The Case
BREAK
They had been trolling back and forth across San Pedro Bay in a 45 foot Bayliner, scanning the bottom for something interesting. The Chief was on deck having a beer and trying to enjoy his "vacation."
It wasn't much of a vacation in his mind. His former Navy Dive Team boss, a retired Master Chief, invited him up from Coronado for a few days to do some recreational diving on some "wrecks" that were on the bottom of the bay.
Only thing was they hadn't done much diving. His boss seemed more interested in using his boat to search the bottom of the bay, looking for something. The Chief didn't mind- the beer was cold and he was out on the water.
Just then the Master Chief peeked his head out from the bridge. "Got a hit, Clint! It looks interesting." The Bayliner slowed down and stopped.
Clint put down his beer and headed to the bow to help put out the anchor. With that done he headed back aft.
Clint saw his old boss start putting on his diving equipment. "How deep we looking at here, Skipper?" He started putting on his own dive gear.
"Display said 68'. Easy dive."
"What do you think we are diving on?" Clint was curious. They had been trolling around for 4 hours before settling on this spot.
"Side scan sonar makes it look like an old fishing boat."
"You trolled for four hours to dive on a old fishing boat?" Clint shook his head, hell of a vacation. He was hoping to dive on something more interesting.
"Don't worry, Clint. This should be interesting." He had a huge smile on his face.
Thirty minutes later they were diving down onto the wreck. As they neared the sunken wreck it started to come into view. Through the murkiness, Clint could see that it didn't looking like a fishing boat.
He turned on his light and focused the beam onto the supposed fishing boat. It was a black hulled ship with ocean blue patches scattered across it. The whole upper deck was covered and enclosed. Moving the light further down he saw a small conning tower and a few PVC pipes sticking up behind it. It dawned on him what this wreck was- a Narco-Sub.
He was now pissed. What did the Master Chief get him into? He started looking for him in the depths. He spotted him over by an open hatch. Clint swam over to him.
The Master Chief exited the hatch with a black bag in his hand and shook it in front of Clint. A white powdery substance mixed and floated in the water around the bag. A look of excitement grew on the Master Chief's face.
Clint was mad. He grabbed his old boss and, using hand signals, pointed back up to the boat, telling him to surface now. He turned and swam back to the dive rope to start working his way back up to the boat. After waiting the required time to avoid getting the "bends" they broke the surface and removed their masks and regulators
"What the hell, Master Chief? Are you crazy? You can't rip off a Narco-sub!"
"Clint, think of the money we could make. I have a contact who would be willing to take it all if we recover it for him," he pleaded with his old shipmate.
"I don't want to be involved in any of this. If the Cartel that owns that sub finds out, we are dead, our families are dead, and anybody even close to this is dead." Clint swam toward the boat and climbed up the ladder onto the stern. "I'm calling this in when we get back."
The Master Chief climbed up onto the stern and replied, "Come on, Clint, no one will know. It's been down there for what seems like weeks. I bet the cartel wrote it off."
Just then they realized they were not alone on the Bayliner. Four men walked out from the cabin. Three of them were carrying Mac-10 machine pistols and the one who looked like the leader had a Colt .45 in his hand.
"You gentleman trying to steal my shipment?" He made a clicking noise equal to a non-verbal tsk-tsk. "That is a multi-million dollar shipment down there. I put a lot of effort into getting that up here, and you thought you could just take it?" He was standing over the two Navy men.
The Master Chief spoke up, "We were just diving on a wreck. We didn't know it was there. We can salvage it for you…..for a price…"
Clint was scared. The leader responded to the Master Chief's offer. "We know you weren't just diving on a wreck. We have been watching you troll back and forth across the bay. We knew you were looking for my shipment. Your services are not needed." At that statement the three men around him opened fire, killing the Master Chief and Clint.
"Take the charts and anything that shows this is the place. Then take the boat further out and burn it. Make it look like an engine fire," he ordered two of his men as a rigid inflatable boat appeared next to the Bayliner. The leader and a bodyguard boarded the other boat and left the scene.
BREAK
My first day working with the team at OSP was uneventful. After arriving from Afghanistan, having a little fun with Sam, and giving the letter from Kensi to Deeks, the rest of the day was just me filling out paperwork.
THE PREVIOUS DAY
Hetty had gotten all my bio-metrics for their records. She also gave a new phone that was pre-programmed for all that I would need and a new alias ID complete with California drivers license. She reminded me to take off my dog tags and I put them in my, or should I say Deeks', desk drawer.
"Have you given any thought to where you will be staying in Los Angeles during your time here, Mr. Lee?" Hetty asked after she called me into her office area.
"Not really, Hetty. My house is back in Lancaster," the nearest residential area to Edwards Air Force Base, "It's not a bad drive from out there. I think I can manage."
"That simply won't do. That's an eighty mile commute each way and, with traffic, it can take ages." She slid a key across her desk towards me. "I can not have one of my agents almost two hours away if and when I need them. So, you will stay at that apartment," she pointed at the keys, "until your assignment with us is complete. Don't worry your dog. Fletcher is allowed to stay as well."
"Hetty, I can't accept this. I will find a place to stay here locally. I'm sure somebody I know has a place to crash nearby. I don't want to impose." I was in shock that she would do that for me.
"Major, it has already been arranged. The less people that know you are here, the better. We like to keep a low profile. Hazard of the job." She paused for a few seconds. "Your commute now will be a lot shorter. The apartment is close to the beach. I believe you will find it quite acceptable."
I relented to her request, "Thank you, Hetty." I got up and headed back to the bullpen.
Hetty called out as I walked away, "Mr. Lee, tomorrow we will need to talk about your wardrobe." I turned and looked back at her.
"What's wrong with my clothes?" She just looked at me and shook her head.
I guessed it was quitting time because Sam, Callen and Deeks were packing up their stuff.
"Hey, Emil, you wanna go get a drink and catch up some more," Deeks asked me. Sam and Callen showed interest as well.
"Sorry, guys, I would enjoy getting a beer, haven't had one in six months, but I need to drive back to Edwards and get my stuff. Seems I'm relocating for awhile thanks to Hetty," I held up the keys. "Gonna grab my mail, pack some clothes, and go pick up Fletcher and head back to my new place."
"Fletcher?" Sam asked me.
"Yeah, he's my dog. He has been staying with a friend since I was deployed. Looking forward to seeing him."
Sam looked over to his partner and sighs "G, he has a dog. Why does everyone have pets? He's like Deeks 2.0"
Deeks took the opportunity to say something, "That's because dogs are man's best friend, Sam. Any real man would understand that." He had a smile on his face.
Sam retorted, "Then, what does that make you, Deeks?" Laughter erupted all around.
"Touche".
BREAK
PRESENT DAY
I got into OPS early this morning. I had moved what stuff I could from Lancaster to my "new" apartment. Fletcher came along as well. He was very happy to see me. I couldn't sleep that well since I was in a new place but I figured that wouldn't last long.
Hetty was right; it was a short commute. Looking at my watch I saw that it was 0630. I dropped my laptop off at my desk and headed over to the gym. I was already dressed in workout gear. In went the earbuds from my IPod and I started my crossfit workout.
I was lost in my workout when Sam and Callen walked into the gym. I was at the pull-up bar doing kipping muscle ups.
"Whoa, check out the new guy. Seems we have another Crossfit convert. He might even give Kensi a run for her money." Sam looked over at Callen. "Never too late to start, G."
"I'm comfortable with my body. All I need to do is keep up with you, big guy."
"Yeah, and eating donuts and drinking coffee really helps to keep up that physique." Sam shoved G on the shoulder.
I got down from the pull-up bar, grabbed my towel and walked over to the two of them. "Morning." I pointed at the two of them. "How long has this bromance been going on? Makes me feel all warm and fuzzy."
"You hear something, Sam? It's like an annoying buzzing sound." But Callen let out a small laugh after he said it. "How was your first night back?"
I wiped my face with my towel then threw it over my shoulder. "Real bed, real sheets, not sleeping in a converted conex box with four other guys, shower with actual warm water, I think it sucked." I got a few laughs. "Didn't sleep much, not used to it yet, came in early to work out."
Sam looked at me with an understanding expression. "Yeah, it takes a few days to readjust, but I bet you know that." His expression changed to concern when asked me, "You saw Kensi?" Both he and Callen were focused on me.
"Yeah, right before I got on the plane. She was looking for a way to get a letter back here and found my flight heading back to Edwards. She didn't know I was on it. Now I know why I was sent back."
"How'd she look?" Callen asked eagerly.
"She looked fine, a little tired. Didn't get to talk much but she was good. Told me to keep an eye on Deeks. I hooked her up with my ice cream connection." They both shared a laugh at that news.
"Any idea what she is doing out there?" That was from Sam.
"No, I didn't ask and she didn't say. Kinda figured it was hush hush. OSI didn't know she was out there or I would have known." I told them honestly.
"Thanks." Sam shook his head at me and grabbed my shoulder. They headed off to work out. I followed them and started to work out beside them. We worked out for another hour. Sam and I did a few Crossfit exercises together, having a healthy competition. I felt glad that I was starting to fit in better here. But it was nagging me that Callen was still a little hesitant about my presence.
After showering and changing we headed back to the bullpen. I took a seat at my desk, powered up my laptop and started looking throught my emails.
At 0930 Deeks decided to grace us with his presence.
"Well, well, look who decided to finally show up. I was getting used to you being in here early. Your new partner was here before all of us, got a nice workout in. What's your excuse?" Sam was leaning back in his chair staring at the Detective as Deeks took his seat across from him.
"And it was your turn to bring Coffee, Deeks." Callen added to the pile.
Deeks sat in his chair with his elbows on the desk. "Well, for your information, I actually got some sleep last night and decided to go surfing this morning. And, according to the calendar, it was actually Kensi's turn for coffee. That means that duty now falls on Matt." He looked over at me with a smirk.
"I don't drink coffee," I told them bluntly.
Callen looked at me. "I'll take mine black."
"Medium triple, low fat, hold the foam," Sam added.
"Soy latte works for me" chimed in Deeks.
"You guys got a new agent handbook or schedule that you haven't given me yet?" I laughed and stood up to head out. The room was full of smiling expressions.
As I was about to grab my keys I heard "Wild Blue Yonder" being whistled from up above.
Eric was at the railing. "Aim High, we have a case." All four sets of eyes were on him, some were rolling. "What?... It's Matt's first official case as part of the team. I thought it was fitting."
"I never liked that slogan," I muttered under my breath, and we all headed up the stairs to Ops.
