Part 20: A Journey of Separate Hearts – With the Help of a High-Tech Genius
AN to part 20: I don't know, if there truly exists a computer network or system, which allows the access to every single fingerprint the whole US police collected during the years. IMHO it would make sense and would probably help a lot to identify potential criminals etc. So in my story this police computer network exists.
February 13th 2003, Thursday
1400 Zulu (15:00 hrs West EDT)
House of Captain Simmons
Montmartre
Paris, France
Harm had immediately called Captain Simmons only to get his wife on the line. She had told him that Logan Simmons wasn't at home. But Mrs. Simmons had given Harm the captain's cell phone number. Fortunately he was able to reach the captain on his cell phone.
Logan Simmons had already known about the case and what Harm had wanted to ask. The Admiral had called Logan earlier and he had immediately agreed to help Harm.
Nevertheless he wouldn't be back in town before 1500, but then Logan Simmons would do everything in his power to shed some light on the whole issue.
When only 30 minutes were left, Harm took the metro to get to the Simmons' house – the tape and the note well protected in a small bag.
Now he stood in front of the beautifully old, restored house and realized for the very first time how wonderful and amazing this part of Paris was.
He had paid absolutely no attention to his surroundings.
There hadn't been time for that.
There had been more important issues he had to deal with.
There had been no Sarah MacKenzie by his side to enjoy the architecture and sights with him.
But he planned to change that!
And he hoped Captain Logan Simmons was the key he needed to find and open the prison where Mac was captured and possibly tortured.
Harm rang the bell and a moment later the door was opened and Harm faced a tall, well-built man, who appeared to be slightly younger than Admiral Chegwidden, but at least 10 years older than Harm.
Two clear, sharp, green eyes watched him closely and then a sparkle appeared in them as a smile appeared on the man's face as he greeted Harm
"Hello! Commander Rabb, I assume. I'm Captain Simmons and AJ told me you need some help, right?"
Harm took the hand Simmons offered him and answered, "Yes, Sir. That would be me – Commander Harmon Rabb. Thank you, Sir, for sparing some time to help me. I appreciate it very much."
"No problem, Commander. AJ spoke highly of you and I owe him so much that I'm glad I can return something to him by helping you. And drop the sir. We are at my house now and under different circumstances you would be spending your vacation in Paris and be out of uniform. So Logan is absolutely fine. I'll probably never get used to the sir-thing." Logan gave him a small smile before he let him in.
"Then it's Harm and not Commander."
When they reached the living room, Logan spoke again, "So, Harm, what exactly can I do for you? AJ informed me that you would be calling today but said nothing further."
"Ok, Logan, because of time I don't have, here's the short version: My partner, the person I was traveling with, was kidnapped last Wednesday in London at Buckingham Palace. I got a call from the kidnapper letting me know that he had her and ordered me to fly immediately to Paris. I got a tape, and later a note from him.
I've watched the tape several times and something about this man seems familiar, but I can't identify him because his face is in the dark on that tape. So the Admiral told me that you are the right man to solve that problem. I also brought the note with me – maybe you find some fingerprints besides mine on it. And I badly need some help finding Mac…um, Colonel Sarah MacKenzie – my partner."
"Well, we'll see what I can do for you. Let's go to my office and start working, okay?"
Harm only nodded and Simmons led the way upstairs.
When the captain opened the last door down the hall, Harm was taken by surprise when they entered Logan's 'office'.
It wasn't just an 'office' – it was a high tech laboratory filled with every possible type of modern equipment you could currently find on the market. Harm had never seen so many different high-tech things – he could barely guess what some of them were used for.
It didn't matter, because he didn't have to know that, but there was absolutely no doubt that Logan knew it. From the way he 'brought' every single machine 'to life', Logan was a specialist that in the high-tech business.
So Harm gave Logan the videotape and the note when he was asked, and put his trust in Logan.
He had asked for Harm's fingerprints so that he would be able to compare them with those on the note Harm had given him. And that would be the last thing he would hear from Logan for hours.
It seemed that Simmons was caught in that crazy high-tech universe within seconds, and didn't say much besides some inaudible murmurs during his work.
So Harm took a seat next to Logan in front of a PC monitor and watched him while he worked on the tape.
The suspense, the waiting and exhaustion finally took over Harm, and he couldn't stay awake when his eyes became heavy.
February 13th 2003, Thursday
1630 Zulu (17:30 hrs West EDT)
Captain Simmons' office
Montmartre
Paris, France
Two and a half our later, Harm was suddenly awakened by Logan's victorious shout, "Got you!!"
"What the heck…" Harm was startled for a moment before he remembered where he was and why he was there.
"Logan, did you find something?" asked Harm hopefully.
"Not only something, but someone! I finally have a picture from our 'shadow man'. I also looked for some fingerprints besides yours on the note you'd given me before, and indeed, I found some. I checked them with the computer system of the Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force, the entire computer network of the US police system, the FBI, CIA etc. and I found one match. The file of our suspect has a photo in it and the man on that tape is the same one."
"What? Really, you found him? Who is it?" Harm urged, wanting to know who that bastard was that held his Mac hostage.
"His name is Luke Wilson. He's 39 years old, white, originally from La Jolla, California. Mr. Wilson has had some contact with the police before. He's definitely not the nice guy from your neighborhood."
"Luke Wilson!! You have to be kidding! I can't believe it. Luke??" asked Harm unbelieving.
"Do you know this guy?"
"Yes, he was in high school with me. He wasn't one of my close friends, but I knew him from the basketball team and we had a few classes together. I can't believe it. Why would he do that to Mac or me?"
"Well, I don't know, Harm, but according to what I've seen and heard on that tape, he enjoyed it very much. Maybe it's some kind of revenge or something like that…" Logan tried to guess.
"I have no clue why he would want revenge. But at the moment, it doesn't matter to me. The only thing that matters is that he's the kidnapper and I have to figure out where he would hide Mac. Show me the tape or picture from his file so I know how he looks like today."
Logan turned the screen of the PC to Harm. He could see a scene from the tape that Logan had paused. Harm gasped in surprise when he recognized the person.
"That's the employee who brought me the food early this morning. I didn't pay that much attention to him, but I clearly remember him. That was Luke and I let that bastard slip away."
Harm paused for a moment thinking about his next step when suddenly slapped his hand to his forehead as if all the pieces of the puzzle had suddenly fallen into place.
"That's how he knows what I'm doing and where I am. He's in the hotel. I'm sure – he works there."
Then Harm looked up and addressed Simmons, "Logan, I need to call the admiral through your secure line. He needs to fax me something ASAP."
"Of course, use that phone and dial a 0 before the number and the fax number is printed on the fax next to the phone!"
February 13th 2003, Thursday
1630 Zulu (11:30 hrs EST)
Admiral Chegwidden's office
JAG HQ
Falls Church, Virginia
Tiner had answered the call and had immediately put him through to the Admiral.
"Good morning, Commander. Is there something new about the Colonel's kidnapper?"
"Good morning, Sir. Yes, you were right. Captain Simmons is a genius and found out who our 'shadow man' is. His name is Luke Wilson and I know him from my high school years in La Jolla. I don't know why he's doing this to Mac or me, but I'll definitely find out. And I think I know where to look for him. I recognized him as the guy from room service. So I'm convinced that he works in the hotel. That's why he's able to watch every step I make – at least in the hotel. That's why I called you, Sir. I need the photo that Pete faxed to you earlier. I think with the help of that photo I can find out where he's holding Mac."
"All right, I'll fax it personally. I don't want Tiner or the rest of the staff to know what's going on. What's the number?"
"Of course! Fax it to Captain Simmons, please. The number is…" Harm told him the number. "Thank you, Sir."
"I got it. Commander, tell Logan that when he's in Washington again, some drinks and a friend will be waiting for him." AJ grinned slightly. "I'll call him later to thank him personally, but I'm sure you're in a hurry now. So be careful, Commander. You know this jerk better than I do, but I'm sure you shouldn't underestimate Mr. Wilson. Take care, Harm, and bring her home." He repeated the words he had said to Harm earlier that day.
"I will, Admiral. No matter what!" Harm replied convinced.
"Very well. Good luck. And call immediately if something happens."
"I will. Thank you again, Sir. Good bye."
Harm cut the connection and a few minutes later, the sound of an incoming fax filled the room.
Logan grabbed it and gave it to Harm.
"What are you hoping to find on it?" asked Logan.
"Well, I hope to find some indication of the place where Wilson is holding Mac hostage…something that will help me identify a room. Something that I can show to the hotel employees."
Harm looked closely at the picture and after a while looked up to Logan again.
"I think I have found something: There're posters on the wall which might help to identify the room. And I think there's a number on the telephone." He showed Logan the picture and pointed to it.
"Here, look. It's very fuzzy. Maybe it's the internal phone number, but I can't decipher it."
"Yeah, it's pretty blurry. But give it to me. It's possible that I can enlarge this part."
Harm handed the fax to Logan and he again worked wonders with his high-tech equipment.
The number was now clearly visible.
"5706-9832" read Logan out loud. "I'm not sure if that's really a phone number, but it could be possible."
"I can simply dial the number and we'll find it out!" And Harm grabbed the phone and dialed.
And immediately when he had finished, he heard a voice, "The number you have called is not available. The number you have called is not…"
Harm slammed the receiver back on the cradle, frustrated. "It's not a registered phone number and I doubt it's an internal hotel number. But I'll find out," explained Harm and continued, "Logan, I have to go now. I know someone who is probably going to be able to help me find Mac. I can't thank you enough or tell you how much I appreciate what you've done for me – and Mac. Without you, I wouldn't even know who my enemy is or where to start with my search. Thank you so much, Logan."
"Ahh, it's alright. I'm glad I could help, and AJ's friends are my friends. Keep in touch, Harm, and if you need my help, call me at any time, no matter how late it is."
"Thanks for the offer and I'll get back to you if I need to. Gotta go now. I will call you when something happens!"
Logan and Harm walked downstairs to the front door and Harm turned again to shake Logan's hand for his good bye.
"Take care, Harm, and be careful. If you need a back up, call me! And that's an order, Commander!"
Harm had to smile at Logan's return to the formal way of address.
"Aye, Aye, Sir. Thank you again. We'll keep in touch." With that, Harm left the Simmons' house and headed back to the metro, hoping fervently that Louis could help him.