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02-26-2024, 12:58 PM
It was a learning experience for Tim; he 'discovered' that Gabriel was something of a blunt force presence in the departments. The discovery began when Gabriel wrangled Logan for an unpleasant duty...
The next morning, Gabriel gathered his team... "OK everyone, we have work to do," he continued, "First off, there is a serious problem with the "Morrow" letter."
Logan groaned audibly, "I swear, this is punishment." "I didn't bag it... I only...,"
Gabriel interrupted, "It's not that...," he added... This is more pressing." Logan paused; his expression changed... "Oh." he said.
He handed a few pages to Logan, on his way to his seat.
"That is a list of people in the custody chain, and the lab techs, and the investigators..." He continued... "I don't envy your task, let me know if you need help.
"Wait, what?" Logan asked.
"We need to know who saw that letter, what they read of it, if they opened the bag, what they thought and felt about it. I want it in a report, soon." Gabriel continued, looking at Logan.
"Uh, sure" Logan responded.
"Isn't this a bit much?" Tabby asked, "I mean, what's up?"
Gabriel drew in a breath, "The letter is missing," he said... "and someone is suggesting internal investigation protocols be invoked."
Tim knew of "IIP" only from second-hand experience.
During IIPs everyone got real interested. The only time this had to happen is if there was a reasonable likelihood that whatever was happening, included some form of in-house shenanigans. It could lead to discoveries of anything from incompetence or negligence to corruption, or even direct intervention by a hostile agency, the investigation required immediate, full cooperation, superseding all priorities until the IIP had been rescinded.
Occasionally, IIP was invoked when the possibility that "political" influence had interrupted the mission... which was always bad. Embarrassing bad. For decades, this agency's operations could be counted upon to be the most accurate and reliable. It was an iron-clad presupposition that being engaged in these missions meant whatever any of their report says is both true and absolutely devoid of "narrative drifting."
Many of Tim's collogues drilled into him that this was no joke, not posturing, and not to be taken lightly. All of their agency history was filled with demonstrable records showing exactly how frequently people actively engaged to 'change the results" of an investigation... fully 30% of the time it was a political-appointee, or even an elected official thinking that by virtue of their "position" the rules were 'malleable' and they could "influence" their way to 'changing' the facts.
"I hate when these things drop in our lap," Gabriel continued "They're leaving the final decision to declare IIP to us."
Tim liked that..., Gabriel had said, "us" not "me." Gabriel was turning out to be a singular leader, and Tim thought this just might be the right place for him. He spoke up, "Is there anything I can do to help?"
Gable considered that a good sign, if not professionally constructive; the offshoot of spearheading an IIP investigation was the risk of creating resentment and departmental friction, usually impacting the investigators with some intangible repercussions... He had witnessed this first-hand.
Gable said, "Yes, there is Tim." Coordinate the effort from here, Joshua will craft initial brief, Jules help him. Tabby, come with me.
"You and I are going to investigations to fill in the gaps about this evidentiary lapse." "Oi," said Tabby, "this is going to be ugly, isn't it?"
"No," Gabriel offered, "It doesn't have to be... I think we are dealing with something here that is entirely an iceberg of a problem. But that's just my instincts poking at me."
Tabby mustered her energy, silently inhaled deeply and said "Maybe me and Jules should switch tasks... I mean that respectfully."
Gabriel paused... offered a half-smile, and said "Jules, you OK with that?"
Jules showed his quickness... "Oh! I get it... good cop, bad cop... right?" Tabby and Jules laughed...
"I'll be honest." Gabriel said, "If what I think may have happened, actually did happen, we are going into a deep rabbit hole... bring your galoshes."
Joshua leaned in, looking at Tim ... "Ooooh, you know this is going to be interesting when Gabriel starts using 19th century words."
"When we come back, I'll give you the short version of this whole thing... but just to relieve some of the mystery I will tell you, we have found no 'victim' and can't locate Mr. Morrow."
The next morning, Gabriel gathered his team... "OK everyone, we have work to do," he continued, "First off, there is a serious problem with the "Morrow" letter."
Logan groaned audibly, "I swear, this is punishment." "I didn't bag it... I only...,"
Gabriel interrupted, "It's not that...," he added... This is more pressing." Logan paused; his expression changed... "Oh." he said.
He handed a few pages to Logan, on his way to his seat.
"That is a list of people in the custody chain, and the lab techs, and the investigators..." He continued... "I don't envy your task, let me know if you need help.
"Wait, what?" Logan asked.
"We need to know who saw that letter, what they read of it, if they opened the bag, what they thought and felt about it. I want it in a report, soon." Gabriel continued, looking at Logan.
"Uh, sure" Logan responded.
"Isn't this a bit much?" Tabby asked, "I mean, what's up?"
Gabriel drew in a breath, "The letter is missing," he said... "and someone is suggesting internal investigation protocols be invoked."
Tim knew of "IIP" only from second-hand experience.
During IIPs everyone got real interested. The only time this had to happen is if there was a reasonable likelihood that whatever was happening, included some form of in-house shenanigans. It could lead to discoveries of anything from incompetence or negligence to corruption, or even direct intervention by a hostile agency, the investigation required immediate, full cooperation, superseding all priorities until the IIP had been rescinded.
Occasionally, IIP was invoked when the possibility that "political" influence had interrupted the mission... which was always bad. Embarrassing bad. For decades, this agency's operations could be counted upon to be the most accurate and reliable. It was an iron-clad presupposition that being engaged in these missions meant whatever any of their report says is both true and absolutely devoid of "narrative drifting."
Many of Tim's collogues drilled into him that this was no joke, not posturing, and not to be taken lightly. All of their agency history was filled with demonstrable records showing exactly how frequently people actively engaged to 'change the results" of an investigation... fully 30% of the time it was a political-appointee, or even an elected official thinking that by virtue of their "position" the rules were 'malleable' and they could "influence" their way to 'changing' the facts.
"I hate when these things drop in our lap," Gabriel continued "They're leaving the final decision to declare IIP to us."
Tim liked that..., Gabriel had said, "us" not "me." Gabriel was turning out to be a singular leader, and Tim thought this just might be the right place for him. He spoke up, "Is there anything I can do to help?"
Gable considered that a good sign, if not professionally constructive; the offshoot of spearheading an IIP investigation was the risk of creating resentment and departmental friction, usually impacting the investigators with some intangible repercussions... He had witnessed this first-hand.
Gable said, "Yes, there is Tim." Coordinate the effort from here, Joshua will craft initial brief, Jules help him. Tabby, come with me.
"You and I are going to investigations to fill in the gaps about this evidentiary lapse." "Oi," said Tabby, "this is going to be ugly, isn't it?"
"No," Gabriel offered, "It doesn't have to be... I think we are dealing with something here that is entirely an iceberg of a problem. But that's just my instincts poking at me."
Tabby mustered her energy, silently inhaled deeply and said "Maybe me and Jules should switch tasks... I mean that respectfully."
Gabriel paused... offered a half-smile, and said "Jules, you OK with that?"
Jules showed his quickness... "Oh! I get it... good cop, bad cop... right?" Tabby and Jules laughed...
"I'll be honest." Gabriel said, "If what I think may have happened, actually did happen, we are going into a deep rabbit hole... bring your galoshes."
Joshua leaned in, looking at Tim ... "Ooooh, you know this is going to be interesting when Gabriel starts using 19th century words."
"When we come back, I'll give you the short version of this whole thing... but just to relieve some of the mystery I will tell you, we have found no 'victim' and can't locate Mr. Morrow."
