Undercover - Chapter 9

from chapter 8

Jamie - So, does that taste horrible?

Mac - Jingo seemed to enjoy it!

Harm - It's better than I thought.

Jamie - So, enjoy!

They eat. Harm often looks at Mac, Mac's eyes don't leave Harm's and Jamie watchs them both.

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Chapter 9

1143 local

Wednesday

JAG Headquarters

Falls Church, Virginia

Harm is pensivly sitting at his desk. Jamie drops by, a file in her hand.

Jamie - Working hard, I see!

Harm - I was thinking of Mac.

Jamie - Harm... It's the only thing you do!

Harm - Usually, we go together on the investigations. JAG is empty without her.

Jamie, sighing - It's not a reason. Come on, back to work, partner! The admiral just gave me that.

Harm - Show me?

Jamie - It happened three days ago. Ammunition disappear from Indian Head NSWC in Maryland. We have to go there to make some investigation.

Harm - And what about Jingo?

Jamie - Oh sh...!! And when must Mac come back?

Harm - I don't know!

Jamie takes the phone and dials.

Harm - Who are you calling?

Jamie - Mac. (to the phone) Hello, Mac! Jamie. Can you tell me when you're coming back?... Hum... yeah... hum... I understand... Okay, good bye, Mac.

Jamie puts the phone down slowly.

Jamie - She won't be there untill next week. Her client is being court marshalled.

Harm - So, what do we do?

Jamie - Only one of us will go there. Heads or tails?

Harm - You'd better go. You're on the case since the beginning.

Jamie - And you know better than me to do direct investigations. Don't forget I've always been in the office. You know the case almost as well as I do. And don't forget men will more easily confide in a man, and women, well, your patented grin makes them fall. So we're even.

Jamie throws the coin.

Harm, grinning - And does my grin makes you fall too?

Jamie catches the coin.

Jamie - I was trained to resist to evil given grins. Heads or tails?

Harm – Tails.

Jamie, looking at the coin - Tails, you go! Good luck, Harm!

Harm - I hope it wasn't a fixed coin.

Jamie - Would you be accusing me of lying?

Harm - With you, who knows where the truth is?

Jamie's face closes.

Jamie - There is something you're very gifted for, Commander, it's hurting your friends. You talk without thinking, and you're making excuses. And you think you'll be forgiven because you were not really thinking what you said, don't you? Well, it doesn't work that way with me! Next time, you think carefully before you speak, Commander, so you will avoid trouble!

Harm - Jamie, I'm so...

Jamie - What did I just say! Go make this f... investigation, I'll see you when you come back.

Jamie runs out of Harm's office and bangs the door after her. Harm stays stunned, not knowing what to do. After a while, he takes his briefcase, throws some files in it and heads to the admiral's office.

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Once in her office, Jamie closes the door and leans on it. She's about to cry, and breathes hardly. She tries to catch her breath and closes her eyes. Then she murmurs.

Jamie - It shouldn't be so hard to hear the truth...

A lonely tear escapes and rolls on her cheek.

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