE to have you," he said in a forceful tone. "Plus it wasn't a request, it was an order. Just think of it as quality time with your godson."
"Yes, Sir."
"Keep on it. You're dismissed."
"Aye, Sir," Sturgis and Harm said in unison standing up at attention and then leaving.
***********************************************************************************
0300 Zulu
Living Room - Roberts' Residence
Virginia
"I'm really sorry about this, you guys, I told the adm…" Harm started to apologize, but was interrupted.
"It's not a problem at all, Sir, we like having you here," Harriett assured him.
Harm smiled, "thanks, and if I am staying then you need to call me Harm."
"Yes, si…Harm," Harriett said and smiled.
"I hope the downstairs room is okay, Sir," Bud said walking in.
"I'm fine, Bud, thanks," Harm told him and walked into the room that would be his until they found Mac. Harm was tired. He hadn't slept for he didn't know how long. He turned off the lights, took off his shoes, and lay in bed not feeling like changing. He closed his eyes trying to sleep, but all he could think about was Mac. Where are you Marine? He's not me… I'll find you…
The Next Day…
2245 Zulu
Chegwidden's Office - JAG Headquarters
Falls Church, Virginia
Chedwiggen had stepped out of his office to yell at Tiner when mail was delivered. "Tiner, I…"
The Post Master set a tape down on Tiner's desk that was almost identical to the tape that had been on his desk the day before. This one though was marked 'Marine just Around the Corner' with the M, A, and C all bolded. "I found another tape…it looked like the one from yesterday, I thought I'd give it to you," the Post Master explained.
"It was in the box downstairs again?"
"Yes, Sir…it's strange."
"Yes…it is…" Chedwiggen agreed picking up the tape. "Thank you."
"You're welcome," the Post Master said and then headed out of the office.
Chedwiggen stared at the label for a minute. The bold letters worried him. "Mac…" he said to himself quietly. He snapped out of his daze and looked over at Tiner who was staring at him. "Tiner, get me Rabb and Turner."
"Yes, Sir," Tiner said and went off to find them both as Chedwiggen retreated back into his office.
A few minutes later there was a knock at the admiral's door. "Come in," he said. The door opened and Rabb and Turner walked in and stood at attention in front of his desk. God, Rabb hasn't slept… Chedwiggen thought to himself. Maybe I should have watched the tape first. Chedwiggen held up the tape, "tape number two."
"Another tape, Sir?" Turner asked surprised.
"Have you watched it yet, Sir?" Rabb added.
"No, take a seat," the admiral told them handing Turner the tape to put in. "The tape is labeled Marine just Around the Corner, with the M, A, and C capitalized and bolded.
"Mac," Harm spoke up.
Turner took the tape while Harm took a seat. Sturgis turned on the TV and VCR, injected the tape, and then pushed play. He stood off to the side of the TV and watched.
The tape began with a pan and scan of Harm's apartment bedroom as before.
Harm started to feel sick. How did they get into my apartment and out without someone seeing them?
The camera stopped on Mac who was lying on the floor like before. She started to stir.
"It's okay, Marine, just go back to sleep now…" a familiar soothing voice came as Mac was injected and her eyes slowly closed again. The tape continued to focus on her for a minute before going black.
That voice… Harm thought. It's not possible…it was mine… His mind began to swim with the thoughts of what was happening to Mac, and if she thought it was him.
"Commander?" the admiral questioned looking over at Harm as Sturgis turned off the TV and VCR and returned the tape to the admiral.
"Sir?" Harm asked back.
"That was your voice."
"It appears so, Sir."
"Commander, I don't believe you're behind this. I don't think you could harm Mac, but the authorities are going to know where you've been for the last two days."
"Sir, I was here at JAG with Sturgis when Mac was taken."
"They could say that you had her kidnapping planned," Sturgis said taking a seat next to his friend.
"I've been here for the last two nights weeding through old files trying to figure out possible suspects."
"I'm going to have your apartment searched again," the admiral told him. "You will stay with Lt Roberts and Lt Sims until this can be resolved."
"But…Sir, I don't want to…"
"Commander, Bud and Harriett would LOVE to have you," he said in a forceful tone. "Plus it wasn't a request, it was an order. Just think of it as quality time with your godson."
"Yes, Sir."
"Keep on it. You're dismissed."
"Aye, Sir," Sturgis and Harm said in unison standing up at attention and then leaving.
***********************************************************************************
0300 Zulu
Living Room - Roberts' Residence
Virginia
"I'm really sorry about this, you guys, I told the adm…" Harm started to apologize, but was interrupted.
"It's not a problem at all, Sir, we like having you here," Harriett assured him.
Harm smiled, "thanks, and if I am staying then you need to call me Harm."
"Yes, si…Harm," Harriett said and smiled.
"I hope the downstairs room is okay, Sir," Bud said walking in.
"I'm fine, Bud, thanks," Harm told him and walked into the room that would be his until they found Mac. Harm was tired. He hadn't slept for he didn't know how long. He turned off the lights, took off his shoes, and lay in bed not feeling like changing. He closed his eyes trying to sleep, but all he could think about was Mac. Where are you Marine? He's not me… I'll find you…