Bud and Harriet ran through JAG Headquarters and straight to Admiral Chegwidden’s office as fast as lightning. Mac saw them and followed the distraught couple. “Admiral, Sir, have you heard anything?”
“No, I’m sorry, Lieutenants, I have not,” he replied, standing up. “Have a seat, Harriet.”
She sat down and the Admiral hadd Tyner bring in coffee as Mac entered. She looked like she hadn’t slept in 48 hours. “Harriet, Bud, how are you two holding up?”
“As good as can be expected, Colonel,” came Bud’s quiet reply.
Mac nodded and looked at the Admiral, who followed her outside his office. “What is it, Colonel?”
“Sir, they found Commander Rabb’s car in a ditch not too far from the McDonald’s they were at. There’s no sign of either H-harm or little AJ...” Mac covered her mouth and began to cry. “I-I’m sorry, Admiral. What kind of Marine am I? I seem to be able to cry at the drop of a hat these days.”
AJ put his hand on Mac’s shoulder. “Mac, you’ve been through a lot these past few weeks. If you haven’t cried at all, I would have been worried. It’s human to cry."
~~~~~
Unknown Address
Crystal City, Virginia
0950 hours
Little AJ sat in the crib looking around the bedroom he was in. He was so confused. He knew that the person who took him from his uncle wasn’t nice. The boy then began to cry. He wanted his uncle or his mommy or daddy. “Daddy!” he cried.
“Josie, go see what that kid wants and shut him up!” Bobby shouted.
“You know what he wants as well as I know, Bobby. He wants his father. You know, the man you have tied up in the basement,” Josie replied heading to the bedroom. She leaned over the side and picked the boy up. “What’s the matter, Joey?” she asked.
“AJ.”
“What?”
AJ pointed at himself. “AJ.”
*Wow this kid is smart,* Josie thought. “No, honey, your name is Joey.” Josie suddenly had an attack of conscience. *His mother is going to be so upset. Why did I let Bobby talk to me into this. Oh God, what a horrible mistake I made!*
Josie put AJ back into the crib and went to find her boyfriend. “Bobby, where are you?”
“What is it now, Jos?”
“I think we should let them go,” she spoke quietly.
“WHAT? Let them go? You agreed to this and now you want to let them go? It’s too late, Josie. I’m sorry. The only way I’m going to let them go is to kill them.”
Josie gasped. “K-kill them? You’d kill an innocent little boy?” she asked stunned. “Let him live and just get rid of the father. Please Bobby, don’t kill AJ!”
“AJ? I don’t care who he is, if you don’t want to do this anymore, I’m going to kill them both. We can’t have anyone identifying us.”
“Bobby!” Josie exclaimed. “He’s just a child, he won’t be able to identify us!”
Bobby smacked Josie across the face. “Yes, he will! Kids are smart that way. If you don’t shut up, I’m going to kill you too!”
That made Josie realize something. Bobby was the one who beat up her son. “Y-you...”
“Look who finally woke up! Yeah, I beat your kid! I hate kids, Josie! And I hate you, bitch!”
Josie felt the bullets hit her chest before she heard them. “Bobby!” she cried, taking in her last breath.
~~~~~
Harm’s head shot up at the sound of a gun firing. He knew that Bobby and Josie were fighting but the words were muffled. What made the Navy Commander break his bonds was the sound of Little AJ screaming. Harm ignored the broken rib threatening to pierce his lung and ran upstairs. Fortunately, the door was unlocked.
Harm made it to the room just as Bobby smacked AJ across the face. “Get away from him!” Harm growled, knocking the man down with one punch. The gun skittered across the floor and Harm was caught off guard as Bobby swept his feet from under him. Harm went down with a thud. His vision blacked for a second. “Bobby, leave AJ out of this, he’s just a baby!”
“Mr. Rabb, I don’t like children so I don’t care if he has anything to do with this or not,” Bobby replied. He attempted to grab the gun, but Harm blocked him. “Get out of my way!”
“No, as long as you are threatening AJ I won’t get out of your way!”
“Unca Ham!” AJ said, holding his arms out.
Bobby looked at the boy, confused. Uncle? He was so distracted that he didn’t notice Harm’s second punch coming at him. This punch knocked the man out cold. “Finally,” Harm muttered as he picked up little AJ. “You okay, buddy?” AJ nodded slowly as tears spilled out. He hugged his godfather tightly.