Murder in the Forest, Chapter Eleven
That afternoon, having conferred several times with his friend Diefenbaker after that supervisor had interrogated Garcia, Ford called in Hotchner, who had in the meantime had his own consultations with Diefenbaker. And both Diefenbaker and Hotchner had grilled Morgan, who they knew was the cause of the hacking issue. The topics hacked alone suggested his involvement.
Diefenbaker had had logs of calls to Garcia retrieved and had listened to him telling Garcia what to do and why. Their conversations had not been happy, and Morgan was made to understand that it was by the skin of his teeth that he was escaping indictment and prosecution with termination from the FBI. Had Diefenbaker not wanted to keep the event as little known as possible to protect his own career and wanted to avoid any racially charged situation, that is what probably would have happened.
Now, Morgan sat with his supervisor and the sheriff, Blacklaws, Hsu, Knowles, and David Rossi, who Hotchner had asked to attend the meeting.
The men discussed sending Morgan back to Quantico, to appease Ford and get him out of the way. But he was needed, and so was the Bureau car that would go with him. Moreover, Waters would probably have to accompany him, as Morgan didn't know his way around the state, and if he stopped for any problems and encountered hostility because of his race, that would only exacerbate the matter. And they needed the tactical supplies and rations packed in the FBI SUV's.
Finally, Hotchner suggested that Morgan accept a suspension without pay, beginning when the unit returned to Quantico. They argued over the length of the suspension, finally agreeing on 60 days instead of the 90 days that Ford wanted. Hotchner then called Diefenbaker, with whom he had agreed already on the general idea, and Diefenbaker accepted the terms and said that he'd be watching Morgan for a considerable time after he returned to duty. He had Hotchner tell Morgan with some heat that he Had Embarrassed The Bureau. That was enough to end a career, and Morgan knew that he would have to be on his best behavior for a year or more before this really died down, if it could. But Morgan thanked both Hotchner and Ford for not crucifying him and Garcia, as they had a right to do. He was indeed lucky to get off with an ass-chewing and the 60 days off without pay.
What hurt him almost as bad, in a way more, was that Garcia was also due for suspension. Because she was not the instigator of the plot, she was not dealt with as severely. And she was a technician, not a sworn Special Agent, of whom more was expected. But Penelope Garcia was still going to be out a month's pay, not insignificant as she didn't earn a great deal, to put the matter mildly. Morgan knew that he'd have to find some way to apologize to her for almost ruining her life as well as his own.
Before they adjourned, Ford said that he had a few words for Morgan.
"I know what you were trying to do, you dope. We've been over that. But just so you see the matter in better perspective, I think you should know that there are only about 20 black people in this entire county and I employ three, one as a deputy and two as clerks. This area doesn't have a lot of government or medical jobs, the sort of things that attract your people on the whole, and it isn't an urban area, like Seattle. Now, there's more: look at Senior Deputy Blacklaws there. See those ribbons on his uniform shirt? One's for marksmanship and I won't go into a couple of others. But that red one on the left of the display is the award for extreme gallantry in line of duty. You know why he wears that ribbon, Morgan? He got it for saving the life of a four-year-old black child who was trapped in a burning house. He put his own life at risk to save that kid. Whatever he may think of your race on the whole, and I suspect that he may not want to hang out with blacks, he did risk his very life to save one of you in line of duty. Nor has he ever charged anyone, black, silver, blue or purple, with any crime that they didn't commit. If I thought that he'd do that, South African birth or not, I wouldn't have him on my force.
"Now, I think we've spent enough time on this distraction. I want to get back to finding those girls, not have any other personnel problems. Can we do that? If so, let's dismiss for the day and Aaron can take his crew back to the motel and discuss whatever he needs to there. The rest of us will talk briefly in my office, and then we're done for the day. Anyone want to say more before we dismiss? If not, let's meet at that IHOP café tomorrow at eight AM for a working breakfast and assign our people as we see fit after we compare notes. I know we need more interviews at those schools, and that's drudge work, but it may pay off. I'll call Vaughn Cassidy and his wife and tell them and Melissa's family that we're at a dead end, but that something may turn up."
An officer knocked on the door and leaned in. "Sheriff, a patrol just found those girls' phones. The phone company tracked them to the same place, that Sacajawea memorial park near the western edge of town. Forensics says they've been wiped clean. No fingerprints. But if both phones were together, I guess that tells us that the girls were lifted by the same captors, and they probably didn't just run away."
"Okay," said the sheriff. "I want Winston here to stay late tonight, and I will. He'll see what we can get out of the phones; see who they called last, that sort of thing."
"I'll join you," said Hotchner. "Morgan, you stay with me, for the rest of this investigation. The rest of our agents will go eat and then meet at the motel. I'll call Dave there as soon as we know more. "
Then a thought struck him. "Grant, if Melissa has been missing for a week longer than Courtney, why are those phones together?"
"I just thought of that," admitted the sheriff. "Damned good question. Let's see if anything on the phones explains that. And anything else!"
And on that note, they adjourned.