Chapter 23

Monday, December 19, 2005

0700 EST

JAG Headquarters

Falls Church, Virginia

When AJ arrived at work he ordered the flag in the courtyard lowered to half-mast. One of their own had passed and should be honored in that way.

There was a pall over the office, even though work had to go on, no one was happy to be there. The silence hung in the air, broken only by the ringing of the phones. No one was chatting, there was no lingering in the break room, and no one was surprised that PO Coates was not at her desk. At the staff meeting, AJ told them she was taking some time off to be with Mattie.

Sturgis told them that he had news from Trish Burnett that morning. The coroner's report was in and it said there had been a high concentration of insulin in Harm's blood.

Mac went pale and gasped, "So it was murder!"

"But how?!" Bud questioned. "He was alone in the Admiral's office!"

"I don't know, but some one killed Harm! However I know they meant to get the Admiral instead!" Mac told them. "I had a bad feeling all morning that the Admiral was in danger and then at 1200 hours I had an overwhelming urge to race to his office. I got there just as they found Harm. I was too late!" she sighed and hung her head.

"Mac! No one blames you for this!" AJ exclaimed putting his hand comfortingly over hers. "How in the world could you have prevented something that no one can explain?"

"Thank you Sir, but I still feel that I could have done something more!"

Bud looking very confused, asked, "But I still don't understand how someone could have murdered him when he was alone in your office Sir!"

"That's true, you're office was closed until a team could check it out and they went over it with a fine toothcomb," Sturgis volunteered. "They didn't find a thing to suggest foul play. They even tested the coffee he'd been drinking, even though I told them it came from a community pot in the break room and no one else seemed to be affected."

"Maybe if we could figure out who would want to kill the Commander, we could figure out how," Bud suggested, wanting to help with all his heart.

"Remember that I'm sure that whoever it was, meant to kill the Admiral and not Harm," Mac interjected. "And if I'm right, since they didn't succeed, they might very well try again!"

"Mac you seem so sure that someone is out to kill me, do you have an idea of who it might be?" AJ questioned.

"No, Sir, I wish I did. All I have are suspicions, but with no evidence to back it up…"

"Well tell us your suspicions Mac. I'm sure with all the minds at this table we could figure something out."

"I'd really rather not say, Sir. It's only a theory and is just supposition at this time. I don't want to point a finger and then be wrong."

"We can handle the information with that in mind. Tell us what you suspect," AJ insisted.

Mac looked around the table at the eager faces of her friends and co-workers. They all wanted to help solve Harm's murder, and if possible to stop the killer from going after the Admiral. But how could she announce her suspicions knowing that AJ, the man she loved, was dating the woman she felt was responsible? "I'd really rather not say, Sir," was all she could offer them.

"Colonel, do I need to make it an order?" AJ asked sternly. He knew everyone in the office was gong through a very emotional time and Mac was having a hard time dealing with the death/murder of her best friend, but he never would have expected her to withhold information that might lead them to find the person responsible!

"I think you might, Sir," she replied sadly.

"Then consider yourself so ordered!" he snapped amazed that she would carry this so far.

"Alright Sir, but you're not going to like what I have to say."

"If it leads to the discovery of Harm's killer, how could I not like that?"

"Because if you discount all of us that knew and either liked or loved him, then the only other person that was in the office that day was your new girlfriend, Vicky Frazer!" Mac stated firmly.

To be continued…..