He said in a pedantic tone, “It’s like I just said, Bill Danforth and Phil Cassidy each took Article 15s; it’s akin to a plea bargain in a civilian court.”
Danforth and Cassidy were the two soldiers whom Tony Vincenzo had been working with on the drug distribution. Puller had arrested them both and had them confined in the stockade under guard of Army MPs. Pine thought they would still be there. But they weren’t.
“I know what an Article 15 is. I want to know how it happened.”
“The concept is pretty straightforward, Agent Pine,” Whitaker said in a bored tone. “It was offered and they took it. Most court-martial trials end up in conviction. They knew that. Then the penalties are a lot worse and they have a criminal record. With Article 15 that doesn’t happen. No criminal record. Just like civilian courts, most cases in the military system don’t actually go to trial. If every one of them did, we’d be clogged up for years.”
Pine said impatiently, “I know that, too. I meant why would they be offered a plea deal in the first place? My understanding was they were caught dead to rights by the CID. They were involved in drug dealing. How does that get them a slap on the wrist? These guys should have been tried, convicted, and sent to Leavenworth.”
The man shrugged. “That wasn’t my call. The CO referred the charge, meaning it was going to trial. And I agree with you, the evidence was very strong. Had they gone to trial they would have almost certainly been convicted. But then the Article 15 popped up and everything got thrown off the rails.”
“The Article 15 offer had to pop from somewhere, right?”
“Right.”
“So where did it pop from?” said Pine, trying to keep her voice calm although she actually wanted to start yelling at the man.
“From their CO. That’s the only place it could have come from. He referred the charges, but then he offered the Article 15.”
“Why would he do that?”
“I don’t know. And I had no reason to ask. I wear a uniform. I do what I’m told. When the CO talks, we listen. Pretty simple.”
“When did all this happen?”
“Late yesterday.”
“And who is the CO on this?”
Whitaker shuffled some papers on his desk and then looked at her curiously. “What exactly is your connection to this case again?”
“I was working it with CWO John Puller.”
“Yeah, you told me that. He was the one who collected the evidence.”
“For an overwhelming case that just got dropped,” retorted Pine.
“I heard he got shot in New York.”
“You heard right. Probably by the same gang that Danforth and Cassidy work for.”
“I wouldn’t know anything about that. Is Puller going to be okay? All reports on him are that he’s a first-rate soldier and investigator.”
“Right on both counts. And yeah, he’s going to be fine. So, the name of the CO?” She took out her notebook and pen.
Whitaker deliberately glanced at both and said, “I’m really not at liberty to tell you that.”
Pine put her pad and pen away. “Okay, what punishment did Cassidy and Danforth receive?”
Whitaker glanced at the paper in front of him. “Reduction in rank, lost some pay, and got eight days’ confinement, but the CO suspended that for a year. They were in the stockade for a lot longer than that after they were arrested. He’ll probably just let that ride.”
“So they just walk away with fewer dollars and the loss of a stripe? For being part of a major drug ring inside this facility?”
“I admit it’s unusual.”
“You think? Where are Danforth and Cassidy now?”
“Back at the motor pool, as far as I know. I did hear some scuttlebutt that they’ve put in their discharge papers. Good riddance in my book.”
“This is a clusterfuck, you know that, right?”
Whitaker looked at her wearily. “Ma’am, I’ve been doing this job for twenty years. Nothing surprises me anymore.”
“Might be time for a new job.”
“What my wife keeps telling me.”
“If I were you, I’d listen to your wife. Do you at least have pictures of Danforth and Cassidy?”
“Yes, but why do you ask?”
“I’d like to see them.”
“Again, why? The case is over.”
“Not for me it’s not. Their photos? Please? It’s really important.”
“You really think Puller getting shot was tied to these guys?”
“I think the connection is obvious.”
The man opened his desk drawer, pulled out a bulky case file, and spun it around. The mug shots of Danforth and Cassidy stared up at her.
“Feel free to take their pictures.”
Pine did so with her iPhone. “Surprised you let me do that.”
“Ma’am, this is a clusterfuck, and in an ideal world these two pricks should be doing hard time courtesy of the United States Army. So if you can nail their sorry asses to the wall it’s fine by me.”
“Thanks,” said Pine as she walked out.
Chapter 52
Danforth and Cassidy were indeed in the motor pool, although as Pine observed from a distance, they didn’t appear to be getting much work done. Both were on their phones, texting.
She didn’t confront them there.
She simply followed them when they left the base after their shift was over.
They drove together to a military dive bar about two miles from Fort Dix. They went in and she followed. The pair had found a table in the fairly crowded place.
The bar was called the Bunker. Unlike its name, the Bunker was large, open, and airy. Flags from all service branches hung over the walls. Helmets were mounted like trophy animals, along with ceremonial sabers, bayonets, and weaponry of all makes and sizes. Some couples in uniform were slow-dancing in the middle of the room to jukebox music. All bar seats were occupied, with most of the patrons draped in Army green.
Pine was one of the few not in uniform.
She eyed the pair and headed for their table after a waitress brought their longneck beers. She sat down next to Danforth, glanced at him, and then eyed Cassidy.
Danforth was big and beefy, and his expression was, to Pine, brainless.
Cassidy was small and cagey-looking, and he shot suspicious looks at her.
“Uh, don’t remember inviting you to our private party, sweet cheeks,” said Cassidy.
Danforth let out an inane belly laugh.
Pine shot him a look. “You really thought that was funny?”
Danforth clamped his mouth shut and scowled at her.
“So, Article 15, huh?” she said.
“Who the hell are you, lady?” snapped Cassidy while Danforth took a swig of his Bud.
“An interested party. Did you know your buddy Jeff Sands got his head blown off in New York the other night?”
Both men gave a visceral reaction to this. Cassidy composed himself and said, “Don’t know who that is.”
“Yeah, right. Like you don’t know who Tony Vincenzo is, or Lindsey Axilrod? Did you wonder why Sheila Weathers didn’t come back to work? She’s dead, too. Also in New York.”
Danforth shot Cassidy a worried glance, but the latter shook his head.
“We don’t know what or who you’re talking about.”
“Sure you do, Phil. And so does your buddy here, because he looks like he’s about to crap his pants.”
Danforth grabbed Pine by the shoulder. “Look, you just need to shut up, bit—”
He stopped and looked at the badge she had just flashed him. Danforth slowly released his grip.
Cassidy said, “You’re FBI? You got no jurisdiction over us. We’re soldiers.”