Title: JAG Case File
#86
Rated:
PG-13
Classification:
JAG Story/Adventure
Summary:
What should have been a routine case prevents Harm and Mac from being together
for their fifth wedding anniversary.
Disclaimer: JAG characters portrayed belong to JAG, CBS and
Paramount Television. No copyright infringement intended. All other characters depicted are purely
fictional and any similarities to actual people are purely coincidental.
Feedback: Would be nice.
Story Written October 2001
2320
LOCAL
MIAMI
INTERNATIONAL
AA
FLIGHT AA 5643
Mac
had finally given up on calling home.
Where could Harm have gone? Anyway at least she'd left a message. Despite that it would have been nice to be
together it was their wedding anniversary after all. Ah well duty called.
"Ma'am?"
Gunnery Sergeant Victor Galindez interrupted.
"Yes
Gunny." She replied, she liked Gunny he called it as it was and he was a
damn good Marine.
"I've
been thinking. Something just doesn't fit with this case."
"I
know. It definitely has taken a
twist." Mac agreed.
"Ma'am
this guy is an Ensign with a bright future before him. Impeccable record. A
true Officer and Gentlemen comes to this woman's aid and prevents a beating and
all he needs to do is give us a deposition and he runs?" He shook his head.
"I
remember Harm telling me about a similar case.
The guy saved the woman from a rape and ran when JAG wanted him to
testify. Turned out he was concerned
about his brother who ran with a gang and the repercussions on his mother."
Mac said.
"You
think that's what we're facing ma'am."
"Maybe
Gunny then again maybe not. We'll see when we get there. It's a long flight to Sao Paolo I'm going to
sleep."
"Aye
ma'am"
=============================
NEXT
DAY - 1240 LOCAL
JAG
OFFICE
SAO
PAOLO, BRAZIL
The
ten-hour flight finally ended and Mac with the Gunny in tow had been met by a
Lieutenant (JG) Anderson, who took them to the local JAG office. There they met
Captain Peterson.
"Colonel
welcome... Gunny." Peterson welcomed the team.
"Captain. Any news sir?" Mac got straight to the
point; she had enough of what should have been a routine task.
"He's
at Melia Confort Tatuape."
She
stood "Is it possible to go there now?"
"Eager
aren't you Colonel." the Captain observed.
"Yes
sir." She replied simply.
"This way ... The Melia Confort Tatuape
is not far. It's in the eastern region
of Sao Paulo, in an intense area of economic and commercial development.
Forty-five minutes from the international airport and ten minutes from the
local airport.
==============================================
ROOM
100, MELIA CONFORT TATUAPE
RUA
SERRA JUREA, 351, SAO PAOLO, BRAZIL
The
three stood outside the door of the Ensign's hotel room Mac, Gunny and
Peterson.
"Now
why would he stay at a hotel obviously aimed at the economic and commercial
district." Mac wondered.
Gunny
reached across, banged on the door and bellowed in his best Deputy Sheriff's
voice "Ensign Archer open up - JAG!"
There
was a noise. "He's running
ma'am!" Gunny enlightened her and tackled the door before she could
respond. The door gave way; Gunny
crossed the room and pounced on the Ensign as he attempted to go out over the
balcony. Gunny hauled him back and planted
him unceremoniously in the nearest chair.
"Hey!"
Archer objected, "Show some respect Gunny! You can't go handling Officers
like that!"
"But
I can and I will." Mac moved forward like big cat moving in on prey. She
spoke with no emotion "Respect? Archer you dare to speak of respect? I
have had to chase you from California to Brazil. Not only have you not given me the deposition you are AWOL
mister."
Archer
didn't reply. He just looked from Mac
to Peterson back to Mac.
"Well?" Peterson spoke for the first time since they had
entered the room. "Don't you have
anything to say for yourself?"
"He
may not but I sure do." A female voice said. "Who the hell are you people!"
All
four heads turned to the source.
"JAG
Corps and you are?"
"His
wife Lucia." She jerked a thumb at Archer "Actually ex-wife."
Mac
groaned inwardly and turned to the Ensign and growled. "Do not tell me you ran all the way
here for a roll in the hay Ensign."
"No
he did not. But he did come to me." Mrs. Peterson entered the room and sat
on an empty chair. "I sent for
him. Wayne talk with these folk they can help."
He
remained tight lipped.
She
heaved a sigh "Men" she muttered, and then looked at the others ...
really looked. She spotted the Captain
and addressed him.
"Captain. Archer and I are divorced but we have an
eight year old. I am Brazilian and so
after discussing it Cindy ... that's our daughter and I came here to live. Five days ago I called Wayne to tell him
that Cindy had been kidnapped. It
happens often the States, Brazil it's a global phenomenon."
Mac
struggled to control her emotions as she instantly thought of her own
child. "Has there been a ransom
note?"
"There
won't be ma'am." Archer finally
spoke.
Mac
turned to face him. "I'm not even
going into the lack of thought that went into you going AWOL. However, you have back up no w so talk to us.
Why no ransom."
"Child
labour." Lucia said. "They
grab the children to work in the coffee plantations."
"Any
leads sir?" Gunny asked.
"Yeah
through Lucia's family connections we located her a couple of hours ago. I was here thinking of a plan to get her
out." Archer said.
"I
have a large family a larger extended family and I have taken the position of
not asking about their connections." Lucia explained.
"So
do you have a plan Ensign!" Peterson asked.
"I
have a map of the area and I was going to go in under cover of dark to conduct
a recon." He admitted. Archer was becoming deflated before them.
Mac
glanced at Gunny. "That I can live with ... after which we will plan the
mission." She said.
"Uh
my brothers and cousins know the place there would be no need to go twice.
That's why I cam here to tell Archer that it's all planned for tonight at 10:00
pm." Lucia interrupted.
Mac
was skeptical but conceded. This was unfamiliar territory and these people knew
their country. "Fine. Gunny we
need a room. We meet where and at what time Mrs. Archer?"
"Here
at 6:00 pm"
=============================
THAT
NIGHT - 1800 LOCAL
SAO
PAOLO
Mac
had not trusted the Archers and had placed Gunny on watch while she discussed
the rescue effort. If this case had not
been out of control before it was now.
Gunny's
head popped into the room. "Excuse me sir... ma'am Mrs. Archer is
here."
"On
the dot." Mac automatically checked her internal clock.
=============================
THAT
NIGHT - 2230 LOCAL
PALITO
COFFEE PLANTATION
Lucia
had arrived with ten men in tow, three brothers and seven cousins. To Mac all had the bearing of military, but
she said nothing.
The
plan was simple. The men including
Archer, Peterson and Gunny would take out any opposition while Mac accompanied
Lucia in the search for Cindy.
There
was no moon that was in their favour.
The
plan worked like a script from a Hollywood Action movie. They found the child
sleeping in barracks with ten others.
As the two women made their way out with the child the Action movie
turned into a Horror Flick. One of the
children woke up.
Cindy
faz exame de me com você! <Cindy
take me with you!>
The
others heard and clamored for rescue.
There and then the mission profile changed with the simple request of
one child. Mac could not waltz in there save one child and leave the rest. [May
the Admiral never find out what happened here tonight] she prayed.
Siga-me
<Follow me> She instructed, and feeling like the Piped Piper she went to
the two other barracks and collected a total of twenty six children. Lucia and her clan would have to see about
returning the children to their families.
Silêncio!
<Silence!> She commanded to the group who were beginning to chatter in
anticipation of freedom. They fell
silent.
The
group of men watched in amazement as the two women approached with the gang of
children. "All under
control?" Mac inquired as Archer hugged his daughter as if letting her go
meant losing her again.
"Daddy
I can't breathe." The little girl managed to whisper.
"Aye
ma'am" Gunny answered dazed at the sight of the brood.
"Did
you get all and where did you place them." Mac asked.
"There
were only seven and they are all under that tree." Gunny pointed.
"OK.
Change in plan. Torch the place." Captain Peterson said.
"Sir?"
Archer turned and hesitated.
"You
deaf Ensign?!" Mac barked.
Gunny
had no such qualms "Aye ma'am!"
Lucia
was translating to her brothers and cousins.
They grinned. They liked this
Marine Colonel and said so. Lucia translated.
Agradeça-o.
<Thank you. > Mac said, "Let's get the kids on board while the place
is dealt with."
=============================
ONE
WEEK LATER
1255
LOCAL
JAG
HEADQUARTERS - MAC'S OFFICE
"As
you were" AJ commanded as Mac reacted to her CO entering her office. "So Colonel I don't suppose you know
anything about a rescues of some twenty five children from child
slavery?" AJ stood with his arms
folded.
"Heard
about it on the All News Channel" She said cautiously.
"Mmmm."
AJ stared at her. She tried not to
squirm in her seat. "How goes the
Archer case?"
"All
wrapped up sir. Deposition in hand and
a court martial is to be convened."
"And
for that you had to go to Brazil?" AJ asked. Mac swallowed hard. "Mmmm." AJ walked out of her
office.
Mac
felt as if the SS had interrogated her.
THE END
===============================================
USMJ Article 86.
ABSENCE WITHOUT LEAVE
Any member of the armed forces who,
without authority--
(1) fails to go to his appointed
place of duty at the time prescribed;
(2) goes from that place; or
(3) absents himself or remains
absent from his unit, organization, or place of duty at which he is required to
be at the time prescribed;
shall be punished as a court-martial
may direct.