SURPRISES
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THE BAGGAGE COMPARTMENT
Mac and Harm decided to look for the weapon. Webb made a good point. So far there was no murder weapon. They were going to find it and solve the case. The question and answer session in the morning gave them limited information. There would be another one before dinner so hopefully they would uncover something.
"Harm, why are we going to the baggage car?" Mac asked.
"What better place to hide the weapon?" Harm asked.
"How about just throwing it off the train," Mac responded.
"That would ruin the game," Harm smiled and led her into the compartment.
"So what do you want to do, go through the bags?" Mac asked. "I bet they are empty and just props."
"I am thinking that the killer used a garrote," Harm stated. "Let's look for it."
They searched the compartment for about 30 minutes and came up with nothing.
"This is a dead end," Mac announced.
"What time is it?" Harm asked.
"It's 2:54, almost time for the afternoon session," Mac advised.
"Let's go," Harm said and moved to the door. "Mac, it's locked."
"You're joking," Mac said.
"I wish I was," Harm replied.
"Now what?" Mac asked.
"I guess we wait until someone misses us," Harm stated.
"Great plan, they probably think we are off solving the murder," Mac said.
"We might as well get comfortable." Harm smiled and sat down amid the bags.
"You know these were just props," Mac said as she easily tossed a bag.
"They really went all out to make this seem real," Harm stated.
"Well, I would imagine that's for effect." Mac replied.
They fell silent and sat staring at the walls.
"I wonder what everyone is doing." Harm stated after thirty minutes
"Obviously they aren't worried about us," Mac said. "It's been 32 minutes you would think they would be worried."
"Sounding a little bitter there Marine," Harm teased.
"Not really," Mac said.
"Mac, you seem a little testy," Harm said. "Is everything ok with you?"
"It's fine," Mac sighed.
"Talk to me," Harm encouraged.
"About what?" Mac asked.
"Anything," Harm smiled.
"Harm, I'm not in the mood to have a talk," Mac announced and let out an exaggerated breath.
"Then what do you want to do?" Harm asked.
"You really want to know?" Mac asked with a small smile.
"Sure, tell me." Harm said.
Before the words were out of his mouth, Mac lunged at Harm and knocked him over.
"Hello, what's going on?" Harm asked.
"I don't know why but I've had this incredible urge to flatten you." Mac stated.
"Mac, what's going on?" Harm asked.
"You are driving me crazy." Mac stated and pinned him to the floor.
Harm countered Mac by flipping and pinning her. Mac was pinned beneath Harm looking up at him and decided it was now or never. She freed her arms, wrapped them around his neck, pulled him close and kissed him.
"Where did that come from?" Harm asked in shock.
"I don't know," Mac laughed.
"Well, are we stopping?" Harm asked.
"Do you want to?" Mac asked.
"It will give us something to do to pass the time," Harm replied.
They resumed their teenage make out session and were actually giggling.
"I think we need to set some ground rules here," Harm said taking a breath.
"Ground rules?" Mac asked.
"Well, how far are we going to take this, and what happens when we get out of here?" Harm stated.
"As far as how far," Mac began. "Do you have anything in your wallet?"
"Thirty bucks," Harm replied. "Are you going to charge me?"
"That's not what I meant," Mac said rolling her eyes.
"Oh," Harm said and then realized what she meant, "No I don't."
"Well, that answers the first question as for what happens when we get out of here, let's just play it by ear." Mac stated.
Harm pulled Mac back into an embrace and they kissed, explored and touched for the next thirty minutes until they heard the sound of a clearing throat.
"Having a good time?" AJ asked surrounded by a few others.
"Well, we, uh, well, the door was stuck." Harm said turning red.
"Stuck like the bunk was last night?" Sturgis laughed.
"It really was locked," Mac said standing up and straightening out her clothes.
"I don't even want to know," AJ said as he turned and walked out of the baggage car, shaking his head. "I see nothing."
"You guys missed a lot," Zoya said.
"And none of you missed us," Mac said.
"We figured you were off investigating." Sturgis replied.
"That's a good word for it," Zoya laughed. "They certainly were investigating."
"Anyone care to share notes?" Harm asked.
"Care to share how you two ended up in that position?" Webb shot back.
"We'll find out on our own," Mac said and walked passed them.
DINING CAR
Mac and Harm went into the dining car after a stop at their compartments to freshen up. When they entered the dining car, Sturgis, Zoya and Webb had informed the rest what they and AJ witnessed. After the initial shock wore off the group, they applauded Mac and Harm as they made their entrance.
"Wouldn't the reaction be interesting to see if they knew you made the first move?" Harm whispered to Mac.
"Wouldn't it be interesting to see you breathing out of your ear, if they found out?" Mac shot back.
"Here, have some chips," Meredith offered. "I'm sure you're both hungry."
"Thanks," Mac said taking a seat.
"Ok, what did we miss?" Harm asked.
"I was wondering the same thing," Harriet teased.
"Harriet," Bud admonished. "It's no body's business if they wanted to…"
"Play store the luggage?" Gunny said laughing.
"Gunny," Coates warned, "They still out rank us."
"Not on this train," AJ stated with a smile. "There are no ranks here."
Everyone was laughing and throwing out comments with double meanings. Mac and Harm realized that they were going to hear a lot more jokes until they returned to DC. The teams split up again and started to work on catching the murderer. Zoya and Webb graciously shared their notes with Mac and Harm. Soon they were caught up and the evening festivities began.
"Mr. Mathers," Harm said, "I have to ask, where you and Mrs. Weaver having an affair?"
"Yes," Mr. Mathers replied. "I am in love with her."
"Is she in love with you?" Mac asked.
"Yes she is," Mr. Mathers replied. "We wanted to be together."
"Then why didn't she just leave her husband?" Mac asked.
"She couldn't," Mr. Mathers replied and walked away.
"I wonder why she couldn't leave her husband." Mac stated.
"Money," Harm suggested.
"So that gives motive, what about means and opportunity?" Mac questioned. "According to Mr. Davidson he was in the smoking car and seen by others all night."
"So, let's scratch him off the list." Harm said.
"Hey Gunny, where are you going?" Tiner asked.
"To talk to Ms. Moore," Gunny said with a smile.
"Oh no you don't, I'm coming with you." Tiner said, jumping up.
The two men tried to move as quickly as possible to reach the buxom Ms. Moore. Too bad they weren't paying attention because they both ended up flat on their faces at her feet. Neither noticed the buckle in the carpet and as Tiner tripped over it, he pulled Gunny down with him.
"Are you gentlemen okay?" Ms. Moore asked.
"I'm fine," Gunny said getting right up.
"Of course, you are." Tiner stated. "I broke your fall."
"You caused my fall," Gunny shot back.
"Well, if you hadn't been pushing me," Tiner began.
"Wait, where did she go?" Gunny said looking for Ms. Moore.
"Nice going Gunny," Tiner smirked.
"Me? You're the klutz!" Gunny advised.
"I'm going to find her," Tiner said taking off.
"Not without me, you aren't." Gunny said right on his tail.
There was no way Gunny and Tiner were going to solve this mystery. They had other things on their minds.
"AJ, I think it's time we questioned the Doctor," Meredith announced.
"Let's go," AJ followed her.
They spoke to the Dr. Cronson and found out that he was not what he seemed. Dr. Cronson was a typical country doctor, however he had moved from his home right outside of Birmingham to Northern Virginia where he became the private physician to one Mr. Albert Weaver. He was the victim's doctor. This put a new spin on the case and gave AJ and Meredith an advantage over the others.
"Excuse me Mr. Davidson, I have some questions for you." Harriet said.
"Why would you have any questions for me?" Mr. Davidson asked.
"Because out of everyone, you seem to be keeping to yourself," Harriet replied.
"That's because I am as much in shock about this as anyone," Mr. Davidson stated.
"Well, why are you on this train?" Harriet asked.
"I am going to Birmingham to check on some business deals." Mr. Davidson replied.
"Did you know Mr. Weaver?" Bud asked.
"Yes, we were business partners." Mr. Davidson sighed. "It's a terrible shame."
"Did you know about his affair with Ms. Moore?" Harriet asked.
"No I did not," Mr. Davidson replied firmly.
"You worked and traveled with this man and you had no idea he was cheating on his wife?" Bud questioned.
"I was totally unaware of it," Mr. Davidson retorted, "Now, if you would please excuse me."
"That was strange," Bud said.
"Bud, I have a thought," Harriet smiled and they went back to their compartment.
STURGIS'S COMPARTMENT
"So what do we know?" Sturgis asked as he tried to pace in his compartment.
"We know that the spouses were not faithful, that there was a lot of money and I heard Mr. Davidson say that he and the victim were business partners." Jen replied.
"Interesting, and the doctor is an anomaly." Sturgis said.
"I saw the Admiral and Ms. Cavanaugh speaking to him earlier, but I couldn't hear the conversation." Coates said.
"What about the background on these people?" Sturgis asked.
"I think there are bios in the folder they gave us when we arrived." Coates replied opening the folder. "Hey look at this."
"Well, well, well, Ms. Moore is a black belt," Sturgis smiled.
"So she could have easily strangled Mr. Weaver." Jen stated.
"She could have pummeled him, but I don't know about strangling." Sturgis replied. "What about Mr. Davidson?"
"He's just a business partner, very little debt and it doesn't look like he's ever broken a law." Coates said, "A real Mr. Rodgers."
"I think the wife had something to do with this," Sturgis stated. "She was having an affair, and she didn't seem very surprised that her husband was having one."
"Why kill him?" Coates asked. "It looks like they were both keeping secrets."
"But she has nothing of her own," Sturgis said, "Furthermore she would get no money if they divorced."
"So she goes to the top of the list, do you think Mr. Mathers had anything to do with it?" Coates asked.
"That I'm not sure of," Sturgis smiled.
ZOYA'S COMPARTMENT
"So, any idea who the killer is?" Zoya asked.
"Not a clue," Webb replied.
"Maybe we should try and figure this out." Zoya suggested. "It was my idea."
"I really don't want to," Webb said.
"What do you want to do?" Zoya asked.
"I want to know why you requested me." Webb stated.
"Webb, I am a field agent but also a lawyer." Zoya said. "I bend the rules but, I need someone on my team who doesn't mind breaking them."
"But we've really never worked in the field together," Webb stated.
"Unless you count my cleaning up your messes," Zoya teased.
"Excuse me?" Webb asked, "What messes?"
"Remember your little escapade in Australia?" Zoya asked, "All those bimbo models and not a shred of evidence."
"Hey, they were not supposed to give evidence, they were helping me establish my cover," Webb announced. "And they were not bimbos."
"You're right, big boobs and small brains, but that doesn't make them bimbos." Zoya said.
"You were jealous," Webb laughed.
"Why would I be jealous?" Zoya asked.
"You tell me," Webb stated. "What about you and the accountant?"
"Harold? Oh please, that digit head? We went out a few times." Zoya said. "How did you find out about him anyway, you weren't even in the states?"
"I have my sources," Webb smiled.
"What did these sources tell you?" Zoya asked.
"There were some quiet dinners for two at very exclusive restaurants, walks along the Potomac at night and oh a concert at the Kennedy Center." Webb advised.
"Were you having me stalked?" Zoya asked.
"I call it spying," Webb replied.
"So now who's jealous?" Zoya asked.
"Countess, you're something else." Webb laughed. "I was not jealous. By the way, those women couldn't half compare to you."
"Of course they couldn't." Zoya smiled. "Thank you."
"I mean how could a string of beautiful, leggy, sexy models compare?" Webb asked. "Those women were probably some of the most gorgeous women on the earth and the way they turned heads…"
"Clay, shut up." Zoya laughed.
"Knock, knock," Harm said as he walked in. "I figured you would be here."
"I assumed Mac would be with you," Webb shot back.
"She'll be here in a few minutes," Harm said. "I think we should pool our resources."
"Now, why would we want to do that?" Webb asked.
"Well, you guys missed the morning round and we missed the afternoon," Harm replied.
"He's got a point," Zoya stated.
"So does the top of the Washington Monument," Webb said.
"Hi, guys," Mac said walking in.
"This compartment is too small for all of us. Let's go to the dining car." Zoya suggested.
THE DINING CAR
The four entered the dining car to find Gunny and Tiner sitting at a table as well as other passengers sitting. They took a table on the opposite end and began to review all the notes they had. A steward approached and asked if they would like anything.
"So, what have you got?" Webb asked.
"You tell us," Harm replied.
"Hey, this was your idea. You first," Webb stated.
"Why so you can get the information and then change your mind?" Harm asked.
"Are they always like this?" Zoya asked Mac.
"This is nothing," Mac smiled.
"Hey, can we lower the testosterone levels a bit and get to work?" Zoya asked.
"We can work just fine," Harm said, "Let's trade notes."
They exchanged notes and were discussing all they had when a couple walked into the car.
"Those are the Michelson's," Mac informed. "I can't figure out if they are part of the cast or other passengers."
"I think it's the doctor," Webb stated.
"No way, and lose his meal ticket?" Harm replied.
"What about the mistress?" Mac asked.
"That's another meal ticket," Harm said.
"Are you with us?" Webb asked Zoya.
"Yeah," Zoya replied. "That man just looks so familiar."
"I think the detective work is getting to her," Harm laughed.
"Very funny," Zoya smirked.
Across the car…
"Gunny, I think you are out of your mind if you believe Ms. Moore is going to go out with you." Tiner said.
"Yeah Tiner, I'm out of my mind." Gunny laughed. "She would pass up a marine for a little squid like you."
"Hey, this squid is going to be a lawyer." Tiner replied. "What are you going to be?"
"Her date," Gunny shot back.
Back to the foursome…
"So the doctor and Ms. Moore are out, who else have we got?" Harm asked.
"We have the business partner, the wife and her lover." Webb stated.
"Forget the lover," Mac said. "He doesn't look like he could find his way out of a paper bag, let alone kill someone."
"So that leaves the secretary and the wife," Zoya stated.
"You guys take the wife, we'll take the secretary." Webb suggested.
"We only have 9 hours to solve this," Mac reminded the group.
"It shouldn't be too difficult," Harm smiled.
"I need some sleep," Mac said rubbing her eyes.
"So Harm, whose compartment are you sleeping in tonight?" Zoya teased.
"My own," Harm said. "Where are you sleeping tonight, Webb?"
"The bunks are just fine in my compartment," Webb shot back. "Need any help opening yours?"
Mac, Harm and Webb got up to leave.
"Aren't you coming?" Webb asked Zoya.
"Yeah, I am just going to finish my coffee first," Zoya smiled. "You guys sleep well."
Ten minutes later, Zoya returned to her compartment. She was tired and looking forward to some sleep. She opened the door, turned on the light and found she had a visitor.
