Everything In Time
Chapter 19
Wednesday, January 31, 2007
0900 Local Time
NCIS Headquarters
Washington Navy Yard, NE, DC
Being that Vivian's kidnapping was a federal charge, the FBI, by law, got involved when Diane notified them. The next morning Special Agent Tobias Fornell and his team of agents descended upon NCIS headquarters attempting to take over the investigation, demanding that Emma and her team stand down. Diane put a stop to their steamrolling and brought Fornell into her office and in her inimitable style got right into his face.
"Just because the law requires that the FBI be called for a kidnapping case, that doesn't mean that you come into my agency and bigfoot our case after we've done all the leg work, and may I add without your assistance. You'll get copies of the reports in the normal course of business."
Fornell tried to protest, "The Justice Department's attorneys sent us here to gather all the evidence so that they can start getting their case together."
"We've already done that. The federal attorney's office that will try this case already has the evidence."
"What office?"
"The Navy's LSO/MCRT office in Falls Church. Their team of attorneys is on their way over here now." At that point, Diane's desk phone trilled. She picked it up with, "Yes Cynthia?"
"Director, Commander Coleman, and Lt. Commander Austen are here."
"Well send them in." Diane went to stand in front of her desk to greet them.
When they came in, they all shook hands as Diane introduced Fornell to them. "Commanders, you'll be working with Emma Gardiner's team as well as Agent Fornell's team in preparing your case. The FBI still has to go to the Virginia Beach PD to further investigate Detective Bonifilo," Diane reminded Fornell.
"Very well Director. Here is a copy of the search warrant from the VBPD's office. As soon as your staff JAG notified our office, Captain Rabb had Loren and I prepare the brief for Judge Mayfield to sign." Faith turned to, "Loren, you go with the FBI and meet our Red Team at the Virginia Beach PD. Make sure that they observe all the proprietaries. I don't want them and the other "keystone cops" in Virginia Beach to fuck up and do something that gets Bonifilo off on a technicality."
Diane chuckled and Fornell winced at the "keystone cops" line. He asked Faith, "Where'd you learn your comedy routine?"
"George Carlin," Faith smiled primly. She certainly wasn't intimidated by the FBI.
Fornell sighed and walked to the door. He held it open for Loren to precede him out.
When they left Diane offered, "Faith, have a seat." When Faith and she sat, Diane asked, "How strong is our case against Bonifilo?"
"Well Director, the evidence that you showed to Bonifilo in her interview was only a portion of what the forensics team gathered. All of Vivian's clothing was recovered from the trunk of the Intrepid. Bonifilo stashed it there. She also left the blood-spattered leotard that she wore when she beat Vivian. The leotard also had the aftermath of Bonifilo's menstruation flow; further cementing her involvement in Vivian's murder. Also, according to Vivian's computer calendar, whether the Virginia Beach PD want to admit it or not, she was seen in Agent Blackadder's company more than once at their headquarters. Based on that I'd say we have a very solid case."
"That sounds good. What about the drugs Bonifilo used to control Vivian and Rico? Vivian had a lot of Bromocriptine in her system. That's a very powerful barbiturate. Only an anesthesiologist can administer that drug."
"We can show that Bonifilo was using Rico as a drug pipeline under the guise of him being an informer. It's gotta be in her computer records. Let's hope Paris Summerskill's Red Team got to the computer before VBPD's internal affairs get to it."
"They have it. Paris called to tell me that Kai was already accessing it. It's going to take a while to get into it completely. He has to do a deep dive into her search history to see what she was looking at and how she planned and did what she did. Gibbs and Emma are interviewing all of Bonifilo's past associates. Jennifer gave us quite an extensive list. That's going to take a while. But enough of that. Tell me how's married life treating you. It's been since November of last year."
Faith smiled coyly as she asked her own question, "What are you really asking?"
"Are ya pregnant yet?" Diane drawled sounding like Paula Dean.
Faith threw her head back and laughed. She calmed down enough to reply, "Yep."
That caused Diane to jump up and race around her desk with her arms wide open. Faith met her halfway and welcomed her into an embrace.
When they came apart, Diane asked, "How far along?"
"About 4 weeks. We've been trying since the honeymoon. I wasn't pregnant at Christmas, but we did celebrate New Year's at home. I used an EPT the next week and it was positive. At my check-up appointment, Captain Baldwin figured I'm due at the end of September."
"My Sarah was born September 28. She was a honeymoon baby. What are you and Mike hoping for after the usual happy and healthy?"
"We want a boy. Being the youngest after his three sisters, growing up Mike had to put up with their girly stuff. He joined the Marines to get away from that. He'd like nothing better than to bring some more testosterone into the family."
"Yeah, you're right. Trey loves spending time away from his sisters with the Marshall brothers and Caroline loves spending time away from her brothers with my girls."
"You and the Marshalls are like a combined nuclear family."
"Yes, along with Ann Marie's family, we are. All the cousins love each other. When we get together in the summer at Rehoboth and at the holidays, it makes for a pleasantly noisy house."
"Mike and I want that. We want to have more than one baby. He loved being with his nieces and nephews. They all thought Uncle Mike was the coolest uncle."
"Well, I hope his nieces and nephews are happy that their cool uncle is going to be a dad."
"According to his sisters, when they called to tell them after we confirmed that I was pregnant, they were thrilled and I quote, "Cool! Uncle Mike's going to be a dad. We can't wait to babysit!"
"Great to hear. I like to see another new Navy baby at Christmas. Hell, between Harm & I, Jen & Sergei, the Marshalls, and Matthews we've been doing that in our family the last few years. Just remember to set up the play dates."
"We will Diane. In the meantime, I've got to get back to work to prosecute Bonifilo."
"Okay Faith, I'll let you go."
Diane went around to share an embrace with her before Faith walked out.