Title: Searching
Author: Bree (virtualjag@yahoo.com)
Disclaimer: I own a nice 1997 Toyota Corolla.
Archive: Summer 2002 VS only (http://www.geocities.com/virtualjag/season3.html)
Spoilers: Hey, if it's hit US airwaves (and I can remember it) it's possible. But like I said, I don't remember things all that well.
Notes: I don't do ZULU time. Heck, we're lucky I can figure out what The Learning Channel says something comes on at 8 Eastern and Pacific.
I apologize in advance to other VS authors if I make them look bad. I've been the worst procrastinator of the summer. I apologize to the readers because this is the shortest episode of the summer.
Saturday
2115 EDT
DuPont Circle
The temperate evening had filled DuPont Circle. The crowd occupied the benches and nearby open stores. In the midst of it all there were two young men seated on the fountain's edge. Their discussion was heated and becoming more so by the moment. The younger of the two pulled a package out of his pocket. The older grabbed the package and looked inside. Rage flashed across his features. Without a thought, he brought his arm up and backhanded the younger man. A uniformed officer had been watching the exchange between the men. When it seemed to be coming to blows he began to make his way toward them. The younger man saw the approaching officer, without a word he jumped up and disappeared into the crowd. The older man was left holding the bag, literally.
After making his way through Metro booking Lieutenant Brad Williams found himself being processed into the over eager hands of NCIS. The NCIS agent unceremoniously dumped him into the Washington Navy Yard brig and left him with the knowledge that he would be assigned a lawyer on Monday.
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This is one of those ads you stare at and ask yourself, "What, exactly, are they trying to sell me? Perfume? A car? Prescription medication?" And then you realize the commercial is over and you're still not sure what the ad was for.
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Monday
0815 EDT
JAG HQ
"Congratulations, Colonel."
Mac glanced up to find Admiral Cheggwidden standing in the doorway.
"Excuse me, Sir?" she asked quizzically.
Cheggwidden tossed a file folder on her desk. "You get the latest case to come through our doors."
"Lucky me," she mumbled as he walked away.
"So very lucky, Colonel," he called back.
She just closed her eyes and shook her head at the realization he had heard her.
Monday
0830 EDT
"Colonel, there you are."
Colonel Mackenzie was standing in the break room holding her coffee mug under the hot liquid streaming out of the coffee maker. She glanced up
"Morning, Harm. Were you looking for me?"
He just nodded and pulled another mug out of the cabinet. "I noticed your car out front when I got here, but I was having no luck finding you. Should have known to check here. Heard you got a new case."
"Word travels fast." She held out her hand to take his empty coffee mug from him.
"At the speed of sound," he said as he accepted a steaming cup of coffee.
She strangled on a laugh
"What's the case?"
"A one Lieutenant Brad Williams was arrested for the production and attempted resale of methamphetamines." She picked out the biggest doughnut she could find.
"That's a new one," he commented as he sipped his coffee.
"Different drugs, different people, same problem."
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Monday
1330 EDT
Washington Navy Yard Brig
Mac looked at the young man being escorted into the room. The brutally short hair he wore did nothing to hide his youth, if anything it made him appear even younger. Sometime during the drive Mac had decided that there could be no sympathy for this Marine, no matter how young he was.
"Have a seat, Lieutenant."
"Thank you, Ma'am." He settled his thin frame into the straight-backed chair. He squirmed around a bit as Mac stared at him.
"I simply need some background information on you and the case. How long have you been a Marine, Lieutenant?" Her unexpressive eyes and neutral tone set him squirming again.
"A year and a half, Ma'am."
She lifted her chin slowly to acknowledge his answer. "Why did you join?"
Now he moved like the seat underneath him was on fire.
"Lieutenant Williams, do you have problem? You seem unable to answer my questions without wiggling around like a five year old in church." The stony edge to her voice actually seemed to calm him. He stilled but didn't answer her earlier question.
She heaved a sigh, "Tell me what happened last night."
"Yes, Ma'am. Last night I went out with some friends. We went to dinner and a couple clubs."
"And how did you end up in DuPont Circle?"
"We took the Metro, Ma'am."
She snapped her briefcase shut. As she swept it from the table she called out, "Guard!"
"Where are you going?" There was a slight tremble to his voice now.
She shrugged a shoulder, "Back to my office. You don't want to tell me you're story, I'm not going to waste my time."
"I'll tell you my story," he said as the guard appeared at the door.
"Could you bring us some water?" she asked the guard at the door.
"Yes, Ma'am."
Going back around the table she took her seat once again. "Talk," she ordered.
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One of 2002's top 10 Southern universities (U.S. News and World Report)
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Monday
1730 EDT
Georgetown
"So, how did the meeting with Williams go?" Harm asked.
She stood in the kitchen doorway and watched him sauté mushrooms. It was a good thing one them could cook or they would go broke eating out.
She shrugged, "Fine. Considering."
He turned as she began unbuttoning her jacket, "Considering what?"
He pushed the jacket from her shoulders and carried it to the coat tree in the other room.
"Considering Williams is protecting someone."
He came back to the kitchen. Tossing her an onion he said, "Dice this. Who's he covering for?"
She began dicing the onion. "I'm not sure. It's more a gut feeling, I guess. He was acting squirrelly."
"Squirrelly?"
She didn't need to see his face to know he was trying not to laugh.
"I did go to Duke. They say those kinds of things in North Carolina. I learned all sorts of interesting things while I was there."
"I'm sure," he snorted. "But seriously, you really think there is more than he's telling?"
"In here?" she asked raising the chopping board over his pan of mushrooms.
"Yeah."
"He took forever to tell the story. Like he was making it up as he went. That, and he never would tell me exactly who he was with last night." She stopped and looked at what was going on in her kitchen. "What exactly are we making?"
"Turkeyloaf with baked potatoes and sweet corn."
"Turkeyloaf?" she made a questioning face, "You know, I bought you a turkey fryer for a reason."
"I'm not frying an entire turkey just for the two of us. Besides, everyone should monitor their intake of fried foods."
"California really is full of granola."
"What the hell are talking about?"
"Fruits, flakes, and nuts. That's all you want to eat. I'm going to change."
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Tuesday
0530 EDT
Georgetown
She awoke to the news emanating from the alarm clock on the bedside table. She moved to roll across the bed; instead she rolled into a wall. Opening her eyes she found herself looking at the smooth skin between his shoulder blades.
She gripped his bare shoulder, "Wake up," she tried to shake him, "Harm, come on. Wake up."
"Hhmmm."
"You didn't leave last night." She snuggled against his back and wrapped her arm around his waist.
"Like I was going to leave while you were sleeping. I'd hate for you to wake up to an empty bed."
She kissed his shoulder, "Thanks. Now go take a shower.
Tuesday
0745 EDT
JAG HQ
"Hold the elevator," Mac called just as she stepped into the building. Legs flying and heels clicking she grabbed the elevator door. Just inside the elevator she stopped short. Unfortunately Harm didn't and he nearly knocked Mac down.
"Good morning, Ma'am, Sir," Harriet said. Her eyes narrowed slightly at the two officers.
"Good morning, Lieutenant Sims," Harm said, a bit too jovially maybe. Mac simply gave a tight smile.
"You're early this morning, Commander."
He blinked slowly, buying time, "Well, no rest for the weary, Harriet. Without Bud I'm working double time."
"Oh, I thought there might be another reason." Her tone was *too* innocent.
The elevator jerked to a stop and the doors slid open.
"Here we are," Mac interjected loudly as she shot out of the elelvator.
"Sir, will Colonel Mackenzie need a fleet car today."
"Yes, she will. Thanks for checking."
Harriet grinned broadly as she made her way to her desk.
He stood in front of the elevator as the doors slid shut. "Damn."
1030 EDT
JAG HQ
"Loss of commission, forfeiture of pay, and 8 years confinement." Sturgis lowered himself into the chair opposite Mac's desk, "I'm afraid that's the best I can offer Williams."
"Then you've been smoking the evidence."
He grinned, "You'll never know."
"We haven't even gone through the Article 32 yet."
"I'm confident I'll kick your butt in the Article 32."
"And if you do, what's the offer?"
"All of the above, minus 6 years."
"Two years confinement," she stated incredulously, "He's a first time offender."
"He's an officer, Mac. He has to be held to a high standard."
"Well," she sighed, "I'm not accepting or rejecting your offer."
1100 EDT
JAG HQ
She hung onto the doorframe with her fingertips and swung into his office.
"Hey...." she started.
He pointed to the phone receiver he held to his ear.
"Sorry," she whispered
She grabbed a piece of paper out of his printer. On it she wrote, "There is turkeyloaf in the fridge for you. I'm going to talk to Williams again. I'll see you tonight." She left a big lipstick kiss on it as a signature.
On the elevator Harriet joined her. The grin on Harriet's face was too much.
"What's got you so happy, Harriet?"
"Nothing."
"Liar."
"You'll never know....Ma'am."
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Tuesday
1400 EDT
Washington Navy Yard Brig
Mac was staring out the window when Lieutenant Williams was brought into the interview room. She spoke without turning to look at him.
"I stopped by and picked the police report on my way by."
Both waited in silence. Both were interested in what the other might say to stop the gap of stillness. Mac broke first.
"Who is he?" She finally turned to look at her client.
His face was a blank page, "Who?"
"What makes him worth taking the fall for?" Sitting down she rested her forearms on the table and leaned forward.
"Do you have any brothers or sisters, Ma'am?"
"No, I don't."
"Then you wouldn't understand."
"Give me the chance to."
"I can't. Can't you get a deal from the prosecution?"
"You haven't even had an Article 32 yet."
"I'm willing to waive it. I know what it's outcome will be."
"First, you *don't* know the outcome. Second, Commander Turner's current offer includes two years confinement. I might be able to make a better deal, but I doubt it. That was his good offer this morning."
Williams nodded slowly, "Is there another way?"
"The truth usually works."
"Okay."
Tuesday
1845 EDT
North of Union Station
Mac stretched across the sofa, her head on Harm's thigh. His fingers were trailing through her in slow circles. She sighed heavily.
"Bad day?"
"No different from the rest really?
"Then why the sigh?"
"Are you and Sergei close?"
"Yeah, I would say we are."
"How different would your relationship be if you had been raised together?"
"Um," he trailed off for a moment, "That's probably not a fair question. Our relationship exists because of so many different circumstances. He would have been a completely different person if we had grown up together. *I* would have been a completely different person. I would have grown up with my father rather than Frank. Why the sudden interest in me and my brother?"
"It was always just me as a kid. Sometimes I wonder what it would have been like to have a brother or sister. I wonder if I would be the same person today if I had had a little sister?"
He leaned down and kissed her temple, "I'm happy with the person you grew up to be. But what does any of this have to do with the Williams case?"
She sat up and leaned back into the cool leather of the sofa. "Did I mention Williams?"
"No, but it's been the case in the forefront for the last two days. Beside that, I didn't really think all this searching of my soul and yours about sibling relationships was just polite conversation."
"I don't get it. Lieutenant Williams doesn't want his brother to get into trouble. His brother makes and sells the meth and he's willing to go to jail to protect him. That's insane."
"There you go; plead insanity," he laughed, "Think about it, I was willing to resign my commission and go to Chechnya to find my brother, and I had only known him a few months. It must be something programmed into older siblings. They feel they have to protect, no matter the cost."
"If you knew Jeff Williams you'd think differently. I might actually be able to pull off an insanity plea for Lieutenant Williams, instead I get to spend tomorrow searching for his little brother."
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Wednesday
0915 EDT
JAG HQ
Mac stared at the list before her. Jeff Williams had been arrested in half a dozen different counties in Tennessee. She could only hope that he had returned to one of them in the last three days. If so then he should have been picked up for violating his probation. Breathing a silent prayer she started with the county the Williams family called home.
"Jackson County Sheriff's Department," a pleasant female voice answered the phone.
"I am Lieutenant Colonel Sarah Mackenzie, JAG Corps. I'm looking for a young man who is a potential witness."
"Sorry, but exactly what part of the military is JAG Corps?"
"I'm a lawyer for Marine and Navy personnel."
"Alright then. How can I help you?"
"I'm looking for a Jeff Williams. I'm his brother's lawyer and I need to find him as quickly as possible."
Mac heard the clicking of a keyboard.
"We don't have any Williams at the moment. Wait a minute; Brad Williams is Jeff's brother. Brad's never been in trouble a day in his life."
"You know Lieutenant Brad Williams?"
"It's a small county. Everybody knows everybody and all their business. I'll keep an eye out for Jeff. I'll personally kick his ass all the way to wherever you are if Brad needs his help."
"Thank you very much, Ms...."
"McCracken. Melissa McCracken."
"Ms. McCracken. My number is 703-714-6348 extension 106. I appreciate any help you can give me."
"Not a problem. 'Bye."
Mac set the phone back in its cradle. One down, five to go. It was too much to hope they would all be as helpful as Melissa McCracken.
Wednesday
1230 EDT
Mac dropped into the extra chair at Harm and Sturgis's table and tossed her lunch onto the table.
"Bad morning, Colonel?" Sturgis asked.
She narrowed her eyes at him, "Hey why not let me motion for a continuance in the Williams Article 32?"
"Sorry, can't do that."
"Come on, Sturgis, we've only had three days. I've spent all morning talking to six different Tennessee county sheriffs and the local police trying to find my witness." She popped the top of her Coke.
"Must be a credible witness if you're calling every sheriff in Tennessee to find him. I, personally, have had more than enough time."
"Sturgis...." He cut her off.
"Mac, I spoke with Admiral Morris the other day. He wants this Article 32 wrapped up Friday. He's taking a vacation next week and he doesn't want anything to jeopardize that."
"Fine, in six months, when this case ends up in the appellate court, I'm blaming you, because you didn't give me time to find my witness." She took a huge bite out of her sandwich.
Sturgis looked to Harm for help. Harm shrugged his shoulders, "Yeah, well, um, I've got work to do. Have a nice lunch, Mac."
Sturgis looked at his friend's retreating back. He shook his head slightly. Harm beat more retreats than he used to.
Friday
0900 EDT
Courtroom
Sturgis had presented his case in less than two hours Thursday morning. Mac had managed to convince Admiral Morris that, if he would allow her to present her case today, she would complete it quickly and efficiently. Unfortunately an entire day of hitting every place that Lieutenant Williams had given her as possible locations for his brother had been a bust. Harm had laughed and said she was obviously determined if she was willing to set foot in some of the places on her list. He claimed there were some he wasn't sure he would be willing to enter no matter the time of day.
Mac stood, tugged the hem of her jacket, and said, "I would like to Lieutenant Brad Williams to the stand."
After being sworn in the lieutenant settled into the uncomfortable witness chair.
"Lieutenant, who were you with last Saturday evening?"
"I spent the evening with my brother, Jeff."
"Why was your brother here?"
"He's college student, and he's on summer break. He came up here to spend a couple of weeks before the fall semester started."
"Walk the court through your evening."
"Yes, Ma'am. Early on, about 1730, we went to Chinatown for dinner. We were there about an hour or so. When we left we walked around the MCI Center to the Discovery Store. We probably spent an hour and a half or two hours shopping there. While we were checking out my brother asked if I had any ice cream at my place. I didn't. Since it was still early I mentioned a Ben and Jerry's ice cream shop and suggested we go there. We took the Metro down to DuPont Circle. After getting some ice cream we went and sat on the fountain in the middle of the Circle. We had an argument, and I was arrested."
"What was the argument about?"
"Something my brother had brought from home."
Mac gave the Lieutenant a nasty look. She had warned him about vague answers.
"What had he brought with him, Lieutenant Williams?"
"Meth and marijuana."
"This is why you argued?"
"Yes, Ma'am. I don't want that kind of life for my brother."
"'That kind of life'?"
"Our father's life. Our father was....is a rather notorious drug dealer in our hometown. I want my brother to finish school; to be somebody."
"Why were you arrested for your brother's drug habits?"
"Objection," Sturgis called with little conviction.
"I'll rephrase," Mac stated.
"Why wasn't your brother arrested Saturday night?"
"He wasn't around to be arrested."
"Where was he, Lieutenant?"
"I don't know, Ma'am. He jumped up and took off. The next thing I knew I was being arrested."
"Why?"
"When the officer looked in a bag that I had taken from my brother he found the meth that Jeff had made."
"What did you intend to do with the drugs?"
"Destroy them."
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Tuesday
1730 EDT
Georgetown
Mac fell onto the couch beside Harm, "I don't get it."
"Well, don't look at me. I don't have any answers."
"Oh, come on, Harm, I thought you knew everything."
"Not this time."
"Would you have done what Lieutenant Williams did?"
"I hope not."
"You *hope* that you wouldn't plead guilty to a crime in order to protect your brother?" amazement laced her voice.
"Yeah, hope is the best I can do at the moment."
"The man refused to testify on his own behalf. His testimony would have put some smidgen of doubt in the members minds."
"You couldn't make up his mind for him."
"Well, I hope Jeff Williams is happy that his brother fell on his sword."
"I wouldn't count on it."
Tuesday
1630 CDT
Cumberland County, Tennessee
The officer shoved the young man against the car and twisted his left arm back. "Jeff Williams, you're under arrest for the production, possession, and sale of methamphetamines and marijuana. You have the right to remain silent...."
End