LCDR Richard Rodgers, JAGC, USNR

Chapter Two - Under Weigh

Lt. Bill Olson had reported to his senior officer at his Law Office, that of Attorney Richard Rodgers, for duty on a JAG investigation. They had worked out with the JAG comptroller for Bill to stay at the loft but continue to receive full per diem despite staying at no cost in Castle's loft. That allowed Bill available funds to fly to and from his home in D.C. to be with family during non work weekends and holidays. The cost for domestic flights between DC and NYC was reasonable but would add up with the number of trips Bill would eventually make during the duration of the investigation and possible court trial. Bill was thankful for this since as a family man, separations for navy deployments were hard on his kids and wife. So Bill always tried to max out family time. Bill saw the need for this particularly after one of his tours of duty that had been a six month deployment. He had been assigned on a carrier in the Gulf as a Combat JAG. Family time for the military is a precious commodity, the memories of which sustain the family particularly during long term deployments.

This setup was an ideal situation, since the loft was also the official location of Rick's law office. They could work from here well into the night, take their rests when it was needed, without Bill worrying about transportation to and from work and hotel. Rick's well equipped and well stocked kitchen also afforded them great snacks and meals, especially with Rick doing the cooking. Martha and Alexis were delighted to have Bill as a house guest. He had been there previous times before, years back, during official assist visits that Bill had made to Rick's law office, consulting on cases involving Navy interests in the region.

Once they got started, the first thing Bill did was to make an appointment with the Captain of the 12th precinct, now conducting the homicide investigation.

"Capt Roy Montgomery is who we are to see. I am told he has the best homicide team in the NYPD and by luck our case falls under the 12th's jurisdiction", Bill tells Rick as they made their way to the Precinct.

"I read the file you had on him. I expect he will be very supportive as I am friends with the mayor and have heard of Montgomery thru him."

"You know Commander this is turning out as the ideal JAG team for this case. What with all your connections and contacts in NYC, it is a great advantage."

"And", says Rick, "I get to stay at home and not deploy out of state or, worst yet, out of country."

At the 12th

"Lieutenant Commander Rodgers and Lieutenant Olson, it is a pleasure to meet you. I am a veteran myself having served on active duty with the Army CIS, the counterpart of your Navy CIS."

"That is good to hear, I have worked with both CIS's on many a JAG investigation", Rick says shaking Roy Montgomery's hand.

Bill shakes Montgomery's hand and then asks, "I assume you got the letter from our JAG Headquarters informing you of the scope of our investigation and how it dove tails into your homicide investigation?"

"That I did, and I do have prior knowledge of that scope, having worked with civilian PD's in my active duty years."

"That is great, it is such a big help when the Captain of the Precinct knows how the military investigations work along side his civilian police investigation. Just makes it so much easier."

"I am pleased to hear that Commander, let me call in my alpha team and introduce the two of you to them."

Montgomery calls them in and makes the introductions, "This is Det. Kevin Ryan and Det. Javier Esposito, they are one pair of the alpha team. This is Lead Detective Katherine Beckett and her partner Det. Rosalind Karpowski, they make up the second squad of alpha."

Both Bill and Rick shake their hands in the order they were introduced.

But when Rick shakes Det. Karpowski hands, he stops for a while and then tells her, "Roz Karpowski, it's been years!"

"Yes it has been, Lieutenant, or I mean Commander, as I see you are now a Lt. Commander."

"You know Karpowski from the past?" is Montgomery's reaction to their conversation.

"Sure do. She was one of my Master of Arms on my MA team when we brought down an illegal arms group selling on the arms black market weapons stolen from our outposts in Afghanistan."

"You were team leader for that! Karpowski has told us the story and it was the talk around all the outposts in theatre. I heard it when I was stationed with Delta Special Forces there, even before I joined Karpowski on the team", says Javi Esposito.

"She was an MA2 back then and got meritoriously promoted to First Class from that take down, along with being awarded a Navy Com with combat V."

"Same medals as you Commander, minus your purple heart?"

"Well this is turning out to be an awesome joint investigation. Why don't you all take Conference Room One and debrief the case so far", Montgomery directs them.

Conference Room One

Once situated in conference room one, Kate Beckett as lead detective, begins, "Why don't we start with some personal info on us. We are all native New Yorkers. I in particular grew up in the 12th's jurisdiction. Roz and Espo are prior military, as you now know. Kevin was former drug enforcement having done a deep cover assignment that brought down an Irish drug ring. The team as it is currently constituted has been together four years. Roz and I came in as the junior pair six years ago, and when our senior partners retired, Ryan and Espo joined the team. Anyone care to add to that brief disclosure of our team history."

With no one adding to her talk, Kate hands it over to Rick.

"Why don't you start Bill."

"Thank you commander. I am not an NYC native but I hail from a place close. I am from Virginia as is my wife. I have 3 kids, a boy and twin girls. My family is back in the D.C. area where I am assigned as the JAG coordinator for reserve JAG personnel. Have been in the Navy 7 years. I am currently on special assignment as LCDR Rogers' assistant."

Bill then turns to Rick to acknowledge that it is Rick's turn.

"Good presentation Bill, brief and concise. I, like the team, am an NYC native. Home and law office located in Soho. I am a Navy reservist called to active duty for this case as my NYC origins give me familiarity with the area. I also have argued cases in the NYC court system, so am familiar with its court procedures, another reason why I am here. I have a daughter from a previous marriage and am currently a single parent. I am looking forward to this case, particularly with Roz in it too, and Bill as my second chair. I have heard nothing but praise for this team whom I understand is the best homicide in the NYPD."

After a brief pause, Kate once again takes lead on the debrief.

"Thank both of you for that. On the table here, Commander and Lieutenant, are the information we have to date on the case, witness testimonies, CSI report, bagged evidence, ME's autopsy report. I think for this first day we will give you and the Lieutenant time to go over the current evidence and information. The team has set up two desks for you in the bullpen area. We have our Murder Board also set up in the bullpen so you can also peruse that. Is there anything else you need from me and the team?"

"That is fine for now detective, we appreciate the debrief."

"Commander you need not always address us as 'detective', police usually address each other by surnames. So I am Beckett, Roz is Karpowski and so forth. For Esposito we normally shorten his to Espo. We use our first names when we are off duty, like when we go for drinks after a particularly hard day."

"Good to know Beckett, we are fine with Rodgers and Olson."

"Fine then, let's get you two settled in. The rest of us will get back to finding leads but will be available if you have questions."

Working The Case

Once settled in at their desks, courtesy of the NYPD, Rick and Bill are busy going over the information and evidence currently available on the case.

"This coffee is terrible, taste like some bad medicine you want to avoid rather than the delicious wake me up drink it should be."

"I know it is not up to par with the coffee from your kitchen, Commander, but not all of us can afford Starbucks quality on a instant coffee budget."

"Well I am going to fix that", Rick says pulling out his cell phone and speed dialing, "hey Becky how's my favorite barista? No, I'm working with the NYPD at the moment, yeah my newest case. Yes, my usual, but could I order the biggest take out container you have. Yes put it on my tab. Could you have it sent to the 12th Precinct, Homicide Division? Great, and one other thing Becky, could you have this take out order delivered every morning to the same address. Let's do it for two weeks, if I need an extension, I'll let you know. Thanks, put in a big tip for yourself too. Well yeah nothing too good for my favorite barista. You too Becky, bye for now."

"You're going to spoil these people, Commander?"

"Bill, you know me, I like to treat my co-workers so it makes the job easier."

"Just saying Commander..."

"Rodgers looks familiar to me, but I can't place where I know him from", Beckett tells Karpowski."

"Beckett, he is a practicing NYC attorney. Maybe you know him from court."

"No, that's not it, but I will remember eventually."

"He's good people Beckett. When I was on his team he treated all us enlisted with such deference, one of the best officers I have served with. Our team would have gone anywhere, done anything for him, he is such a good leader."

"Yeah, Rodgers does give me that vibe, it just bugs me that I can't place where I have seen him before."

At that moment the elevator signals its arrival at their floor when a delivery man exits from it wearing apparel that says he's from Starbucks.

"Homicide Division?"

"Yes" the team answers in unison.

"Got a large group coffee order here, cups, utensils, and condiments all in the bag."

"Put the coffee in the kitchenette", says Rick as he hands the man a tip. He carries the large paper jug of coffee to the kitchenette and puts it and the bag of condiments on the counter by the refrigerator.

"You responsible for this Rodgers?", asks Espo.

"The coffee was just not up to my standards so I decided to correct that. You can expect a similar order every morning for the next two weeks, longer if needed."

"Thanks Rodgers", they hear from all directions.

As Karpowski and Beckett enjoy their coffee, Roz says, "What did I tell you Beckett. You're getting the Rodgers treatment. The man is a prince."

"I could get used to this", is Beckett's reply.

The treat made a definite impression on the team and it gave them reason to like their new co-investigators. They finished their first day of the new collaboration in high spirits.