Naval Station Newport
Newport, Rhode Island
Transportation Depot
Chief Petty Officer Grace Alden made her way toward her office at the back of the garage. Dim auxiliary lighting high overhead cast shadows of parked vehicles onto the walls. Dressed in civilian clothes her clicking heels echoed in the cavernous space. Something skittered away into a dark corner. Startled, she jumped and then felt foolish as she tried to calm the rapid beating of her heart. "It's just a mouse," she thought and shook her head. This place was like a second home to her, and it certainly wasn't the first time she'd been there alone in the middle of the night. Nevertheless, she hurriedly unlocked her office door. She would grab the inventory report she needed and get out of there. If she was lucky she could get home and be asleep in her bed by 0200. Flicking on the lights, she stopped in her tracks shocked by what she saw. Someone had ransacked her office, dumping the contents of drawers and file cabinets onto the floor. Pictures had been torn from the walls, lamps had been smashed, but sitting very neatly in the middle of her desk was the inventory report she'd forgotten. Backing out of her office she turned and ran for the front door. She never saw the blow that knocked her to the ground and then everything went black.
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The day before--
Jag Headquarters
Admiral John Blankenship studied the file on his desk while he seemed to ignore the two senior officers standing before him. Cmdr. Sturgis Turner and Lt. Cmdr. Bud Roberts had received their assignments a few minutes before and had been dismissed, but Cmdr. Harmon Rabb and Lt. Col. Sarah MacKenzie continued to stand at attention awaiting their orders. Finally he looked up and said, "Commander Rabb, how are your preparations for the Harper assault trial going?"
"I'm ready, Sir, but the trial has been postponed by Admiral Morris. It won't start for another two weeks."
"Good, good. I'm sure you understand how important it is to the Navy that this one is handled with the utmost care. Make sure you stay on top of it." Turning to Sarah MacKenzie he said. "I believe you're between cases, Colonel, so I have an assignment for you."
"Yes, sir."
"The base commander at Newport is an old friend of mine and he's having a problem with some missing inventory from the transportation depot. Cases of motor oil, batteries-that kind of thing. NCIS has looked into it, but Captain Nash doesn't think they are taking it seriously, so he asked me to send someone to do a JAGman investigation. Since there is a woman in charge of motor pool maintenance," he glanced down at the file to read the name, "Chief Grace Alden, I thought you would be perfect for the job, Colonel MacKenzie."
Mac stood wide eyed, listening and trying not to show any reaction. From the moment Admiral Blankenship had taken over the reins at JAG she'd gotten the distinct impression that seniority and past accomplishments didn't carry much weight with him. That was fine with her. She didn't mind proving her merit, but she didn't expect to be given a case that a junior investigator would normally handle. She repressed a sigh and asked, "When do I leave, sir?"
"Petty Officer Coates will make flight arrangements for this afternoon." He paused for a moment before continuing. "And Colonel-I don't want you to consider this a waste of your ability."
"No, sir." She risked a glance at Harm who was trying to hide a grin.
"Good-because there are no small cases under my watch. Understood?" The Admiral stood up and pinned her with a no nonsense stare.
"Yes sir!" she said smartly.
Without warning he turned his attention to Harm. "Do you find this amusing, Commander?"
"No, sir." Harm straightened and plastered a serious expression on his face.
"Glad to hear it since you'll be accompanying the Colonel."
"But sir, the Harper case-"
"As you said, it won't start for two weeks. I think you'll find that flashy reputations don't impress me, Commander. Hard work and humility are the order of the day. You two are going to help me set that example for everyone under my command. Have I made myself clear?"
"Yes, sir," they both said in unison.
"Good. You're dismissed."
Mac and Harm left the office of the new JAG and without a word headed out of the bullpen and into his office.
"I think he's trying to send a message," Mac muttered as she closed Harm's door and sat down in front of his desk.
"What gave you that idea?" Harm grabbed his briefcase and started throwing files into it. "I'm going to have to take all of these depositions and all of my notes with me if I am going to be ready for the Harper case now."
"You just told the Admiral you were ready," she reminded him.
"I am," he insisted, then added quickly, "except for some last minute polishing. You know it's a really important case, Mac."
"There are no small cases, Commander." She imitated the Admiral's stodgy tone and then added, "Don't worry about it, Harm. You concentrate on your really important case, and I'll handle the case of the missing motor oil. I'll have it wrapped up in no time, and you can just think of it as a vacation away from the office."
"I can't believe he's sending either one of us on this investigation, but sending both of us is..is.." He searched for the right word, but Mac interrupted him.
"Don't even say it, Harm. You thought it was funny when I was the only one going. That'll teach you to smirk next time he's handing out assignments."
"Well, there is one good thing. I'll be there to make sure you don't-" He caught himself before he said that he could make sure she didn't overdo it. Because of her health he'd been trying to keep an eye on her at work without being obvious, but he hadn't always done a very good job of being subtle.
"Don't what?" Mac asked suspiciously when he stopped suddenly in the middle of his sentence.
"I can make sure you don't come down too hard on that poor female Chief for losing those vehicle parts." He raised his eyebrows and smiled at her innocently.
She studied him thoughtfully. "Hmmm. Why do I think that's not what you were really about to say?"
"You have a suspicious nature, Mac. That's what makes you such a good investigator."
"Flattery will get you nowhere, but feeding me always works. Do you want to grab lunch before we catch our flight this afternoon? Maybe your flashy reputation can get us a table at Randolph's," she said hopefully.
"I'll see what I can do. The hostess there has a crush on me." He picked up the phone and winked at Mac as she got up and headed out of his office.
As she disappeared out the door she said, "I'll see if Coates has our travel arrangements and check back with you in half an hour, lover boy."
They both found themselves smiling as they parted-despite their lowly assignment.
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The flight to Rhode Island was uneventful. Harm studied his notes on his pending assault trial, and Mac read over the file on their current case. It contained very little helpful information, and she soon put it away and closed her eyes. She dozed until the plane landed noticing when she woke up that Harm had tucked a blanket around her and settled a pillow under her head. She smiled and squeezed his arm in a gesture of thanks as they gathered their carryon luggage and prepared to get off the plane.
The BOQ on base was full with some visiting officers participating in a conference at the Naval War College so they rented a car and drove to a motel near the base where Coates had made reservations. Since they'd had a big lunch they agreed to find some fast food for dinner and make it an early night.
They finished eating in Mac's room and were discussing their schedule for the next day when she stood up and stretched wincing slightly with the movement.
"Are you okay?" Harm was clearing the food wrappers from the table but stopped when he noticed her expression.
"I'm fine. Just a little stiff from being on that airplane." Mac gave him a half hearted smile that quickly turned into a yawn.
He finished cleaning off the table and threw the bags away, then turned and said. "I better get out of here so you can crash for the night. What can I do before I go?" Without waiting for an answer he grabbed her suitcase and put it on the end of the bed so she wouldn't have to lift it before she unpacked. "What about an extra blanket? You might get cold later." He walked over to the closet and pulled one down from the top shelf before she had a chance to answer.
She walked over and took it from him. "Harm, you don't have to wait on me hand and foot." Since she'd confided in him about her health condition he never missed a chance to fuss over her.
"I know, Mac. But let me do it anyway. It makes me feel a little less helpless." He smiled and shrugged his shoulders as he pleaded his case. He hovered a bit before leaving to go to his room. "Get some rest, okay?"
She nodded and returned his smile as he disappeared out the door. He'd been watching her like a hawk, since the Admiral's Dining Out-making sure she was eating healthier by taking her to lunch when their schedules allowed it, chiding her about how much rest she was getting if she so much as yawned during the day, and reminding her of her doctor's appointments since he'd written them all down on his calendar, too.
For once she didn't feel smothered by a man's attention. He did it all so willingly that she felt no need to put up anything but token resistance. And she was beginning to understand how much it bothered him that her illness was something he couldn't fix.
She allowed herself a moment to think about the kiss they'd shared at her apartment door. The man she'd tried to love for a year was dead, and she was already kissing another man. She should have felt guilty. It was apparent that Harm did, and he was the last man on earth who would ever take advantage of her when she was vulnerable, so he'd backed away and apologized. It was too much, too soon, and they both realized it.
Of course, when they were together they acted as if it had never happened, but when she was alone in her bed at night, sleep often eluded her. With her defenses down, memories of the last year would threaten to overwhelm her. She grieved for things she'd lost, for things she'd let go of, and for things she might never have. Sometimes remembering Harm's kiss was the only thing that got her through the night.
She changed into her pajamas, washed her face, brushed her teeth and crawled into bed secure in the knowledge that he was just next door.
Naval Station Newport
The next day
It was a short trip from the motel to the base the next morning. Mac drove while Harm decided he should at least read over the information they had about the case before they checked in with Captain Nash. He closed the thin file with a snap. "I'll bet you dinner at Anthony's that we have this cleared up in a day and we're back home by tomorrow night."
"Pretty confident, are we?" Mac grinned and parked the car.
"I have confidence in you, Mac. I'm just along for the ride, remember? And the sooner you get started the sooner I can get back to work on the Harper case." He opened the car door and got out and waited for her to join him on the sidewalk.
"At least pretend to be interested until after we hear what the Captain has to say. Then while I'm conducting my interviews you can sit in the corner and worry about your precious Harper case." Mac patted him on the cheek and then turned away and headed toward the entrance of the building.
"Hey, I've got your six on this one, Mac. I just don't think you'll need me." Harm caught up and flashed a smile that was meant to charm her.
"You know that smile doesn't work on me." She gave him a warning look that softened as he hurried ahead and opened the door for her.
"I know," he said with his smile firmly in place.
Her knees only buckled once as she sailed past him into the building.
--
Captain Huey Nash was not a happy man, but he was glad to see the two officers from JAG. "Commander, Colonel, I guess Admiral Blankenship told you what this was all about."
"Yes, sir," they both answered.
"He said you had concerns about the way it was being handled," Harm said.
"It turns out my concerns were justified. Chief Alden was assaulted last night and her office was ransacked."
"Is she alright, sir?" Mac asked.
"She's got a mild concussion, but other than that she'll be fine. The hospital kept her overnight for observation, but they will release her later this morning."
Harm spoke up, "We'll need to talk to her and get a look at her office, Captain."
"NCIS is processing it now, but I told them to hand their findings off to you when they're done and bring you up to date on the status of the missing supplies, while they're at it. I don't know if the two things are related but I want you to find out. One more thing-Chief Alden has only been here three months, but she's done an outstanding job. I want this cleared up before anyone else gets hurt."
"We'll get started right away, sir."
Harm and Mac exchanged glances on their way out the door. Once they were alone in the hallway Harm said, "I guess this means we won't be home by tomorrow night after all."
"And it also means that you owe me dinner at Anthony's." Mac said as she walked off.
"Hey," Harm said as he followed her out of the building, "we didn't shake on that bet."
"So, you don't want to take me out?" Mac glanced back at him with a look that made him squirm.
"I didn't say that," he said as they approached their car. "I'm just trying to point out that technically you didn't win the bet."
Mac opened her door and said, "If it makes you feel better we could call it a date instead of a bet."
Harm slid into the passenger seat and grinned. "If you wanted me to ask you out you should've just said so, Mac."
She rolled her eyes, but then relented and returned his grin as she started the car and headed toward the Transportation Depot.
Naval Station Newport
Transportation Depot
Chief Alden's office
Mac looked at the destruction around her and said, "This looks like a personal attack to me. This wasn't the act of someone trying to find something, but of someone trying to send a message."
The office was small and located at the back of the garage with windows that looked out onto the work area. Broken glass covered the floor. Papers and file folders were scattered everywhere. Chairs and trash cans were overturned. Someone had attacked the office in a frenzy of anger that was still palpable in the chaos they'd left behind.
NCIS had dusted for fingerprints and taken photographs of the damage, but they would need Grace Alden to tell them if anything was missing. Until she was released from the hospital, that would have to wait. They'd also agreed not to remove any evidence until Mac and Harm had gotten a chance to look at the scene.
Harm nudged a picture frame with his foot and bent down to look at it. It seemed to be the only personal touch in the otherwise utilitarian space. Nothing else in the wreckage gave any clue about who occupied the office. The glass in the frame was shattered but it still held a photo of a pretty blonde woman beside a tall dark haired man. They were smiling at each other instead of the camera. A sharp letter opener had been stabbed through the woman's torso. "I think you're right, Mac. Come look at this."
"Do you think that's Chief Alden?" Mac bent over to examine the photograph.
"Probably." Harm squatted beside her.
Mac studied the woman a bit longer. "So what's your guess, Harm? A letter opener through the heart-is that because someone loves her or hates her?"
"Maybe both. Some women tend to evoke a frightening range of emotions, you know." He spoke close to her ear in a wicked, vulnerable voice.
Mac arched an eyebrow at him and straightened quickly, trying to ignore the frightening range of emotions she sometimes felt when he teased her.
"Well, the woman that everyone described today sounds more like a combination of Pollyanna, Aunt Bee and Mr. Goodwrench. Not exactly a femme fatale." Mac said primly.
They'd spent the morning conducting interviews with people that worked under Chief Alden. PO First Class Charlie Kinnard was the lead mechanic in charge of parts. He'd gone on and on about the Chief's ability to work on vehicles as well as any man he'd ever known. He admitted that he'd been against the idea of having a woman as head of maintenance, but she'd won him over almost right away. She was smart enough to let everyone do their own job without being pushy, but she would always pitch in and help when it was needed. He couldn't say enough good things about her, and he was clearly distraught when he heard that she'd been attacked the night before.
Seaman Julie Meyers practically glowed when she'd talked about the Chief. She described her as the perfect role model. In just a few short months she had taught her to take pride in her work and to expect more from herself than she did from others. She'd taught her how to survive happily and successfully in a man's Navy, and she only hoped she would live up to that standard.
And they weren't the only two that had practically gushed when they spoke of her. Everyone they talked to had nothing but good things to say about Chief Alden, and couldn't imagine that anyone would want to hurt her.
It made Mac suspicious. "She just sounds too good too be true, Harm."
Harm looked around at the office and put his hands on his hips. "Well, it's safe to say that there's at least one person out there who doesn't like her."
Mac started making her way through the debris toward the door. "I think it's time we talked to Chief Alden."
"She's at home now," a slight, nervous man informed them from the doorway. He seemed agitated as he looked around the office. "I can't believe someone would do this."
Mac walked over to him. "Excuse me, but you're not allowed in here."
He backed out of the office and Mac and Harm followed him closing and locking the door behind them. "I'm sorry, ma'am. I'm Chief Daniel Melton, and I just needed to see what happened for myself." He was visibly upset. "I'm afraid the whole thing is my fault."
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"Slow down, Chief," Harm said. "What's your fault?"
Chief Melton took a deep breath and made an effort to calm down before he continued, "She wouldn't have been here last night if it wasn't for me, sir. I'm on loan from computer systems-assigned to replace the old computerized inventory program that's currently being used here at the depot with a new one, and Chief Alden and I have been working on it together for about two weeks. We worked last night until about 1900, and I wanted to keep working but she said she had a date," he scowled as he said it then added, "I gave her a hard time about everything we still needed to do-tried to make her feel guilty, and I guess it worked or she wouldn't have come back in the middle of the night to pick up those reports. I'm just thankful she wasn't seriously hurt."
"You said she's home from the hospital?" Mac asked.
He nodded and said, "Yes. I took her home about an hour ago."
"Do you have a personal relationship with her?" Harm asked bluntly. Mac could tell that he was wondering if Daniel Melton might not be behind the wrecked office-a scorned lover's jealous rage played out in smashed objects after they'd argued about her date. The fact that he'd taken her home from the hospital suggested more than just a working relationship.
"We've been friends for a long time. In fact she is almost single handedly responsible for the fact that I've managed to make a good career for myself in the Navy," he said proudly.
"I thought she'd only been here three months." Mac sounded puzzled.
"She has been, and I can't tell you how happy I was when I found out she was being transferred here. I know that I'm a bit of a geek and when I enlisted, all of the schools I requested-computer systems, admin, finance-were full, so of course I ended up in vehicle maintenance instead. I was miserable until I met Grace. She didn't fit in because she was the only woman. I didn't fit in because I was inept and hopeless when it came to anything mechanical. So we bonded, but the best part was that she turned out to be the best mechanic in the bunch, and she helped me get through it until I could transfer out to computers. I will always be thankful for her friendship and support during that time. She kept me sane."
Mac's eyes met Harm's. Another glowing testimonial for Grace Alden. It was definitely time to meet this paragon of virtue.
"Well, we're on our way to talk to her now, but I'm sure we'll have more questions for you later, Chief." Harm motioned for Mac to join him as he turned and headed out of the garage.
"Why don't you just follow me, then? I'll show you where she lives." Chief Melton scurried along beside them.
"I'm sure we can find it," Mac assured him.
"It's no bother. I just live across the street," he said eagerly.
Harm shrugged at Mac, and they climbed into their car.
As they followed him to the modest neighborhood a few blocks from the base Mac asked, "Do you think he's in love with her, Harm?"
"It's possible. He seemed awfully upset about what happened to her," Harm said thoughtfully. "But then again he seems to feel he owes her a lot, so even if they're just old friends I would expect the same reaction."
"But he didn't seem too thrilled that she had a date last night." Mac took her eyes off the road long enough to give him a knowing look.
"So, you think he trashed her office in a jealous rage after she left?"
"Maybe. And then he couldn't resist returning to the scene of the crime today to get another look at his handiwork," Mac finished triumphantly. She was starting to warm to her theory.
"But whoever ransacked her office also hit her on the head hard enough to knock her out and then just left her lying on the ground. That doesn't sound like the act of someone in love."
Mac frowned not wanting to abandon her idea too quickly. "Haven't you ever wanted to throttle someone you loved?"
He studied her profile as she drove and answered almost to himself, "On occasion." When she glanced at him curiously he smiled and continued, "Let's just talk to Chief Alden before we jump to any more conclusions."
Daniel Melton pulled into his own driveway and pointed over to a small yellow house as they parked on the street. They got out and walked toward the front door. "We'll need to talk to her alone, Chief," Harm warned him as he joined them on the front porch.
Melton rang the doorbell and said, "I understand, sir. I'm just going to gather my wife so you can have some privacy."
"You're married, Chief?" Mac tried to keep the surprise from her voice. That put a completely different spin on her theory.
"We didn't want to leave Grace alone, ma'am." The door was opened by a small friendly looking dark haired woman. "This is my wife Lucy. Lucy, these officers are from JAG and they're here to talk to Grace about what happened last night."
"Come on in, please. I certainly hope you find out who did this to her." She led them into a small living room where Grace Alden was lying on the couch. "I couldn't convince her to go to bed," Lucy said in a scolding but fond tone.
Chief Alden grinned at Lucy then started to rise when she saw the two officers standing in her living room. Mac quickly told her not to get up, and she collapsed back against her pillows. "This is Commander Rabb and I'm Colonel MacKenzie. We're here to ask you some questions."
Chief Melton and his wife were hovering in the doorway and he said quickly, "Sir, ma'am, we'll be on our way then. Call if you need anything, Grace."
"Thanks, Daniel, and thank you for staying with me, Lucy. I don't know what I would've done without you."
Chief Melton said softly, "Get some rest."
Lucy took her husband's hand and smiled brightly before adding, "You know where I am if you need me."
They left and Chief Alden turned her attention back to Harm and Mac. "Please, sir, ma'am, have a seat. I don't know how much help I'll be. I'm afraid I didn't see much before I was knocked unconscious."
Harm sat down in a chair closest to the couch and asked, "How are you feeling, Chief?"
"I'll live, sir. I seem to have a hard head."
"I've had a few concussions myself, so I know what I'm talking about when I say listen to the doctors and don't rush things."
"Is that what you did, sir?" She had a twinkle in her eye as if she already had him pegged.
"Let's just say I had to learn the hard way," Harm admitted wryly.
Mac just listened to the exchange trying to get a feel for this woman who had made such an impression on everyone they'd interviewed. She was a few years older than the picture they'd seen in her office, but there was no question that she was a very attractive woman. But it suddenly seemed clear that this was not about her looks, though a man would certainly notice them. Men could be counted on to act silly about a pretty woman, but there was more to it than that and Mac felt it, too, even in the short time they'd been sitting in her living room. People, not just men would be attracted to her serene manner. She seemed to calm the air around her-even now when she was the one that had been assaulted.
"Why don't you tell us what happened so we can let you rest?" Mac encouraged her to begin.
"I worked late last night with Chief Melton. I stopped around 1900 because I had a date. I felt bad about leaving him there with all the work, so after I got home I decided to stop back by the garage and pick up some reports so I could work on them early this morning. I took one look at my office and ran."
"Do you have any idea why someone would do this?" Mac asked.
"No, but I suspect it's because I'm a woman." Mac looked at her sharply, and she hurried to continue, "I mean it's not the first time I've had to endure a little harassment since I've been in the Navy, ma'am, and it won't be the last." She seemed to take the idea in stride.
"So you think this was just someone who resented having a woman in charge so they broke in and ransacked your office?" Harm asked.
"Yes, sir, and then I surprised them by showing up in the middle of the night, so they panicked and knocked me out so I couldn't identify them. I don't think they went there intending to hurt anyone."
"So, who do you suspect, Chief? You work with these people every day and if you think that's the motive behind this then you must have felt some resentment coming from somewhere." Mac pressed her information.
"Ma'am, I don't have anyone in mind. It just makes sense considering the other incidents."
Harm looked down at his notes. "What other incidents. I didn't see anything about that."
"I didn't report them, sir."
"Why not, Chief?" Mac demanded.
"As I said, ma'am, I've been through this before and it always dies down after the men I work with get to know me. All they really want to know is that I'm good at what I do. And I am good at what I do. I've learned to let my capabilities prove that I've earned the positions I've been given."
"Tell us about the other incidents, Chief." Harm said.
"Well, sir, a few weeks after I got here I went out to my car one morning and the air had been let out of my tires. It could have just been teenagers vandalizing the neighborhood, but I suspected it was a message telling me I wasn't welcome. I chose to ignore it."
"Anything else?" he asked.
"I received an anonymous letter in the mail that called me some unflattering names. Some notes were left on my windshield. A few days ago a bouquet of wilted flowers was waiting on my porch when I got home." She rattled them off like they were no big deal.
"Did you save any of them?" Mac asked.
"No, ma'am, I threw them away and tried to ignore them. By then NCIS was looking into the missing supplies, and I had more important things to worry about then whether some seaman felt offended by my presence. Actually the flowers are probably still in the trash can on the side of the house. I dumped them in there as soon as I saw them, and trash pick-up isn't until tomorrow."
"We'll check on our way out, Chief," Harm told her.
"Are you telling me that you've been harassed to this extent everywhere you've been stationed?" Mac sounded skeptical.
"Well, no, ma'am. Before it's always been pranks-practical jokes, mainly," she admitted.
"Did it ever occur to you that there might be a connection between the thefts and the harassment?" Harm asked.
"Not really, sir. I wasn't doing the investigating, so threatening me wouldn't have kept them from getting caught if they were stealing from the Navy."
"What about that, Chief?" Harm broke in to ask the question. "Captain Nash seemed to think that NCIS didn't treat that case very seriously. Do you think someone who works with you is a thief?"
"If they are they're not getting rich. The missing inventory adds up to less than a couple of thousand dollars in parts. And to be honest, sir, the Chief in charge before me didn't keep the best records. That's one of the reason's we're upgrading the inventory program. This might turn out to be something as simple as a data entry error, so I can understand why NCIS thinks they have more important things to spend their time on."
"I might agree with you if your office hadn't been torn apart last night. This thing has escalated from a possible petty theft to destruction of property and assault, so we can't afford to dismiss anything just yet," Harm warned.
"One more question, Chief. A photograph in your office was defaced. Who is the man in the picture with you?"
Chief Alden said, "That's my big brother, Brian. He taught me everything I know about cars, and he's the reason I joined the Navy. He was killed in Desert Storm, so I kept that picture in my office as a reminder of why I serve."
"Do the people you work with know that it's a picture of your brother?" Harm asked.
She shrugged and said, "Some of them-if they've asked."
Mac stood up and prepared to leave. "The rest of our questions can wait until tomorrow." Mac wrote their cell phone numbers on a card and handed them to her. "We'll need for you to take us through your office and see if anything's missing, but if you need to reach us before then feel free to call."
"Are you going to be okay alone, Chief?" Harm asked. "We can call Captain Nash and ask him to post a guard if you would feel more comfortable."
"Oh please don't do that, sir. I was just at the wrong place at the wrong time last night, so I'll be fine. Besides, Lucy will be watching from her front window to see when you leave, so she can rush back over. I'm sure she'll take good care of me."
She looked completely unconcerned nestled among her pillows, and they could see that it was pointless to argue with her. They made a stop at the side of her house and retrieved a wilted bouquet tied in a ribbon and wrapped in florist cellophane. Still nestled under the ribbon was a card. It was decorated with pink flowers and green vines but the greeting was smeared and undecipherable. Harm flipped it over and clearly printed on the back was the name of the florist-Flowers by Ivy with the address printed beneath. It wasn't much of a clue, but it was a start.
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After they left Chief Alden's house they went straight to Flowers by Ivy. A stern no-nonsense looking woman, who turned out to be Ivy herself, was working behind the counter when they came into her shop. They identified themselves and asked if there was any way to find out who had ordered this particular arrangement and who it had been delivered too. Harm handed her the dead flowers.
She looked at him over her glasses and said caustically, "I don't usually do dried arrangements. Are you sure it's one of mine?"
Harm smiled and said, "Your shop's card was on the bouquet, and we could really use your help. It seems your flowers may have been involved in a crime."
"So you came here to see if they had an alibi?"
Mac laughed out loud and Harm gave her a stern look that said she wasn't helping. She bit her lip and hid behind a nosegay she picked from a garden cart.
Ivy started examining the flowers and announced, "These aren't more than two weeks old. Lilies, bupleurum and seeded eucalyptus. One of my favorites. It'll take a while, but I can check the books and have a list for you by tomorrow. Come back around two."
"We appreciate it, ma'am." Harm tried his smile on her, but she didn't seem overly impressed.
"Are you too cheap to buy her some flowers?" Ivy demanded suddenly, nodding in Mac's direction.
They both jumped at her indignant tone, and Mac tried not to laugh at Harm's panicked expression. He grabbed the posies from Mac's hand and said, "We'll take these."
Ivy looked at him over her glasses and harrumphed. "It figures."
He paid for the flowers, and Mac managed not to laugh again until they were outside.
"What did she mean by that?" Harm asked as he shoved the flowers in her direction.
"I think it means she still thinks you're cheap." She laughed again when he started to protest. "But I think they're sweet, Harm. Posies are my favorite." She smiled and handed him the car keys. "You drive. I'm feeling all girly now." She buried her face in the bouquet and batted her eyelashes at him.
"Cute, Mac. Just get in the car." He was glad he'd opened the car door for her when he saw Ivy watching him like a hawk from the shop window. He waved to her as he got in on the driver's side and quickly drove away.
Merry Men Motel
Mac's Room
Later that evening
Harm was sprawled in a chair with papers spread across the table in front of him. Mac was propped up on one of the beds reading over the reports NCIS had given them. They'd made a preliminary report to Captain Nash and Admiral Blankenship, but their CO wasn't happy that it had turned into something more complicated. He wanted them to turn it back over to NCIS but they convinced him, or more likely Captain Nash convinced him, to let them have a few more days. They still hadn't found any new leads on the missing supplies, and they weren't comfortable leaving while the case was unsolved.
They'd gone over the interviews looking for anyone who had even hinted at the slightest grudge against Chief Alden, or their mother, or women in general, but so far they'd come up empty. They might get lucky and get a lead from the flower arrangement, but it was a long shot. They could have simply been picked up from someone's trash and left on her porch.
"Harm, do you know who this case makes me think about?" Mac asked as she put down the report she was reading.
Harm chewed on his pen and continued to read his notes as he asked absentmindedly, "No, who?"
"Coster." She said sitting straight up on the bed.
That got his attention. "Your stalker? There's an unpleasant thought."
"I just keep thinking that maybe we're looking at this all wrong. We've been trying to find someone who doesn't like Chief Alden when maybe we need to be looking for someone who likes her too much."
Harm frowned and said, "Everyone we talked to today liked her too much, Mac, but it could just as easily be some disgruntled sailor who feels like he's been passed over by the Navy. A new woman brought in to take charge would be the perfect target for his resentment. But he's not likely to share those feelings with us in an interview."
Mac considered what he said and agreed grudgingly, "That's true, and someone like that might even resort to stealing little things as a way to get back at the Navy. As the Chief said, whoever's doing it isn't getting rich."
Harm watched her for a moment and said, "But you don't believe that's what this is, do you? Tell me why it reminds you of Coster."
"The harassment just feels so personal. I felt it when I first saw the office and then when you add the notes, the dead flowers and the letter opener through the heart-my instincts just tell me this isn't some general protest aimed at women in the Navy. This is an emotional attack on this particular woman. And just like with Coster it's starting to escalate."
Harm said, "If that's true then she could be in real danger."
"And anyone she's involved with could be in danger, too." It was obvious that Mac was thinking about Dalton. "We need to warn her not to go on any more dates for awhile."
Harm stood up and started pacing. "The problem with finding this guy is that it could be someone she actually rejected, or it could just be someone she smiles at everyday."
"What about Chief Melton?" Mac asked as she watched him walk back and forth at the end of the bed. "I still have a funny feeling about him."
"Well, he does seem to worship the ground she walks on if that's a requirement." Harm agreed. "But he's also married and his wife seemed to be devoted to them both."
"He wouldn't be the first person who married one person while he was attracted to someone else," Mac said boldly.
Harm stopped and looked at her and his mouth quirked into a small smile. He walked closer to the bed until he was standing right in front of her. "True. And he said they'd been friends for a long time. Maybe he wanted more, but she wasn't interested."
Mac held his eye for a moment before scooting past him and getting off the bed. Turning to face him she said. "Okay, let's just suppose they were close friends while they were in vehicle maintenance school, but then they get assigned to different duty stations. They moved on with their lives. He got married, but stayed in contact and then she got transferred here, and for him the feelings started all over again, but she didn't return them, then or now."
"What else do we have on him?"
"Only that he admitted they argued the night she was attacked." Mac said. "For a married man he seemed awfully unhappy that she had a date. And he returned to the scene of the crime the next day acting nervous and agitated."
Harm sat down on the edge of the bed. "It's not much to go on, but I agree that he has to be a suspect at this point. Maybe we can provoke him into some kind of reaction that will tip his hand."
Mac took up the pacing where Harm had left off. "What if I get Chief Melton to meet me at the garage tomorrow while you and Grace go through her office? I'll get him to explain how the new inventory system tracks parts and let him think he's helping me with that side of the investigation. That will give me a chance to watch him while he's watching her. Those big windows in her office give us the perfect opportunity."
"You need to be careful, Mac. If he thinks you're on to him it could be dangerous. You don't want to make him suspicious."
"I'll be in the middle of a garage with people all around me. Besides, I want you to make him suspicious, Harm."
"What are you talking about?"
"If he is the one that trashed her office just because she had a date, then it makes sense that jealousy could be the thing that would provoke him again. While you are talking to Chief Alden tomorrow I want you to really turn on the charm. I want to observe him while he's seeing her with another man."
"I'm not another man, Mac. I'm an officer and she's enlisted." He sounded affronted by her suggestion.
"If he's our guy, that won't matter to him. He's obsessed with her, and he won't have any trouble believing that another man would be willing to break the rules for her, too. That best part of this is that everyone working in the garage can see into that office so even if it's not Melton, there's a good chance the real stalker will be watching too. How would he be able to resist the chance to watch her reaction to his handiwork? Besides, I'm not telling you to really flirt with her. Just look like you're enjoying yourself. That shouldn't be too hard to do. You're just naturally charming when you're talking to a pretty woman."
"Maybe I should spend the night with her, too. That would really drive him over the edge."
"What a great idea!" Mac exclaimed. Harm looked horrified and she quickly explained. "You wouldn't really spend the night, but you could be seen going into her house tomorrow night and not coming out. In the meantime both of you would sneak out the back, we could get her to a safe place, and then we could watch the place to see if he makes a move."
"Let's set up a meeting with Captain Nash and Chief Alden first thing in the morning and see what they say. We'll need their cooperation for this to work. The captain can also order her to accept whatever security he thinks is necessary. She needs to start taking these threats seriously. But you know, Mac, there is also a very good chance that Captain Nash will tell us we are in over our heads and insist that we turn this back over to NCIS."
"We can't let that happen, Harm. You know how stalker cases are treated. They will say that nothing can be done until he actually hurts her again. Her best chance to get out of this safely is if we can lure him out into the open."
"I agree, and hopefully the captain will too. I better get out of here and let you get some sleep." Harm got off the bed and walked toward the table and started gathering his papers. He turned to look at her and asked casually, "So you think I'm charming?"
Mac shrugged and said nonchalantly, "You have your moments. Do you think she's pretty?"
"Oh, I don't know. I think dark haired marines are more my type." He headed for the front door.
"Are you flirting with me, Harm?" Mac asked wide-eyed.
He stopped with his hand on the doorknob and looked back. "Just practicing for tomorrow. G'night, Mac." Then with a wink and a smile he left her alone in her room.
The next morning at the meeting with Captain Nash and Chief Alden they informed them of their suspicion that they were dealing with a stalker. The captain immediately wanted to place her under protection, but they convinced him to wait until later that evening. If their plan was going to work she needed to be seen around the base during normal working hours, but they assured him that she wouldn't be left alone. Chief Alden made it clear that she wanted to do whatever it took to catch him, so he agreed, and then told them to keep him informed.
After being dismissed they hammered out a plan that they hoped would force the harasser to show his hand. The chief informed them that she'd received some anonymous phone calls the night before-heavy breathing-nothing more. She'd also gone by her office first thing that morning and seen the photo with the letter opener stabbed through it. She finally realized that this was more serious than she'd previously thought, so she was more than willing to cooperate.
They went over the list of people she worked with once more and asked her if anyone had been acting differently around her at work, but she said no.
They asked her if she'd ever been involved with Chief Melton and again she said no. She knew he'd had a crush on her when they first met, but that had been years ago. He was happily married, and they were just friends. He and his wife Lucy had welcomed her with open arms and had made moving to a new place a lot easier. She seemed upset by the idea that he might be a suspect, but they just told her they couldn't afford to rule anybody out.
They agreed that Harm and Chief Alden would make a point of being seen together on the base under the guise of investigating the thefts and the assault, and then they would enter her home together later that evening.
Mac in the meantime would monitor Chief Melton's reactions and keep an eye out for anyone else who reacted suspiciously. She would also go by Ivy's and pick up the list of people who'd ordered that particular flower arrangement in the last two weeks. Harm seemed relieved that he wouldn't have to go back to the flower shop.
Their first major disagreement on how to handle things came when Harm suggested that instead of leaving with Chief Alden out the back door he should stay inside in case the stalker decided to show his face.
"Absolutely not, Commander." Mac protested. "There's no reason to put yourself in danger. We can stake out the house and watch for him to show himself. Then we can grab him before he gets a chance to do anything."
v "Grab him for what?" Harm asked. "Trespassing? Half the people on the base live in that neighborhood. It would never stick. And if he spots anyone watching the house he'll back off. Mac, you know from experience that he has to feel safe to make a move. "
"What I know from experience, Harm, is that he needs to believe that Chief Alden is vulnerable, so a better idea is for you to go in with her, stay long enough to make him wonder about what you're doing, and then let him see you leave by the front door. I'll go in from the back and take Chief Alden's place inside. If he thinks she's alone, I'll be there to surprise him."
Harm was glaring at her now. "No way. You are not going to sit there all alone and wait for this maniac to show up to do whatever it is that maniacs do."
Mac glared back, until Chief Alden intervened. "Sir, couldn't you leave by the front door and drive away, and then sneak back inside the house from the back? Then you'd both be inside waiting."
Harm considered it for a moment then said reluctantly, "I guess that makes sense, Chief."
Mac shrugged and admitted, "I would feel safer if you were inside the house with me."
They made their way to the transportation depot where Chief Melton was waiting for Mac. When he saw that Chief Alden was with them he beamed and said how glad he was to see her back at work. Harm and Chief Alden excused themselves so she could make a list of anything missing from her office, while Mac led Chief Melton over to the cages that housed the parts. She'd asked him to explain how the inventory system worked to track the parts, and he'd been eager to help. Mac asked PO Kinnard to unlock the cage closest to the office and she positioned herself so that Chief Melton had a perfect view for watching what was going on inside.
He was just explaining that it was set up using a bar code system when a peal of feminine laughter rang out from the office. Chief Melton seemed to lose his train of thought, and his eyes flew toward the office window. Mac turned too and saw Chief Alden laughing while Harm was animated, talking and smiling, using his hands as he kept her amused. Even knowing it was an act, Mac felt that familiar pang she always felt when she saw Harm with another woman. It was an old reflex, but for a moment she understood what the stalker would feel as he watched Grace Alden laugh and smile for another man.
"Something must be awfully funny," Mac said with a nod toward the office.
Chief Melton nodded in agreement, but seemed irritated as he continued with his demonstration. He explained how invoices had bar codes that corresponded to the bar code on each part, and he was showing her how they were scanned at the time of delivery when the sound of Harm's laughter wafted out into the garage. Several people stopped and looked toward the office. Most smiled as people tend to do at the sound of gaiety, but when Mac turned back to Chief Melton he was not smiling. He was openly glaring with cold, hard eyes. "Excuse me, ma'am but don't you think Chief Alden might be overdoing it? She's barely recovered from her concussion."
"Oh, Commander Rabb will take good care of her. Now tell me what happens when a mechanic needs to replace a part on a vehicle. Do the parts get scanned again as they're used?"
He didn't seem to hear her as he continued to stare at the office window. Mac turned to look, also, and could see that Harm was standing just a bit closer than necessary to Chief Alden. She had her head tilted back and was smiling up at him as she listened to him talk. Yes, a stalker might find the picture the two of them made disturbing. But as Mac scanned the garage she saw nothing but men and women going about their jobs. No one seemed concerned about what was happening with the chief in her office, except for Chief Melton. She turned back to him, and she could see that he was practically vibrating with the effort to keep his emotions in check.
He put the clipboard he was holding on a nearby crate and asked stiffly, "Would it be alright if we finished this later, ma'am? I'm sorry, but I'm not feeling very well."
"That's fine, Chief. We can do this tomorrow"
He turned and practically ran from the garage before the words were out of her mouth. She watched him go and then walked to the office door. Leaning in, she told them, "Well, we got a reaction."
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Fade to Weather Alert-
We interrupt this program to let you know that there is a two percent chance of a strong thunderstorm in your area this evening. Wind and rain and hail are not expected anywhere in the continental United States, Canada, or Mexico-but we will run a crawl across the bottom of the screen and place an irritating but convenient map of surrounding counties in the corner of the screen in an effort to keep you apprised.
We want to assure our viewers that we interrupt programming only when absolutely necessary and as a service to our viewers here's a summary of what you have missed-Mac ripped off Harm's shirt and kissed him senseless.
We now return you to your regularly scheduled program.
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Later that afternoon Mac left Harm and Chief Alden on the base and drove to Ivy's flower shop. The list was waiting for her when she got there. She thanked Ivy and took it out to the car to look it over. It was a short list. That particular arrangement had only been ordered by one person in the last two weeks-a D. Melton-and it had been delivered to 5435 N. Hawkins Drive. Mac smacked the steering wheel in satisfaction. Things were starting to fall into place.
The flowers had been delivered to Chief Melton's house, presumably for his wife and somehow ended up on Chief Alden's front porch once they were dead.
She decided to drive back to the neighborhood and look around. She wanted a clear picture of what they would be dealing with once it got dark later that night. She parked, but didn't get out of the car. The house was surrounded by thick bushes and trees. It would be easy for a person to hide and watch the house without being noticed. She was about to drive around the block to see if she could get a look at the back of the house when she noticed Lucy Melton coming toward the car from across the street.
"Are you looking for Grace," she asked as Mac rolled down her window.
She couldn't reveal her real reason for being there so she smiled and said, "Yes, I couldn't locate her at the base, and since it's her first day back at work I thought she might have come home early."
"No, she's not here. I can see most of the comings and goings in the neighborhood from my front window." She waved toward the blue house across the street that had a big picture window in the front. Mac could see a telescope set up in the front window, too.
"Are you into astronomy?"
"My husband is," she said proudly.
"Well, I better get back to the base. If you see Chief Alden, tell her I was looking for her."
Mac looked at the telescope as she drove away. She noticed that it wasn't pointed up, but straight across the street at Grace Alden's house. She somehow doubted that he spent much time looking at the stars.
--
Harm relaxed on the sofa as the blonde woman nestled against his side. The lights were dim and soft music from an old radio filled the room. Their silhouettes danced across the ceiling as he leaned close to nuzzle her hair.
"Ouch," he yelped. "That wig must be made of horsehair, Mac."
She reached up to adjust it and said, "It was the best I could do on short notice. It itches like crazy, too."
It had been a half an hour since Harm and Chief Alden had entered the house together arm in arm. She'd promptly gone out the back door where Captain Nash had arranged for a car waiting in the alley to drive her to some temporary quarters on base. There she would be guarded until notice came from Harm and Mac saying that it was safe for her to come home.
Mac had entered the house from the back wearing the blonde wig and civilian clothes. At a glance and in the shadowed dim light she would fool someone expecting to see Grace Alden.
They had danced a slow dance in front of the sheer living room curtains for the benefit of anyone watching and Mac filled him in on the telescope across the street as her arms snaked around his neck. While he dipped her she giggled and told him that the flower arrangement had been sent by Daniel Melton to his home address.
They now were snuggled together on the couch arguing about how long they should wait until they retired to the bedroom. If someone was watching they wanted them to see the lights go off in the living room and go on in the bedroom. After an appropriate amount of time had passed, Harm would then leave by the front door, giving the impression that Grace was alone in the house.
It was the silliest conversation they'd ever had.
"I think twenty minutes is too long." Harm insisted seriously as he wrapped his arms around her and tried to avoid her wig. "Five minutes for basic kissing, another five for kissing plus groping and by then it should be about two minutes tops before clothes start coming off-at that point it's time to head for the bedroom.
"Alright, we'll go with your timetable, but five minutes for basic kissing is pathetic. Kissing is an art, not to be rushed or hurried." She ran her hand across his chest, and then informed him primly, "We have a minute left in basic kissing before we move to kissing and groping."
He leaned back so that he was half lying on the couch causing her to sprawl across him. "Kissing combined with groping can be an art form, too," he insisted.
"Groping sounds like something you should do only in the back seat of a car." She felt herself slipping off of him so she wiggled and scooted trying to find a more secure position.
"I know," he said fondly. Noticing that Mac seemed to be intent on digging her face into his chest he asked with interest, "What are you doing?"
"My wig is stuck on one of your buttons. Help me get loose." She held the wig in place while he worked to unwind the hair from around the button.
"Is it time for the clothes to come off yet?" He asked as he finally set her free.
She stood up and pulled him to his feet. "We're going to skip that phase. My wig can't take anymore foreplay."
They turned off the radio and the light in the living room and hand in hand walked to the bedroom. She turned on a tiny lamp by the bed and felt him come up behind her. His arms went around her waist drawing her back against him. He nuzzled her neck then murmured, "I hate this wig. It's giving me rug burn."
She turned in his arms and he picked her up and together they fell onto the bed. He snaked an arm out and doused the light plunging the whole house into darkness. Even though this was a trap of their design, it made them feel vulnerable, and they stayed in each other's arms wondering if someone waited right outside the window.
A branch scraped against a window, and Mac jumped, and then felt foolish. The sound of his breathing so close to her ear and the pounding of her heart made up the texture of the darkness that cocooned them. Minutes went by and a floorboard creaked. They tensed, but then realized it was just the nocturnal shifting of an old house.
Finally Mac said softly, "It's been five minutes, Harm. What's your timetable on this part?"
"Well, since I'm supposed to be a heel for going after an enlisted woman, I'd say another ten minutes should do it."
"You need to be careful when you leave. If he's mad enough he might go after you instead of me."
"Don't worry. You just be careful until I get back. It could take me five or ten minutes to get around to the back, and that's enough time for him to try something."
"He's probably at home asleep in his bed, while we're here making fools of ourselves."
Neither one of them believed that. It was hard to explain but they could feel his presence outside the house.
Harm waited a few more minute, and then got off the bed. She got up with him, and put her hand on his arm as he started to leave. "Be careful, Harm."
He tugged on her wig and said, "You too, Mac."
She looked out the bedroom window, and the light on the front porch allowed her to see him as he bounded off the front porch and down the sidewalk. She scanned the bushes and shadows watching for someone to jump out at him, but nothing happened. She felt relieved when he got inside his car and drove away.
She took a deep breath and settled in to wait.
The ringing of the telephone shattered the quiet. Her instinct was to reach for the receiver, but she caught herself instead and waited for the answering machine to pick up.
A small quiet voice seeped into the room. "Grace? Are you there? This is Lucy, and I'm looking for Daniel. He left the house a while ago, and he hasn't come back. He was so upset, and he wouldn't tell me why. Have you seen him, Grace? Are you there?" The last was said on a sob and then the message cut off.
Silence reclaimed the room and the game of waiting was resumed. Something in Lucy's voice made Mac feel jumpy and she wished as hard as she ever had that Harm would get back to the house. She moved to the living room and sat on the couch facing the front door with her gun in her lap. The awful wig made her whole head itch, but she needed to leave it on. If he came through the door, she needed for him to believe that she was Grace.
The doorknob on the front door rattled as someone tried the door. Mac picked up her gun and sat quietly. Without making a sound Harm suddenly appeared at her side. She pointed to the front door, and he nodded his understanding. Suddenly the door bell began to chime over and over followed by relentless knocking. Harm crept to the door and looked thru the peephole. He walked back to Mac and whispered, "It's Lucy Melton."
Mac leaned into him and said softly, "She just left a message on the answering machine. She's upset because Daniel's not home. She seemed to think Grace might have seen him."
"You go hide in the bedroom so she can't see you, and I'll get rid of her. We'll have to let her think that she's interrupting something if that will get her to leave."
"Leave the lights off so Daniel won't be able to see who's standing at the door. If he sees that you're back he'll know something is wrong." She disappeared into the bedroom and closed the door most of the way, leaving a crack to look out from.
Harm rumpled his hair and took off his shirt to make it look like he'd been asleep. Then he opened the door and looked out. "Mrs. Melton," he said in a sleepy voice. "Grace is asleep. Do you need something?"
She pushed her way inside. "I need to know if she's seen Daniel. I thought he might be here working. Sometimes they don't answer the phone when they do that." She'd been crying and her eye make-up had run down her face.
"Well he's not here, and she's been with me all night."
She took in his bare chest and his messy hair, and her eyes grew wide when she realized what he was saying. "I'm sorry. I shouldn't have come over. What a surprise to find out that you're just like all the rest."
"You need to go home and wait for your husband, Mrs. Melton." Harm tried steering her to the door.
Before he could react she exploded in a bundle of fury. Wielding a letter opener, she turned and stabbed him in the shoulder. The pain and surprise caused him to fall to his knees. Lucy ran past him and bolted for the bedroom door. Seeing Harm fall, Mac exploded from the bedroom with equal fury. They met halfway, in a tangle of female outrage. When they hit the ground Mac's gun was knocked from her hand. Lucy stabbed at her with blind anger, slashing wildly and recklessly.
Harm stumbled to his feet. His right arm felt useless, but he managed to grab Lucy around the neck with his left arm and pull her away from Mac. In the dim light coming from the front porch, Mac scrambled over to her gun and pointed it at Lucy where she was still struggling in Harm's grasp. As suddenly as it started all the fight went out of Lucy and she just stared at the woman holding the gun on her. The blonde wig had been knocked off during the fight and Mac's dark hair fell in waves around her shoulders. In a perturbed voice she said, "You're not Grace."
Mac was still panting from the exertion, "Harm, are you okay?"
Blood was running down his arm, but he managed a weak smile. "I'm fine except for the twenty stitches I'm going to need." He looked down at the woman slumped in front of him and said, "But, Lucy, you've got some 'splainin' to do."
Epilogue
The local authorities were called in and the story began to unravel. Daniel Melton had been found unconscious by some bushes in Grace Alden's yard. It seems he'd been so upset that Chief Alden was about to ruin her career by fraternizing with an officer that he'd left his house determined to talk some sense into her, but when he got there he saw her dancing and making out with him in her living room. As soon as they went to the bedroom he left in disgust and that's when Lucy found him. She thought he was sneaking out of Grace's house so she picked up a planter and knocked him over the head with it. He was home now, and Grace Alden was fussing over him for a change. They were both shocked that Lucy had been behind the harassment.
Lucy, on the other hand, had been jealous of Grace Alden long before she transferred to Newport. Daniel carried on about her constantly. Telling her how he owed his whole career to her kindness. When they'd gotten married, he had to call Grace. When he got a promotion, he had to call Grace. She acted friendly for Daniel's sake, but when she moved in across the street, and Daniel was assigned to actually work with her everyday, it was too much. She was certain they were having an affair-and the harassment was just a way to vent her frustration. Daniel sent her a beautiful bouquet to make up for working so much, and when it wilted she threw it on Grace's porch. Old left over flowers were all she deserved. She admitted ransacking the office, too. Daniel said they'd be working late, but they weren't, so she trashed everything she could get her hands on. Then Grace showed up looking like she'd been out on the town and so Lucy picked up a pipe wrench and knocked her over the head.
Harm asked Mac to stay with him in the ER while he got stitches in his shoulder. It seemed needles made him a little squeamish, and he thought he would feel better if she would hold his hand.
Mac held on with both hands until Captain Nash walked in, and then she let go and moved a safe distance away. He told Harm to keep his seat, and then said, "Good job, Commander, Colonel."
"I'm afraid all we did was wait in the house and let the stalker find us, sir. We didn't even target the right person." Harm said with a bit of embarrassment.
"And what about the missing supplies, Captain? We let you down on that one too." Mac reminded him.
"Oh, I forgot to tell you. P.O. Kinnard found them on a high shelf at the very back of that cage you asked him to open this morning. We had a flood at the beginning of the year and some things had to be moved up high in a hurry. Darn things just got overlooked." Bemused, he shook his head.
"Well, then, sir, I guess our work is done." Mac smiled.
"Not quite. You're on your own when you try to explain this whole thing to Admiral Blankenship." He was actually laughing out loud as he left.
When he was gone Harm turned to Mac and said, "About our final report to the Admiral-you know, I really need to get back to work on the Harper case-"
"Don't start, Harm."
"But, Mac, I'm injured."
"I'm not listening."
Fade to End