Chapter 36

"Ms. Frazier testified that she came home to find her mother laying in a pool of blood and that she just lost it. She picked up a kitchen knife and started for him when he turned and tried to grab it from her. They fought and both fell to the ground. He landed on top of her and the knife. She claimed that she didn't even know he was dead till the paramedics got there and told her," Bud explained.

"If it was self defense, why did she do any time at all?" Mac wanted to know.

"The court record said it was because she had no defensive wounds when the paramedics got there and because of her previous record even though it had been eighteen years before, it showed a 'pattern of behavior' and she was given the minimum sentence."

"She must have had a lousy lawyer to have even gotten that!" Mac claimed. "But thanks Bud that was very helpful. Mac reached out for the file that Bud handed over to her. She wanted to go through it once before taking the information to the Admiral. Bud left her office pleased that he had helped.

Coates announced that AJ had a call from Vicky Frazier, and was told to put the call through. "Hello Vicky, how did you weather the storm?"

"Just fine Lover, how did you and the Marine pass the time?" she snapped angrily.

"We watched a few movies, ate dinner, and then went to bed," he replied softly.

"I KNEW it!"

"Mac slept in her room and I slept on the couch, Vicky! I really wonder why you want to have a relationship with me if you don't trust me."

"It's not you that I don't trust AJ…it's her! I've seen the way she looks at you and she wants you! A woman can tell!"

"It's your imagination Vicky. Mac has no interest in me at all. We're friends and co-workers, nothing more."

"I still don't trust her, I have seen the look in her eyes when she thinks you're not looking and I don't want to lose you to her!"

"Vicky this is not a competition. You and I are together and as long as you want our relationship to continue, I will be there for you," AJ assured her.

"Well I was calling you to see if you would have lunch with me. It's been so long since we've been together," she sighed.

"Lunch sounds lovely, where should I pick you up?"

"Actually I have an interview today and am not quite sure what time it'll be over. Would it be okay if I met you there?"

"That would be fine. I'll let the gate know you're coming and will see you when you get here."

Reading through the file after Bud left, Mac couldn't help but think about the young AJ Chegwidden. She imagined him much like he was today, only with more hair. Wondering if she would have found as attractive as she did now, she remembered all the old James Bond movies she had seen. She had to admit that she found Sean Connery more attractive in his later years. Thinking of him as King Arthur in the movie 'First Knight' she knew that if she had been Genevieve, Richard Gere as Lancelot wouldn't have gotten a second look. However, she also knew that if she had been Louise Tate, she would have waited as long as AJ wanted her too.

With a sigh of frustration she looked up at the seal poster on her wall and said, "I know…I know…you're the only seal I'll ever have!" Heading to AJ's office, she asked Coates if he was in.

"Yes Colonel, let me buzz him."

Jen did and was told to send her right in. Smiling up at Mac, she delivered the message.

AJ looked up as she came to stand in front of his desk, and asked, "What is it Colonel?"

"Sir I have the research that Bud did on Ms. Frazier."

"Have a seat Colonel," he said as he got up from his desk and came around to the front of it. Leaning back against the desk with his arms and ankles crossed, he questioned, "So is she an axe murder?"

"No Sir, neither time she killed did she use an axe."

"WHAT!?"

To be continued…..