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McRose - the writing team of highplainswoman and janlaw
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Date Posted: 07:02:08 04/25/07 Wed
In reply to:
McRose
's message, "Doppelgänger" on 19:52:35 04/06/07 Fri
Doppelgänger Chapter Nine/12
Joint Legal Service Office/Navy-Marine Corps Trial Judiciary -Southwest Judicial Circuit
Naval Station, San Diego
Monday, 11 June 2007 0650/6:50 am
Pleasantly surprised to see a “Reserved for Ms. Chase” placard on a stanchion exactly where she’d been told it would be, Annabeth grinned as she parked and surveyed the area. The signs on the various nearby buildings were “foreign” to her, all odd combinations of letters and numbers, as were the uniforms rushing about – she counted at least four different-appearing ones on the men and women heading into the JLSO/Trial Judiciary building. So much for assuming everyone in the military wore exactly the same uniform, she mused; then remembered that Morrison’s uniform in Indianapolis had been very different from CDR Manetti’s and CAPT Rabb’s uniforms, which somewhat resembled business suits, except for the gold stripes and the ribbons and nametags! She wondered for a moment what her handsome escort of the previous day would be wearing.
FLASHBACK
“Gregory Vukovic, but call me Vic,” the dark-haired young man holding a hand-lettered sign “A B CHASE” smiled engagingly as she approached him on the bustling airport concourse, “Annabeth Chase – thanks so much for meeting me on a Sunday afternoon. I’ve never been to San Diego before; the ocean looks so HUGE from the air!”
“It goes all the way to China!”
Annabeth looked at him sharply, wondering if he was making fun of her, relieved by the admiring expression and pleasant smile.
***********
“I’ll take it!” Grinning happily, Annabeth decided to splurge and pay the extra for a convertible – ‘the meals allowance is generous and I won’t eat that much,’ she told herself, so the difference between the compact car the Marion County Travel Office had reserved for her and the bright red convertible the agent said was available wouldn’t really be all that much out of pocket.
Standing to the side, Vic listened to Annabeth smoothly negotiate an additional discount, admiring the pretty blond. Truth be told, it’d been months since he’d so much as looked at a woman, except in the “line of duty,” as agreed to with the other investigators, to bust the disbursing scam case. The day after the JLSO change of command, Col Mackenzie’s and LCDR Roberts’ stern, unyielding faces and ice cold voices had scared him shitless, even without CAPT Rabb sitting silently to the side, never taking his equally cold eyes off him. Six months later, Gregory Vukovic had a quite different view of himself and the world around him.
************
“This is fabulous!” Her hair blowing wildly in the breeze, Annabeth leaned over the rail of the ferry between downtown San Diego and Coronado ‘Island.’ “You’re sure it’s not more than 10 minutes across?”
Chuckling indulgently at her obvious pleasure in the mini-“cruise,” Vic mentally debated which of the Ferry Landing eateries to take her to for a late lunch/early dinner – the snack bar, the pricey Peohe’s, the casual Greek or the nice Italian place – all had good food and seating overlooking the bay. “What’s your pleasure, Annabeth? Seafood, Greek, Italian, deli …there’s one of each plus a Burger King and a hot dog wagon at Ferry Landing, as well as 50 or so shops and kiosks.”
Watching the people strolling on the boardwalk or sitting on benches at the edge of the beach, Annabeth shrugged. “Anything we can grab to go is fine, and maybe walk around and sit on a bench? I don’t want a big meal after flying most of the day.”
********
“Are you called Annabeth or Anna or Beth? I look around when someone says “Greg,” Vic was enjoying the pleasant “duty” tremendously; in between gyros from Spiro’s and Annabeth’s carefully choosing postcards to send back to the D.A.’s office, he’d managed to give her the 50 cent version of the court-martial process and a thumbnail of the TV and newspaper reporters who’d requested access to the base to cover the trial.
“When I was …” Annabeth faltered and started again, …“before ….I was sometimes called “Alph” …at Vic’s quizzical look, she explained, “you know, short for “alphabet” ‘cause my initials are A-B-C.” It was mostly Jack who’d called her “alph” from the time she’d accepted his proposal and he’d gleefully pointed out “your initials will be A-B-C if you change your name!” Annabeth would never admit that wanting the nickname, the first she’d ever had, was what had made her decide to use her husband’s last name.
She shivered suddenly, tears stinging her eyes, realizing anew that she’d never hear that laughing “alllphhhh” again.
“Hey, I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to upset you …” Vic had no idea what he’d said; he’d just been chatting, enjoying the sun and the pretty lady.
“It’s nothing you said,” Annabeth mumbled, desperately looking for something else to focus on. “Look, is that an ice cream stand there?”
*************
“Thanks so much for showing me around. I’ll meet you in the court building lobby a little after 7 tomorrow morning? I’ll stay out of the way so you can get ready for court.”
END FLASHBACK
“Good morning!” Vic’s eyes widened. If the jeans and polo shirt clad Annabeth had been pretty, with her long blond hair blowing about, this woman was beautiful, in a smartly elegant white suit with a navy shell peeking from the lapels, her hair pinned into an intricate French braid, gold earrings and jewelry gleaming. “The reporters will MUCH prefer you to the JLSO’s PAO - Public Affairs Officer!” Catching himself, he hurriedly covered, “I mean, they’ll want the Indianapolis D.A.’s take on the court-martial, compared to the civilian proceedings that convicted Juice O’Malley.”
Her eyes widening equally appreciatively at the lieutenant’s appearance in the crisp white uniform with its’ gold and black shoulder boards and gleaming gold belt buckle with a matching insignia, Annabeth almost missed his snapping to “attention” and respectful “Good Morning, Ma’am” as a tall, slender officer approached. The fifth different uniform, she thought amusedly to herself, quickly gathering her wits about her as Vic indicated, “Colonel, this is Ms. Annabeth Chase from the Indianapolis D.A.’s office; Annabeth, my Commanding Officer, Colonel MacKenzie.”
“Mac,” shaking hands firmly, Mac pondered momentarily if Harm really hadn’t remembered which Assistant D.A. was the blond and which was the brunette. “Welcome to JLSO San Diego, Ms. Chase. I like your car – I have one just like it!”
Turning to Vic, Mac continued, “I got your voicemail late last night, Lieutenant. Is everything on track?”
“Yes, Ma’am;” gesturing to include Annabeth in the explanations, Vic followed Mac as his CO motioned them into the small office next to the reception counter. “Defense counsel called me about 9 – Morrison wants to plead. I left voicemail for you and the XO, Ma’am, called LT Fielding, LCDR Gonzales, and LT Graves - my second chair, my supervisor and our PAO,” Vic quickly explained to Annabeth and continued. “We divided up the calls, notified Judge Reynolds – he gave us an extra hour this morning - the CDO at the Region said she’d get the word to the Chief of Staff and the SJA – the SJA said she’d call the Admiral, and LT Graves called the reporters on the access list to tell them the trial won’t start till 10.”
“LT Fielding and I met at 6, she’s at the Region now, meeting with the Admiral and Chief of Staff and their SJA to get advance approval for one of three pleas and sentence combinations; I’m going to meet with the defense at 0730, and she’ll join us when she arrives, to see if we can come to terms.” Grimacing, Vic sighed, “I was really looking forward to proving the charges, but I know a plea’s in the Navy’s best interest. And, LT Graves notified the Brig Chasers and the bailiff of the change in schedule, though the defense wants Morrison here at 0800 anyway.”
“Very well, Lieutenant,” Mac nodded approvingly, “it sounds like you have it all well in hand. I’ll notify CAPT Rabb not to come over until closer to 10; please keep me and the XO informed and let him know if you need any additional assistance. Do you have a legalman standing by to prep the pre-trial agreement if you come to terms?”
“Yes Ma’am,” Vic assured. “Would you like to get coffee and sit in on the negotiations Annabeth? I know the Indianapolis D.A. has an interest in an ‘appropriate sentence.’”
“Yes, thanks to both – the coffee and the offer to observe.” Annabeth was impressed with Vic’s aplomb and his professional manner as he’d summarized the totally changed ball game for his CO.
As Mac turned to leave the room, her face three-quarters turned from Vic and Annabeth, Annabeth gasped. “Uh …Mac,” she nearly stuttered, “do you have family in Indianapolis?”
“No, why?” Mac’s tone was suddenly wary. There could be only one reason someone would ask a virtual stranger a question like that ….
“You look a lot like …not like a twin, maybe a sister or a cousin …a police lieutenant I work with sometimes – Lt Dani McKinnen. I ‘felt’ like I’d met you before, but wasn’t sure until you turned, maybe because of your being in uniform or because your hair style is a little different …..”Annabeth’s voice trailed off at Mac’s expression.
“No, no one in Indianapolis” Mac’s voice was very, very firm. Another ‘twin’ she DIDN’T need!
“It’s just so odd,” Annabeth couldn’t help saying. “You maybe know, my boss and CAPT Rabb, from NCIS here, do look like twins, I mean exactly; they could be identical twins.”
“So I’ve heard,” Mac’s tone was dry. “I’ll see you two in a bit. Good luck with the negotiations.”
“What?!” Annabeth shot at Vic, whose mouth was twitching as he tried to control himself. “What’d I say?”
“You don’t know? I guess there’s no reason you would.”
“Know what? Why’d she react like that?” Annabeth was starting to feel like she was on the “Yellow Brick Road.” These people were just too weird.
“CAPT Rabb is Colonel MacKenzie’s husband. Everybody’s talked about how he and Mr. Conlon look exactly alike.” Vic couldn’t help himself - looking quickly to make sure the door was closed, he dissolved in laughter for just a moment. “This is just too funny …funny weird, not funny ha-ha, that they both have a look-a-like!”
*****************
0800
Conference Room at the JLSO
“Look,” Vic snarled, “I am totally ready to prove each and every charge and specification. Your dirtbag client wants to plead, he can plead without a deal or he can plead with a deal or he can plead “not guilty.” I frankly don’t care. The perjury and the false official statements – the fraudulent enlistment – are non-negotiable. We can talk about the obstruction of justice, UA and missing movement charges.” Vic had about had it with LT Jeffries, Morrison’s defense counsel. The two junior officers had gone head to head at least three times in the past year, before Vic’s TAD to NCIS, pretty much splitting the verdicts. Both were good - and both knew it. Perhaps they were both posturing a bit in front of Annabeth.
LT Becca Fielding was at a dead stop on Harbor Drive; the road closed by a massive accident near the Dole banana barge piers. She’d relayed the Convening Authority’s 1st, 2nd and 3rd choice of plea and sentence combinations to Vic, who’d been trying to get the defense to the table for the last half hour.
“IF you can get through my motions” scoffed Jeffries. In reality, he wanted nothing more than to plea bargain this loser case. He just hated to give in to Gregory Vukovic.
“Law’s on my side,” retorted Vic. “Up to you.”
“Okay, perjury and the false statements. Three years.” After nearly three months in pretrial confinement in the Miramar brig, Morrison was a wreck, but until yesterday had been adamant he wouldn’t plead. "Let them prove it” was his fatalistic response each time LT Jeffries tried to get his okay to open negotiations. Sunday afternoon, Morrison apparently had some sort of epiphany on the eve of trial as Jeffries met with him one last time.
Vic shook his head. Finally, they were getting somewhere. “For three years we want the UA too. And, you withdraw all motions and waive the issues for appeal.” The UA was a throwaway – Morrison hadn’t requested his leave be extended when the judge in Indianapolis had adjourned court before Morrison was cross-examined. His leave had been up Saturday night.
“He can’t pass providency - he swears he spoke with the watch on the ship. Also, we want the Indianapolis DA to sign off – no prosecution back in Indiana.” The back and forth was in full swing.
Vic shrugged. “Okay on the UA, but you know I’ve no authority to speak for the DA’s Office.”
“But SHE does!” Jeffries stared pointedly at Annabeth, demanding, “What’s your role here, anyway? You prosecuted Juicy – Juice O’Malley. Was there a secret deal between your boss and CAPT Rabb? Is my client going to be facing an extradition proceeding and a second trial?”
Before Vic and Jeffries’ eyes, the elegantly clad woman who’d been listening silently with an almost amused expression on her face was transformed – she almost appeared to “morph” -- into the formidable prosecutor who’d lost but a handful of cases in the years she’d been with the D.A.’s office. Annabeth’s voice was icy cold. “There are no secret handshakes, no secret deals, no under-the-table agreements, gentlemen. I’m here as an observer. Of course we have an interest in an appropriate sentence – your client appeared in OUR courtroom – his Navy uniform lending credibility to his giving a false alibi in a trial for carjacking, murder, kidnapping, rape and a second murder of a ten year old!”
LT Jeffries winched, but pressed the point. “So is three years acceptable to the State of Indiana? For the perjury – the rest of the charges are military – they have nothing to do with a civilian court. You know the obstruction’s multiplicious with the perjury – at least for sentencing.”
“Yes.” Annabeth and Mo and Conlon had discussed it -- they doubted Morrison would get more than two years if he was convicted in the State court. “I’ll sign a separate document.”
***************
0945
JLSO CO’s Office
“Ready?” Mac grinned at Harm as they watched from her window – the media milling about smartly had headed into the building a few minutes ago. “We should give them a few minutes to get into the courtroom so we don’t have to run the ‘gauntlet’ outside the courtroom doors! Our seats are just behind Vic and Becca’s. I told Annabeth to sit with us.”
Mac had told Harm what Annabeth had said about her resemblance to the Indianapolis police officer and he could see she was hiding a bit of upset behind her Marine façade. “God, Harm, it took years for us to come to terms with my looking like Diane. If I look like some police lieutenant named Dani, that means SHE looks like Diane too! Did you meet her when you were there?”
“No; at least I don’t remember her; I know she wasn’t in Conlon’s office when I met him, Annabeth, Mo and their investigators- not police detectives, but D.A.’s office investigators. I don’t really remember much about who was at the press conference – it was a blur after the session with the judge.”
“Whatever.” Mac tried to shrug it off. She really didn’t want to think about having another ‘twin’ out there in the world. Especially someone who worked with Harm’s ‘twin.’ Really, it was just too weird.
“Bud’ll love it. You know how he talks about parallel universes.” Harm tried for a humorous touch.
“Whatever,” Mac repeated, determined to put it out of her mind. “Don’t encourage him.” Changing the subject deliberately, she teased her husband, “You’re SURE you don’t remember Annabeth was the blond? She’s really pretty. I think Vic may be a bit smitten.”
“Nope.” Harm was definite. “Yours is the only face I remember. Wellll…Mahara too! And Mattie and Chloe. And I guess my mom. And maybe Harriet…..” Giving up, “C’mom, let’s go see the Vicster in action.”
“Not much to see,” Mac shrugged. “Morrison’s gonna plead out. What do you think Judge Reynolds will give him? Vic’s not sure how much of a parade of E&M witnesses Jeffries is gonna put on. Hey, I’ve got an idea – we were planning to observe in court all day. Assuming it’s over by mid-afternoon, let’s bug out early and take Mahara to the beach. I’ve got a yen to put my toes in the water.”
“You’re on.” Harm agreed instantly. “What’s the use of living by the beach if we never go there. You’ll wear that teeny tiny green bikini?” He leered at her suggestively, his eyes gleaming that “Harm” look, both of them stifling their laughter as they turned to the door.
End Chapter Nine
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