'People vs. Chegwidden' - Conclusion
Author: Daenar
Disclaimer: See Part One
Thu, March 4th
1621 ZULU
Courtroom
JAG Headquarters
Falls Church, VA
"Would the prosecution call their first witness, please."
Krennick rose again. "Prosecution calls Petty Officer Third Class Daniel Walden to the stand."
The heavy oak doors opened and Danny Walden entered the room. He made a beeline for the witness stand, pointedly not looking at the admiral or his defense counsels.
Krennick smiled encouragingly as she approached him. "Please raise your hand. P.O. Walden, do you swear to tell the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth so help you God?"
"I swear."
"Please, take a seat. Would you state your name and current position for the record?"
"Petty Officer Third Class Daniel Walden, ma'am, currently stationed aboard the USS Coral Sea."
Krennick made sure she stood at a convenient angle for the nearby camera when she let her expression turn compassionate. She had witnessed in a barely contained fury how Mac had wrapped the entire public around her finger before, and although Allison somehow knew that her rather cold blue eyes could never stand a chance against those sensual brown pools of Mac's, she was nevertheless determined to make her own abilities in handling the public match Mac's. "Petty Officer, first of all let me say that we are all infinitely sorry for the great loss you suffered with your mother's death."
Danny nodded grimly. "Thank you, ma'am."
"Please, Mr. Walden, tell us: were you at home the afternoon of February 14th?"
"I was on leave and just about to return to my mother's house, ma'am."
"What happened upon your arrival?"
Danny swallowed. "When I arrived, ma'am, I wondered why the door was slightly ajar. I entered the house and saw my mother dying in the entrance hall."
"Was there anyone with her?" Krennick ventured cautiously.
"Yes, ma'am." Danny indicated the admiral with his right hand. "Him."
"For the record: witness points to the accused," Krennick stated. "Can you describe the situation, Petty Officer?"
"She... she was lying in her blood, ma'am, and the admiral was covered all over with it. He held her head on his lap. The knife had been tossed away. When I entered, Admiral Chegwidden looked up and met my glance."
"What did his expression look like, Mr. Walden? Did he show signs of guilt or a bad conscience?"
"Objection!" Mac sprung to her feet. "Calls for speculation."
Judge Helfman raised an eyebrow at Krennick. "Sustained."
"I'm sorry, your honor. I'll rephrase." Krennick mentally kicked herself. "Petty Officer: Can you describe the look on the admiral's face?"
"Objection!" Mac called again. "Relevance?"
Helfman frowned. "I'll allow it. Answer the question, Petty Officer."
Danny nodded. "Yes, your honor. He looked haunted and guilty."
Krennick's thin, icy smile was up again. "Was there anyone else present at the time, or did you notice anything that could have caused your mother's death?"
Danny firmly met her glance. "No, ma'am."
Krennick feigned a thoughtful expression. "Tell me, Mr. Walden, on what terms were the accused and your mother by the time of her death?"
"Objection! Hearsay," Mac probed, knowing that this would probably be overruled.
Krennick spoke up at once. "Your honor, Mr. Walden is the victim's only son. He is very likely to know about his mother's private life."
Mac nevertheless contradicted. "Your honor, by the time the crime occurred, Mr. Walden had been living on an aircraft carrier for several months without home leave."
Helfman considered Mac's point, but then decided against it. "Overruled, I'll allow it. But please, Captain, don't drag this out too much."
"No, your honor," Krennick replied, content. "What was the relationship between the admiral and your mother, Petty Officer?" she asked again.
Danny frowned, seeming disgusted. "They used to date a few years ago, but the admiral took too much interest in things that were none of his business, and my mother eventually ended the relationship. They haven't been on friendly terms since then. And the admiral used to snoop around about me. My mother told him to keep his nose out of our business and he was angry about it."
Krennick decided to push it further. "Do you think that Admiral Chegwidden's grudge against your mother might have caused him to eventually kill her?"
"Objection!" Mac called.
"Withdrawn. No further questions." Krennick nonchalantly turned to Mac. "Your witness."
As the captain took her place, Mac rose. "Petty Officer Walden: you said that the admiral took interest in things that were none of his business. Isn't it so that those 'things' were the admiral's car that he had lent to you and that was found with a considerable amount of Marihuana in it? And that you were convicted for drug dealing?"
"Objection, relevance?" Krennick tried.
"I'm trying to prove that the admiral actually did take interest in things that concerned him, entitling him to inquire. That will clear the defendant of the reproach of being overly curious."
"I'll allow it. Objection overruled. Petty Officer, please answer."
Danny glared at Mac. "Yes to both, ma'am," he drawled.
Mac inwardly sighed with relief and went on pointedly. "Petty Officer, did you see the admiral stab your mother with said knife?"
"No, ma'am, I did not," Danny answered reluctantly.
"Do you know who inflicted the stab wounds on your mother?"
"I... think so, ma'am."
"But you cannot be sure of it because you didn't see it?"
"Objection!" Krennick called. "Defense is leading the witness."
"Your honor," Mac cut in, "The witness already testified that he didn't see the admiral do it and that he didn't notice anyone else near the crime scene."
Helfman nodded. "Objection overruled, Captain. Please, answer the question, Mr. Walden."
"So, you can't be sure who did it?" Mac asked again.
Danny angrily frowned. "No, ma'am."
"No further questions." Mac turned and, with a completely neutral expression on her face, went to sit down at AJ's side again.
Helfman looked at Krennick. "Does the prosecution wish to redirect?"
"No, your honor."
"Thank you, Mr. Walden, you may step down."
Danny did as he was told, this time shooting a glare in Mac's direction as he was led outside.
"Prosecution calls Special Agent Colin Spearman." Krennick announced.
Agent Spearman showed clear signs of uneasiness as he walked in front and was sworn in. Frowning, he took the stand.
"Please state your name and current position for the record, Agent."
"Special Agent Colin Spearman, Federal Bureau of Investigation."
"Agent Spearman," Krennick tried a smile as she approached him, only to note with dismay that it didn't seem to produce any effect on the witness. "What is your connection with this case?"
"I was in charge of the investigation until the JAG Corps took over, ma'am."
"Could you explain to us what evidence you were able to find in Doctor Walden's house?"
"As Mr. Walden already mentioned," Spearman's voice was warily neutral, "The victim lost a huge amount of blood, that was clearly visible on the carpet in the entrance hall. We found a butcher's knife approximately a yard away from the body."
Krennick cut in. "Just a moment please," she went over to her desk, took a plastic bag and returned, showing the bag to Judge Helfman. "Your honor, prosecution exhibit A. Agent Spearman, is this the knife you found near Doctor Walden's body?"
Spearman leaned slightly forward and studied the exhibit. "Yes, ma'am, that's it."
"Did you have it checked for fingerprints?"
"Yes, we did."
"What did you find?"
"Only one person's fingerprints were found on the knife besides Doctor Walden's, ma'am, Admiral Chegwidden's."
"Did you check anything else for fingerprints, Agent?"
"Yes, we did. As the door wasn't forced, we checked the doorbell and handle twice after the standard sweep had been done. Again there were no other fingerprints besides those of Sydney Walden and Admiral Chegwidden on them."
"Did you notice anything else in the house that you considered of importance to the case?" Krennick's self-confidence showed clearly now. Mac tried to will away the growing uneasiness that was invading her stomach.
Spearman shook his head. "No, ma'am. We saw no signs of a fight and found no other traces. Oh, but yes, two details, actually. First: footprints around the blood stains in the entrance hall. They matched Admiral Chegwidden's Valleverde shoes. And second: Doctor Walden must have been attacked near the living-room door and then gotten halfway through the entrance hall, already wounded, before she fell to the ground, by what the blood traces indicate."
Krennick turned to Mac, not even bothering to hide her gloat. "Your witness, Colonel." The TV director subconsciously rubbed her hands. Real life soap dish. She loved it.
Mac rose. "Thank you, ma'am," she said amiably, being all politeness. AJ tried hard to stifle his grin that threatened to break through despite the evidence given against him.
"Agent Spearman," Mac leisurely approached the FBI agent, "Can you be absolutely certain that there were no other traces in the house?"
"Next to certain, ma'am."
"But not entirely certain?"
"No, ma'am. At times we may miss something."
"Thank you, no further questions." Mac sat down again.
"Does the prosecution wish to redirect?" Helfman asked.
"No, your honor."
"Thank you, Agent Spearman, you may step down," Judge Helfman released him.
"Prosecution calls Doctor Beverly Hancock to the stand."
Again the oak doors opened and an elegant middle-aged woman entered the room. Having been sworn in, she took the stand.
"Please state your name and current position for the record."
"Beverly Hancock, MD, coroner with the DCPD." Fred involuntarily raised his eyebrows. 'She looks more like one of those Mary-Kay women to me.'
Krennick approached her. "Doctor Hancock, you did the autopsy on Doctor Walden's body, is that correct?"
"That is correct." Hancock's voice was warm and velvety, making it seem even stranger that she would be around corpses all day for a living.
"What did Sydney Walden die from, Doctor?" Krennick asked.
"She died from multiple stab wounds to her abdomen and chest that perforated several inner organs, specifically the stomach, liver and lungs."
Mac felt Chegwidden wince next to her. Under the table she put a soothing hand on her CO's thigh, not for a single moment thinking about the impropriety of the gesture. After a few seconds, AJ seemed to relax.
Krennick took the knife in the plastic bag and showed it to Hancock. "Could this be the knife that caused the wounds?"
"Objection!" Mac shouted. "Speculative."
"Your honor," Krennick countered, "Witness is an expert in forensic pathology. She is able to tell us if the knife's form and blade fit the wounds found on Doctor Walden's body."
"Overruled. Answer the question, please."
"Yes, a knife of the type very probably caused the lethal wounds," the coroner stated calmly.
"Were there other things to be noticed about the body, such as signs of a fight or something, drug remnants in her blood?"
"No, none that I could recall."
"No further questions, your honor."
Helfman looked at Mac. "Colonel Rabb?"
"No, your honor."
"Thank you, Doctor Hancock, you may step down. Does prosecution intend to call any more witnesses?"
"No, your honor."
Helfman inwardly sighed. She hated this case. "Court is in recess until 1400 when defense may call their witnesses." The gavel fell and immediately the noise level rose considerably, as people were streaming out of the room, eagerly discussing the events.
Chegwidden turned to Mac. "You did well, Colonel."
Mac gave him a strained smile. "Not as well as I should have, I fear. I couldn't find anything to disarm the last witness."
Fred cleared his throat, looking at the admiral. "If I may, sir?"
AJ nodded.
"There was nothing you could have done about it, ma'am. I'd say we let it rest and go out and get some lunch. What do you say?"
Mac looked at the admiral, unsure.
AJ smiled. "You need to be fed, Colonel, before you let loose that firework of yours that I've been looking forward to ever since I heard your opening argument. So, go and grab a bite, you two. I'll be taken good care of." With a wry smile, he motioned for the guards who approached to lead him outside.
Mac sighed and tried a smile, frowning slightly as, through the opening doors, she became aware of the herd of reporters that were lingering in front of the courtroom, waiting for their statement. "Okay, Fred, let's enter the lion's den and earn our lunch."
Thu, March 4th
2037 ZULU
Courtroom
JAG Headquarters
Falls Church, VA
They had a strong case. AJ leaned back rather comfortably in his chair and quietly watched the proceedings. If things went on like they did now, the trial was likely to be finished rather quickly. The admiral had gone through a roller-coaster ride of different feelings during the day. Anger, satisfaction, frustration, malicious joy... but most of all pride. The JAG had never in his life felt so proud of any of his subordinates as he had of Mac and Fred during this trial. 'Okay,' he admitted to himself, 'Maybe Rabb and Turner play in the same league, due to their stunt with that dirty missile back in Afghanistan. And for the concerts Rabb did last year. And maybe I can add Roberts and Harriet to the list for the way they dealt with Bud's injury. And maybe...' At that point he had stopped counting.
Once again, AJ Chegwidden marveled at the extraordinary staff he had under his command. But be that as it may - Mac and Fred were doing an awesome job today, defending him. Their strategy was worth the Pulitzer Prize. No TV director could have done better building suspense and getting people to hang on their own and their witnesses' lips. At one point, AJ had felt more like he was watching a Grisham movie than following his own trial. And he was sure the public - and the panel - would feel the same way.
Mac and Fred had started out rather unorthodoxly. Defense's very first witness to be called to the stand had been... AJ Chegwidden himself. Mac had let Fred do the job, and, very much like back at Carnegie Hall, the lieutenant had proven himself to be an expert on stage. AJ had noticed that everyone in the room, except himself, Mac and Helfman, had more or less openly shown their surprise when Fred had begun his interrogation. Firstly, of course, due to Fred's impeccable Scottish intonation.
But secondly, and even more so, because of the sudden change that the shy and unsure lieutenant seemed to undergo as soon as he stepped up to ask his questions. Fred was pacing up and down slowly in front of the stand, thoughtfully and calmly pausing each time he introduced a new topic, using his warm, light baritone voice to make the public feel they could trust him without any doubts. No objection whatsoever that Lt. Hobbes could have thrown in seemed to really shake Fred's countenance. He presented himself as a witty, quick-thinking, if necessary sharp, but always considerate and unperturbed expert examiner. And it quickly became clear to everyone that Lt. j.g. Federico Prumetti from Venice was an authority to be reckoned with.
The admiral could - of course - easily recognize the Rabbs' tutoring in Fred's style of examination. Mac's clear, no-nonsense straightforwardness met with Harm's intuition that let him guess rather than plan the fitting questions for every situation. 'Admiral Della Rosa is one lucky guy,' AJ thought, inwardly sighing. 'Maybe he doesn't know yet but with Fred on his staff he has one of the biggest negotiating talents that I've ever come by.'
Fred had let AJ tell his version of the story first, asking for every detail that might become important later on. Then, when he could be sure of his public's curiosity and of their willingness to doubt the seemingly clear evidence against the admiral, Fred had gotten into personal matters between him and Sydney. AJ had answered calmly, with every fiber of his body impersonating the thoughtful and caring commanding officer that, frankly, to no one in the public seemed capable of committing a crime like the one he was being charged with. Whenever Hobbes had tried to lure him into showing anger or contradicting his statements regarding both, the case or his past relationship with Sydney, AJ had come out of the questioning with his head uplifted. He was innocent. All he had to do was tell the truth. And that was exactly what he did.
Once people had gotten the intended impression of the admiral, Fred called defense's next witnesses. Step by step, he allowed people glimpses of the bigger picture the real crime was set in. Fred managed to introduce the scheme without giving the prosecution the slightest possibility to object to his line of questioning, for he always kept his questions closely related to the initial murder. When AJ stepped down from the stand, Fred first called Stephanie Beacham, Sydney's nurse. She related how she found the file hidden in the garden tool cabinet and she was able to supply the results of the laboratory that had analyzed the samples that Sydney had taken, labeling them as contaminated with dimethylformamide. And she testified that Sydney had indeed seemed worried about something during the last days before her assassination.
Fred then called Doctor Kevin Sayer, who had taken over Sydney's medical practice, at least for the time being. The urologist first explained what documents were assembled in the folder Stephanie had found. Then he testified to the effects the chemical had on the human body, the severest consequence being a strong inclination to cause testicular germ cell cancer. Judge Helfman had granted Fred a little leeway to put together the complex picture he was constructing, being intrigued herself at least as much as the public that was slowly getting very excited. More than once Krennick tried to put a stop to Fred's line of questioning when Hobbes had failed to do so. But Fred always managed to draw a direct line from his questions to the initial case that was being tried. So Helfman couldn't do anything but let him go on with his strategy.
After Sayer, it was Casey Crane's turn. She related how she had gone out to the site where the barrels had been found in the woods. She identified a Minton-Greenwood label as one of those that she had found on the abandoned barrels due to a missing edge that she herself had ripped off when she removed the label from the barrel. Then she pointed out how the chemical would enter the drinking-water circulation once the barrels were leaking. At this point, Krennick again objected to the whole line of questioning, arguing that there might well be a connection between Sydney's findings and the waste disposal firm, but claiming that defense still lacked a real motive for the murder, should it have been anyone else than the admiral to have allegedly killed her.
Fred's reply to her objection came as patient as ever. "Your honor, defense plans on getting to the motive during the examination of our next witness, Mrs. Kristen Cramer-Bernstein, general manager of Minton Greenwood Inc."
Helfman frowned. She was being too indulgent but she had to admit that she was just as curious as anyone else inside and outside the courtroom to know the outcome of the defense's audacious theory. "Let me admonish you one last time, Lieutenant, not to wear out my and the jurors' patience. Can you guarantee that your next witness will enlighten us as to the motive?"
"Yes, your honor," Fred acknowledged firmly.
"Your honor..." Krennick indignantly cut in but was cut off by the judge.
"Very well, I'll allow it, one last time. But I feel we might need a break. We'll have a recess of fifteen minutes and reconvene again at 1600. Court is in recess." The gavel fell.
Fred returned to his seat and let himself fall onto it heavily, exhaling deeply. From close up, Mac could see that he had pearls of perspiration on his temples. "You okay, Fred?" she asked, slightly worried.
He smiled wearily. "Yeah, I guess. But this is the most trying courtroom experience I've ever been through, ma'am."
"But you put up one hell of an interrogation, Lieutenant. I'm deeply impressed." She smiled sincerely, making him blush.
"Thank you, ma'am. This means a lot to me."
"You're welcome," she replied, AJ nodding silent consent.
Thu, March 4th
2102 ZULU
Courtroom
JAG Headquarters
Falls Church, VA
"Defense calls Mrs. Kristen Cramer-Bernstein to the stand," Fred announced.
As the oak doors opened this time, Mac, as well as the admiral, had to fight the sudden urge to jump to their feet and go after the visitor that had slipped in behind Kristen. Mac gritted her teeth and for a moment squeezed her eyes shut, willing herself to be patient. She had actually hoped she would come so she would get a really satisfactory revenge, but seeing Lt. Cmdr. Maryann Cramer sit down quietly in the last row but one, after all she had done to Harm, threatened to blow Mac's composure into peaces. 'I swear to you, Cramer,' Mac silently told her, 'You're gonna feel sorry for yourself when you leave this room! We will nail your six and make you pay for everything you did to us. We will!'
Meanwhile, Kristen had been sworn in and stated her current position as general manager of Minton Greenwood Inc. Fred stepped up to her.
"Mrs. Bernstein," he said simply, holding up the label that Casey Crane had earlier identified as Minton Greenwood's. "Do you recognize this?"
Kristen made no attempt at denying it. "Yes. It's one of the labels we use for our toxic waste barrels." Mac, from the corner of her eye, watched Maryann stare in front, her expression stony.
"Do you," Fred went on, "Also recognize these?" He held up the folder of bills Jeannine had supplied from inside the firm. "Your honor, defense exhibit G. Here's the official search warrant that legalizes the document to be used in court. We had to keep it quiet for safety reasons. I apologize, your honor." He handed it to Helfman.
Judge Helfman acknowledged in silence. Fred handed the folder to Kristen who thumbed through it, not fully succeeding in masking her astonishment.
"Yes, Lieutenant. This is part of MG's correspondence with a firm that engaged us for clearing their toxic waste." Kristen's expression was neutral, but Mac noticed the way she tightly held on to the folder.
"What's the name and branch of the firm, ma'am?"
"Branwick Industries, aeronautical engineering."
Fred's expression turned thoughtful. "Isn't Branwick Industries part of the same share holders' company as is Minton Greenwood?"
"Objection!" Krennick called. "Relevance?"
"Your honor, I'm trying to establish a motive. The following facts will be vital to our chain of evidence."
"Overruled." Helfman's voice was just a little exasperated. "Get to the point, please, Lieutenant."
"Who is the actual chairperson to the whole consortium?"
"Nicholas Bernstein. My husband."
"And who's the owner of Branwick Industries?"
"I am. Together with my sister, Lt. Cmdr. Maryann Cramer. The firm is in family property in the third generation." Kristen's voice let show traces of pride.
Fred didn't acknowledge her last remark. "Do the consortium's firms share the same financing system?"
"They do."
"So, if, say, Minton Greenwood saved money by using illegal methods like dumping barrels in the woods, would other firms like, say, Branwick profit from that?"
"Objection!" Krennick jumped to her feet.
"Sustained. Watch your step, Lieutenant."
"Yes, your honor."
"We don't use illegal methods." Kristen was getting more reluctant to answer with every question Fred shot her.
"Excuse me, Mrs. Bernstein, but you identified the label, we have an eye-witness as to where it derives from and Sydney Walden documented in her file how she witnessed the barrels being deposited. Your honor, defense exhibit H, an expert's report on the financial situation of Minton Greenwood, supplied by McKinsey Consulting, focusing on price calculations for MG's services regarding Branwick Industries. It reads, quote, 'The sums Minton Greenwood Inc. charged for their every-fourteen-days services to Branwick Industries are insufficient to even cover the necessary fuel expenses, assuming the locations and transport distances listed are correct.' unquote. Did MG favor Branwick Industries in the comparison with other firms? I remind you that you are under oath, Mrs. Bernstein." Fred's gaze was calm but icy.
Kristen swallowed, obviously at a loss how to react. She sent a pleading look to Maryann who tried to signal something to her, but Kristen didn't seem to understand. Eventually she answered. "Yes." Her voice was low.
"What projects is Branwick working on?"
"I don't know."
"Your honor, defense exhibit I, documents about a major order of aircraft engines the Navy bought from North Star Inc. It contains the exact technical data of the parts Branwick's main competitor produces. The material, that has been reported missing by the Naval Facilities Engineering Service Center, was found at Minton Greenwood and acknowledged authentic by the NFESC. Furthermore, defense exhibit J, here's a videocassette recorded by the NFESC's security cameras. It shows the witness's sister passing on the data in question to someone else." Stifled gasps were heard in the public. Maryann Cramer's face was carved in marble, it seemed.
The lieutenant went on before Krennick got hold of her surprise and thought about objecting. "Mrs. Bernstein, these files that derive from the NFESC were found hidden under your desk. How do you explain that?"
"Objection, the witness isn't on trial here." Krennick had shaken herself from her state of haze.
"I'll rephrase," Fred corrected himself. He knew he maybe had one question left before the judge's indulgence would finally end. Better get it right. He frowned, thinking. "Mrs. Bernstein," he then addressed the already defeated woman in front of him, "We know that your sister, Lieutenant Commander Maryann Cramer, is one of the head engineers at NFESC and had access to the files in question. We also know that Branwick Industries illegally used dimethylformamide, a substance that has long since been proven carcinogenic, in their production processes, trying to save money in order to stay in the competition. Did Minton Greenwood, in trying to save money by illegally disposing of Branwick's toxic waste, try to support Branwick's efforts and did Doctor Sydney Walden's disclosures of the environmental crime critically endanger the whole consortium's joint venture to win the competition against North Star?"
There was the motive. Everyone in the room was holding his breath.
Kristen's mouth began to twitch. "Yes," she whispered, at the verge of crying.
"Wouldn't that be enough of a motive to kill Doctor Walden before anyone else found out?" Fred asked, almost gently.
"Objection!" Krennick had found her voice. "Defense leading the witness!"
"Sustained."
"No further questions, your honor." Fred quietly turned and sat down, thoroughly exhausted.
"Captain Krennick?"
"Not at the moment, your honor," came the slightly faint answer. Allison needed time to sort out her thoughts.
Same time
Outside the courtroom
JAG Headquarters
Falls Church, VA
"Are you really sure you're gonna make it?" Sergei's voice clearly let show his concern for his disabled brother.
Harm gave him an encouraging smile. "Trust me, I will. I so badly want to get back at that Cramer bitch that I won't need any further motivation. Just stick to my side, will you?"
"Sure." Sergei smiled and firmly blocked the brakes of Harm's wheelchair while Jeannine approached her boyfriend's brother, handing him a pair of crutches. In a joined effort, they managed to haul Harm onto his feet. Sergei quickly locked the knee joints of the splints that Harm wore under his uniform trousers. Jeannine straightened Harm's uniform and helped him take the crutches. Sergei observed the proceedings inside the courtroom on his little portable TV.
"Fred just nailed Cramer's sister. It's show-time, big brother." He grinned in anticipation.
"Harm, you look great." Jeannine flashed him a smile that he returned. "Now let's kick Maryann's sorry six. Come on!"
Harm's heart was beating far harder than he liked as the courtroom doors slowly opened in front of him.
Same time
Courtroom
JAG Headquarters
Falls Church, VA
The public as well as the TV team thought that they had already gotten more surprises today than they would ever have imagined. But the biggest was yet to come. Everyone barely managed to stifle their cries of surprise as Mac rose from her seat, expertly concealing her own trepidation, and announced:
"Defense calls Commander Harmon Rabb, Jr. to the stand."
Maryann Cramer's head shot in her direction, her glare incredulous as well as furious. Mac calmly glared back, pinning her to her seat, as the big courtroom doors opened and every eye and lens in the room turned to the tall man in uniform that was supposed to be in a coma. The TV director stared, open-mouthed, as inside her head numbers for ratings and payment fees for commercials were dancing.
Keenly aware of the fact that he was the center of all attention, Harm, with Sergei and Jeannine standing by at his sides in case he swayed, slowly and painfully pushed himself to walk up to the stand. But he was determined to do it alone. For Maryann to see that, again, she had failed. And for Mac, to thank her for being strong for him.
Mac couldn't believe what she was seeing. Time seemed to freeze as Harm slowly walked towards her, his gaze firmly locked with hers. She didn't notice that the TV director motioned for the cameras to close up on the Rabbs' faces, the moment being too moving not to let the national public share it. As Harm went past Mac, he cast her the quickest of smiles before taking a firm stance in front of a frighteningly pale Krennick.
"Com..." Allison's first attempt to swear Harm in failed as her voice left her. She embarrassedly cleared her throat and tried again. "Commander Rabb, do you swear to tell the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth so help you God?"
Harm turned his face to Mac as he answered, his words reminding him of another situation back in Venice when he had said them to no one else but her: "I do."
Mac took a deep breath as she walked up to Harm. The cameras once again closed up on their faces. "Commander Rabb, before your... accident you were defending Lt. Cmdr. Maryann Cramer against charges of dereliction of duty. You had been appointed temporary JAG as Admiral Chegwidden was being detained and you investigated the Walden murder. Is that correct?"
"Yes, Colonel Rabb." Harm inwardly grinned at hearing himself address Mac with his own name. It still felt wonderfully new to him.
"Can you please tell us what happened on Thursday, February 18th?" 'I hope it won't be too painful,' Mac silently added.
Harm frowned. "I had been trying all day to get a hold on the Walden case. I wasn't convinced by the evidence at hand that seemed to point in the admiral's direction. So I tried to find further evidence that might indicate another suspect. I didn't succeed that day. Eventually I decided to occupy myself with my research on the Cramer case instead. I went out to the NFESC and was all the more surprised to find out about the documents that Cmdr. Cramer gave away. I deepened the research from that point and came by the name of Minton Greenwood Inc. as a part of the tri-firm consortium that Branwick Industries belongs to. I was already suspecting that, during her absence from an important experiment that caused an accident, Cmdr. Cramer might have stolen the data to get it to Branwick Industries, as I had found out that Cmdr. Cramer's family owns the company. I secured the evidence I had found and went home. On the sidewalk in front of my house, Cmdr. Cramer shot me."
Stifled gasps were again heard as the cameras all at once focused on the stone-like figure of Maryann Cramer.
"Objection, your honor!" Krennick shouted. "Cmdr. Cramer is not on trial here!"
"Your honor," Mac quickly cut in, "If the commander were granted the time to finish his story there would be no need for any further objections whatsoever."
Judge Helfman's eyebrows shot up. "I'll allow it," she said, trying to hide her curiosity. "But make it quick, please. Overruled."
"Continue, please, Commander Rabb," Mac addressed Harm, giving him a smile that warmed him from inside.
"I don't know exactly if it was one or two days later that my wife came to see me in the hospital. I had been in a coma and had no control whatsoever over my body. I couldn't make anyone notice that I was conscious. But my wife nevertheless talked to me, filling me in about the newest research results in the Walden murder case. As soon as she mentioned Minton Greenwood being involved in an environmental crime that Sydney Walden had uncovered I made the connection to the Branwick case. I had wondered myself how a small firm like Branwick could stay in competition with the global players. But with the knowledge that they saved money, firstly by using illegal substances such as dimethylformamide in their production processes, and secondly by being enormously favored by Minton Greenwood, I understood that Sydney Walden's possible disclosures were an imminent threat to Branwick's efforts to prevent bankruptcy.
"By then, I had recovered the ability to move my eyelid and managed to communicate my knowledge to my wife by winking 'yes' or 'no'. The JAG staff went on investigating and somehow Lt. Cmdr. Cramer must have noticed that she was the center of our focus. That's why she came after me, two days ago, knowing that I was near to defenseless. Unnoticed by the hospital staff, she got me into her car and drove out into the hills, intending to leave me outside, far away from the next village. She knew that I could never make it back on my own." Harm paused to let the news sink in. By now, even Krennick was speechless.
"How did you make it back, Commander?" Mac asked.
"Unbeknownst to Cmdr. Cramer, I had my cell-phone with me and managed to reach Lt. Prumetti and his fiancée who went after me, tracking the signal with the help of the phone company."
Low murmurs were heard in the audience. Judge Helfman gave three quick strikes with the gavel. "Silence, please."
Mac inhaled slowly. She was both dreading and looking forward to the following, the most decisive question. "Commander, do you know who killed Doctor Sydney Walden?"
Harm firmly and reassuringly met her glance. "Yes, Colonel, I do."
Again gasps were barely held back in the public. The camera zoomed in on Harm and Mac's faces.
"Who killed her, Commander?" Mac asked.
"Lieutenant Commander Maryann Cramer did."
"Do you have any evidence to prove your accusations?"
"Yes, I do," Harm answered firmly. At this, Captain Amy Helfman dropped her reading glasses that she had taken down from her nose the moment before.
"What kind of evidence do you have?" Mac was really beginning to enjoy the interrogation.
Harm was all game. "The lieutenant commander told me and I recorded it on my cell-phone's voice recorder." Harm's voice was almost serene. The TV director marveled at how such a strong, sensual undercurrent could flow even in a matter-of-fact examination if counsel and witness were in love. She knew that she would never in her life get another opportunity to film a trial like this one. Bless the Rabbs.
Mac stepped to her desk and retrieved the cell-phone in question. "Would this be your cell-phone, Commander?"
"Yes, Colonel."
"Your honor, defense exhibit K. We have an amplifier here that I would like to connect the commander's cellular phone to, in order to listen to the recording he mentioned."
Judge Helfman resolved to just let happen anything that was bound to happen now. She had lost track of the developments in this case that continued to surprise her ever more. "Go ahead, Colonel Rabb."
Mac handed the phone to a technician who attached it to the amplifier. Holding her breath just like everyone else in the room, she listened, praying that their plan worked. The loudspeaker cracked as the conversation between Harm and Cramer could be heard, low but still distinct enough to be understood without mistaking the sense:
["Yes, I killed Doctor Walden. I'm amazed no one found out yet. Seems I really
made sure not to leave traces."
"You went to her house, rang the bell, let her open the door and then you stabbed her."
"If you already knew that, why ask, Commander Rabb?"
"Just to make sure."
"You're not in the place to investigate me any longer. So why bother?"
"Just like that. Why did you do it?"
"Doctor Walden had found out about the chemicals. One of MG's drivers saw her poking around the barrels in the woods, taking notes. The money we save by getting rid of our garbage like that enables Branwick to stay competitive. Branwick's my granddad's life's work and I'd do anything to save the company. Through her disclosures, Sydney Walden had endangered it. So, you see, I had no choice. It was rather fortunate that the admiral showed up when he did."
"Thank you. No further questions."]
The courtroom was deadly quiet. Even the admiral had paled, hearing Harm's tale
and the recording. Judge Helfman was the first to find her voice as she turned
to Chegwidden's MP guards. "Please arrest Lieutenant Commander Maryann Cramer
for premeditated murder of Doctor Sydney Walden and double attempted murder of
Commander Harmon Rabb, Jr."
Maryann didn't budge. She didn't resist as the guards handcuffed her and led her away. Still no one said a word.
"No further questions," Mac eventually broke the silence.
"Thank you, Commander Rabb, you may step down." Helfman cleared her throat. "In the face of the new evidence brought forth by Commander and Colonel Rabb I see no need to continue with this court-martial. Lt. Cmdr. Maryann Cramer confessed that she committed the crime that Admiral Chegwidden has been charged with. May the defendant and his counsels please rise."
Mac, Fred and the admiral did as they were told.
For the first time today, Amy Helfman finally allowed a smile to grace her features. "Rear Admiral AJ Chegwidden, Judge Advocate General of the Navy, your name is officially cleared of all charges brought forth against you. This court-martial is dismissed. An Article-32 hearing concerning murder charges against Lt. Cmdr. Cramer will be held on Monday, 0900 sharp." The gavel fell.
Cameras at once closed in from all sides on the defense. But neither member of the JAG family cared. Mac and Harm shared a long, tight embrace, much to the delight of the TV director. Then Mac turned to face a smiling AJ who had congratulated Fred to his outstanding performance.
"Permission to hug the admiral, sir?" Mac's expression was one big smile.
"Granted," AJ answered, smirking. The cameras instantly zoomed in on the JAG and his Chief of Staff hugging tightly.
Epilogue
Sun, March 14th
1546 ZULU
The Naval Academy Chapel
Annapolis, MD
"Patricia Jeannine Rabb, I baptize you in the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. Amen." The minister gently wetted the little girl's forehead with water and carefully dried it off afterwards.
The smile had been present all day on AJ Chegwidden's face. This ceremony had been the final step needed to really make him a part of the Rabb family. When, a week ago, Harm, Mac, Bud and Harriet had approached him, telling him that they all wanted him to be Trisha's godfather instead of Bud, he had been at a loss of words. But when Bud himself had urged him to stand up for little Trisha at Harriet's side, he had readily complied. 'She may be my godchild,' he told himself, 'But I feel as if she were my grandchild instead.'
AJ was holding the little girl in his arms, unaware that he was being watched by the beaming parents. Harm and Mac exchanged a warm smile and a squeeze of hands, knowing that they had made the right decision. AJ Chegwidden was family. Somehow, he had always been.
When the service was over, the christening congregation met in a small but
fancy Italian restaurant out of Annapolis. They had made a reservation of the
whole place for the day to be able to celebrate the christening as well as the
happy outcome of AJ's trial without being disturbed. Besides Harm, Mac, AJ,
Harriet and Bud, only Sturgis, Tiner, Fred and Claire, Sergei and Jeannine and
Harm's parents were present. Jeannine had gotten extended leave from the
college, given the extraordinary events she had been involved in.
The party had an exquisite meal and felt the tension of the last few weeks slowly fade away as they conversed easily with each other. Harm's pronunciation was almost back to normal. Only occasionally would he stumble over a word that had too many consonants following one another without any vowels in between. Walking with crutches was still extremely fatiguing for him, but he kept up his training and was confident to fully master it shortly. He was still on leave from JAG but luckily had no chance of getting bored at home with his little daughter around, keeping him occupied.
When they had finished the second main course, AJ rose and tapped his knife to his wine glass. At once, everyone listened up.
"Dear Mac, Harm and especially Trisha," AJ warmly addressed 'his' family, "If anyone had told me two weeks ago that I would be standing here today, toasting to you and celebrating with my extended working family, I'd never have believed him. I have to admit - but please keep this off-record - that at times I got pretty desperate during the murder investigation. I wanted to use this opportunity to beg your forgiveness, too, that I didn't always believe that you would actually get me out of that mess."
Stifled laughter was heard as AJ's glance met with many smiling faces. "Well, your CO just undermined his authority by admitting he was wrong and tells you he is sorry. But let's leave this aside now, okay? I wanted to thank you, Mac, Harm, and you, too, Bud, that you gave me this wonderful opportunity to be part of your family in a way that goes way beyond working together. As you know," he smiled a little wryly, "I tend to be some sort of a lonesome cowboy and I am really, really grateful that I can be sure to have people around that care. Harm, Mac, I congratulate you on your perfect little girl, and I daresay, if she's anything like you, I might in time break with my firm conviction and lure her into being the first female Navy SEAL. To Trisha!" He raised his glass as laughter was heard at his final remark.
Having toasted, everyone was about to join into conversation again as AJ spoke up once more. "I thought that, on a special occasion as this, one had to come up with a special gift. So...." his grin took on a decidedly nasty edge that Harm and Mac had learned to dread. He motioned to a waiter who pulled up a big TV set in front of the table, together with a video recorder.
"Thirteen months ago, neither of us would have suspected that two of the most stubborn people alive would ever get their heads out of their sixes and tell each other what everyone else knew all along. It actually needed a trip to the most romantic city in the world to work the magic."
A dreadful suspicion began to rise inside Harm and Mac as to what the TV was intended for. But all they could do was wait and smile, although somewhat strained.
AJ went on, smirking even wider. "Our little trip to Venice was indeed a remarkable one. But one event in particular was so outstanding that I don't really think it would be fair to keep it classified any longer. Commander Rabb has always been known for... let's say... rather innovative methods to prove his theories. Until last year, I'd say that firing an automatic weapon into a courtroom ceiling was his all time high."
"What?" Trish asked, laughing. Harm only shot her a blushing smile.
"But Venice set new standards. I now invite you to watch for yourselves the latest episode of 'Investigating with Harm and Mac'." AJ put a cassette into the VCR and pressed 'play'. Pictures of a foggy night became visible on the TV screen. Gothic palazzos could be recognized in the background as the camcorder zoomed in on Lieutenant j.g. Federico Prumetti.
["It's February 26th, 0214 ALPHA, I'm Sottotenente di Vascello Federico
Prumetti, over there we have Commander Harmon Rabb, Jr. and Lieutenant Colonel
Sarah Mackenzie. Neither of them has ever rowed a gondola. What we are trying
to prove is that it is impossible for beginners to reach Rialto, starting from
San Marco, in half an hour. Responsible for filming is Ms. Claire Farnham..."]
As the whole party with growing delight watched their desperate attempts to row
Fred's gondola, Mac leaned over to Harm. "You know, Harm," she whispered, "As
much as I'm inclined to resent AJ for digging out the tape..." Her mouth began
to twitch violently. "It was a hilarious sight when you fell into the Grand
Canal..." Like a year ago, fits of laughter made it impossible for her to go
on.
Harm's frown only showed for the fraction of a second. Then, as another memory invaded his thoughts, a radiant warm smile spread over his face. He gently took Mac's hand in his and brought it to his lips. "You know, Mac," he whispered back. "As much as I'm inclined to resent you for laughing at my expense..." His smile became breathtaking once again. "It was my fall into the Canal that really started our relationship, the day after. Remember?"
"Of course I remember, flyboy. It was me who hugged you in the first place. But, did I ever thank you for deciding to take a bath in the icy water of the lagoon just to have me?" Mac smiled at him lovingly.
Again he kissed her fingertips, returning her smile. "No, you didn't. But you know what, Marine? I'd do it all over again."
THE END
Carnival ~*~ Dissonance ~*~ People vs. Chegwidden