The Road Home
Chapter 5 Team Work
The video call had been coordinated by Matt Barnhart of LAPD and Rick Loomis of the Great Falls sheriff's office. The LA group was gathered at the NCIS boatshed, a location where the NCIS-OSP did interrogations, interviews and meetings with outside persons (their main office, the 'Mission', was highly classified and off limits). The Great Falls group was downtown at the main GFPD offices where video conferencing was available. Those present were:
Great Falls,
Rick Loomis, deputy sheriff,
Cheryl Loomis, honors project,
Tina Jackson, Amy Johnson's host.
Los Angeles,
Matt Barnhart, LAPD,
Sylvia Monroe, LAPD,
Henrietta Lange (Hetty), NCIS,
Eric Beal, NCIS, technical support,
Nell Jones, NCIS, data analyst.
Matt and Rick shared chairmanship of the call, for starters. Hetty assured everyone that this call, and all others like it, would be recorded and each participant would receive a complete transcript. Introductions were then made and the meeting begun.
Each person gave a detailed report of their role thus far and what they had learned. After all were convinced that Amy Johnson was indeed Kensi Marie Blye, Hetty asked to make a statement.
Hetty begins; "I want to explain something to the team, and make a request. I am only going to involve 2 others of my team in this op, here is why. Kensi and Marty were quite deeply involved in a relationship, which they hadn't fully divulged or even admitted to each other. Kensi was also looked upon as a 'little sister' by my 2 senior agents. Thus those parts of my team will find it virtually impossible not to barge in and stomp all over the op. Not with nefarious intent, mind you. It will just be irresistible.
"Thus, my request; Please communicate with me ONLY. Not even with Eric and Nell, I will keep them in the loop, passing on to them any requests for their special skills. Are there any questions?"
There were none.
Rick followed with his knowledge from his reading, and his experience with the 2 cases the sheriff's office has had to date. He reiterated the strategy they had employed so far i.e., dropping bread crumbs to help Amy re-discover herself as Kensi. He then opened the floor for discussion and ideas.
After ~30 minutes further, they had affirmed the strategy to continue with and initial steps to take. Everyone heartily congratulated Cheryl for her part in getting this started; and Eric & Nell for their re-thinking efforts. They agreed to do regular (weekly?) audio calls to check in and adjust their efforts as needed. They all were cautiously excited.
Tina went home with Rick and Cheryl for a bit. They talked, had a beverage and a piece of chocolate cake that Cheryl had baked. Then they knelt in a circle, held hands and Rick offered prayer that their efforts would be successful. Almost like a little family circle, they all were thinking to themselves.
Amy had started work at the diner across the street from the hospital where Tina worked. She got over her initial reservations, realizing that Tina was really just trying to help her get on track.
Her mind remained a very confusing place; she continued to occasionally have the dream of the little girl with the long dark brown hair, just like her own. She could see the girl's face, but could not for the life of her pull out any other details. If only she knew her name – it was so frustrating. She also dreamed of a faceless man with blonde hair but no other details. The last time she saw him there was sound in the background. Like crashing water, maybe the ocean? Maybe surf? There was no sound like that here in Great Falls. Were these things clues to who she was? She didn't know. She needed to know!
The dreams weren't nightmares, they didn't make her afraid. They didn't even wake her up. What could it mean? Would she ever find her way back? While she wasn't afraid, she often woke up in tears. She never told Tina; she didn't want pity – she wanted help to get her old (real) life back.
Tina and Cheryl were to take the next step. It was arranged that Tina and Amy would meet for lunch at the mall and Cheryl would join them (as Tina's friend) and talk. When Tina made it to the mall she sent Cheryl a TXT:
T: at mall, come now
C: on my way, B there in 2
T: K
Tina and Amy were seated in the food court when Cheryl approached. "Tina, great to see you. Can I join, or is this a private party?"
"Hi Cheryl. No, I'm ok. Are you ok Amy?" Tina reaches out a hand to touch Amy's forearm.
"Sure," Amy says softly.
Tina starts, "Cheryl, what have you been up to these days?"
"Wow, I'm so excited. I am working on my honors project and we're getting some results."
"What is an honors project," Amy asks. She shows some interest.
Cheryl & Tina share brief glances.
"Well, I want to be in the Honor Society when I am a senior. I am finishing my sophomore year now and to reach that goal I need to complete an honors project during my junior year. I can start that now, so I am. I've chosen to work on Missing Persons."
Amy had just taken a sip of her coffee and she choked. Tina and Cheryl both jumped up and gently slapped her on the back. "Are you ok?" Tina exclaimed.
"I will be, thanks." Amy whispers.
They sit quietly for a bit, after ordering their lunch.
"So Cheryl, what results are you getting so far?" Tina asks. "You do seem excited."
Their lunch arrived and was served.
"Well this LAPD Detective, Matt, saw one of my posters at a street fair at the Santa Monica Pier. You know, the pier with The Eye, one of those huge Ferris wheels."
Amy paused, put her fork down and stared at Cheryl. "May I see one of those posters, please? This sounds very interesting."
"Sure, I have one right here. It's not exactly the same, but it's close (it has the woman's picture removed – TMI)." She unrolls the poster and hands it to Amy. The poster has in the background the Santa Monica pier, the Pacific Ocean and The Eye.
Amy stares at it for a long time before speaking. In a whispered tone she says, "I've been there."