Part 4
Disclaimer: I do not own the JAG characters nor do I receive any money for doing this.
3 Days Later
1000 Hours Local Time
Arlington Cemetery
Arlington VA
Harm, Mac, and Bud Roberts were headed towards the chapel for Jordan's funeral when they were approached by NCIS Special Agent Kenworthy.
"Morning Commander." Agent Kenworthy said, gaining the small groups attention.
"Agent Kenworthy." Harm answered, rather stiffly. He couldn't help but wonder what the man's intentions were or why he was even attending the funeral in the first place.
Kenworthy looked over the small group, "So, is this the JAG team." He asked indicating the small group of friends.
Mac chose that moment to step up, "Colonel MacKenzie." She said introducing herself. "This is Lieutenant Bud Roberts." She said indicating Bud with a quick nod in his direction.
"You think it is proper Colonel to be associated with an NCIS suspect?" The agent asked.
Mac bristled in response. There was no way in hell anyone was going to get away with dissing her partner the way Kenworthy had. Epically, when that partner was Harmon Rabb JR. "We are associating with a fellow mourner, Special Agent." She spat, getting up and personal in his space. "We all knew Commander Parker and we are not about to nod at each other from across the chapel. Now if you'll excuse us Agent." She said, and then turned on her heal and headed in the direction of the chapel her two comrades filling in behind. Inside they all filed into the same pew and sat down. About half-way through a middle-aged, Marine Major, named Lynch. He was Jordan Parker's current boyfriend and it was he who was about to deliver the eulogy.
When we met from across the PX she nailed my relationship with my mother in one sentence.
Harm could relate. His mind went back to Jordy and his first meeting. A snowy Christmas eve, after she had been involved in a small motor vehicle crash that had taken out the nativity scene in front of the base entrance. There wasn't more than two sentences out of her mouth before she had nailed the relationship between him, his mother and father.
You couldn't hide anything from Jordan. That's why I fell for her.
Maybe that's why he had fallen for her to, Harm thought. For a moment Harm's mind drifted away from Jordan's funeral and back to the case. If there was a more perfect suspect, he was standing right in front of them.
"I assume he's on your list." Harm whispered just loud enough for Mac to hear.
"We see him Tuesday." Mac replied and then gave him the same look a mother gives a small child when he or she is being disruptive in church.
She helped me learn to commit and I helped her get over the last guy that couldn't.
Lynch said the last while making direct eye contact with Harm. After the guilt trip that he'd been laying on himself over the past few days, Harm couldn't help but flinch at the last.
JAG Headquarters-Later that afternoon
Harm was sitting in his office feeling a little put off because he wasn't allowed, as long as he was a suspect, to participate in Jordan's murder investigation.
"Hey." Mac said as she walked into his office and sat down.
Thinking that she might have some sort of news about the case, he perked up a bit in anticipation. "Hey, what's up?" He asked as he prepared himself for what was to come.
"How do I put this…?" Mac said, her shoulders slumped slightly as if she had really bad news and in response, Harm braced himself for the worse. Maybe they found out that she really did kill herself and her death was all his fault. "I had to remove you and Renee off the head table. It only seats eight. With me, the bridal party, Bud, Harriet, the Admiral, Chloe…."
Harm felt himself deflate like one of those blow up Santa's that people put out in their front yards around Christmas. Mac's wedding was the last thing he wanted to talk about and more to the point he really didn't care where he and Renee were being forced to sit. If things where his way there would be no wedding at all. Renee would be out of the picture. Bugme, would be back it Australia where he belonged and it would be his and Mac's wedding that they would be planning.
"It's okay." He finally said, trying to clear his mind of that particular scenario.
Mac looked at him as if she were trying to figure out where his mind just was, "Are you sure." She finally asked.
Just to prove it Harm changed the subject entirely, "Yeah, have you looked into Jordan's patient file? Because she treated everything from anxiety to post traumatic stress disorder. I think we can assume that at least on these patient's has the potential for violence."
He watched as Mac sighed, her eyes glazing over with frustration, "I think we can assume that all possible theories are still on the table. Harm, I know you're frustrated but coaching from the sidelines isn't helping."
Now it was Harm's turn to take the defensive, "What would you prefer I do?" He asked the anger and frustration evident in his voice.
Just then, the sound of someone approaching caught Mac's attention and she turned in her chair to see who it was. "You should be grateful you've been cleared." Agent Kenworthy said as he entered Harm's office.
"Who's the suspect?" Harm asked.
Kenworthy sighed, "The victim. We know believe LT. Commander Parker took her own life.
Harm shook his head. This can't be happening, he thought. Because if it is, it meant that Jordy's death was his fault and that was just something that he couldn't, no wouldn't accept.
1522 Local time
JAG Headquarters
Falls Church, VA
The rest of the afternoon had gone by in a blur. In fact, Harm had spent most of it in his office trying to contemplate the idea that Jordy had taken her own life. When he head NCIS's theory as to why-well let's just say it had left him drowning in a giant puddle of guilt. Now he had to pull himself to together because he had a meeting with Teresa, Mac, and Bud in less than five minutes.
He stood up, squared his shoulders, then like any good aviator–he packed all of his emotions into a neat little box, and then proceeded to walk out of his office. Teresa, Mac, and Bud were already waiting for him in the conference room. Paperwork on Jordy's death was spread out on the table in front of the group.
They greeted each other and then chatted amicably and then the meeting got started. Not wanting to intrude on the meeting Harm choose to stand against the far wall. But close enough so that he could hear what was going on but far enough away as to not seem intrusive.
"Suicide, what are they basing that on?" A surprised Teresa asked.
Mac pulled a report out of a file she had brought with her and began to summarize its contents, "There was no sign of forced entry, she died seated in a chair–which is a common scenario, and also the witness spotted an officer leaving officer quarters. If it had been her apartment, it would have a different story.
"What about forensics?"
Mac continued, "The only prints I have are Commander Parker's and the angle of entry is consistent with a self-inflicted wound…"Mac hands Teresa the report so she can read it,"…from a right handed person."
Teresa glanced over the report totally not impressed with what she was reading, "A cleaver killer could have arranged that."
Not able to stand it anymore, Harm chose that moment to step closer to the group, "NCIS has also conducted a psychological autopsy." He quickly added.
Teresa's face turned grim at the prospect and it didn't take a rocket scientist to figure out that these typed or proceedings, in her opinion, ranked very low, "Ah, not that!" She said voicing her opinion aloud.
"Why, what's your take on it?" Harm asked suddenly very interested in whatever it was she had to say.
"Those who knew the dead person are interviewed as a way of reconstructing his or her mental state. The tendency is to cease on any life-happenstance no matter how trivial."
"So, you're not buying it." Harm stated his emotional state lifting as he began to see a light at the end of what had become a very dark tunnel.
"Psychological autopsies could have helped determine how my mother died, Harm. I mean, I don't like them but I'm not willing to ignore them either."
Harm sighed, so much for the light at the end of the tunnel, which now seemed to have dimmed. It was almost as if a giant wind had come and blown it out. "NCIS is saying that I am responsible for Jordan's death." Maybe they were right, after all.
"Her boyfriend told NCIS that her relationship with Harm wounded her psychologically." Mac quickly added, while at the same time Harm took a seat at the table opposite Mac.
"Their theory is that because I didn't return Jordan's phone call immediately, she became depressed and then used the weapon that I insist that she buy. To punish me for hurting her."
By this point Teresa had just about had just about enough. Deep in her gut, she knew that Jordan had not committed suicide and her knowledge of Harm told her that if she didn't prove her theory correct, Harm would spend the rest of his life beating himself up about it. Squaring her shoulders as if to go into battle, Teresa turned towards Bud who had been silent up until this point. "Lieutenant, inform NCIS that I need access to the crime scene when they release it and request all relevant documents." She ordered.
"Yes, ma'am" Bud replied, sitting up a little straighter in his chair. "They may resist it."
Teresa turned and looked at Bud the same way a mother would look at a child who had just given her an unreasonable excuse for not being able to clean their room, "Then tear them out of their hand, Lieutenant."
"Yes, ma'am." Bud said, and then exited the room.