"So how did she take it?" Skates asked as she strolled into Harm's office.
"Faith took it quite well, she a good lawyer. Bud was a little disheartened at the extra work, but he took it like a man."
"Very funny, I didn't mean Major Williams, I meant the Colonel."
"She actually took it well."
"So she didn't yell or burst into tears?" Skates questioned.
"No. I told her what was going on she said okay."
"Okay?" Skates repeated.
"She said she realised I wasn't just doing this because I got to fly, I was doing this for the good of the whole air group. She also said if one of our kids ended up being a military pilot, which was a distinct possibility given their genes that she would want someone to watch out for them before a situation got out of hand."
"She's quite a woman." Skates said.
"That she is." Harm paused. "So why are you back from lunch so soon, I thought you would be a while yet."
"Petty Officer Coates wanted to get back, she said she had twenty minutes before court resumed and she had to talk to a Sgt Moon."
"Bailiff and Marine security." Harm supplied.
"She said he needed her help with something."
"It's his wife's thirtieth birthday next week and he needs help choosing a present so he asked Jen."
"You know a lot about the people who work here."
"Actually Jen told me." Harm replied.
"You said you needed me to do something when I got back from lunch?"
"Ah yes. Follow me." Harm got up and walked out of his office and over to Sturgis's office. Harm tapped on the door.
"Harm." Sturgis said.
"How's it going?" Harm inquired.
"Not well."
"I see. You remember Skates right?" Harm asked.
"Of course. It's nice to see you again." Sturgis said.
"You too sir." Skates replied.
"We may be able to help with your case." Harm said.
"I'm listening." Sturgis leant back in his chair.
"I can't tell you because Jen gave me the information and it may give the appearance of impropriety." Harm replied.
"You know something that could help my case but you can't tell me. Buddy that's really useful."
"I said I couldn't tell you, but I didn't say anything about Skates not telling you. She's not a lawyer; she was just an innocent bystander. Skates tell him what Jen said."
"What about court being interesting and that Commander Turner was planning it even more that way after lunch?" Skates asked.
"Carry on." Harm prompted.
"That he was using the 'everyone is to blame but his client' defence, because it was the only option available to him."
"Harm, as interesting as this is I have to be back in court in fifteen minutes and my strategy isn't working." Sturgis interrupted.
"You didn't let her finish. Carry on Skates."
"Expect there was an almost identical case, US Navy vs. Petty Officer Second Class Steven Dunne, where the defence attorney had a better strategy, who got it down to three months docked pay." Skates added.
"Now that's interesting." Sturgis said.
"Tell him who the defence attorney was." Harm suggested.
"Major Williams." Skates said.
"Excuse me..." Sturgis got up. "There is someone I need to see."
"Step back." Harm said to Skates as Sturgis left. "And our work here is done."
"What was all that about?" Skates asked.
"Jen probably shouldn't have told us about Dunne's case because Sturgis's case is still active, but he needed some help and because it would appear to be an act of impropriety. It's like Mac and I not discussing cases at home, especially ones that have a chance of me having to appear in front of her."
"I see."
"So what are your plans for the rest of the day, I have to get back to work if I'm going to clear everything up before tomorrow."
"I have a couple of requests for things to take back to the Henry, but apart from that nothing concrete why?"
"If I give you directions and a key you can go back to the house and relax if you want to." Harm offered.
"Won't Mac mind?" Skates questioned.
"Do you remember me telling you about Meg?" Harm asked.
"Yes. Why?"
"She came to me a couple of months back, because she was being stalked by a guy from the first case we worked on together. She's stayed with us for a couple of weeks while they tracked him down. So I'm sure Mac won't mind you there for a couple of hours."
"I might take you up on that." Skates smiled.
"Just no rooting around in drawers."
"And here you are ruining my plans to steal your underwear to run it up the nearest flag pole Harm." Harriet who was passing glanced at him.
"Just ignore her. She's of questionable mental health." Harm joked.
"Yes sir." Harriet said.
TBC
"Faith took it quite well, she a good lawyer. Bud was a little disheartened at the extra work, but he took it like a man."
"Very funny, I didn't mean Major Williams, I meant the Colonel."
"She actually took it well."
"So she didn't yell or burst into tears?" Skates questioned.
"No. I told her what was going on she said okay."
"Okay?" Skates repeated.
"She said she realised I wasn't just doing this because I got to fly, I was doing this for the good of the whole air group. She also said if one of our kids ended up being a military pilot, which was a distinct possibility given their genes that she would want someone to watch out for them before a situation got out of hand."
"She's quite a woman." Skates said.
"That she is." Harm paused. "So why are you back from lunch so soon, I thought you would be a while yet."
"Petty Officer Coates wanted to get back, she said she had twenty minutes before court resumed and she had to talk to a Sgt Moon."
"Bailiff and Marine security." Harm supplied.
"She said he needed her help with something."
"It's his wife's thirtieth birthday next week and he needs help choosing a present so he asked Jen."
"You know a lot about the people who work here."
"Actually Jen told me." Harm replied.
"You said you needed me to do something when I got back from lunch?"
"Ah yes. Follow me." Harm got up and walked out of his office and over to Sturgis's office. Harm tapped on the door.
"Harm." Sturgis said.
"How's it going?" Harm inquired.
"Not well."
"I see. You remember Skates right?" Harm asked.
"Of course. It's nice to see you again." Sturgis said.
"You too sir." Skates replied.
"We may be able to help with your case." Harm said.
"I'm listening." Sturgis leant back in his chair.
"I can't tell you because Jen gave me the information and it may give the appearance of impropriety." Harm replied.
"You know something that could help my case but you can't tell me. Buddy that's really useful."
"I said I couldn't tell you, but I didn't say anything about Skates not telling you. She's not a lawyer; she was just an innocent bystander. Skates tell him what Jen said."
"What about court being interesting and that Commander Turner was planning it even more that way after lunch?" Skates asked.
"Carry on." Harm prompted.
"That he was using the 'everyone is to blame but his client' defence, because it was the only option available to him."
"Harm, as interesting as this is I have to be back in court in fifteen minutes and my strategy isn't working." Sturgis interrupted.
"You didn't let her finish. Carry on Skates."
"Expect there was an almost identical case, US Navy vs. Petty Officer Second Class Steven Dunne, where the defence attorney had a better strategy, who got it down to three months docked pay." Skates added.
"Now that's interesting." Sturgis said.
"Tell him who the defence attorney was." Harm suggested.
"Major Williams." Skates said.
"Excuse me..." Sturgis got up. "There is someone I need to see."
"Step back." Harm said to Skates as Sturgis left. "And our work here is done."
"What was all that about?" Skates asked.
"Jen probably shouldn't have told us about Dunne's case because Sturgis's case is still active, but he needed some help and because it would appear to be an act of impropriety. It's like Mac and I not discussing cases at home, especially ones that have a chance of me having to appear in front of her."
"I see."
"So what are your plans for the rest of the day, I have to get back to work if I'm going to clear everything up before tomorrow."
"I have a couple of requests for things to take back to the Henry, but apart from that nothing concrete why?"
"If I give you directions and a key you can go back to the house and relax if you want to." Harm offered.
"Won't Mac mind?" Skates questioned.
"Do you remember me telling you about Meg?" Harm asked.
"Yes. Why?"
"She came to me a couple of months back, because she was being stalked by a guy from the first case we worked on together. She's stayed with us for a couple of weeks while they tracked him down. So I'm sure Mac won't mind you there for a couple of hours."
"I might take you up on that." Skates smiled.
"Just no rooting around in drawers."
"And here you are ruining my plans to steal your underwear to run it up the nearest flag pole Harm." Harriet who was passing glanced at him.
"Just ignore her. She's of questionable mental health." Harm joked.
"Yes sir." Harriet said.
TBC
