TITLE:  "Deception"  Ch. 1
                    AUTHORS:  Anne R. and Pat Steiner
                    SUMMARY:  Murder on a nearby Army installation 
sends Harm and Mac into 
temporary partnership with CID agents.  A partnership that does not end 
when the case 
resolves.  Story will be posted in 3 multi-part chapters.s
                    CLASSIFICATION/RATING:   J/S/R/A    PG for language 
and mild violence.
                    SPOILERS:  In any of our work, any JAG episode may 
be referred to.
                    FEEDBACK:  If you're so moved but never expected 
nor begged for.  Addy is 
ssbpmn@aol.com.  Please however, we request you respect the work, and 
the effort that goes 
into writing it.
                    NOTE:  All parts of this story and previous 
chapters, as well as much of our other 
works, are available at 
                                  
                                               
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http://destined.to/btlarchive - {BTL H/M Fanfiction archive.}
=====================
"Deception"  Ch. 1

JAG HQ
Jan. 2003
 
 "Hey how would you like to fix a good looking sailor a cup of coffee?"  
 
 At the sound of Harm's voice, Mac turned from the coffee urn and 
smiled pleasantly.  "Good 
morning Commander.  Hmmm. . .good looking sailor huh.  Where? We have a 
new man on 
staff?"
 
 "OK I walked into that one.  I'd do it myself but on three hours sleep 
I don't handle a spoon 
that well."
 
 Mac turned away from him before her next words, holding her breath for 
the reply.  "Hot date 
that kept you up half the night?"
 
 "I wish."
 
 That made her turn back to him, letting out a quick sigh of relief.  
"Yeah I bet you do.  Unless 
you're holding out on me it's been a long time for you hasn't it 
Sailor.  I mean Mrs. Mortician 
has been gone a long time."
 
 "Are we really here to discuss the pathetic state of my social life," 
he growled.  "But just so 
we're clear.  You're right--it's been a long time.  A very long time.  
In fact I'm so desperate I'd. . 
.what are you doing tonight?"
 
 "Mr. Rabb I'm not in the habit of being the answer to a man's 
desperation," she replied evenly, 
shoving his empty coffee cup into his belly.
 
 "Owwww," he yelped.  "OK sorry.  That came out wrong.  Besides we've 
been dating . . ."
 
 "We have?"
 
 "You have?" This from AJ, just entering, his own coffee cup in hand.  
"Do tell Commander."
 
 "Good morning sir," Harm and Mac both spoke at once, coming to 
attention.
 
 "As you were, and Commander you were about to explain to your CO and 
to your disbelieving 
partner how it is you two are dating."
 
 "Yes sir.  Sir I was simply pointing out that the Colonel and I have 
spent some time together 
and. . .and am I on the stand here?"
 
 AJ laughed and shook his head.  "Both of you my office.  Bring your 
coffee and leave your 
personal lives."
 
 Once they were alone again, Mac gave him a long even look.  "Commander 
just for the 
record, when you bring over a couple of cartons of Chinese and our case 
files, that's not 
dating.  Dating is. . .and why am I trying to explain to a man who's 
almost forty what a date is.  
Besides didn't you and Renee do plenty of that?"  She gave him a sly 
smile as she was 
walking out and added, "or maybe not.  Maybe you guys were too busy 
doing other things." 
 
 "I'm not touching that," he yelped, following her closely.  Several 
steps later he added slowly, 
"but you know you may have a point.  Maybe you and me should try going 
out for real.  And I'm 
sure we've done it before.  I mean what about after Capt. Sebring's 
when we went to The Fish 
House?"
 
 "All right, that one I'll give you."
 
 "And in Saudi."
 
 "Not that one.  Dinner in the Officer's Mess when you're not even 
buying?  No."
 
 It was not until they heard AJ clear his throat that they realized 
they had crossed the threshold 
into his office through his open door.  "Did I not tell you two to 
check your personal lives before 
you came in here?"
 
 "Yes sir you did.  My fault," Harm spoke up at once.
 
 "Never mind.  Sit.  There was a Naval Officer disappeared from the 
grounds of Belvoir about 
three days ago. A training platoon found his body last night in a 
wooded area of the post.  He 
was killed."
 
 "Are they sure it was murder sir?" Mac asked.
 
 "The knife in his chest that the doctor said pierced his aorta was a 
good clue," AJ nodded.  
"There's a CID team assigned from the Army, and the SecNav has assigned 
me the Navy's 
investigation.  This wasn't some drunk Ensign.  Capt. Marshall Martens, 
on the admiral's list 
and was probably going to Cinclant as the deputy."
 
 "No ordinary Ensign is right," Mac sighed.  "I was just reading about 
him in the Navy Times 
last week.  He would have been one of the youngest to ever make that 
rank."
   
 "That's him. And exactly why the SecNav wants us on the case as well."
 
 "So we're playing second fiddle to the other team" Harm frowned.
 
 "Not exactly. You're going to be conducting your investigation along 
with them."
 
 "Are they aware of this?" Mac asked.
 
 "Yes they are and they have been instructed not to do anything to 
hinder 
 your work. Nor will you do anything to hinder theirs. I expect total 
 cooperation from both sides. No Army Navy wars here."
 
 "Yes sir" Mac nodded. "Who will we be working with?"
 
 "Lt. Colonel Mitchell Summers and Lt. Colonel Elizabeth Reith. They're 
waiting at 
 Belvoir to take you to where the body was found. Here's all the 
information 
 I could get on Captain Martens at this short notice." He handed Mac a 
file 
 and she opened it, the picture of a handsome Captain staring back at 
her.
 
 "The Navy times picture didn't do him justice" she murmured as she 
looked 
 down the fact sheet. "And he wasn't married?"
 
 "One of DC's most eligible bachelor's from what I'm told" AJ 
continued.
 
 "Obviously someone didn't like him though" Harm spoke up. "Otherwise 
he 
 wouldn't have a knife in his chest."
 
 "And that's what you're going to find out. And of course SecNav wants 
daily 
 updates on the case. Once this hits the press, there's going to be a 
frenzy 
 of speculation as to what happened. He wants the facts ASAP."
 
 "Will do sir" Harm nodded.
 
 A short time later Harm and Mac were headed south to Fort Belvoir.
 
 "This should be fun" Mac smiled. "When was the last time we worked 
with 
 anyone?"
 
 "Well if it's anything like working with NCIS, forget it" Harm sighed. 
 "They're going to try and control the whole investigation."
 
 "Well it did happen at their base."
 
 "To one of our guys."
 
 "Harm no turf wars remember. Besides, these two maybe different to 
work 
 with. And the Admiral did say they've been told to include us on 
 everything."
 
 "All right I'll give them the benefit of the doubt."
 
 "Good. Now while we got a minute can we go back to that conversation 
we were 
 having earlier."
 
 "Okay maybe dinner at the base in Saudi wasn't a date. But I have 
bought you 
 dinner other times."
 
 "While we worked on cases" she countered.
 
 "So if I buy you dinner and we don't work on a case then it's a date?"
 
 "That would be my definition of a date yes" she nodded.
 
 "Okay. Saturday night what do you say I pick you up around six and we 
go eat 
 somewhere and maybe catch a movie?"
 
 "You're asking me out?" she smiled.

 "Yeah I guess so," he said sheepishly. "Seeing as how I thought we'd 
been 
 dating all along and it turns out we're not."
 
 "Harm you sound like we're in high school" she giggled. "Next thing I 
know 
 you're going to be asking me to go steady."
 
 "Do you want to?"
 
 It wasn't until she looked over and saw the huge grin on his face that 
she 
 realized he was teasing.
 
 "Well what do you say?" he laughed.
 
 "I think you've lost it Rabb" she smiled. "And I'll see how our first 
date 
 goes before I decide if I want to go steady with you."
 
 They reached Fort Belvoir a short time later and were directed to 
where the 
 CID team had set up office.
 
 "Remember we work together" Mac murmured as they walked in. "No Army 
Navy 
 war."
 
 "Yes ma'am" he smiled before heading to the desk. "Commander Rabb and 
 Colonel Mackenzie from JAG."

"Yes sir," the young corporal nodded.  "Colonels Reith and Summers are 
in her office and 
expecting you.  This way please."

"This kid is fifteen," Harm hissed as they followed the young man.

"Actually sir I'm eighteen," the corporal called with a quick laugh.  
"Graduated High School at 
seventeen and enlisted right away and been lucky."

"Corporal I doubt our guests are interested in your life story."  Lt. 
Col. Summers met them at 
the door and shook his head at the young man and then at Harm.  "You 
and I were never that 
young and eager were we Commander."

Harm looked at the young enlisted man and likewise shook his head. "I'm 
sure I wasn't.  And if 
I was, I was a plebe and I sure didn't speak up."

"Dismissed Corporal," the Colonel told him, "Come in please.  This is 
Lieutenant Colonel Reith 
and I'm Mitch Summers."

"Elizabeth please," she smiled.  She was Mac's age and height, with 
similar coloring, her dark 
hair tucked into a neat bun at her neck.  Her partner  was blonde, 
slightly shorter than Harm, 
and perhaps a year or two younger Harm thought, sizing him up quickly.

"Harm and Mac," Harm offered.  "Short for Mackenzie of course."

"Of course, and I'm Mitch and now that that's out of the way, it does 
seem we have a murder 
on our hands."

"So I hear," Harm  nodded.  "Someone the Navy is not pleased to lose.  
Any idea what he was 
doing down here?  I mean I've been there six years and this is the 
first time I've set foot on this 
base.   Apparently the reputation of your O club hasn't reached me or 
something."

"His credit card shows a purchase the night he died at the package 
store, with a stop at the O 
club in fact," Elizabeth sighed.  "Now what he did after that we have 
no clue so far.  We've not 
gotten out to do any leg work yet, but we did manage to run the credit 
cards in his wallet to 
determine that."

"Who wait, something doesn't add up here," Harm objected.  "He had been 
dead three days 
when he was found.  How is it that he wasn't reported missing?"

"On leave--no family--no destination that someone missed him?" Mitch 
ventured.  "And that 
Commander is a good question.  We were waiting for you.  Our M.E. has 
promised autopsy 
results for this morning and then you'll want to see the crime scene 
with us.  I notified his office 
and requested a call back from someone who could be of help.  Nothing 
so far.  He's not 
married so he may have lived alone and if he wasn't due at the office 
he wasn't missed."

"So what does that leave us?" 

Mac shrugged.  "Obviously someone wanted him very dead.  You said you 
got his wallet?  
Robbery?  Of cash I mean?"

"Not quite," Elizabeth smiled ruefully, looking down at the so far very 
skimpy information she had.  
"There was twenty one hundred dollar bills in it.  Now why would he pay 
with a credit card if he 
had that kind of cash?"

"Maybe the money was earmarked elsewhere."

"In any case we should see what the M.E. has for us," Mitch spoke up 
and then stopped 
himself short with a sheepish look to Elizabeth.  "Uh sorry.  Colonel 
Reith is the senior partner 
here as of two weeks ago."

"And I've told him to cut that crap," Elizabeth groaned.

"Name ahead of his on the promotion list?" Mac asked with some 
amusement and a look to 
Harm.

"Exactly.  Like it makes any difference to me.  I couldn't do this 
without him and he knows it.  I 
tell him he makes me look good, but it doesn't sink in.  Let's go."

"Hey I understand.  I've got a partner with an ego too," Mac laughed 
and Harm groaned.

"I do not have an ego."

"Oh Commander I see those wings," Elizabeth smiled.  "All fliers have 
an ego.  It's a 
prerequisite and it only grows."

"Thank you," Mac laughed, feeling here was someone who could be a 
friend.  "Shall we?"

"Of course.  And Commander I want to hear sometime why a decorated Navy 
pilot is doing his 
flying in a courtroom," Elizabeth told him.

"You got it," Harm grinned.  "But it's not that exciting."

"I'll say it's not," Mac added, suddenly feeling just a twinge of 
unease and hurried out of the 
door.  Had she lingered she would have seen the fleeting look Mitch 
directed toward Elizabeth 
as she addressed Harm.
======================
"This is our crime lab and the morgue as well," Elizabeth pointed to 
the gray building as they 
drove up.  Capt. Hillyard has been the M.E. here long as I have so we 
should have a cause of 
death."

"Gee and I thought a knife through the heart would have been enough," 
Harm smiled and Mac 
punched his arm.  

"She means an official cause Moron."

"Colonel, I see you've brought reinforcements," Dan Hillyard smiled.  
"Come this way please."  
He led them through a long hallway to a small room and opened the door, 
Mac happening to 
be the first through.  

"Oh god," she gasped at once, her hand going to her mouth.  For there 
before them on a silver 
steel table lay the body of Capt. Marshall Martens, late of the U.S. 
Navy.  "Excuse me."  Now 
pale, she turned and pushed her way past the other three, making for 
the nearest exit.

"I'm sorry," Dan gasped, realizing what he had done.  "I'm sorry.  I've 
been around this for so 
long that I don't think much of it and I just assumed she knew you were 
here to view the body.  
I should have warned you."
 
 "Damn right you should have" Harm retorted. "What in the hell were you 
 thinking?" He didn't wait for Dan's answer as he headed toward the 
door.
 
 "Commander maybe I should go" Elizabeth offered. "If she's in the 
ladies 
 room, I don't think you want to walk in there."
 
 "Please just make sure she's okay" Harm sighed and Elizabeth nodded 
before 
 heading out of the room. "I'm sure she wasn't expecting to see Captain 
 Martens like that."
 
 "Sir I'm sorry" Dan said again. "But as long as you're both here I can 
go 
 over a few things with you."
 
 "Works for me" Mitch said as he looked at Harm. "We can spare them 
this part 
 at least."
 
 "Good idea" Harm nodded. "So what do we have here?"
 
 "Mac" Elizabeth called as she walked into ladies room. She found Mac 
at one 
 of the sinks, gently wiping her face with a wet paper towel.
 
 "You okay?" Elizabeth asked.
 
 "I'm fine," Mac said with a weak smile. "Except for being mortified 
about my 
 behavior I'm okay."
 
 "Don't worry about it. It's partly my fault for not warning you that 
he had 
 the body for us to see."
 
 "Well I'm still embarrassed" Mac sighed.  "And Harm probably thinks 
I've 
 lost it. It's not like I haven't seen a dead body before."
 
 "Actually he seemed pretty upset that you were upset" Elizabeth 
replied.
 
 "He's a good guy," Mac said as a small bit of blush crept into her 
cheeks.
 
 "How long have you two been partners?"
 
 "Almost seven years" Mac smiled. "How about you and Mitch?"
 
 "Too long" Elizabeth laughed. "Actually it's been about four years 
now. And 
 I couldn't ask for a better guy than Mitch. I've worked with other 
people 
 before and there's no one I trust like Mitch."
 
 "Ditto that with me and Harm."
 
 "Sounds like we have a bit in common" Elizabeth smiled. "We should 
talk over 
 coffee some night."
 
 "I'd like that" Mac nodded. "And now I think I'm ready to go back."
 
 "You sure?"
 
 "No but I also don't want the guys to handle all this. And knowing 
Harm, I'm 
 sure that's what he's doing."
 
 "You sure you're okay?" Elizabeth asked again.
 
 "Fine. Let's go."
 
 They made their way back to the room, not surprised to see Dan 
recovering 
 the body with the white sheet as they walked in.
 
 "Mac you okay?" Harm asked at once.
 
 "I'm fine" she assured with a small smile. "Embarrassed to death but 
 otherwise fine."
 
 "Well we're all done here now" Harm smiled. "Mitch and I got all the 
 pertinent information. Nothing for you and Elizabeth to see. We'll 
tell you 
 all about it back at the office."
 
 "Mitch" Elizabeth said with a long look. "You could have waited."
 
 "You didn't need to see that either" Mitch countered. "There was 
nothing 
 pleasant about it and I saw no need for you to go through that. Like 
Harm 
 said, we got the information we need."
 
 "I'd be happy to take the sheet off if you want to look at anything 
again" 
 Dan offered.
 
 "NO" Mitch and Harm said at the same time.
 
 "Okay sorry" Dan said quickly. "I think we're done here for today. If 
you 
 have any questions about anything, let me know."
 
"You're listing the cause of death as the knife wound right?" Mac 
asked.

"And running tox on the blood for drugs and alcohol, but yeah my 
preliminary guess when I first 
viewed the body of a severed aorta is exactly right.  Death was pretty 
instantaneous.  He didn't 
suffer long."

Mac nodded, trying to keep her mind from continually painting the 
gruesome sight of Martens' 
body. "Captain you saw the scene where the body was found?  Anything 
strike you?"

"Yes ma'am and the lab people did what they do best.  Combed the area.  
Now you'll have to 
talk to Lt. Riker for that information.  He's the best though.  Knows 
exactly what he's doing."

"Let me guess, about twenty-two, with degrees out the ass and fresh 
from OCS last year?" 
Harm laughed.

"That would be him, yes sir," Dan smiled.  "I've only got five years on 
him and he makes me 
feel old."

"Can't wait to meet him," Harm groaned.  "Thanks Captain.  I think 
we'll run out to the scene 
and then we'll start interviews. . .uh if no one else has objections.  
Sorry, I'm not used to having 
to consider another team.  My partner I simply run over without 
thinking."

"At least you admit it Sailor," she smiled and they walked outside, Mac 
stopping to take a long 
breath of the fresh air.

"You're sure you're OK?" Harm asked her

"No I'm totally mortified for what I did but I will survive," she 
nodded.  "I'm sorry.  I just wasn't 
prepared for that.  Had I been bringing up the rear and someone told 
me, I could have started 
with just one eye or something.  Anyway, I'm good thanks."

"OK.  I'm just not used to seeing you run from a room about to toss 
your cookies that's all"  His 
palm went to her back and he left his hand in place as they walked to 
the car.

"Crime scene now?" Mitch questioned and Elizabeth nodded, opening the 
case folder to the 
map.  

"It's that big wooded area behind the range.  Wow.  That body might not 
have been found for 
weeks if that training squad hadn't happened upon it.  Mitch take the 
main road to the range 
and then watch for the fire road on the right."

"Yes ma'am."

"And if you do that again I'm going to shove this map where the sun 
don't shine."

"Yes ma'am," he teased, starting the car.

"No hold up."

"Elizabeth I know you're a woman and you're entitled to change your 
mind but you're making 
me dizzy," he groaned.

"Sorry.  I didn't think about the crime scene being in the woods and 
the fact that we're in 
uniform. . .and heels."

"Commander Rabb is wearing heels?" Mitch hooted.

"Mac this is the day I kill him," Elizabeth sighed.  "No we'll save the 
crime scene for tomorrow 
and do it in cammies and boots."

"Harm is your partner sexy in cammies?" Mitch teased.

A slow smile spread across his face as he remembered her in 
Afghanistan.  Carrying a semi 
automatic rifle, in desert brown cammies and the brimmed hat and with 
little make up.  And to 
him she had seldom looked more beautiful.

"She's my partner.  I don't think of her that way," he replied, trying 
to keep as straight a face as 
possible before he burst into laughter.

"Both of you cretins are dangerously close to a sexual harassment 
charge," Elizabeth warned, 
herself laughing.  Mac laughed as well.  Here was a team much as Harm 
and herself, 
obviously best friends, obviously totally comfortable working together.  
Just as he and Harm 
were---now.  Many times in the past it had not been so.

"Then we're on Plan B which I suggest we pop over to the Pentagon and 
talk to a few people 
who knew the man," Mac offered.

"I don't believe the Marine just said 'pop over'," Elizabeth smiled.  
"Yeah let's do that.  I'm not 
even yet able to make the connection to why he was at Belvoir."

The mid morning traffic was light and their ID's easily got them 
admitted to Martens' office, 
where people were moving around in what seemed like quiet shock.

"Let's split up into two's and see what we can find.  Commander, on me 
unless you object?"

"Not at all," Harm smiled, giving Mac a quick nod.

"OK but don't be surprised if I ask out the Marine here," Mitch hissed, 
earning him a quick 
sharp look from Harm before the Naval officer realized he was being 
baited.

"Come Commander," Elizabeth smiled and they approached the office of 
Martens' XO, while 
Mac and Mitch walked toward the outer office staff.  

While they were waiting to be shown into Cdr. Mary Billings office, 
Elizabeth turned to Harm 
with a small smile.  "Commander you'll get used to Mitch if you're 
around us long enough.  The 
man thinks he's Hawkeye Pierce or something.  In the most serious 
situation he'll make a bad 
joke.  Sometimes he makes me crazy.  But the point is, just don't take 
him seriously when he's 
pulling your chain."

Harm nodded, grinning slightly.  "He seems like good people.  You and 
him have worked a 
while together?"

"Yeah we have.  I would trust him with my life.  And have in fact."

"Sounds like Mac and me.  And don't worry.  I think he and I will get 
along fine.  And Mac---well 
she can put him in his place easily enough if she needs to.  They'll be 
fine too."
  ==================
 "I think I made your boyfriend jealous" Mitch smiled as he and Mac 
made 
 their way down the long hall to Marten's CO.
 
 "He's not my boyfriend" Mac blushed.
 
 "Then why am I getting such a rise out of him" Mitch laughed. "Never 
mind, 
 you don't have to answer that."
 
 "Harm and I have an interesting relationship is all I'm going to say."
 
 "Like Elizabeth and me I'm sure. It's hard not to when you're with 
someone 
 all the time like this. Throw in a few life and death situations and 
it's 
 real easy to get attached."
 
 "Are you and Elizabeth attached?" Mac smiled as she turned the tables 
on 
 him.
 
 "That's a good question" Mitch smiled. "Depends on what day of the 
week it 
 is I guess. Sometimes I think we're there and then other times we're a 
 million miles apart."
 
 "So she's the commitment phobic one?"
 
 "Yeah" Mitch nodded. "We always seem to be in the right direction and 
then 
 suddenly she'll pull back. No explanation except the we work together 
 speech."
 
 "I can't tell you how many times I've heard that one. But obviously 
that 
 hasn't swayed you away."
 
 "Elizabeth is very special to me. And I may joke about asking other 
women 
 out but quite truthfully I'm willing to wait for her as long as it 
takes."
 
 "Well from what I've seen I think you have a good chance of making it 
work" 
 Mac smiled. "So long as she knows you're joking when you make those 
wise 
 cracks about other women."
 
 "She does" Mitch laughed. "We'll just have to get Harm with the 
program so 
 he doesn't go ballistic on me."
 
 "He's a little protective sometimes."
 
 "I'm the same way with Elizabeth. When Harm first walked in with those 
gold 
 wings, I'll admit I was a bit jealous."
 
 "Elizabeth has a thing for pilots?" Mac smiled.
 
 "Only cause her father was a Naval Aviator like Harm. I guess I'm 
lucky that 
 she even found me interesting seeing as how I've never sat in the 
cockpit of 
 anything."
 
 "I've sat in the back-seat twice and hopefully I'll never have to do 
that 
 again" Mac laughed. "Flying a fighter jet is not for those weak 
stomachs. 
 Which I guess explains my reaction earlier."
 
 "We should have warned you" Mitch said as they reached the office of 
Rear 
 Admiral Geoffrey Stauffer.
 
 ***********
 "Come in please" Commander Mary Billings said to Harm and Elizabeth. 
"I'm 
 sorry to keep you waiting."
 
 "No problem ma'am" Elizabeth nodded. "We know this is a difficult time 
so 
 we'll keep this short."
 
 "Thank you. I don't know what to say except that I'm still in shock" 
Mary 
 said as she sank into her chair. "None of it makes any sense."
 
 "Do you have any idea why Captain Martens was at Fort Belvoir?" Harm 
asked. 
 "Has he gone there before?"
 
 "I knew Captain Martens very well," Mary admitted. "We were both 
single and 
 tended to frequent the same after hours places."
 
 "You were a lucky lady" Elizabeth smiled. "Captain Martens was one of 
DC's 
 most eligible bachelor's."
 
 "Yes he was. But our relationship was never anything but platonic. We 
were 
 friends but that was all."
 
 "How long have you worked with the Captain?" Harm asked.
 
 "Ten years. I've been with him through his last three assignments."
 
 "And hoping to go with him when he made Admiral?" Harm asked.
 
 "He would have been the youngest man ever selected" Mary said quietly, 
her 
 eyes wet with unshed tears. "And he deserved it. No one worked as hard 
as he 
 did."
 
 "Commander do you know why Captain Martens was at Fort Belvoir?" Harm 
 repeated.
 
 "I have an idea. And her name is Colonel Michele Wallings. If you're 
looking 
 for a suspect start with her."
 
 "Who is she and how is she involved with the Captain?" Harm asked.
 
 "She's as instructor at the Army's Inspector General School. She and 
Captain 
 Martens met at a black tie affair about six months ago."
 
 "Were they dating?" Elizabeth asked.
 
 "Not quite.  At least not officially." Mary sighed. "Colonel Wallings 
is married."
 
"Very married?"  Harm raised an eyebrow as he asked the question.

"Commander I didn't know there were different degrees," Elizabeth 
groaned.  "Isn't that like 
being a little pregnant."

"Well they could be separated," he retorted.  "Commander?"

"If they are, I'm not aware," she shook her head.  "And if this wasn't 
a murder investigation, you 
wouldn't have even gotten the information from me to begin with.  See I 
respected Capt. 
Martens so very much for what he gave to this country and the Navy.  I 
didn't always like what 
he did in his private life, but let me say he was the soul of 
discretion.  Never a word of scandal 
and there was a lot of opportunity.  He was like Teflon."

"OK we appreciate your candor," Elizabeth smiled.  "Now what do you 
know about the 
Colonel?"

"Married like I said.  She has two boys, one's a Marine in Special Ops, 
and the other I'm not 
real sure.  I don't think Capt. Martens mentioned him but a couple 
times."

"And her husband is military?"

"Oh good grief no.  He's home.  Does day trading and other investments, 
like real estate, for 
his living."

"Capt. Martens must have trusted you a lot to share that kind of 
information," Harm observed.  
"After all if you blew the whistle his career would have been over."

"I never once saw him not report for duty and not be totally fit for 
that duty," she returned, her 
eyes flashing, "Not in ten years.  So what he did away from the 
installation was totally his life."

"We understand," Elizabeth spoke up.  "So tell us what you're thinking?  
Why would you have 
reason to believe the Colonel is a murderer?"

"Because he wanted to end it and she didn't.  See just down the hall is 
a new staff member.  
Civilian.  Normally he went for the uniform but she wouldn't be the 
first civilian.  Anyway, he 
was all about the conquest, and he had started asking Ms. Claypool to 
lunch just before 
Thanksgiving.  She was with him at the Christmas party and I know 
they've gone out some."

"Ms. Claypool got a first name?"

"Laura.  She's just three doors down on your left.  And it was common 
knowledge they were 
seeing each other.  See unlike with the Colonel, there was no reason 
they couldn't be seen 
together, and he did like to have a beautiful woman on his arm.  
Especially one ten years 
younger.  And of course except for a couple times he and Colonel 
Wallings managed to get out 
of the area together, they met secretly.  Her husband did do some 
traveling I know that."

"OK.  May I ask why you're being so forthright to tell us some of the. 
. .uh dirt if you will. . .on a 
man you obviously liked and admired?" Harm asked.

"Because the Navy needed him and it's a damn shame to lose him.  Just 
that simple."

"And you were looking forward to that position at Cinclant?"

"Well that too," she admitted with a sheepish smile.  "Please, make 
whoever did this pay."

"Count on it," Harm nodded and turned to Elizabeth.  "Shall we find our 
other halves?"

They walked out into the hall and at the far end could see Mac and 
Mitch laughing lightly.  
Elizabeth did not miss Harm's sudden sour look and she touched his arm.  
"Breathe 
Commander.  No doubt he said something he thought was funny and she's 
being polite.  
Hawkeye Pierce.  Remember what I told you.  Not to mention, the vibes 
you gave off with 
regard to Mac."

"Excuse me?"

"Don't 'excuse me' me mister.  Everything about you tells anyone around 
you she's taken.  And 
I've only known you guys a few hours."
  
 Harm opened his mouth to protest and promptly closed it. "Look I don't 
know 
 where Mac and I are right now. I know we're trying to make something 
of what 
 we have. And yeah I'm a little insecure about Hawkeye cutting in."
 
 "He's not" Elizabeth smiled. "He's just yanking your chain."
 
 "Well I don't like it" Harm muttered as they reached the other pair.
 
 "How'd it go?" Mac asked. "You get anything?"
 
 "All kinds of information about our Captain Martens" Elizabeth nodded. 
"How 
 about you two?"
 
 "We've been waiting for Admiral Stauffer" Mitch sighed. "He was 
supposed to 
 meet with us but then his secretary said he had a phone call and then 
 something else came up and we've never gotten to talk to him."
 
 "Well we've got a nice bit of information that may keep us busy for a 
while" 
 Elizabeth smiled. "Why don't we grab lunch and Harm and I will bring 
you up 
 to speed. Then we'll come back and see if the Admiral is available."
 
 A half-hour later they were seated at a booth in a nearby Chinese 
 restaurant.
 
 "So what did you find out about our golden boy?" Mac asked.
 
 "He was having an affair with a married woman at Belvoir" Elizabeth 
replied. 
 "But that ended when he met a new civilian at the Pentagon. And I 
think his 
 XO had a thing for him."
 
 "I hope his XO is a woman" Mitch laughed.
 
 "Oh yeah. And she's followed him up the ladder so to speak. And along 
the 
 way began infatuated with DC's most eligible bachelor."
 
 "Wonder how he felt about his XO" Mac mused.
 
 "Well considering he had Colonel Wallings and Ms. Claypool I doubt it" 
Harm 
 answered. "He was pretty busy with them."
 
 "And she was okay with just being his XO?"
 
 "Now that's a good question" Elizabeth smiled. "She was pretty adamant 
that 
 she and the good Captain weren't involved. But that could have been 
because 
 he turned her down."
 
 "So who's this married woman?" Mitch asked.
 
 "Colonel Wallings. She's in the Inspector General's training group at 
 Belvoir. Apparently he called it off after he met Ms. Claypool."
 
 "Busy man. So what's next?"
 
 "A visit to Ms. Claypool for sure" Harm replied. "And then we'll need 
to 
 track down Colonel Wallings."
 
 "I'd be happy to take Mac back to Belvoir" Mitch smiled as he looked 
at Mac. 
 "We can meet up with you two later if you want."

 "I think I'll keep my partner with me this time" Harm replied. "We'll 
meet 
 you and Elizabeth back at Belvoir later."
 
 "Damn and here I was hoping to get to know Mac better" Mitch teased 
and the 
 scowl on Harm's face deepened.
 
 "Harm he's yanking your chain again" Elizabeth whispered as she leaned 
over 
 to him. "You know that don't you."
 
 "Harm she's right" Mitch laughed. "I'm just kidding. You and Mac can 
stay 
 here."
 
 "Gee thanks Mitch" Harm glared. "I appreciate that."
 
 "You're so easy sometimes" Mac laughed when she and Harm were alone 
later.
 
 "What's that supposed to mean?" Harm demanded.
 
 "Harm he's in love with Elizabeth. You can't tell that?"
 
 "It was a little hard when all his attention seemed to be focused on 
you" he 
 retorted.
 
 "And maybe that's because Elizabeth seemed to be more attentive to you 
than 
 him" Mac countered.
 
 "Okay now you've lost me" he sighed.
 
 "You and Elizabeth seemed to be getting along pretty good," Mac said 
slowly. 
   "And I'm sure he felt a bit insecure about that."
 
 "Did you?"
 
 "No" she lied. "What do I care if some woman is swooning over you 
cause you 
 have Gold Wings."
 
 "You do care. And I didn't think she was swooning."
 
 "Okay maybe she wasn't. But you and her sure were pretty friendly."
 
 "I'm not interested."
 
 "Excuse me?" she frowned. "Interested in what?"
 
 "Her. I asked out the woman I want to be with. And this morning she 
said 
 yes."
 
 "The answer is still yes" Mac smiled. "Nothing is going to change 
that."
 
"Not even a good looking Army guy?"

"Pick him over a Squid?  Get real," she laughed.  "Seriously now, you 
heard Elizabeth--he's a 
joker and a tease and you have to pay him no mind.  I'm certainly 
taking that advice seriously.  
You'd do good to do the same.  Now Elizabeth on the other hand. . ."

Harm gave her a half scowl.  "Mitch said her dad was a Naval Aviator 
and that it held an 
attraction for it.  Wonder if she wanted to do that also."

"You know not everyone has jet fuel in their veins," Mac chided him.  
"She seems pretty at 
home in her CID role."

Harm nodded, his face still puzzled.

"OK Flyboy, spill what's on your mind or you're going to be stewing 
about it forever."

"Nothing.  Really," he insisted.  "She just seems like I should. . ."

"Should ask her out?  Date her?  Bed her?  What?"

"No none of that," he groaned.  "She was impressed with my Wings big 
deal, but it does seem 
like there's something else."  He shook his head and waved his hand in 
dismissal.  "Forget it 
OK.  I'm just being weird."

"Don't expect me to argue that one," she returned.  "So where are we?"

"Well we're at Colonel Wallings and Ms. Claypool," he sighed.  "But I'm 
getting the impression 
Elizabeth is leaning toward Commander Billings right now and I could 
see that I think."

"Because?"

"Because for ten years she's devoted her life to this womanizer and 
maybe she thought it 
should be her turn."

"OK sounds like a possible.  My gut is wanting to talk to Colonel 
Wallings.  Of course if it was a 
woman, a woman alone, there's the whole matter of how she got the body 
back into the 
woods."

"Murder for hire?  Some schmuck she talked into it for a few thousand?"

"Always possible," Mac nodded.

A check with the Pentagon provided that Laura Claypool had left as soon 
as word of the death 
had spread to her office and that Adm. Stauffer was still unavailable.  
The four investigators 
met up again in the afternoon to canvas the staff who was on duty, 
receiving little tangible 
results.

"Yes, thank you Colonel.  We appreciate your seeing us," Elizabeth was 
saying on the 
telephone when they gathered to regroup.  She disconnected and looked 
to the other three.  
"OK we caught a break.  Col. Wallings is home and has agreed to a short 
interview.  I can tell 
by the wariness in her tone though that she's not going to be 
confessing to engaging in 
adultery."

"Fishing for immunity?" Harm mused.

"I guess it depends on if Mr. Wallings knows," Elizabeth smiled.  "You 
guys want to follow us 
out to Belvoir?"
==========
FAMILY HOUSING
Ft Belvoir, Va.

"Colonel Wallings thank you for seeing us," Harm said once 
introductions were made.  "And of 
course condolences on Capt. Martens' death."

"He was a good friend," Michele said warily.  "We met at one of those 
boring affairs officers 
stationed at MDW are expected to go to, and we found out we shared some 
common interests.  
With my boys grown and mostly gone and my husband doing a lot of 
traveling with his 
investments, it was good to have someone."

"Common interests?" Mac queried.

"Exactly. We liked those old movies of the forties, film noir, 
mysteries.  And he and I both are 
gourmet food and wine people."

"Can I ask if Mr. Wallings objected to you spending time with Capt. 
Martens?" Harm asked.

"My husband's name is Harrison.  James Harrison," she corrected.  "And 
as a matter of fact 
about the time the boys no longer needed our close attention, we pretty 
much stopped caring 
what the other one did."

There was momentary silence until Harm nodded.  "Your candor is 
appreciated ma'am.  I 
understand one of your boys is a Marine?"

"That would be Brandon.  He's a Corporal in a special ops unit, but he 
was wounded in 
Afghanistan and he's on sixty days convalescence so he's back home with 
us for the moment."

"And the other boy?"

"Jeffrey."

"And he is?"

"Does it matter?" she asked sharply, her tone defensive.

"Is there some reason we shouldn't know about Jeffrey?" Mac questioned.

"No of course not.  The boy lives here, but he's gone some of the time.  
He hasn't really found 
his place in the scheme of things yet is all.  He dropped out of high 
school two years ago and 
he's just drifting a little right now.  He'll be here for a few days 
and gone and I don't ask.  I 
figure he's getting his life on track at his own pace."
 
  "Did either of your sons know about your relationship with Captain 
Martens?" 
  Elizabeth asked.
  
  "Yes. But what does that have to do with anything?" Michele demanded.
   
  "We're just looking for all possible suspects" Elizabeth continued. 
"We were 
  told that the Captain broke off the relationship against your 
wishes."
  
  "Whoever told you that is a flat out liar" Michele retorted. "And let 
me 
  guess you got that from that little bitch who thought Marshall was 
going to 
  be hers one day since she'd served him with such dedication for so 
many 
  years."
  
  "We're not at liberty to say where we got our information" Harm spoke 
up. 
  "But you're telling us he didn't break off the relationship."
  
  "He did but it was mutually decided.  We both agreed it was the best 
thing. I had enjoyed 
being with  Marshall but I knew he was seeing other women. And quite 
frankly I wasn't 
  looking for anything more from Marshall than what we have."
  
  "You knew he was seeing other women?" Mac asked.
  
  "Of course I did. Marshall had two personalities. The one he used for 
the 
  Navy and the real Marshall. He enjoyed the company of women, 
especially 
  younger ones. I believe his most recent target was a woman at his 
office. 
  Laura something."
  
  "Claypool" Mitch offered.
  
  "Yeah that was her" Michele nodded. "Quite honestly I was surprised 
that he 
  wanted someone that young but I guess men go through those phases."
  
  "I take it from your earlier comment you and Commander Billings didnt 
get 
  along?" Elizabeth asked.
  
  "No we did not Colonel. The woman though she was Marshall's keeper. I 
can't 
  tell you how many times she purposely lost messages from me just 
because she 
  didn't approve of our relationship. She was his XO not his mother for 
  godsake."
  
  "How did Captain Martens feel about her?" Harm asked.
  
  "For some reason he worshipped the ground she walked on," Michele 
said 
  bitterly. "I tried to tell him many times that she was only looking 
out for 
  herself. But he didn't believe me."
  
  "When was the last time you saw Captain Martens?" Mac asked.
  
  "A week ago. He came by and we talked and agreed we wouldn't be 
seeing each 
  other anymore. It was totally amicable. And now if you're through, I 
think 
  I've answered enough questions."
  
  "If we have more we'll be contacting you" Elizabeth said as they 
stood up. 
  "Which I'm sure we will."
  
  "I'm not the one you should be looking at Colonel" Michele Wallings 
said 
  seriously. "If I were you I'd be spending some time finding out where 
  Commander Billings was the night Marshall was killed."
  
  "Like I said earlier, we're considering all possible suspects" 
Elizabeth 
  replied. "Thank you again for your time."
  
  "Well that was interesting" Harm said once they were in the car and 
on their 
  way back to Belvoir. "We've got two women blaming the other."
  
  "Well one of them is lying" Elizabeth sighed. "And I'm leaning 
towards the 
  Commander."
  
  "Well maybe the Colonel deserves an Academy Award.  Plus let's not 
forget the third woman" 
Mitch spoke up. "Ms. Claypool. Who we'll hopefully get to talk to 
tomorrow. After we visit the 
crime scene in the morning."
  
  "Sounds good" Harm nodded. "Mac and I will meet you back here first 
thing in 
  the morning."
  
  A short time later Harm and Mac were on their way back to JAG.
  
  "You up for dinner?" he asked as he pulled into the lot so she could 
pick up 
  her car.
  
  "Sure. We can bounce suspects off each other."
  
  "I was thinking we'd leave the case talk for tomorrow" he smiled. 
"Maybe 
  have a little predate before Saturday's real date."
  
  "You feeling okay?" she laughed as she reached over and touched his 
forehead 
  with the back of her hand. "Cause you're acting pretty strange 
today."
  
  "Real funny. And I'm serious. A little down time before we get into 
this 
  again tomorrow."
  
  "Sure. You want to follow me back to my place. There's a neat little 
Italian 
  place that just opened down the street. We can go there."
  
  "Sounds great. I'll be right behind you."
  
  After making their way through the evening traffic, they finally 
reached the 
  restaurant.
  
  "Okay there's no way we can't talk about the case," she said once the 
  waitress had taken their order. "Tell me your thoughts so far."
  
  "I think there may have been some kind of love triangle going on," 
Harm said 
  slowly. "And I'm not totally sure Commander Billings can be trusted 
either."
  
  "I need to talk this woman. Obviously she struck something in you and 
  Elizabeth."
  
  "Course I'm not sure the Colonel is being straight up either. And I 
wonder 
  about those two boys of hers."
  
  "Going back to figuring out how a woman would have gotten the Captain 
all 
  the way back in the woods like that."
  
  "Bingo" he nodded. "She could have had help from her sons."
  
  "Well then we'd have to believe Commander Billings when she said the 
Captain 
  broke it off. And that the Colonel was upset by that."
  
  "I think I'm getting a headache here" he groaned.
  
 "Well take two aspirin and keep on marching," she laughed.  "And I 
haven't ruled out murder 
for hire.  What if Mary Billings finally made her move and Martens 
rejected her flat out.  Ten 
years of loyalty and love in the toilet.  Women have killed for less."
 
 "OK I hear you.  Now what about one or both of the Wallings's or 
Harrison's whatever the hell 
the boys call themselves," he proposed.  "Either on their own or at 
their mother's instigation."
 
 "What about Mr. Harrison?"
 
 "What about Admiral Chegwidden?"  This from Harm with such a serious 
tone that for a half a 
second she was speechless.
 
 "You're a laugh a minute there Flyboy.  What's your gut telling you?  
One of the people in our 
sights or someone we haven't come across yet?"
 
 "Not sure," he frowned.  "I wonder what Elizabeth thinks."
 
 She cocked her head and narrowed her eyes as she was considering those 
words.  "You uh. . 
.you think she might have some insight that I don't?" 
 
 "Oh no it's not that.  It's. . .well actually I'm not sure what it is.  
Have you ever met someone 
and felt some kind of instant connection with them?"  His voice was 
distant as he spoke, and 
suddenly to her he did seem far away.
 
 "Actually yeah I did.  Once.  It was an unusually warm day in January 
of 1997 and I was being 
introduced to someone.  And we did connect.  Instantly."
 
 "Yeah?  Who was that?"
 
 She paused, waiting for him to think, and when he did not get an 
immediate answer his eyes 
narrowed.  "So who was this lothario?"
 
 "You Moron," she finally giggled, reaching for his hand and adding, 
"soon as our hands 
touched.  I felt it.  If you didn't. . .well maybe because your mind 
was elsewhere.  On Diane."
 
 "Guilty," he admitted after a moment, "but as deep in shock as I was, 
with the memories of 
seeing her dead rolling through me, I did in fact feel you and me begin 
to establish contact.  On 
the other hand, when you saved my sorry six over the desert, I think 
that's more when it hit me.  
Our hands where joined tight and you looked at me and I looked back. . 
.but this thing with 
Elizabeth is different."
 
 She gave a long sigh of frustration, forcing any jealous thoughts 
away.  "How so?"
 
 "I don't know."
 
 "Harm if you're attracted to the woman, just admit it," she said in 
exasperation.  "How hard can 
that be anyway."
 
 "Impossible because that's not what it is," he groused.  "I mean with 
you, it was that but it was 
much more than that.  We've always had a deep abiding connection 
regardless of even when 
we were seeing other people.  Just some times it was more buried than 
others that's all."  He 
shook his head and took a long drink.  "Never mind.  She's not someone 
I'm going to see again 
after this case and in fact enough case talk before I make both of us 
crazy.  The answer is 
there--it's just going to take a little digging."  
 
 "Amen. Now let's enjoy dinner."
 
 "Sorry. I've been babbling a lot tonight haven't I?"
 
 "I'm used to it" Mac smiled. "But we're not going to solve the case 
tonight 
 so there's no point discussing it now. Hopefully tomorrow we'll get a 
few 
 more clues when we go to the murder site."
 
 "You know you don't have to go there."
 
 "Harm it's not like the bodies going to be there" she smiled. "But 
thank you 
 for caring. And I'll be fine."
 
 "You better be. We have a date for Saturday night."
 
 "Ah yes our first date" she laughed. "Where we don't talk about JAG or 
 anything else case related. Unlike tonight which is really just 
another 
 business dinner."
 
 "I see the difference now" he smiled.
 
 After dinner he followed her to her car and helped her in.
 
 "I'll pick you up in the morning" he offered. "No sense in both of us 
 driving down there."
 
 "Sounds good. Thanks for dinner."
 
 "Night Mac" he smiled. "Drive safely."
 
 "I'm just going around the block" she laughed. "You're the one going 
across 
 town. You drive safely."
 
 "I will. See you in the morning."
 
**************
FT BELVOIR
 7:00 AM EST
 
 "You guys are bright and early this morning" Elizabeth said as Harm 
and Mac 
 made their way into her office.
 
 "We've got a lot of ground to cover" Harm smiled. "Where's Hawkeye?"
 
 "He's on his way" Elizabeth smiled. "He lives south of here and I 
guess 
 there was some tie up on the highway. At least that's what I heard on 
the 
 radio. Can I get you some coffee while you're waiting?"
 
 "Please" Mac smiled. "The Flyboy was up bright and early this morning 
 pounding on my door so I didn't have time for my normal cup before 
work."
 
 "Harm what about you?" Elizabeth asked.
 
 "I'd love one thank you."
 
 She'd just returned with their coffee when her phone rang.
 
 "Colonel Reith."
 
 "Hey it's me. I just wanted to call you and let you know I'm going to 
be a 
 little late."
 
 "You're stuck in the tie up I'm guessing?"
 
 "Actually I'm part of the tie up on the highway" Mitch sighed. 
"Everything came to a 
 grinding halt for the accident ahead of us and the idiot behind me was 
too 
 busy drinking coffee to pay attention and ran into the back of me."
 
 "How bad are you hurt?" Elizabeth demanded, running a hand through her 
hair as she coped 
with the news. "Are you going to the hospital?"
 
 Harm and Mac both looked up at her words and Elizabeth turned her back 
to 
 them as she felt the tears threaten.
 
 "Liz I'm fine. The seatbelt and airbag did their job thankfully. But 
the 
 police want me to go and get looked over just in case so I'm going to 
humor 
 them and let them take me."
 
 "You sure you're okay?" she whispered. "You're not just telling me 
that?"
 
 "Honest I'm fine. I'm sure I'll be feeling it later but really it's 
just 
 bumps and bruises."
 
 "Thank God" she sighed. "You could have been killed."
 
 "Well thankfully the guy hit the brakes at the last second or it would 
have 
 been worse. But the car's history for a while so I'm going to be 
bumming 
 rides from you until I can get a loaner."
 
 "All that matters is you're okay," Elizabeth said softly. "I'm going 
to come 
 and pick you up at the hospital. They're taking you to DeWitt right?"
 
 "Yeah. I'm sorry to mess up the morning. Are Harm and Mac there?"
 
 "They're here. And I'm not worried about the case right now. Making 
sure 
 you're okay is more important."
 
 "I'm okay. But they want me to go so I'll talk to you later. Please be 
 careful driving. No one knows how to drive today."
 
 "I will. I'll see you soon." She hung and after a deep breath turned 
to Harm 
 and Mac. "I'm sorry. That was Mitch. He was in an accident this 
morning and 
 they're taking him to the hospital and I need to pick him up."
 
 "How bad was he hurt?" Mac asked.
 
 "He says he's okay" Elizabeth said with another deep breath. "Course 
I'll 
 believe that when I see it."
 
 "Would you like us to take you to the hospital?" Harm asked. "You seem 
a 
 little shook up and I'm not sure you driving alone is a good idea."

"No thanks.  I'm fine," she said, her voice belying her words and Harm 
fixed a gentle stare on 
her, watching her closely, an action Mac did not miss.

"Elizabeth let us help here.   I seriously don't think it's a good idea 
for you to be driving.  You've 
just found out someone you care about was in an accident," he urged.  
"Mac back me up 
here."

"Of course," Mac spoke up, shaking off her concern.  "We'll run you 
over there and you can 
stay with him while we check o the crime scene.  Then if there's 
anything there that warrants 
all of us seeing it, you can play catch up, but I know if it was me and 
Harm was hurt, I'd be no 
good to anyone until I saw he was OK."

"You wouldn't?" Harm asked, cocking his head questioningly.

"No of course I wouldn't be.  I do happen to have some interest in your 
being alive and well 
Commander."

Elizabeth smiled and shook her head.  "Men are so clueless at times.  
Please yeah we could 
go check on him?"  
=================
DeWITT ARMY MED CTR

The young Corporal behind the desk looked up nervously at the three 
officers looming over 
him.  "May I help you?"

"We're looking for Lt. Col. Summers," Harm said firmly, leaning forward 
to just slightly get into 
the young man's face, letting them know they would not be put off.  
"Mitchell Summers."

"Yes sir."  The young man swallowed and typed.  "OK yes sir, he was 
admitted for 
observation."

"What the hell does that mean," Elizabeth screeched, putting her hand 
to her mouth when she 
realized she was being loud.

"Ma'am that's all I have.  But there's no visitor restriction on him.  
Go on up.  Fourth floor, make 
a left as soon as you get off the elevator and he'll be in there."

"Thank you Corporal.  Put yourself down for a silver star," Harm 
smiled, taking the arms of 
both women.

Elizabeth trembled slightly as they approached Mitch's room and Harm 
gave her arm a little 
shake.  "He's going to be fine.  I think you're. . ."

"I know I'm over-reacting.  I just. . .never mind.  If he's ever really  
hurt I'll just flat out lose it I 
guess.  Mac you understand don't you."

"Of course.  Go on in and see him.  Harm and I will give you a few 
minutes."

As soon as she got through the door, Harm and Mac could hear Mitch's 
amused voice.  "I told 
you I was fine.  Not that I'm not glad to see you.   They're making me 
stay a few hours because 
I sort of. . .well when I got out of the car I kind of passed out."
 
"You're kidding.  My god are you OK now?  What did the doctor say?"  
Elizabeth's words 
poured out in her concern and she reached for his hand, trying to keep 
her tears at bay.

"Come on Flyboy, let's give them a little space," Mac urged, tugging 
his arm, and smiling 
inwardly as he could witness first hand where Elizabeth's true concern 
lie.
  
 He nodded and allowed her to lead him away from the room.
 
 "The doctor said I'm fine" Mitch said as he squeezed Elizabeth's hand. 
"But 
 you're not going to be if you have a stroke worrying about me."
 
 "If you're fine why are they keeping you?" she wailed as she sank in 
to the 
 chair next to his bed.
 
 "Because they want to make sure I didn't scramble too much of my brain 
I 
 guess" he smiled.
 
 "Mitch" she groaned. "I'm having a stroke and you're making jokes 
about 
 this."
 
 "Sorry. But Im going to be fine. If you dont believe me, you can ask 
the 
 doctor."
 
 "I will as soon as I find him. But in the meantime, I'm content with 
just 
 sit here and make sure you really are all right. When they said you'd 
been 
 admitted, I about lost it."
 
 "You didn't drive over here alone did you?" he frowned.
 
 "No Harm and Mac brought me over. Harm knew I was too upset to drive."
 
 "Remind me to thank him for looking out for you. And I'm sorry for 
scaring 
 you like this."
 
 "It's not your fault. I'm just glad you weren't hurt any worse. My God 
 Mitch, if he hadn't hit his brakes you could have been seriously hurt 
or 
 even killed." A trail of tears slid down her face and he gently wiped 
them 
 away.
 
 "Would you have missed me?"
 
 "More than you know" Elizabeth whispered.
 
 "Then why do you keep running from me" he asked softly. "Why do you 
fight 
 what you know is right?"
 
 "I don't know" she sniffled. "I just don't want to ruin what we have. 
What 
 if it doesn't work?"
 
 "Can't we just take that risk and see?" he asked. "I won't hurt you 
 Elizabeth Reith.  That I promise."
 
 ***************
 "Okay I'm thinking more about the murder for hire option" Mac panted 
as she 
 and Harm made their way to the crime scene. "There is no way either of 
those 
 women got him out here alone."
 
 "This is it" Harm said as he stopped, the yellow tape still marking 
the 
 scene deep in the woods. "And you're right. This was at least a two 
person 
 job."
 
 "Or three" Mac countered. "Colonel Wallings and her two sons."
 
 "Mom gets him to the base, they're waiting and they drop him out here 
after 
 they knife him. Course didn't she say her one son was injured."
 
 "He still could have helped. But they're moving to the top of my list 
after 
 looking at this."
 
 "And they'd be familiar with the area" Mac added. "Where Commander 
Billlings 
 has likely never been on this base before."
 
 "Bingo. Course we could still have murder for hire. Someone wanted him 
out 
 of the way and they arranged for this to make it look like the Colonel 
was 
 involved."
 
 "Someone who knew he was involved with the Colonel?"
 
 "Commander Billings" Harm smiled. "And she made it pretty clear she 
didn't 
 like the Colonel."
 
 "Harm this gets us nowhere then" Mac groaned. "We still have them both 
as 
 suspects but nothing that directly links either of them."
 
 "I think it's time to start seeing where everyone was the night 
Captain 
 Martens was killed. But let's take a look around here first and see if 
 there's anything that might give us a clue."
 
 She nodded and they spread out over the crime scene, looking for 
anything 
 that might help determine who'd killed Marshall Martens.
 
 "Harm I think I've found something" she said a short time later and he 
 hurried over to her.
 
 "What is it?" he asked as he peered over her shoulder.
 
 "It looks like the heel of a woman's dress shoe" Mac said as she 
carefully 
 lifted it by the tip. "It must have broken off."
 
 "So all we have to do is find out who's missing a heel on their dress 
shoe" 
 Harm smiled. "Should be easy enough?"
 
 "Except that whoever did this likely threw out the shoes once she 
realized 
 it was missing."
 
 "True. But we can still check while we're finding out where they were 
that 
 night. Besides that's a rather tall heel isn't it?"
 
 "Yeah it is. Taller than I wear. And that might just help us find out 
who 
 this belongs to."

Harm gave her an admiring look for her powers of reasoning.  "We should 
check out Ms. 
Claypool and get a feel for her.  Now Cdr. Billings, would she wear a 
heel like that at work?"

"I wouldn't think any woman who worked at the Pentagon would wear 
anything more than the 
2-inch heels I do," she frowned.  "Good grief just to go the bathroom 
is a hike.  On the other 
hand, on a date, yeah."

"How about a date that was really an attempted seduction," Harm mused.  
"Taking us back to 
Billings of course."

"You like her?"

"Excuse me?  She's hardly my type.  I tend to gravitate toward dark 
haired Marines with big 
chocolate brown eyes."

"Since when?"  Her breath hitched as she spoke and she dared not look 
at him, feeling 
amazement as she always did when he would veer toward the personal.

"Since a long time ago and we're getting off track," he grinned.  "I 
knew you meant did I like 
her as a suspect anyway.  Yeah right now I could make a case for the 
Commander."

"Based on?"

He shook his head.  "Nothing I'd want to prosecute based on.  Not 
without looking like twelve 
kinds of fool, but just a gut feeling you know?   I mean how would you 
like to be a personal 
assistant for ten years and probably after a while be making dinner and 
hotel reservations and 
travel arrangements for your boss's sexual romps."

"I love it when you talk dirty," she grinned, soberly quickly.  "She 
still needed help getting the 
body back here.  And if she had help, why did she come herself?"

"Because she doesn't trust anyone to do anything unless she's 
overseeing it personally.  A 
control freak," he offered.  "But I'm still willing to be open minded 
on Claypool.  Maybe she 
found out Martens didn't break quite as cleanly with Wallings as he 
claimed.  The guy wouldn't 
be the first to have two women.  Some men are into nooners you know."

"Are we speaking subjectively there Commander?"

"Give it a rest will you.  Let's head back."

TO BE CONTINUED 
With Chapter 2 on Wed. Feb. 5