Chapter Seventy Six
Mac strolled into the office and bumped into Commander Smalls. "Deek, I'm sorry, I was in a rush to get to the Admiral's office."
Deek flashed a not so sincere smile at her. "I am headed out to the Patrick Henry. Apparently someone sent an unauthorized transmission, and JAGMAN has been asked to figure out what is going on."
"I recommended that you go. You have proven your investigational skills. It will be a good experience. I hear that the Pat has a great Thanksgiving spread." She smiled at him.
"I better get going now Colonel. I will tell your fiancé that you say hello."
"Thanks Deek. I will probably talk to him tonight though. The adoption of Mattie finally went through."
Mac looked around the office. Most of the staff had been given off today. Bud and Mac were the only lawyers there for the time being. Jen had taken the day off to spend it with Sergei and Gram. She approached her office and touched Harm's service flag.
"Only a couple more weeks now Flyboy." She said to no one in particular. She put down her things and picked up a picture of Harm, Matte, Mackenzie, and herself. While in Italy, Francesca had it arranged for them to have a family picture taken together, it just happened to be a casual picture. Mac was wearing just a plain white dress with a jean jacket, Harm and Mattie were wearing a white button down shirt and blue jeans, Mackenzie was wearing a white jumper. The background was a light blue which brought out Harm, Mattie, and Mackenzie eyes. They weren't even posing which is what made the picture just capture who they were. Harm had Mackenzie on his lap and she was giggling, Mac had looped her hand around Harms waist and Mattie was sitting next to them. The photographer had snapped it so it just looked like a family together.
Mac picked up the next picture which was Mattie and Mackenzie playing airplane. Mattie was on the ground and was holding Mackenzie up above her. She smiled at the pictures.
Admiral Jonas came walking out of his office and found Mac staring at the pictures. "You know Colonel, we all know he is coming home."
"I know, the safety of the air. Harm is a great pilot, I know this."
"Good to know Colonel. Oh, he is on line one. You know with my yeoman being gone and most of the staff at home, well . . ."
She smiled. "Don't worry sir, we will muddle through the day."
She picked up the line. "Mackenzie."
"Hey Honey."
"Hey Sailor. I have good news for you."
"What?"
"The adoption of Mattie went through. The social workers cut parental rights after Tom showed up drunk for a visitation with Mattie."
"How is Mattie taking it?"
"Just fine. She was excited to be considered your daughter. Harm, she stopped thinking of Tom as her father a long time ago. You are the father that will be there when she graduates from Navy flight school."
"You sound upset about that."
"No, I just wish that one of our children would be a Marine."
"Don't give up on Mackenzie just quite yet. Besides our next one could be a little Marine in the making."
"Next one?"
"Yeah, I think after we get married we should work on at least having one more little one, what do you think?"
"I think that there is nothing more that I could want than being pregnant with your child."
"Boy or girl?"
"What do you want?"
"Honestly I would love to have a little boy. I mean I am getting outranked at my house already, and at least with a boy it would be one less wedding that I would have to pay for."
"Why did you call?"
"Needed to bounce this new case off of you. I know that you aren't the one coming, but . . ."
"Okay. What is going on?"
"Unauthorized transmission was sent and it looks like it was the communication officer's fault."
"Did anyone else have authorization to his station?"
"Yes, one of the new trainees and many other people. We don't even know what was sent out. That is the scary part."
"Be safe Harm. Mattie probably would love it if you called her."
"I will, I want her to know how much I love her."
"She knows. I'll let you go so you can call her."
"Yeah."
"I love you."
"I love you too."
She hung up the phone and pulled up a list of everyone on the Patrick Henry. She started narrowing down the list of people. The admiral came in.
"What are you up to Mac?"
"Trying to get a suspect. So far I have been able to take four names off the list, Captain Ingles, Commander Rabb, Lt. Commander Graves, and the CAG are off the list."
"Talk about your no brainers."
She then ran a list for people who were related to people who were not American citizens, Harm's name being one of them and then sent the list to him.
A couple of minutes later he signed on
M&MDad: Hey there honey.
Hammersgirl: Hey, did you get my email?
M&MDad: Yeah, looks like I am one of the suspects, except I was no where near that communication dock today.
Hammersgirl: I know baby. So did you get a chance to talk to Mattie?
M&MDad: Yep. She was excited. I can't wait till I get home so we can all celebrate.
Hammersgirl: I know. I was thinking maybe we could take the girls to California, they haven't been out there yet.
M&MDad: Mac, one of these names you sent me is really jumping out. Seaman Ben Ladir-Famino.
Hammersgirl: Weird last name.
M&MDad: No more than Rabb. Anyway, Seaman Famino has family leave.
Hammersgirl: When does he leave?
M&MDad: Left this morning right after the transmission was sent out. Are you thinking what I'm thinking?
Hammersgirl: Yeah. Harm, you have to find out what was on that transmission. According to his service record he has no family to speak of. I have to go, I am trying to secure early to get home early. I will talk to you tomorrow. I love you so much.
M&MDad: I love you too. I have to go inform the captain and find Seaman Famino.
Their communication was terminated and Mac went into the Admiral's office to let him know what Harm and she had figured out.
"Enter," she heard.
"Admiral, Commander and I found a lead. Seaman Ben Ladir-Famino left for family leave, he has no family listed in his service record."
"Damn."
"What kind of name is Ladir-Famino?"
"I have no clue sir."
"Good work, I will call Commander Smalls to let him know what is going on."
"Thank you sir."
"Go home to your family Mac. Have a happy thanksgiving."
Mac saluted him and wished him a happy thanksgiving and turned to go home to her family. All of the sudden she started feeling light headed and the world started to spin. "Colonel are you okay?"
Admiral Jonas was right behind her and helped to steady her. "You looked a little faint there for a minute."
"I'm probably just run down sir."
"Are you sure?"
"Yeah. I haven't been feeling all that great since Italy. At first I thought it was jet lag, and then I had a stomach virus for a couple of days. I should just get home and take a nap. That will clear everything up."
"Colonel call me when you get back to your place, I want to make sure that you get there okay."
"Sir, that is really not necessary."
"Colonel, it is an order, not a request. I can't lose my chief of staff one week before she gets her fiancé home." He said smiling at her. "I could order one of the guards to drive you home."
"Not necessary, I will call you when I get home sir. Thank you for the concern." She said smiling. "You are still more than welcome to come for dinner tomorrow."
"Thanks for the invite, but my wife always loves cooking a big spread for our children."
"Harm's grandmother is going crazy. Honestly though, I can't wait for her apple pie with some ice cream on top of it. It is a shame that Harm will miss this."
"He will be here next year for it. Now get home."
"Aye aye sir."
AN - One chapter left, do you guys want it now, or after I get back from a weekend trip?
