The Recruit
Chapter 15
"NCIS has Sanders." Tom said as soon as Mike answered the phone.
"Where?" Mike asked.
"DC. Mike, I know I can't convince you not to go, but I can say; I'll be there in ten minutes to get you. I want to stop you from doing something stupid. Sanders isn't worth going to jail for." Tom said.
"Copy." Mike answered.
Mike would rather go alone, but he understood Tom's standpoint. He sent a text to Christine that he would be back later that night. True to his word, Tom was there ten minutes later and they began the drive to Washington DC. Mike and Tom were both in their uniforms and were let into the NCIS building immediately.
Sanders wasn't talking. Not shocking and Mike didn't feel he would get anywhere with him. It was pretty anti-climatic, but at least Sanders was in custody and Katie was safe. With any luck, he would be court martialed and would not be a concern again. As they climbed back into Tom's truck, he spoke again.
"Kind of a let down." Tom remarked.
"I would just like to know why." Mike said.
"They were able to get that out of him. Remember the Roosevelt? Sanders was an ensign when we were junior grade lieutenants. He washed out. Couldn't handle being on the ship. But he stayed in the Navy, just in land positions. It took him longer to make ranks and the only reason he made Commander and was over the Academy was the lack of personnel." Tom explained.
"I don't remember him and that doesn't explain why he would pick on Katie or Ian Smith." Mike said.
"I didn't remember him either so I asked Russ; who did, of course. Said that he physically attacked a female crewmember who wouldn't sleep with him. The XO—Senator Smith, had him taken off the ship in Naples. My guess is, he is jealous of our success and Katie and even Ian were easy targets." Tom explained.
"He wasn't court martialed?" Mike asked as a sour taste grew in his mouth.
"No, he knew people. And the crew member who was enlisted didn't want cause ripples. She was trying to get out of her tiny town and saw the Navy as her one chance. Even told the XO that she was afraid she might have encouraged the behavior. I talked to Senator Smith. He remembered Sanders once I explained it to him. Said he always felt bad for the girl. Thought she might have been threatened by other ensigns on Sander's behalf but wasn't sure." Tom continued.
"I can't believe I don't remember that." Mike remarked.
"You were in the engine room and we were just junior grade. Russ would have known due to it being an enlisted crew member. He is going to try and track her down to testify, if she's still alive. He said he thinks she did eight and got out." Tom explained.
"He probably has a history of victimizing women. You might check for ex-wives. Lovers, whatever." Mike said.
"Yeah. There will be a deep dive. It was in the early 2000s and there's been a pandemic so its easier said than done." Tom complained.
"You might also check former students at the Academy; specifically those who have dropped out since he took it over." Mike continued.
"Do you want to handle this investigation?" Tom asked.
"No, I am done, but I don't mind instructing you." Mike said.
"Well, Russ and Kara are going to be assisting. We will find his victims." Tom answered.
It was late when he got back home. Late enough that both Christine and Hannah were asleep. Katie was studying in her room and Mike thought about telling her, but it would only keep her awake. She might as well sleep before he unloaded it on her.
He showered, wanting to get all the scum that Sanders admitted off of him. Thankfully, Christine didn't wake when he climbed in next to her and he tried to fall asleep; knowing he would have to get up early to talk to Katie. That would be the hard part.