One Less - Part 30
by joykatleen
The set up was easy. Capt. McNally was pleased to hear they had a solid suspect, though Gibbs had declined to tell him who it was. When Gibbs told him they could have the head of the conspiracy off his ship by day's end – if McNally would approve a civilian walk-on – the Captain had been more than happy to comply. Gibbs didn't name Goetz as the civilian he was bringing aboard. Though the Captain had been made aware of all 12 of the known victims of this conspiracy, Gibbs had not explicitly stated the motive for the attacks. The Captain would probably figure it out if he hadn't already. Nonetheless, Gibbs would continue to try and protect the victims' privacy as long as possible.
When Gibbs told McNally it would take them at least three hours to make the drive to Norfolk, the Captain had offered to send a helicopter for them. Gibbs had initially objected. Surely the pilots in the Big Stick's air wing had higher priorities on this day before shove off. McNally had countered by saying there was no higher priority in his mind than ridding his ship of sailors who were a danger to his men. Gibbs thanked him and agreed they would meet the helicopter at Anacostia in an hour.
"When did Abby say she'd be in?" Gibbs asked McGee.
"Late," McGee said. Gibbs glanced at his watch. It was almost 10:30.
"What time did she leave the message for you?"
"A little past three," McGee said. "She said to call if you needed her."
"Call her. I need her." McGee nodded and started dialing.
Ducky came into the squad room from the back, holding a cardboard carrier laden with coffee cups.
"Good morning, Jethro," Ducky said brightly as he came around the corner. "I heard you were here. I suspect you're going to need delivery service for the next little while, so I took the liberty." Ducky handed Gibbs a large cup.
"You're a saint, Duck," Gibbs said as he took a sip.
"For Agent McGee," Ducky said and handed one to the younger agent, who was still on the phone. "And for the gentleman," Ducky said, moving to DiNozzo's desk.
"Ian Goetz," Goetz supplied as Ducky handed him the cup.
"Pleasure to meet you, Master Chief."
Goetz looked surprised that the doctor knew his former rank, and glanced down at himself as if to confirm he wasn't wearing a uniform. Ducky took the last cup and introduced himself.
"Dr. Donald Mallard, medical examiner. But don't let that bother you. Call me Ducky. Everyone does."
"Have we met before, Ducky?" Goetz asked.
"You have something else for me, or just the coffee?" Gibbs asked Ducky before the doctor could get into a discussion of how exactly he knew Goetz's rank.
"Actually, I do. Major Ortiz's remains arrived this morning."
"You found him?" Goetz asked.
"Indeed I did," Ducky said to Goetz, then turned back to Gibbs. "The paperwork is all in order, and the remains are now yours to do with as you see fit."
Gibbs nodded. "Good."
"What are you going to do with him?" Goetz asked. Before Gibbs could answer, Ducky continued.
"If you'd like, I can make some arrangements," Ducky said.
"Arlington?" Gibbs asked.
"I'll see what I can do," Ducky said. Gibbs nodded his thanks.
When Ducky left, Goetz spoke again. "How'd you manage that?"
"What?" Gibbs asked.
"Getting Major Ortiz's remains?"
"Dr. Mallard's skills are wide and varied," Gibbs said. He put the coffee down.
"Abby'll be in in half an hour," McGee reported from his desk as he hung up.
Gibbs nodded. "I need a wire. Recording and broadcast."
"For the Roosevelt?" McGee asked. When Gibbs nodded, McGee continued. "I don't think we're going to be able to broadcast. Not with the equipment we have here. The chapel is too deep in the ship. There'll be too much interference. If you want broadcast, we'll have to special order something from tech services."
He was probably right, Gibbs knew, but that created a complication. He wasn't going to be able to interact with Goetz while he talked to the priest. It would be out of his hands.
"Bring up what we've got." McGee nodded and headed back downstairs, coffee in hand.
"So how're you planning to handle it, Master Chief?" Gibbs asked Goetz when McGee was gone.
"Father Thayer?" Goetz asked. Gibbs nodded.
"Bless me father, for I have sinned?" Goetz said.
"And after that?"
"I suppose I'll tell him what he wants to hear. Ask him for penance. He'll probably tell me I've already paid. If not, I'll push him that way. 'Do you think this was my punishment?' He'll spill."
"We're going to have to use the whole tape, whatever you get," Gibbs cautioned. "No editing out what you don't want people to hear."
Goetz sipped at his coffee, then let out a long breath. "It's going to become public."
"Probably. Eventually. Does your family know?" Gibbs asked.
"Yes."
"You're gonna wanna warn Lt. Cmdr. McDougall."
Goetz huffed. "Already did. After you came to visit."
"He still in the Navy?" Gibbs asked.
"Commander, assigned to NAS Lemoore in California. Five months to retirement. He filed his papers last month."
"They gonna let him go?" Gibbs knew the Navy was hard-pressed for talent, and was only approving the release of officers on a case-by-case basis.
"He's already overdue. He got his 20 more than a year ago. He was trying to get me to leave with him. That's what we were having trouble with, why I started talking to Thayer."
"So what's he gonna do? If it goes public?" Gibbs clarified.
Goetz shrugged. "Hope for the best. No one really knew about us. We..." Goetz glanced around the busy squadroom to see if anyone was in earshot. Seeing no one, he lowered his voice a little anyway and continued. "We broke up to protect him. But it was more about not being connected in the aftermath than a fear that anyone would find out about before. We were very careful. As officer and enlisted, we couldn't really even be friends under the UCMJ, so the other thing was just another thing to hide."
"Did you give his name to Thayer?" Gibbs asked.
"God no," Goetz said. "I only told him my secrets."
Gibbs drank more coffee. "You gonna keep talking to him?"
"Bill?" Gibbs nodded. Goetz gave a small smile over his coffee. "Maybe. When he's fully separated. If it doesn't come out before then. His service has been his life. If it gets out before he can retire, if they DD him because of this..." Goetz trailed off. "There won't be any chance."
"If his papers are already in, and he's got his 20, they'll likely just let him go, even if it does come out. But we'll do our best," Gibbs said.
Goetz nodded. "I know. And I appreciate it."
McGee came back up with a digital micro recorder a little larger than a pack of gum, a roll of white tape, and a handful of wires.
"We can go basic. Chest mike, recorder in his pants," McGee said. He set the equipment on Gibbs' desk.
"Will it make noise?" Gibbs asked, examining the recorder.
"No," McGee said. "It's silent running, once it's turned on. It might make a clicking noise in voice activation mode, but the batteries will go at least four hours in continuous run mode."
"That'll work," Gibbs said.
McGee turned to Goetz. "You can turn it on before you board, then let it run. Just be aware it's recording everything you say, so be careful," McGee cautioned. Goetz nodded, a small smile showing at the nearly identical warnings from the two agents.
Gibbs drained his cup and dropped it into the trash.
"Alright, let's go, Master Chief." Gibbs retrieved his weapon and jacket, stashing the recording equipment in his jacket pocket. He used the edge of his desk to get upright, then stood on his good leg to grab the crutches. He looked up to see McGee gathering his gear.
"Where you going, McGee?" Gibbs asked. McGee froze, then turned to face him.
"With you, Boss," McGee said, as if Gibbs had asked him something obvious.
"I need you here. Tell Abby to call me with the DNA results, and compare Fazio's boots to the prints we have from the warehouse. When Ziva gets back, both of you help Abby with the evidence. I need to know as soon as you find something."
McGee stood, staring, as Gibbs hobbled out from behind his desk and Goetz swung himself upright to join Gibbs in the aisle.
"Uh, are you sure, Boss? I mean, uh, how're you going to get there?"
"Do I look unsure?" Gibbs asked with a small growl. "I expect to hear from you as soon as Abby gets something."
"Got it," McGee said, and settled back into his chair. Goetz grabbed his glasses off Gibbs' desk, then the two men moved slowly to the elevators. After Gibbs pushed the button, he turned to Goetz.
"You did drive here, right?" he asked.
Goetz smiled. "Yup."
to be continued...
No reason for the delay. I just didn't get it done. But this is one of three for tonight. So enjoy. And if you enjoy, please leave some feedback. I treasure every comment.