“Okay, you do that. Now, tell me precisely what Mr. von Rensel is doing with all this. And why you think you need NIS’s help.”
“Because Galantz is-was-a SEAL. SEALS work in the unconventional warfare area-which has ties to the world of intelligence. Mr. von Rensel used to work for the Office of Naval Intelligence. And with the FBI on foreign counterintelligence cases. I believe NIS is better equipped to translate Galantz’s service record information into a productive search than the cops are. Besides, I think-“
“Yes?” He was giving her that stare again.
“Well, actually, Admiral Sherman thinks that it might be in the Navy’s best interest to have the first look for Galantz.
A Navy SEAL who’s gone off the reservation could be pretty embarrassing—especially if it looks like something’s been covered up.”
Carpenter nodded thoughtfully. “Well, now, in this day and age of Navy scandal du jour, that’s a valid point. The Navy is under siege, Karen.
Admirals who draw lightning go home. I want a copy of that personnel file as soon as it comes in.”
“Yes, sir.” She made a note.
“Now, do you know very much about Mr. von Rensel?”
“Just what’s on his bio. When we talk about this case, he gives me the impression he’s not convinced that Admiral Sherman is… is, um, entirely innocent.”
Carpenter nodded again. “He thinks like a cop. Okay.
Tell him I said that he and NIS are hereby formally tasked.
I’ll make sure their head shed gets the word. And, Karen, listen to him from time to time. His reputation is formidable among the senior NIS people. Now, new subject. You mentioned something about OP-03 himself taking an interest in this little problem.”
“Yes, sir.” She went on to describe in detail the meeting in Admiral Kensington’s office. “I think that’s part of what Admiral Sherman is nervous about.”
“I’ll just bet he is. Vice Admiral Kensington isn’t bashful about making his feelings known. Okay. Let me offer you some more advice. I know you have your papers in and all that, but please take care when you get around the so-called flag-protection circuits, especially in the surface Navy world. If you have any more contacts with Kensington or his executive staff, make damn sure they know you’re working for me and not for Sherman. Admiral Vannoyt didn’t seem to know that.”
“That sounds ominous for Admiral Sherman.”
Carpenter gave her that flat stare again, reminding Karen that flag officers did not take kindly to commanders who presumed to know anything about that world. “Let’s just say, Karen, that this whole situation has taken Admiral Sherman, who is, need I remind you, a frocked captain, a long way out of the politically conventional channel. You don’t even want to be in the same ocean with him if a thunder lizard like Kensington trains the business end of those three stars around on him.
Got it?”
Karen recognized the dismissal. “Yes, sir. Thank you, sir,” she said, getting up, but Carpenter was already back on the phone, making his next call.
Fifteen minutes later, Captain Mccarty let himself into the JAG’s inner office.
“You buzzed, Admiral?”
“Yup. Sit down. Let me tell you a story.”
When Carpenter was finished, Mccarty sat back in his chair, closed his notebook, and rubbed his fingertips together slowly. “I’m damned sorry to hear about Galen Schmidt,” he said finally. “There were a lot of people who had high hopes he would be CNO.”
“I was one of them. But getting back to this mysterious SEAL story-what’s this sound like to you?”
Mccarty thought for a moment. “It sounds like the lumpy-suit crowd up the river.”
“Bingo. Which is why I want you to pull the string with those people whenever Karen Lawrence gets this HMI Galantz’s personnel files in from the archives. I told her to get us a copy of his file. Oh, and give me the cheat sheet on our archive database; I’m going to check something out.”
“We can have somebody do that for you, Admiral.”
“I know, but I can work a computer, and I’m not exactly sure what I’m looking for. Back to Langley-I want you to go over there, back-channel, and ask if they’ve ever heard of this Galantz guy. Maybe get somebody in their general counsel’s office to broker a meeting.”
Mccarty made some notes. “You think they would tell me?”
“Don’t know. Sometimes, with those gomers, it’s what they won’t discuss that tells you what you want to know.
Go see them. See how they react, what their attitude isstonewall, indifference, or even, heaven forbid, some cooperation.”
“That would be a first. And I presume we don’t want to sidebar first with our own DNI?”
“Precisely. The Navy Intelligence wizards would feel obligated to act like they knew the answer; then they’d just go ask Langley themselves.
And Langley, as a matter of professional courtesy, tends to give the military intelligence people diddly-squat. Especially now that they’re being coerced into cooperating with the great unwashed hordes over in the FBI. No. Go direct.”
“Got it. Would it not be wise for you to direct Mr. von Rensel personally on’this matter?”
Carpenter shrugged. “Not initially. Let’s see what he’s made of. See if he has it figured out. If he’s as good as they claim, he ought to know which wires not to grab, unlike Karen Lawrence, who, I’m afraid, has fallen somewhat under the dashing young admiral’s spell.”
Mccarty nodded thoughtfully but did not reply.
“What?” Carpenter said, recognizing the signs that Mccarty was not entirely in agreement.
I’m not sure,” Mccarty said., “I just have this feeling that’t’this one might get away from us. That maybe we ought to pull Karen out and let von Rensel run with it. I mean, we’ve either got an admiral or an ex-SEAL committing murder. Karen’s an admin specialist. She’s never worked anything like that.”
“I think she’s finding this pretty interesting. Remember the objective.”
Captain Mccarty closed his notebook. “Yes, sir, I understand,” he replied. “But I can’t tell if you want Karen Lawrence to succeed and thereby be enticed to stay, or if you’re just testing her.”
“Bit of both, I suppose, EA. We’ll have to promote her to captain if she stays, so I guess I need to know if she can work off-line in a real investigation instead of just second guessing other people’s work.”
“But if this Galantz problem turns out to be spooked up, then will you pull her off this thing?”
Carpenter studied the blotter on his desk for a moment, somewhat annoyed at his EA’s persistence. “Don’t know.
My job is to keep the Navy’s skirts clean, not hers. One step at a time, EA. Get thee to Langley.
Mccarty nodded and stood up. “On my way. But my take is that she’s going to bail, no matter what.”
After Mccarty left the room, Carpenter picked up the phone, but then he put it back down again. HMI Marcus Galantz. He was pretty sure he recognized that name. But what the hell was going on here? An MIA. He made a note to look at that record when it came in. Marcus Galantz. He sighed. This better not be what he thought it was. On the other hand, there was still plenty of time to control this situation. And Mccarty was worrying about nothing. He couldn’t imagine that Karen Lawrence was in any danger.
The Galantz files had arrived while Karen was in with Carpenter. She riffled quickly through the package. There were three folders, one containing his enlisted service record, the second his medical record, and the third, a single card of microfiche, which should contain his leave and pay records.