Undercover - Chapter 12

from chapter 11

Harm keeps taking notes.

Harm – Thank you Chief Petty Officer Mattews. You may go.

CPO Mattews – Aye Aye Sir.

He stands up at attention and leaves the room. Harm finishes writing on his pad, looking worried.

*******************

Chapter 12

2126 local

Thursday

Harm's appartment

Jamie is sitting down on the open couch, ready for the night. She's reading, with some soft music playing in the background. Harm opens the door. Jamie doesn't look up but greets him.

Jamie – Good evening, Harm

Harm – Good evening Jamie.

Jingo sits up and greets Harm with some nose bops. Jamie puts her book down.

Jamie – So, what news ?

Harm – Nothing. Nobody saw or heard anything. Like everything disappeard into thin air. But I know how the load got off the base.

Jamie – Really ?

Harm – There were some helo parachuting exercises the night after. But of course, nobody saw or heard anything either.

Jamie – That's a good start. It's the first real clue we have.

Harm – I have something else. Nothing concrete, but it's interesting. In three of the missing items cases, lieutenants from the same promotion were on duty the night it happened. I only have this coincidence, but it probably isn't one.

Jamie – It's a good lead.

A moment of silence.

Harm – Listen, Jamie... about what happened the other day... I'm really sorry about what I said.

Jamie – No, I'm sorry I reacted that way. I just had a call from Moore. It seems our bosses are getting antsy. They want to close this case as soon as possible. And I get that.

Harm – Me too. Okay, enough for tonight. I'm turning in too. Good night Jamie.

Jamie -Good night Harm.

*******************

1634 local

Monday

JAG HQ – Harm's office

Harm is bent over his files. Suddenly, his expression jumps from bored to intrigued. He flips through pages rapidly, checks his computer, looking more and more excited. Then he jumps up and goes to Jamie's office, closing the door behind him.

Harm – Jamie, I think I got it !

Jamie – What ? How ?

Harm – I know who their leader is !

Jamie looks shaken.

Jamie – Really ? Tell me !

Harm – You remember the detail that intrigued me, about the lieutenants from the same class who were on duty on the nights the thefts were commited ?

Jamie – Yeah. How does it all fit together ?

Harm – It's the key. I noticed every time there was a theft, a Navy officer was involved. But it was weird. Every offcier was from a different unit. No match in age, rank, there were Navy, Marines, SEALs. All over the place. It started to clear with the three lieutenants. In annapolis, they were under the command of one man : Commander Barry J. Melbourne. Every officer involved in the thefts have been in contact with Melbourne at one time or another. Two years ago, Melbourne quit the Navy for personnal reasons. Since then, no news. But the thefts started soon after.

Jamie – It was under our noses from the start and we didn't see a thing. Great job !

Harm – We're only missing the name of his civilian contact.

Jamie – You think he sells the equipment and secrets he's stealing ?

Harm – I don't know. If it was the case, there would have been trouble, attacks. But we got nothing. I'm thinking he uses all that himself. With civilian help, like you thought. To close up the case, we have to find who's his number two.

Jamie – You still think he's not acting alone ?

Harm – No, I don't think so. He looks like a man who's used to following orders then to give them. I think he takes care of the logistics, recuperating all the stolen items. And somebody else is giving the orders. The civilian. And my gut says he's very high up the food chain. Moore and Sean will be happy !

Jamie – With the Director of the FBI and SECNAV. You're a gifted investigator. If you're looking for a job the day you leave the Navy, the FBI will welcome you with open arms !

Harm – Thanks, but I hate polyester suits.

Jamie – And someone's keeping you here as well.

Harm – Yeah.

A moment of silence.

Harm – I'll put everything in order, start my report.

Jamie – I'll look back on what I have with what you just told me. You did an impressive job, really !

Harm – Thank you. I'll see you tonight for dinner ?

Jamie – Sure.

Harm leaves her office. Jamies goes up, closes the door behing Harm she goes back to her desk, sits back down slowly. She looks desperate.

*******************

1906 local

Monday

Harm's appartment

Harm is under the shower, Jamie is fixing dinner, a dish of carbonara pasta. She gets a bottle of white wine, takes two glasses from the cupboard, serves the wine. She looks at the closed door, sighs and takes a pill out of her pocket. She puts it in Harm's glass where it disolves.

Few minutes later, Harm arrives in the kitchen. Table is set, pasta smoking, wine chilled.

Harm – Well, that smells good. What are we celebrating ?

Jamie – Your findings. And what we're going to find next.

Harm – Maybe you'll be the one to find who we're looking for.

Jamie – In that case you'll be cooking dinner.

She takes both glasses and gives one to Harm with a smile.

Jamie – To you.

Harm – To the both of us. You showed me the way.

Jamie – Okay, to the both of us.

They drink, then sit down and eat. After a while, Harm starts to feel tired.

Harm – I don't know what's with me tonight, I'm beat.

Jamie – Don't count on me to put you to bed. I won't be able to carry you !

Harm – I don't think I there yet. But I will go to bed early.

Few minutes later, after dessert, Harm can't keep his eyes open.

Jamie – Harm, you're asleep on your feet. Why don't you go to bed, I can clear the table by myself.

Harm – No fair, you cooked already.

Jamie – All right, I'll put the dishes in the sink, and you can wash them tomorrow.

Harm – Okay. Good night Jamie.

Jamie -Good night Harm.

Wobling on his knees, Harm goes to his room, falls on to his bed and straight asleep. Once he starts snoring, Jamie goes to check on him and verifies he is fast asleep.

Jamie – Sorry, Harm, there's no other way.

She leaves the apartment.

*******************

2304 local

Monday

JAG HQ

A shadow slides into the deserted office. Without a sound, without light, it opens Harm's office door, start by collecting the micros hidden here and there and rumages through the folders . It takes one specific folder, goes into the bullpen and approaches the shredder. It starts putting pages in to be destroyed. It looks at its watch and appears nervous.

Busy with its work of destruction it doesn't hear the elevator until it's too late. No time to hide. Someone exits the elevator and turns the light on. Mac and Jamie are facing each other. Jamie is the fastest. She pulls a pistol out of her belt and points it on Mac.

Jamie – What are you doing here ?

Mac – I should be asking that question. You have no reason to be here in the middle of the night, in civilian clothes. And what are you doing with those files ?

Jamie – You're too curious, Mac. Curiosity killed the cat. For the moment, I have the gun, so I'm asking the questions. What are you doing here at this hour ?

Mac – I just came back from Aurora, I'm here to drop my files.

Jamie – You should have come tomorrow, Colonel.

Mac – And miss you ? Does Harm knows you're here.

Jamie – Harm is sleeping like a baby. And you won't be waking him up.

Mac – What have you done with him ? Why can't I wake him up ?

Jamie – There's a gun pointed at you at the moment. I hope you don't want to test my markmanship, you'd lose. Now sit down and puts these cuffs on.

Jamie throws a pair of handcuffs at Mac. Who has no choice but to do as Jamie says.

Jamie – I suggest you don't make any sudden move.

Mac – You're going to tell me what is happening ?

Jamie – No. It's classified.

Mac – Don't make me laugh.

Jamie – And still.

Jamie is back near the shredder and keeps destroying evidence. Mac wriggles to try and free her hands.

Jamie – Mac, do you really want me to shoot you and let Harm find your body tomorrow ?

Mac stops moving. She looks around her, looking for a way to distract Jamie.

Mac – So all this living together was a charade ? You used him with no regards for his feelings. FBI agents have no right to use people like that !

Jamie isn't talking and that infuriates Mac. She treis to calm down. Jamie is well trained, and very dispassionate. Mac knows she could kill her.

After she finished shredding all the documents, Jamie goes to the copier, pulls the toner out and pours the ink on the little bits of paper. Once this is done, she finds some glue in a drawer and pours over the mess she did, rendering all paper bits unusable. Then she turns to Mac.

Jamie – I'm done. But what am I going to do with you now ? I imagine the sailor at the entrance saw you come in. Well, a Marine Lieutenant Colonel entered, a Marine Lieutenant Colonel is getting out. How lucky are you ?

Jamie approaches the chair where Mac is sitting. She throws the keys to Mac.

Jamie - Uncuff yourself and strip.

Mac – No way !

Jamie – Mac, you're not being reasonable. I'd hate to put a hole in your uniform, and make some blood stains, but if I don't have a choice...

Mac resigns herself and does as Jamie ordered. She takes off her jacket, blouse and skirt.

Jamie – Good girl. Harm will find you undamaged. Back on the chair, cuffs again and throw me the key.

Mac obeys looking furious.

Jamie – Bravo Colonel. And now, good night to you too.

She comes close to Mac and hits her on the head with her pistol. Mac passes out. Quickly, Jamie puts on Mac's uniform, hiding her braid under the shirt. She looks around one last time, verifies if she hasn't forgotten anything, goes to the elevator and turns the lights out.

*******************

2348 local

Monday

JAG HQ parking lot

Jamie sists down in Mac's car and passes through the gate without trouble. The car vanishes into the night