LCDR Richard Rodgers, JAGC, USNR

Chapter 3 - Turning Into The Wind

The Loft

They had gone most of the day looking through the current evidence and information on the case. The suspect, a fighter pilot and Naval Academy grad, Jeffery Lawrence, had no recollection of how he got to the crime scene. The NYPD shrink had said in his report that it was temporary amnesia brought on by a traumatic experience. Implied, but not stated, was that the so called traumatic experience was from Lawrence killing the vic, one Philip Regan. Regan was by police records a street thug known for working with the mob as a collector for extortion money from local businesses in the 12th's jurisdiction. He was also suspected of roughing up some of the people he collected from, but never got charged with any assault claims.

As they sat in his office at the loft, they were discussing what they had found out so far from earlier that day.

"Bill, you know what was missing from the bagged evidence?"

"What was that CDR?"

"Lawrence's cover was missing."

"Yes, you are right. I missed that."

"When you lose your cover out on liberty, what do usually you do?"

"I would return to the ship and get my spare cover and if there is time left on liberty, rejoin my shipmates in town."

"And why return for your spare cover?"

"Well technically you are out of uniform without a cover and in town on liberty. You could get put on report or picked up by shore patrol. Wearing a proper uniform when off the ship and on liberty is mandatory for port of calls. It is a practice that all Navy types, officer and enlisted alike, follow to a tee. Looking one's best in a proper uniform is taken strictly especially in a liberty port. On liberty and in uniform, particularly in a foreign port, you are representing your ship and your country. So your appearance and behavior must be exemplary and above board."

"So either Lawrence ended up at the crime scene heading back to the ship for his spare cover and somehow never got there...or he was brought somewhere where he lost his cover and then wound up at the crime scene."

"What makes you think he was taken to somewhere before the homicide?"

"The CSI recovered soil from Lawrence's shoes that are not native to NYC and surrounding cities. In fact, lab report says the soils are from locations outside NYC metro."

"Any area specifically called out in the CSI report."

"An area north of the city."

"So how did he get there and back? He had no car I assume."

"I did not see anything in his financial report on credit card charges. We may want to check for car rental charges."

Bill makes a note of that in his investigation notebook.

"What's your thoughts on the missing cover?"

"Find the cover and we may have an indication of where Lawrence was at before the murder."

Again Bill makes a note of that.

At The 12th

It is an early morning progress review with Alpha team. Rick brings up the discussion he and Bill had last night at the loft.

"Ryan check out Lawrence's credit card charges for car rentals as Rodgers suggests. Espo, see if we can find out more on the areas where the soil samples may have come from. It is a big hay stack to find the needle here", says Kate to her team mates.

"CDR Rogers, what kind of cover are we looking for from Lawrence?" asks Karpowski.

"He was wearing gabardines as his dress uniform, I assume he used his garrison cap cover, as a combination cover gets bulky for liberty."

"Care to translate for us non military types Karpowski", says Kate.

"Combinations covers are like our police covers, or hats, that we wear. It has the bill and the cover can be changed out to match the uniform type, either white, or khaki. Garrison caps are similar to the ones worn by the Boy Scouts, somewhat of a beret is as close as I can give as another example."

"I agree that the garrison cover is easier to handle, but we should be on the lookout for either one, if we can not confer what he wore out in town. Still, it is a needle in a big haystack", Kate acknowledges.

Just then Rick gets an idea, "Ryan who owns the building of the crime scene?"

"A Holmes Inc, but it is a dummy company, still trying to find the parent company", replies Ryan.

"How about when you find the parent company you look into property they own in areas that match the soil samples."

"It a long shot Rodgers, but we just may hit pay dirt", says Kate to Rick's suggestion.

After the morning progress report, Rick talks to Beckett.

"Beckett, Olson and I need to talk to Lawrence, let him know of the JAG investigation, and we can also confirm what cover he took on liberty. Can you get us in to talk to him?"

"He is being held in Metro jail for now, awaiting transfer, so let me call ahead and ask them to let you see him."

"Thanks Beckett."

"No problem CDR Rogers."

Metro Jail

They interview Lt Lawrence at his current location in the Metro Jail. He confirms that he wore his garrison cap when he went on liberty and also says it never left his person. He recalls he had been drinking at a bar alone as most of his shipmates had headed back to the carrier before liberty expired. The Captain had granted Cinderella Liberty to the crew which meant they had to be back by 12 midnight to the ship. Lawrence was finishing up his last drink, which he recalls he did finish. That is the last memory he had before waking up at the crime scene.

Lawrence is the pilot for a special version of Hornet aircraft equipped for electronic warfare. His backseat was configured for radar jamming both land and air elements. They carried the new top secret air to air jamming device which was operated out of the backseat by his EWO, Electronic Warfare Officer, Lieutenant Junior Grade (LtJG) Charles (Chuck) Evers. His EWO also was his navigator and radar intercept officer if they had to do air combat maneuvering to defend against enemy fighters. All backseat operators are designated Naval Flight Officers (NFO's) in general and had non-pilot duties associated with specialized flight operations of the aircraft they flew.

Early NFO's were primarily aviation navigators, but as time passed they also acquired other duties. One could tell the difference between pilots and NFO's by their flight wings. Naval Aviators (Pilots} wore wings that had a single anchor situated vertically up and down in the center of the wings. NFO's had two cross anchors in an 'X' configuration on their flight wings. Lawrence's NFO had been on Officer of the Deck (OOD) duty that day when Lawrence was in the city. Thus Evers had not joined Lawrence for liberty. They made a note to interview Evers.

Next Day at the 12th Precinct

Beckett is at her desk analyzing the latest evidence and info they had gathered. What worried her about their suspect is his profile did not fit for that of a homicide suspect. On paper Lawrence had a squeaky clean police record, was a Naval Academy grad in top 10% of his class, a jet pilot and career Navy. A profile like that did not speak of a murderer. They were missing something and she wanted to find it. Her instincts told her they had the wrong suspect.

She needs a break and goes to fill her cup from the big paper jug container of coffee now a daily delivery to the team thanks to Rodgers, their joint team member. When she gets to the jug, CDR Rodgers is there also filling his cup.

"Beckett, let me get that for you", Rick says as he gets ready to fill her cup from the jug he was holding.

"Thanks Rodgers."

"You look out of sorts, something bothering you on the case Beckett ?"

"Lawrence, doesn't fit the standard model for a killer, so what was his motive? He did not even know the victim."

"My thought also. There are three major reasons for committing a murder: money, jealousy, or to cover up another crime. I rule the first two out, so, covering up a crime is the remaining other motive. But who is covering? Lawrence or the real killer? And what is the coverup?", replies Rick.

Just then Lt. Bill Olson appears, "CDR Rodgers, a certified letter just arrived 'Eyes Only' for you", he tells Rick. Rick takes the letter from Olson and then goes to one of the conference rooms to read. After reading it he dials on his cell phone the number given in the letter and enters into a 15 minute talk with the person on the other end. After the phone call, he goes to the bull pen area.

"If we could all meet in conference room one, I have just received an official letter that has significant impact on our case", he announces to the joint team. They all quickly gather in the conference room.

"So what is this about Rogers, is this about the letter you just received", Espo asks first before Beckett can even speak.

"Yes, it is Espo, so let's all take our seats. What I am about to say is highly classified, and need to know only. We will have to brief Capt Montgomery on this when I am done." CDR Rodgers says looking at Beckett and pausing for a while to let his comments sink into the group's thoughts.

After some seconds, he continues, " It turns out our victim, Philip Regan, was a federal agent working undercover for the Department of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms, or ATF, as it is better known". Stunned silence from the group as each looks around at their other team mates.

Rodgers stops a bit to let all the surprised looks settle down and then says, "He was in deep cover for nearly 18 months trying to find a terrorist group that has been buying off the black market for firearms and explosives. This group is well funded as other terrorist groups normally do not buy what they need off the arms black market. Most of these groups have made their own explosives and have used stolen firearms. According to Philip Regan's handler, he was close to finding out the people involved. It appears they are planning something big for NYC. The mob that Regan worked for undercover apparently was supplying this terrorist group with their weapons and explosives."

Another pause as the group reacts again to what Rick had disclosed. Then he again continues, "Also involved now is the Office of Homeland Security who at this time is allowing the investigation to proceed before deciding if they will take over the case. They do not know when the alleged big event will happen, but apparently Agent Regan was close to finding that out also. Joining the group tomorrow, only in oversight and for info, at least for the current time, is Agent Mark Fallon of Homeland Security and Agent Joseph Marconi ATF. It is still the NYPD's case, so Beckett, you are still Lead Detective."

As soon as Rodgers is done, everyone starts talking out all at once with questions and remarks of wonder on where the case was now heading.

"Okay people, settle down", says Beckett, "it is still our case, but has grown bigger now than the original homicide. Rodgers, will you join me as I brief the Capt. The rest of you continue to do what you were doing. We need leads now and apparently time may be of the essence here."

With that Beckett and Rodgers go in to brief Captain Montgomery. When they get to him, he is reading a letter. Apparently a letter similar to the one CDR Rodgers had just received.

"Come in you two. I suspect it is about the same thing I just got notified on via an endorsement from 1PP to the 12th on a letter from ATF. It appears our Homicide case is not only bigger now but has some serious impacts if we can't find leads."

"Well, if that letter is a copy of the one I got, you know most of what we were going to brief you on", Rodgers tells the Captain.