Wilma woke early. She was disappointed that Buck had not returned to the unit the night before. She had kept busy with small tasks. She had ordered more coffee and a few other items that Buck liked. She had straighten up the entire unit and still Buck hadn't returned. Eventually she went to bed, hoping he would be back at some point. But she was alone in the unit in the morning.
Just as she was about to leave for her office the vid screen alerted her to an incoming message from Dr Huer. She walked over and turned on the screen.
"Captain Rogers had been arrested for murder" Dr Huer said without preamble.
Wilma was stunned. "Please send me the details, I am going to the justice directorate to find out what I can" she told him. With that she hurried out of the unit.
Wilma had been trained not to run when she was rushing somewhere. Running only meant that you arrived out of breath, but it took all of her self-control to remain calm and not start running. She paused outside the doors of the justice directorate to review the details Huer had sent her. There wasn't much there. The victim had not yet been identified. Someone had alerted the security detail on duty of a possible crime anonymously and Buck had been found standing over the victim with the weapon in his hand. The man arrested refused to say how or why he was on the secure floor. That was all. She took a deep breath and walked into the Justice directorate.
Once she was in the Justice Directorate, she asked for Dr. Hopkins the head of the directorate. She was told he was in a meeting but would be available to see her in an hour. In the meantime, she asked to see the prisoner, Buck Rogers. Wilma was brought into a small room with a table and two chairs, one on either side of the table. Though not obvious Wilma knew that there was a force field down the center of the table to prevent prisoners and their visitors from touching each other or passing items across the table. She didn't have long to wait, Buck was escorted in a few minutes later. The guard said "I will be right on the other side of that door. The force field will be triggered if you or the visitor try to extend anything over the center of the table. I would not suggest it. You have 15 minutes" and he left.
Buck came over and sat down at the table. He was looking scruffy and had obviously not slept well. Wilma sat down also. "Listen Wilma I have no idea what is going on" Buck said. "All I know is that the weapon was on the floor, and I kicked it. When I looked down and saw what it was, I picked it up and walked around the corner and that's when I saw the dead guy. I didn't shoot him, and next thing I know I'm surrounded by security."
"I know, but we don't have much time to waste. Did you see or hear anything before you picked up the weapon?" said Wilma
"I only vaguely remember hearing a clanging sound like metal on metal, right before I kicked the gun." He replied.
"The victim has not be identified yet." she said
"No, and I bet that may be a problem. Why else would someone shoot off a guy's face except to obscure his identity," said Buck
"But his chip will tell exactly who he is; that wouldn't help at all once they scan his chip," said Wilma.
"Are you sure his chip as you call it hasn't been altered or changed? "he said.
"I doubt it, there are ways for security directorate personnel, but the new identity is always registered in the data banks. I will have to see who the chip comes back with and check the data base. But I would be aware of any undercover operations." She said. After a moment of thought she said, "why didn't you tell them how you got on the secure floor.?"
Buck looked down for a second then back up at Wilma "Because I don't want to get you into trouble"
"Do you realize how much trouble you are in?" she asked in surprise.
"Wilma, I didn't do it, once they figure out who did they will have to let me go"
"I wish I was so sure they will find the real culprit" she said with a sigh. Before she could say anything else the guard came back in.
"Times up guys, I have to get you back to your cell" he said while taking Buck by the arm and leading him out of the door.
Wilma sat for a minute or two processing the situation. She knew Buck, he did not shoot the man but proving it might be difficult. She rose, left the visiting room and went up to the office of Dr Hopkins.
"Col Derring so nice to see you. What brings you to our offices?" Dr Hopkins greeted her.
"You have an associate of the security directorate here on a murder charge, so I am looking into the situation." She told him.
"Oh, that must be that man, Rogers. Yes, I did see the file on that case. But it's pretty open and shut really. He was found standing over the dead man with the weapon in his hand. No other person was anywhere around, and he refuses to say why he was on the secure residence floor," said Hopkins
"I know Captain Rogers, and it seems very out of character for him. "Said Wilma
Dr Hopkins raised an eyebrow for a split second then said "oh and they have identified the dead man, his name was Luke E Bishop. We are working on developing information on him right now".
"Luke Bishop?" Wilma was surprised at the identity of the victim. "I would appreciate it if you could share with me any information on him. When is the autopsy scheduled for?
"We aren't going to bother with an autopsy, it's obvious what killed him." Hopkins replied. "I do not think it will be a problem to share the file with you" he added with a smile.
Wilma returned to her own office. After dealing with her usual morning tasks, she sat down and thought about the problem. She told Buck that she was not confident that the Justice Directorate would pursue any other possible suspects and her conversation with Dr Hopkins only reinforced that belief. She believed in Buck's innocence completely, but she feared that he would be convicted and sentenced to penal servitude for life, and she refused to accept that. She knew what she needed to do.
After Wilma had cleared her agenda of all the pressing issues and briefed the rest of the staff, she made her way to Dr Huer's office.
Huer looked up when Wilma entered his office. "Have you seen Buck?" he asked.
"Yes, I saw him, and he seems to be holding up okay. He is bewildered, he said he picked up the weapon, found the body and almost immediately security showed up." Wilma told him.
"But what was he doing on that floor in the first place?"
Wilma sighed. "He was with me in my unit"
"I see." Was all Huer said. Then he added "And did I understand that the victim was Luke Bishop? Wasn't he in the academy with you?"
"Yes, we came through the academy together. We were pretty close. I thought, well it does not matter. Any way he and I were both under consideration for head of the Intercept Squadron, and as you know I was the pilot that was promoted. Luke did not handle it well and left New Chicago shortly after. "
"Buck naively believes that since he didn't commit the crime he will not be convicted. That the Justice Directorate will keep investigating" she told him.
"Oh dear. I fear that will not be the case. I will not use the words corrupt or incompetent, but Justice does not have the best reputation for being thorough. They have a suspect and they are satisfied with that."
"Which is why I have tendered my resignation, I need to be free to investigate, Buck didn't do it and I need to prove who did." Wilma declared.
Dr Huer was surprised. "Are you certain you need to take that extreme step. I am sure that given the importance of Captain Rogers to the Federation you can be freed up to devote time to this, ah this cause." He told her.
"No, I do not think I will be able to devote my complete attention to the directorate and it requires a full-time head. No, I need to do this my way. Buck is important to the Federation, but he is more important to me"