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Episode: Port Chicago
- JAG Headquarters, Falls Church, Virginia
"Yes?" Loren held the cell phone to her ear.
"Is there Miss F. R. Maine?"
"No, you've got the wrong number. Sorry." Loren disconnected. Bonettry. What the heck -? The woman had never called her before, Webb might be jetting around the globe but he still held the reins of this operation very tightly.
She looked around. The bullpen was as busy as ever, no one was paying any attention to her. Good. Taking some files she headed into one of the conference rooms and shut the door firmly. Then she dialed Bonettry's number from memory.
"Bonettry."
"Firefighter. What's the matter?"
Instead of answering directly the other woman asked a question herself. "You've been assigned to prosecute the renewal of the Port Chicago court marshal?"
Loren frowned. "Yes."
"And Colonel Mackenzie is sitting second chair?"
"Yes," confirmed Loren with a sigh. It looked like she had overplayed her Singer-attitude a bit this time. Too bloodthirsty probably even for Chegwidden's SEAL taste. And now she was having an annoyed Colonel Mackenzie breathing down her neck and observing critically any of her steps. As if the case wasn't difficult enough - she had already wondered how she should be able to work Singer's character into the prosecution without spoiling everything. Doing this in the courtroom was hard enough but now she would have to carry it through even in preparation.
"Good. If Mister McBride chooses to turn down the SecNav's offer make it a full-time job for her."
"Excuse me?!" Loren's voice jumped almost an octave upwards.
"Can you get Chegwidden to take the case away from you and hand it over to Mackenzie?"
Loren opened and shut her mouth a few times without a sound.
"W-what? But why?" she stammered finally.
"Let's just say we need Mackenzie a little bit distracted at the moment. So, how is it? Can you manage?"
"I - I don't know, I mean..." Loren fought for control. "It's not Chegwidden's style of leadership to interfere as long as it's not absolutely necessary." She thought again. "It would take a lot. Heck, Rabb once fired a weapon in the courtroom and all he got was a dressing down - although I'm not Rabb and so probably have a much lower toleration-level."
Bonettry clicked her tongue. "Too bad. Well, try nevertheless, maybe you'll get somewhere. But if you don't ... do you think you can distract her enough to keep her away from her other work?"
"Distract her?"
"Distract her, make her mad, annoy her, tick her off, whatever. If you lose the case to her in the course it's even better. But keep her occupied as much as you can for at least two days."
"But why?"
"That's need to know. Just do it."
"Whoa - stop here!" Anger shot up in her. "Not this way, lady! I'm the one who's supposed to risk her neck and believe me Colonel Mackenzie has quite some teeth to take a bite of me! Besides, Singer is ambitious but definitely not intending to commit professional suicide! And that I would do because the only way to tick Mackenzie off would be to act aggressive, ruthless and sometimes absolutely stupid in court and outside! So either you'll tell me what's going on or I'm going nowhere!"
She listened to an irritated silence.
"All right," Bonettry gave in suddenly, "But remember this is -"
"- classified. Yeah, I know, please spare me!"
Another angry pause. But the agent recovered quickly.
"We know Colonel Mackenzie is assigned to defend a seaman who went temporarily UA in Mexico. But an investigation down there would be highly inappropriate at the moment because she could disturb ... people we don't want to be disturbed. McBride and you will buy us the time we need."
Loren snorted. "You're manipulating evidence? And ask me to assist?"
"Watch your tongue, Firefighter." Bonettry's voice was as cold as ice. "Nobody is manipulating evidence. Those people are by no means connected to Mackenzie's case. But a Marine asking questions would make them nervous. All we need are two more days then they'll be gone."
"Great." Loren rubbed her neck and glared at the ceiling. "You expect me to act like a lunatic."
"If it's necessary."
"Ooh, darn it!" Loren remembered where she was and lowered her voice. "Why don't you just ask her to give it a rest for two days? She's a rational woman! Or let Chegwidden order her to stay put."
"That's not an option."
"Not an option. But blowing my cover is an option! What would you do if I wasn't here?"
"You are, so there's no sense in discussing it."
"What if Chief McBride takes the SecNav's offer? And if he doesn't are you aware how much ill handling of this case could damage the Navy? Does Nelson know about this?"
"According to our sources it's very unlikely McBride will do that. And Secretary Nelson will be informed."
"Oh, will he?!" Loren scoffed disgusted. Well, according to Webb, Nelson had been more than annoyed that one of his once favorite officers had suddenly turned into a suspect. She couldn't imagine him to be happy if she spoiled this case.
"Look, that wasn't my idea!" Bonettry blew up. "And take notice that this is an order! So just do as you've been told!"
Loren hung up on her. She was furious. And she felt used. How dared that woman! Did Webb know about this? She contemplated her cell phone. Should she call him? But what if he did? Oh, darn it! Here she was - supposed to prosecute a man for mutiny and at the same time considering it herself. She made a face at the irony.
She started pacing up and down, glaring at the floor. So they wanted her to tick Mackenzie off? Or even better, to lose the case to her? Well, they had asked for it! Oh, yes, she would tick her off! Wow, would she tick her off! They would be screaming for help the way she would tick her off!
- JAG Headquarters, Falls Church, Virginia
Loren shut the door of her new office with an audible thud and enjoyed for a moment her new privacy. Then she sighed. The silence in here was almost worth the new level in her war with Lieutenant Sims. Sitting down she rubbed her tired eyes.
Well, she could truly report: mission accomplished. Colonel Mackenzie was thoroughly mad at her. And on the way she had managed to tick off Chegwidden, Sturgis and probably Rabb too. What a success. Now she wasn't only the arrogant bitch but the stupid one too. She cupped her face in her hands and groaned. Please would somebody shoot her and put her out of her misery?
Man, she still couldn't believe she had nevertheless come near to winning the case! But Sturgis had recovered and changed his tactics. Once or twice during his counter-attack she had really thought Mackenzie would strangle her in the courtroom. And the woman would have been so right. If she had known that the line about shaming the Navy was a direct quote from Commander Lindsey she would have a fit.
Where was the Colonel by the way? She hadn't seen her since they had come out of court. Well, she probably was with Commander Rabb ranting and raving about Singer. And that was something that never ceased to amaze her. This extraordinary friendship between these two was ... beyond any words to describe it. It had survived girl- respectively boyfriends, an engagement, secret signals during this engagement, a break-up, non-speaking terms, being mad at each other terms ... and it still was there. What a gift. One could really be jealous of it.
Loren sighed.