Disclaimers in Part I
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9:45 EST
Falls Church, Virginia
JAG Headquarters
Harm was sitting in front of the Admiral's desk, nervously tapping his foot on the chair. The Admiral had his head in his hands, wondering what they where going to do until their help they had called arrived.
"Admiral, Rabb . . ." Clayton Webb rushed into the office. "What is it?" All they had told him was that an emergency had come up they thought he might be able to help them with.
AJ sighed and stood up. "Harm thinks there's a possibility Mac was kidnapped."
"What?" Webb asked in disbelief.
"I don't think there's a possibility Mac was kidnapped. I know it, I can feel it." Harm insisted.
"Start from the beginning Harm." Webb said.
Harm began his story about waiting over an hour for Mac to arrive at his apartment and he got worried so he drove over to her apartment. When he got to her apartment, he had found the rag near her keys and purse scattered on the pavement. He handed the rag to Webb, who said he would get it tested to see what was on it.
Webb sighed and sank into a chair. "That doesn't give us much to work on." He pinched the bridge of his nose. "Has she made any enemies recently?"
"Well . . . we've all made enemies in court. If a person goes to jail, they are naturally likely to resent the attorney that sent them there." Harm said, racking his brain for any person likely to do this to Mac. He couldn't think of anybody.
"Did you take a look at her cases? Maybe there is something there." Webb suggested.
"I'll give that a try." Harm really didn't think he would find anything there, but it wouldn't hurt to try, and he'd do anything to get Mac back safe and sound. He suddenly had a sinking feeling in his stomach. He knew who would love to get Harm, and what way was better than kidnapping Sarah Mackenzie?
"Clay, could you make sure Palmer is still in Leavenworth?" Harm asked.
Clay nodded. "Will do."
Another notion came to Harm's mind, one that surprised him, but he wasn't going to take any chances passing over a possible suspect when it came to his partner's life. "Make sure Coster is in prison while you're at it."
Clay nodded again and stood. "Call me, no matter what time it is, if I can help with anything else. And I'll get back to you as soon as I can on Palmer and Coster, Harm." He scribbled down his number and handed it to Harm, who thanked him as he accepted the piece of paper.
Harm and AJ thanked him before saying goodbye. Harm turned to the Admiral. "I'd like to take some of the Colonel's cases home with me to look at them."
The Admiral nodded. Half an hour later Harm had packed the cases from the past few months in a box and was carrying them out as he followed the Admiral into the elevator and out of the building.
"If you want in tomorrow to get some more cases, just let me know, but I'm sure that will hold you for awhile." The Admiral said, referring to the heavy box Harm was carrying.
Harm nodded. "Thank you, sir."
AJ reached out and placed a hand on Harm's shoulder. "We'll find her, Harm. Don't worry." That was hard to say when you were worried yourself.
Harm nodded. He continued his trek to his car and was soon speeding towards his apartment, anxious to start reviewing the cases.
It wasn't until one o'clock that Harm leaned back in his chair and sighed, rubbing his eyes. He didn't want to stop reviewing the files, but the words were beginning to blur. He told himself he had to keep looking, had to find something that might direct him towards what had happened to Mac.
He picked up another file and forced his eyes open. After a few minutes of skimming the file he jumped up, still reading, and began pacing. It was the case of Tim Smith, who was prosecuted and found guilty for aiding in selling military secrets to a militia group. Now it came back to him. Mac had seemed apprehensive after she had won the case, but wouldn't tell Harm why. She had laughed off his concern and he had quickly forgotten about it. But it came back to him clearly now. Another suspect to add to the list. He hoped Webb could find something out about this Tim Smith.
He glanced at his watch and wished he had found this file earlier. He didn't want to call Webb this late, but he certainly wasn't going to wait any longer to contact Webb and get information on Tim Smith.
Next morning, Saturday
10:00 EST
Falls Church, Virginia
JAG Headquarters
Harm felt great animosity towards Tim Smith as his picture came through on the fax machine at JAG HQ the next day. Bud was there as well, trying to dig up as much info as he could on the man. Harm wasn't one hundred percent sure whoever had taken Mac was related in some way to Tim Smith's case, but he felt pretty certain. Clayton Webb had called earlier that morning to confirm both Palmer and Coster where still in Leavenworth and was still searching for information on Tim Smith. He had confirmed that Tim Smith was in prison as well, so he could not have possibly taken Mac. He had also told Harm that the rag they had sent to the lab had been soaked with chloroform.
"Find anything, Bud?" He called and carried the picture over. He knew Webb would find most of the helpful information, but Bud could be pretty resourceful on the computer, and right now he'd try anything.
"It says here he is serving his time, ten years in prison, but Mr. Webb will find out if he is still there or not. He lived in Arlington, Virginia before he was sent to jail." Bud said, turning back to the computer. "Would you like this address?"
"Yes. And print out any other information you find."
"Yes, sir."
11:15 EST
Unknown location
Mac's throbbing headache felt ten times worse than it had yesterday. She was tired and all she wanted to do was sleep, but she felt something urging her to wake up. She opened her eyes and quickly sat up as she realized she wasn't at her home. She tried rubbing her eyes, but her arms were tied behind her back. The room began to sway as she shook her head to clear the fuzziness. Quickly discovering that made her feel nauseous and made the room sway even more, she closed her eyes.
"I wouldn't make any hasty movements, Colonel Mackenzie." A voice said, saying her name with a sneer.
"Wha – " Nope, bad idea, she realized. Talking made her sore throat hurt even more and made each pound in her head throb all the harder.
"Don't you recognize me?" The man came over and yanked her head back. She bit back her moan of pain and opened her eyes slowly. She recognized the man. Tim Smith's brother. She had forgotten his name, but the cold stares he had sent her throughout the trial were not forgotten.
"Brad Smith." He laughed as she twisted her head, trying to break free of his grasp. He gripped her hair harder and she couldn't suppress a groan this time. "Tim Smith, convicted of selling top secret military secrets. Confined to ten years in prison." He mocked the voice of the jury calling out the verdict.
"Get your hands off me." She muttered with as much strength as she could manage.
Brad laughed, his cackle sending shivers up her spine. "Excuse me, but I think you've got our places
mixed up. I am the one holding you hostage. So don't you be sending me any threats, missy."
Mac turned to him and before she could stop herself, spat in his face.
Brad turned a very unbecoming shade of red and with a strength that shocked Mac, as did the impact of the cold floor, he slapped her across the face. She had fallen from the chair, but since her hands where tied behind her back, she could not defend herself as he kicked her in the stomach repeatedly, ignoring her cries of pain.
"That's what you get for ruining ten years of my brother's life. Now we can't go buy my father's business together and become rich, thanks to you." With a last kick, he turned and left the room, leaving Mac curled up, crying at the pain she felt. Now her cold, which seemed to have worsened in the room which was obviously not heated, was a minor problem to her ribs, a few she was sure were now broken. "Harm." She cried softly, her energy suddenly zapped. All she could think of was him. She knew the chances of him finding her were slim and began to fall into a pit of despair. After all, who would know of Brad Smith?