2nd A/N: Had some comments about some of this one being a little confusing… So, I added a little to the discussion in M.T.A.C. to clear it up
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At four o'clock in the morning the Major was still going strong, Abby was fast asleep in her office, and the rest of the free world was sleeping soundly; blissfully unaware of the things being done to keep them safe in such a turbulent world.
Some of that world would soon learn of this newest deed. The Major found that last piece of information she needed and it was time to call everyone in to get it taken care of promptly. "Time to call in the troops," was the only outward indication Maj. Cassidy gave that anything had changed. Then, she sent the alert through her computer that would begin paging everyone that needed to know. She also started copying her files to the flash drive so that she could take them with her. And with that thought, the Major realized she needed to try and salvage her uniform before giving her report in the Multiple Threat Assessment Center, otherwise known as M.T.A.C.
She stood up, taking off her sweater and checking to see how much of the incident from the previous work day would be visible under her dress jacket. She was satisfied that the smears would be hidden by her dress jacket, so she pulled it on and made herself presentable for the conference that she had already set into motion. She ran a careful comb through her hair, took a final inspection in the mirror behind her workstation and let out a quick breath, "About as good as you can do, Cassidy… Under the circumstances, anyway. Hopefully everyone will still be sleepy eyed and not notice." She gave herself a final disapproving look and turned back to the computer to find the files copied over, so she grabbed the flash drive and her cover from the tabletop before heading straight for the door.
The ride up in the elevator gave her some time to refine the opening dialogue she would need once everyone was in place. It also gave her time to get her security badge attached to her jacket properly, and to clear her throat from the twenty four hours of up time she had managed to accumulate so far. That was when she realized she had forgotten to tell her husband that she would be unavailable for a while, so she quickly brought out her cell phone and sent him a fast text message saying just that. She was just finishing the message as she reached the doors of M.T.A.C.
The officer on the door of M.T.A.C. asked for her ID and security badge. She handed them over and waited for him to clear her. "Major… Do you have a cell phone?"
"Yes, Lieutenant, but it is DOD secure." She took back the ID and badge as he handed them over.
"Aye, aye, Ma'am… Head on in, the COM is just coming online for the conference." Nodding at the young Marine, the Major entered the room and proceeded down the stairs into the gallery. There she was met by the image of the Commandant of the Marine Corps, Commandant May.
Coming to full attention, the Major saluted the commander of her Corps, "Enough of that Cassidy… At 0415, I'd expect to see you in your PJ's. Much like I am."
"Sir, no sir… When I have been given mission, Sir, I am certain to see it through to completion. And with my sleep schedule, that sometimes means breakthroughs at 0400, Sir." The Major came out of attention, but remained at parade rest in front of the screen bearing the COM.
"Well, you might as well, take a seat, Cassidy… The old man will be slow going this time of morn-." The COM was interrupted by the image of the Secretary of the Navy coming online and making his presence known.
"I'd be more worried about your attire, May, then how fast this 'old man' is moving at this time of day." He then turned his focus on the Major, "Am I to assume that being summoned at this time of morning means you've made a breakthrough, Maj. Cassidy?"
The Major saluted the image of the SecNav, and then answered, "Aye, Sir. Just waiting for the rest to come online, Sir." Before she had a chance to explain anymore, the door to M.T.A.C. was thrown open and an obviously disturbed Special Agent Gibbs was entering the room.
The COM started laughing, "I only know one person who'd make an entrance like that… Gibbs, front and center, Gunny!"
Gibbs came down the stairs into the gallery and was now visible to the COM and the SecNav, "Yeah, well you try getting any sleep with one of these things buzzing in your ear." Gibbs was holding up what was left of his cell phone.
The technician beside the Major got her attention, "I have the Director and the CNO about to come online, Major."
She nodded her acknowledgement, "Sirs, we should be able to start the briefing shortly. If you'll excuse me?" She received nods from all concerned and went around to one of the terminal stations to plug in her flash drive. As she was booting up the drive, the Chief of the Naval Operations and the Director were both showing on the screens around them. The Major stayed at the tech station, "Thank you all for responding so quickly, and I apologize for the hour, but I was instructed to alert the full brass should I make a breakthrough during my analysis."
She received nods all the way around, "You should all be receiving a copy of my report, in its raw state, right now. In it, you will find that through a tremendous amount of database research and the natural thoroughness of a stateside supply Naval officer, we have determined the only possible source of the 'Night Markers' in question: the Fleet Operations Warehouse that was once located on the base in Norfolk. That part of the base was eliminated two years ago."
Once she was certain everyone was following along, she continued, "During the elimination, the Navy Department sold of many of the surplus, outdated and out of service items found in that warehouse upon inventory for closing the warehouse down. These items were auctioned off in lots, and the monies received were then returned into the general fund. Each lot was thoroughly labeled and inventoried for the auction and the DFAS auditors. Several of those lots were purchased by the same company. This was not flagged, due to the mundane nature of the items, and because these auctions are typically attended by surplus dealers. Contained in one of those lots were 'two crates of G-I-D Markers.'"
The COM interrupted her for clarification, "G-I-D, Cassidy?"
"Aye, Sir… More modern terminology for 'glow in the dark,' Sir." The man nodded his understanding, as did the rest of the parties assembled. "Upon further investigation, I was unable to find any matching entry for those two crates' arrival into the warehouse, Sirs. What I did find was the manifest record of 'two crates of loose flight deck markers' and the manifest also indicated that these crates were inspected by one Air Boss Cmdr. Stanley Wychovski before being sealed and sent to supply for return. The numbers on the cases matched from the auction lot to the original manifest. It would appear that when the Radium based markers were recalled, the Air Boss had them sealed and sent to supply for disposal, an entry in his deck ops journal coincides with this supposition. It is my belief that the clerk inventorying the warehouse two years ago, took a quick peek in the boxes, saw some markers, made a test swipe and saw that they did glow in the dark, and left them at that. Without the original manifest document, which is now in the archives, no one in this time period would have had any idea of the hazardous nature of the markers. Basically, Sirs, post-war relaxing of standards left some highly dangerous material sitting on a shelf for fifty plus years. It happens; especially with something that is so apparently innocuous as a couple of boxes of markers." She stopped so that everyone could have time to digest that information before she continued.
The SecNav was the first to speak, "So, Major… What you are saying, is that we sold those markers to the murderer?"
"In a manner of speaking, Sir."
The SecNav shook his head, "I never like it when one of the egghead set says those words… Let's lay it all out on the table, Major."
"Aye, Sir. The lot which contained the markers was purchased, along with several other lots by a single entity. Further investigation into the purchase revealed that the company responsible was a dummy. I could find no articles of incorporation listed in the United States or overseas, through some contacts at Interpol. There were also no proprietorships registered using that company name anywhere. Financial and corporate traces not being my specialty, I assumed that Special Agent Gibbs and his team would be able to further that part of the investigation without my assistance." She was about to continue when she noticed Gibbs pacing back and forth. The look on his face could have melted steel.
"That's it! I've had it!" Gibbs had thrown up his arms in defeat, but he quickly turned it into an attack, "I want to know right here and right damn now what the hell is going on around here." He looked at each one of them with an accusatory glare, "Well? You've got some kind of hot shot in here taking over MY investigation and you don't even have the common decency to tell me about it! You have her working behind my damn back and do not like it one bit!" There was steam practically coming out of his ears as he looked around the room waiting for someone to answer him.
The Major was the first to speak, "I assure you, Agent Gibbs, I was onl-."
"Stand down, Major." The COM interrupted her, "This one is mine…" He waited to get nods from the others present before he continued, "We Marines operate on a 'need to know' basis. And you should know that better than anybody, Gibbs. The Major did not 'need to know' WHY we sent her there, only that she was given a mission and she was to follow that mission through to its logical conclusion. And that mission, Gibbs? It was to use every tool in her arsenal to get you a suspect in the quickest amount of time possible. Now, you may not want to believe it, but this Marine is the finest there is in finding intell about pretty darn near everything, and there isn't a profiler in federal service that hasn't studied under her in the last ten years, including one of your former agents. In fact, this Marine has gone up to bat for NCIS, and your team in specific, on several occasions over the years. I'm sure your Director will back me up on this," He waited for Director Sheppard to nod, "And you wouldn't have been able to get that Israeli character without her express help either. She was the one who convinced me to send for Officer David to aide in his capture. In fact, before her report, there was talk of putting your sorry hide out to pasture for being too far off your rocker. So, before you go making an even bigger fool of yourself, you better get down on your knees and thank the Corps that Maj. Cassidy had never dealt with your ornery and unreasonable carcass until now, otherwise she might just have agreed with us back then." Gibbs was still fuming, but he was beginning to see there was a lot more going on around here.
The SecNav was the next to speak up, "Agent Gibbs, why the Major is there is irrelevant to the case at hand, and to be quite frank, well over your pay-grade. If you don't mind, I would like the Major to finish briefing us on her findings so that we might actually get a chance to close this case. As you should be well aware, we have a very narrow window of opportunity here, Gibbs, and I for one would like to the win go into our column for change…" When Gibbs did not object any further, the SecNav called to the Major once again, "Maj. Cassidy, if you would be so kind as to continue where you left off. I believe you had just told us where Agent Gibbs and his team might continue their investigation into the business records…"
The Major looked into Gibbs eyes to make sure she could continue, and when she found his resignation there, she returned to the computer terminal. "Aye, Sir… I put together a list of the databases I had already searched in order to speed things along for the next person, and they are also included in the report here."
She brought up the list and made sure everyone had taken note before she moved on to the next item, "After I hit the dead end there, I went back over all of my notes regarding the impressions I had gotten from the pictures, case notes and the small amount of evidence available to us and that was when something hit me as odd. Not only did I find divergent MO's, I also discovered that there were actually two crimes being committed with each incident. First, there was the stalking. Each of these victims' movements were well known to the UnSub, based on the methods used to abduct each victim. These people were studied over a long period of time by someone who was practically a sponge for details. This became conspicuously clear when factoring in Gunny Furmansky's case, because the Gunny was not a creature of habit. His years on the teams made him painfully aware of varying his patterns, and so the UnSub would have had to study him with such proclivity that it had to border on obsession. That kind of extreme attention to detail precludes the ability to murder, because it simply does not fit in the psychosis. So, along with divergent MO's, you have divergent crimes, which equates to divergent criminals."
That was too much for Director Sheppard, "Wait, are you trying to say we are dealing with more than one killer?"
The Major shook her head, "No, Madame Director… There is still only one killer, but if you look at the incidents as a whole, there is a lot more than murder happening in this case."
Now Gibbs' interest had been peaked, "What else did you find?"
"Well, first of all, each of the victims are linked to one another."
That was a bombshell, and all four screens, as well as Agent Gibbs were talking to her at once. Maj. Cassidy was not expecting such a chaotic response to her discovery. Gibbs held up his hands to the images on the screens, "Okay, wait a sec… We found no linking factors between any of the victims. How are you finding them linked?"
"To the UnSubs."
Gibbs was laughing this time, because he was not expecting such a rookie mistake to be made by this Marine, "Please tell me you have more than that?"
"Of course. Two UnSubs, with interlocking MO's, and interlocking personal connections to each of the victims. You were looking for something that connected each victim to each other victim, but with two UnSubs that's just a false premise." The Major pulled up a diagram from her report showing the interlocking connections, in two distinct patterns of each of the victims, with the notation of UnSub1 and UnSub2 in the nexus between the streams. "As you can see here, there are two very distinct patterns within the victimology of the whole case." With each person reviewing the diagram the Major took the time to set up the flash animation she prepared to demonstrate the next item.
Gibbs was pulling on the back of his neck, trying to figure out why he had not seen that before, especially now that it was ludicrously clear. "So, we got two guys out there, using their own relationships to pick victims, based on what?"
The Major was stopped in her preparations by Gibbs' question, "Hmmm… Well, not having the benefit of knowing who the UnSubs are, I would have to say that anger, rage, a sense of revenge over some perceived injustice are the likely motivators here, Agent Gibbs. Neither of your UnSubs are dealing with a full deck here, and one is a decidedly socio-pathic alpha male, while the other is most likely a developmentally challenged beta male." She brought up the flash animation, "And if you can all watch the screen, I will show you how the preliminary profile, while still applicable, has been altered to demonstrate our UnSubs." Just as everyone finished reading the original character trait list, the list was instantly morphed into two very different lists, labeled "UnSub1" and "UnSub2." The two lists showed these two men were completely different from one another, but at the same time, they perfectly complimented each other.
"My God…" Director Sheppard appeared to be in shock at the information contained in these lists, "Together they make the perfect killing machine."
"That was my conclusion as well, Madame Director. And if Agent Gibbs and his team are unable to apprehend these subjects, I fear they will never stop killing. I also have included in the report, that in my professional opinion, the F.B.I. would never be able to obtain the identity of the UnSubs due to the prevalence of secured military data, for which they have no access, nor any means with which to obtain that access. This would explain why they were able to make it to GySgt. Furmansky. They simply did not have the tools with which to make a case prior to his death." The Major waited for the assemblage to turn their attention to her, "Our subjects are members of the Navy family. Though I do believe UnSub1 has been discharged, most likely on a psych release." The faces of each person there was enough for Maj. Cassidy. Her work here was likely done, so now all she had to do was wait for the fallout and hope that Gibbs and his people could determine the identity of the subjects before the F.B.I. got control of the case.
She proceeded to remove her flash drive from the terminal and came back around the workstation to address the assemblage, "If you've no further questions for me?"
The Commandant was the first to break from the trance of thought they were all experiencing, "Questions? Not if you are certain of your conclusions, Cassidy."
"I'd bet my commission on them, Sir."
The COM chuckled at her confidence, "Sounds just like one of my Marines… Very well, Major."
The Major nodded, "Then I will return to my workstation and finish preparing my full report… You should have copies of it within the next two hours. Sirs?" She saluted, and waited for her orders.
The SecNav took the initiative this time, "Dismissed, Maj. Cassidy."
She then turned to the screen holding the image of Director Sheppard, "Madame Director… It has been a pleasure to assist your people in this case, Ma'am." The Major gave her a quick a click of the heels and turned to leave M.T.A.C.
When she reached the door, she was stopped by a single voice, "Thank you, Major." That voice belonged to Gibbs.
"It was an honor, Gunny," and she walked out into the lights of the corridor.