"Petty Officer, I'm going to need to talk to you today." Brett stopped in front of Jen's desk.

"The Colonel has court all day depending on how things work out and I have a dental appointment during my lunch break sir. I doubt we're going to go anywhere near her adjourning for the members to come to a verdict so it's going to have to be after court is out."

"The wheels of justice can't hold up for anyone." Brett said.

"Jen did he say why he was going to be late?" Mac asked as she exited her office reading a file.

"No ma'am he said he would be ten to fifteen minutes late and asked would it be possible to hold the proceeding up by that amount of time. Ma'am, stop walking before you bump into the Commander." Mac stopped and looked up to see Brett stood right next to her.

"Sorry Commander." Mac apologised.

"That's okay Colonel."

"What can we do for you today Commander?" Mac asked.

"I was just informing the Petty Officer that I would need to talk to her at some point today, but it appears she has a full schedule." Brett replied.

"I see. Well since there is going to be a delay with the Lieutenant Commander prosecuting the case you have exactly 23 minutes and 15 seconds. If she's late I'll find you in contempt." Mac said.

"Yes ma'am that should be enough time for a preliminary interview."

"Colonel, you need to look over these and sign them." Jen handed her over a file.

"Just out of curiosity, what happens if the prosecutor is late?" Brett asked.

"He gets found in contempt too." Mac replied. "You're down to 22 minutes and 34 seconds."

"Petty Officer lets go."

#

"I'm going to tape this interview so we know where to pick up later, if that's okay with you Petty Officer." Brett said.

"I'm not exactly comfortable with it sir, and neither would my legal representation be if he was here. He told me not to make statements even depositions without his presence, but since we have limited time and he's about to be in court, I guess its okay sir."

"And who is your legal representation?"

"Captain Rabb as he has been for several years."

"I see." Brett switched on the tape recorder. "Preliminary interview with Petty Officer Jennifer Coates-Tiner in reference to the US Navy vs. Captain Allison Krennick. By the way just out of curiosity why the double barrel but going by Coates?"

"My husband's first name is Jason. Having two Petty Officers First Class J Tiner's would be confusing. Besides I'm used to answering to Coates and this way when the Admiral yells that he wants something we know who he is talking to. Which is the same for Lieutenant Sims. Colonel Mackenzie on the other hand has it double-barrelled because she said having two Rabb's in the office would be too much for the Admiral to handle."

"I see. But in reference to the case have you ever participated in an investigation before?"

"Yes sir."

"Would you care to explain the circumstances of those investigations?"

"Other than your typical everyday work, Colonel Mackenzie suggested that I read some of the old case files and court martial transcripts when I had time around my other duties to understand better how the system worked from a legal perspective rather than from that as the person being court martialled."

"You've been court martialled?" Brett questioned.

"Yes, for minor things really. Captain Rabb helped me realise that I actually wanted to be in the Navy when he was defending me. Colonel Mackenzie was helpful too, which is why when I was released I as to be transferred to a position as legal man after some training. But as we have limited time here I'll move on. While I was reading one of these court martial transcripts and comparing it to the case file and the UMCJ I found some errors and a lot of unanswered questions. For my own piece of mind Colonel Mackenzie had me given authorisation to look back through all the information relating to the case. In the end between us we worked out that it had been a freak accident and not murder as the Staff Sgt had been convicted of. The whole office was involved in helping us to convince the Admiral to reopen the case and the Staff Sgt was released."

"Was that the only case you were involved directly in investigating?" Brett asked.

"No. Do you recall there was a diplomatic incident with Italy a few months ago when a Captain and XO were charged when they sent up a squadron of F- 14's into Italian airspace without permission and prior approval?"

"Yes vaguely."

"Colonel Mackenzie and I were out there at the time, she was conducting a court martial on the carrier at the time of the incident. Although she was the judge the SecNav had her deal with and lead the investigation with Commander Turner's help. I helped assist with talking to the plane captains about the tomcats amongst other things, which ended up being a large part of the case which got several other members of the air wing, court martialled as well."

"But you're not a qualified lawyer." Brett said.

"No. Although I've had several offers for recommendations to law school and OCS. But I like what I do and the people I work with sir." Jen replied. "I know how to ask questions. When I spoke to the women on the list we had been given from Captain Krennick's service record, I asked them a series of stand questions and recorded the responses which I sealed in an envelope and had locked in a secure filing cabinet until they were handed to Major Williams." Jen glanced at her watch. "Sir I have to be in court in less than five minutes. Can we continue this later Commander?"

"Yes of course."

"I should be done by 1700, 1730 at the latest."

"Come and find me then."

"Yes sir. If you'll excuse me." He nodded.

TBC