Page 26 of State of Alert

Back in the pit, she said, “Everyone in the conference room in five.”

It was time to shift this phantom investigation into high gear.

CHAPTER SIX

Sam walked into the conference room, ready to rumble. “Where are we, people?”

In addition to Freddie and Gonzo, Detective Cameron Green and his partner, Detective Matt O’Brien, were in the room, as well as Gonzo’s partner, Detective Neveah Charles.

Freddie stood next tothe murder board they’d started for Juan, which included photos of him alive and in uniform and one from the morgue.

NCIS had done a damned good job of finding someone who looked enough like him to play this most unusual role. While Sam could see subtle differences now that she knew the truth, the others wouldn’t doubt the ID, especially since she wasn’t questioning it. And how had NCIS managed that? This whole thing was too bizarre for words.

“Juan Rodriguez, age thirty-two, a lieutenant commander in the United States Navy, assigned as a special attaché to the president in conjunction with the National Nuclear Security Administration, was found in a clothing donation bin on New York Avenue after an intensive multiday search,” Freddie said. “He was reported missing by his roommate, also a Navy lieutenant commander, named Isaac Erickson. We werewaiting for you, Lieutenant, but Isaac was going to be our first stop.”

“Agreed. What else?”

“We’re running financials for Juan, and Archie has his phone,” O’Brien said.

“Have you requested warrants for the phone?” They needed one for the device and another for the data.

“Yes, ma’am, and included computers, tablets and any other devices belonging to him, as well as the apartment itself.”

“Excellent. What else?”

“We interviewed the people at the donation site,” Gonzo said, “and requested security footage from the area. Their security camera stopped working about six years ago, and they’ve never gotten it fixed.”

How often did they hear about malfunctioning cameras? Every day.

“What do we have nearby?” Sam asked, referring to the cameras the department had situated around the city.

“Archie is checking on that.” Gonzo glanced at her. “Assume the family has been notified?”

“Yes, Nick called his mother. It was horrible. He’s her only child.”

Gonzo grimaced. “That’s awful. How’s Nick?”

“He’s taking it hard. He considered Juan a friend since they started working together. Juan was the one who tipped off Nick to what the Joint Chiefs were up to.”

“How hard are we looking at them?” Green asked.

“Very hard, but NCIS is handling that part of the investigation. They want us looking at the possibility of no connection to his work.”

Cam gave her a skeptical look. “Do you think it was random?”

“I don’t know. We’re just getting started, and you’ve heard me say before that it’s not wise to jump to conclusions. We’ll follow the evidence like we always do.”

“But you like the Joint Chiefs angle for this?” Charles asked.

“It stands out as a potential motive. Juan telling Nick about their plot ended their careers and put them in legal jeopardy, not to mention endangering their fat pensions. These are people who’ve been successful all their lives and have taken a mighty fall. But what would be the point of murdering Juan after he’s already told the president what he did, and they’ve already been disgraced?”

“That’s a good question,” Gonzo said. “What’s the rationale for taking him out now?”

“Maybe they just wanted someone to pay for what happened to them after he told Nick,” Freddie said. “Pure revenge.”

“That’s possible,” Sam conceded, “but I still say it’s an awfully big leap to go from Joint Chief to murderer.”

“Don’t forget the stop at treason along the way,” O’Brien said.

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