Chapter 24

"Vicky? You think Vicky killed Harm? Oh no, let me be clear, you think the woman I'm dating wanted to kill me, but got Harm instead?" AJ demanded incredulously.

"I know when you put it that way, it sounds ludicrous, but she was the only other person here!" Mac responded a bit defiantly, even though she had known that her idea would not be received well, it still hurt to hear that disbelief in AJ's voice.

"Mac, even if it were true, why in the world would Vicky try and kill me? If she hated me that much why is she going out with me in the first place?"

"To get close to you? To learn your habits? Also, if she did fail, so you wouldn't suspect her!" Mac answered.

"Wouldn't it be easier to just stop dating me? I mean, we've only gone out a few times, what could I possibly have done to make her want to kill me? Send the wrong flowers? Order the wrong wine at dinner? Snore in her ear?"

No one heard Mac's soft sigh when he admitted that he and Vicky had been intimate, they were all focused on Bud.

Bud couldn't help himself, even as sad as he was at Harm's death, the mental picture that the Admiral's words created was just too much and he burst out laughing.

At Bud's reaction, AJ gave a wry grin, "I do apologize for that last comment. I shouldn't have been discussing my personal life like that."

Sturgis shook his head and muttered, "At least you have a personal life."

Mac covered her eyes with her hands and said, "I knew I shouldn't have said anything!"

"No, Mac, it's fine. You're entitled to your opinion, it's just in this case I can't see any motive behind what you suspect. But I'll tell you what, if it will make you feel any better, then I will be extra careful around her for a while and see how things go."

'Great! Now I get sarcasm from him!' she thought, but then looked up into his face and saw sincere concern for her feelings in the matter. She should have known! The man she loved was kind and considerate, and even if he thought her notions were silly and unfounded, he would still not treat her that way. "Thank you Sir, knowing your training and skills that does make me feel better."

"If Ms. Frazer is our only suspect, should I try and find out some background information on her?" Bud asked eagerly, wanting to help in any way he could.

"I really don't think that's necessary Bud, however if this was murder then he could have gotten the insulin from anything he ingested before the heart attack. We should call Harriett and find out who the open food from Harm's apartment went to, gather it up, and have it tested."

Bud went pale at that comment. "I know Harriett brought home an open gallon of milk from there last night. She used it on the kid's cereal this morning!"

"Okay Bud, calm down, lets get the list from her and start gathering the food up. There's no need to panic, this was just a precautionary idea."

"Yes Sir," Bud said with a quiver in his voice. "Permission to go call her now, Sir?"

"Yes Bud, go do that. Everyone else keep working the cases you're on. We caught a lucky break and have no new ones to assign. Harm had three current cases so you'll each take one of them. If you have any problems, my door is open and since the office will be closed tomorrow for the funeral, I'll expect reports on Wednesday. Be available if Bud needs any help with the food roundup. Dismissed."

AJ returned to his office that had been put back to rights after the team had checked it over, and thought about the pleasant day he and Vicky had spent at his place yesterday. How could Mac possibly think Vicky was out to kill him? Had in fact already killed Harm? Could his instincts really be that far off? No, he just couldn't believe Mac's take on this one, no matter how many times he'd seen her 'gift' work. This time she had to be wrong.

To be continued…..