Report #3270, Transcript Section #18
(Operation SANDMAN)
©1998 Shane Ivey

Keeper:
OK, last time, the night was wearing on, and you had just taken an FBI team and DEA agent Morgan into the house to search for bodies or clues.

Keeper:
And you found a dozen corpses in the basement, apparently dead by suffocation, and one in the doorway, charred, but no police officers or weapons.

Keeper:
Agent Wang, the FBI forensicist, left to have her people start examining the bodies, and Agent Morgan went to inform the police that there were no ESU corpses inside.

Keeper:
Meanwhile the press at the barricades have had a great show of RACAL-suited government types filing into the house and then filing out again with full body bags.

Rogers whispers:
we aim to please the press

Keeper:
And Lundquist got a call from IAB Lt. Daniels requesting a meeting tomorrow at 2:00 pm, and informing him that Joseph Pace, the killer of Rev. Ezekiel, has been murdered in Rikers Island.

Keeper:
It's approximately midnight now, I think.

Keeper:
What's your move?

Lundquist:
We probably ought to think about getting some sleep.

Rogers:
Yeah best check on Danforth anyway.

Keeper:
True--Lundquist, you're especially feeling shoddy. You've had precious little rest the past few days, and a nasty thump in the head to boot.

Lundquist:
Maybe we could call Maddux and have him come down here, just to keep an eye on things? I'm not sure we should leave the scene enitrely to NY's finest just yet...

Keeper:
Rogers and Kelley are in better shape--they've been shook up a little less, and they're big, sturdy types to begin with. ;-)

Lundquist:
That way, if something cropped up suddenly, he could give us a call.

Rogers:
Have the Forensics team removed all the 'evidence' we need?

Keeper:
They've loaded all the corpses into their vans, yes.

Rogers:
I'm thinking of the Braziers etc

Keeper:
Right--yes, they collected everything of interest from the hounfor proper. They're going to request access to Officer Lemonde's remains, and the corpses of the cultists killed in the shootout earlier tonight.

Rogers:
Good, do you think there's a need to keep someone here now? Or should we all get some rest and be ready.

Lundquist:
I'd be more comfortable if one of us were around here... Maybe Knight? Or Maddux?

Rogers:
Well OK get Knight on the case if you can get hold of him.

Keeper:
There are also any number of FBI agents in the city; they won't have any DG briefing, but they would know how to keep a federal crime scene intact.

Keeper:
DEA, too.

Rogers:
whatever let's just get someone to secure the sight, shall we ask Agent Morgan?

Lundquist:
That's probably our best bet. We really just need someone who can babysit the scene, insure that evidence isn't corrupted, and call us if something big starts to happen here.

Lundquist:
I'm not sure Morgan likes/trusts us enough yet to be counted on to act in our interests.

Lundquist:
Probably some FBI types will be better.

Rogers:
Point so get one of our FBI guys back then?

Keeper:
As you're talking, you see Agent Morgan coming back across the yard from the front.

Keeper:
"They've sent someone for schematics of the building," she says, "and the waterways and tunnels and all that, to see if the missing officers might have been trapped in something like that." She looks around with a scowl. "These buildings are pretty old. There might be some holes or something. . . something."

Rogers:
"Yeah something."

Lundquist:
"Okay, good. I want answers. Those men went somewhere, and we need to figure out where."

Keeper:
She nods, still looking around. "Could they have gotten out and into one of these other buildings?" She shakes her head, as if answering her own question.

Rogers:
"We didn't find any obvious way out of that building, and by the time they went in the area was sealed, tunnels are the only answer."

Lundquist:
"Remember, some of them might still be suffering from the effects of the drugs. They could be unconscious, or halucinating."

Lundquist:
"That one guy came out shooting at us, for crying out loud... The others might, conceivably, be hiding somewhere, afraid to be found."

Keeper:
"That could be. They should have the plans in an hour or two."

Lundquist:
"Of course, where they could have gone is still beyond me..."

Rogers:
"I think we should wait on the building plans and daylight and let the police search for these men until we can get some rest."

Rogers:
"Come back tomorrow and see what's been acomplished."

Lundquist:
"Yeah, the EMT wanted me to go get some rest right away."

Rogers:
"He was right."

Keeper:
She says, "All right. Agent Wang told me that she would be delivering press conferences for this affair. And you do look pretty rocky. Okay. Do you need anything from my people?"

Lundquist:
"I'm sure we will, in the days ahead, but that can sort itself out tomorrow. I don't think we need anything right now."

Keeper:
"Give me your number, then, in case anything comes up."

Lundquist:
"Here, it's on my card."

Keeper:
She takes it and nods. "Okay. We'll talk soon enough."

Lundquist:
"We've got some more FBI people coming as well to keep an eye on things here in our absence."

Rogers:
"I'll go and get Kelly."

Keeper:
She raises an eyebrow, but she nods. "Makes sense, I suppose. I'll be on the lookout for them."

Lundquist:
(Aside, to Morgan) "Look, I don't much like dealing with the Bureau either, but I'm going to be in the spotlight on this whole thing and I can't afford not to play it exactly by-the-book."

Lundquist:
"Things are more than screwed up enough already."

Keeper:
Morgan says, "Like I said, it makes sense."

Lundquist:
"Okay. Take care, Agent Morgan."

Keeper:
She nods and walks back out front.

Keeper:
Rogers, you find Kelley out front, where he's watching the house and the cops.

Lundquist:
How long till those FBI people arrive?

Keeper:
An hour, minimum.

Lundquist:
Great... I guess we ought to take off, then.

Keeper:
OK--again, the drive off-scene is harrying, with reporters and news cameras pressing against the windows for a view, shining bright lights inside.

Rogers:
"Right now we are alone, lets talk about this situation."

Keeper:
Soon enough you're past the crowd and driving along the street. Past midnight, traffic is light and things are quiet, with just the occasional hum and honk of distant cars or music outside and the noise of the police band in the car.

Lundquist:
"Well, that was certainly a lot of fun."

Rogers:
"Oh yes."

Rogers:
"We need to get a plan and stick to it not get diverted all the time."

Lundquist:
"Agreed. Unfortunately, events got the better of us."

Rogers:
"True, personally I don't think that the ole reverend died in that fire and neither did those 6 cops, that animal you saw sounds too suspicious why didn't we find any traces of it?"

Lundquist:
"No, there's definitely more going on here than meets the eye. Unfortunately, I think I'm too damn tired right now to make sense of any of it."

Rogers:
"I suppose it could have been a group hallucination given the nature of the drugs involved but I don't think so if we are looking for bouques that think stank to high heaven."

Keeper:
(Is Kelley with you, or did you leave him watching the scene?)

Rogers:
"we'd best get some sleep then go ver all the stuff we've got so far, what do you think?"

Lundquist:
"Yeah, sleep." (I think we brought Kelly with us... Unless he wanted to wait around for the FBI people to show)

Keeper:
Kelley says, "The old man is dead, Rogers."

Rogers:
"You do it?"

Keeper:
He's silent for a second. "That's why that thing almost got me. I stopped to put the old geezer down."

Rogers:
"He was dead when you put him down or are you assuming that the thing got him?"

Keeper:
"He was dead when I broke his neck."

Rogers:
"OK, thanks Kelly. Probably a very good decision"

Keeper:
He goes quiet again and stares outside.

Rogers:
"but not an easy one I know."

Rogers:
"Right here's the plan get some rest, get up and try and get as much information on tonight as possible, then we check out some of the equipment we've recovered, then we can either go back to the church or check on the guy in the hospital, I've e-mailed some requests in to Osbourne so we should have some more info in the morning."

Rogers:
"Any suggestions?"

Lundquist:
"Not right now. Let's figure it out in the morning."

Rogers:
"OK how long till we get back?"

Keeper:
It's around 12:45 when you reach the safe house again.

Lundquist:
Home sweet home.

Rogers:
"Bed sweet Bed"

Lundquist:
I drink a big glass of water, pop some Advil, and hit the sack.

Keeper:
Things, finally, are quiet.

Keeper:
Danforth is still asleep. Maddux doesn't ask any questions; he stays up while the three of you crash.

Keeper:
Lundquist, you almost think you'll have trouble sleeping--when things are quietest you start seeing the black mass from the house, again. Then you pass out, after all.

Keeper:
And, just like that, it's morning again.

Lundquist:
"Ugh, so soon?"

Rogers:
"Ahh thats better."

Lundquist:
"My head still hurts."

Keeper:
Kelley is already up, doing situps in the main room while the news is on. Maddux is asleep. Danforth is still out.

Rogers:
is he ok?

Lundquist:
"How's the news coverage?"

Keeper:
Danforth looks okay, just still doped from the dose you gave him last night. He'll probably come around in a couple of hours.

Rogers:
great

Keeper:
Kelley grunts. "Not good . . ." He sits up and pauses. "The drug is all over the newscasts, now. Everybody's wondering if it's going to be in their neighborhood next."

Lundquist:
"That's not so bad. That works to our advantage. If there's public concern over this thing then our activities will be more justifiable."

Lundquist:
"And nobody's going to believe the more 'esoteric' things about DM..."

Rogers:
"You can phone Osbourne if he answers we're ok if he dosen't I'll see you around."

Keeper:
"Yeah, maybe. It'll mean more news, though. All we need is Jane Pauley trying to get us on film."

Rogers:
"We'll just have to more organised and not get sucked into major events."

Rogers:
"So today we have to meet Agent Morgan at 2, check out the building plans and then do something between."

Lundquist:
"The media is going to be there. But they can be managed and contained. And they can be used to suit our purposes, if we need them."

Keeper:
"Daniels at 2:00," says Kelley, "Not Morgan."

Lundquist:
"This obviously isn't our preferred state of affairs, but it hasn't really hurt us badly either."

Rogers:
"What about this device we recovered, Osbourne wants us to decide if we test it in the field or a lab, anyone want to volunteer to test it in the field?"

Rogers:
"Ok Daniels at 2 late night sorry."

Lundquist:
"Yeah, and Daniels wanted to meed 'not at headquarters,' too. I wonder what's on his mind."

Keeper:
Kelley shakes his head. "I guess we can bet the cultists won't get him first."

Rogers:
"Probably something suspicious about the killing on Rikers"

Rogers:
"That hasn't made the official reports."

Lundquist:
"Maybe. Or maybe something about the shooting at the church."

Rogers:
"Possibly."

Lundquist:
"Probably not much point in idle speculation. What do we want to do until then?

Rogers:
"Well I think we should check on the condition of Donald Murphree."

Rogers:
"See if he's upto a few questions."

Lundquist:
"Good place to start." I'll call the Marshalls at the hospital.

Rogers:
"Right I'm going to have a look at this torch just to get a better idea about it."

Lundquist:
"Careful with that thing."

Rogers:
"I'm just going to try it just have a look."

Rogers:
"While your on the phone."

Keeper:
Rogers, the device is about the size and shape of a large flashlight or Mag-light, the sort that some cops carry.'

Rogers:
the large d cell version?

Keeper:
Yes. Near its head, however, is a blank pad of buttons where a power switch would ordinarily be.

Keeper:
It is heavier than a flashlight of the same size.

Rogers:
A blank pad? No numbers?

Keeper:
No numbers or any other markings, just blank plastic.

Rogers:
How many keys?

Keeper:
Ten.

Rogers:
Any obvious way inside it? Screws clips etc?

Keeper:
Nothing obvious. It has very small seams, but no screws or anything, and it does not seem any more accessible at the seams than anyplace else.

Rogers:
Right what about the "emmitter" part anything unusual there?

Keeper:
The head is built to look like a normal flashlight, with a small bulb against a silvered plastic cup behind a clear plastic shield.

Keeper:
The cusp into which the bulb secion is built, however, seems to be some sort of heavy plastic, not the steel of which the body of the device is built.

Rogers:
Does it look as if it would be eaiser to cut into?

Keeper:
Plastic versus steel, yes.

Rogers:
Hmm, is there a firing range in the house?

Keeper:
Nope.

Rogers:
Anywhere we could test it out of sight?

Lundquist:
We could go find some deserted stretch of road outside of town...

Rogers:
If its like a torch does the head / emitter turn?

Keeper:
The head does not twist, no.

Keeper:
Neither does the base--no easy access to the batteries, apparently.

Rogers:
well that's that theory shot then.

Rogers:
Any chance of waking up our electronics expert and getting his opinion?

Keeper:
You might be able to get him up at this point. He might still be pretty groggy for a while, though.

Rogers:
I'll go and do that.

Keeper:
Danforth is still very groggy when you rouse him. He gets up, but his brain seems to be working at about half steam.

Rogers:
"How are you this morning?"

Keeper:
"Uh? What?"

Lundquist:
"Hey, Danforth, the Capitals game is on."

Rogers whispers:
good / bad pun coming up.

Rogers:
"I've got a little light work for you"

Keeper:
He blinks. "Caps? Okay." He blinks again. "Got to get some coffee."

Lundquist:
"We were hoping you could illuminate us about this thing."

Rogers:
"Cast a little light as it were"

Keeper:
He goes to the kitchen to get some coffee, then he sits down to look at the device. He doesn't seem to get Rogers' jokes. Too early for that.

Keeper:
He yawns. "Well, it doesn't work. What's it for?"

Rogers:
"I'll let Mr L explain what it does."

Rogers:
"after all he's had a close encounter with it as has Kelly."

Keeper:
Kelley says, "Actually, it was Maddux that got hit with it."

Keeper:
Danforth looks blearily up at Lundquist. "Yeah?" He starts poking around with it again.

Rogers:
"OK sorry, get Maddux to explain its effects."

Lundquist:
"Well, it seemed to generate some sort of field which, well, affected perception somehow."

Keeper:
Danforth scowls. "Great." He gets up and takes it to his stacks of equipment.

Keeper:
He turns on some diagnostic gear, electrodes and diodes and readout screens.

Rogers:
"Be carefull it also caused Maddux's injury"

Keeper:
He grunts again as he starts running tests. "No power readings. Weird, though."

Lundquist:
"What's that?"

Keeper:
"I'm getting a power spike in the diagnostic gear--now it's gone."

Keeper:
"Looks like it's--yeah, when the trodes are attached to it. Weird magnetics, too."

Rogers:
"What about the keypad?"

Keeper:
He picks up a couple of other wires from another gadget. "I'll try the magnetics, see if it responds to a current or something." He glances up and shrugs. "Nothing happening on the keypad. Looks like it doesn't have any power, period."

Rogers:
"Any guess's as to how you turn it on?" "Don't turn it on here though"

Keeper:
He attaches the new wires. "Running the charge on it. Hey--getting some kind of response, now. Feedback." He twists a dial.

Keeper:
"Might need the right charge to--" Then there's an audible "click." Danforth says, "Whoa--that's how it opens up. Check it out."

Rogers:
"What is it?"

Keeper:
A long section of the surface, along the seams you saw earlier, stands out now, open slightly from the rest of it.

Keeper:
Danforth looks at it carefully. He yawns and takes an instrument and lifts the section up.

Lundquist:
He yawns... That's reassuring...

Keeper:
Inside, you see a dense tangle of circuitry and--something else. "Weird. Looks like some kind of membrane."

Keeper:
"Kind of grayish, a little purple, and wet. You guys seen anything like this?"

Rogers:
"Be careful be very careful."

Rogers:
"Anything about where it was made, makers name etc?"

Lundquist:
I get my digital camera and start taking photos. "Osborne ought to see this thing."

Rogers:
"Hold on until Mr. L gets the camera here."

Keeper:
"Yeah. No labels, no." He squints through a microscopic-lense eyepiece. "What do you want me to do with this?"

Keeper:
Danforth adds, "Gross. I think this thing is pulsing a little."

Rogers:
"Where was it made?"

Rogers:
"Let me have a look at that membrane when Mr. L gets here with the camera I'll just get my medical kit."

Lundquist:
"I've never seen anything like this." Click. "How about you, Rogers? Kelly?"

Keeper:
You get the camera and medical kit there.

Keeper:
Kelley shakes his head.

Rogers:
"I've never seen anything like it."

Rogers:
What can I tell from a non invasive examination of the membrane?

Keeper:
Danforth holds the thing out for a better view. "I got no clue where it was made. The wiring is hardcore, though." The membrane is as he described it, almost colorless except for a purplish sheen.

Rogers:
"Hardcore?"

Keeper:
The circuitry seems to run into the membrane smoothly, as if sewn into it.

Rogers:
"Anyone thinking cyborg?"

Keeper:
Danforth says, "Hardcore, yeah. Top of the line. Very dense and fine. I'd need better microscopes to make it all out."

Rogers:
"Right we'd better get a lab to look at this then."

Keeper:
Rogers, the membrane does seem to pulse a little, with minute expansions and contractions.

Keeper:
Danforth says, "You want to poke around with it or something?"

Rogers:
"I'm thinking respiration, any way to check that outside a controlled lab environment"

Rogers:
"Don't touch it at all yet."

Keeper:
He shrugs. "You're the doctor. I've never seen this weird shit."

Rogers:
"I'm going to get a access to a lab with all the stuff you need to probe the wires and then I'll examine the organic part. Give me a list of what you'l need"

Rogers:
"I don't want to break this thing before we absolutly have to."

Rogers:
"Mr. L where are the lab techs examining the corpses from the building what kind of lab is it?"

Keeper:
Danforth says, "If it's a lab, make sure it has some good electronics gear. Vacuum environment, the works. Whatever they got. You want me to close it up again, then?"

Lundquist:
"Yeah, do that. And be careful, we don't want to damage it."

Keeper:
The FBI will be using the Bellevue morgue to examine the bodies.

Rogers:
"Yeah close it up and keep it safe." "I'll e-mail Osbourne about getting the right lab for this."

Rogers:
"Any guesses as to how it switches on?"

Rogers:
"In case we come across more of them."

Keeper:
Danforth snaps the cover shut again. "Your guess is as good as mine. Maybe you have to hit a password on the keypad."

Lundquist:
"That was my thought too. Key the buttons in a particular sequence or something."

Rogers:
"Have to try and reverse engineer that for us Danforth it could be usefull."

Rogers:
"I'll go and e-mail Osbourne, Mr. L do you want to phone the hospital?"

Keeper:
He packs the thing into a lead-lined case.

Lundquist:
"Yeah, I'll do that." I call up the hospital.

Keeper:
You get Deputy Brenneman on the line, the Friendly.

Lundquist:
"How's our suspect doing today?"

Keeper:
"Not too good," he says. "They're trying to get infection under control, and his blood pressure is staying low. He's still comatose."

Lundquist:
"Okay, good enough. Please let me know if there's any change in his condition."

Keeper:
"Will do."

Keeper:
It's around 9:00 am now.

Keeper:
Bright and cheery, outside. The smog level is especially low today. June 4. Wednesday.