The Red Menace

NOTE: This story is a sequel to "Shadows of the Past." In that story, Lee received a late invite to a ONI friend's unexpected wedding. Lee ended up helping another ONI friend — the female best man — escape charges of murdering the bride at the altar. More difficult was helping her deal with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder following her terrifying experiences as a POW in the Gulf War. Despite working in different cities and both having jobs with erratic hours, she as an NCIS agent in L.A., their relationship has continued and become a committed one, not in small part thanks to the support of Admiral Nelson. Just as Lee is on the verge of having a family of his own, will it all go wrong?

Chapter 1 - Missing in Action

"I'm sorry to interrupt you while sailing, Lee, but Angie insisted on putting me through."

"No trouble, Saul. We're just eighteen hours from home. What can I do for you?"

"I wanted to get the phone number of your surrogate."

"Why not just ask Rachael?"

"She's out of pocket. I didn't want to wait until we caught up and I figured Angie probably had it at her fingertips."

"Why would Rachael be out of pocket now with all that's coming in the next couple of weeks?"

"How long have you been at sea?"

"Four weeks."

"Just before the first victim of our latest serial killer was found."

"Why NCIS?"

"Each of the three victims was in the Navy, either active or reserves. Even though I've tried to give her time off, Rachael is on this one like a dog with a bone."

"Sounds like her."

"With the wedding and the baby coming in the next few weeks, it's too much for her."

"Let me know how that argument works out for you."

"I swear I worry more about your fiancée than you do."

"I count on it. So why do you need to get hold of our surrogate?"

"How about if you just float me some credit on this one and give me her number? If there's anything you need to know, I'll let you know right away, I promise."

"I'll tell Angie to call you right back with it."

"Thanks. Be seeing you soon."

Lee put down the receiver and called Angie back. He felt uneasy. That said, Saul was a good friend to Rachael and Lee, in addition to being Rachael's boss at NCIS. He'd always been straight with Lee, well mostly. He certainly had always looked out for Rachael's best interests. "Angie, call Saul back with Rosalia's number, then I want you to get right back to me with information about the serial killings in L.A."

"Sure, Lee. Call you back in just a minute."

Angie was efficient as promised. "There have been three dead women, former or current naval officers, found every Thursday of the last three weeks, each body located after the police received an anonymous tip. The news isn't reporting much detail, but scuttlebutt is that each had been raped and tortured before being killed."

"How horrible. Rachael's working on the case."

"I wondered. It must be awfully hard for her . . . well, you know . . . given her past."

"It would only fuel her determination to find the creep more."

"I'm just glad she's okay. When Saul called, I was a little worried. That's why I put him through instead of giving him Rosalia's number."

"What were you worried about?"

"Well, it kind of seems silly to say it aloud now, but I figured why would he call you for information he could get from Rachael and then my imagination got the worst of me."

"How so?"

"It's such a terrible thought, Lee. I wondered if Rachael was missing or something. Lee, the other thing the victims had in common was they were all redheads. The newspapers are calling the creep 'the Red Menace.'"

"I think Saul would have let me know if he was worried about something on the order of that magnitude, Angie."

"I'm sure you are right, Lee."

"Thanks, Angie. I'll see you soon."