My apologies for being so late. Out of town again, this time to the wedding of a dear friend. My sister won't fly so it was a fourteen hour drive. When I wasn't behind the wheel, I was busily typing - bless the invention of the laptop. This was the first Halloween wedding I've ever been to - what a blast. The groom came as Robin Hood and bride as Maid Marion. The Predator gave away the bride and a butterfly was Matron of Honor. The Best Man was Friar Tuck and the ringbearers were the Hulk and Jason. After that, things got a little bizarre...

Part 24

Jackson Road Near Michelle Elbert's Residence Beaufort, NC 1412 Local

Walters checked his watch and shook his head. It wasn't quite time to check in with Rabb and Gibbs. Those two got along like matches and tinder. Their only common ground (and Walters found it amusing) was their worry over the two women and that neither wanted to incur said women's wrath by being blatantly obvious about it. He knew where the Commander's dislike was coming from but for himself, he didn't have any problems with the abrasive NCIS agent. Gibbs had been a Gunnery Sergeant, they understood each other.

Gunny pulled his binoculars back up and resumed his watch. This spot gave him a clear view of the house and some of the grounds without being too noticeable. He could also see a portion of the water further down, enough to tell if Elbert decided to take her boat out towards the ocean. What he couldn't see, and it bothered him to no end, was the backyard and some of the outbuildings. It had been landscaped to ensure the Congresswoman's privacy. Unfortunately, there was also no way he'd be able to sneak onto the grounds, at least not in broad daylight. The local police paid particular attention to the security of Michelle Elbert's home. Walters knew he was taking a chance just sitting up here on the road. Talk all you want about the progress of equality in this country but when push came to shove, he was still the wrong color to be hanging out near the Congresswoman's house. He could only hope, if Elbert was their killer, that she'd be too smart to try something at her own place.

Another fifteen minutes went by and the Colonel and Kate still weren't out. He looked at his watch again. They'd been gone quite a while but he already knew that the Congresswoman loved to talk. He told himself that it was too soon to worry just yet. Walters drummed his fingers on the steering wheel while he thought. He couldn't decide if Elbert was the one they were looking for. Kate seemed damn sure but Sarah wasn't entirely convinced. He could see both their sides. The coincidences were piling up but they kept slamming into the fact that Michelle Elbert had power, wealth and fame. Sarah had said it. Why risk it all for some twisted revenge plot? He looked back at the house. What was taking them so long?

The sound of car tires had him looking in his rearview mirror and then swearing softly. A police car had pulled up behind him. A minute later, a burly officer got out and ambled slowly up to the Gunny's car. Walters watched him scan the interior before stopping just behind the driver's side door, "You want to step out of the car, please?"

Carefully, Gunny got out, keeping his hands in plain sight. As big as this officer was, Walters still had a couple of inches on him. He didn't want to make the man nervous. "Can I help you, officer?"

The policeman backed up a step, keeping his distance, "You can start by giving me some identification."

Slowly, Walters reached into his back pocket and extracted his wallet. Flipping it open, he pulled out his license and military ID and handed it over.

The policeman read them and looked up at the big man, "You're a long way from home, Gunnery Sergeant. What are you doing out here?"

"I'm waiting for Lt. Col. MacKenzie and Special Agent Todd to finish talking to the Congresswoman about their investigation."

"Uh-huh. Keeping her up to date, are they? Yeah, Ms. Elbert's a stickler for keeping track of what goes on down here."

The officer seemed to relax slightly and Walters wasn't about to disabuse the man of the notion that Elbert was somehow helping. He smiled disarmingly, "I guess so, Officer... " Dubby peered at the man's name tag, "... Officer Dodson. I haven't met her yet. The Colonel asked me to come by when I finished my assignment but I didn't want to interrupt anything. I thought she'd be out by now."

"Well then, why don't we go over and see how your Colonel is doing?" Dodson gestured for Gunny to precede him. Walters stifled a sigh, obviously the cop was still suspicious. Hopefully the Colonel wouldn't blow a gasket when he appeared at the Congresswoman's door being shepherded by one of Beaufort's finest.

They walked up to the front entrance and Dubby, at the policeman's gesture, rapped loudly on the door. When there was no answer, he knocked again and rang the doorbell. Worry started grow. Dammit, where were they?

"Doesn't seem to be anyone home, Gunny," Dodson drawled. Why the hell did he think this guy was going to be any different?

"Well, they didn't drive away. That's Agent Todd's car parked over there," Walters snapped, jerking a thumb in that direction. He tried the doorknob, it was locked. Turning on his heel, he headed for the back of the house.

"Hey!" The officer hurried after him. Dubby ignored him, marching around to the back of the house. No one was there either although it looked like someone would be coming back. The remains of a small building had been partially loaded onto a flatbed. He walked onto the patio and peered through the door. Nothing.

Dodson caught up with him, now thoroughly pissed. "What the hell do you think you're doing? Get away from there." His hand was resting on the butt of his pistol.

Walters glared at him, "Something's wrong. We need to search the house." The sound of an engine starting made him spin around. He'd only taken a step when Dodson blocked his path. Gunny had restrain himself from flattening the man, "Get out of the way!"

"That's enough," Dodson had his service weapon out although he wasn't pointing it at Walters just yet. "I don't know what your problem is, Gunnery Sergeant, but you're not getting anywhere near the Congresswoman."

"Dammit, Dodson... " Walters broke off as he watched a mid-size cabin cruiser pull out of the boathouse and head downstream. The bright red hair of the woman at the wheel told him it was Elbert. He started down to the boathouse and froze when Dodson leveled his pistol at him. Gunny's voice deepened into a menacing growl, "Go ahead and shoot, you stupid son of a bitch, but you'd better have a damn good story to tell when NCIS and the Judge Advocate General gets hold of you." With that, he skirted around the officer and headed towards the boathouse. Reaching the door, Walters hesitated for a split second, half afraid of what he might find. Steeling himself, he yanked open the door. Nothing. Relief was short-lived as the worry flared even stronger. He gazed out at the water and then spun back towards the house. Gunny stopped abruptly as he nearly collided with Dodson. He hadn't heard the officer following him.

"Satisfied, Sergeant?" Dodson gestured at the boathouse, "There's nothing wrong."

"Like hell," Dubby retorted, trying to control his temper. He brushed past the policeman and headed back up the slope, "We need to search the house."

Dodson hurried to catch up. God have mercy, did he have to get all the psychos? Unfortunately, this one was smart enough to know that Dodson really wouldn't shoot him without a damn good reason. His hand drifted closer to his nightstick. If he couldn't deflect this guy, he'd have to take him out and it was going to have to be quick. Dodson had no desire to emulate Jimmy Thacker, who wound up with a busted nose, two black eyes and a broken hand after trying to reason with some drunken lunatic over at the Mayor's place last Saturday. It had taken five officers to subdue that bastard and he hadn't been nearly as big as this bozo. "Oh no, you're not. No way am I letting you break into Congresswoman Elbert's home."

Walters glared at the smaller man, not lessening his stride, "The Colonel and Agent Todd's car is still here. If they're not in the house, then they're on that boat and if they're on the boat, they didn't go willingly." He turned his attention back to the house, lengthening his stride. He had a sinking feeling that Sarah and Kate were indeed upon the Congresswoman's boat but he had verify that they weren't anywhere else on the premises.

A second later, a blow to the back of the head dropped him to his knees and then a second blow sent him into oblivion. Dodson slid his baton back into its holder and knelt down to handcuff the big man. Crazy as a loon. Damn nutcases, there were more of them every year. He activated his radio, he would need some help hauling this guy in. "Gwen? It's Grover. I've got another one at Congresswoman Elbert's. He's military so you'd better call the MPs at Lejeune."

Michelle Elbert's Office Beaufort, NC 1420 Local

Harm accepted a glass of iced tea, took a sip and smiled at the older woman, "Thank you, Ms. Charlotte. This is delicious." Dubby had pulled him aside earlier to let him know that that particular form of address would be most acceptable. It was polite yet informal and would show that, despite his Yankee upbringing, he had manners. He'd also pointed out that Southern gentlemen were free with their compliments to opposite sex. No lying, of course, but embellishments were perfectly acceptable. It had sounded like something straight out of 'Gone With the Wind' and Harm was tailoring his behavior to 'What would Rhett do?' It seemed to be working. Maybe when they got back to DC, he should grow a pencil-thin mustache and try this with Mac.

Charlotte Dixon smiled happily at the handsome man sitting across from her. And she'd thought the afternoon was going to be dull! "So Mr. Rabb... Harm," she corrected herself when he raised an eyebrow, "I can tell from your accent that you're not from these parts. What brings you down this way?"

"I'm mixing business with pleasure," Harm leaned back and turned up his smile another notch, "Although, had I known how beautiful the ladies were down here, I'd have done this more often." He had to resist the urge to finger his imaginary mustache. What was surprising him was that he was enjoying handing out the compliments as much as Ms. Dixon enjoyed receiving them.

Charlotte fluttered a hand and blushed, "Oh you do go on, don't you?" Harm watched with interest, he'd never seen a hand flutter like that. Somehow, he couldn't quite see Mac doing such a thing. Of course, he'd never thrown a plethora of compliments at her like he was carpet-bombing a target,

Harm smiled disarmingly, "Nothing less than the truth." He paused for a moment and then launched into his story, "Actually, I stopped by because I think I've met the Congresswoman before. My father was in the Navy and he served with a Petty Officer Elbert. My family was on its way to Pensacola when Dad stopped here. I seem to recall a skinny, red-haired girl."

"That was Mike. How old were you?" Charlotte propped her chin in her hand and smiled happily. This beat staring out the window all to heck. Why couldn't Miles look like this?

"All of nine and pretty full of myself. My dad made me hang out with her while they visited. I was a year older and pushed it for all it was worth. Mike seemed kinda shy." He looked around the office, "I wouldn't say she's like that anymore." He gazed back at Charlotte, "I imagine her parents are pretty proud of her."

For the first time, Charlotte looked distressed. Harm leaned forward, concerned, "Are you all right?"

"Oh, I'm just being silly," the older woman waved a hand, "It was just so upsetting." At Harm's politely inquiring look, she elaborated, "Well, of course, you wouldn't know but Mike's parents both died in a house fire when she was freshman in college."

"No," Harm sat up in surprise, "That's terrible. Mike wasn't home at the time, I take it?"

"No," Charlotte hesitated slightly and then shook her head, "No, she was at school."

Harm tilted his head to one side, "You don't sound as if you're sure about that."

Charlotte waved a hand, "Well, it was such a shock at the time but you know, I thought I saw her that night. My son Timothy was cutting a tooth and he wouldn't sleep so I was walking the floor with him. I had just gone on to the back porch when this little car went by and I could have sworn it was Mike. It just struck me as odd to see her at that time of night and, of course, it turned out that I was completely wrong because she was still at Duke. She'd been studying all night for an exam the next day, so obviously, it wasn't her that I saw."

"Obviously," Harm nodded thoughtfully, outwardly calm while he turned this information over in his head. Dear god, had the woman murdered her own parents? He looked back at Charlotte, "Did you ever mention this to Mike?"

"Oh no, you see, I really didn't know her all that well at the time and I'd been mistaken anyway, so what was the point?" She tapped her chin, "You know, even if it had been her, I don't think I'd have said anything. Poor child, bad enough that her father's smoking had killed both himself and her mother but to have someone point out to you that you might have prevented it if you'd stayed a little longer? No, that just seemed too cruel. It's such a painful subject for her. She never talks about them. I plain forgot about it until you brought it to mind."

Harm gave her a warm smile, "Kind as well as beautiful. I hope Mike realizes what a treasure she has in you." While Charlotte tittered, he frantically considered how to phrase his concern without arousing her suspicions. He truly did like the older woman. If Elbert ever discovered that Charlotte could put her at the scene of her parents' deaths, he was certain that Mrs. Dixon would be the victim of an unfortunate and untimely end. He leaned forward slightly, "Ms. Charlotte, I believe you're right about this being upsetting for Mike, so why don't we agree that the subject never came up? Now that I know, I'll steer clear of any mention of it. I'd like this to be a pleasant reunion."

Charlotte nodded, "You are a thoughtful man." She gave him a coquettish smile and then gave his left hand a pointed stare, "Now why hasn't some lucky woman snapped you up?"

"Because I've been waiting for someone like you?" Harm put a hand on his heart and sighed dramatically, "And I'm heartbroken to discover you're already taken."

"Oh stop," Charlotte was clearly pleased. "You mean there's no one special in your life?"

"As a matter of fact, there is." Harm gave her playful look, "She's not you, of course, but I do think she's pretty special."

"You planning on marrying her?" Charlotte heaved an envious sigh and then consoled herself with the thought that her Miles, while not drop-dead gorgeous, was still a pretty good catch. They had three wonderful children and five grandchildren with one more on the way. Who was she to begrudge some woman the same happiness?

"Yes I am, if she'll have me." Harm was completely serious, "I even have the ring." His cell phone rang and he looked apologetic, "Excuse me a moment, Ms. Charlotte." Flipping it open, he turned partially away, "Rabb... WHAT? When? Where are you? Oh god, all right. I'm on my way." He got up hurriedly, nearly sputtering in his haste, "I'm sorry, I have to go."

Charlotte stood up with him, "Oh dear, is there anything I can do?"

"Tell me where the Beaufort police station is."

Beaufort Police Station Beaufort, NC 1505 Local

Harm stopped his pacing and hurried over to the curb when the Morehead City cab pulled up. It was killing him to be doing nothing although he understood the necessity. Gibbs had the authority to go where he couldn't and get answers that he wouldn't. Opening the door to the cab, Harm threw a twenty at the driver while resisting the urge to reach in and haul Gibbs bodily out of the car. Curbing his impatience, he waited while the NCIS agent climbed out slowly and took a moment to regroup. Finally, he couldn't stand it anymore, "What the hell happened?"

Gibbs spared him a look as he headed into the building, "I don't know yet but I'm sure as hell going to find out." He raised an eyebrow, "Let me handle this, okay?" Silently, Harm nodded. At this point, he'd promise to never fly a Tomcat again if it got him any answers about Mac.

Gibbs looked at him for a moment longer. The JAG lawyer's worry was palpable. His own wasn't much less. Walters' phone call hadn't been incredibly coherent. He'd gotten the gist: Kate and Mac were gone and Dubby was in jail in Beaufort. That had been enough to rocket him out of bed and into the nearest taxi. Harm held the door open for him which he acknowledged with a curt nod. Marching up to the desk, he pulled out his badge, "I'm here to see Gunnery Sergeant Rudy Walters."

The officer behind the desk eyed him and then started shuffling through papers, "He's being processed right now. You'll have to wait until we're done."

Glaring for a long moment, Gibbs turned on his heel and headed down a hallway. Harm stayed right with him. The policeman stared after him for a second and then chased after the two, "Hey! You can't go back there!"

Gibbs turned back towards the younger man, "Fine, then tell me which is your Chief's office because I want to tell him how you're yanking us around during a murder investigation in which two of my people have disappeared."

The officer blanched, "You didn't tell me that. I thought you just wanted to spring that crazy Gunnery Sergeant before the MPs got here."
The NCIS agent moved a step closer, menace radiating from every fiber, "That 'crazy' Gunnery Sergeant was their back-up. How did he wind up here instead of where he was supposed to be?"

The young man's mouth opened and closed soundlessly, "I... you'll have to ask Officer Dodson."

Gibbs moved even closer, "Oh I intend to, right after I see Gunny Walters."

The officer seemed to wilt under the agent's intense gaze, "Okay." He turned around and headed towards the back of the building. Harm and Gibbs exchanged glances and followed.

Twenty minutes later, Harm and Gibbs walked out with Walters between them. Harm had a supporting hand on the Gunny's arm. They headed for a bench. Both Gunny and Gibbs sank down gratefully while Harm stood in front of them. Walters leaned forward, holding his head in his hands. He still felt dizzy and a little sick. He'd let Sarah down and that hurt almost as much as his head.

Harm crouched down in front of him, "Tell me what happened, Dubby." He listened intently while the Gunny told his story and looked over at Gibbs, "We need to get the Coast Guard to find Elbert's boat."

Gibbs snorted, "On what grounds? She's a U.S. Congresswoman and we can't prove that Kate and Mac were taken against their will or that they definitely on that boat." He pulled out his cellphone.

Harm swore vehemently and glared at Gibbs, frustrated beyond measure, "Who are you calling?"

The NCIS agent gave him a look, "The NCIS office in Jacksonville. We're going to declare Elbert's house a crime scene and get the evidence we need to get the Coast Guard involved."