Hey everyone,
Managed to get another chapter out while getting a tan lol.
Thanks for the feedback!
LittleRose, I'll explain some things at the end of the chapter. Don't want to spoil anything incase some didn't get where the story was heading lol but PS you really need to join so I can reply to your feedback haha, you always have good questions!
Disclaimer: don't own them, didn't create them so don't sue!
Im uploading using the app for the first time so I apologise if the formatting is weird.
From Chapter 6
"Ah yes, I can confirm it's Charlotte James McGregor."
"Thanks, we will see you next semester then!"
Jim hung up the phone still starting at the certificate, he sat down rereading Charlie's name. He glanced over and spotted Charlie's bears sitting on the bench, he slammed his fist on the table
"Damn it Kate!"
He jumped up and grabbed his keys and ran out the door .
End Chapter 6
Charlotte
Chapter 7
Home Port.
Kate was standing on the dock with Charlie and Mike. She saw Jim hurrying towards them, she was puzzled to see him. She smiled, she thought he'd come to see her off again but as he approached she could see he wasn't hurrying to say goodbye, he looked mad, really mad. Charlie spotted him and ran up to him and leapt into his arms.
"Uncle Jim!"
He tried to looked happy to see her, he gave her a squeeze and put her back down. Kate could tell there was something wrong.
"Jim?! What are you doing here?"
Jim looked at Mike trying to keep his cool.
"Can we have a minute?"
Mike gave Kate an uneasy look and took Charlie's hand.
"C'mon sweetie...let go have a look at the other boats."
Jim watched as they walked away. Once they were out of ear shot his expression changed into one of anger and confusion. He raised his voice a little and held up Charlie's birth certificate and shoved it in front of Kate's face.
"What is this?"
Kate tried to focus on the piece of paper.
"Ahh..."
He waived it in front if her, she became annoyed and snatched the paper out of his hand. She realised what it was and what he had realised, she swallowed hard and whispered.
"It's Charlie's birth certificate?"
She felt sick, this was the moment she had dreaded ever since he had returned, she had no idea how she was going to deal with this.
"Kate, you told me her middle name was Jane..."
Kate inhaled sharply, she couldn't say anything, she was frozen by panic. He grabbed the certificate out of her hand and pointed to Charlie's name.
"This says her middle name James, you said it was Jane, did you just make up the story about Mike's mum?"
Kate stood there, trying not to cry, trying not to scream, still nothing came out of her mouth. Jim was getting angrier at her silence.
"For Gods sake please tell me it's not for the reason I think it is..."
Kate saw Charlie running up to her out the corner of her eye.
"Mummy, one last hug before we go!"
She picked her up hugged her, she looked at Jim, tears threatening to overflow. He glared at her then looked at Charlie, he waited for her to say something, anything. Kate still didn't know what to say, Mike approached them watching their odd behaviour. Jim couldn't believe she wasn't even denying it, he shook his head and walked off, he stopped and turned.
"Oh by the way she got in, she starts next semester..."
Kate stood there holding Charlie she watched as Jim walked off.
"Where's Uncle Jim going?"
Mike hurried over after seeing Jim walk off, he placed a hand on Kate's shoulder.
"Kate?"
She passed him the certificate.
"He knows..."
They were startled as Maxine ran up to them.
"There's been a bit of a development, we may not send you back out today, go home and I'll give you a call later..."
Kate sighed, she would have rather been sailed.
"I'd better go talk to him..."
Mike grabbed her hand.
"You don't need to do this alone..."
She smiled.
"Thanks."
They walked into Jim's house cautiously, he was on the deck drinking. Kate put her hand out to stop Mike.
"Can you just let me..."
He nodded. She walked out on to the deck and sat down, Jim glanced over and shook his head.
"Seriously?"
Kate sat down nervously, she was about to speak when Jim spun his chair around, he was holding Charlie's bear, Hammy.
"Don't bother denying it, I've done the maths. Bloody hell, the media figured it out before I did, I feel like a complete idiot!"
Kate sat there in silence watching Jim stare at the bear, he suddenly threw it at her, she caught it and held it against her chest.
"Was that supposed to be some kind of clue?"
She glanced down at Hammy and slowly met his gaze.
"Jim, what do you want me to say?"
He shot a look at her, was she serious? He wanted an explanation.
"Why didn't you tell me as soon as I came back?"
Kate took a deep breath in, how was she supposed to explain this, she never thought he was coming back.
"Jim, we thought you were dead, 5 years is a long time..."
Jim was too angry to listen to her reasoning, he started to raise his voice.
"So you just told her he was her father?"
Kate closed her eyes trying to think, she knew that any reason she gave wasn't going to be good enough.
"It wasn't that simple Jim, we were together, in the beginning we didn't think we were going to end, little own you coming back and when she called him Daddy..."
Tears were streaming down Kate's face, Jim got up and walked to the railing of the deck, he stood there staring out into the ocean. She followed and put a hand on his back.
"Jim, we would have eventually told her, told her about her father the hero, but how do you explain that to a 2 year old?"
Jim spun round, he had tears in his eyes.
"So instead I just didn't exist?"
His phone rang, he walked over to the table and declined the call.
"Kate, how you could you do this?"
Mike walked out on to the deck, he had to help, she wasn't the only guilty one.
"Jim, it's not all her fault!"
It took every ounce of his strength not to punch Mike, he walked over to Mike and stood inches from him.
"You! I actually thought you and I were mates! Bet you were laughing behind my back thinking how stupid I was!"
Mike was about to retaliate when Charlie came running out.
"Why are you yelling? Why are you upset Mummy?"
She gathered up Charlie and took her into the lounge. Jim's phone rang again, he answered it.
"Jim Roth... yes, no but I can't... I understand but it's not... ok, I'll be there."
Kate walked back on to the deck.
"Jim?"
He hung up the phone and chucked it onto the couch.
"Bloody brilliant, I'm being call back on duty..."
Kate walked up to him.
"Well maybe some time apart might..."
Jim shook his head frustrated and interrupted.
"I'm being posted with you!"
Kate froze for a moment, she sighed.
"Jim, we need to talk about this then, we have to work together."
"I don't think there's much to talk about Kate..."
Jim went to pack his bag. Kate and Mike stood there, Charlie ran back out to the deck.
"Why is everyone yelling?"
Kate knelt down.
"It's ok hunny, just adult stuff..."
Charlie ran after Jim, she cautiously opened his door and walked into his room.
"Uncle Jim..."
He stood there for a moment to compose himself, he turned around and forced a smiled on his face, she jumped on to his bed.
"Where are you going?"
He sat on the bed with her.
"I have to go help Mummy..."
Charlie looked sad.
"Why are you mad at Mummy?"
Jim shook his head.
"Nothing you need to worry about..."
"But she's making you cry! That's not very nice!"
Jim wiped the tears from his face at sat closer to her.
"Charlie, sometimes people make bad decisions..."
Kate walked into Jim's room and heard their conversation.
"Jim!"
Kate ushered Charlie out of the room. He stood up in defence.
"I wasn't going to say anything!"
"Jim, is there anything I can say that will make this better?"
Jim sat on the bed defeated.
"Kate, I know you forgave me for disappearing and I know this would have gone a lot differently if I was here but can't you understand how much this hurts? I had to go away to protect you, you didn't have to go along with this lie, there was a choice..."
"Jim, we didn't plan this, it sounds terrible but it just happened. At the beginning we thought we would last, she was only 13 months when she referred to him as dad, how did you expect me to explain that?"
Jim remembered the story that she had told him about them and how they should have broken up earlier.
"But you said that you guys should have ended it sooner, if you guys were rocky why did you go along with it?"
Kate sat down on the bed next to him.
"I don't know..."
Jim got off the bed, his anger had returned.
"It's not good enough Kate, so at what point were you going to bring her world crashing down by telling her that Mike wasn't her father?"
Kate didn't have an answer, Jim knew what that meant, she may not have ever told her. He was now livid.
"That's what I thought...I need you to go Kate and take him with you..."
Kate stood up and glanced over to him, she was going to speak but thought better of it. She could tell he was in a lot pain, she hated that she had caused it but she knew she needed to give him time to process it.
Kate's house.
Mike and Kate sat in the lounge while Charlie played in her room. Mike glanced over at Kate's distressed state, he cleared his throat.
"Maybe I should go home?"
Kate reached out and put a hand on his arm.
"Please, I'd really like you to stay..."
Mike glanced at Kate, they were both to blame for this, neither of them corrected Charlie when she called him 'Dada' the first time and then it just kept happening. Kate always insisted that not being Charlie's biological father didn't make him less her Dad. But now her freak dad had returned maybe he needed to give them some space to sort this out. He reached over and touched her hand.
"Maybe if I backed off a bit Jim would..."
Kate's disheartened look turned into one of panic, she squeezed his hand.
"Mike, no! I never want you to feel like you're not a huge part of Charlie's life. You didn't make me do this, this was just as much my decision as yours. You know you will always be her Daddy right?"
"I know Kate, but.."
Kate gave him a "don't you even think about it" look.
"It might not matter now anyway, I think I might have lost him..."
Kate leant back into the couch and put her hands over her face. Mike moved closer.
"Maybe if we try and look at it from his point of view we might be able to sort this out."
Kate could help but smile, Mike truly wanted everyone to be happy.
"Of course but...Mike I'm not choosing between you or him."
"Kate I would never ask you to do that..."
"I know, but I'm scared he might?!"
Mike squeezed her hand a little trying to reassure her. He cared so much for Charlie and Kate and he genuinely felt bad bad for Jim, they had somehow become friends and things were going well but now with this lapse in judgement may have ruined everything. He didn't want to Kate to worry anymore that she was.
"He's a good guy Kate..."
She looked up and smiled at him.
"So are you Mike Flynn! Thank you for sticking by me and Charlie!"
Mike wrapped his arm around her and she leant on his shoulder.
"Of course!"
The next morning.
Kate had barely any sleep, she got out of bed and found Mike and Charlie in the kitchen. Her phone rang, she rushed over to see if was Jim, she looked disappointed as she saw Navcom's number.
"Kate McGregor..."
"Kate, it's Maxine, we need you to sail today, I'm assuming Jim got the call last night too?"
"Ah yeah, he'll be join me?"
"Yeah, look upstairs aren't aware of your relationship, I haven't said anything, I know you guys will be professional, actually let me talk to him..."
Kate froze, he obviously wasn't with her, how was she supposed to explain all of this to Maxine, it was only going to cause more trouble and she didn't want more people involved so she lied.
"Ah he's in the shower, we'll come and see you before we leave..."
She hung up before Maxine could ask anything else, she sent Jim a message.
"Maxine wants to see us before we sail, please don't mention anything..."
Navcom.
Jim was in with Maxine, Kate walked in to the main office. Maxine spotted her and knocked on the glass, she signalled for Kate to come to her office. Kate's stomach flipped, she really had hoped Jim hadn't said anything. She poked her head in the door hoping it wasn't going to turn into a long briefing.
"Kate, come in, I thought you two would have come in together..."
She tried to make eye contact with Jim.
"Ah, I had some stuff to sort out with Charlie actually..."
Maxine nodded not sensing there was anything wrong, she cleared her throat.
"So, I trust you both know why you're here?"
Kate looked at Jim nervously. Maxine rolled her eyes.
"I take it you can work together? I know you guys are involved but I just need you to say it out loud."
They both nodded, Jim cleared his throat.
"We can work professionally Ma'am!"
"Good, we've got enough going on to worry about our two leaders not having their head in the game..."
Jim stood up. Kate put her hand out to stop him.
"Ah Ma'am don't you think it's strange they're sending Jim on this particular mission? I mean if they're involved with the ring that Madelaine was in don't you think it's a bit of a conflict?"
Maxine shrugged.
"Not my call Kate, I'm sure you're both equipped to handle this..."
Jim nodded, he wanted to get out of there ASAP to avoid more awkward conversations.
"Is that all Ma'am?"
She nodded, Jim left leaving Kate sitting there.
"Anything else Kate?"
She hesitated, Maxine could tell something was bothering her, Kate went to leave.
"Commander McGregor..."
She turned, she knew what that tone of voice meant, she slowly walked back to the chair and sat trying to avoid Maxine's glare. They sat in silence for a minute, Kate could feel Maxine's eyes on her.
"Ahh, ok so..."
Kate shook her head, she couldn't do this now.
"Don't worry... look, I'm sure it'll be fine, never mind, it's all good!"
Kate ran out of the office before Maxine could stop her, she caught up to Jim, she grabbed him by the arm.
"Jim, are you going to talk to me? Look at me?!"
Jim kept walking. Maxine watched them through the window, she knew Kate was lying when she said they were 'all good', she sighed.
"Can't I just have one day without any drama?!"
HMAS Bundaberg.
Kate knocked on Jim's door, he opened it shirtless, she tried not to stare. She cleared her throat.
"Ah, you and your team settled in?"
Jim continued to unpack his things barely acknowledging her presence.
"Yep..."
Kate entered his cabin and shut the door, Jim turned round to face her.
"Kate, please..."
Kate stood there, her heart sank as she saw Jim's face. He had obviously been crying, his eyes were red and puffy, she had never seen him so venerable.
"Kate, I gave you time now I need some time..."
There was a knock on the door, they immediately stopped talking. Kim opened the door, his second in command was standing there. He quickly turned and continued unpacking so his colleague wouldn't see his puffy face.
"Ah, Harrison, have you met Commander McGregor?"
Kate turned and smiled, she had to get her head right, she had a job to do. She shook his hand.
"Good to meet you..."
He nodded slightly .
"Likewise Ma'am."
Harrison could feel the tension, he knew a bit about Jim and Kate's history as they had served together previously. He tried to clear the air.
"Hope he's not giving you any trouble? I can sort him out, we go way back, I know all his secrets!"
He laughed as Jim turned and shoved him out the door, Kate followed. They walked down the corridor together, Kate broke the silence.
"So you guys are good mates huh?"
Harrison nodded.
"Well, before he went away ..."
Kate looked at her feet, she wondered how much Jim had told his crew and if they blamed her for him disappearing. Harrison noticed Kate's nervousness.
"It's ok Commander, he's not a kiss and tell kinda bloke, all I know is that he must really love you to do what he did!"
A tear rolled down Kate's cheek, she quickly wiped it away but it wasn't quick enough, he saw it.
"Sorry Commander, I didn't mean to..."
Kate put her hand up to stop him apologising.
"It's fine, umm I'm just gonna go get a brew, do you want one?"
He shook his head.
"Thanks anyway, I umm better get out if your hair, you must have slot of planning to do..."
Harrison headed to his cabin and Kate went into the galley. She searched around in the cupboards, moving stuff about. Bird was preparing lunch.
"Ah Ma'am? Can I help you find something?"
Kate had her head in a cupboard.
"Do you have anything sweet? Chocolate? Lollies?"
She sounded agitated, Bird laughed. Kate took her head out of a cupboard and gave her an unimpressed look.
"Well I can't have wine can I?"
Bird laughed again.
"What's the matter Ma'am?"
Kate shook her head and went up to the bridge, she stood with her arms crossed and looked out the window. Nikki noticed her agitated state, she walked up behind her.
"Boss, is everything ok?"
Kate ignored her for a second hoping she would drop it. Nikki knew her better, she stepped closer.
"Kate?"
Kate sighed, she didn't really want anyone to know but if it was going to affect operation performance and create tension Nikki at least deserved to know.
"My cabin, bring something sweet..."
Kate walked off, Nikki looked confused and headed to her cabin to get her lolly stash. She knocked on Kate's cabin door and entered and sat on her rack. Nikki looked at her oddly, she had never seen Kate so on edge, she immediately opened the lollies and offered her some, she took a handful and chucked them in to her mouth.
"Kate..."
Kate swallowed her mouthful of lollies.
"Jim is Charlie's biological father..."
Kate exhaled, she was sort of relieved to say it to someone else. Nikki sat there gobsmacked, she took a handful of lollies and chucked them in her mouth, Kate did the same.
"Wine would have been better..."
Nikki nodded.
"No shit!"
Nikki realised that she had cursed.
"Sorry Boss, but..."
Kate let out a little laugh.
"It's ok..."
Nikki sat there staring at Kate, she didn't know if she was allowed to ask questions.
"Ah yeah... so umm does Jim know?"
Kate nodded.
"He found out an hour ago..."
Nikki's jaw dropped.
"And he's on the boat, with you, with us, now?"
Kate nodded.
"Kate you need to sort this it now! This could be bad!"
"I tried, he won't speak to me!"
Nikki jumped up at put her hands on her hips.
"Since when does Kate McGregor take no for an answer?!"
Nikki handed her a red snake. Kate nodded, got up and chucked it in her mouth and left her cabin.
She entered Jim's cabin without knocking and started talking.
"Jim we have to work together, we have to figure this out. We have 2 hours till we get to this island they want us to search..."
Jim sat down at his desk, Kate sat on his rack. He chucked his phone on the desk. Kate could see he was looking at pictures of him and Charlie, she picked up his phone and smiled flicking through the pictures.
"How did I not know...Kate, I need to hear you say it."
Kate took a deep breath in. She had already said it to Nikki minutes before but having to say it to Jim was harder.
"Charlotte's middle name is James because we wanted to honour you... "
Kate felt sick, the blood rushed from her head, she felt like she was going to pass out.
"Because..."
Jim locked eyes with her, tears were building up in his eyes.
"Because she is your daughter..."
Jim slumped back into his chair, Kate knelt next to him and placed her hand on his knee. Jim looked at the expression on Kate's face, he knew she was sorry but he couldn't just let it slide. He knew he loved her and Charlie but he wasn't ready to forgive her.
"I can't do this right now, we're at work. I've got to focus on work..."
Kate sighed, he was right, she stopped and turned at the door.
"I love you James Roth..."
He looked up at her.
"I know..."
Kate opened the door to leave and was startled by Harrison standing in the doorway, she quickly shut the door so he wouldn't see Jim in his venerable state.
"Oh sorry Ma'am I was just looking for Jim..."
"He's in there, but umm maybe give him a minute."
Harrison nodded and walked off, she leant on it for a minute and closed her eyes. Nikki came running up to her, Kate shook her head and walked off.
A few hours later the Bundaberg docked at a neighbouring island. Jim and his team were to take a RHIB to the other island as they didn't want to alert the militants with a Navy ship. Jim briefed his team on deck and was about to leave, Kate ran up behind him and grabbed his hand.
"Please be careful..."
He turned and looked at her, he gave her a blank look and began to walk off, she re gripped his hand and squeezed it, she held on till he let her hand fall.
Nikki wrapped her arm around Kate.
"Let's go get that wine..."
"Ok just 1, I've got some paperwork to do, Maxine needs it by 5..."
Kate and Nikki sat at the bar, Kate swirled her wine around in her glass.
"I don't know if he will forgive me Nik...:
Nikki out her hand on Kate's arm.
"Just give him a bit of time, he has to understand, you forgave him for faking his death for god's sake..."
Kate took a mouth full of wine.
"Yeah, but he had a point when he said that he did that to protect me, why did I do that to him? I didn't have to lie..."
"But you were protecting your child..."
Kate sighed and looked at her watch, she swallowed the rest of her glass.
"I'd better got finish this paperwork..."
Kate was sitting in her cabin trying to concentrate, it had been 30 minutes and all she had typed was the date. All she could see was the devastated look on Jim's face. Dutchy knocked on the door and poked his head in.
"Boss, Captain Roth is on the radio..."
Kate raced up to the bridge and grabbed the radio.
"Zulu Alpha Yankee this is Papa 91 receiving..."
Jim came over the radio.
"This is Zulu Alpha Yankee, we have found a base camp, we were not able to raid it we were outnumbered , they have various weapons on site. We have taken some photos hoping they can be enhanced for serial numbers."
They heard gun fire in the background.
"Zulu Alpha Yankee, what was that?"
Silence.
"Zulu Alpha Yankee to Papa91, we need back up, we're being fired upon, we're going to try and make it back to the RHIB."
Kate was relieved to hear Jim's voice.
"Zulu Alpha Yankee this is Papa 91, we're on our way!"
Nikki launched the other RHIB with a second shore party. Kate stood on deck looking through the binoculars, she could see the SAS team carrying 2 of their crew. The Hammersley crew arrived on shore and fired their weapons to cover them. They got back in the RHIBs and made their way back to the boat.
Kate met them on deck, Jim had a flesh wound. She rushed over to him and called out for Swain. They brought them down to the ward room. Kate stood above Jim trying not to lose it.
"Alright everyone out, let Swain and Bird work, Nikki can you make best speed for home."
Nikki nodded and went to the bridge.
Kate sat next to Jim and held his hand.
"Jim m, what happened?"
He loosened his grip and removed his hand.
"I'm fine Kate, it's just a flesh wound."
Jim tried to get up, she pushed him back down.
"Jim, let Swain take a look."
Jim sat up and gave her a dirty look, he raised his voice a little.
"I'm fine! I've been hurt a lot worse!"
He got up and snatched the bandage from Swain and left the room, Swain gave Kate a concerned look.
"It's ok Swain, just let him go..."
Charlie's Kindy.
Mike walked through the gate looking for Charlie. He saw Sam one of the usual staff members, he waived as she approached.
"Commander Flynn..."
"Sam, I've told you Mike is fine."
"Mike, I think you're wife has already collected Charlie..."
Mike frowned, confused, there was a lot wrong with that sentence.
"Ah, she's not my wife but that doesn't matter and that's impossible Kate is out at sea."
Sam waived over Celeste.
"Celeste this is Mike, Charlotte McGregor's Dad."
They smiled and shook hands.
"Nice to meet you Mike, umm Charlie was collected by Maxine an hour ago."
Mike was concerned, this was normally pre arranged, something wasn't right.
"Maxine?"
Celeste looked anxious.
"Ah, she was on the list and I checked her ID, was that not correct?"
Sam shook her head.
"It's ok Celeste you followed protocol..."
Mike took out his phone and called Maxine.
"Max, it's Mike..."
"Oh Mike, I wanted to talk to you actually about Kate.."
Mike interrupted.
"Later Max, did you pick up Charlie today..."
"No, we hadn't arranged anything..."
Mike hung up the phone in a panic.
"Maxine didn't pick her up! Do you have security cameras?"
Sam and Mike rushed inside. Mike's phone rang, it was Maxine.
"Sorry Max, Charlie's gone from child care, someone claiming to be you picked her up..."
Sam rewound the cameras, Mike pointed to the screen.
"There! Damn it, she's wearing a hat!"
"Mike, are you still there?!"
"Max there's nothing on the cameras...I'll call you back..."
Celeste walked up behind them trying to see the footage, mike turned towards her.
"Celeste, what did this woman look like?"
"Ah average height, slim, blonde hair, she was wearing sunglasses and a hat... I'm so sorry Mike..."
She was obviously distressed, Mike put a hand on Celeste's shoulder.
"It's ok it's not your fault... ah what about the car park? Is there a camera out there?"
Sam nodded and brought up the camera. Mike got out his phone and wrote down the number plate.
"Thanks, I'll be in touch..."
Mike drove to the Cairns Police station. He burst through the door looking stressed. An officer approached the counter.
"Sir, I'm Snr Constable Watts, how can I help you..."
Mike took a breath in trying to compose himself.
"My name is Mike Flynn, I think my daughter has been taken..."
"Ok Sir, what makes you think that?"
He took out his notepad.
"I went to pick her up from child care and she had been picked up by someone claiming to be a friend of mine..."
"Ok Sir, have you contacted family, sometimes..."
Mike interrupted abruptly.
"We have no family here... there are 3 people in this whole country who would pick her up and it wasn't any of them..."
Mike started to get agitated.
"Ok, just calm down Sir, can I have the child's name..."
"Charlotte McGregor..."
"Ok and her mother's name..."
"Kate McGregor..."
"Her phone number..."
"0457689103... but you won't be able to reach her she's at sea..."
The officer looked at him strangely, Mike took out his Navy ID.
"We're both in the navy, she's currently out on a patrol while I'm at home..."
The officer stared at Mike for a minute.
"Mike Flynn, you're the captain of Hammersley, the one that..."
The officer trailed off realising that it was going to be inappropriate, Mike nodded.
"Yes, look I have no idea why someone would take her, Kate normally has a shore posting and..."
Mike paused for a moment.
"Jim..."
Snr Constable Watts looked puzzled at Mike's hesitation.
"Sorry Sir, who is Jim?"
Mike looked around the station.
"Can we go into an office..."
Watts nodded and showed him in, they sat in an interview room.
"So Jim, who is he and what has he got to do with this?"
Mike leant on the desk wondering how much he should divulge. He shook his head, his little girl was missing, he had to trust the police.
"Look, it's complicated and a long story but Jim, Kate's partner returned a few weeks ago from Witness Protection. He was undercover on and SAS mission to uncover a terrorist weapons smuggling ring. He was the one that was 'killed' disarming a bomb in the harbor..."
Snr Constable Watts leant back on his chair trying to process what Mike was saying, he suddenly had a lightbulb moment.
"Hang on, I remember that! I was in the academy, it's all that was talked about for months."
Mike leant in closer.
"Well, when the Hammersley went down the militants referenced him and the double agent, Madelaine Cruise, who as far as I know is in jail..."
Snr Constable Watts brow furrowed.
"So what are you getting at Commander Flynn..."
"A woman collected Charlotte from Kindy, here this is her number plate...it could have been Madelaine..."
He got out his phone and wrote down the number plate. His phone rang, it was Kate he declined the call.
"Please can you just look into it, maybe she's out? I'm going to find out what I can from my side. Here's my card."
Snr Constable Watts nodded and took his card, he gave Mike his. Mike raced out of the police station and drove to Navcom. He ran into Maxine's office. Kate called again, he ignored it.
"Mike any news?"
He shook his head.
"Kate keeps calling I don't know what to do...I've been to the cops, I have a feeling this is all to do with the whole Madelaine, Jim, the weapons smuggling ring, I can feel it..."
"Mike let's not make this bigger than..."
He wasn't going to let her downplay this.
"Max, why else? Jim is back, the guy who blew up the Hammersley knew that he was back plus he said Madelaine said I was a smart man, she's gotta be out if there's at least gotta be known accomplices working for her. I know you have clearance to check that! Please!"
Maxine exhaled and sat at her desk and glanced up at him.
"I'll make some calls... go wait in Kate's office..."
Mike paced around Kate's office, his phone rang. It wasn't a number her recognised.
"Mike Flynn..."
"Commander, it's Snr Constable Watts, we checked with the rental company, the car was hired by a Maxine White, does that name ring a bell?"
"Damn it, I thought so!"
"Commander?"
"That's my bosses name, her house was broken into, we think they were looking to copy ID, it was the ID that was used to collect Charlotte..."
Mikes phone beeped, it was call waiting, he glanced at his phone and sighed,it was Kate.
"I'm gonna have to call you back..."
He tried to put on a casual voice as he answered Kate's call.
"Hi Kate..."
"Mike I've called twice why have you ignored my calls?"
She sounded a little irritated, Mike tried to be as vague as possible.
"Sorry, had some meetings..."
"You're at Navcom? Where's Charlie I want to speak to my baby..."
"Ahh, she's just in the bathroom..."
At that moment Maxine burst into Kate's office.
"Mike, she's out!"
Mike covered the speaker of his phone.
"Max, it's Kate..."
Maxine cringed.
"Shit! Sorry..."
Mike put the phone back to his ear.
"Mike? Mike who's out, was that Maxine..."
"Kate, I've gotta go!"
He hung up the phone.
"You've gotta tell her Mike."
Mike turned his phone to silent.
"I panicked, look hopefully she'll be back tonight? Surly her knowing while she's out at sea..."
Kate's office phone rang. Maxine went to answer it, Mike put his hand out to stop her. Maxine gave Mike a stern look, he slowly moved his hand.
"Navcom Commander White speaking... Kate, ah hi..."
Maxine put the phone on speaker and they both sat at her desk.
"Maxine, is Mike there... what is going on? I can tell something's up, he's a terrible liar!"
Maxine rolled her eyes and laughed at Mike.
"That's why you guys made a great team!"
"Mike?"
Mike cleared his throat.
"Kate, everything is fine, I'll see you soon!"
"Mike! Maxine, is he lying?"
Mike gave Maxine an all knowing look.
"Kate, we'll see you tonight!"
Kate sat in her cabin trying to make sense of what was happening. She raced up to the bridge.
"Nik, make best speed for home..."
She nodded and stood next to her and lowered her voice.
"Everything ok? Is Jim..."
Kate was focused on the sea trying not to validate all the awful thoughts spinning in her head.
"I dunno, some things wrong, I can feel it..."
End Chapter 7. Xx
Please don't forget to review.
Ok LittleRose, I have some answers for you! Just a side note, I always enjoy your feedback :) you really make me think! I'm not being sarcastic or negative either, I know sometime people can take things the wrong way via text.
Ok so obviously now Charlie's is Jim's daughter. I had them have that instant friendly relationship as a bit of a clue to the paternity. I guess everyone experiences are different as part of her behaviour was from my own experience. I have a step son, when I got together with his dad he was 6 and we got along very well straight away and he actually asked when he was getting a brother or sister hahaha. But I'm also happy to classify my fan fics as fantasy cos I'm happy to admit some parts of them really are haha.
As I briefly explained in the chapter Mike and Kate decision to raise her as Mike's was a mutual decision, I will admit that in real life it would be a bad decision but for the sake of the story it went down this way! As for Charlie's middle name, James, not only does it make it blatantly obvious to Jim that Charlie is his but I like the idea of using names differently. My stepsons middle name is actually his grandma's name which is usually a female name and I think there's an actress that's actually called her girl James so I thought why not? Also having her as a McGregor not a McGregor-Flynn was more of a clue. But anyway hope that explains some things :) please keep reading and reviewing! Xx