A JAG '24'
Chapter 4
Disclaimers: I don't own any of the JAG characters. I don't know any product or label mentioned for the purposes of telling this story. Any similarities to situations or persons living or dead are purely coincidental.
Spoilers: The Season 9 episodes 'Persian Gulf' and 'Take it Like a Man.' There may be some references to earlier JAG episodes in seasons 2 through 9.
A/N: As I have stated in previous chapters. The sequence of events and their outcome will be different than was seen in the original episodes.
A/N: This chapter is unbeta'ed. I will post the beta'ed version after I come back from my long weekend away. I just wanted to get this posted before I went. I didn't mean to make everyone wait so long.
Rating K+
The following takes place between the hours of
9 a.m. and 10 a.m.
Mac and Bud met at the Marine Brig at Quantico to conduct an interview with Lieutenant Marvalis. Mac intended to get the whole truth this time. Van Duyn's connection to him was indisputable now and not only that, the diamonds that were said to be in his safety deposit box were missing.
The Lieutenant seemed to have difficulty keeping his composure when they told him that they knew that the diamonds were missing.
"Missing?"
"Lieutenant Marvalis, I suggest you be more forthcoming about what is really going on here. The five year sentence you were given in your plea agreement is no longer in play. Try ten years, possibly more." Mac's impatience was evident in her voice.
The Lieutenant shifted uncomfortably in his chair.
"What was the name of a CIA agent doing on the signature card of your safety deposit box?"
Bud spoke up. "And why didn't you tell the court?"
"I couldn't"
"Why not?" Mac asked impatiently.
"Van Duyn was the person I was selling the diamonds to."
"You sold diamonds to the CIA?" This made no sense.
"No, not the CIA, Van Duyn resold the diamonds…to people whom he said would kill us both if we were ever discovered."
Mac and Bud were stunned for a moment.
"Van Duyn said if I didn't cop to the lesser charge or if I brought him into it, I could face charges of treason."
Mac sat down and looked at Bud. "Diamonds are what Sadiq Fahd used to buy the stinger missiles that we intercepted in Paraguay. They are used as hard currency by terrorists all over the world to buy weapons."
"I would have quit if I could, ask Van Duyn." Marvalis was pleading now.
"Agent Van Duyn has been missing for over three weeks." Bud answered his client.
Lieutenant Marvalis realized then that he was fortunate to be the brig, on a military base, safe from Van Duyn or any of his 'customers.'
At that same moment in Georgetown…
Sadiq Fahd drove down the block, looking at all of the beautiful town homes along the street on which Sarah Mackenzie lived. He stopped in front the beautiful brownstone apartment building and parked his Mercedes Sedan. He had been watching her building for some time. The building itself was managed by a woman named Margaret Ames. She lived on the ground floor and was in the building most of the time. She an elderly widow, with too many cats. He could easily charm her, if the situation required...
He decided now that the time for observation was nearly over; it was time to remind her of her heritage. It was time to reveal his true intention; he would lead her back to the true faith, where she belonged. He walked into the apartment building, found Ms. Ames apartment and knocked on the door.
The woman answered, with the chain lock still in place, and looked at him suspiciously. "Yes?"
"I'm sorry to intrude madam, my name is Parviz Kahni." He looked to be a sophisticated Middle Eastern gentleman in his sixties, with graying at his temples.
The woman narrowed her eyes and gave him an inquiring look. "Yes."
"Sarah Mackenzie, who resides in this building is a distant cousin, I have only just arrived in Washington and wanted to surprise her with a short visit." His voice was measured and calm, belying the urgency he felt to get inside Sarah Mackenzie's apartment.
Mrs. Ames was familiar with Sarah Mackenzie; they'd had a few conversations, by chance, in the hallway of the building. She'd even been kind enough to help her look for one of her cats when she had lost her somewhere in the building. She was a dear girl but she didn't know her well enough to know who her cousins were. This man could be anyone.
"I'm sorry, Mr…Khani. If Ms Mackenzie is not at home I cannot let you inside her apartment." She gave him an assessing look, immediately distrusting him.
Mr. Khani/Sadiq appeared to be slightly embarrassed. "Of course not, its just that its has been a long journey, and I wanted to see her before I had to leave again this evening, if I return to the airport, there may not be time" Sadiq paused for just a moment, just for effect and then humbly apologized. "I'm sorry, this was presumptuous of me."
Mrs. Ames was beginning to feel ashamed about her suspicions of him. "I'm really sorry."
"Not at all, I shouldn't have come without calling and letting her know." He bowed slightly. "Please accept my apologies ma'am."
With that Mr. Khani/Sadiq turned to leave. Mrs. Ames suddenly felt terrible about turning away the cousin of such a nice young woman. After all he hade come a long way. Her cheeks flushed with shame, where were her manners?
"Please, wait Mr. Khani, I'll let you in." She closed the door of her apartment, removed the chain and opened the door again. "I'm sorry." She said as she met him in the hallway.
"It's just so difficult to know who to trust anymore. I hope I didn't offend you."
Mr. Khani/Sadiq smiled at her charmingly. "Not at all, I understand completely ma'am, these are troubled times." Sadiq thought that the troubled times would be over, when the world was one, under Allah.
The following takes place between the hours of
10 a.m. and 11 a.m.
As Mac made her way across town toward Harm's apartment, she was deep in thought. She had to see for herself that his security detail was in place. She had just finished talking with Deputy Director Kershaw. He had agreed to let her in on this case, but at this point, what did that mean… exactly? Kershaw had dropped a bombshell when he told her that Van Duyn was dead and had been tortured.
Mac had hoped talking with him would give her some answers but now she felt as though she only had more questions. He would not tell her where Clay was, even though he knew that she had been made aware of his and Webb's presence at the hospital last night. He seemed genuinely surprised when she told him she had expressed some concerns about Van Duyn a month ago. He said the report hadn't gotten to him. Why? He also appeared to know nothing about Van Duyn's connection to Marvalis or the diamonds. Kershaw said there was so evidence of them in his apartment when he was found.
More questions, some of which she knew she'd never have the answer to.
She didn't understand how Clay could function in this kind of environment. You couldn't trust anyone. To her, the Company seemed to run on the premise that you didn't trust anyone, no matter how high up in the chain of command. She didn't trust Kershaw, but she wanted to stop Sadiq and being in the loop was the only way she could do it.
Mac parked in front of Harm's apartment. As she got out of her Corvette, she looked around the building. She looked up at the roof tops of the buildings around Harm's apartment. If the security detail was in place, they were well hidden.
After Mac went inside the building she approached Harm's apartment door. She could hear the music playing loudly through it. She knocked but got no answer, she doubled her fist and pounded but he still didn't answer her, she was beginning to get concerned when Mattie stepped out of her apartment door. "Mac!"
"Good Morning Mattie."
"He's inside, go on in. he just has the music up so that he can hear it."
Mac opened the door, slightly worried that the door was unlocked. Harm sat with his back to her, seemingly catching up on his reading. She called to him over the music and he still did not react, she waved her arms and he looked up at her. "Oh, hey. I didn't hear you come in."
Mac picked up the remote control to the stereo system and asked, "Can I turn this down?" She shook her head slightly and grinned at him.
"Sure, what's brings you here in the middle of the day?" He was so glad to see her; he didn't really care what brought her here. He smiled at her warmly.
Mac sat down in front of Harm on the coffee table, her expression suddenly serious. "Can you hear me?"
'Yes, just speak loudly."
"Van Duyn is dead."
"Wow, chalk another one up for your premonitions." He remembered their conversation about something being wrong when Van Duyn disappeared.
"The diamonds are missing from Lieutenant Marvalis safety deposit box."
Harm listened, in silence. This might explain the timing of the explosion in the JAG parking lot.
"Sadiq was in the hospital last night Harm."
Harm automatically reached for her hand and squeezed it. "You were right, then."
"He got all the way to the 5th floor." Mac closed her other hand over his in response, she shuddered to think what might have happened if she hadn't been there. Harm wouldn't have heard a thing, he could have killed him while he slept and no one would have known.
"I came to tell you to be careful. I didn't see your security detail. Have you talked to them?" Mac rubbed the back of Harm's hand with her thumb, unconsciously trying to maintain the familiarity they had been able to regain, last night.
"They're out there Mac. Agent Todd escorted me back here from the hospital then came up, did a quick sweep of the apartment and gave me this." He showed her the cell she had given him and told her how he could alert them with the push of a button. He had loosened his hold on her hand but did not let go.
When he leaned back to take the cell phone out of his pocket, Mac let go of his hand. She was suddenly acutely aware of what she had been doing and feeling slightly awkward. She refocused on the reason she had come this morning. "You should lock that door Harm and Mattie should be here with you."
Harm shook his head, he had plenty of security and Mattie was just next door. He started to stand up, doing it too quickly, almost losing his balance.
Mac took his arm and he righted himself. "I'm okay, just a little of that inner ear thing."
He looked down at her and gave her a soft and indulgent smile; it seemed so natural for her to touch him. Her touch could awaken every nerve ending in his body, but there was a comfort to it that he could not explain. When Mac returned his look, her hand lingered for a time on his arm.
Harm made his way back to the kitchen and Mac walked along with him. "You shouldn't have the music up so loud either."
Harm gave her a lopsided grin. "Yes Mom."
"I mean it Harm." Mac tried to appear angry, she was serious, but when he looked at her that way she felt anything but angry.
"Okay…fine." Harm was enjoying having her here with him, though she was hovering over him too much; he was doing well to allow Mattie to do this, never mind Mac.
"How did you find out about all this?" It was time to focus on what she found out today, suddenly the case was unfolding at lightening speed.
"The Admiral told me about Sadiq and I spoke with Deputy Director Kershaw just before I came here."
"Have you spoken to anyone else about this? Webb… for instance?" Harm raised his eyebrows, almost teasing her; he knew she hadn't heard from him.
"No, he is in an undisclosed location." Mac could not make eye contact with Harm at that moment. Their newfound closeness might allow him to see how disappointed she was.
"That's a hell of a boyfriend you've got there, Mac." He gave her a penetrating stare, looking for any nuance, any change that might tell him that she and Webb weren't not as close as he had believed
"Don't look so happy about it." She glanced up at him, seeing the smug smile on his face. A smile that was at once endearing and infuriating.
Harm was happy she hadn't heard from him and he refused to hide it anymore. Webb was not the one for her. This was no life for her; he only hoped she would realize that… soon.
They stood looking at each other, each with a challenge in their eyes. It was almost as though each were daring the other to say more.
Mattie came in, at that moment and the silent communication between them ceased. She asked Mac if she wanted to stay for lunch. She declined.
"No, I have to get back to the office." She looked at Harm as she spoke, her expression apologetic. Today she wished she were two people, one to resolve this issue with Sadiq and the other to stay here and make sure Sadiq didn't come near Harm.
She lowered her voice slightly and asked Mattie. "Take care of him for me, will you?"
Mattie nodded.
"Hey… are you two talking about me?" Harm raised his eyebrows, in question.
Neither answered him, Mattie only asked him if he was hungry and as he watched Mac leave the room he distractedly answered that he wasn't.
He thought he had heard the most important part of Mac's request, 'take care of him' was it? The question was; who was going to take care of her? Damn it, where was Webb and why the hell wasn't he looking out for her?
Maybe Webb not being involved was a good thing; it had never meant anything but grief for either of them in the past.
The following takes place between the hours of
11 a.m. and 12 p.m.
Sadiq placed the perfect diamond on the black velvet pillow that lay on Sarah Mackenzie's bed. It was exquisitely perfect, as Sarah would be when she realized her true self.
He had spent over an hour in her apartment; it was nearly time to leave. He had been able to learn even more than he already knew about her. She needed only to have the proper guidance and she would return to her proper role as a woman. She was denying her heritage, denying herself. His visit today would remind her, he would call her to him, he knew she would not be able to resist.
In his hour in her apartment he had found old correspondence men in her past.He found books that held pictures of her through out her lifetime, they were of her grandmother, her mother and father, and others. Her pictures revealed a great deal, many men had come and gone from her life, but none of them where a threat to him. The only man who had been was incapacitated now and since he was being guarded by his government, Sarah would come to him. She would feel no need to guard the Commander like a lioness, as she did last night. Her courage only intrigued him more, it was a sirens song. After she saw this, Sadiq knew that it would be a matter of time now … perhaps hours.
Sadiq held a fascination for her, he knew, he had planted that seed in Paraguay, now he intended to reap the harvest. Whether the harvest would be her life or death, would be entirely up to Sarah.
At that same moment…
Mac was well on her way to JAG when she remembered something she had read in the Marvalis file that Van Duyn had provided for her in January. He knew everything there was to know about the Lieutenant, even the combination of the locker Marvalis had at the place where he bought his cigars. She had a strong hunch that she knew where the diamonds were.
She called Bud and asked him to meet her at the District Tobacconists and Cigar store in Georgetown. She told him where to find the Marvalis file in her office. He would bring the combination of the locker Marvalis kept there and Bud could provide chain of custody when they recovered the diamonds. The diamonds were in the locker, they had to be.
The following takes place between the hours of
12 p.m. and 1 p.m.
Mac and Bud entered the cigar store, unknowingly observed by Sadiq. He sat on the far side of the room, casually reading a newspaper. His disguise this time had not been a drastic change from his normal appearance. It was amazing to him that the closer you were to the people who were desperately seeking you, the easier it was to hide. What was the phrase he had heard? 'Hiding in plain sight?' He lowered his newspaper and watched and Sarah and another naval officer questioned the young man behind the counter.
They would soon be inside the locker, he knew, Sarah was too strong to be deterred now. He wanted to see her face as she realized that he had the diamonds. He only wished he could witness her reaction when she walked into her apartment.
Mac stepped out of the small locker room into the doorway that led to the store itself; she had emptied the pouch that held the diamonds into the palm of her hand. 19 of them were missing. She knew, without a doubt, that Sadiq had them. He may have already used them to purchase weapons. Kershaw had been very cryptic this morning when she spoke to him about the terrorist's use of diamonds to purchase weapons.
For all they knew, Sadiq could have already purchased the weapons and left the country. Kershaw had asked that she contact him if she were able to learn anything else about the diamonds. If she found them or if she could not.
Mac returned the diamonds to the pouch and handed it to Bud. She and Bud quickly left the store, breezing past Sadiq, seeing him as a customer in the store instead of the person they were looking for.
Sadiq leaned forward and watched as they left. He would be speaking with Sarah, soon.
At that same moment…
Mac walked out to her car and Bud followed her.
"Bud, I'm going to call the Admiral and then I have some other things I have to follow up on. I'm not sure I'll be back in the office today."
"If I may ma'am. What are you thinking?"
"I don't have all of the details yet, but I believe that those diamonds are already in the possession of Sadiq Fahd. I have to speak with the Admiral, other than that, I really can't say more right now."
Bud nodded; suddenly not sure he wanted to know more. It did seem odd that the Colonel was doing this alone. It didn't feel right, but he was not in a position to contradict her.
"Yes, ma'am.
Bud left and Mac turned away from him to call the Admiral. Jen put her through to him right away.
"Colonel?"
"Yes, sir, I have more information on the Marvalis case and I am going to need to follow up with Deputy Director Kershaw."
"Just how are you going to 'follow up' with him Colonel?
"Kershaw asked when I spoke with him earlier today, that if I learned anything else about the diamonds to notify him immediately. Lieutenant Roberts and I were able to locate them in a locker at a cigar and tobacconists store that Marvalis frequented. The problem is 19 of them are missing."
"I see."
"Sir, I believe that Sadiq Fahd is in possession of those diamonds. Agent Van Duyn is dead and I think Sadiq gained access to those diamonds through him. Marvalis confessed that he sold diamonds to him and that Van Duyn sold them in turn, to people who would kill them if they were discovered."
"Can you prove it?"
"I think I can if I am given the chance."
"Tread carefully Mac, as I told you before, there are more things in play here than either of us know."
"If we can locate Sadiq we may be able to prevent him from using the diamonds to buy weapons."
"That's a tall order for one person. You will not take this on alone Colonel, am I clear?"
"Yes sir, I'll contact Kershaw and see where we go from here. I won't do anything without back up, no more operations with anyone acting on their own." Mac smiled grimly remembering Webb's 'independent' operation in Paraguay.
"Very well, keep me posted."
"I will sir."
The Admiral ended the call and placed the handset back into the receiver. He sat for a moment deep in thought. Here they were, up to their asses in another CIA operation. At least this time it was a related to a case they were prosecuting. He stood and walked over to the window and looked down at the courtyard.
He'd never admit it to anyone but just now he wished that Commander Rabb were involved in this as well, his taking part in it would mean more security for Mac, even though the addition of Rabb usually meant more trouble too.
He knew without a doubt that whatever happened, Rabb would never allow Mac to be compromised unnecessarily. Now he would have to trust Kershaw and Webb to get to the bottom of this case, with Mac's help. That was a scary thought.
Another thought occurred to him, one that he never thought he would have, he was glad that NCIS was involved in this case as well.
Who would have thought that having Special Agent Gibbs looking over their shoulders would be a comforting thought?
TBC