(Season 3)
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He'd expected the summons, so Booth wasn't surprised when Jane, Deputy Director Cullen's secretary called. "Agent Booth, Deputy Director Cullen would like to speak to as soon as possible. He's waiting in his office for you."
"I'm on my way." Booth stood up, straightened his tie, grabbed his jacket from the coat tree and slipped it on. Aware he might be in trouble, Booth was prepared to defend what he had done and he didn't care if the higher ups in the FBI didn't like it.
Once he entered Cullen's outer office, Jane smiled at him and waved him over to the inner office door. "Good luck."
Booth liked Jane and returned her smile. "Thank you." Entering the office, Booth looked straight ahead and saw that Cullen was sitting at his desk. "You wanted to see me Sir?"
Cullen glowered at Booth and pointed at the chair in front of his desk. "I've been on the phone with the Director who just got an earful from the Director of the Secret Service."
Calmly, Booth sat down and stared at his boss's boss. "What about Sir?"
"Are you trying to be funny?" The Deputy Director wasn't in the mood for smart ass responses. "You arrested the Deputy Director of the Secret Service for voyeurism this morning."
"Yes Sir." He had interviewed Deputy Director Leo Sumner when he'd become a suspect in Gavin Nichols murder and Sumner had given him a reason why he wasn't a viable suspect. The man had smugly provided him with proof that he had known about his wife's affair with Gavin and Booth had been repulsed with that proof.
Cullen was trying to be patient, but Booth was pushing his limits. "Yes Sir? . . . I need an explanation, Booth."
Booth shrugged his shoulders and complied. "Leo Sumner is in violation of DC code 22-3531. It is unlawful for any person to occupy a hidden observation post or to install or maintain a peephole, mirror or any electronic device for the purpose of secretly or surreptitiously observing an individual who is engaging in sexual activity. During an interview with Leo Sumner this morning, he provided me with evidence of said voyeurism. He recorded his activities while watching his wife have sex with Gavin Nichols, a murder victim. He also recorded himself masturbating while he watched his wife have sex with someone else. He broke the law, I arrested him."
Almost speechless, Cullen sat back and realized that he hadn't been given the full story by the Director who in turn was probably in the dark too. "He just gave you recordings of him breaking the law? No coercion?"
"Yes Sir, he volunteered the recordings, no coercion." Booth was careful not to smile. "He was more concerned that he not be arrested for first degree murder."
"I see." The Deputy Director considered Booth to be a brilliant investigator and he also knew that Booth didn't care about politics. "Neither I nor the Director were given the complete story . . . Leo Sumner is the Deputy Director of the Secret Service."
Using caution since Booth didn't know how much trouble he was really in, Booth nodded his head. "No one should be above the law, Sir. Leo Sumner has been recording sexual acts committed by his wife and her lovers. The man is not fit to serve in the capacity of Deputy Director. He's left himself open to blackmail and since the Secret Service is responsible for the security of the President of the United States, the President's family and former Presidents he cannot continue in his capacity as Deputy Director. The stakes are too high."
"It's that simple?" Cullen was absolutely fascinated that Booth lived in such a black and white world. Of course the agent was correct, but still, he should have notified him before he'd had Sumner arrested. "The Director should have been notified before Sumner was arrested not afterward."
"Ms. Julian was a witness to the arrest, so the Justice Department is aware of the situation and the arrest was sanctioned." Booth now knew he was in trouble, but perhaps not as much as he could be. "Sumner was booked and released on bond three hours after his arrest. He of course threatened to have me and Ms. Julian fired, but we don't work for the Secret Service. He committed a crime and no one is above the law. It is as simple as that. Perhaps I should have notified you since this situation was special, but I was following protocol Sir. It's not usual to notify you personally of arrests. I was filling out reports when you called me to come see you, but I should have them available to you in about a half hour after I return to them."
Booth's logic was sound and there was no doubt he had following protocol. "Alright, go back to your office, finish filling out the reports and then bring them back here when you're done. I'll talk to the Director after that."
After he stood up, Booth glanced at the door and then back at his boss. "Leo Sumner is a disgrace to the Secret Service and his perversions could have resulted in a tragedy if it had continued. This might be embarrassing to the Secret Service right now, but the life of our President is more important that a little embarrassment."
Cullen nodded his head and leaned forward on his desk. "In the future, if you feel compelled to arrest Federal officials please let me know first. The Director and I need to have the answers when we start getting questions, do you understand."
"Yes Sir." Booth realized he could have handled the situation a little better. "I'll do that."
"Good." As soon as Booth left the office, Cullen made a phone call. "Bill, I have more information about Sumner. It looks like his Boss didn't get the full story . . . Booth is filling out reports right now. As soon as he delivers them to me, I'll bring them to you . . . Yes Sir . . . No, Booth did the right thing. We'll talk as soon as I get his report. You know I've always hated Sumner, he's such a twit. Now I know he's a perverted twit and there's proof to back it up."
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Brennan added a lemon slice to her iced tea and watched Booth empty two packets of sugar into his coffee. "So there are no repercussions for arresting Leo Sumner?"
His coffee too hot to drink, Booth slowly stirred the dark liquid and leaned forward so that only his partner could hear him. "Not really. I was told that from now on I need to contact the Deputy Director before I arrest Federal officials high up in the food chain. Besides that, once Cullen read the report and looked at the DVD he knew that I'd done the right thing. Sumner is going to lose his position and he should the bastard. Sumner is a rich man and he's used to getting what he wants. The rich always think they're special and should get away with anything, but not on my watch."
Proud of her partner's ethics, Brennan smiled. "Not on your watch." She believed that sex should be a private matter. The fact that Sumner had recorded his wife having sex with someone and used that as a masturbatory aide was going too far. No one should worry that their sexual congress was going to be recorded unless they approved of that recording. Gavin Nichols had clearly not consented and Sumner was in violation of the law. "I believe you did the right thing, Booth."
The coffee now cooler, Booth sipped it and leaned back against his chair. "Thanks Bones."
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