Misconduct?: chapter 4
By: The Confused One
Disclaimer: See the first three chapters! LOL The disclaimer is ALL there.
A/N: Ok, this chapter is going to be strange. It's just straight through all the interrogations. It's not going to flow. We'll see what Deakins and Alex are up to with Jennifer and her father in the next chapter. That one will flow better.
Deakins sat at one of the long interrogations tables. Two men from IA sat across from him. The taller one introduced himself first, "Captain James Deakins right? I'm Gregory Hensley."
Deakins shook his hand. The other man now introduced himself, "And I'm Dennis Huffines. We'd like to thank you for your cooperation in this matter. Hopefully we can make this swift and painless for you and the rest of your division."
Deakins arched his eyebrows. He certainly didn't believe a word these guys were saying, but he played along, "Thank you. That would be most appreciated."
Gregory now spoke, "First of all we would like to get a sense of who detective Goren is. How long have you known him?"
Deakins relaxed and began, "I've known detective Goren for about ten years now. He's one of the best I have."
Deakins could tell that the men were skeptical. Dennis questioned, "I see. How many times have you had to file a report or suspend detective Goren, Captain?"
Deakins moved uncomfortably in his chair now. This was one question he didn't want to answer. He hesitated before answering, "Detective Goren isn't like most people. He requires a certain amount of handling. I have never had to suspend him till now. I have had to write him up several times."
Deakins could see the satisfaction on their face. He could tell they were enjoying burying Goren. Gregory started in next, "And has his conduct with a suspect ever been in question before?"
Deakins again hesitated with his reply, "All the reports have been about his conduct with a suspect, but it's never been serious."
Deakins watched as Gregory nodded. He asked another question, "What exactly were the reports about?"
Deakins knew nothing he was saying was helping, but he also knew that they already knew the answers to these questions, so he had to be honest. He replied, "Detective Goren has a tendency to get a little violent for most people's tastes. He'll slam his hand on the table to get them to pay attention. He paces and gestures with his hands a lot. It unbalances and unnerves most people. The suspects lawyers have on occasion complained, but they were obviously never serious enough to merit concern. So, yeah, I just filed them as department write-ups. I think his record on apprehension, interrogation, confessions, and convictions speaks for itself."
Deakins watched the men. Dennis nodded. He came back at Deakins, "It seems to us that this department has been covering up Goren's misconduct since he transferred to this department."
Deakins closed his eyes momentarily. He knew he should have been ready for that. He clarified, "Like I said. The complaints were never serious. It was always something like he's too harsh. Tell him to back off some. Nobody in this office is covering up anything. Every member of my squad will vouch for that. Goren is a bit unorthodox at times, but he knows the lines not to cross."
Dennis arched his eyebrows. He replied, "Really? What about Lance Brody, Julie Turner and Nicole Wallace? I think swinging a metal pipe is a bit extreme. Putting an unstable young woman in the same room with her suspected murderer father is more than just a bit unorthodox. Letting a murderer get the best of him, not once, doesn't boast of the great detective everyone here seems to claim he is."
Deakins explained, "The report shows that detective Goren acted within police boundaries in all of the situations."
Gregory was up again. He asked, "So, your saying that detective Goren has never crossed the line with his methods? That nothing like this has ever happened in the past?"
Deakins rigidly replied, "That's what I'm saying. Detective Goren is one of my stars. He's a brilliant detective with an even more brilliant mind."
Dennis nodded accepting what Deakins had said. He changed the subject, "So, what happened with Miss Irving?"
Deakins wasn't thrilled to be on the subject of Jennifer. He trusted and believed Bobby, but he wasn't sure how to try and get that across to these detectives. He replied, "I pulled Eames out for a moment to get a report on how much longer she thought they would be with the suspect. We heard Miss Irving cry out. We ran in, and detective Goren was on the other end of the room, and he did not seem out of breath. The girl was acting upset about something. When we pushed to know what it was, she said she wanted to file charges against detective Goren."
Gregory asked, "So, you don't think detective Goren did anything?"
Deakins nodded. He replied, "I know he didn't."
Gregory nodded. He replied, "Thank you for your cooperation Captain. If we have any other questions we'll get back in touch."
Deakins got up and left the room. Looking at his watch he smiled, he had plenty of time to get things set up before the showdown and Alex arrived.
Alex sat fuming. She was going to be as uncooperative as possible. She refused to hurt Bobby's case. Gregory and Dennis stayed sitting across from her. She smiled thinking that they obviously didn't know the most affective techniques. She waited for the questions to begin. Gregory asked, "What's your relationship with detective Goren?"
Alex almost laughed. This was going to be an easy one. She replied, "We're close friends and partners, nothing you don't already have in you file there."
Dennis nodded. He clarified, "Have you guys ever had sex? Has detective Goren ever come on to you?"
Alex was annoyed now. She wasn't sure why they thought that even if they had done any of it that she would say so. She replied, "No. Nothing's ever happened. We're just friends, and neither of us have even tried to cross that boundary."
Alex waited for what she knew was coming next. Dennis asked, "Do you want more?"
Alex rolled her eyes. She kept her anger at the line of questioning in check, "No, I don't want more. He doesn't want more, either."
She watched as Gregory nodded. He asked, "Does that attitude have to do with how he treats suspects?"
This line of questioning was insulting to Alex. They were pissing her off, of course. For the moment she let it go. She answered, "No. It just is. Detective Goren is never out of line when questioning suspects. He's the best at it."
She just took a deep breath and waited for the next question. Gregory asked, "So you've never had a problem with how detective Goren conducted an interview?"
Alex replied, "Yes, of course I have. You couldn't find a pair of partners in the world that didn't disagree sometimes. But he certainly never stepped over any lines."
Dennis nodded. He continued, "What happened Friday when detective Goren and yourself were interrogating Miss Irving?"
Alex breathed easier. This was a much better topic for her to talk about. She replied, "Captain Deakins called me out to ask how much longer he thought Goren would be. Goren and I have a sort of feel with each other. Generally, we have a flow and follow the new directions that the other might take. We know where we stand, and we can tell when the other is on to something. I was telling Deakins that Goren was most definitely onto something when we heard Miss Irving yell. We immediately burst back in. Detective Goren was nowhere near Miss Irving, and he was downright shocked when she wanted to press charges. Detective Robert Goren, didn't do anything. He's one of the most respectful people I've ever known. He treats everyone equally. I couldn't work with him otherwise. I don't take to chauvinism. That's not him. This is not in his nature."
Alex wished now she hadn't said the last part. She knew what was coming now. Dennis asked, "Really? It's not in his nature? You seem so sure of this."
Alex defensively and immediately responded, "You don't work with someone for five years without knowing the type of person they are and what they are and are not capable of detective."
Gregory nodded. He cut it short, "Thank you detective Eames. If we have any further questions, we'll get back to you."
Alex immediately took off to where she was meeting Deakins. She knew it was now or never. They had to get Jennifer admitting the truth on tape.
After the introductions Carver settled in for the questions for the detectives. The questions began quickly. Gregory began, "ADA Carver, we're not quite clear on what exactly your relationship with detective Goren is. Please explain."
Carver nodded. He replied, "Detective Goren and I are friends and co- workers."
Dennis continued, "Friends? I've been told that you two often argue. What's the truth here ADA Carver?"
Carver knew the tactics that they were using. He wasn't about to be tripped up by them, "Detective Goren is an unusual person. He often times work mainly on instinct, often causing him to need to work his cases backwards to prove his theories. We sometimes clash over the amount of real evidence he's found. I usually end up with detectives Eames and Goren's cases because of that very fact. Most of the others are too afraid to push Goren to find the evidence to back up his theories. But I push them, and they always find the evidence."
Dennis shot back, "If you work so well and so often with detectives Goren and Eames, where were you Friday?"
Carver knew that this was where he had to watch out. He chose his words carefully, "I was in my office preparing that case for trial. Detective Goren is a master interrogator. I just decided to skip the confession interrogation this time."
Gregory pushed, "Is that not because you already had all the evidence you needed and the interrogation was unneeded and unwanted?
Carver again chose his words carefully, "It's true. The case was ready to go already, but detectives Goren and Eames are very thorough people. They wanted to make sure she didn't get off. Was it unneeded? Yes, it was. Was it unwanted? No, it was very wanted. A confession is always good for a case."
Gregory nodded. He replied, "You can go, now. If we have any more questions, we'll be in touch.
Carver exited the room hoping things were going smoothly and were getting under way with Jennifer and her father, George. To keep suspicions down he went back to work, passing Bobby in the hall. Neither of them said a word to the other.
Bobby sat and waited. He quickly sized them up. They weren't very comfortable doing any of this, he noticed. Their introductions had been brief, how his often sounded, only without the stuttering and slowed speech. He figured they were hoping that this would make him uncomfortable and more likely to slip up. Gregory started, "Your colleagues speak very highly of you. I'd first like to get a feel for your relationship with each of them. What is your relationship with Captain Deakins?"
Bobby saw these as the easy ones. He answered, "He's a friend and my superior."
Dennis nodded, and continued, "What about your partner, detective Eames?"
Bobby instantly replied, "She's a close friend. She's probably the best partner I've ever had. We seem to have a natural flow in our interrogations and investigations."
Gregory pushed a little, "A flow?"
Bobby smiled. He wasn't about to rise to the bait. He wasn't going to let them try to make something out of nothing. He clarified, "We just have a natural ability to be able to follow where the other is going with their questioning, and then switch our own tactics to follow theirs. We just make a great team, especially in the interrogation room."
Gregory switched people, "Alright. What about ADA Carver? How do you get along with him?"
Bobby answered quickly, "We're friends. We don't always agree on tactics, but we're friends."
Gregory nodded accepting this. He asked, "What is about your tactics that causes the problems?"
Bobby smiled again. He was almost enjoying this. The questions were rather easy. He answered, "I run on theories, and I have to work backwards. Most ADAs are unnerved by that tendency. I jump the gun sometimes wanting search warrants and what not before I have the evidence. Carver is smart enough to know when to tell me to get more evidence before he waists his time with a judge."
Dennis jumped in, "So you assume people are guilty before you can prove it."
Without showing how annoyed the question made him, Bobby defended himself, "I never assume people are guilty. I like to prove people innocent more. I just try to get the truth."
Dennis responded, "Alright, let's move on then. Out of curiosity how do you see your behavior with suspects?"
Bobby quickly replied, "I see my behavior with everyone as professional and standard."
Gregory asked, "So, what happened Friday?"
Bobby coolly replied, "As I already said in my statement, she's scared. I started asking about her father, who she desperately wants to please. She wasn't sure what to say. She knew he'd be disappointed. She-She knows the history her father and I have. She knew it would make him happy for someone to get me. She saw the perfect opportunity. She could possibly get off, frame me, and please her father."
Dennis and Gregory looked at each other. They were thrown by his detached view on what happened. He wasn't like most people, he gave his story in psychology, and not the normal where everyone was and what was said explanation. Gregory asked, "So, you're saying that you were never even close to her?"
Bobby nodded. He replied, "Yes, that's what I'm saying."
Dennis continued, "And what did you ask her?"
Bobby explained, "I was-was trying to needle her. I wanted to get her talking. I asked her-her father would think of her what she had done. I asked what her father would think of me being the one who caught her. She wasn't answering. I was about to try another one of my techniques when she yelled for someone to get off her. Deakins and Eames came into the room right after she said it. We were all confused till she started in about sexual harassment. Then it all made sense. She was acting out."
Gregory asked, "Detective Goren, we have to be honest here with you. The upper brass is pushing for us to believe this girl if at all possible. We would like to believe someone that seems to have the confidence and respect of so many could be telling the truth. Now that I've met you, I must say, that I'm inclined to trust your colleagues and believe that nothing happened. Tomorrow we'll be grilling Miss Irving and her father. I just thought I should let you know that. We'll be in touch. You can go."
Bobby got up stunned and left the room. Dennis looked at his partner and asked, "What was that?"
Gregory smiled. He replied, "My new strategy. If we get their guard down around us, we'll get the evidence we need to get him off the force for good."
Bobby knew they were up to something. That last bit was way too touchy feely and definitely not something they would be admitting to him, of all people. Bobby decided to just go home and trust Alex and Deakins would get Jennifer and George on tape. He couldn't worry about the investigation. He couldn't participate.
By: The Confused One
Disclaimer: See the first three chapters! LOL The disclaimer is ALL there.
A/N: Ok, this chapter is going to be strange. It's just straight through all the interrogations. It's not going to flow. We'll see what Deakins and Alex are up to with Jennifer and her father in the next chapter. That one will flow better.
Deakins sat at one of the long interrogations tables. Two men from IA sat across from him. The taller one introduced himself first, "Captain James Deakins right? I'm Gregory Hensley."
Deakins shook his hand. The other man now introduced himself, "And I'm Dennis Huffines. We'd like to thank you for your cooperation in this matter. Hopefully we can make this swift and painless for you and the rest of your division."
Deakins arched his eyebrows. He certainly didn't believe a word these guys were saying, but he played along, "Thank you. That would be most appreciated."
Gregory now spoke, "First of all we would like to get a sense of who detective Goren is. How long have you known him?"
Deakins relaxed and began, "I've known detective Goren for about ten years now. He's one of the best I have."
Deakins could tell that the men were skeptical. Dennis questioned, "I see. How many times have you had to file a report or suspend detective Goren, Captain?"
Deakins moved uncomfortably in his chair now. This was one question he didn't want to answer. He hesitated before answering, "Detective Goren isn't like most people. He requires a certain amount of handling. I have never had to suspend him till now. I have had to write him up several times."
Deakins could see the satisfaction on their face. He could tell they were enjoying burying Goren. Gregory started in next, "And has his conduct with a suspect ever been in question before?"
Deakins again hesitated with his reply, "All the reports have been about his conduct with a suspect, but it's never been serious."
Deakins watched as Gregory nodded. He asked another question, "What exactly were the reports about?"
Deakins knew nothing he was saying was helping, but he also knew that they already knew the answers to these questions, so he had to be honest. He replied, "Detective Goren has a tendency to get a little violent for most people's tastes. He'll slam his hand on the table to get them to pay attention. He paces and gestures with his hands a lot. It unbalances and unnerves most people. The suspects lawyers have on occasion complained, but they were obviously never serious enough to merit concern. So, yeah, I just filed them as department write-ups. I think his record on apprehension, interrogation, confessions, and convictions speaks for itself."
Deakins watched the men. Dennis nodded. He came back at Deakins, "It seems to us that this department has been covering up Goren's misconduct since he transferred to this department."
Deakins closed his eyes momentarily. He knew he should have been ready for that. He clarified, "Like I said. The complaints were never serious. It was always something like he's too harsh. Tell him to back off some. Nobody in this office is covering up anything. Every member of my squad will vouch for that. Goren is a bit unorthodox at times, but he knows the lines not to cross."
Dennis arched his eyebrows. He replied, "Really? What about Lance Brody, Julie Turner and Nicole Wallace? I think swinging a metal pipe is a bit extreme. Putting an unstable young woman in the same room with her suspected murderer father is more than just a bit unorthodox. Letting a murderer get the best of him, not once, doesn't boast of the great detective everyone here seems to claim he is."
Deakins explained, "The report shows that detective Goren acted within police boundaries in all of the situations."
Gregory was up again. He asked, "So, your saying that detective Goren has never crossed the line with his methods? That nothing like this has ever happened in the past?"
Deakins rigidly replied, "That's what I'm saying. Detective Goren is one of my stars. He's a brilliant detective with an even more brilliant mind."
Dennis nodded accepting what Deakins had said. He changed the subject, "So, what happened with Miss Irving?"
Deakins wasn't thrilled to be on the subject of Jennifer. He trusted and believed Bobby, but he wasn't sure how to try and get that across to these detectives. He replied, "I pulled Eames out for a moment to get a report on how much longer she thought they would be with the suspect. We heard Miss Irving cry out. We ran in, and detective Goren was on the other end of the room, and he did not seem out of breath. The girl was acting upset about something. When we pushed to know what it was, she said she wanted to file charges against detective Goren."
Gregory asked, "So, you don't think detective Goren did anything?"
Deakins nodded. He replied, "I know he didn't."
Gregory nodded. He replied, "Thank you for your cooperation Captain. If we have any other questions we'll get back in touch."
Deakins got up and left the room. Looking at his watch he smiled, he had plenty of time to get things set up before the showdown and Alex arrived.
Alex sat fuming. She was going to be as uncooperative as possible. She refused to hurt Bobby's case. Gregory and Dennis stayed sitting across from her. She smiled thinking that they obviously didn't know the most affective techniques. She waited for the questions to begin. Gregory asked, "What's your relationship with detective Goren?"
Alex almost laughed. This was going to be an easy one. She replied, "We're close friends and partners, nothing you don't already have in you file there."
Dennis nodded. He clarified, "Have you guys ever had sex? Has detective Goren ever come on to you?"
Alex was annoyed now. She wasn't sure why they thought that even if they had done any of it that she would say so. She replied, "No. Nothing's ever happened. We're just friends, and neither of us have even tried to cross that boundary."
Alex waited for what she knew was coming next. Dennis asked, "Do you want more?"
Alex rolled her eyes. She kept her anger at the line of questioning in check, "No, I don't want more. He doesn't want more, either."
She watched as Gregory nodded. He asked, "Does that attitude have to do with how he treats suspects?"
This line of questioning was insulting to Alex. They were pissing her off, of course. For the moment she let it go. She answered, "No. It just is. Detective Goren is never out of line when questioning suspects. He's the best at it."
She just took a deep breath and waited for the next question. Gregory asked, "So you've never had a problem with how detective Goren conducted an interview?"
Alex replied, "Yes, of course I have. You couldn't find a pair of partners in the world that didn't disagree sometimes. But he certainly never stepped over any lines."
Dennis nodded. He continued, "What happened Friday when detective Goren and yourself were interrogating Miss Irving?"
Alex breathed easier. This was a much better topic for her to talk about. She replied, "Captain Deakins called me out to ask how much longer he thought Goren would be. Goren and I have a sort of feel with each other. Generally, we have a flow and follow the new directions that the other might take. We know where we stand, and we can tell when the other is on to something. I was telling Deakins that Goren was most definitely onto something when we heard Miss Irving yell. We immediately burst back in. Detective Goren was nowhere near Miss Irving, and he was downright shocked when she wanted to press charges. Detective Robert Goren, didn't do anything. He's one of the most respectful people I've ever known. He treats everyone equally. I couldn't work with him otherwise. I don't take to chauvinism. That's not him. This is not in his nature."
Alex wished now she hadn't said the last part. She knew what was coming now. Dennis asked, "Really? It's not in his nature? You seem so sure of this."
Alex defensively and immediately responded, "You don't work with someone for five years without knowing the type of person they are and what they are and are not capable of detective."
Gregory nodded. He cut it short, "Thank you detective Eames. If we have any further questions, we'll get back to you."
Alex immediately took off to where she was meeting Deakins. She knew it was now or never. They had to get Jennifer admitting the truth on tape.
After the introductions Carver settled in for the questions for the detectives. The questions began quickly. Gregory began, "ADA Carver, we're not quite clear on what exactly your relationship with detective Goren is. Please explain."
Carver nodded. He replied, "Detective Goren and I are friends and co- workers."
Dennis continued, "Friends? I've been told that you two often argue. What's the truth here ADA Carver?"
Carver knew the tactics that they were using. He wasn't about to be tripped up by them, "Detective Goren is an unusual person. He often times work mainly on instinct, often causing him to need to work his cases backwards to prove his theories. We sometimes clash over the amount of real evidence he's found. I usually end up with detectives Eames and Goren's cases because of that very fact. Most of the others are too afraid to push Goren to find the evidence to back up his theories. But I push them, and they always find the evidence."
Dennis shot back, "If you work so well and so often with detectives Goren and Eames, where were you Friday?"
Carver knew that this was where he had to watch out. He chose his words carefully, "I was in my office preparing that case for trial. Detective Goren is a master interrogator. I just decided to skip the confession interrogation this time."
Gregory pushed, "Is that not because you already had all the evidence you needed and the interrogation was unneeded and unwanted?
Carver again chose his words carefully, "It's true. The case was ready to go already, but detectives Goren and Eames are very thorough people. They wanted to make sure she didn't get off. Was it unneeded? Yes, it was. Was it unwanted? No, it was very wanted. A confession is always good for a case."
Gregory nodded. He replied, "You can go, now. If we have any more questions, we'll be in touch.
Carver exited the room hoping things were going smoothly and were getting under way with Jennifer and her father, George. To keep suspicions down he went back to work, passing Bobby in the hall. Neither of them said a word to the other.
Bobby sat and waited. He quickly sized them up. They weren't very comfortable doing any of this, he noticed. Their introductions had been brief, how his often sounded, only without the stuttering and slowed speech. He figured they were hoping that this would make him uncomfortable and more likely to slip up. Gregory started, "Your colleagues speak very highly of you. I'd first like to get a feel for your relationship with each of them. What is your relationship with Captain Deakins?"
Bobby saw these as the easy ones. He answered, "He's a friend and my superior."
Dennis nodded, and continued, "What about your partner, detective Eames?"
Bobby instantly replied, "She's a close friend. She's probably the best partner I've ever had. We seem to have a natural flow in our interrogations and investigations."
Gregory pushed a little, "A flow?"
Bobby smiled. He wasn't about to rise to the bait. He wasn't going to let them try to make something out of nothing. He clarified, "We just have a natural ability to be able to follow where the other is going with their questioning, and then switch our own tactics to follow theirs. We just make a great team, especially in the interrogation room."
Gregory switched people, "Alright. What about ADA Carver? How do you get along with him?"
Bobby answered quickly, "We're friends. We don't always agree on tactics, but we're friends."
Gregory nodded accepting this. He asked, "What is about your tactics that causes the problems?"
Bobby smiled again. He was almost enjoying this. The questions were rather easy. He answered, "I run on theories, and I have to work backwards. Most ADAs are unnerved by that tendency. I jump the gun sometimes wanting search warrants and what not before I have the evidence. Carver is smart enough to know when to tell me to get more evidence before he waists his time with a judge."
Dennis jumped in, "So you assume people are guilty before you can prove it."
Without showing how annoyed the question made him, Bobby defended himself, "I never assume people are guilty. I like to prove people innocent more. I just try to get the truth."
Dennis responded, "Alright, let's move on then. Out of curiosity how do you see your behavior with suspects?"
Bobby quickly replied, "I see my behavior with everyone as professional and standard."
Gregory asked, "So, what happened Friday?"
Bobby coolly replied, "As I already said in my statement, she's scared. I started asking about her father, who she desperately wants to please. She wasn't sure what to say. She knew he'd be disappointed. She-She knows the history her father and I have. She knew it would make him happy for someone to get me. She saw the perfect opportunity. She could possibly get off, frame me, and please her father."
Dennis and Gregory looked at each other. They were thrown by his detached view on what happened. He wasn't like most people, he gave his story in psychology, and not the normal where everyone was and what was said explanation. Gregory asked, "So, you're saying that you were never even close to her?"
Bobby nodded. He replied, "Yes, that's what I'm saying."
Dennis continued, "And what did you ask her?"
Bobby explained, "I was-was trying to needle her. I wanted to get her talking. I asked her-her father would think of her what she had done. I asked what her father would think of me being the one who caught her. She wasn't answering. I was about to try another one of my techniques when she yelled for someone to get off her. Deakins and Eames came into the room right after she said it. We were all confused till she started in about sexual harassment. Then it all made sense. She was acting out."
Gregory asked, "Detective Goren, we have to be honest here with you. The upper brass is pushing for us to believe this girl if at all possible. We would like to believe someone that seems to have the confidence and respect of so many could be telling the truth. Now that I've met you, I must say, that I'm inclined to trust your colleagues and believe that nothing happened. Tomorrow we'll be grilling Miss Irving and her father. I just thought I should let you know that. We'll be in touch. You can go."
Bobby got up stunned and left the room. Dennis looked at his partner and asked, "What was that?"
Gregory smiled. He replied, "My new strategy. If we get their guard down around us, we'll get the evidence we need to get him off the force for good."
Bobby knew they were up to something. That last bit was way too touchy feely and definitely not something they would be admitting to him, of all people. Bobby decided to just go home and trust Alex and Deakins would get Jennifer and George on tape. He couldn't worry about the investigation. He couldn't participate.