Honor and Betrayal PT
46
Author: Gabrielle T.
Stuart
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INT
COURTROOM
12:43 HOURS
Sitting on the witness stand is Allen Landry, a forensics
specialist with NCIS. Commander Mattoni is standing a few feet away from
the witness as he questions him.
MATTONI
Would you state your name and occupation for the
record, please.
LANDRY
My name is Alan Landry. I'm a forensic pathologist with
NCIS.
MATTONI
(presenting the plastic bag containing the carpet
piles from Mac's apartment)
Could you tell the court where and when you
secured the evidence marked as exhibit thirteen?
LANDRY
I was directed to Colonel Mackenzie's apartment on February 2nd for
the purpose of securing new evidence found by the plaintiff at her
residence. Once there, I removed six strands
of carpet piles that appeared to be stained with coffee. I
then placed them in an evidence bag and later conducted toxicology and
residue tests on them.
MATTONI
And what were the results of these tests, Mister
Landry?
LANDRY
They contained residue of butyrolactone and magnesium
hydroxide. A combination of ingredients that once synthesized is
creates a designer drug version of GHB.
MATTONI
By definition, Mister Landry, what is a
designer drug?
LANDRY
By definition, it's a synthetic chemical analog of some other
drug which is created for illicit purposes. In this case,
butyrolactone........a bulk chemical used as a solvent and magnesium
hydroxide more commonly found in over the counter items such as milk of magnesia
were used.
MATTONI
Mister Landry, can you tell the members of this court just
exactly where did you found the evidence in question?
LANDRY
On the carpet at the base of the living room
sofa.
MATTONI
Was the stain noticeable, Mister Landry?
LANDRY
Not really. It was only a couple
of centimeters in diameter if that.
MATTONI
So you didn't find it strange or unusual that Colonel Mackenzie had
just discovered the stain.
RYERSON
Objection. Calls for an opinion.
MORRIS
Sustained.
MATTONI
Mister Landry, was the stain noticeable from a
standing position or say from someone simply walking by the sofa?
LANDRY
No.....not at all. Not unless someone was
specifically looking for it.
MATTONI
How about from a sitting position on the sofa?
LANDRY
Maybe!
MATTONI
Would you have found it if you hadn't been directed to where it was
located?
LANDRY
Well, I'm embarrassed to admit this, but I was the forensic
pathologist who worked this particular crime scene the first time around and
.......well....... I missed it.
MATTONI
Does this happen very often?
LANDRY
Not usually, but it does happen.
MATTONI
So, basically, what you are saying, Mister Landry is that if it
wasn't for Colonel Mackenzie's dog sniffing out this tiny coffee stain, it
would never have been discovered by the plaintiff nor by you.....an
experienced forensic specialist.
RYERSON
Objection! Calls for a conclusion.
MORRIS
Overruled........I'm going to allow
it.
LANDRY
I wouldn't say never, Commander. But where forensics had
already gone over the crime scene, no, I doubt it. It probably would have
gone undetected.
MATTONI
Thank you Mister Landry. I have no further questions, your
Honor.
Mattoni retreats from the witness stand and Ryerson stands to cross
examine the witness.
RYERSON
Mister Landry, is there any way at all to determine how long this
coffee stain had been there?
LANDRY
No, not really. But it..........
RYERSON
You seem to be an expert witness when it comes to GHB, Mister
Landry, so tell me, how difficult is it to create such an illicit
drug?
LANDRY
It's not difficult at all, ma'am. You
probably could get a full set of instructions right off the
internet.
RYERSON
Well, I don't have a PC available at the moment, Mister Landry, so
please, enlighten me.
LANDRY
With the right ingredients, it could synthesized with a pyrex
bowl, some pH papers, a hot plate and a microwave.
RYERSON
Would you say it was simple enough for say the average person to
create this illicit drug?
LANDRY
Yes, ma'am, it's possible.
But it'd be pretty dangerous if attempted by an
inexperienced person. If you don't follow directions properly or you use
low quality ingredients there could be serious consequences.
RYERSON
But with a little help, it could be done by just about anyone,
couldn't it, Mister Landry.
LANDRY
Yes ma'am, I suppose it could.
RYERSON
Well then, I wonder how many of the required materials
and ingredients one could discover in Colonel Mackenzie's
apartment.
MATTONI
Objection!
RYERSON
Withdrawn! I have no further questions of this
witness.
Ryerson withdraws from the witness stand and returns to her
seat.
MORRIS
Thank you Mister Landry. You may step down. (Morris
pauses momentarily to gaze at his watch as Landry steps down and begins to walk
toward his seat in the court room) It's nearly thirteen thirty. I'm
going to recess this court for a forty-five minute lunch break.
He slams down his gavel and with that, the court is in
recess.
****************
INT
BETHESDA NAVAL HOSPITAL
13:35 HOURS
Harm's exhaustion is evident in his expression as Agent
Holland continues her barrage of questions. Roberts sits in a chair
by the window obviously discontented by the manner in which Agent
Holland is conducting the interrogation.
HOLLAND
You've more than adequately made a full account
of everything that happened to Lieutenant Malory on the night in question,
Commander, but you haven't told me much about what happened to you.
I think it's time you did just that.
Harm's eyes shift over to Bud as he sits in the chair across the
room.
RABB
(at length)
None of this was ever about me, Agent Holland. They wanted to
silence Lieutenant Malory and it looks as though they succeeded.
HOLLAND
Your evading my question, Commander.
RABB
Why don't we keep the focus of all this on Lieutenant Malory.
Because the way I see it, nothing of what I experienced will change the charges
that will eventually be brought against the Lieutenant Malory's
assailants.
HOLLAND
(irritably, a penetrating glare in her
eyes)
Yes it would........if rape or attempted rape was
involved in your case.
Harm shifts uncomfortably in his bed, the cold, hard glare in
Holland's eyes revealing her frustration toward Harm at his lack of
cooperation.
RABB
(quickly glancing to Bud and then back at
Holland)
Well, it wasn't!
HOLLAND
I've interviewed both Admiral Chedwidden and
Colonel Mackenzie......both claim that one of the perpetrators made a phone call
to Colonel Mackenzie at JAG Ops. Do you remember that phone call,
Commander?
RABB
I do, but nothing........
HOLLAND
Did you deliberately leave that part out, Commander?
RABB
No....I just felt it wasn't pertinent.
HOLLAND
Wasn't pertinent!? According to Colonel
Mackenzie, the unidentified caller made some threats
which led both Colonel Mackenzie and Admiral Chegwidden to believe that the
perps were going to sexually assault you as a means of...... how did the Colonel
say the man put it........demonstrating his
resolve.
RABB
Mac was probably pretty upset by it all so she may have
misinterpreted Durant. Anyway, nothing even remotely like
that happened. As for the Admiral, well, he was probably
repeating what Mac must have told him about the phone call.
HOLLAND
No, not so, Commander! You see,
Admiral Chegwidden was on another phone extension listening in
on the entire conversation!
A shocked expression fills Harm's face at Holland's last
words.
HOLLAND
That's right! It wasn't just the wild imagination of a female
counterpart half wigged out over a friend's dilemma. So, why
don't you tell me exactly what happened after that phone conversation
ended?
RABB
(firmly, somewhat agitated by Holland's
perseverance)
Nothing. Durant knew that Colonel
Mackenzie would probably call the authorities so he called off his dogs and
ended the whole thing.
HOLLAND
With one final blow across your forehead to knock
you out.
RABB
Yah.
HOLLAND
(irritably)
And that's all you have to say about the matter?
RABB
Yes ma'am.
HOLLAND
(gathering up her things)
Well, then I guess I'm finished here. If you
remember anything else, you know where to find me.
With that, Agent Holland walks out of the room. Bud stands
and walks to the foot of Harm's bed.
ROBERTS
I'm surprised she just didn't come right out and tell you,
Sir......
RABB
Tell me what?
ROBERTS
That getting Durant for this assault looks like it
will be pretty much next to impossible.
Harm momentarily waits for Bud to divulge more information.
RABB
(irritably, noting Bud's reluctance to
continue)
Ok, Bud.....want to fill me in on the rest?!
ROBERTS
I don't know Sir! It's probably a bad time
to have even brought it up. I mean you've already been through
enough, Sir, and........
RABB
(sharply)
Bud!
ROBERTS
Yes Sir?
RABB
Now is as good of a time as
any!
ROBERTS
Yes Sir! ........sorry sir! (he takes a deep breath and
then continues) It's Master Chief Durant, Sir, ......he not only has
a solid alibi, but the corroborating witnesses to back him up.
Harm's eyes glare over with anger as they remain locked on to
Bud's.
RABB
(with anger, yet determination in his
voice)
He'll slip up, Bud, one way or another! And when
he does, I'll be there to nail him! Count on
it!
ROBERTS
Are you that certain it was him, Sir?
RABB
Don't tell me you're doubting me too, Bud?
ROBERTS
No Sir!.......Well.....I guess some, Sir! I mean
the circumstances being as they were, well...... maybe there's a chance you
could be mistaken.
RABB
(angrily)
I'm not about to start second guessing myself on this one,
Bud! And I was hoping you wouldn't either. But I guess I was
wrong.
ROBERTS
Commander, you're not only a senior officer whom I highly trust
and respect, but you're also a good friend.
With that said, Sir, you should know that I only felt it prudent to question the
judgements you made while you were under extreme duress. If the situation
had been reversed, wouldn't you have done the same for me?
RABB
(at length, his anger subsiding)
I guess I probably would have,
Bud!
**************** TO BE CONTINUED
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