Intersecting Lines Book 3
52 The Team Assembles
Los Angeles LAPD Major Crimes
Brenda's viewpoint
I glanced around the room, feeling slightly boxed in, it wasn't actually intentional, it was just that my office was filled with a number of very polite, but very insistent people, rather a lot of them actually. I'd walked into my office first thing this morning, coffee in hand, to turn around and find a procession of people following me in; though what they wanted wasn't really all that much of a surprise, not really.
"We have approval from our departments to extend our stay here to help out, with your permission that is" It was Stella Bonasera from New Orleans, standing next to Mac Taylor from New York who nodded and chipped in to support his former colleague..
"Same here, the NYPD isn't happy someone tried to kill one of their people and they've approved an extension of our time out here" Kate Beckett, who together with Jo Danville made up the quad of current and former New York people present glanced at them then back to me and nodded.
"We'd really like to help Chief; god knows when or where they'll try again"
"Chief Johnson…" It was Ray Langston, his deep voice seeming to fill the room. "I too would like to be a part of your investigation, as would all of us. Therefore we have come to you to request your approval to be a part of your team for the duration of this case" I glanced around, seeing the others like Murphy and Hunt and Willows and Hoyt nodding, before I sat back and chose another.
"Detective Caine, you're being remarkably restrained, for you that is. I take it both you and Detective Duquesne are asking for the same thing?" He nodded; one hand on his hip as he spoke.
"That was supposed to be my hotel room that got blown to hell, if it hadn't been for dumb luck I'd have been in it when it went off. Damn right I want a part of it" Duquesne laid a hand on his arm, getting his attention and shaking her head slightly before looking my way and speaking.
"Chief Johnson, we would like to join your investigation, to be a part of your team for as long as it takes to solve it. I'm sure I speak for all of us when I say that solving this crime is all that matters, for as long as that takes we would be happy to work under your leadership"
"Yeah, doesn't matter if we're consultants, temporary transfers, on secondment or whatever administrative arrangement it takes, we'd like to help out" It was Seely Booth, standing next to Brennan as I nodded at his words. Looking from him to the others I took in the set of their shoulders and expressions ranging from grim to hopeful and everything in between.
"Ladies and gentlemen, the possibility certainly exists to include you in the investigation. Chief Pope did state to me last night when he formally assigned this case to Major Crimes that I could call on any and all resources to solve this case, so it shouldn't be too much of a stretch to include you as members of a joint, inter-agency task force that I've just this very second created to work on this case" I saw smiles break out across the room as the mood palpably lifted before I held up my hand and cautioned them. "That will cover the sworn officers, there are procedures that cover such things, in case you have to make an arrest or discharge your firearm or what not" There were nods everywhere as I pressed on. "The same however does not apply to the forensics professionals here. Doctor Isles is the Chief Medical Examiner for the County of Los Angeles, and while the good doctor does not normally stand on ceremony, her position is appointed by the Mayor, not the Chief of the LAPD"
"So?" It was Caine. I shrugged as I replied.
"That means I can neither appoint people to the Medical Examiner's office nor tell Doctor Isles to include the forensic specialists here in her team, that decision is hers and hers alone"
"So we should ask her?" It was Kate Murphy from Philadelphia. I looked at her and nodded.
"That is precisely what I am saying" I looked round the room. "While I would be more than pleased to have the detectives here working with Major Crimes, if the forensics specialists wish to work on this case, you'll have to convince Doctor Isles of the benefits to being allowed to do so" There were a lot of glances between the people in my room before Langstrom spoke.
"Then we should speak with Doctor Isles" Megan Hunt nodded as she spoke.
"Immediately"
I took in the sudden outbreak of determined expressions and set jaws and wondered if Maura would forgive me for what I'd just unleashed on her.
Los Angeles LAPD Medical Examiner's Office
Maura's viewpoint
My morgue was crowded; I'd never see it so full in all the time I'd been here in Los Angeles.
In addition to my own team who were, rather wisely I thought, keeping well out of the way, I was unwittingly hosting representatives of the crime labs from New York, Miami, Philadelphia, Las Vegas and New Orleans together with Doctor Brennon and Agent Booth plus Jordan Cavenagh and Detective Hoyt. They were all chatting amongst themselves when I walked in after my impromptu chat with Natalie.
I stood there for a moment, letting my surprise dissipate as I took in the crowded room, fortunately no one had noticed me standing there, giving me time to regain my composure. After a few seconds however I decided that enough was enough and that it was time to regain control of what was, after all, my department.
"Excuse me" Apparently, no one heard me. "Excuse me!"
Again I was apparently not heard and there was no way I was going to shout to be heard in my own morgue. Gritting my teeth I stepped forward, walking through the middle of the press of people, seeking out the area on the far side of the autopsy tables, an area fortunately relatively clear of people. I noticed that as I passed the noise of conversation died away, until by the time I reached the other side of the centre autopsy table the room was quiet. I placed my Prada bag down on the bench top and turned to face my visitors, looking around the room with one eyebrow raised, noting the expressions on the faces of my 'guests', ranging from amused to embarrassed to chagrined to determined.
"To what do I owe the honour of your unexpected presence here this morning?" There was a moment of silence as people looked around, before several individuals spoke at once.
"Maura, we'd like to…"
"Doctor Isles, I think that we can…"
"Given that we're involved we'd like…"
"We want in…"
The babble was rapidly becoming unintelligible so I held up my hand.
"One person at a time, if you would be so kind" I pointed at Horatio Caine from Miami, standing there with Calleigh Duquesne close by his side. "Lieutenant Caine, perhaps you could go first" He nodded as he glanced around before straightening up and speaking.
"Doctor Isles, we'd like to be a part of the investigation. Given we were being targeted, we feel that we should have some role in getting to the bottom of it" I nodded slowly, looking around at the assembled throng before selecting another plaintiff.
"Doctor Langstrom, you have something to add?" He nodded, his voice deep and precise.
"I do. Doctor Isles, Catherine and I would like to offer our assistance. I was a target too and quite frankly, I would like to know why and by whom" I almost nodded; it made sense, but kept my thoughts to myself as I looked to another visitor.
"Lieutenant Taylor. I take it you feel the same?" He nodded in agreement.
"I do, that bomb would have killed me when I opened the door and I'd like to know who wants me dead bad enough to blow up a hotel room to do it" He shrugged. "I'd kinda find it hard to walk away without knowing" I looked around the room, before selecting another supplicant, well two of them to be precise.
"Doctor's Hunt and Murphy, given your combined presence here I presume you both wish to be involved as well?" The blonde and redhead exchanged a quick glance before they both nodded, Megan just beating Kate with a typically blunt follow up.
"Damn right we do" Kate was a little more diplomatic.
"We feel we have something to add to your investigation" I looked around the room, taking in everyone there even as I found myself idly wondering what the collective noun for a group of medical examiners was, a 'body', an 'autopsy'; a 'dissection' perhaps? Discarding that irrelivancy I crossed my arms, leaned back slightly against the bench behind me and spoke.
"I take it you all feel the same way and thus you are all here to petition me to be included in the ongoing investigation?" There were nods all round as Catherine Willows spoke up.
"Two people died, another's critical, it could have been some of us in their place, I sure want to find out who the hell was responsible for coming after our own" I nodded as another jumped in.
"Doctor Isles" It was Stella Bonasera from New Orleans. "We're here now, if we don't find whoever's doing this here and now, they may try again when we head back home" Temperance Brennan stood up from where she was leaning against some cupboards next to Agent Booth.
"I agree, we are assembled here, there is valuable work to be done, we should pool our resources and pursue our investigation while the evidence is fresh" I looked around. Everyone was nodding.
"More eyes on the case can't hurt..." It was Horatio Caine. "...and we're here" Professor Langstrom looked at him and nodded before turning back to address me.
"Indeed we are, there's a lot of expertise here in this room Doctor Isles, perhaps you can make use of it" I frowned, I felt I was being boxed in, even their arguments all made good sense. Agent Booth levered himself up to stand next to Doctor Brennan.
"Doc, you have some of the best forensics people in the country here, all that expertise, all available right now to work on this case" He smiled, a little crookedly. "Waste not, want not" I sighed audibly then addressed the room.
"I will not lie, your offer to help is appreciated, however the decision is not mine to make. Deputy Chief Johnson is running this case, you would have to ask her" I noticed smiles break out as I tilted my head to regard them. "Yes?" Lieutenant Caine smiled.
"We already did, she said to ask you" As I frowned Detective Willows gave me a lopsided smile.
"Don't look a gift horse in the mouth Doc" I sighed, I felt as if I'd been somewhat forced to this point but before I could reply Jordan Cavenagh spoke, a little quietly but loud enough to be heard in the quiet room from where she was standing slightly off to one side.
"Doctor Isles, this is the finest set of forensics professionals I've ever heard of in the one room, let alone on a single case" She glanced around the room at the people watching her, blushing a little at being the centre of everyone's attention and continued, a little quieter. "I'd never dreamed I'd get to meet all these people, let alone have the chance to work with them, to have the opportunity to learn from all these experts, many of who are legends in the profession, on a case, especially something as big and important as this one" She looked around and coloured a little more at the nodding and attention before pushing on. "It's a once in a lifetime opportunity to learn from the best and I'd really like to have that chance" I nodded slowly, unsure of what to say to that when Lieutenant Taylor took a half step forward.
"Maura, you have the forensics dream team in the room, we're here and we want to help. And what we can't do here, well our teams back home are available to do any work you want" I wavered, their arguments made perfect sense. As I considered their case Kate Murphy nodded and spoke.
"Our labs and teams are at your disposal" I nodded slowly, coming to a decision then looked around the room.
"If I agree to this…" I held up my finger as smiles started to break out around the room. "… and I have not yet agreed; you will be part of my team, working together under my direction, reporting to me. This will be a team effort, we would all be part of the same team, not a team from Miami or New York or wherever, one team, each member working where there skills are most required, irrespective of rank, is that clearly understood by all?" Everyone looked round the room and started nodding before Lieutenant Taylor shrugged.
"No arguments from us" Jo Danville, standing next to him, smiled.
"Tell us what to do, for as long as it takes, you're the boss" There was a general agreement, with everyone nodding and smiling as I stood there, thinking about it, not that it was hard, the expertise on offer here in this room, plus their assembled teams across the country, offered a wonderful capability, one I would be grossly negligent to refuse. I have been called a great many things in my life, but negligent was not one of them. Finally I looked round the assembled group and smiled.
"Then I am very pleased to welcome you all to the LAPD Medical Examiners Office" Smiles appeared on every face as I pressed on. "We will divide up the work as soon as possible, however in the interim, I believe we need to deal with the most important thing first" I saw interested looks all round the room. "If we are to do productive work, I believe we need a coffee" At the smiles and surprised looks I smiled in return and continued. "I have worked with detectives for many years and while there is no scientific basis for my theory, I have come to the belief that there is a direct relationship between their consumption of caffeine and their success rate" there were smiles all round before Stella Bonasera laughed and spoke.
"In that case, coffee's all round"
I found myself smiling with the rest, this was going to be tricky, managing a lot of egos and personalities that were used to being in charge but now forced to work together as equals was going to be a significant challenge, but with the expertise contained within this room, our chances of solving the case had just improved immeasurably.
Los Angeles The Sheraton Hotel
Killing people, contrary to popular opinion, isn't all that hard. The human body, for all that it's a marvel of design and adaptability, is fragile enough that if you hit it, just right, in just the right place, things break, important things, leaving the owner dying in its wake. The real trick is killing silently. Contrary to Hollywood's depiction, if you stick a knife or an arrow or sword in someone, they tend to scream, much the same was true with someone shot, they didn't clutch their wounds and drop to the ground silently, dead, leaving the hero to move on to his next target. Being shot pretty much anywhere hurts like hell and under that sort of pain and stress, humans tend to vocalise that trauma, very loudly.
Fortunately, Simmonds was a past master of the art of killing quickly and silently. He'd first learned from the US Army then honed that skill with innumerable killings since. That experience meant killing his next victim was easy as pie. He'd rung the man, who was almost beside himself with panic when he'd turned up to work and learned not only that there had been a bombing in the hotel overnight in which people had died but in which rooms, and told him to meet him down near the hotel's loading docks. He'd calmed the cleaner's fears by telling him it was all a misunderstanding and he'd make it right. He would, just not in the way the man expected.
Less than three minutes later he saw his target appear at the other end of the corridor and beckoned him forward even as he stepped back into a short side corridor that was well away from any cameras. Fifteen seconds later the shorter man walked round the corner, only to be swung round hard into the wall of the corridor, hard enough to leave him stunned for a second. Before he could recover a large hand clamped down hard over his mouth and an unbearable pain shot through his chest as he felt himself slammed back into the wall again. He frantically struggled and tried to speak, but the hand over his mouth was clamped tight, the man in front of him was so much bigger and stronger, while his victim grew steadily weaker, even as he twisted the knife side to side, completing the ruin of the cleaner's heart.
The last thing the man saw was the excited look of pleasure in his killer's eyes, before darkness fell.
Twenty seconds later, all of his victim's movements having ceased, Simmonds withdrew his knife and carefully wiped it clean on his victim's clothes before laying it aside. Holding his victim upright he quickly dragged the body a few steps to a laundry cart he'd stashed there and unceremoniously tipped it inside. Moving quickly he doffed the white coat he was wearing, together with any tell-tale blood stains, tossing it and the latex gloves he'd been wearing, now covered in blood, into the cart and then covered it all over with a few loose sheets.
That done he retrieved the jacket of the laundry company whose vehicle he had 'arranged' to be stolen and put it on, collected his knife and slid it into the scabbard inside his trousers then wheeled the cart down to the loading dock, carefully loading it inside his truck before heading off with cheerful wave to the security guard.
Simmonds smiled to himself, another loose end tied up and no one the wiser.
