Part 12
1400 Zulu
Gatlinburg, Tennessee
Rather that make breakfast, Harm decided that it would be okay for them to eat somewhere in town. Just in case, he kept his service weapon hidden within the inside pocket of his jacket. While Mac sat nursing a mug of coffee, Harm made his way to the back of the restaurant and made a call to JAG Headquarters.
"JAG Headquarters, Petty Officer Coates speaking." Jen said.
Harm sighed. "Coates, it's Harm . . . patch me through to the Admiral, please."
"Commander, how are you? Is everything. . ."
"Coates." Harm said in a warning tone, cutting her off. He liked her spunk but sometimes she didn't know when to leave well enough alone.
Jen frowned. "Sorry, sir. . . I'll put you through." Clicking the intercom Jen leaned closer to speak into it. "Sir, Commander Rabb on line two."
"Rabb, where the hell are you?. And why the hell were there two dead bodies in Colonel MacKenzie's apartment!" AJ barked into the phone, not at all surprising his senior officer.
"With all due respect, sir. . . I can't say." From his vantage point, he kept an eye on Mac who was ordering for the both of them. She looked up and flashed him a weary smile. "The men at Mac's apartment. . .there was a struggle. . ." He leaned in closer to the phone and whispered. "They would have killed her, sir."
AJ understood by the undertone what was going on. "The Colonel is with you?" It was more of a statement than a question.
"Yes, sir. . ."
AJ softened a bit and took a deep breath. "Son, you have to come home."
"She's in danger, sir. And I am doing anything I can to keep her safe." Harm spoke forcefully, gripping onto the phone.
AJ shook his head, he was going to get to the bottom of who had the sadistic need to add his officers for CIA fiascos. If he had to, he would go to the President with this. "Harm. . . come home. . . I'll protect her you have my word on that. . ."
Harm held his breath for a moment and looked over towards Mac who smiled again when they made eye contact.
"Sir. . ." Harm began to protest but was cut off.
"Commander, don't force me to make it an order." AJ said in a more CO sounding voice.
Harm nodded. "We'll head out tomorrow morning, sir."
AJ sighed. "I'll get to the bottom of this . . . Harm, be safe."
"I will, sir. . . and thank you." Sighing, Harm hung up the phone and made his way back to Mac.
In his part of the world, AJ stared at the phone. He'd been poking around to as many places as he could and no information had come up past what Mac had told him. The diamonds were still missing and, from what he saw, they had taken apart everything at Mac's office and apartment. He was trying his best to find a way to clear her of treason but kept coming up empty. Smirking, he suddenly got an idea that he hadn't thought up before. He'd been too busy looking at the facts rather than go straight to the top of the food chain. "Coates, contact the CIA. . . I want to speak to Deputy Director Kershaw."