Chapter 2
Very Early Saturday Morning
He had come to categorize his headaches. There was the ‘Now what have you done, Tiner?’ mild, almost enjoyable aggravation. Then there was the ‘What ever you do, Rabb, please don’t have it end with my ass being chewed by the SecNav,’ angry throb right at the base of his neck. The ‘Webb, I will break you nose again, if you are leading them into danger,’ migraine. But the worst of them all was the, ‘One day Sarah is going to wake up and finally figure out a way to make Rabb realize that he is getting older and it’s time to stop flirting with every woman who comes within eye contact and to commit to her like I want to but am too afraid of failure to chance,’ dull ache so persistent that he had come to embrace it as part of his being, just like breathing. Now the last three had rolled into one huge conflagration, ignited by not necessarily a new propellant, but certainly a unique one – Lieutenant Commander Tracy Manetti.
One of the few things that had made all the headaches bearable was their very predictability. Rabb would disobey an order, AJ would see something of his own youthful exuberance and figure out a way to make it so his ace litigator wouldn’t end up needing to be transferred to Iceland or worse, do time in Leavenworth. Webb would need help or, God help them all, Rabb would demand Webb’s help and AJ would have to work behind the scenes so that Webb would get the help he needed, didn’t get into too much trouble for helping Rabb or eventually get transferred back from Suriname. Mac would overhear some incredibly stupid remark from the afore-mentioned litigator and go into a deep funk, or see him in the company of some new love dú jour and go into a high temper, only to eventually, and far too soon in AJ’s opinion, get over it and start treating Rabb with far too much respect and/or adoration for her own good. In AJ’s humble opinion of course, which no one, including his former fiancé, seemed to give two figs for.
Until this past time, when Sarah MacKenzie had decided that she needed a blue brief cover and went to get it from the supply closet, only to find Rabb and Manetti in a face-sucking, ass-grabbing, clinch. Harriet Sims, who hadn’t wanted to tell him and Lauren Singer who had taken great delight in telling him, both reported that MacKenzie had taken one look at her red-faced partner and a very confused Manetti, threw the report in Rabb’s face, told Manetti ‘you’re welcome to him,’ and walked out of JAG ops. AJ would have followed her immediately, but Webb chose that particular moment to walk in with the latest batch of necessary information on a case that had national security as well as Naval implications. AJ had scanned the list, seen the possibilities, called in Rabb, had a hear- to-heart and the upshot of it was Rabb ended up asking Webb to go on a road trip tracking down witnesses and suspects from Montgomery all the way back to DC. AJ’s glare for Manetti hadn’t been fair, but then, tough. He already had all the headaches he needed at this point in his life. By the time he had found Mac, she wasn’t staring into a drink at McMurphy’s but next to the Jefferson Memorial, watching the sunrise on the Potomac. He had no idea how he felt about her vow. "Never again, sir." The strange look she had given him, he had chalked up to lack of sleep – on both their parts.
A week later, when he had first heard that some sheriff in some backward little hick town called Helensburg suspected that Rabb had been hurt/kidnapped/killed, he had, for a nanosecond, considered laughing hysterically and hanging up. When he heard that the sheriff liked a man named Webb for the aforementioned hurting/kidnapping/killing, he briefly thought that it could be true but only if the two of them went out together in a blaze worthy of Thelma and Louise. But now, sitting in the middle of a dinky little Podunk town in a police department that had at one time been an industrial shop of some kind, it appeared that the Thelma and Louise ending might very well be true.
He just hoped he hadn’t made a mistake by bringing both Manetti and MacKenzie with him. In the week that Rabb was out of his hair, in a figurative sense of course, he had kept a careful eye on both women. Particularly the day they went up against each other in court. He sat in the back of the court room and while the details of the harassment case were volatile, both women handed themselves with dignity, finesse and more respect than Rabb and Mac showed each other in the height of battle. After Manetti’s client was found not guilty, Mac shook her hand. As he was leaving the courtroom he heard the Colonel ask the Commander to lunch. He had no idea what was said, it was none of his business, but the office had never been freer of stress. It was almost boring. It had been heavenly. When he got the call, he had told not only the two of them, but Bud, Harriet and Turner who had just returned from his TDY. Turner wanted to come, but AJ left him in charge and after looking from Manetti to Mac told them both to grab their ready bags and meet him at Andrews. After one brief glance, the two had once again acted like professionals and left him alone to make the necessary phone calls. He had everything lined up, even the governor. He was just waiting to see what the locals could tell him.
The locals weren’t very impressive. The deputy who had met the helicopter had seemed almost insulted to see them. That he had expected. He hadn’t expected Sheriff Thibodeau. He had no problems with women in charge. The two women flanking him attested to his belief that women in general and military women in particular would rise as high as they could. No, it was Thibodeau herself. He had little doubt that the put-upon scowl on her face was a life-long reaction to having to deal with men so much taller than she. Hell, even Manetti was taller than the petite sheriff. Petite, but not tiny. Lush, not fat. And professional, by God and ya’ll had better respect that! Thank you very much! He knew he could throw his weight around, he already had. And now he found that he needed to deal with that. Explain to her what he had done.
He had called in a favor and stirred up a hornet’s nest. The FBI would be sending in agents tomorrow. But, in the process he had found out about the qualifications of one Barbara Jean Thibodeau. "Dear God in heaven, AJ, don’t call her BJ or even Barbara," Deputy Director Ted Winslow had firmly admonished him.
"I don’t plan on calling her anything but Sheriff, Ted. This isn’t a cotillion we’re going to."
"Trust me, old son, the woman is more at home at a mass murder site than at a social function, though she can rip with the boys when it’s called for. At least she could when I commanded that child porn task force. She’s good and she’s takes direction well, but you’re on her turf. The only reason why I can justify sending in anyone is the national security aspects of the situation. Webb, whatever issues he has with personal loyalty to his boss aside, is still one of the most respected men in the intelligence community. Besides, that damn laptop he took with him has intel we need. And I think you’ll find the woman unimpressed with that trident of yours." There was a long sigh. "Never underestimate a southern woman with her sensibilities out of joint."
"I grew up in Texas, Ted. I know all about southern sensibilities."
"Sure you do. Look. Good luck on finding the problem children. Have you figured out why they were in Helensburg?"
He sat in the very masculine office meeting the angry gaze of the sheriff of Helensburg. Manetti sat on his left and Mac on his right. Well, southern sensibilities aside, he thought, might as well get on with it. "What can you tell us, Sheriff?"
"Why don’t I tell you everything I know, then you can take over and I can go home to bed?" The sarcasm was thick and he knew she knew that her little kingdom was being invaded and that they were just the advance guard. He heard the leather in the chairs just behind him crinkle as the women shifted nervously in their seats.
"Well that’s one attitude to take, Sheriff. I see you know what’s coming."
"I know that it isn’t just going to be the JAG and his support staff here. What? A SEAL team to search? Bring them on. Who else? NCIS?
"FBI agents will be here tomorrow morning."
"Oh goodie! They always play so well with the boys from the State crime lab."
"Actually, I believe a call has been made. FBI forensics will be checking the scene."
She slapped her hands on the old leather chair. "Well there you go. Ya’ll don’t need little ole’ me now do you?"
"Cut the crap, Sheriff." He held up his hand and began ticking off points. "Barbara Jean Thibodeau, 36, single, never married. Left Helensburg at age 18 and went to live with her uncle in California. Graduated with a masters in Administration of Justice and immediately joined the LAPD. Youngest officer ever to get a gold shield. Two citations for bravery. Two written reprimands for insubordination. Left after twelve years and returned home to serve out your father’s term in office after he had been found floating in the river, dead from the shotgun blast, point blank to his back." He watched as the emotions played across her face. "You are well thought of in certain circles in DC. Several high-placed men, impressed by your abilities to, as you so succinctly put it, play well with other agencies, told me that you are wasting your considerable talents down here." When her face darkened, he turned his palm toward her. "You’re decision, Sheriff. It is neither my place, nor my desire to tell you what to do with your life. I will tell you that had it just been Commander Rabb who disappeared I would have been here in a heartbeat, with or without back up. I owe him that much. But it isn’t just Rabb. The other man who went missing with him is equally, if not more important. And no, Sheriff, I am not at liberty to tell you more than that."
She leaned back in her chair and he was impressed with her control over her temper. He knew he would have blown up by now. He suspected that her temper was equal to his own.
Mac, as only Mac could do, broke the tension. "Sheriff. Can you tell us why they stopped here? It wasn’t on their itinerary."
Bobbi Jo gave her full attention to the Marine Colonel. "There was an itinerary?" The voice was low and almost brittle. "I suppose I don’t need to know what that was?"
"It is being backtracked by other people now, ma’am." Manetti decided to tag team with Mac. "I’m quite sure we will fill you in on everything that we can. Right now though we don’t know why, Har…Commander Rabb and…Mr. Webb were here?"
AJ could see the sheriff make her decision. Could almost hear her thought. Fuck it. If it blows up it is no longer my fault.
"I can tell you what I personally overheard at the coffee shop on Wednesday morning. They were there having breakfast and they were – shall we call it – bickering. Both giving as good as they got, but it was escalating. I’m sorry, Colonel MacKenzie, I didn’t hear that."
Mac met her steady gaze with one of her own. "Sorry Sheriff. Nothing strange there. Did you talk to them?"
"You don’t care what they were bickering about?"
Mac’s smile was almost a grin. "Who snored the loudest? Harm’s eating habits? Harm’s driving habits?" She stopped at the shocked look on the sheriff’s face. AJ noticed it to but before he could say anything the door to the office jerked open and a red-faced deputy was standing there panting.
"What is it, Jimmy Bob?"
"Bobbi Jo, you gots ta come right now! That there homo done killed Li Ming!"
AJ turned back in surprise only to find the sheriff just sitting there, her hand rubbing her eyes. She wore the same expression he did when faced with Rabb’s latest bout of foot-in-mouth moment. "Deputy Barnett, I would appreciate it if you would show just a bit more professionalism. What happened?"
The deputy at the door blushed, stammered than hemmed and hawed, "Well gee, Bo…Sheriff, ma’am, I mean. She was just walkin’ down the street toward the motel and there was this shot."
"You saw it Deputy?" Her voice was tight and hard and AJ could see the LA cop that had been buried before now.
"Wale, uhm, no."
"You heard it?"
"No, Fred Jenkins was just closin’ up at the CtoC and he did. He ran out and then he knowed we was down at the motel, so he hopped in his car and came and got us."
"Sounds about right," she said, the disgust dripping from each word. She stood and reached for the baseball cap with her title emblazoned on it. "God forbid he should just go inside and call somebody."
"Wale, sheriff…."
"Shut up, Jimmy Bob. Stay here and man the phone…no, go find Deputy Farmer. He’s better on the phones than you are. Tell him I said to just take messages unless the FBI calls then find me – on the radio!" She was out the door. AJ nodded to both women and the followed behind him. The sheriff pointed to a Jeep Cherokee. "Hop in."
Once they were underway, Manetti and Mac in back and AJ in front, Thibodeau asked softly, "There’s a evidence bag behind you, Commander Manetti, can you reach it."
"Yes ma’am."
"Sheriff, do you think this has something to do with Rabb and Webb’s disappearance?"
"Look, I need to know something…" she paused but by then they were at the scene. There were four deputies standing around and Horace was kneeling over the body. "God damn it." She sighed. She didn’t even get out of the car, but rolled her window down. "Horace!"
The deputy who had driven them from the helicopter came loping up to the car. "Looks like he killed her sheriff. Don’t know why."
"Horace. How many of you does it take to secure this scene?"
"Huh?"
"How many men do you have back at the motel, watching it?"
The blush of embarrassment was evident even in the dim streetlights. "Uhm…sorry Bobbi Jo."
"Get everybody out of here. I think we can handle it. Go back to the office. Call the state police and tell them I want back up." Her sigh was bitter and Chegwidden felt embarrassed for her.
"Yes, Bobbi Jo."
They got out of the car and Manetti handed her a pair of gloves from the kit. AJ reached out a hand and Tracy found another pair for him. Together they examined the body. "Buckshot." AJ said.
"Yeah." The voice was soft and there was a tremor there. "No. There are plenty of shotguns in the county. No. No. No." He barely heard her. He stood and saw Mac was scanning the buildings. "Mac?"
"We should do a house to house. Now, before the state police get here."
"Sheriff?"
"Yeah. Damn, I shouldn’t have sent them all away. Damn it. Let me get on the horn." She made a call on her radio and then turned and leaned against the car. "Maybe the FBI taking over isn’t a bad idea. I’m not prepared for this. She bit her upper lip then stared back down at the body.
"What do you recognize, Sheriff?" AJ voice was soft but unyielding. "You don’t think that this has anything to do with your father’s death? Coincidence? Who did that deputy think killed her?"
"You don’t…"
"Damn it, tell me."
Bobbi Jo leaned her head back against the truck. "He thought it was probably your boy, Webb who did it."
"Webb?" Mac stepped closer and looked into AJ face. "Oh god. Please don’t tell me that is why they were killed."
"What?" Tracy demanded.
"Are you people that backward that two guys dressed in what? Dockers and tee shirts? Sitting together bickering? Are they automatically labeled homosexuals? Is that what this is all about?" Mac glared, tears of anger heavy in her eyes.
AJ felt the rage build but he clamped it down. "Why kill the young woman? Did she know them?"
Bobbi Jo took a deep breath. "I was just getting into it. Li Ming was one of the hookers who ran her business out of the hotel. From what I overheard and verified later, the car the men were driving, a 76 Corvette, had car trouble. I, and a couple of other people heard Webb say it was Rabb’s car and Rabb’s fan belt and that it was Rabb’s fault that they were stuck. Rabb said something about he knew that this had been a bad idea and he didn’t know why Webb had come along. Webb responded by telling him that…" Bobbi Jo stopped and then stared from Mac to Manetti and then groaned. "Well you had to be there."
"Who was there? Who thought they were gay? Who would have killed them for that?"
"Sir." There were tears in Manetti’s eyes. "We don’t know they are dead. If they’re dead, where are the bodies?"
"Well, before I talked to Li Ming, the going theory, not one I held, was that Webb killed him and dragged Rabb’s body out into the woods. But Li Ming said she saw two men in robes – supposedly KKK robes, run out of the room right after she and her john heard the a shot. I told her if she told me, I would let her go. Before you start, it wasn’t professional. Shit! I haven’t needed to be professional in a year. Li Ming also told me that whenever he took a walk, which was pretty often, Webb always had a laptop with him. I don’t know what that has to do with anything."
"Webb was always walking." Mac said softly. "I remember when we were in the camp together. I don’t think he slept at all; he just paced the perimeter. Oh god."
"What camp?" Bobbi Jo demanded. The three ignored her. "Fine." She punched the call switch on her mike. "Ollie? You there, Ollie?"
"Yeah, Bobbi Jo?"
"Rueben there?"
"Hang on."
They waited several minutes, and while they did, the hearse from a mortuary pulled up along side of the body. Bobbi Jo introduced the two men. "Norton Tyler is our undertaker and the county coroner. Admiral Chegwidden is in charge." Both men shook hands.
"Mr. Tyler, kindly just secure the body until the scientists from the FBI come and take over."
Tyler looked at Bobbi Jo who just nodded. "Go on Norton."
"Sure thing Bobbi Jo."
"Sheriff? You looking for me?" A deep baritone filtered through the mike.
"Yeah. Listen, Reuben. Those girls in the basement? They stay there. Preston comes by you tell him they are all material witnesses and to go get his damn habius corpus, but they are not to leave. Call Mary Sue, have her rustle up some food, have Jimmy Bob do that. I want you to go out and find Donisha. Bring her back. She gives you any grief you tell her Li Ming is dead and she’s probably next."
"Ten-four, Sheriff."
"Where the hell is…"
The radio squawked. "Bobbi Jo! Hoo doggies! Bobbie Jo! Horace says ya’ll best get out’cher, right now! We gots him. Always said them faggots were dumb as…huh. Oh yeah. Sure thing, Horace. Uhm…Sheriff?"
"We’re on our way," Bobbi Jo snapped even as she was jerking open the driver’s side of the car.