Chapter 11 - An Angry Detective Wins a Round

Lee sat quietly in the conference room for a few minutes before he came to several unpleasant realizations.

First, he was essentially in N.C.I.S. custody. His car had been left behind at the hotel along with his clothes. He was stuck on base in his stiff, grass stained dress whites. What he'd give to change out of them!

Second, Lee expected Detective Black to show up any minute for an uncomfortable interview with him. Rachael had said many potentially incriminating things to Lee. Lee was uncertain how much of what she said he could or should believe. Dare he repeat those ramblings to the police? Should he?

Third, Lee realized he had no clue where to begin looking for the father of Melanie's baby. What had he gotten into offering to help in the investigation? Lee decided to do what he often did when in doubt. He called upon Admiral Nelson for advice.

"What the devil is going on, Lee?"

"What I told you earlier, sir, more or less. Either Rachael killed Roger's bride-to-be at the altar or she was framed. Either way, she's a mess."

"Define mess."

"She was held hostage for five months in Kuwait."

"Oh my. Physical injuries? Emotional?"

"I have limited details, but her mental state is the biggest issue. I can't guess what she'll be like from minute to minute and she's suicidal."

"What does your gut say about the murder?"

"That she didn't do it."

"So how can I help?"

"She said things to me which could be considered incriminating."

"Did you believe them?"

"No, mostly not."

"I take it that you have not yet been interviewed by the police and you are concerned what to repeat?"

"Yes. It's bad enough that I found and turned over the probable murder weapon leading them right to Rachael."

"Do what you feel is the right thing to do."

"The right thing for whom is the question?"

"Follow your instincts, Lee. I've put my life in them time and time again and I've never been disappointed."

"Thank you, sir."

"What else can I do?"

"Nothing. I'm going to stick around a bit and see if I can help her and Roger."

"What is it you think you can do for her while a police investigation is ongoing?"

"I'll be working with an N.C.I.S. officer who's investigating the matter. He's in Rachael's corner, for the time being at least."

"Where are you staying?"

"I'll be on base, which is a good thing for now. I may be in a little hot water with the local police."

As if on cue, Detective Black opened the door.

"Call you back soon, admiral. Thanks again."

"Yes, Commander Crane, you are in more than a little trouble. You knew very well whose gun you found at the scene. Funny how you whisked Miss MacAdam away without mentioning that to us."

"It's 'Commander' not 'Miss' and there are extenuating circumstances."

"So Jackson said. I, however, don't find any of them a justification for your actions. You are a material witness who left the scene of the crime without being interviewed. I could arrest you for that, or even as an accessory after the fact."

"As I recall, we secured your permission to leave."

"Under false pretenses! You and MacAdam are coming to headquarters. Now."

"I'm afraid not," Lt. Commander Jackson stated behind him. "You may interview Commanders Crane and MacAdam on base, but they are not going anywhere."

"I'll get a court order."

"I'll get a federal court order which would override it."

"What game are you playing at? This is a homicide investigation. A lovely, young woman was mowed down at the altar in front of two hundred of her family members and friends."

"None of us dispute that, or the horror of it, Detective. However, since an officer in the military is under suspicion, N.C.I.S. has every right to pursue the matter and take sole jurisdiction of it should we choose."

"She was discharged six months ago! It's a civilian matter now."

"That's not accurate. She was recommended for a medical discharge following injuries suffered as a prisoner of war. However, she was never officially discharged."

"I don't believe you. I demand to see proof!"

"You are free to disbelieve what I say, but the fact is that Commander MacAdam remains on active status and furthermore her work involves national security matters so you will not be shown anything about it. Therefore, whether you like it or not, any prosecution of her - should the facts warrant it - will be handled through court-martial proceedings."

"Which won't ever happen, because you plan to bury the whole incident to protect the Navy! Well, I won't let it happen. The Mattinglys won't either. They are a prominent and respected family. All the evidence points to MacAdam."

"If we feel that is the case after a thorough investigation, I assure you she will be court-martialed."

"So you're confirming that she isn't formally under arrest yet? I knew it. I want to see Miss MacAdam immediately!"

"As I've just explained, she is still Commander MacAdam, and yes, you may see her now."

Lee's head whipped toward Saul Jackson. He assumed they'd keep Rachael as far from the police as possible. What game was Jackson playing? To find out, Lee accompanied Jackson and Detective Black in a jeep to the Medical Center. Through a large one way mirror, he observed Rachael sitting placidly on a bare mattress in a padded cell. She wore light blue scrubs and was shoeless. Her glazed eyes suggested she'd gone some place else mentally. Lee doubted it was a good place.

Detective Black looked at Lt. Commander Jackson with a glint of concern.

"I can't tell you what to expect when you talk to her," Jackson said.

"Can I take in a chair? This could take a while."

"It would be best not to bring in anything that might be used as a weapon. That includes a chair and certainly your gun. In fact, it'd be best if you removed anything loose before you went in."

"Setting up an insanity plea?"

"No need to set anything up. She has a well documented case of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder."

"Right, but the Navy kept her on active payroll involved in national security matters anyway. Who the hell would believe that?"

"Me," Lee whispered, his head shaking.

"I'm taking the tape recorder in."

"I'd hold on to it tightly."

"Okay, my officer comes in with me."

"Same constructs."

"You think she's going to try to hurt us? You think she could?"

"I assure you that she could. I don't think she would without cause. Now that might be as simple as to her trying to get something off you to hurt herself. Then again, she may want out from confinement badly. P.T.S.D. isn't a predictable thing. I think it would be best to send Commander Crane inside with you instead of the officer. She's familiar with him. He may be able to keep her calm. At the least, he's personally familiar with and will react quickly to her tactical resources."

"Only on the condition that you keep your mouth shut inside, Commander Crane. Your interview is right after hers."

Lee readied to go inside by taking off his jacket and hat. He even pondered removing his belt, but didn't think it necessary. Mostly he wondered what Saul Jackson's game was, playing up Rachael's mental issues and pushing Lee inside for her interview.

When they stepped inside, Rachael didn't react.

"Hey, Red. You up to some questions?"

Rachael didn't blink.

"Miss Mac. . ."

"It's Commander," Lee interrupted.

"Lieutenant Commander MacAdam, then," Detective Black huffed.

"Try again, Detective. Her rank may be lieutenant commander, but she is addressed as Commander MacAdam."

"Are the inmates running the asylum now? Jeez. Commander MacAdam, on behalf of the State of California, I am placing you under arrest for the murder of Melanie Mattingly."

Lee looked toward Saul to stop the "arrest" but Saul shook him off. Meanwhile, Black recited the Miranda warnings to Rachael. "Do you understand your rights?"

Rachael nodded.

"I need a verbal response."

"Yes, I understand my freaking rights."

"I shall be recording this interview and it may be used as evidence against you. Did you shoot Melanie Mattingly?"

"Don't answer, Rachael. We'll get you a lawyer."

"Commander Crane, you are an inch from being arrested for complicity, and I will take you in for questioning next, so kindly shut the hell up as agreed. Now again, Miss - Commander - MacAdam, preliminary ballistics test match the gun found near you to the bullet that killed Miss Mattingly, a specially bored gun bearing your initials. Did you fire the shot that killed her?"

Rachael looked up pensively at Lee before answering Detective Black. "Yes."

"No, Rachael, that's not true."

"Commander Crane, if you can't shut up while I'm taking my statement, get the hell out. I'll take my chances with her alone."

"Did you plan this murder in advance?"

This time Rachael peered straight at the detective, her eyes more than a little wild looking. Lee feared she might do something stupid and held a hand up as if to warn her against it.

"Yes, Detective Black, I killed her. I killed her with all the malice aforethought a girl could have."

"Why?"

"To keep her from Roger. Roger is mine. I wasn't going to lose him to that lying slut."

"I take it that Commander Cresson did not return your feelings?"

"No, not that way, but I couldn't lose him to her. I just couldn't."

Lee glared at Rachael as she confessed. He was rewarded with an eye roll during the last part of her confession. Detective Black didn't notice it.

"Did anyone know of your plans or assist you, either before or after you killed Miss Mattingly?"

"Hardly. Good buddy here turned in the gun, didn't he? Led you straight to me."

Lee felt stung at the accusation. He had no real choice. Rachael knew that. This was a game. He glared at her firmly and the smile he got back confirmed it for him.

"Just to confirm then that you admit that you planned and committed the murder of Melanie Mattingly, and that you have given this confession voluntarily, waiving your right to counsel."

"Yes."

"I'm done for now, then. Guess I won't need your statement after all, Commander Crane, but make sure you keep yourself available," Detective Black warned. With the door open, Detective Black confronted Saul Jackson. "I'm taking this to a judge immediately for an order that ensures she doesn't go anywhere pending trial and sentencing, both of which better happen damn fast. You violate that Jackson and I'll make sure that anyone driving off this base two miles over the speed limit gets ticketed, targeting officers first."

"You have my assurances."

"I don't like it and I'm not certain I believe it either. Don't cross me."

"Good day, Detective. Ensign McGill will escort you out."