Forgiving Our Mistakes
Chapter 3
Author: Susan217
A/N: Thanks to Mac 2 for yet another wonderful beta. You rock, woman.
Disclaimers: See first chapter
*****
Harm immediately moved in front of Mac, his body going
tense. "Who the hell are you?" he asked, as the man stepped
around them both.
"You wouldn't know me, Commander," the man replied.
His hair was blonde and close cropped. He was around
50 years old, his face covered by acne scars. He moved
past them to the shelves, setting some towels, and
more clean clothes down. "My name isn't important.
What is important is that you tell me where to find
Clayton Webb."
"What makes you think we know where he is?" Harm
asked.
"I don't expect you to know, Commander. You were
simply a bonus. She is the one who might know. Where
is he, darling?"
"I don't know. Webb never tells me anything about
where he is going," Mac replied, obviously still in
shock.
"I believe you do," the man said, moving toward her
menacingly. Harm put out an arm forcing her behind
him.
The man stopped, and laughed sharply. "Commander Rabb.
You have stepped on my employer's toes it seems. We were thrilled that this
worked out so easily."
"Who is your employer?" Harm asked, pushing back on
Mac to put more distance between them and the man.
"You'll find out in due time."
"May I ask your name?" Mac asked, moving out from
behind him after the distance was established.
He smiled. "Indeed. You may call me Charles. This is
my associate Jason. I believe that Mr. Rabb is
acquainted with the butt of Jason's gun," he said with
a wink to his younger comrade.
"I will ask again nicely, Ms. Mackenzie. Where is
Clayton Webb?"
"I don't know," she replied through clenched teeth.
Harm looked into her eyes and knew she was telling the
truth.
"She's telling the truth," Harm said, his eyes
shifting back to Charles.
"It is unfortunate for you both that I do not believe
her," he said, his friendly demeanor shifting. He
moved forward grabbing her by the arm. Harm
immediately lashed out, his fist connecting with
Charles's jaw. A clicking in his ear stopped him from
more movement. He didn't have to look to know that
Jason's gun was pointed at his head.
Charles rubbed at his jaw, looking at Harm irritably.
Mac stood still her eyes continually shifting from
Jason to Harm, her chest heaving.
"That was foolish, Mr. Rabb," Charles said.
"Come along, my dear. We need to have a word alone,"
he said pointing a gun at Mac's stomach and dragging
her along behind him.
"No!" Harm yelled, as the barrel of the gun was pushed
roughly into his temple.
Mac smiled at him, tears springing to her eyes. "I'll
be fine, Squid."
Charles pulled her up the stairs and Jason followed,
leaving Harm alone with his panic.
**
Harm was waiting by the door prepared to break it
down, when Charles spoke. "Please step away from the door, Harmon. I'll
end her life if you do not."
Harm cursed and backed slowly backed down the stairs. *There is one
camera I can't see. How many more are there?*
As the threesome reentered the basement he squelched
the urge to push past them and pull her to his side.
She remained behind Jason, only the top of her head
visible.
"Thank you for your cooperation, Harmon," Charles
said, finally moving so that Harm could see Mac. No
obvious signs of injury were present. Her face was
pale and she moved past him to the cot, sitting down
slowly.
"Mac?" he asked, but she didn't respond. He looked at
Charles.
"What the hell do you need? I'll find Webb. Let me out
of here. I know I can find him."
"Harm…" Mac said, her voice quiet but the warning
still there.
He wheeled around. "No, Mac. I'm not saving his ass. I
don't care what happens to him. I care what happens to
you--us."
He turned again to Charles. "I'm not kidding. I will
find him. Just let her go. She doesn't need to be
here."
"Your offer is admirable, but useless. Ms. Mackenzie
has already supplied us with information. If it is
useful, then she will live." Charles went back up the
stairs, but paused when he and Jason reached the top.
"Thank you again, Ms. Mackenzie." He and Jason walked
out the door.
Harm turned back to Mac. He sat down in front of her,
running his hands over her to check for injuries that
couldn't be seen.
"What happened up there?" he asked, satisfied that she
was not physically harmed.
"They
used my cell phone. I had Clay's number
programmed in. They know how to find Chloe. They
showed me pictures of her going in and out of school,
pictures of her bedroom window at night."
"Jesus," he whispered, clasping her fingers in his
hands. "What happened?"
"I called him. There was no other choice. He answered.
Charles spoke to him…told him he had us."
He looked up sharply at her. "Is he coming for us?"
"No. No he's not. They are meeting with him tomorrow.
I think they'll take us with them."
"Take us to Webb?" he asked, sitting down on the
floor. She sat beside him, their arms lightly
touching.
"Yeah." She pushed her hair back from her face and
leaned her head against his shoulder.
He tilted her chin up to look at him. "I'm going to
get us out of this, Marine."
She smiled half heartedly. "It won't involve you
piloting an aircraft will it?"
He chuckled. "I make no promises."
"Get some sleep, Mac."
She crawled into the cot. He stood up to leave, but
was stopped by her hand on his arm. Their eyes locked.
"The pictures were in her bedroom window."
He paused, then edged in beside her.
"Just until you fall asleep," he whispered, burying
his face in her hair. His last thought was of the warm
body next to him before sleep claimed him.