Sturgis walked over and opened his apartment door at the knock.
"Webb."
"Turner. Mac up?"
"Abi stared screaming at 0530 and she's only just gone back to sleep so Mac is in the kitchen cursing the fact that she can't drink coffee anymore." Sturgis replied.
"Typical morning then." Webb said.
"Did they find out anything since I left?" Sturgis asked.
"With this note they decided to get creative with scissors and a magazine. But someone didn't teach them scissor safety, they left a drop of blood under one of the letters. Chegwidden is trying to get NCIS permission to run it against the DNA database."
"Good luck to him." Sturgis yawned. "I'm going to take a shower, the kitchen is through there."
"Thanks." Webb headed towards the kitchen. "Good morning Mac."
"Webb." Mac said looking up from her glass of water. "Have they found out anything yet?"
"They're working on it." Webb replied taking a seat.
"So why are you here?" Mac asked.
"I need to know whether you prefer the Air Force or the Army."
"Excuse me?"
"I need you to pick one Air Force or Army."
"Maybe you should explain why I need to pick one first Clay?"
"We think it's in your best interests that you and Abi leave town for a few days while we clear this up." He explained.
"Who is we?" Mac asked.
"Harm, Chegwidden, Turner, Gibbs, I'm sure the list goes on. So I'm arranging for you to disappear."
"Not that I'm agreeing but what does that have to do with the Air Force or the Army?"
"Chegwidden said to tell you it was an order. Harm packed suitcases for you both." He paused. "The best way to hide is in plain sight. The last place you look for a military officer in hiding is on a military base. Since any Marine or Navy base you go to there is a possibility someone will recognise you, which leaves the Air Force or the Army. The choice is up to you."
"Some choice." Mac sighed.
"If you decide you want to go to an Air Force base, you're an aviator's wife, which technically you are anyway, and you know enough about whatever it is the Air Force fly these days to pull it off. If you choose the Army, they are land based infantry, which has to have some similarities to the Marines." Webb expanded. "I need you to make a choice so I can have them finish making up your base IDs."
"Jet fuel makes me nauseous." Mac replied.
"Army base it is." Webb pulled out his cell phone and dialled. "Army." He simply said and hung up.
"What's my cover?" Mac asked.
"You're an Army Major's wife. You're moving into base housing because the house you were supposed have fell through, since your husband has been reassigned."
"And not having a husband there won't throw up any suspicions."
"He had to go to Washington for a few days at the last minute and you decided to move in since you need to be settled. The only person who will know your real identity will be the base Commanding Officer, General Patrickson."
"How do you know the General?" Mac asked.
"That's classified. But let's just say he owes me a favour or two."
"Do I get to say goodbye to Harm?" Mac asked.
"He'll be here in twenty minutes. Once he leaves we'll take you and Abi out of here, have a doctor give you a check up and then take you to the base. You can't call anyone you know except me if there is a problem or you can contact the General. You'll be supplied with a secure phone for that purpose. Hopefully you should only be there for a few days, a week at most."
"It better not be more than a week, I'm supposed to have my twenty week scan then. I'd rather Harm be there since he missed the first scan."
"We'll see what we can do."
"Tiner, get me Coates now." AJ said as he walked back into his office, he had been awake since Harm had called.
"Yes sir." Tiner got on the phone and called Jen to tell her the Admiral wanted to see her.
"You want to see me sir?" Jen asked as she walked into his office.
"Close the hatch and take a seat."
"Yes sir." Jen did as she was instructed.
"You may have noticed that Colonel Mackenzie isn't here."
"Yes sir."
"She won't be for a few days. If anyone calls to inquire about her whereabouts, get there name and number and tell them she'll call back as soon as she gets back to the office."
"Yes sir." Jen paused. "Admiral did something else happen?"
"Off the record. Someone threw a brick with another death threat through their window. Mac and Abi have 'disappeared' for a few days. Webb is the only one who knows their location."
"Yes sir, but what about the court martial?"
"Get me all the information I'll take over. See if we can come to an amicable settlement."
"Sir, they only have one point of contention at the moment. I think an informal mediation between the defence and the prosecution would put an end to matters." Jen suggested.
"I'll take that under advisement Petty Officer. Could you also advise Commander Helfman that she will need to sign any requests from Special Agent Gibbs in regards search warrants and the alike."
"Sir, could I suggest Colonel Blakely instead?"
"For what reason?" AJ asked.
"Office politics sir." Jen replied. AJ looked at her. "Permission to speak freely Admiral."
"Go ahead." AJ leant back in his chair.
"Commander Helfman has a few personal issues with Captain Krennick, namely that she made a pass at the Commander's former husband. In the interest of propriety Colonel Blakely would be a better choice."
"Very well. Please advise him. That will be all. Dismissed.
"Aye aye sir." Jen stood to attention before leaving.
TBC
