Exigent Circumstances Ch. 04

This story is part of an ongoing series. The chronological order of my stories is listed in WifeWatchman's biography.

Feedback and constructive criticism is very much appreciated, and I encourage feedback for ideas.

This story contains graphic scenes, language and actions that might be extremely offensive to some people. These scenes, words and actions are used only for the literary purposes of this story. The author does not condone murder, racism, racial language, violence, rape or violence against women, and any depictions of any of these in this story should not be construed as acceptance of the above.

There may or may not be discussion of political issues in my stories. If you are a Snowflake that feels you need to be protected from any mention of politics, then click the Back button now, and never attempt to read any of my stories ever again. You've been warned.

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Part 13 - The Crime Scene, Redux

"This is Bettina Wurtzburg, KXTC Channel Two News!" shouted the redheaded MILF reporterette at 7:00am, Wednesday, July 6th, from the rooftop of the building at the corner of Riverside and College, with City Hall as her backdrop. "Another death that reflects badly upon Commander Donald Troy and the TCPD!"

After the hard-charging intro music, Bettina began: "Jesse Smallwood was found dead on the old Tau Fraternity House property just south of the University. Let's go to trusted reporter Amber Harris for more. Amber!"

"That's right, Bettina!" the blonde, athletic reporterette shouted from in front of the Tau Fraternity House property, with crime scene tape behind her She went into Smallwood's past as a turncoat, his plea deal to avoid a life sentence, and his leaving Witness Protection, and I won't bore you by repeating those details.

Then Amber said "More recently, Jesse Smallwood was named as a suspect in last week's double homicide of Mark Wayne Cooper and Nat K. Cole. But charges against him were dropped with prejudice by Superior Court Judge J. B. Stone after it was learned that Commander Troy and the TCPD entered Ms. Cole's apartment without a warrant. The TCPD also did not take Mr. Smallwood into protective custody, which they could've done based on violations of his probation."

Amber: "As a result of Commander Donald Troy's failures, Mr. Smallwood was free but unprotected, and Mr. Smallwood was found dead early this morning. Police would only say that foul play was involved, and Commander Troy has not responded to repeated requests by KXTC Channel Two News for comment. Back to you, Bettina!"

Bettina: "Thank you, Amber! That was trusted reporter Amber Harris with that important background information. And in other news, Donald Troy's specious, petty lawsuit against KXTC Channel Two News is coming up in Federal Court, and experts agree that it will be quickly dismissed with prejudice..."

* * * * * * * * * * * * * *

"She all but outright accused you of committing the murder yourself, Don." said Command Deputy Sheriff Cindy Ross as she, Lieutenant Commander Teresa Croyle, Sheriff Antonio Griswold, Commander Donald Troy (me), Chief Sean Moynahan, and Deputy Chief Tanya P. Muscone sat in the Chief's Conference Room drinking coffee and watching the Bettina propaganda-cast.

"Not one word about the Order of Protection against us." Teresa said witheringly.

I replied "They couldn't mention that -and- that he was unprotected, and the insinuation that we hung him out to dry... pun not intended."

Pun not intended indeed, I thought to myself as I remembered the night before. I'd arrived at the Tau property to find the crime scene being examined by Team Teddy and by CSIs. The unfortunate Jesse Smallwood had been hanged by his neck with a hempen rope until he was dead. His hands were still tied tightly behind him.

"Actually, death was instantaneous." said M. E. Kendell Ramsey "They did a good job and fixed the noose right. No noisy strangulation."

"They hoisted him up by that block and tackle attached to that tree branch," said Detective Sergeant Julia Rodriguez, causing us all to look up. Like the rope, the block and tackle was old and on its last legs, I observed. Julia continued "There are impressions of a ladder, the narrow rectangles nearly under the body."

Detective Roark Coleman said "Looks like they hoisted his weight up with the block and tackle, then dropped him."

"I like your thinking on that." I said. "But that would be a strangulation death if they did. My guess is that they made him climb the ladder onto some platform, dropped him successfully, and then hoisted him back up with that piece of paper attached. What does it say, by the way?"

"Sic semper proditoribus" Roark said. "Which is Latin for 'Thus always to traitors'."

"Oh, fluent in Latin are we now, Mr. Roark?" I asked, admittedly astonished.

"No, but Father Romano is." said Father (Captain) Romano, coming up to us. "I was here to administer Last Rites, and Mr. Roark was wise enough to consult with me on that interesting quotation."

"Well, I'm working on my Latin, sir." said a contrite Roark.

I saw Julia trying not to laugh, so I said "Have Julia here teach you Spanish instead. That'll go a lot farther--- whaddya got, Kendell?"

Kendell had walked up to us. He said "Our victim here may have been drugged, to make him more easily subdued and compliant. I'll have Toxicology look for that. Also, as you all know, when somebody dies, their bowels release. Smallwood has poop in his pants, as expected. But the unexpected thing is that it's compressed, like he was sitting on it, not just filling his underwear."

"Ah, the squeamish side of the job. Thanks, Kendell." I said. To the Detectives, including Lt. Teddy Parker, who'd just come up, I said "Well, I've seen all I need to see. This idiot was too stupid to see what was going to happen to him, and he got what was coming to him."

Me: "And it's a professional grade hit. You'll get to see my 'shocked' face if the CSIs find any fingerprints or useful DNA or anything. The perps's clothes and shoes are likely burned to ashes, and the ladder is either sawdust or burned to ashes. "

"Sir," said Roark, "what about the note? Could this be a vengeance move by the Taus?"

"Could be, or paid for by one or more of them." I said. "Or Edward Blassingame, whose son Peter will be executed in a few days. Certainly someone wants you to think that. But I might draw your attention to the block and tackle. That... is a cluuuuue." With that, I left the crime scene.

Now back in live time in the Chief's Conference Room, I said "To Hell with Bettina and Amber. Their day is coming when my lawsuit against them comes up. We need to finish up the Smallwood case and the Cooper-Cole cases. Teresa, would you tell Captain Michaels, Team Teddy, and Mary Milton that they are invited, in the Japanese sense, to attend a meeting in Classroom 'E' at 10:00 sharp. Tanya, would you be kind enough to invite your husband and any of his Federal friends that would care to join us?..."

Part 14 - Issues And Answers

10:00am, Wednesday, July 6th. Classroom 'E' was full of LEOs, both local to Federal. Coffee mugs were filled. Team Teddy and Team Theo were in the House, as were the full complement of friendly Federal Agents. Martha the M. E. was present... and so was a still-unhappy Paulina Patterson.

I was sitting in my usual place, in the center of the table facing the 5x4 matrix of projection screens. Teresa was to my left and Claire Michaels was to her left. Tanya was to my right. Cindy Ross was on the right side of the rectangle, and Sheriff Griswold was to her right. Chief Moynahan was seated in front of the door, on the right side of the big rectangle of 2 long tables, and Lt. Mary Milton was opposite him yo the left. Everyone else found seats to be in.

"All right, Commander Troy, let's rolllll." barked Chief Moynahan.

"Thank you, sir." I said. "First question as always: who called it in?"

"Multiple calls to 9-1-1, beginning around 11:20pm, then more around 11:30. The first call just said there were a couple of suspicious lights, like flashlights. Our patrols did not realize the import of that location, so they didn't rush over, thinking it was probably some Fraternity prank. But after other calls came in, they 
went on over, and found the body."

"Did any of the callers mention a vehicle?"

"One did, sir." said Parker. "She just said a dark colored truck."

"Okay, good report." I said. "Why don't we hear from Martha first, so she can leave if she wants to, or stay."

"Why, thank you, Commander." Martha said with what I knew was mock acerbity. "Okay. Smallwood died of a broken neck brought upon by hanging. There may be some drugs in his system, and Toxicology will tell us that in a couple of days. Overall, it was a boring autopsy that Commander Muscone wouldn't waste a popsicle on."

The room burst into laughter, and Tanya took it in stride and grinned; after all, she was known for eating popsicles during the most gruesome of autopsies. When the laughter died down, I asked "What was the time of death? And don't give me an M. E.-speak wide range."

Martha said "I never do." Seeing the look both Teresa and I gave her, she said "Just kidding. Seriously, I need to review our data. Kendell got a time of 10:45pm, which is a lot earlier than I would have expected."

"No, it may be right." I said. "Okay, let's switch gears. CSI report. Yolanda?"

"Thank you, sir." said CSI Supervisor Yolanda Grissom. "As you predicted at the crime scene, we found no fingerprints on the block and tackle, and no DNA nor other residues on the rope, except for Smallwood---"

Detective Joan Laurer had raised her hand. "Excuse my ignorance, but how do you find DNA traces on a rope?"

"No, that's a good question." Yolanda replied. "We first just do an eyeball inspection for discolorations, which might be oil spots or tissue residue. Then we can shine special lights that will cause organic matter to glow. And then we get Mr. Spock's tricorder."

Another round of laughter ensued, lightening the mood in the room. Then Yolanda continued "We found no usable fiber evidence off Smallwood. The little we did get matched his truck from our earlier examination of it. Lieutenant Milton may can say more to this, but we think it's possible that they used Smallwood's own truck to bring him to the Tau property."

Mary Milton said "I can neither confirm nor deny that. All the cameras, public and private, went out about 11:15pm. And they're damaged. You know how nuclear weapons will supposedly create an electromagnetic pulse, an EMP? Well. this was similar, but a more localized, directed set of pulses. So not only do I have nothing, we've got a bunch of expensive repairs to make."

"Which your friendly neighborhood Department of Homeland Security will foot the bill for." FBI Special Agent Tim Jenkins said helpfully.

"Your tax dollars at work." I said. "Okay, Yolanda, anything else?"

"Sir, if I may?" said Lt. Teddy Parker. I nodded and he said "The reason I didn't come up to you immediately at the scene is because I had called Deputy Strait as soon as I got word of this. He called Sheriff Sorrells, who called me right as you came up. Long story short---"

"Too late!" chimed Julia Rodriguez, Kerri Ambrose, and Chief Moynahan at the same time. at the same time. Chuckles broke out.

"Must be an Airborne thing." Parker said, as all of his hecklers were U. S. Paratroopers. I just grinned. Cindy rolled her eyes.

Parker continued: "Later on that night, Sheriff Sorrells called me back. They'd gone over to Smallwood's residence. His truck was parked in the driveway. Strait felt the hood and then the exhaust pipe of the truck. Both were cold."

"That Strait guy is getting good." I said. Cindy nodded vigorously in agreement.

Parker: "They went inside, not needing a warrant because the occupant was dead, and found the place unkempt but no signs of a struggle, forced entry, or a hasty exit. So I'd suggest the vehicle that transported him to our County was not his truck."

"I agree." I said. "And I'll go you one further: Smallwood was not killed at the Tau property. He was hanged elsewhere, and his body brought to the Tau property."

"How do you know, sir?" asked Yolanda Grissom.

I said "At the crime scene, I commended everyone's attention to the block and tackle. It was used to hoist Smallwood's body up. But if he'd have been alive, he would've strangled, not have had his neck snapped. Kendell told us at the scene that Smallwood had pooped his pants, but it was smushed. That suggests he was sitting or lying on it after he'd died."

Me: "Last but not least was the time of death, which I had Martha tell me as accurately as possible. It confirmed that he likely was killed elsewhere, then brought up to where we found him. Alert people called 9-1-1, and I submit that the perps had only enough time to hoist up the dead body. An execution on the spot would've taken too long."

Me: "He lived in a subdivision near the Town & County Line, so I'd imagine they picked him up, drugged him, brought him into our County, went down one of the farm roads, stopped and set up a gallows, and hanged him. Then they put his body in back of the truck, drove him to the Tau property, hoisted him up, and left that note."

"Q. E. D." Teresa said.

Roark Coleman said "Sir do you think the second perp that helped Smallwood kill Cooper and Cole, or vice versa, was involved in Smallwood's killing?"

"Tough question." I admitted. "All I can say right now is 'no data yet'. But it's certainly a place to start looking."

"I have a question, and it's been bugging me all last night and today." said Paulina. "Who in the hell let that round turd's lawyers know about the exigent circumstances and no-warrant entry into Nat Cole's place?" There were murmurs and mumblings.

"That's an easy button answer." Claire Michaels said confidently. "Commander Troy told them... through intermediaries, of course."

You could've heard a pin drop.

Everyone was looking at Claire in stunned disbelief, some not believing what she had just said, and some not believing she'd aid that about her direct boss, and right in front of him.

And then all eyes turned to me, and they were equally shocked that instead of looking angry, a smile was forming on my face, turning into a huge grin and a chuckle of laughter.

"Outstanding." I said. "Simply outstanding. In fact, that is Crowbar worthy. Here, hold this." I passed the red crowbar to her.

As she took it and tapped it into the palm of her hand, the room suddenly exploded into a cacophony of noise as everyone talked at once, most hurling questions in my specific direction.

I held up my hand for silence. When I finally got it, I said along with a gesture of my hand, "Captain Crowbar, educate the people."

Claire said "Well, I don't profess to know why you did all that you did, but I began seeing the pattern of it. First, you told everyone to not work on the Cooper-Cole case over the Holiday weekend. That alone was not like you., especially with a double murder case just opened."

Claire: "And I also was remembering how Helena handed you your Duty Dress jacket as we were rushing out to get to Judge Stone's snap hearing. At first I didn't understand, as that was unusual in itself. I even asked you about it, sir, And then you got called up as a witness in a hearing that normally doesn't have witnesses, and you dutifully went to the stand and testified. I realized that you had expected to be called up."

Claire: "Then there was Mortimer D. Randolph. You didn't know him by sight, but after Sheriff Sorrells showed you Randolph's card, you knew who he was... because you knew enough to say he wasn't related to Paramedic Kevin Randolph.

Claire: "You had Commander Ross ready, and she had me ready, to evacuate ADA Patterson out of that filthy White Supremacist judge's courtroom... because you anticipated her outburst. Which means, of course, that you knew or at least had a very good idea of how things were going to go down during that hearing."

Claire: "Finally, when we got back here, you were giving us a pizza party, and you didn't seem all that upset about it, especially when Paulina and Miriam said it was all over. And yes sir, I owe you a bottle of single malt Scotch... as long as you promise not to re-gift it to the Sheriff to pay off your debt to him."

Some people, including Our Sheriff, laughed at that. Others were still too stunned at what they'd seen and heard to grasp the humor. Being a better fisherman than I'm given credit for, I reeled them back in.

"Don't worry. If it's good Scotch, I won't be giving it away." I said with a smile. "And that was outstanding observation and deduction on your part."

Paulina could not contain herself this time, and she burst out "What?! You knew that was going to happen?"

"I had an idea that it might." I replied. "But let's take it from the beginning, that being the finding of two more bodies in the Mystery Lake area, and the attempts by Federal Swamp Frogs to wrest control of it and cover it up. That effort largely failed, and worse, overlapped what happened next. I'll circle back to that in a moment.

Me: "So what happened next was the Mark Wayne Cooper and Natasha K. Cole murders. We had two seemingly coincidental situations come up at the same time, and then some of the data showed they were related in some ways. It would have been easy to become confused and lose our way, but this Detective Corps did an outstanding job of getting the facts, the data we needed, without letting them get twisted by theories."

I continued: "So we had the two murders at the apartment. It looked to the world like they were coming home from a date, and at first I, too, believed that to be the case. But it was not a date. I surmised this when I heard that neither Nat Cole nor Mark Cooper had discussed going out with their work colleagues. That was a 'strangeness' to me, enough of one to speculate that it was made to look like a date as a disguise for Nat's true intentions."

Me: "Those intentions were to talk with Mark about the explosion that killed Gayle Roberts. We've learned that Nat had been sent into Energy Dynamics by the CIA to find out what happened to Gayle. Those same Swamp Frogs had covered up her death to the point that even the CIA was in the dark about her fate. So they created a backstory for Nat K. Cole, and sent her into Energy Dynamics... and I'm surmising that she found something."

Me: "So she went to Mark Cooper. Why go to Mark? I was wondering why a guy assigned to basic, legacy systems had those books on fluid dynamics, and an academic concentration that they subsequently tried to hide. He may have been willing to help her; ergo, their (air quotes) 'hot date' but with no credit card record of it. But someone found out about it, and sent a hit team to kill Cooper, and kidnap and torture Cole, which they did by raping her, then finally killing her."

Me: "Okay, let's circle back to the bodies found in Nextdoor County. I definitely enhanced my reputation as a miracle worker when I identified both bodies from the comfort of my office chair." There were some chuckles at that, then I continued: "But Julia and Roark read up on some of my past cases, so I'm confident they'd've made the connections." Julia and Roark had looks on their faces that suggested my confidence in them was overstated.

I went on anyway: "Yes, guys, you would have, although I had one advantage that saved us some time: both my wife and I knew Gayle Roberts very well. And after a spot check showed us that Gayle could not be contacted, I made the 'edumacated' inference that it was her."

Me: "That explained a lot with respect to why Nat K. Cole and Mark Wayne Cooper were murdered. And that led to Part 2 of this case: Jesse Smallwood. And that was a whole new smorgasbord of observations and data points."

Me: "Y'all would have discovered that Smallwood had very stupidly left the Witness Protection program after a few days when the DNA tests came back, identifying him as Cole's rapist, thanks to him very stupidly using a condom lubricated with petroleum jelly. I merely saved us some time by anticipating that it was Smallwood, and I did so because I was beginning to see an insidious pattern. I'll circle back to that in a moment."

Me: "Smallwood had not only left Witness Protection, he had allowed his truck to be used in the crime, had accepted and used a condom designed to break when raping the girl, and although he knew the condom had broken and he'd come inside her, he hung around the area."

Me: "And that was because he thought he was going to be set free and could then go about his way. Whoever had cajoled him out of Witness Protection had apparently told him they would get the charges dropped by Judge J. B. Stone. Of course, someone had other plans for him, involving the Tau property and a hempen rope. And their plans came to most very efficient fruition."

Me: "Soooo, having made a short story long, I had come to several conclusions, besides the obvious confirmation that Jesse Smallwood was dumber than a box of rocks. First, the Chief and I agreed to forbid y'all from working on the case over the Holiday weekend. At the time, everything was either waiting for data or things that were in the Fede's arena. The apartment offices were closed and it was faster to wait until yesterday than tracking down the employees's names and addresses, then trying to physically find them. And we had to give the DNA tests time to run, and so on."

Me: "Second, and Mr. Roark touched on this, we had no real proof there even was a second perp. I trust Yolanda and her computer when she said Cooper's killer was taller than Smallwood would've been in high heels, but asking a Jury to convict on that alone was a losing proposition. Our only chance, our only chance, was to catch the other perp and hope he'd turn. Turns out Perp Number 1 was Smallwood, and we never got him to talk."

Me: "Soooo, the only shot of cracking this case was a very long shot: have Jesse Smallwood walk free, then hopefully realize that he was in severe danger, grave danger to his life. And when I learned that the thug-turned-lawyer Mortimer D. Randolph was Smallwood's attorney, I knew the fix was in. I knew that neither Randolph nor Nathan Masterson at the hearing were there to protect Smallwood's interests, but someone else's interests."

I then said "And it wasn't me that told him nor that Jew-hater Masterson about the exigent circumstances, but it was an amazing stroke of luck for us." Everyone laughed, getting what I was really saying with that phrase. 'Denial' ain't just a river in Egypt.

Me: "So to the surprise of no one carrying a red crowbar, I was called to testify, my exigent circumstances argument fell on deaf, racist ears, and Smallwood walked. I did make a miscalculation, though. I'd expected we'd be able to arrest Smallwood and have him in protective custody while the Town & County's appeal was heard. But I was outsmarted. Someone had Stone issue an Order of Protection against the TCPD, so we couldn't get near him. That was not just Crowbar-worthy, that was Carole-worthy!"

"So they got to him." I said, finishing up. "I can't say I'm sorry about it, Jesse Smallwood was a despicable piece of shit, and his death leaves the world no poorer." I looked around the silent room at my barely-breathing audience, and asked simply "Any questions?"

Normally, that would draw laughter. But not today. Everyone was processing what I'd told them. Finally, Roark Coleman asked "Sir, what if it wasn't Smallwood at all? Could they have framed him even for the rape?"

"No, I think he was guilty of that." I replied. "Remember that he was a Tau, and he participated in their rape rituals. Also, how did they get a fresh semen sample from him to put inside her? No, I think he was offered a lot of money to assist someone in the killings, and he was too stupid to consider that he was being set up."

"So any idea who's behind it?" asked FBI SAC Jack Muscone.

"That raises a good point that I need to touch upon." I said. "In this case we've come across Swamp Frog Feds, Good-Guy Feds... and welcome back into the fold, Mr. Webster... Establishment Elites, particularly the Taus and their families, White Supremacists, and possibly drug gangs. Anyone have a favorite?"

"There's been a huge Federal component to this." said Roark Coleman. "Energy Dynamics, CIA Officers, Brendan Chapel, the FBI both good and bad, and some of what Commander Troy calls the Establishment Elites. My guess is the Swamp Frogs are behind it. Jesse Smallwood came out of Federal Witness Protection. The Swamp Frogs have the power and money to hire professional killers. They have the resources to cover up Gayle Roberts's death and suppress any action to expose it, be it a phone call from Chapel to SAC Webster, or murdering people."

"Sounds plausible, Mr. Roark." I said. "Anyone else have something different?"

Cindy Ross said "It keeps coming up White Supremacy to me, and maybe mix in some Mob influence. They also have the ability to have professional killers do professional killer things. Judge J, B. Stone is a White Supremacist; I also remember him from the old days when he was a judge up here in our County. And if you think Bob Gold is as pure as the driven snow... well, he's certainly lily-white. Did you know that he's never hired a black person, and only a handful of technically Hispanic but more like Latin in the Roman sense... in his construction company, no less? And he has connections to the Taus -and- Edward Blassingame."

I asked "That's great information, Where did you get it from?"

Cindy replied "I began researching him after we saw him at the Fireworks Show at the Fairgrounds. I found out some of it from ordinary public records... annnnd a lot more from my father, who knows almost as much as his nephew, the Iron Crowbar."

"Yeah, right." I muttered very sardonically. "That man is an encyclopedia of knowledge that I can only wish I had. Soooo, you did research during the Holiday?"

Cindy said "If you have a problem with that, you'll have to take it up with my boss." Everyone laughed.

"Oh hell no!" I fired back. "Bourbon is expensive, and I already owe him one bottle." Everyone laughed some more. Sheriff Griswold's huge mustaches twitched merrily.

After order restored itself, Teresa Croyle said "I read up on the case and your reports last night, and I agree with Commander Ross about White Supremacists being involved. And I did not need to be in that Courtroom to know who and what J. B. Stone is; he is a bad, bad man. But I don't see any connection between Gold and Gayle Roberts."

"Okay. Good thoughts." I said. "Anyone else?"

Captain Claire Michaels said "First, I want to compliment Lieutenant Parker and his Team; they did an excellent job on this." Someone began clapping (yeah it was me), and everyone joined in the applause.

Claire continued: "Also, I very much agree with what Detective Coleman just said about the Federal influence. But I have this nagging feeling about it, that it may just be local people. I remember the hell the Apartment employees gave us, making them accomplices in all this."

Claire: "Judge Stone is in the next county; that's close enough. Maybe the local DMV issued Nat Cole's fake DL, but admittedly the Swamp Frogs could have done it. Bob Gold is local to the Tri-County area. Many of the Taus and Pi Omegas that are in our jails were from within the State. The Blassingames are from this State, as well, and Edward Blassingame has connections. This is just speculation, though."

I said "I call that 'using your imagination based on the data and your experiences'. Keep holding that crowbar for right now. So! let's separate the wheat from the chaff. Who's right?"

"Apologies to our Federal friends in the room," said Julia Rodriguez, "but I agree with Mr. Roark. Federal Swamp Frogs at work." There were many murmurs of agreement around the table. Except two of my Angels.

Cindy said "I'm staying with the White Supremacists theory." Teresa nodded vigorously in agreement.

Roark Coleman said "I appreciate Captain Michaels's compliments, and---"

"Good asskissing skills!" Sheriff Griswold all but shouted. Everyone laughed.

Roark said "Seriously, Sheriff, it's not asskissing but the truth when I say Captain Michaels had some excellent points. And I want to ask Commander Troy: could it be some of both?"

I said: "Good thinking, Mister Roark, and good comments by all of you. And the answer is... all of you are right."

"So they all colluded with each other?" a stunned Jack Muscone asked.

"Not really." I replied. "But the truth is far more insidious. I'll start at the beginning, which is when Gayle Roberts was killed. This is where the Swamp Frogs come in, especially DNI Dr. Susan Cameron Price, Dr. Robin Isley, and future Congressman Brendan Chapel.... oh yeah, the fix is in for him in the deep blue district in Pennsylvania in which he's running."

Me: "All of this actually started when Gayle Roberts died. The Swamp Frogs, especially Chapel and Isley, were in a massive panic over the possible exposure of the project... and don't ask, I have no idea what it was nor what happened to it. What I do know is that they aspired and conspired to keep it a secret from not only the Public, but the CIA, especially their Directorate of Science and Technology... and you know who the now-retired Director of that branch of the Company is (my wife Laura)."

Me: "So they took steps to cover up the incident. The worst of it was that they had Gayle Roberts, a good and decent CIA Officer, ignominiously buried in a shallow grave near Mystery Lake. And Chapel made arrangements to keep tabs on Energy Dynamics, in case the secret leaked out, or if the CIA made a move to find out what happened to Gayle and got too close to the truth."

Me: "Well, that happened. And the contingency plan was put into effect. They (air quotes) 'found' Gayle Roberts's body, and tried to have the FBI spirit it out of Chief Evans's jurisdiction, but got snitched on. They invoked their arrangement with someone local to have Nat K. Cole and Mark Wayne Cooper annihilated. And that happened."

Me: "So now we come to part two: Jesse Smallwood. The Taus and Pi Omegas and their Establishment Elite family and friends wanted him dead, very badly. I just learned that Peter Blassingame is going to be executed at Jacksonville State Prison early this Saturday morning, and you just know that Peter's father Edward Blassingame limitlessly hates Smallwood."

Me: "So what would they do? Perhaps get with someone who could arrange for Smallwood to become (air quotes) 'available' to be hanged from the tree on the Tau property. And that's what happened. I daresay that no Feeds were involved in it, except maybe someone at Witness Protection being bribed to reveal Smallwood's location, and I don't insist upon that. But find Smallwood they did, and he was somehow cajoled to not only leave Witness Protection, but to come back here!"

Me: "And so, things transpired as we have seen. The one true coincidence in all this is that these events came together at the same time. And that's where things got a wee bit sideways. Someone thought it'd be a great idea to combine these goals by killing Cole and Cooper -and- framing Smallwood for it, and making it look like an ordinary rape and murder scenario."

Me: " If everything had gone smoothly, we wouldn't have Smallwood's DNA results and therefore his name for days, and they probably would've hung him from a tree at the far end of the Fucking Field in Nextdoor County. Alas, we the TCPD were onto it from the get-go, forcing them to alter their plans"

Mw: "And then they found out about the exigent circumstances, and they said 'Let's embarrass the Iron Crowbar and use that to get Smallwood off, pun fully intended. As you can see, I am suitably embarrassed about it." Some laughter broke out at my obvious lack of embarrassment about it.

Me: "Of course we would have won the appeal of Stone's blatantly illegal hearing, but they intended for Smallwood to be dead by then. And if they had not had that, they'd have found something else, or they would have spirited him out of the Coltrane County Jail. They only had to make sure that we didn't get Smallwood into our County Jail, where he would've been far, far safer."

"So who put this all together?" asked FBI Special Agent Tim Jenkins. "Bob Gold?"

"No." I replied. "Gold's construction company may be a front for the 'Smooth White Boys' drug gang, and he may have Mob ties. But I don't see him having the resources nor the real brains to carry all this out."

As I said that, I saw Cindy's eyes widen in pure horror as she peered at me. I met her look, and she said "No. Nooooooooo." She leaned over and began (softly) beating her head on the table as she said "No, no, no, no, noooo...." As everyone looked at her, she looked up at me and said "Moriarty 2.0?"

"Oh my God." Teresa whispered loud enough for everyone to hear.

"Yes." I said. "This is the first example that I've seen of what we've all feared most. There is a new Consultant of Crime in our County, and he or she may be far worse than Pastor Raymond Kyle Westboro ever was."

"I dunno." growled Sheriff Griswold. "Westboro set a pretty damn high bar. Let's hope this new bastard doesn't try to beat it." There were murmurs and vigorous nods of agreement with that comment.

"Any idea who it izzzz, Mr. Crowbar?" drawled Chief Moynahan.

"No sir." I replied. "This is the first time I've seen a pattern that suggests the New Consultant's existence. In fact, I doubt the Swamp Frogs, the Establishment Elites, nor the White Supremacists even know who it is; the New Consultant will use intermediaries and will be careful, like Westboro was in his early days."

"All right guys, let's take a break." said Sheriff Griswold. "Absolutely do not share the information about this New Consultant with anyone. Enjoy your lunches."

"My appetite is through the floor." Cindy said as everyone got up to go.

"Tell me about it." Teresa said. "But we're going to be talking and not eating..."

Part 15 - Lunches and Lessons

At the Cop Bar, Claire Michaels, Roark Coleman, Teddy Parker, and Julia Rodriguez sat a a spacious table for four in the main back room. "It's my treat today." Claire said. "You guys did a great job with this case. Especially you, Roark. You had some really good ideas, and you had us on the right track."

Roark replied "Thank you, ma'am. But you made the Crowbar-worthy observations and deductions."

Teddy Parker laughed, then said "My goodness, when you said that, I thought Commander Troy was going to beat you down with his crowbar, instead of handing it to you."

Claire said "I was more worried about what Commander Croyle would do to me."

Julia said "What scares me is Commander Ross's reaction to finding out we have a new Consultant of Crime. Is it really that bad?"

Claire said "If the New Consultant is anything like the Old Consultant, Pastor Westboro, then yes, it's that bad. We almost lost Joanne Warner, Commander Ross, Commander Croyle, 2000 people at First Baptist Church, and Commander Troy. Commander Muscone is in a wheelchair, and countless lives were ruined by that man."

Teddy Parker said "Absolutely true. I just wonder how Commander Troy realized this was the work of the New Consultant."

Roark Coleman said "Because he was looking for it. And I suspect he's been looking for it ever since Westboro died."

Julia said "Thank God we have the Iron Crowbar. He beat Westboro; he can beat anyone."

Claire said "And the Enemy knows that. So we have to be even more vigilant than ever, and keep him from coming to harm. In the meantime, we'll keep on keeping on. Roark, I'd like for you and Julia to keep working on the Sarah Sandstone/Geoff Gerard drug connection angle... (Author's note: Sausage and The Law)

* * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Sheriff Griswold had insisted that we join him at the Cattleman's Club for lunch, then insisted upon paying for it. 'We' included me, my three Angels, and Chief Moynahan.

"Well, Crowbar," Griswold growled, "it might look like a failure to the Leftwing Idiots of the Press, but I say you did a remarkable job getting to the truth."

"Hear hear." said Chief Moynahan among the general acclaim.

"Thanks." I said. "I really didn't intend for Smallwood to die, but other than that, it was about the best we could have hoped for."

"Father forgive me for thinking this, much less saying it," said Teresa Croyle with emphasis, "but I think the outcome that included Smallwood's murder was the best outcome."

"I entirely a-greeee." drawled the Chief.

Tanya Muscone said "Don, I know you didn't want to speculate on this in front of everyone, but we all have Top Secret clearances. What do you think the (air quotes) 'incident' was that killed Gayle Roberts?" All eyes turned to me.

I said "I can theorize with data, and that data comes from Mark Wayne Cooper and the books at his desk. He was a specialist in fluid dynamics, which was the hardest subject within Physical Chemistry that I had to study for my Chemistry degree. For him to have been relegated to well-established legacy systems was a total waste of his talents. So I'm surmising he was involved in the incident in some way, directly or indirectly."

Me: "As to the incident itself, I've noted that it was the Swamp Frogs that tried so hard to keep the project a secret, and that the (air quotes) 'regular' CIA sent not one but two Agents to investigate it. Also, it was shut down after the incident. So I have a couple of ideas."

Me: "First, I've been seeing and reading literature about thorium nuclear reactors and molten salt reactors. There was an experimental reactor at a University in the State of Texas, I believe, and the Red Chinese are doing their own work on the technology. There is a heavy fluid dynamics component in that, as the molten salt is running through the reactor instead of water. The technology is promising, as it is a cleaner form of nuclear energy, the spent thorium can be recycled and reused. And it's scalable downwards, and small reactors for individual homes is theorized."

Cindy said "Like Shipstones?"

"Yes, exactly." I replied, remembering Robert Heinlein's book 'Friday', which Cindy had loaned to me to read.

Chief Moynahan asked "But why would the Swamp Frogzzz want to hide the project if the technology is already out therrrre?"

I said "My supposition there is that Energy Dynamics was doing it illegally for the Swamp Frogs. In the U. S., the thorium reactor projects are licensed, but likely the Energy Dynamics project was not."

Me: "And that segues into my second thought. Energy Dynamics is known for having projects for weapons. The last time we had a case involving them, a directed energy weapon was involved." (Author's note: 'Eyes Only') "So it stands to reason that they were doing something for the Swamp Frogs, be it illegal nuclear energy research, or something else both energy related and illegal, or something they could use as a weapon against a Free People."

Cindy said "Like the sound wave weapon in 'Atlas Shrugged'.", referring to Ayn Rand's epic novel.

"Exactly." I replied. "You are scintillating on the literature today, Green Crowbar."

"And you were scintillating on this entire case, Red Crowbar." Cindy replied. "As usual, I was next to you almost every step of the way, but I was mentally left in the dust. But hey! six Police Boxing Matches titles. How many do you have?"

Teresa and I glanced at each other, then I dropped the bomb on Cindy: "Nineteen parachute jumps. How many do you have?"

"One more than I ever wanted." Cindy replied.

"One more than I'll ever have." Tanya said wistfully. "Unless I can get my Mars lander bubble idea working."

"Don't even think about it." I said. "Your husband would beat me down silly if I let you."

Sheriff Griswold growled "And then he'd beat me down silly for letting Crowbar let you." We all laughed, practicing good asskissing skills.

I said "Anyhoo, credit to you, Cindy, for figuring out the New Consultant." Those words brought instant gloom to the table, so I said "Don't worry, guys. We've got a jump on this one, and he or she does not have the 20-year jump on us to build his empire like Westboro did"

"Yeah," lamented Cindy, "but Westboro put Tanya in a wheelchair, damn near killed Teresa, me, and 2000 people in First Baptist Church, and oh! how's your back doing, Don?"

"Good enough to jump out of a perfectly good aircraft while in flight." I retorted. "And one of the things your father Dr. Eckhart teaches in his seminars is 'Expect to win!'. And I expect for the TCPD to win. We've put together the best Detective Corps in the State, maybe even the Nation, and we are ready for any challenge!"

"And we have the best asset of all... the Iron Crowbar." said Teresa, practicing good asskissing skills...

Part 16 - Requiem For The Fallen

8:00am, Friday, July 8th. It was overcast but not raining, befitting the solemn ceremony taking place. The University Army ROTC Rangers carried the American-Flag-draped coffin up the hill to where a small gathering awaited them, and to the freshly dug grave on the heroes side of the Cemetery. It was to be the final resting place of CIA Officer Gayle Roberts.

My wife Laura had claimed Gayle's body, and to his credit FBI SAC Clark Webster made it happen in a timely manner. Nat K. Cole's body had not been claimed pending further attempts to completely identify her and notify the next-of-kin, but Laura had vowed to claim her body and give her an honorable funeral if no one else did.

The gathering was small. I was there with Laura, of course, and Cindy Ross was there with Callie Carrington, both wearing black dresses and Cindy wearing her Medal of Valor. Some of Laura's students that had known Gayle had come, including Peter and Karyn, and Marla Hanson. Daniel and Melina Allgood were present, as was (in a large surprise) State Senator Katherine Woodburn, and Edward and Stephanie Steele.

Sheriff Griswold, Tanya P. Muscone, Teresa Croyle, Roark Coleman, and Julia Rodriguez were there, all of us in our formal uniforms with medals. Father Alberto Romano was officiating, dressed in his formal Police uniform with medals, black shirt, and clerical collar.

Admiral (Ret.) Leonard R. Cordell attended, wearing his formal white Navy uniform. The Navy Cross spearheaded his many medals. Also there at the Federal level were Jack Muscone (with Tanya), Clark Webster, and Tim Jenkins.

Laura gave the eulogy, and became emotional at the end of her speech. The ROTC Rangers folded the American Flag with crisp movements, then presented it to Laura. Father Romano made the final incantations. People came up to Laura with words of condolence, led by State Senator Woodburn.

As we were leaving in my Police SUV, I said "Do you want me to take the day and stay with you?"

"Thank you, but no." Laura said. "It's back to the grind for me. I still have a ton of things to do to get the Medical School up and running by September."

I haven't spent all this time married to a psychiatrist to not know that Laura needed an emotional release. As I drove to Police Headquarters after dropping her off, I could not shake a nagging sense of foreboding...

Part 17 - Epilogue - The Wheels of Justice

"Wheels of Justice grind slow but grind fine"

― Sun Tzu

6:50am, Saturday, July 9th. We were in the main audience chamber at Jacksonville State Prison. The one-way glass to our front was obscured by closed Levolor blinds. Outside the Prison, a group of anti-death-penalty agitators were not alone: hundreds of women, of all political persuasions, were there to cheer the impending execution and jeer the condemned criminal.

My group had arrived at 6:30am, all wearing civilian clothes. I'd secured an SBI van that was more like a luxurious SUV inside. Coming to see the execution were myself, Teresa Croyle, Jack Muscone, Cindy Ross, Paulina Patterson, Dr. Stephanie Steele and her husband Edward, and Our Sheriff, Antonio Griswold.

Some journalists and other persons that had won lottery tickets to sit in the room were also present, as were the families of the murdered victims Stephen Henry and Wendy Withers. Everyone sat in the chairs facing the window. Teresa and I stood in the back, expecting trouble.

And that trouble arrived: the door to the audience chamber opened and in walked the convicted murderer's family: his mother's brother Federal Agent Andrew Parsons, and his father Edward Blassingame. With them was their attorney, Nathan Masterson. Mrs. Blassingame was outside the room; she could not bear to watch her son being executed by the State. The looks of hatred Parsons and Blassingame gave me was only matched by the infamous 'Teresa Cunt' look that the Iron Wolf bestowed upon them.

At 6:59am, the blinds to the window were raised. Two guards came in, followed by the Warden, the prison doctor, and the State Chaplain (don't ask me how), Rev. Steven Ikea. Then two more guards brought in the manacled condemned man, Peter Blassingame. He had been 'prepared' before being brought in, and he was attired in standard orange prison garb, and he looked scared shitless and like he wanted to cry for his mama. The guards strapped him to the table in the center of the room. The prison doctor then affixed three I. V. needles into Peter's arm.

There was a television monitor mounted high up on the wall in the corner of the room. On it was Governor Sharon Marshall. Being a Republican Governor. the rabid dogs of the Mainstream Media made sure to show her giving the final order. And after the Warden read the official Death Warrant, the Governor was asked to continue or stay the execution. Governor Marshall said with great enthusiasm: "Execute Peter Blassingame!"

I glanced over at Edward Blassingame. He had a hideously malignant look on his face as the Governor's words seemingly echoed in the room. He sensed I was looking at him and he looked at me, his countenance growing even uglier, if that were possible. I just tried to look as smug as I possibly could, to silently rub it in. All that money, all that Elitist power, but he could not prevent the delivery of the ultimate Act of Justice to his criminal son.

Steven Ikea said a final prayer, then he and the Warden left the death chamber with all but two guards and the doctor. The guards covered Peter's terrified face with an eyeless black mask. The doctor hooked up the I. V. lines to tubes that would introduce the chemicals into Peter that would kill him.

The doctor and the guards exited the room, leaving Peter Blassingame alone, weeping and terrified like his victims had been before he had brutalized them and taken their lives. He had shown them no mercy, and he would now be shown no mercy.

On a wall in the side room, three guards pressed three identical buttons, only one of which actually delivered the chemical. Then the next buttons were pushed, then the third. Moments later, the doctor came back in and delivered the (to me, wonderful) news: Peter Blassingame, murderer and rapist, was dead.

"You son of a bitch!" Edward Blassingame shouted hoarsely at me. "My son is dead because of you!" Andrew Parsons said nothing, but looked at me with equal hatred.

"You're right." I said, making my voice as taunting as possible. "I did everything I could to get him convicted, prevent your feeble attempts to spirit him out custody, and ensure that he would be executed by the State. And now your son is dead, Blassingame... dead!"

"Look to your life, Troy." Edward said, his voice low and menacing. "And your family's lives!"

"Bring it on, asshole." I said, my own voice low and venomous. "Bring. It. On.'

By now, guards were coming in and made sure Blassingame and I remained physically separated. Blassingame and Parsons were escorted out to where a sobbing Mrs. Blassingame was being consoled by the Reverend Ikea.

The Henry and Withers families were emotional as well as they thanked us for catching and convicting their loved ones's killer. Stephanie Steele talked with them for several minutes until guards came to escort us out. As we went outside, we could hear the cheering of the women that had come to the prison.

"Tell the truth, Crowbar." said Sheriff Griswold as we walked towards our vehicle. "You used to poke sticks at yellow jacket nests and stomp on fire ant beds, didn't you? You just love stirring things up... heedless of the danger to yourself." He'd seen me goading Edward Blassingame into a frenzy, and I understood his admonition of warning.

"No sir, but I did have an ingenious way of killing yellow jackets with biological warfare." I replied. "As to the fire, I preferred taking a shovel and dumping one nest's ants on another one, and just sitting back and watching as they fought each other to the death."

"That's my Crowbar." the Sheriff said quietly, conceding.

As we got into our van to leave and go home, Teresa, riding shotgun, said to me "Well, that's it. It's over."

"Leaving the world no poorer." I replied. "Peter Blassingame and Jesse Smallwood are reunited. In Hell..."

"... as it should be."

Finis.