Notes From An Investigation

TRANSCRIPT OF FBI DISCIPLINARY REVIEW BOARD HEARING 121-C-17: DERELICTION OF DUTY, SPECIAL AGENT BRYAN HENDERSON

[Some items are redacted for national security purposes. BH= Special Agent Henderson, DG=Review Board Officer Donald Greer, HT=Review Board Officer Helen Trujillo, FN=Review Board Officer Franklin Norwitch; senior convening board officer was Franklin Norfolk. Also present was an undesignated additional subject; his voice is designated UN.]

[Transcript begins at 11:15:16 after board convening rules and primary identifications done.]

HT: So, Special Agent Henderson, please tell us what happened on the night in question.

BH: I went to relieve Special Agent Patterson at the Temple Hill stakeout. We did the mandated turnover, and I signed in custody at 11 PM as required.

DG: In point of fact, you were seventeen minutes late.

BH: It was a long turnover discussion.

HT: Continue, please.

BH: I sat down and began listening to the taps. The O'Neill crew was playing their Friday night card game, talking the usual bullshit about hookers and pulling scores.

DG: Watch your language, Agent. You're not helping your case.

BH: My case? Seriously? You think I don't know I'm fucked here? Seven gangsters get shot to pieces when I'm supposed to be on watch, there's no way I walk away from this with anything less than a punitive discharge from service. So let's not jerk each other around.

DG: Listen here, you-

HT: Special Agent Henderson, tell us what you saw.

BH: I got bored, and I felt tired. I walked down the street to the corner coffee shop. I was there less than ten minutes. When I walked back, the front door of the club was open and everyone inside was shot to pieces. I didn't see anything.

FN: We have reviewed the tapes, and the videos, and we have reason to believe you aren't being forthright, Agent Henderson.

BH: Gee, that's tough. I guess you should probably look at the tapes again, if you think I'm hiding something.

DG: Why are we even wasting time with this? He's not going to assist us. We should be talking about an obstruction of justice charge.

UN: May I interject for a moment?

HT: Of course.

BH: And who the Hell are you? You're not Bureau.

HT: This gentleman is here representing [REDACTED 1:13.] Now that his bonafides are established...

UN: Special Agent Henderson, you actually arrived back on scene as the killer was exiting the building, didn't you?

[16 seconds of silence.]

BH: What do you want?

UN: This is a picture of an asset who works with [REDACTED.] I want to know if this is the man you saw.

[24 seconds of silence.]

BH: I was walking back when I saw the light of the door. I moved up and drew my weapon. When I saw the guy coming out, I announced myself.

UN: Was it this man?

BH: Yeah, that's him.

HT: Are you sure you're not mistaken?

BH: No, I'll never forget him. His eyes...He looked at me, I've got my gun aimed at him, and he just...looks.

UN: Special Agent Henderson, one moment. Helen?

[Recorder is turned off for 14:38.]

HT: So, Special Agent Henderson, for the record, did you see the face of the gunman?

BH: [illegible answer]

DG: Speak up, Henderson.

BH: No, I didn't see the face of the gunman. And I don't remember any details about him. Is that good enough? Is that what you wanted?

UN: I do appreciate your cooperation, Mr. Henderson. I'm sure you'll enjoy your retirement.

TRANSCRIPT ENDS. BOARD VOTED 2-1 TO ALLOW SPECIAL AGENT HENDERSON TO RETIRE WITH FULL BENEFITS OUT OF RESPECT FOR HIS LONG AND DISTINGUISHED SERVICE PRIOR TO THIS INCIDENT.

***

[CITY HERALD ARTICLE, PAGE B-17, CRIMEWATCH COLUMN.]

Police are still investigating the mysterious disappearance of suspected crime figure Archibald "Archie" Lennox, reputed underboss of the O'Neill crime syndicate. Witnesses said he was last seen getting into a limo outside Park's Korean Restaurant a little after nine PM last Tuesday. The limo was subsequently located abandoned and burned near the Eastside Docks, but no sign of Mr. Lennox has been seen since. There are unsubstantiated rumors that police are looking for possible connections between this case and the gangland-style slayings of seven men at the Temple Hill Social Club the same night.

***

[HOMELAND SECURITY MAGIC WORM TAP 2880938, PARTIAL TRANSCRIPT. UN1=UNIDENTIFIED MALE 1, UN2=UNIDENTIFIED MALE 2.]

UN1: It's a pleasure, Ryan. On the other matter, the thing with our **** employee seems to be under control.

UN2: And you're sure the Feds will stay quiet about it?

UN1: I believe we have a fairly coherent narrative. It helps that someone inside the local police **** has also been obfuscating the police investigations.

UN2: And the **** of the ex-husband?

UN1: It's been listed as a car accident. And the five in the Fort Brett warehouse are being written off as ****-related homicides.

UN2: So our favorite asset is safe from prosecution, then.

UN1: It appears so, yes. We'll have to continue to monitor the situation.

UN2: Make sure we put aside the appropriate reports for later use, should we need to remind our monster that he owes us a favor.

***

PARTIAL EXCERPT OF FORENSIC REPORT, VICTIM RICHARD BENNING.

Decedent is a caucasian male, 5'9", 198 pounds. Appendectomy scar, healed fracture of the left clavicle matches known medical records. The body is in an advanced state of decomposition, with rigor fully relaxed. There are broken bones in both arms, both legs, multiple ribs, the left and right sides of the jaw, and all of the victim's finger bones. Severe animal predation makes it difficult to determine if there were other dermal injuries, but best approximation is that victim suffered a severe beating with a blunt instrument. There are also wounds on the face, chest, and arms which appear to be defensive wounds. Both lungs are full of bloody fluid, and the esophagus and oral cavity have dirt and leaves inside them, indicating the victim was alive and breathing when he was buried. Severe intracranial bleeding indicates the cause of **** as cerebral trauma following a long and sustained beating and probable ****.