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Unconditional Love 3: Searching for Answers, Getting More Questions
Rating: IM15 for now Summary: Harm and Mac meet PO Talbert’s mother and get a few surprises. Disclaimer: See Part 1
1500 Hours Norfolk Naval Hospital
Harm shuddered unconsciously as they walked into the ICU. Mac looked over at him. “You okay?”
“Yeah. This place just brings back bad memories.” They walked in silence for a little bit, both thinking back to when he was brought here, the eve before her almost wedding.
They saw Gibbs waiting in the hall outside of a room. They changed course to join him.
“Mrs. Talbert is inside, talking to the doctors about her son,” Gibbs said, speaking in a low voice.
“How is PO Talbert?” Mac asked.
“Holding his own,” Gibbs replied. “He’s suffered liver damage, had a heart attack, possibly a stroke, and his kidneys aren’t functioning – and likely brain damage to some extent. He’ll be lucky to come out of this.”
“Sounds like he’s a very sick young man.”
Gibbs nodded. “The symptoms he’s showing, though, aren’t typical for cocaine or heroin overdose. I’m having Abby run a heavy metals tox screen on his blood sample, but it will take about a week to get the results. I also managed to get the contents of his stomach over to her to check out. How did your interviews go?”
Harm said, “Raised more questions than we got answered. Whoever this dealer is, I think he’s got a lot of people scared.”
Gibbs looked at him. Harm told him about Talbert’s friends’ conflicting stories, and Gibbs shook his head. “Would any of them give a description of the guy?"
“They claimed it was too smoky and crowded to see clearly.”
“So their friend is in a hospital fighting for his life and they won’t do anything to help catch the guy who did it?” Gibbs was incredulous.
“I guess the fear of retribution is greater than the bond of friendship,” Harm stated.
“Apparently. I knew PO Talbert was afraid of this guy. That’s why he wouldn’t give me a name – wouldn’t even tell me if he was military or civilian. He just called him ‘Tyrant’.”
“Why didn’t you offer him protective custody?” Mac asked.
“No evidence. I had only his word, which wasn’t enough.” The two lawyers nodded in agreement as Gibbs spoke. “How about his bunkmate? Anything suspicious there?”
“Not really, although he knew about Talbert’s drug problems but didn’t tell anybody,” Mac said.
“So now we’re stuck with a man in a coma, no witnesses who will talk, and ‘Tyrant’ for a suspect,” Mac commented. “Not much of a case.” Gibbs agreed with her assessment.
Just then, the door opened, and a petite, blonde-haired woman in her mid-forties came out. Gibbs stepped forward. “Mrs. Talbert?” She nodded tiredly.
“I’m Special Agent Gibbs with the Naval Criminal Investigative Service. We spoke on the phone yesterday.”
“Yes.” She looked at Harm and Mac and back at Gibbs.
He continued his introductions. “This is Colonel MacKenzie and Commander Rabb. They’re with the Judge Advocate General Corps. We’re investigating the incident involving your son.”
“So why are you here?” she asked them. “Shouldn’t you be out, investigating?” Tears welled up in her eyes, and Harm spoke.
“Ma’am, we are investigating. But we wanted to talk to you about your son – to make sure we explore every possibility.”
She hid her face in her hands. “I don’t know if I can do this again.”
“Again?” Harm asked, seeing that Gibbs was as mystified as he and Mac were.
“Five years ago, Ron’s half brother Nathan, died of a drug overdose while stationed here at Norfolk. The Navy ruled it a suicide, but I know it wasn’t.”
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