Chapter 53
After a year of home schooling, Mattie adjusted quickly to public school. She had many classes with her friend Betsy and knew many of the people in her classes. A quick explanation of the reason for the completely new name was all she needed for those who knew her as Mattie Johnson.
They'd decided on the kitchen remodel first, knowing they could barbecue while the weather was decent. That project went quickly, they put new tile in, took off the wallpaper and painted the walls instead. Installing new appliances, updated tiling and paint changed the room fairly quickly. By October, they'd finished the larger rooms in the house.
Harm finally looked into the case of his cellmate, Ibrahim Bashir, and was able to get evidence that Ibrahim had not committed the felony that had put him in prison. Because of over-zealousness in the wake of 9/11, the government had railroaded a case that should have been just fines levied into a felony case. With Bashir in agreement, he arranged for the government to pay Bashir for lost wages, and pain and suffering. In exchange, Bashir would not sue the government for false arrest.
Mac was disappointed each month when her period arrived. Talking it over with Harm in October, she decided to discontinue birth control and let nature take its course.
Later that month, the admiral called both of them into his office. As Mac was now on the judiciary this was unusual, but they were not alone. Sturgis and Bud were with them. "If you heard or watched the news this morning you are aware Sheffield has been charged with war crimes and will be tried at The Hague. He'd like you to be his legal team. Commander Rabb, he requested you be lead counsel. The world court has this on the fast track people; it will start in three weeks. My yeoman has your orders. As the four of you need to bone up on the differences between military law and international law as it applies to the world court it will be most advantageous for you to get set up over there as soon as possible. Colonel Rabb, how soon will your current trial wrap up?"
"It went to the panel yesterday, so as early as today, if sentencing is needed, then tomorrow." As it was Bud and Sturgis who were in her court, he didn't need to ask them.
"I've arranged for officers to come in to cover for you. I want you to hand off all other cases to them. You should be able to leave on Saturday. "This was the first time since Afghanistan that Bud was headed overseas on assignment. It would be much safer, he knew, but he wondered if it were feasible for his family to join him. He'd be gone over a month.
Harm was looking forward to working with Mac again; he knew this was the last case they'd work together as a team while at JAG. Mac was looking forward to working with Harm as well. Like Bud, they weren't relishing being gone from their homes and families for over a month.
"As this could drag on for awhile, it is arranged for you to bring your families." The admiral surprised his officers with that tidbit. When had he turned into a mind reader?
"We thank you." Rabb spoke for the others. He knew Mattie would jump at the chance to go to Europe, in exchange for time to travel for he'd see if Harriet would need help with babysitting.
Since they were waiting on the panel to decide on a verdict Bud located his wife. Harriet was only working part-time; job-sharing with another reservist. She was eager to go, as long as she was able to get someone to cover for her while she was gone. Petty Officer Jennifer Coates would be freed from her duties as Mac's while the colonel was in Europe she could cover for Harriet while she was gone. It would be a win-win situation for everyone.
Chapter 54
The group headed to Europe late Saturday morning. Mattie wouldn't be in school while she was gone, so she was given her assignments to complete and send by e-mail. The school knew she'd be able to keep up with the work she'd been home-schooled and received top marks. One of her teachers knew it would be nearly impossible to grade her during the time, it was a sociology class and it dealt with current events topics. As she wouldn't be able to participate in the discussions in class, the teacher decided that Mattie had to attend the world court at least once a week and write a report of what happened that day. She was also to interview as many people from different nations involved in the case and report to the class her observations when she returned.
The first week at The Hague, the four attorneys were very busy in preparation. Bud and Harm still had the robes and wigs from their time in court. Sturgis and Mac had to purchase theirs. There were distinct differences between the courts so they studied accordingly. Mattie commented upon seeing the four of them work late into the night for the fourth straight night that it was like finals week, only worse. Mac told her it was a good analogy. During that week, Mattie and Harriet did a lot of sightseeing with the boys. Mattie did her homework while the boys were down for their naps.
When the trial date was imminent, Mattie spent the day gathering her interviews. She still her student identification with her name as Mattie Johnson, when she'd enrolled in June, so she'd had to get a new ID after the school year started when the school had not received notice of her name change. She knew if she stated she was the daughter of the head of the defense team, she'd get a different answer from people.
When Mac realized what the teen was doing, she commented, "You'll make a great attorney, or a good agent when you're grown, that was sneaky, but good."
"Commanders, this young lady would like to talk to you for a school assignment." RAN Admiral Lowry told his subordinates who'd arrived the night before from Australia. The Australian government wasn't involved in the trial, but wanted officers there to look out for the best interests of their country.
The two came to attention as they saw the head of the delegation come in with a teenager. Seeing the name of the school on her ID card, the dark-haired man figured she was from the States, probably a diplomat's daughter "Commander Barton, Commander Brumby, this is Mattie Johnson. She's interviewing people for an school assignment on the trial of the American Secretary of the Navy. Please give her your full cooperation."
Mattie recognized the older of the two Aussie's. She'd seen pictures of him in the album at the Roberts home, knew of his status as Mac's former fiancé. She asked them the same questions she'd asked of other delegations, they were patient as she wrote the answers out, in longhand. As they were finishing, Brumby asked the question that had been at the back of his mind for a few minutes. One that Mattie expected him to ask. "I figured from your accent you're American. Where are you from, exactly?"
"Just outside of DC, the state of Virginia," She wasn't about to tell a perfect stranger what town she lived in, even if Mac and her dad knew the guy.
Barton asked the more obvious question, at least in his mind, he'd quickly twigged to the fact the girl was American, East Coast if he knew his accents. "Do you live here currently or are you visiting?"
Now that she had all her interviews, she felt it was safe for her to admit. "Actually my father's on the team defending Mr. Sheffield."
They'd done the interview in the cafeteria, which for the name seemed to be the equivalent of a nice restaurant to the teen. She knew one of the team would come for her in a few minutes, she just didn't know who.
"He is? I understand the Secretary as you call him in the States, chose military officers." Barton was confirming his suppositions.
"Yes he did" Mattie replied.
Brumby and Barton had their backs to the entrance of the cafeteria, so Mattie saw who the American officer was. "Hey Sturgis, you here for a break, or are they actually getting out of here on time tonight?" Mattie asked. She figured Sturgis would quickly recognized Brumby from the pictures.
"Your dad asked me to go find you; there is a change of plans. We're meeting the American ambassador for dinner tonight, so you need to go back to the hotel and change." Mattie actually blanched; she'd never met an ambassador before, Admirals and General's yes, but not an ambassador.
"You'll live, just remember to use the right fork," Mic teased as the teen left gathered her notebooks and left with the African American officer.
"Didn't you used to be at JAG in the states, Mic?" Barton asked after she left and they were finishing their tea.
"Yep, a lifetime ago."
"There must have been a sheila involved, I know that look." Barton had gone to law school with Mic.
"You got me mate, it ended badly. Just about married, but someone came between us, the night of the rehearsal dinner."
"Who? If you don't mind me asking."
"A co-worker, he was coming back from one of their ships, because of a storm he ended up putting the plane into the Atlantic. I realized Sarah'd never be completely mine and instead of postponing the ceremony until he was recovered physically, we, I called it off."
"No wonder you were such a loveable bloke when you returned. We have a dinner to get to ourselves, Mic. I need to call my wife. Let's head back to the embassy and report in."
Chapter 55
Mattie didn't say whom she'd met that day, they didn't need any distractions and the dinner went better than she expected. The ambassador told the teen to come to the embassy to see what the job entailed on a daily basis. Anything classified and she'd have to leave the room, but this should, and would, impress her teacher.
Four days later the trial started. Mic was able to watch the proceedings from a room set aside for the many different countries to listen in. With a large screen TV they were able to see the proceedings. He noted Bud walked with a limp and remembered the younger man had nearly died in a minefield. He must have recovered despite the amputation, or he wouldn't have been able to return. He knew Bud might come across as a bumbling doofus, knew he was made of sterner stuff and had a keen intellect. The only attorney Mic didn't know was the one he'd met in the cafeteria. Nevertheless, if he were on par with the other three, the World Court was wasting their time trying the case. The Americans would win this. Mic noted both Harm and Mac had wedding rings on, had they both finally woken up and smelled the coffee? When court adjourned for lunch, he wound his way through the small groups out into the hall. The teen who'd interviewed him was walking towards him with an older woman.
He heard Sarah call to the teen and was confused. "Esther, Mats how was Germany?" Right behind Sarah stood Harmon Rabb, Junior.
Mattie had gone with her great-aunt Esther to Germany for a few days, along with Harriet and the boys, to escape the craziness of the first few days of court due to the publicity of the case. "Great! I took tons of pictures."
Mic heard Harm groan and mutter something about the national debt. "Digital dad, I used my digital." The teen then quickly hugged Harm and Mac.
So it appeared that his former fiancé and his nemesis had indeed tied the knot. But how was this teen involved in the puzzle? Harm released the teen from his grasp and shook the hand of the older woman. "Thank you Esther, it took a load off our minds knowing that you all were out of this zoo for a few days."
"I love spending time with my family, and I already told Mattie; by the way I'm adopting the Roberts family. Harriet reminds me so much of my sister, it's uncanny."
Mattie recognized the two men she'd interviewed in the cafeteria nearly a week before. "Dad, Mac, I'd like for your to meet some of the people I interviewed for school." She led them towards the group Mic and Barton were in.
"Commanders Barton and Brumby, I'd like for you to meet." Mattie started before Mic interrupted.
"We've already met, luv."
"Hello, Mic. you're looking well." Harm could afford to magnanimous, after all, he'd got the girl.
Chapter 56
"So are you. I'd like you to meet Sean Barton, the legal attaché for the Australian embassy here at The Hague. I'm here to assist with any legal military matters Australia might have regarding this trial. Sean, I'd like for you to meet Lt. Commander Bud Roberts, Commander Sturgis Turner, and Commander Harmon Rabb. Last but not least, Lt. Colonel Sarah Mackenzie, or is it Rabb?"
"It's Rabb, since May." She admitted.
"And this is?" Mic had no idea who the older woman was, she looked like a formidable opponent.
"Esther Sullivan, recently retired attorney from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Thank you for talking with my grand-niece on her school project."
"It was our pleasure." Commander Barton said for both.
"We'd better be going; it was nice talking to you." Harm didn't want to, didn't need to deal with Mic Brumby right then, he felt the trial wasn't going as he hoped and it would take teamwork for them to win the case.
That evening Harriet noted young AJ seemed out of sorts on the last day of their trip to Germany, she hoped he wasn't coming down with something. Harm told the younger couple to take the night off, and spend time together as a family; they were going to do the same with Mattie.
Sturgis would head over to Sheffield's hotel to make sure there wasn't anything the former Senator had forgotten concerning the charges. His girlfriend Verese was on tour in the Far East and he wouldn't have a chance to talk to her for several days.
It turned out that a night just with his parents was what the young man needed. He'd been feeling neglected since Jimmy's birth. Esther figured out what was troubling the boy and suggested to Harriet that she get a certain book for them to read to him. When informed the four-year old was already reading, Esther said "maybe it'll sink in better if he reads the words to you."
She helped by taking young Jimmy Roberts to her hotel room for the night.
The book she'd suggested told about the puppy that just had a baby brother and the puppy was mad because nobody had time for him anymore, as all the attention was on the baby. Through a few misadventures, the puppy realized the benefits of being the oldest of having someone younger than him in the family.
"Can I give this book to Mattie?" little AJ asked after tears were shed, he realized he'd what he'd done wrong.
"Why, Mattie's a big girl?" Bud asked more than confused
"She's going to be a big sister, and she needs to learn what not to do." Harriet nearly spilled the glass of water she'd brought into the bedroom for her son when he made his comment.
"She is?" Did the little one know something they didn't?
"Someday Uncle Harm and Auntie Mac will have a baby, thanks Mommy for the water." AJ said without realizing his parents were thinking the Rabb's were about to add to their family. Bud decided he'd tell them that particular story the next day at breakfast, it was too precious.
