Grove End Road – London, England
2328 Greenwich/ 1828 Eastern
Harm and Beth had just managed to get to sleep when the telephone rang. With a skill born of years of practice, he grabbed the offending object before a third ring sounded.
"Captain Rabb's residence, Sir."
"Sorry to disturb you, Captain. Major Atwood, Sir. I'm in charge of base security here at RAF West Ruislip and we have a situation here," came the voice on the other end of the phone.
"How can I help you, Major?"
"I need a JAG officer down here, Sir. We have what looks like arson and attempted murder, involving a female Commander. She's been medevac'd to London's Guy's Hospital for treatment, current condition unknown."
"Alright, I'll get someone headed out there right now. Have you notified NCIS?" Harm asked.
"They're already here, Sir," the Major said.
"Good. Do you have a name on the Commander?"
"Commander Lynn Alexander, Sir."
Harm was struck silent, his mind racing at the potential implications of the news. Although he could instantly think of a logical suspect, he was somewhat at a loss for motive. What had happened that so changed the dynamic of the trial that something this extreme would be contemplated. No, without a lot more to go on, he couldn't voice his thoughts.
"Ok, I'll get someone started out there as soon as I can, Major," Harm finally said before hanging up the telephone.
Getting out of bed, Harm hurried to his home office and found his list of phone numbers. Thinking for a moment, he dialed a number.
"Lieutenant Walker's residence, Lieutenant Walker speaking, Sir," came Annette's voice.
"Lieutenant, Captain Rabb here."
"Yes, Sir," all traces of sleep gone as she snapped fully awake.
"There's been an incident at RAF West Ruislip. Need you to go to the VOQ immediately and report to Major Atwood," Harm told her.
"And the nature of the incident, Sir?" Annette asked.
"Arson and attempted murder is what Atwood said. NCIS has been notified, so you will assist them in any way that they need. Is that clear, Lieutenant?"
"Aye, aye, Sir."
"You will keep me informed as to the status of the investigation, understood?" Harm asked.
"Yes, Sir," Annette told him.
Harm hung up then. He hadn't mentioned who the victim was or a possible suspect because, in his mind, he didn't want to influence the investigation. If this played out the way he believed it would, he didn't want any hint of bias being attached to the results. That was also why, even though JAG would be involved through Lieutenant Walker, he had made it plain that NCIS was the lead agency.
Harm's next step was to find Admiral Morris and pass on the news. He began by calling the duty officer at the Force Judge Advocate's office, since he wasn't certain where the Admiral was staying. Getting an answer, Harm called the switchboard at RAF West Ruislip and asked to be connected with the VIP Quarters.
"Admiral Morris speaking," came the response.
"Admiral, Sir. Sorry to disturb you, but there's a situation you need to know about," Harm said.
"Go ahead, Captain."
"I just received a call from Major Atwood, head of security at RAF West Ruislip. There's been an attempted murder and arson on base. The victim is Commander Alexander, Sir."
"Damn!" was Morris's response, before he went silent for a couple of minutes. Harm merely waited, guessing the thoughts that were going through the Admiral's mind.
"Do you know anything about the nature of the Commander's injuries?" Morris finally asked.
"No, Sir. What you have is what I know at this point. I sent an officer to assist NCIS," Harm responded.
"And I'm guessing that you believe Captain Krennick is a valid suspect in this matter?"
"I do, Sir. I haven't, however, shared that belief."
Morris sardonically chuckled at that. "Oh, I'll bet you haven't, Captain. The prosecutor in a case where you're the alleged victim is themselves the victim of a murder attempt. The suspect you and I have in mind is the defendant in that case, but if either of us were to make that suggestion, Captain Krennick would instantly scream 'they're biased' or worse."
"Exactly. Apart from the officer I sent there, my involvement in this is at an end. If I'm right, I want to see justice done and not have her escape over a technicality," Harm told him.
"Captain, we never had this conversation, understood? You called to let me know Commander Alexander was injured and that is all!"
"Aye, aye, Sir!"
"Thank you, Captain," was all Morris said before hanging up the telephone.
With that done, Harm left his office and went back into the bedroom. There was nothing else for him to do, except wait and pray. He just hoped that NCIS and Lieutenant Walker were up to the task of sorting this mess out.
VOQ – RAF West Ruislip, England
2352 Greenwich/ 1852 Eastern
Lieutenant Walker was in uniform, standing on the sidewalk outside of the VOQ. She had told the Corporal on guard duty who she was, even producing her identification. Still, he had stood by his orders that no one was to enter the crime scene and those orders stood until overridden by competent authority. So, Annette was forced to wait until the Corporal's officer came back or an NCIS agent came outside.
Since she had the time, she decided to look at the building itself. Judging by the damage, she had a fairly good idea of where the fire had started and ended. The exterior walls were slightly blackened and a few windows were missing. Through them, she could see more extensive fire damage, yet also evidence that the fire had been caught before it had progressed too far. A number of questions were starting to build in her mind, but almost all of the answers were to be found inside the building and she couldn't get in there yet.
"Lieutenant?" came a man's voice from behind her. Turning, she was a man dressed in slacks and heavy coat, a badge around his neck. "I'm Agent Weber. I understand you're here about the attempted murder investigation. You do understand this is NCIS's case, right?"
"Agent Weber, I just go where I'm told. My CO told me to report to Major Atwood, with orders to assist NCIS. I did so and he in turn directed me to you. Now, I'm not here to steal your case. I was told by my CO that my orders are to assist you in any way that I can," Annette replied.
"Any law enforcement background, Lieutenant …?"
"It's Walker and no, not personally. But I picked up a little from listening to my uncle and his friends."
"Oh, is your uncle a cop?" Agent Weber asked, a slight sneer coming to his lips.
"No, Agent Weber. He's a Texas Ranger, not a cop," Annette shot back at him, standing her ground with a fire in her eyes.
"Alright. Stick with me and put these on," Weber said, handing over a pair of rubber gloves.
With that, the agent led the way to the entrance to the VOQ. Lifting the crime scene tape, he went inside. Annette followed close behind, her eyes taking in the activity as other NCIS agents worked the crime scene. Weber, however, ignored them as he made his way to a specific door frame. Stepping through, he waited for the redhead to join him.
"That's the cause of the fire, right there," Weber said, pointing to a fire-blackened bottle of some brand of alcohol. "Judging from the pattern, whatever was in the bottle was poured across the desk, then splashed on the drapes for good measure."
"Alright, so that's the arson part. What's the story on the attempted murder?" Annette asked, looking around the room.
"A Commander Lynn Alexander, US Navy. When the firefighters arrived on the scene, she was face down on the bed. It was when they went to her that the first man noticed the pillow over her head with what he thought looked like a bullet hole in it. Sure enough, she'd been shot once in the back of the head, but the killer screwed up."
"How's that, Agent Weber?"
"The pillow, Lieutenant. I don't know if the shooter was squeamish or just trying to suppress the sound of the pistol going off, but the pillow ended up costing them. The bullet didn't go straight through, but at an angle," Weber said, pointing to his own head as he talked.
"Sounds like you've seen a few murders," Annette said.
"Lieutenant, when I was your age, I was working homicides in New York City. Yeah, I'd definitely say I've seen a few."
Annette had to smile at that. New York was regarded by many as the murder capital of the United States, even though this was no longer true. Still, she knew a police officer in a big city was likely to see more murders than the average cop.
"Pops, got a minute," came a woman's voice from the doorway. Weber turned with a look that plainly said he wasn't pleased by the interruption.
"Yeah, now that you've ruined my train of thought, go on," Weber said, although the smile now on his face was at odds with the voice.
"Major Atwood has the base on a security lockdown, as of five minutes ago. Yeah, I know it's probably too late, but we have to play the cards we're dealt. Also, talked with Bobby. The Commander is still in surgery, so we're in a holding pattern about getting a statement from her."
"Thanks. Have Bobby get an estimate of how long the surgery might go and then tell him to get some rest. Nothing he can do while she's in there, but once she's out, I want him or one of us on her twenty-four seven."
"You're worried the killer might try again?" Annette asked.
"Aren't you?" was all Weber replied before turning his attention back into the room.
"There's not much difference in the penalty for attempted murder and murder, Lieutenant. So, there's nothing really to lose, is there? Besides, a dead body has a much harder time identifying their killer than a live witness does," the woman said.
Annette just nodded her head, as the message couldn't be any plainer. Until the person who did this was caught, Commander Alexander was in danger.
"What was Alexander working on, do you know?" Weber asked, his eyes going from the room to Annette.
"She's prosecuting the Krennick court-martial. She's on a special assignment given that the accused is the former Force Judge Advocate and the victim is the current one. I don't know all the details, because Captain Rabb has told us to leave them alone unless they specifically ask for something," Annette told him before seeing the light go on.
"Damn, I must be getting old. I just gave testimony in that trial, but the name didn't click for me until you said something, Lieutenant. Garcia, would you and Lieutenant Walker be as kind as to find Captain Krennick for me, please? I think a word or two might be in order."
Annette followed the woman from the room, leaving Weber contemplating the scene some more.
January 18, 2004
NCIS Interview Room – London, England
0203 Greenwich/ 2103 Eastern
Annette and Agent Garcia stood on the other side of the one-way mirror, watching the interview. Alison was dressed in sweatshirt and khakis, obviously the first things she had thrown on when rousted from her bed a couple of hours earlier by the fire alarm. A look of curiosity was spread across her face, as she waited for Agent Weber to begin the questioning. The look puzzled Annette, until she thought about it. Alison, by the very fact that she was a Captain, must be a pretty good lawyer. As such, she knew that silence was her best weapon. This was not just verbal silence, but keeping the face as neutral as possible as well. She looked just like an innocent person should, wondering what she was here for.
"Captain Krennick, have you been advised of your Article 31 rights?" Agent Weber asked.
"Yes, I have, Agent Weber," was all Alison said.
"Do you wish to have an attorney present for this?"
"I don't see a need for that, really. I don't even know what this is all about, Agent."
"We're investigating the fire in the VOQ, Captain," Agent Weber told her.
"And I'm a suspect because I'm staying there?" Alison asked.
"No, Ma'am. We're going to be interviewing everyone who might have seen something. We're starting with people who were in the building."
"Well, I certainly didn't see anything. I was in my room working most of the day. I went out for lunch around 1300, to the pub near the gate to the base. I also left for dinner at the Officer's Club, around 1900 or so."
"I see. Did you happen to see anything or hear anything that might help us?" Weber asked.
"No. Like I said, except for those two times, I was in my room all day," Alison replied.
"I am curious about one thing, Captain. Why are you staying in the VOQ? I would have expected you to have quarters somewhere on base, Ma'am."
"I had already given up my assigned quarters, pending my departure from NAVFOREUR, when certain allegations were leveled against me. Because I had to stay for my court-martial, I was put in the VOQ until the case ends and I can leave."
"Ah, yes. The case. Isn't Commander Alexander prosecuting that?" Weber asked, watching her face carefully.
"Yes, she is," was all the reply Alison made.
"Were you aware that she was staying in the VOQ as well?"
"No, but it doesn't surprise me, Agent Weber. She was bought in specifically to hand this case and she would need somewhere to stay, wouldn't she?"
"Well, I think that's all I have for the moment. If there's anything else, we'll be in touch, Captain. Thank you for your time," Weber said.
"You're very welcome, Agent Weber. I hope you find whoever started that fire," Alison told him as she stood. He watched her leave the room, before turning to the mirror and making a 'Cut' sign. Agent Garcia went to the recorder and shut it off, before leaving the other room and going to join Weber. Annette was hot on her heels and closed the door after them.
"First impressions?" Weber asked without preliminaries.
"Oh, I definitely think she did it, Pops. But as you like to say, thinking ain't proving and right now we're a bit short on proof. We need evidence, or she'd walk if we pressed charges right now," Garcia said.
"I agree. So, what will constitute proof here, Lieutenant?"
"The gun would be nice, Agent Weber. Barring that, Captain Krennick's finger prints anywhere inside the crime scene, her DNA being there would be good too," Annette told them.
"What about the victim identifying Captain Krennick as the assailant?" Garcia asked.
"Nice, but too open to issues. Captain Krennick's first defense on that would be motive for falsely accusing her."
"Lay that out for me, Lieutenant?" Weber asked, watching her.
"Alright. If I was Captain Krennick, I would claim that the current trial was going the defense's way and that Commander Alexander is trying to influence the outcome of that trial by accusing her of a new, more serious crime," Annette told them. "Not saying that it works, but it would give a reason to discredit the identification."
"Well, then. I would say that our priorities are clear. First, find the gun and hope that it can be linked to someone. Second, find anything that doesn't belong in Commander Alexander's room and link it to a specific person. Lieutenant, I want you to start backtracking Captain Krennick's day yesterday. Garcia, check in with the hospital on Commander Alexander and then get back to the scene and see if the techs have found anything. I'll get the search organized with Major Atwood, then I'm heading for London to take Bobby's post for a while."
Seeing the two women nod, Weber walked out of the room. It was going to be a long day, he knew. But that's why they got paid the big money. Well, that and the fact that being a cop was the best job he'd ever heard of, Weber thought with a grin.