Part 7

Disclaimer: I do not own the JAG characters nor do I receive any money for doing this.

1913 hours Local time

Public Affairs Building, MCCDC

Quantico, VA

"Where were you at the time of Commander Parker's death?" Mac asked.

The Major gave her an angry stare, "I already established that." He said with a sigh.

This time Harm jumped in, "You didn't establish that, your Gunnery Sargent did."

"We just spoke with her and she told NCIS that you went to the Jewelry store because that's what you told her." Mac, piped in.

"And this is a problem…." The Major said, acting as if he didn't see a problem with his Gunnery Sargent lying on his behalf.

"I assume that you can provide a receipt, proving the purchase of this engagement ring." Harm stated.

Major Lynch let out a loud sigh, "I never bought the ring, Sir.

Harm continued, "Well, then a sales person who will confirm your presence in the store at the time, Major."

Major Lynch, launched a death stare in Harm's direction, "Let me try to understand this…" He said between clinched teeth. "You, a suspect without an alibi in Jordan's murder are asking me, if I can support mine."

This time Mac stepped forward, "I'll ask you Major, can you?" She asked.

"I wasn't in the store Ma'am. My Gunny assumed that because I had asked about what to buy."

"Well where were you then?" Mac asked, taking a note of the fact that their prime suspect now had no alibi.

"In Lafayette Park, Ma'am."

"Why didn't you clarify this with NCIS?" Mac asked, her tone of voice demanding an answer.

"I didn't want to be suspected of something I didn't do."

"Why were you at the park?"

Lynch started pacing back and forth across the floor his hands behind his back, "I was thinking." He finally answered.

"About what?" Mac demanded.

"About how I was going to win Jordan back."

"She'd broken up with you?" Now he had motive and no alibi. Things were just getting better and better.

Lynch hesitated for a moment, "…about an hour before. That's why I was going to buy the ring. I thought it might help convince her to change her mind."

"Why didn't you buy the ring?" Harm asked.

A look of sadness, compiled with anger, washed over the Major's face, "Because I realized it wasn't going to work. I made my commitment to late. Look, I'm being straight with you guys because I want to be clear that I loved Jordan. I did not kill her. I would not kill her. So let's talk about this in the spirt of finding out who the person was that did it."

"Let's talk about where you were the night before Jordan died."

"Is this your murder theory, Commander?" Lynch asked.

"Did you visit her Major?" Harm asked again.

Lynch chuckled in disbelief, "That would be no, Sir. I was visiting my sister in St. Louis. Shall I get her on the phone to confirm, Sir?"

That was that. Harm and Mac's prime suspect just went don't the toilet. They knew that Jordan couldn't have been talking about Lynch in her journal. The two of them might have been having their fair share of issues but Lynch was defiantly not their killer.

Back in the car, Harm and Mac began to discuss the case.

"Why would Mrs. Maples lie about seeing Lynch leaving Jordan's quarters the night before?" Harm asked as he pushed the key into the ignition and started the car.

"Maybe because she was a frail woman who was pushed into falsely identifying a suspect by an overzealous attorney." Mac replied as she reached for her seatbelt and clicked it into place.

Harm sighed, as he put the car into gear and pulled out of the parking lot, "I didn't push her, Mac." He finally said.

"You're pushing everybody, Harm. You're pushing Bud right out of the investigation."

"Yeah, well Lynch could still be guilty." Harm said, sounding like the captain who was intent on going down with his sinking ship.

"Our theory is that the person in Jordan's date book killed her and that's not Lynch."

There was a few minutes of silence before Harm finally said, "She writes about not wanting to see him anymore–that is Lynch."

"Unless she broke up with two people."

It was hard to drop Lynch as a suspect but even Harm had to agree. Lynch wasn't their man, "Ah…what do you want to do now?" He finally asked.

"Regroup in the morning." Mac yawned tiredly. "And start with an open mind."

Later that night at Harm's apartment….

Harm was dog tired. So tired in fact that he could barely see straight. This whole Jordan mess was weighing heavily on him and all he wanted to do was be alone. Renee, however, had other ideas. He was lost in thought about Jordan when Renee's irritated voice cut in.

"Did you hear what I just said?" She asked.

Yes, she was clearly irritated and Harm hadn't heard a word. "Yup." He said trying to appease her.

"What was it?" She demanded.

Caught in his own lie, Harm didn't know what to say except for the truth. "I don't know." He groaned. "I'm sorry Renee; I'm a thousand miles away. Just let me get through this. Ok." He pleaded. "I'll make it up to you."

"Do you ever get over things?" Renee asked, clearly pissed by this point.

"Eventually." Harm sighed.

"What about your father?" Renee argued.

God, he didn't feel like arguing, "That's resolved, Renee."

"Until next Christmas when you re-visit the wall. How about your flying career? When are your quals?"

"Two weeks." Harm sighed. "And, don't mention that to Mac, okay?"

"How about Jordan?" Renee demanded. "Why did you guys break up?"

Harm stared across the room at the far wall. If he had a headache before it had grown into a full-fledged migraine. The last thing he wanted was to be interrogated by Renee, "Jordan broke up with me." He finally said as he reached down and picked up beer he'd been drinking. "When I got back from sea duty I wanted to pick things up where they left off–she didn't think that I could commit and she didn't want to get pulled back in."

"Pull me in, Harm." Renee pleaded, truly exasperated by this point.

"I just did that, Renee."

"No." Renee shook her head. "You've made gestures. Do you know I still don't even know what drives you? You share all these stories about your family members but never yourself. It would be helpful to know how you grew into the person that you are."

Harm rubbed his temples, "I don't have that kind of inside on myself. Renee." He replied truthfully.

"Tell me about your childhood. Did you were braces? Did you cause a lot of trouble? Did you have any imaginary friends?"

Harm stood up and walked into the kitchen where he placed his beer bottle on the counter, "Renee, I'm just really tired right now. I can't even think straight–sorry."

"I'm going home!" Renee said with a stamp of her foot.

Harm sighed as he walked over to where she had grabbed her coat and was busy putting it on, "Just give me a week, Okay!" He pleaded once more.

Renee grabbed her purse and walked over to the door. Before she left she turned to face Harm, "Am I going to have to die for you to commit to me?" She asked.

Before Harm could, answer she pulled opened the door and walked out. Harm didn't have the energy to chase after her. Hell, he barely had the energy to toss his empty beer bottle in the trash before making his way up to his bedroom.

The next morning Harm woke up. He had slept through the night but for whatever reason he still didn't feel rested. While he dressed for work, he tried to remember the last time he'd gone out for a run. God, he hated it when people close to him passed away. After he had showered and dressed, he ate a tasteless bowl of oatmeal before heading off to work.