CH 69
Kate knocked on the wardroom door and entered.
"Two Dads, what have you done now."
"We've got a problem, X," MacGyver says.
"Why not talk to the CO?"
"He is the problem," Two Dads added.
"What do you mean?" Kate asked, confused. Then she noticed Two Dads face. "What happened to you?"
"Tell her everything, Two Dads," MacGyver said.
Kate sat down so that Two Dads could see her face while he talked to her.
He told Kate everything that had happened. Then he told her about the captain.
"Two Dads, if your lying..."
"I'm not, I swear X, it's the truth."
"I believe him X. I saw the captain when he came aboard, it looked as though he had been in a fight. I also overheard the captain and Two Dads having words on the wharf before he came back on board," MacGyver explained.
"Alright, I'll contact NAVCOM in the morning."
"I'll have my report to you before morning," MacGyver said to Kate.
"That's good. How is Two Dads?"
"He will live."
"Alright, when you finish your report, drop it on the floor just inside my door. I'm going back to bed."
"Oh and we will keep this between us for now," Kate added.
"The problem is that it's Two Dads word against the CO, and with Two Dads record…" MacGyver said.
"Yeah, well, we'll talk about it in the morning."
MacGyver gets Two Dads squared away then sends him off to his cabin with some paracetamol. Then she wrote her notes, her report, and went to bed herself.
In the morning, Kate called NAVCOM and talked to Maxine. She told her what had happened the night before and about Two Dads and the captain.
Hours later, Hammersley returns to Cairns. Captain Steve Coburn and Kate went NAVCOM to meet with Mike and Maxine to discuss the croc poaching. Maxine informed them that the bar owner had called Fleet Command about the incident in his bar. Fleet Command called Maxine.
"We need to interview the crew members that were on leave. See if anyone saw or remembers anything," Maxine said.
"I'll do the interview," Steve said, hoping to mitigate the circumstances.
"Fleet Command wants Mike to conduct the interviews."
"Okay, well I'll just sit in then."
"Sorry, Steve, I'll be doing the interviews in private."
"Alright, Mike."
"Okay, Mike will be on board in an hour. Those who went on shore leave need to be called back in to be ready for the interviews."
"I'll make sure that they are, Ma'am," Kate said.
"Very well, that is all," Maxine said.
"Ahh, I would like the Lieutenant to stay. I've got a couple of questions to ask her," Mike said.
"I'll wait for you in the car, X," Coburn says, walking out of Maxine's office.
"Kate, Maxine told me about what you reported to her this morning. Are you sure Two Dads telling the truth?"
"MacGyver saw both the Captain and Two Dads last night when they arrived back to the boat. She said that it looked like Coburn had been in a fight and then she saw Two Dads' face and ribs. He told both of us everything that had happened, and he said that Coburn is the other person involved in the bar fight. I have MacGyver's report," opening her folder, she removed the report and passed it to Mike.
"I spoke with Two Dads this morning, he is sticking to his story and that he's telling us the truth. MacGyver believes him."
"Okay, leave it with me," Mike said.
"Yes, Sir," she turned and walked out of Maxine's office.
"Mike, do you think that MacGyver would lie to protect Two Dads? I've seen his record." Maxine asked.
Mike just looked at Maxine, stunned that she would even think that.
"Maxine I've worked with MacGyver for over five years. She is one of the most honest people I know, and I've seen how she works. Any of the crew that works with her knows not to lie to her if they know what is good for them. She's like a human lie detector, she always knows if someone is lying. Two Dads knows this. The last time he lied she made him scrub the ovens with a toothbrush twice a week for two months and then for three months he had to scrub the toilets in austere whenever it was used. And, she made him do her exercise routine twice a week for three months while out on patrol. I've seen her routine, it's brutal. He learned his lesson not to lie to her."
"Go, talk to the others and let me know the outcome."
"Will do."
An hour later, Mike was in the Senior's mess, interviewing anyone that had been on shore leave with Two Dads and had witnessed what went on in the bar. When the last of the crew left, there was a knock on the door.
"Hey there, I brought you a brew and a muffin," Macgyver said as she put them on the table
"Thanks. Can we talk about last night?" he asked. MacGyver closed the door and sat down.
"Ask away."
"I've read your report. You're sure about what you saw and about what Two Dads said?"
"Sir, everything I said in my report is the truth."
"May I ask why you were on the back of the boat at that time of night?"
"I'd just finished my shift and sent a text to Jim. He texted back, and we arranged a video chat for a few minutes. I was walking back to the hatch when I saw Two Dads and Coburn talking. From what I saw, Coburn didn't look too happy. He said something that I couldn't hear to Two Dads then he turned and came on board. Two Dads looked worried and confused, so I waited for the right time and pretended that I was walking out onto the boat deck. When he got close, I saw his face. Looked like he had been hit and then I noticed swollen red knuckles and the way he was protecting his ribs on his left side. It's all in my report."
"I know. This is really serious, I just had to make sure."
"I understand. So you spoke to everyone?"
"I have."
Standing, "anything else, Sir?"
"No, that's all for now."
"Okay. So you and the X tonight?" she said grinning.
"It's only for one night."
"Have fun."
"Funny MacGyver. What about you?"
"Cooking tonight since we're leaving tomorrow. Jim's dropping by later tonight."
Opening the door, she took one step outside, then stopped and turned back to him.
"Mike, have you talked to Coburn?"
"No, why?"
"He was in town, claiming to be talking to the cops about the poaching that we found. Perhaps he went back into town later."
"Ask him to come to see me."
"Sure. Remember, look out for body language."
"I will, thanks Macgyver."
She went and found Coburn and then she went to get dinner started.
Coburn walked into the Senior Mess and closed the door behind him. A few minutes later, he walked out.
Ten minutes after that, Mike left the room and went into the galley to put the coffee mug and paper cup on the bench. "Thanks, MacGyver."
"Any time, Sir. Enjoy your evening."
"I have just one last question. What time did you call Jim?"
"It was just after nine-thirty, and we talked for about five minutes."
"Okay. So Coburn returned about nine thirty-five?"
"Yes."
"Okay, thanks." Mike left, leaving MacGyver to carry on getting dinner sorted out.
The following morning Mike, Kate, Steve, Two Dad's and MacGyver met in Maxine's office.
"I learned after talking with several crew members about the incident in the bar that Leading Seaman Kosva-Mayers has admitted to his involvement in the fight at the bar and of taking the croc. The second person involved with the bar fight and the steeling of the croc is Lieutenant Commander Steve Coburn."
"What?" Steve said, shocked. "Who told you I was there, Mike? It was Two Dads, wasn't it. And you believe him, you know his record."
"It wasn't Two Dads," MacGyver said.
He turned to MacGyver, "You! How can it be you? You didn't have shore leave."
"Remember, Sir, when you and Two Dads returned to the ship. I was on the back of Hammersley. I saw your face, your knuckles and the way you were protecting your ribs when you came on board. It looked like you had been in a fight. You and Two Dads returned at nine thirty-five, whereas the others had returned fifteen minutes earlier, Sir. You and Two Dads were the last to return," MacGyver said.
"Lieutenant Commander Coburn, is what Petty Officer Roth saying true?" Maxine asked.
"No, she's lying," he stated calmly.
"Well, there is one way to prove that I'm lying, Sir."
"How is that?" Mike asked.
"We go back and ask the owner of the bar if Lieutenant Commander Coburn is the second person that he saw in the fight. What do you think his answer would be, Sir?" MacGyver said.
"You wouldn't!" Coburn said.
"Ma'am I suggest that we do return to the town with Commander Flynn on board. He and Lieutenant Commander Coburn, and another officer go to the bar along with Swain. See if the owner recognises the Lieutenant Commander."
"Mike, what do you think?" Maxine asked.
Mike thought for a moment and then turned to Steve. He could see that he was starting to look worried. "Well Steve, is MacGyver right?"
"No, she's not right," he said, looking at Maxine.
"Alright. We will return to the bar. We leave in half an hour," Mike said.
"Very well, take Lieutenant Wilson with you, Mike," they all walk out of the office.
Mike spoke to Lieutenant Wilson before leaving for home to change into his DBNU then onto Hammersley. Fifteen minutes later, Hammersley left port.
They were fifteen kilometres from the town where they had shore leave when two boats showed on radar near the area of the crocs nests. Using the EOD, the vessels were identified as belonging to croc poachers. RHIBS were sent to intercept them, and the poachers were apprehended and arrested. Surprisingly when the poachers were brought upon Hammersley, the bar owner of the bar in question was with them. The bar owner noticed Steve and took a step toward him.
"You! You wrecked my bar and stole my croc!"
Steve looked around at the crew. MacGyver had been part of the boarding team, and when she heard the bar owner, she stepped forward.
"Sir, you recognise him?" she asked.
"Yeah, him and him!" as he looked at Two Dads then back to MacGyver.
"They caused the fight. And that one," he looks at Steve, "He ordered the kid here to pick up my croc."
"You heard him say this, Sir," Mike asked him.
"Yeah, plain as the nose on my face. 'Get the Croc and get out of here'."
"Sir, who threw the first punch?" MacGyver asked.
"I did, but this guy here hit me back," he said, pointing to Two Dads, and then back to MacGyver.
"And where was this man?" Mike said as he pointed to Steve.
"He showed up and hit my mate seconds after my mate beat the shit out of this guy here," indicating Two Dads.
"Two Dads, do you recognise any of the others who beat you up?" MacGyver asked.
"Yeah, him, him and him," Two Dads pointed to three of the men.
"Take them all down into the austere and secure them. You're all under arrest for poaching," Mike said. Once everything is sorted out, they return to Cairns.
The next morning, the crew hears that Lieutenant Commander Coburn is being sent to the Captain's Table to answer for what happened. The charges against Two Dads were dropped after the bar owner admitted to throwing the first punch. Two Dad's was also cleared of having to pay for any damages done to the bar. The poachers were turned over to the Feds and are now awaiting trial.
Because Coburn was relieved of his command, the crew enjoyed an unexpected shore leave until another captain was found. MacGyver enjoyed her night at home with Jim.
Two days later, Macgyver was on duty watch with another crew member when Mike walked onto the bridge.
"This is a surprise, Sir. Is something wrong?" MacGyver asked when she saw the look on his face.
"Fleet Command called."
"Your back on Hammersley."
"Yeah, only until another captain is found."
"How did the X take the news?"
"Shocked…disappointed."
"I bet, so when do we start our patrol?"
"Tomorrow. The crew will get the text message this afternoon."
"I understand, so what are your plans tonight?"
"Dinner at home."
"How about taking her out for a romantic dinner and then for dessert…" she steps forward and whispers in his ear a suggestion. When she pulled back, she was grinning.
"I don't think she will go for it."
"Of course she will."
"I'll think about it," he turned and walked off the bridge.
MacGyver looked over to her watch partner who was looking at her. "X must be upset."
"Yeah, she would be, and I don't blame her."