Decency (10 page)
“We would like to go to the interview room.”
“Look, if one of my guys’ checks bounced, the answer is no, I didn’t think it would happen.”
“We would like you to come with us now.”
…officious little…
“Oh, I’ll be
delighted
. Let’s go right on in.”
Yancey heaved his six foot, 240 pound, presence out from behind his desk and strolled toward the interview room.
…four hundred and sixteen active case files…11 homicide detectives to watch… plenty of my own distractions, wife, former wife, child support…these guys want to waste my time on some probably baseless complaint…
Yancey turned into the room, flipped on the light and took a seat.
…no sense wasting energy too…
“Captain, I’m Captain Rick Hoff and this is Detective Sheila Nelson.”
…maybe they are busy…? sending, out the captain…well if they wouldn’t waste so much time penny ante-ing…
“Yeah, I know who you are.”
“What do you remember about the Samantha Pierce case?”
“What case?”
“Samantha Pierce. Thirty eight year old female. Deceased. Found in bed in November, year before last.”
“Never heard of it.”
“‘Never heard of it’?”
“No.”
Hoff slid a copy of the report across the table.
“Remember it now?”
Yancey scanned it.
…female…Odenton… …lived alone… …no apparent trauma… …no witnesses… …signed, Captain George Yancey… …I should remember…
“No…”
“You sure?”
“Yeah… …I mean… …I should remember… …an Odenton case…looks like my signature…”
“Captain, there are no evidence receipts to speak of and no evidence samples reported as collected.”
“Why not?”
“That’s what we’re asking you.”
“I don’t know a thing about it.”
“Uh…Captain, the lawyer for the decedent’s parent’s asked for the report. The file clerk noticed no receipts and forwarded it. The repository found no forensics.”
“All I can tell you is I don’t know anything about it.”
“The evidence technician at the scene says he gave you the samples collected.”
“Not to me, I’d remember that.”
“Are you telling us he’s lying? Why would he falsify that if he thinks the report is going to mention the evidence?”
“No. I’m not telling you he’s lying. I don’t remember anything.”
“Captain, have you been drinking lately?”
…here it comes.. drinking? Gambling? Women? Drugs…?
“No.”
“You have a heavy child support obligation…”
“So does half the department, you guys know that better than anyone.”
“Are you in financial trouble?”
“Nothing I can’t handle.”
“Captain, is that your signature on the report?”
“It looks like it but I don’t think I signed it. That one receipt doesn’t look like my signature though. I just don’t remember anything about this case and I would.”
“Is there anything at all you want to tell us?”
…Damn…they think…that’s why they sent a captain…equal or higher seniority to the suspect…
“How was your day, Hon?”
“Not good. Internal Investigations thinks I may have killed a woman.”
“You’re kid…you’re
not
kidding?”
“I wish I was.”
She dropped her hands to her sides, her eyes wide, mouth half open. She wanted words but they hid on the back of her tongue. She felt instantly transported to a planet with no air. Struggling, concentrating, she caught the words and dragged them out.
“That’s… that’s just… that’s the most…ridiculous thing I’ve ever heard in my entire life.”
“Thank you. I’ll always remember you said that.”
She hugged him. Then kissed him. There was not even a whisper of difference between them.
Then a new thought. She pushed back to arm’s length and said, “Shouldn’t we get a lawyer?”
“I don’t think we can afford it.”
“Baby, we can’t afford not to.”
He knew, deep inside, where words were not even born yet, if he made it through this, she would be the reason.
T
WO YEARS AFTER THE ACT.
“Director Jiang, will you walk with me in the garden?”
“It is particularly cold today. Must we, General Zhou?”
“You will not be disappointed.”
Bundled against 20 degree temperature and biting wind, the Director and the General walked together, blowing clouds of vapor.
“Well, General have the engineers emerged from their slumber these many months?”
“Indeed, they did. I am pleased to report that real results have been obtained.”
“And those might be what, that they have a working model at long last?”
It was the General’s turn to jibe.
“Director, we have
real
results. The device has been installed and is monitoring communications in the NSA security office at Fort Meade.”
“Indeed, I am impressed…”
“I will keep you informed as often as you wish of the activities of the very personnel in NSA who are charged with responsibility of preventing any such information about NSA being known by anyone.”
“I would like to know that on a daily basis.”
“Director, forgive me. You do not understand. The daily volume of information we are receiving would require that you read nothing but that material alone.”
The Director stopped and looked at the General.
General Zhou did not ever remember such a look on the Director’s face.
Then Director Jiang smiled.
“Report to me as often as you perceive it is wise.”
“I will be happy to.”
Dr. James Cochran reported to the NSA Security office. He believed he knew what was coming.
“Come in, Doctor Cochran.”
“To what do I owe the honor?”
“Did you know the hearing board voted to retain Mr. Richardson in service?”
He was correct, it was coming. “I am aware.”
“You do realize that from a security point of view that result can present problems, don’t you?”
“That is not necessarily correct in all cases, as the Board determined.”
“
Oy
…Doctor, the Board vote is irrelevant once it is taken one way or another. The security concerns in these cases were clearly stated to you, weren’t they?”
“They were.”
“Then you must insure that your evaluations properly reflect those concerns.”
“I cannot make a silk purse out of a sow’s ear.”
“Who are you kidding? I believe you would agree you have done precisely that in the past.”
The psychologist did not want to concede. “I would
not
agree.”
“Please be more careful. Your evaluations must adequately reflect the gravity of the security risks. Are we clear?”
“It was never unclear.”
“Fine. Then that’s all. Thank you, Doctor.”
“Wait a minute. I do your bidding. What else am I supposed to do?”
“Just so we’re on the same page. Thank you, Doctor.”
T
WO YEARS ONE MONTH AFTER THE ACT.
The Intelligence Briefing to the President was usually a cut and dried affair. It was a laconic report, normally delivered daily, of specific potential or actual trouble spots. Normally, it had little to do with actual intelligence operations or problems.
Today was different. NSA’s Echelon system picked up indications of a specific breach of NSA security. CIA had evaluated the indications and concurred with NSA’s initial review. Craig Horton, the President’s Chief of Staff, added the problem to the agenda because of its potential significance.
The President, Horton, Garling Hardesty, the DCI, and Lieutenant General Chester O. McKenna, NSA Director, personally attended the briefing today, because Horton wanted them to describe the possible breach and its consequences. At the conclusion of the regular briefing, Horton interjected.
“Mr. President, NSA has a matter that deserves your attention.”
General McKenna had the floor.
“Mr. President, we found indications through Echelon intercepts that NSA’s own security may be breached. We do not have a conclusion one way or another. However, the matter is so serious we wanted to let you know. CIA has evaluated the indications the same way.”
“Physical security or information security?”
“We have indications that information from inside our security office has been obtained. Consequently, the answer has to be that it could be both.”
“Chet, the whole government relies on you for making and breaking codes for one reason, information security. If we can’t rely, we have a colossal problem.”
“No one is more aware of that than I am, sir.