Doppelgänger Chapter Two.
Warning – A few "bad words."
Office of the District Attorney
Indianapolis, IN
Thursday evening, March 22, 2007
From Chapter One:
"A lying scumbag Sailor is what we have." Dani and her team hadn't worked this case for six plus months to see it lost on perjured testimony. "This lying sack of shit wasn't anywhere near Indianapolis the day Tatiania was murdered and Rina was kidnapped, raped and strangled. He was on his ship umpteen thousand miles away in the Persian Gulf!"
"And we know this because?"
Doppelgänger Chapter Two.
Detective Winter's smirk was positively evil. "I called the Navy – 'N C I S' - the Naval Criminal Investigative Service. First I called the local Navy Marine Corps Reserve Center here and was referred to NCIS Headquarters in Washington D.C. …Sheeeesh, some jerk 'Dinozzo,' 'Dinuzzo,' 'Di-I dunno' tried to tell me to send a letter citing some 'SECNAV Instruction'…I finally demanded his supervisor and then he quit the snotty attitude – referred me to NCIS in San Diego, California – said the ship is "homeported" there, whatever that means."
"So?" Jimmy was impatient for the punch line, not quite daring to hope that the case could be salvaged. The young Sailor's alibi testimony had been devastating.
"So, I got a Captain Harmon Rabb. He said the ship was deployed to the Persian Gulf for months before and months after the crimes were done!"
"That's not good enough – he might not have been on the ship. Maybe he was – what's it called – 'leave' or 'AWOL?'" James Conlon knew next to nothing about military law, the little he'd absorbed from Chiara years ago had been long forgotten.
Jimmy was leaning back in his chair, one knee folded as he anchored himself in place by putting a foot on the bottom file drawer—not exactly what the office furniture designers had in mind, but it worked for him—as he listened to the detectives and their Lt.
Detective Thompson picked up the story. "Captain Rabb said he'd call the lawyer on the ship and see what records they have – he promised to call back tonight. He's going to call Dani's cell." Her voice was hopeful. She'd lived this case for months. Her child was eight years old.
As if right on target - the Lt's cell phone rang. "Lt McKinnen." At least her voice wasn't anything like Chi's, Jimmy thought absently, trying to focus on the call, and not on her face.
"Just a minute, Captain, while I put you on the speaker." Balancing the phone on the edge of James' desk, she continued. "Thanks for calling back so quickly, Captain Rabb. We're with Indianapolis District Attorney James Conlon."
"Evening."
"Rabb here. I understand you want to know the whereabouts of a Petty Officer Timothy Morrison on July 2nd, 2006."
Conlon grunted. "It would be helpful, yes sir."
They heard the ruffling of papers. The discombobulated voice continued, a slight tinny tone across the airwaves. Jimmy winced inwardly—as good as technology was getting these days, he wondered if they would ever get rid of that grating sound. "Petty Officer Morrison deployed with the USS John F. Kennedy – an aircraft carrier -- on January 25th, 2006. What was supposed to be a six months' cruise was extended because of the war. On July 2nd, Morrison was on the ship in the Persian Gulf." Was it Jimmy's imagination or did he hear a slight wistfulness in the voice. He leaned forward.
"Captain, would it be possible to get paperwork documenting his presence on the ship on the night of July 2nd??"
"We can provide ship's log entries regarding the deployment, daily muster reports – you'd call them 'attendance records' -- and more."
Jimmy kept his New York impatience in check. "Do you need a formal request from this office for those records or is our phone conversation enough for you, Captain? We're in day 12 of a carjacking, murder, kidnapping and rape case. Maybe you've heard of it? The Olevenowski's – mother and daughter? A world famous figure skater and her rising star 10 year old daughter?"
There was a very dry chuckle coming from the other end. "If it were up to me, your word would be enough. However, this is the government and there are regulations for everything. I'll give you a fax number – a fax on your letterhead will do fine." There was a pause. "Besides the records, we can do even better for you. The petty officer was assigned as the bailiff for CO's mast that day. Er-r-r …that's a non-judicial punishment proceeding -- a hearing -- in front of the commanding officer. The ship's JAG – that's 'Navy lawyer' to you – can testify as to his presence. Soooo….she'll bring the records and herself in person. When do you need her?"
"We're in recess 'til Monday." Four grins lit the room and the two detectives exchanged high-fives. Their case was back on track.
They again heard the rustling of papers over the phone. Captain Rabb continued, "I'll make arrangements for the ship's JAG to arrive in Indianapolis on Sunday, complete with paperwork. Between now and then, you fax me your request and we'll fax the information."
Jimmy hung up the phone with a sense of satisfaction. They were going to nail this bastard, along with that low-life scum, Juice O'Malley, who'd committed the crimes in the first place.
"Okay. I'll let Mo and Annabeth know. They can meet this Navy lawyer Sunday and go over everything. You guys want in?" James forced himself to look Lt McKinnen in the eye. It wasn't her fault she looked like she was Chi's twin.
A short time later.
Annabeth's house.
She was cute, really cute. Jimmy smiled at the snoozing toddler, who was starting to stir in the port-a-crib, blinking sleepy blue eyes at him, all blond hair and flowered pink pajamas. It'd been 17 years, but he had no memory, none, of watching Jessie sleep like this, or ever picking her up from her crib. Seventeen years ago he'd been consumed with the need to start making his mark in the Manhattan D.A.'s office, punching the tickets as he rotated through the divisions with the other newbie prosecutors. Jimmy sighed. He'd cared about his ex-wife, he really had, and he'd been faithful, but he knew now that he'd married her for all the wrong reasons, and few, if any, of the right ones. Reeling from Chi's death, he'd felt the need for stability, for a home and family. And, he hadn't been totally upfront with his bride about his long-term ambitions. Water under the bridge now, he mused, but he also hadn't realized – hadn't known – what he'd missed.
He'd left voicemail for Mo, gotten hold of Ed and Ray with the good news, but kept getting a busy signal at Annabeth's, so he decided to stop on his way home with the information Captain Rabb had provided.
Files spread out all over the table and floor, Annabeth had been reviewing every statement, every detail. Thrilled with the information – 'Gotcha, Juice' – she volunteered to get the required request letter out to San Diego from her home fax.
"I think she's waking up, shall I get her?" Jimmy hadn't been around a little kid in years but for some reason, he really wanted to pick this one up and hold her close …just for a moment.
Concentrating on the letter, Annabeth nearly forgot to warn her boss. "Amalia – my nanny – said she was fussy all afternoon; finally dozed off with some baby Tylenol – she may be a bit upset or coming down with something …be careful she doesn't …."
Toooo late. Chuckling at the little arms waving and hearing a mumbled "Up! Up!" Jimmy swooped little uh-oh 'what'shername' up – realizing he'd forgotten her name – only to have a day's worth – it seemed like a river – of juice, milk, bananas and applesauce spew out onto his front. Eewww …
Finally hearing both him and her suddenly crying daughter, Annabeth was mortified. "I am so-o-o-o sorry," she gasped. …"Let me have her … Oh sweetie, don't you feel good, does your tummy hurt?" Annabeth crooned to the child, while frantically motioning Jimmy to take off his dripping jacket and shirt.
"I am so sorry …Hailey's hardly ever sick."
"Hey, not your fault, she couldn't help it," Jimmy tried to reassure. "Can I get you a wet cloth or anything?"
"Yes, please, in the kitchen. And, leave your jacket and shirt there – I'll sponge them off and put them in a plastic bag to go to the cleaners." Still trying to soothe Hailey, Annabeth rocked her gently.
"Don't worry about the jacket – that's what cleaners are for." Hailey had dozed off again, undoubtedly feeling better with her stomach emptied. Jimmy had asked Annabeth to get his gym bag from his car and had shrugged into a sweatshirt as quickly as possible. He wasn't sure who was more embarrassed – him at being bare-chested in front of her or she about Hailey's having thrown up all over him!
"I'll fax the request letter to San Diego right now and drop your jacket and shirt at the cleaners on the way to the office. I insist." Annabeth was still mortified.
"Not necessary, but okay, if it'll make you happy."
End Chapter Two
A/N 1: The gist of the shirtless jimmy scene was created for mkim's contest, but not posted due to it's similarity to can j's vignette. Re-worked to fit this chapter, any remaining resemblance is with can j's kind permission./Janlaw.
A/N 2: The USS John F. Kennedy is not homeported in San Diego and did not deploy as stated in this chapter. She was recently decommissioned after a final port visit to Boston.