Wednesday, May 22, 2024

Prime Suspect

"Where is he?"

"We've got him in a holding cell. Medics were in to take a look at him, the troopers kinda manhandled him out at the scene, but they say he's gonna live."

Captain Leroy Jackson nodded, "Get him to interrogation. I'll be down there in a few minutes."

"Yes Sir."

Jackson walked over to a window and looked out, it was starting to cloud up, the weather guessers were predicting rain. He hoped they were wrong, after this interrogation he had to drive back to headquarters in Pikesville, 135 miles away. He was about to bemoan the fact that he was having a shitty day, then he thought of Corporal Campos' family and his day didn't seem so bad.

He looked at the file in his hand, it was rather thin, but early days yet. It would get thicker. The man's name was Albert Joseph Rossi, retired Navy, he ran a little fishing outfit for the tourists out on the Eastern Shore. He lived simply, had a small house. No living relatives, had never married, had no children.

Jackson looked out the window again, he didn't understand men like Rossi. Were they content to die alone in their dotage? Was that the reason he got involved with this Morgan character? Jackson had five kids, he doted on them. He felt he owed a lot of his success to his wife Althea. If it wasn't for her, he'd probably be content to spend his life as a simple trooper. But she saw something in him, so she pushed. He was glad she had!

What concerned Jackson most at the moment were the identity papers Rossi and the dead man had been carrying. Both had badges and identification showing them to be Maryland State Police, out of Princess Anne, Barrack X. Those were all fake, but supremely done fakes that would fool anyone who didn't bother to check the Maryland State Police database. But why would anyone do that? Their ID papers and badges were that good. That took access to some serious resources.

The dead man had a second set of ID, which the State Police were sitting on, that set of ID showed Morgan to be an agent of the Department of Homeland Security. Which might explain where the two had gotten their fake State Police IDs.

But Homeland Security could operate anywhere, Jackson and his agency were bound to the state of Maryland. It made Jackson's head hurt to think about it. What were the Feds up to here in the Old Line State?


Rossi was nervous, and in a great deal of pain. The troopers hadn't hit him anyplace that it would show, but he was convinced that he had at least two broken ribs. The medics who had patched him had had him stripped naked, even he was appalled at the massive bruising from his knees to his chest.

They'd offered him something for the pain, but he had refused it, thinking that the troopers might drug him up to get him to talk. He knew that sort of thing was inadmissible in court, but he honestly didn't think he'd ever see the inside of a courtroom.

One of the troopers had said to him, "The Chesapeake is pretty big, Lord knows if a fellow goes missing on the Bay, he might never be found, unless he washes up somewhere. Do you know how to swim, buddy? Your pal was lucky, he died quick. Pretty sure you won't."

Now he wished he'd taken the offer  of pain meds, he was really suffering.


"Captain?"

Jackson turned, it was one of his men, Sergeant Burt Anderson.

"Initial forensics are back, can't match the Sig Sauer to Campos, we haven't recovered a slug which isn't deformed. But the dead guy, Morgan, he had gunshot residue on his hand."

"What about the Taliaferro and Lee murders, we must have a slug or two from that crime scene?"

"Yes Sir, but forensics haven't managed to track those down yet."

Jackson paled, "What?" The question was clipped and full of menace.

"Somebody shipped 'em over to McHenry, Barrack W by mistake. I sent one of our guys over to fetch them, but it takes time."

Jackson sighed and visibly slumped against the wall, "Damn, I thought you were going to tell me that they were lost."

"No Sir, just misplaced."

"Okay, I'm going to go talk to Rossi now."

"Uh, Cap'n ..." Anderson began.

Jackson turned, "Now what?"

"Lieutenant Colonel Ramirez called, he says to let Rossi sweat. He specifically said that you were to get some sleep."

"But I need to get back to Pikesville ..."

"Negative Sir, the Colonel said that HQ is coming to you, Colonel Ramirez will be here first thing in the morning."

"The trail can go cold by then." Jackson said, more to himself than anyone else.

"Sir?" Anderson asked.

"Nothing Burt, I'm going to go get some sleep. Wake me in a couple of hours."

"Yes Sir."

As Jackson headed back to the sleeping quarters he realized that so far, he and the trooper who had searched the vehicle were the only ones who knew of the Homeland Security credentials of the dead man. Jackson sensed that this was a lot bigger than some good old boys in Virginia smuggling explosives into Maryland. He was tempted to call the FBI on this, by law he should have, those explosives had crossed state lines.

But he'd heard rumblings that the Feds might actually be behind this escapade. He'd wait until Ramirez arrived, by then he might be rested enough to think straight.

Lord knows, that wasn't the case at the moment.



62 comments:

  1. "Were they content…" should be "Weren't they content…" (I believe, anyway...)
    -JLM

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    1. I'd take either way; meaning changes somewhat, only slightly.
      another Grammar Nazi

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    2. JLM - No, the sentence is correct as is. Jackson is wondering if guys like Rossi are content to die alone when they're old. Changing it to "weren't they content" conveys a completely different meaning.

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    3. boron - The sentence stands as is, changing it would convey a completely different meaning. Remember, that sentence is from Jackson's perspective, a man from a big family who has a big family, he can't understand why someone would prefer to be alone.

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    4. Concur. Correct as written. I would have asked if "weren't" was an autocorrupt.

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    5. Ah! Very good. Thank you!
      -JLM

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    6. “Were they content?” implies a question in Jacksons mind if they were content ....”weren’t they content?” Implies that in Jacksons mind there was no question.....they were content....that is Jacksons question to himself......were they content or not? Goes to motive.....I might be wrong....
      I’m no linguistic expert, heck I’m just a farmer and what little about things like this I know I owe to Mrs. Edwards, my high school English teacher.....I was really listening Miz E., even when you thought I wasn’t........

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  2. BTW: story pulled me right in.

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  3. Very nice, the plot and the pot swirls with possibilities.

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    1. I was ready to write, hopefully I can maintain the story and move things forward.

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  4. Interesting, no Cellphones discovered. I suspect the rental trail on the U-Haul will be a dead end also.

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    1. We don't know yet if any cellphones were recovered at the scene, so far the State Police are focused on the death of their trooper. More to come.

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  5. Have a feeling that Lt Colonel Ramirez will provide some interesting reading, the plot thickens Sarge.

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    1. He's headed out to the boondocks from HQ for a reason. We shall see (soon?) what that reason is.

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    2. When you're dealing with Feds...it can be good to be a little remote. We have folks in our government who would fit right into the DDR.
      Good point about Rossi and "alone"; one's progeny and legacy are powerful influences.
      Boat Guy

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    3. Good point, Anon. I just realized that to me, childless, the USA is my progeny and legacy. Explains a lot about some of my feelings.

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    4. BG - It's always good to keep some distance.

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    5. I hope the LTC makes it, rain and all, don't cha know.

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    6. Let's just say that the conspiracy isn't up to speed just yet on the happenings in western Maryland.

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  6. "were the only ones who knew of the Homeland Security credentials" ... Ominous! How deep & far does this go? Loose end? Stay tuned!! :-)

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    1. Jackson suspects that things go a little deeper than it seems. He wants to move carefully. He lost a trooper, if the Feds sweep in (and they love doing that) the fact of Corporal Campos' death might become an afterthought. He wants the people who killed his trooper, badly.

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  7. "He was tempted to call the FBI on this, by law he should have, those explosives had crossed state lines."

    This is where things differ between those who administer the law and those who are under it. In my industry, there are items we have to report and act on; we do not get a choice. The laws should hold true for all, else they are not laws but merely instruments used to enforce conformance in a one-sided manner.

    Excellent writing, Sarge.

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    1. Great in theory, but in reality the law has ever been one-sided. The Golden Rule always applies.

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    2. Probably would call ATF. One thing that agency is good at and much better than the FEEBEES.

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    3. We shall learn why Jackson didn't even think of calling them.

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    4. Yet the BATFEs are as or more corrupt than the Feebies, and they work hand in hand with them.

      Administratively the BATFE is separate. But the distance can often times be measured by microns. Too often the BATFE knows and is involved in the FBI's stuff, and vice-versa.

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    5. Waco springs to mind. Also, by it's very nature, the BATFE is un-Constitutional. (IMHO)

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    6. "The Golden Rule always applies", should be framed and hanging on the wall. (As a reminder, not a suggestion :-)

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    7. Un-Constitutional by any sane reading of the Constitution and the Bill of Rights. But... it's for the Children! (sob, sob, puppy dog eyes..)

      Now, if we start looking at other federal agencies that are UnCon, then... whoo, there's not enough electrons in my computer to list them all (and the regulations and licenses and findings and...)

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    8. Yup, unelected bureaucrats making rules and ignoring the Constitution. We need some peasants with pitchforks to get excited.

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  8. Methinks that men like Jackson who begin to unravel deep state plots get themselves unalived. He should tread lightly.

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    1. HIs character might grow in importance, I've taken a liking to him. Methinks he'll live.

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    2. Remember though, my Muse is fickle.

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  9. "Negative Sir, the Colonel said that HQ is coming to you, Colonel Ramirez will be here first thing in the morning."

    (insert ominous BAH, BAH, BAAAAH) The Colonel wanting a face to face out in the back of beyond, or maybe to take over the interrogation himself. This strikes me as Not A Good Thing. For anyone.

    Well done, Sarge. I'm now more confused than before. And more intrigued. I'll be ready for the next installment, same Bat Time, same Bat Channel.

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    1. Think about it, what do you usually find around your standard headquarters? Sycophants, climbers, and people looking to climb the ladder. Where do you go to keep a secret, short answer, not headquarters. Ramirez is a player, but for which side?

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    2. Ramirez may be trying to cut out the FBI and other fed agencies and get directly to the source. I've seen it with my own eyes the ability of feds to bog down any investigation and go off on their own tangent and then things just stop. And I've seen agencies keeping their cards close at hand and not telling the feds everything.

      It's a good call as soon as the second set of credentials were found.

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    3. Someone is paying attention. 😎

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  10. Running behind.
    Only just now getting to the blogs after a couple of days.
    Nice that this story didn’t run away from me.
    Happy for Juvat’s clan.
    Stirred up only a little about change because it’s the one constant we can all depend on.

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    1. So you're back from the Auld Sod? Welcome home!

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  11. So, OAFS, how many old state and local cops do you personally know, because this all reads like something that old state and local cops would agree with, keep intel from the Feds and such?

    In other words, don't know your knowledge base but it reads way too right. Great job. Pat The Muse (does she look like Salma Hayak?) on the head for us.

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    1. I know precisely one retired Rhode Island State Trooper, and this is NOT something that we would have occasion to talk about. Let's just say this - I read a lot, I know what I would do if I were a local LEO based on the reputation the Feds have, and a vivid imagination helps as well.

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    2. You, good Sir, extrapolate very well.

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  12. More revelations obscured by further complications. Intriguing, it is.
    JB

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  13. Special forces tattoo, mercury switches, what the hell have we gotten into? - moment

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    1. Paweł - Plus a million. 🤣🤣🤣

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    2. Just having an actual mercury switch in Califrutopia makes you a terrorist against the environment. Sigh.

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    3. I think breathing in California is frowned upon.

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  14. At least Morgan's cat will have a better owner.

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Just be polite... that's all I ask. (For Buck)
Can't be nice, go somewhere else...

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