"Welcome," Collins glances over at the sideboard to see if there is any coffee and/or donuts left. If there are, she invites them to partake; if not, she just continues. "We were just about to split into teams. How up to speed on the case are you?"
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"Welcome," Collins glances over at the sideboard to see if there is any coffee and/or donuts left. If there are, she invites them to partake; if not, she just continues. "We were just about to split into teams. How up to speed on the case are you?"
Rangin sighs and shakes his head at Graham's comment. Somehow he always manages to change the tone of a conversation for the worse.
Rangin begins speaking conversationally "Mr Graham, can I make an alternative suggestion, that perhaps Dr T'Var would be a better choice to work with Mr Kylah, even though the good Doctor would not consider putting herself forward." Rangin nods across at T'Var with a smile, before turning back to Graham "Partly because she is as capable of providing assistance as anyone here and there is the talk with Dr Halsey that should take place and that perhaps Mr Kylah should also attend and assist in return." He looks across to Kylah and then to Doctor T'Var, "If that is acceptable to both of you?"
He then looks back across at Graham, fixes him with an amused grin and leans across, "Perhaps you'd like to help me gather information from the staff, stay on top of me and keep me safe from danger." Rangin raises an eyebrow, before chuckling evilly and relaxing back into his chair again, "Although perhaps we should we should just ask our officers who they would prefer to work with."
Rangin hopes that Graham gets a lot of stick from his friends, old and new, in Security over that little comment. They may not know what was said, having transported in after the fact, but the intonation from Rangin makes it obvious its in response to something Graham uttered. Besides, berating and shouting at him never worked, perhaps embarrassment would be a better way to go.
He looks back round at Lt. Collins and Delaney, "Sirs, your preferences?"
Collins thinks a moment Graham or Rangin? Playing good cop/bad cop or actually learning how to be a better leader?. It was a very brief moment, as this was a no-brainer. "Mr Rangin, my preference is you."
Thank god, Graham almost says out loud. Maybe we can make some progress if Rangin's occupied with something other than coming up with some new clever way to crawl up my ass about every damned thing I say. He seems like a smart guy and I get that we don't see eye-to-eye, but what the hell is his problem--security in general? Me personally?
He almost shakes his head, deciding it's not the time or place to ask him--or to reply to his comment with what first came to mind. He sighs and turns away from Rangin toward Faisal and the other Security officers. His mood immediately improves seeing his old colleague has been assigned to the mission.
"Hey Faisal--" he says, smiling, "Word is there's a particularly vicious crueller on that tray over there." He nods with mock seriousness. "You just let me know if you can't handle it." He angles his body and cocks his arm back as if to draw his phaser for a moment. "I've got your back, brother."
A flash of surprised gratitude makes Kylah's taut stomach muscles relax when Velir speaks up, just as she hoped he would. Then he offers T'Var as a replacement.
There is an Elasian saying, dating from an era when even the Dohlman's own family hunted for their own food: It is a foolish animal who escapes our traps only to run into another beast's jaws.
T'Var is nowhere near as intimidating as Graham. But Kylah's done her best to avoid the Vulcan, and most especially her questions. The saving grace is that T'Var is inclined toward professionalism and silence, and aside from her unusual lapse last night--"You and I will speak of what happened..."--Dr. T'Var will probably focus on the interviews, just as they should. Kylah can only react with a brief look at T'Var and a polite nod. If nothing else, T'Var will help keep her focused as well. Kylah is very aware that she must guard herself against being controlled by guests under the spores' influence.
Collins, of course, chooses Velir herself. A smart move. But that leaves Graham with... Delaney? Even Kylah does not think partnering with Delaney is the best use of Graham as a resource. What of Lord Fastolfe? There is no doubt in Kylah's mind that she herself must be involved in the talk with that odious man, but considering Fastolfe's background and his fingerprints on the murder weapon, it will take someone with homicide experience to ensure nothing is missed.
She still says nothing. She is losing the will to interject any more than she already has. But they still need an agenda and schedule. There is the discussion with administration regarding the announcement; Delaney's need to look into both the transporter and the security videos; the division of tasks regarding interviews... And with all this I must must must go to the infirmary, she thinks forlornly.
Mahmoud and the others glance at the food. "No, thanks, ma'am," the Libyan says. "We've already had breakfast. We're fully briefed on the investigation so far. Cmdr. Vargas said you might need some more help."
"Just as a precaution." Collins says "I don't think things will get out of hand, but in case I'm wrong, having some back up is a good thing."
"Understood, ma'am," Mahmoud says. "Where shall we start? What's the plan?"
Rangin looks round surprised that no-one has actually mentioned what they are up to. Surely everyone had an idea of what they were capable of and what they should be doing to try and resolve this murder. The tiredness must be getting to everyone considering how lethargic everyone is beginning to look. The human contingent must be really beginning to feel it, with only Dr T'Var truly capable of going on and on, which was kind of amusing anyway as Dr T'Var never went on and on and just made short comments.
"I believe the groups will be doing the following", starts Rangin. "Dr T'Var and Ens. Kylah will be talking to Dr Halsey, Mrs and Mr Hsu and Mrs Calvin. Lt. Delaney and Ens. Graham will be checking out the transporter, seeing if there is any further update on the security footage and I would suggest checking in on the Admiral and his Aide and seeing if they knew anything. Lt. Collins and I will be trying to locate details of last night's staff to see if any of them noticed Mr Wilson after hours and if there are any alibis that can be gathered from the Resort's entertainment given the closing hour of the nightclub. As well as deciding how to work out the best way to use all the assistance being given by Security."
"Current suspects are all those who were being introduced at the same time as Lord Falstofe as well as those who were there from the resort."
Rangin looks around, "Any other suggestions, or shall we get to it?"
"Well said, Ensign." Collins is relieved that Rangin spoke up when he did. if he isn't automatically promoted, I will recommend he be She turns to the redshirts "de la Paz and Dodson, you're with Dr. T'Var and Ensign Kylah; Mahmoud, with Delaney and Graham; Markovich, with us" Collins makes a gesture indicating herself and Rangin. "Let's hit it." She sweeps her arm towards the door.
Unable to remain silent any longer, Kylah casts a quick glance at Velir and says under her breath: "Since the Lieutenant respects your advice, perhaps before we dash off, you might suggest to her that there is a benefit in planning farther ahead than the next half-hour?"
"Very good idea, though if you complete four interviews in half an hour, I owe you a big hot chocolate. I'll try and make sure she spends some of the next hour planning ahead, so its not so abrupt next time." Rangin whispers back to Kylah. "Though its getting to the point where everyone could do with a break. We've been on the go for the last six or seven hours or so. By the way, it's good to see you have sorted your knee out."
Calling across to Lt.Collins "Sir, how long until everyone should report back, an hour, hour and a half?"
Graham mutely observes Collins' grand gesture and can only open, then shut his mouth, wordlessly, as things look to be shaping up such that his and Mahmoud's job will be holding Delaney's wrenches or whatever for the next hour--or more.
He's tempted to shout out "Hey, before we finalize assignments, everyone in the room who's investigated a homicide before, raise your hand!" but realizes that as a result of his stupid gaffes yesterday he's in a no-win situation.
At least I'm with Faisal, he thinks. If I need to..improvise...he'll have my back. And unlike Rangin...or Collins at this point...T'Var has seemed to have a solid, no bullshit common sense attitude.
"90 minutes," Collins says "But let's be flexible." she half looks at Graham "If you need more time, call in to me or Delaney. And if you need a break, speak up."
Kylah nods distractedly and then realizes she has only half-heard the assignments. Why... why are all the security officers being assigned to them? And what about Commander Vargas's orders regarding the announcement?
Frustrated at having to be the disruptive element again, she tries to come up with something that will not offend Collins. Then she realizes: there is nothing that will not offend Collins if it comes from Kylah. From Graham, from Velir, yes. But Kylah's suggestions are apparently toxic.
Very well, let the poisoning begin.
She calculates and looks where Collins is ready to flee the room. "Lieutenant Collins? Forgive me, it is likely my inexperience, but I fear I am confused. When Commander Vargas spoke to us earlier, he stated that you and I should speak to administration regarding the announcement to the guests. Perhaps his orders changed when you spoke with him privately? If not, and you are delegating the task to Dr. T'Var, I think..." She hesitates. "No doubt Dr. T'Var would be an excellent communicator to the resort staff regarding this issue. But it seems that perhaps the Commander wished you to participate because we are asking them to do something--announce the crime and suggest security measures to the guests--that the Hsus do not wish to do, likely to maintain the good publicity and reputation of the resort. Since we are requiring them to go against their preferences, I believe such a request would carry more weight coming from you, sir, as the mission commander and the natural representative of Starfleet."
Next she glances at Mr. Graham. "And also... again I must beg your pardon, but is it not so that the intent behind adding more security team members was to assist in keeping the guests safe, not ourselves? We are each armed with a phaser. The guests--presumably--are not so fortunate. It seems a shame to assign security officers to stay by our sides, rather than patrolling the resort. Their visibility will perhaps allow the guests to feel safer... and the murderer will know we have more of the resort grounds covered. That was why I suggested it, at any rate, and I thought Commander Vargas seemed inclined..."
Kylah trails off and looks hopefully at Rangin before reluctantly turning to Collins again. "But again, I do understand that during your conversation with him he may have changed his mind, and if that is so, of course you must do as you think best. Commander Vargas and you are the ones most knowledgable about handling security resources, while Mr. Graham excels in Homicide. Whereas I am barely out of the Academy and may not have thought things through. I just... I just thought perhaps I should mention it."
"Those are good points Kylah, I had forgotten that was mentioned." Rangin follows on her statements shaking his head ruefully.
Taking a deep breath, he looks across to the one person he doesn't want to speak to but the one person with the experience. "Actually, Mr Graham, as our homicide expert, did I miss anything in the latest set of tasks. I've no experience and have probably missed something."
"Well, I'm hardly an expert," Graham deadpans in answer to Rangin's question. He shrugs and makes a show of counting, with great difficulty, on his fingers. "Even if you lump in all of my extra-judicial killings in too, I've barely committed six...no, nine...homicides." He gives Rangin a grin and then glances around at the others in the room, stopping to nod at Collins.
"Ma'am...team...I wasn't just being nice to Mr. Kylah before. She's right that we ought to make an announcement. Soon. And if you work back from that, you get to 'which out of Mr. Rangins' fine list of folks we talk to before versus after.'"
He clears his throat and again looks at Collins. "There's nothing wrong with the, uh, task list overall, but, ah, let me propose something that's based on our theory of the case so far and how our next steps move the ball forward." He glances at Kylah. "At least what I think is our theory of the case."
He holds up a finger. "I'll number these points so you can all tell me what you think makes sense or not..." As he finishes his statement he glances at Rangin.
"One - we think this wasn't a random event. So what we want is for all the guests not to freak out and run for the exits, while our perp gets nervous that we know more than he or she thinks we do."
"Two - so I'd propose we make a very calm, reassuring statement that Mr. Wilson was killed, but we do not believe it was a random event. Of course, we can acknowledge that events like this can cause people to be concerned, so we've beamed down some crack Starfleet security personnel, yadda yadda, who can all establish up a public presence coincident with the announcement."
"Three - gaming this out, I think that means we hit the Hsus first, because they ought to be a little off balance once way or another when the announcement is on deck and it starts to feel like our security is eclipsing theirs . Subsequently, this sets the stage to talk to Halsey, Fastolfe, Palver and so on where we play up that we know it wasn't random--and imply why we know it was them."
He clears his throat. "Of course, some of the other things - Delaney probing the tech for example - can go on in parallel. " He pauses. "All right, well, you know, phasers on heavy stun, I set a target out there. But that's my recommendation based on my experience."
Rangin nods in firm agreement, but still wishing that Graham had said something like this earlier. "Those are good recommendations, looks like I didn't cover everything. Who would you suggest to carry out those tasks? Should we split differently?"
Rangin waits to see what advice Graham can come up with. Hopefully Collins will take the best of all three arguments from Graham, Kylah and himself and come up with the definitive workable plan. It was kind of amusing that the three Ensigns were making the running instead of the three Lieutenants.
Mahmoud, standing at ease with his Security team, widens his eyes slightly and looks at Graham with a what-the-hell-have-I-gotten-myself-into expression.
Delaney coughs.
Dr. T'Var politely looks at Collins and Graham.
Graham acknowledges Mahmoud’s look with one of his own intended to convey “you ain’t seen the half of it!” then continues.
“Well, this is what I was trying to get at before. Just like who-does-what being based on expertise—obviously, I’d be useless trying to figure out the transporter logs compared to Delaney—but who-interviews-who should be based on our theory and our play for each person. “ He gestures toward Kylah. “She came up with the idea that maybe we can exploit the fact she’s a sympathetic female character, given what we know about Mrs. Hsu. How do we want to play each interviewee?”
He starts to pace. “Obviously, ah, L-T,” he says, looking at Collins—but only very briefly, as he feels awkward about running roughshod over the plan she’d approved. He would have preferred if she’d asked him for his advice privately. “There’s some command-and-control to make sure we cover all the bases, but really it’s a question for each of us: what’s the play, how many people do we need for it, and then what are we each not just good at, but really fired up for, right now?”
He shrugs. “I mean, some people aren’t ever going to be comfortable really pushing hard on somebody.” He studiously avoids looking at Rangin. “Somebody else might be, but not have the energy to pull it off right now.”
“Look, ah, this shouldn’t be the look at the big brain on Graham show.” He taps the side of his head. “There really isn’t that much to see. I’ll just lay out the template for what I see as the first next step… We think Mrs. Hsu at the least knows more than she’s told us. We want to make her think there’s no way we’re aren’t going to find everything out. And there’s no way to escape the inevitable.” He clenches his fists in front of his chest as he paces, becoming a little more animated. “When she walks in here, her breath should catch, she should feel a noose tightening around her neck.”
I almost feel…alive…worth a damn… he thinks, as he continues. “We should everybody in here looking goddamned busy.” He points to Delaney with one hand and T’Var with the other. “You should have some medical and technical stuff up on the monitors, doesn’t matter if it’s total bullshit, just so long as it looks important and is over her head.”
“Then you—“ he stops and points with both hands at Collins. “Confident, in charge, but pretty terse. First things first, she’s got to assist us with making the announcement he wrote. You’re professional…maybe even a little condescending, like don’t worry, we got this, just play your little part. Definitely not a shoulder to cry on. And she should definitely feel you’re not telling her everything we know. ”
He rubs his chin. “We get past that, people start filtering out. We try and leave her alone with Kylah…then we run her play.”
“After that, well…look, everybody I’m sure good ideas about each interviewee.” He clears his throat. “But when Kylah meets with Mr., Hsu…” He pauses. He’s almost happy, he feels like its 12 years ago, when he was leading teams, coaching people…before…before. But as before, there’s still the hard edge of the business. He glances at Collins, then Rangin, and then Kylah. Underneath his animated mood is steely clarity. “I like the guy, but in the off chance he’s not on the up-and-up…and, say, somebody needs to shoot him…well, like I said, we all should focus on what we’re good at.”
Kylah listens carefully to each. She waits, in vain, for Collins to respond first to her, then to Velir, and then Graham--the latter two twice--but the Lieutenant seems to have turned mute. Or paralyzed. Or just stubborn. Presumably if Vargas was the one to change the commands regarding the announcements and security assignments, she would have said something.
When Graham finishes with his strategic suggestions, Kylah pauses again, realizing that he seems to intend for them to summon everyone to the command room. He truly embodies the notion that when one has a hammer everyone looks like a nail. Kylah is repulsed by how Graham seems to revel in the notion of terrifying Mrs. Hsu as he gloatingly describes the woman feeling the rope around her neck...
"Yes," she says carefully, trying to think how to phrase this. "Even though Commander Vargas said I should be involved in the interviews due to my Communications background, I am sure he did not mean to imply I should take the lead role in each one, nor do I believe I would be suited for it. Each of us has strengths that will be best suited for different prospects or witnesses.
"But similarly the way we handle each person must be different. For some, intimidation might be appropriate. Lord Fastolfe, for example. Although I am not certain our first interview with anyone--even Fastolfe--should start out with our taking a hostile stance. Immediately putting people on the defensive narrows our options later on: they will never trust us fully after that, and as a result might not share information we desperately need to solve the crime."
Kylah shakes her head slightly. "It seems more productive to begin with a neutral tone, then play it according to how the interview subject reacts. I am not against intimidation when necessary, but simply do not think one should ever open a negotiation by showing one's arsenal."
She keeps her voice thoughtful and low. "For example, I do not think my person-to-person conversation with Mrs. Hsu will be at all effective if it is preceded by such a... such a confrontational or intimidating situation as you describe, Mr. Graham. The same goes for Mr. Hsu. That will ruin the notion that their secrets are safe, and that I am willing to protect them. Do you not think my approach will be patently obvious if they know they are already under suspicion?"
Graham scratches his head. "I didn't mean to imply that Mrs. Hsu should feel like she's under suspicion. Or that we're at all hostile toward her. What I was getting at is that we suspect she's hiding some information. We want her to feel that this information staying secret simply isn't an option...that we're quickly and inexorably closing in on uncovering everything. At which point, the context for your conversation is: 'I can continue to agonize until the moment when the officious folks who don't care about whatever-is-so-bad-about-it discover it,' or 'I can try to find an alternative by talking to this person who seems to care and might help me.'"
"Generally whether we're being nice or being tough, I think it's best to make them react to us one way or another rather than the reverse. We're assuming--I think we're all assuming--that what she wants to do is keep quiet and hope this all goes away. We want her to conclude that's impossible, so the 'plan B' you dangle looks as inviting as it can...you might say that she feels desperate for an alternative way out."
He pauses. "Ah, but if you have a alternative set up for Mrs. Hsu--or the rest of you do..." he shrugs. "Look I'm an investigator not an empath. Maybe my read of her is wrong. Fair enough is that's the call," he adds, looking at Collins.
Rangin keeps his face fixed. At least Kylah and Graham were throwing out ideas. Some were better than his own, naturally, Rangin never claimed to be perfect, and some he didn't agree with. But it wasn't his call to make. Time to try and give everyone an out as if it had been a reasonable discussion over details, but in the end, it came down to what Collins was going to assign to each of them.
She has ten people here, although Vargas had sent the other four to help keep the peace and a whole set of tasks to complete, interviews, dealing with the WR&R resort and more fact finding. He wonders how she will split them up and assign duties. Rangin also hopes she doesn't just go with one of the plans, because they all had good and bad points, but at least take the best of all three.
"Sir", Rangin addresses Lt Collins, "thank you for your patience in listening to us, our ideas and suggestions. What's your call?"
Collins sighs inwardly. "Have a seat, everyone. Graham and Rangin, with me." She holds the door open for them to join her in the corridor.
"Two men go in, one man comes out," Graham deadpans sotto vocce to Rangin as they leave the room.
While Kylah possesses the ability to keep her face as still as marble, that shell of repose nearly shatters the instant Graham mentions the word empath.
Velir speaks. She does not listen. Her stomach feels as if it's folding in on itself and her pulse skitters erratically to the point where she must take several deep breaths, holding them for several seconds before exhaling. This forces her heart to break its uncomfortable rhythm.
Can Graham know what she is? He cannot. It would take a meeting with Aldaan himself to obtain such knowledge. Unless Dr. T'Var... She and Graham.... They were together when they found me in the resort last night. Perhaps she...
No, T'Var is a doctor, and Kylah revealed this to her under strict confidentiality. But if she thought Kylah's life was actually in danger due to her lack of control? Would T'Var do such a thing?
Kylah knows she has turned white and there is nothing to be done about that. Her instinct is to stare at T'Var in accusation, but of course that must be fought as well.
She is shaken from her terror only when Collins orders Graham and Rangin to join her, leaving the rest of the mission crew--including the one who has offered as many ideas as either of Collins's favorites--dismissively behind.
There can be no greater proof of Collins's utter lack of instinct, of caring about team cohesiveness. Kylah turns to Lt. Delaney--Collins must despise him the way she does Kylah herself, the way she continually ignores him and leaves him out of all decision-making. The man is her equal in rank. So is T'Var, although the doctor's rank is automatic upon graduation.
At last Kylah looks at the other woman. It is useless. She can read Vulcans, but Kylah is not hypocritical enough to betray her promise to control herself in an effort to prove whether T'Var has betrayed her.
Despite everything, the truth is, the only person living who has actually kept her secret, who has proven unshakeable in this regard, is her uncle. I am the only one you can trust, he has promised her throughout her lifetime. And perhaps in this matter, this one matter, he is right.
When the three of them are alone, Collins says quietly "I keep starting and stopping and starting and stopping. I am at a loss. Vargas pretty much told me to suck it up, but nicely. You two have seen me at low points this mission, maybe my lowest. So, I ask you. How do we proceed?"
There is a deep sigh from Rangin as he looks at the floor composing himself before looking up. He looks across at Graham trying to judge what he might be thinking before looking back at Lt. Collins.
"Sir, I'm sorry but this is one of those times, when you have to make a decision. You have a set of options which are not necessarily compatible, and you will have to use your judgement. This team needs to follow your orders and your decision. We cannot make it for you, only advise. I will suggest this though. As we do not have that much time, Graham and I will speak just once, lay out the options as we see them to be and then you choose what you think is best. Decide who will do what over the next hour or so. Don't forget, regardless of which choice you make, we will follow your orders. You are in charge." Rangin's voice has quietened slightly and though it appears less deferential than before is far more explanatory and patient, making sure each part sinks in before he moves on to his next words.
"Ok, We have ten people here, six of us to investigate and four of us to protect. Yes, I do agree with Kylah, that it would be the best use for them at this moment. There are several tasks to complete. We need to interview Halsey, the Hsu's, Falstofe, Calvin, the Vice Admiral and his aide, and before I forget as Kylah keeps mentioning him and she is right, Khövsgöl, who was assisting us earlier on. We do need to get a message out sooner rather than later and that will mean talking to Mrs Hsu as she will be in charge. Further fact finding includes talking to the staff about Mr Wilson and any who may have been in the nightclub providing alibis. We can't rely on the security footage for that. It can also, if necessary, wait until later as the people involved will probably still be asleep, thinking further about it. There is the teleport system, not to mention the safe and probably a lot of other things as well. I even have a wastebin of paper to sort out if you feel annoyed at me."
Rangin smiles wondering if the next bit will earn him that rubbish bin.
"Here's my suggestion for what should happen next and how it should be split up. First off, I think the others are right, an announcement is a priority and should be done sorted by you and Kylah. This also gives her the chance to talk to Mrs Hsu about other matters as well as well as finding out about Khövsgöl, maybe interview him if you can as well. I don't think having everyone waiting in the command room is the right idea, but if you decide it is, so be it."
"I would suggest Dr T'Var and Graham interview Halsey, Calvin and then check on the Vice Admiral and Aide as a matter of course. Don't forget we have a set of security on them already. There is no reason Lt. Delaney cannot check on the teleport and follow up on things and we also need to get the others access to the command room and Mr Wilson's office and suite. A brief tour of the site for them would not go amiss either. That means finding Mr Hsu and arranging it. I'd suggest myself and Lt. Delaney do that quickly before continuing our investigations and I don't really have anything specific to do, other than get staff lists for last night's workers."
"I'd suggest adding them to the security contingent near where Mr Wilson was found, but I'll admit I have no idea if that is the right thing to do or not. Of course, once we know where Mr Hsu is, Kylah and yourself can talk to him next. I'd actually suggest interviewing him more fully to see what he knows as well, but let Kylah make the call on whether she wants to try her gambit first or not."
"Finally, given all that, I would suggest interviewing Falstofe as he is, given the alleged murder weapon, our closest suspect. Not to mention searching his quarters if we can. That's something else to ask Mrs Hsu. Interview to be done by Dr T'Var, Kylah and Graham, between the three of them, they should be able to get a good idea of guilt and innocence. You, Lt Delaney and I to check on his house during the time of the interview."
Rangin takes a deep breath and slumps slightly before straightening up and looking back at Lt. Collins.
"There you go sir, that's the best I have at the moment. I would hope as a professional team working together it would cover most of what we need to do for the next couple of hours."
He turns to Graham with a nod. "All yours, Booker."
Delaney leans towards Kylah and says quietly, "Are you all right, Kylah? You look upset. Anything I can do to help?"
Dr. T'Var leans back in her chair, closes her eyes and steeples her fingers.
Mahmoud sighs and helps himself to some coffee. Two of the other Security officers do the same.
Delaney's voice startles Kylah. She swallows and lifts her hand very slightly to wave away his concern. "Thank you, Lieutenant," she says weakly. "I... I am just tired, as I expect most of us are." She tries to lighten her tone. "I fear pastries are not as restorative for me as they are for you."
After a moment of trying to refocus her thoughts on the mission, Kylah reluctantly turns to include T'Var in her comments. "There is something I have wondered, Doctor. Mr. Rangin mentioned twice that we should be reinterviewing Halsey. I am uncertain what we are meant to be talking to him about. You spent the entire morning with the man, between the autopsy and your discussion in the infirmary. What do you think we might elicit from him that you did not already?"
She shakes her head. "Speaking of the autopsy, I meant to ask this before. Yesterday, Mr. Wilson's ankle was injured--I'm sure you both remember that," she adds quickly with a nod at Delaney. "Did that injury show up in the autopsy? We never did learn what caused it. Fastolfe didn't appear to get angry about the house until after Wilson arrived in the induction room. I wonder if there was some other argument between them earlier, and what that might have been about.
"Another question. I don't believe you mentioned that bruise on Mr. Wilson's wrist in your report about the autopsy. Was it possible to determine how long before his death the bruise occurred? Was it just prior to the murder? Or even after, if someone grabbed his body to move it somewhere."
Kylah shrugs and leans back in her chair. "My mind is just not working very well. Perhaps you explained all this and I just do not remember. I am more anxious to interview those we have not yet spoken with than pulling more information from Dr. Halsey. All we know is that, as you said, he seemed rather pleased to be working on Wilson's autopsy. I had... I had noticed that too," she says tactfully. "But to be honest, that is not much of a reason to focus on him as a suspect. He might just have been excited by the prospect of such an unusual case, for all we know. His mood seems a strange reason to spend time with him when there are so many other guests we have yet to speak with. What do you think I am missing, Doctor?"
Graham takes and exhales a deep breath. He was expecting Collins to let them have it, to tell them to cut the crap and stop bickering--not this. He'd certainly prefer getting read the riot act: both out of concern for whatever's going on with Collins, and the implication that the team if she doesn’t feel up to taking charge, the team is going to continue to struggle.
He listens patiently to Rangin, although his eyes widen when he suggests Kylah speak with Khövsgöl.
Has he been on the same mission as me? Graham wonders. He decides bringing up the reasons for his concern in front of Collins at this moment would be a bad idea. As would, he thinks, bringing up what I've heard about Collins' and Kylah's conflict.
He clears his throat after Rangin finishes. "Well, ah, rather than get too deep into big ideas for how we set the stage for interviews, maybe Rangin's right to just work through a list." He searches for a diplomatic way to justify this. "It's clear we're...I mean all of us...ah, not at our best right at the moment."
He rubs his chin. "Not to go out of my way to disagree with Mr. Rangin here--" he shrugs. "Although why break trend after all? But let me suggest a couple tweaks in the lineup. If we're going to check on the Admiral it makes sense to me to give him his due and show the flag—you and T’Var. One, you’re the mission commander, in case he’s wondering what the hell is going on. Two, she’s our M-D, in terms of eyeballing his health. Three, maybe it’ll give you a chance to, ah, catch your breath, Je...er, ma'am. After that...if you, ah, want to, you two could hit Halsey and Calvin."
"I can handle the announcement, taking Kylah along--if Mrs. Hsu makes a stink we'll call you, L-T, but it's not like she has a lot of options here. And then she can try her gambit with the Hsus." He pauses and glances at Rangin. "And I'll...keep tabs on how it goes."
"Then we've got Khövsgöl and that Palver guy, too. Money guys...credit where credit is due, Rangin’s a pretty suave guy. He and Delaney can hit them, then split up, with Delaney geeking out on the tech and Rangin finding out about talking to the nightclub staff.”
“I agree that our Security team should circulate in high-visibility areas—for reassurance, a Starfleet courtesy, if anybody asks. And that dealing with Fastolfe is a team effort. But maybe we cross that bridge in a bit – it wouldn’t kill us to talk to the staff and compare all our notes before talking to him. I wouldn’t put it past him to tell us some cock and bull story about whet he did last we would then go off and find out was crap…after all he knows it’s not like we can arrest him for ‘a lapse in his memory.’”
Graham also decides asking Collins why she's struggling so much is something better done one-to-one. "And, uh, look, for what it's worth, to the extent you're not...100% on your game has been my fault for being an idiot yesterday, I apologize, ma'am."
He waits for Rangin to ask him why he doesn't apologize for being an idiot today.
Rangin keeps a straight face while listening to Graham. Credit to him, some of the ideas make sense, but Rangin doesn't think he would be the right person for an interview. But if ordered, he would do so.
Rangin nods at Graham as he finishes and looks back at Lt. Collins. "Sir, its that time. Your decision." he says firmly.
Delaney nods at Kylah's responses, smiles a little, and leans back in his seat.
When Kylah speaks to her, Dr. T'Var opens her eyes, looks thoughtfully at the Communications officer and says, "You have reminded me of something, Mr. Kylah, and I'm glad you did. When we were at the crime scene and Mr. Collins asked if anyone had recently argued with Mr. Wilson, Mrs. Hsu glanced at Dr. Halsey. It was a fleeting gesture and was perhaps insignificant, but I noticed it and then, unfortunately, almost immediately forgot about it. Fatigue is taking its toll on me, as well, I believe. The doctor's mental state was also oddly... upbeat, given the circumstances. Perhaps we might ask him directly about that." She pauses. "The injury to Mr. Wilson's ankle did not show up in the autopsy, but the abrasion on his wrist did, and I duly noted it. I could not determine if the abrasion was pre- or post-mortem, but it was certainly recent."
"We'll go with Graham's suggestions." Collins says weakly. I wish I could just run to the head and puke. I feel green. "Let's go back inside and tell the others."
"Sir, decision made, well done." comes from warm reply from Rangin. "and we both promise not to snipe at each other and ruin your meetings again." he says with a smile, "just in case anyone else asks." Rangin looks briefly across at Graham hoping he will be as amenable to the slight deception for the others.
Rangin is not sure why Collins has chosen Graham's suggestion over his own, she probably has her own reasons, but it doesn't matter that much, what's important is that Collins actually listened and made a decision. He waits for Collins to lead them back into the other room.
Graham chuckles at Rangin's offer to Collins. "Yeah, sure, we'll even look duly chastised when we walk back in, you want. For that matter, Lieutenant, you might even want to smack Rangin around a little, just to to totally make it real..." He shrugs and grins at Rangin. "Nothing personal, it'd be for the benefit of team of course."
Collins briefly considers slugging both of them, but decides against it. She holds the door to the CP open for them.
There's no response to Graham's comment from Rangin, it just further confirms his thoughts that Graham is a petty minded fellow that has a liking for violence. Was he really worth any more effort to respond to, its not like anything sunk in to the mudpit that some might call his brain.
It was pathetic really, especially as somehow he managed to make Commander. Karma must catch up with some people eventually though, hence why he is here taking orders instead of giving them.
As Collins opens the door he heads in first, steady and calm while walking back to his seat.
Graham doesn't have to work at it to look pensive and glum as he re-renters the CP after Rangin. What he suggested to Collins wasn't what he would do if he were in command, or what he would recommend to her if she--and the team--were functioning better. But he's somewhat at a loss for what to about it.
Well, at least we're done arguing, he thinks as he finds a seat. And Rangin seems to have a sense of humor.
Kylah pays as close attention as she can to T'Var's comments. The look from Mrs. Hsu to Halsey is telling--but of what, she cannot guess. It might be Hsu knowing of a fight between Wilson and Halsey, or Halsey knowing of Hsu's fight with him. Or it could be shared knowledge of someone else's argument altogether. Definitely worth asking him about. Kylah is surprised that a Vulcan would forget something noteworthy like this, but of course, she performed a lengthy operation and has been occupied with medical analysis, rather than a tiny and possibly insignificant gesture.
Finally there is the matter of the wound to Wilson's wrist. "An abrasion," she repeats. "I thought it was a bruise, probably from someone grabbing hold of him. But an abrasion indicates something scraped against his wrist--or vice versa. That is unusual."
She wants to turn to Delaney and ask him his thoughts--really, she is extremely curious about how he feels when Collins continually shuts him out of the command loop. It is none of her business, of course, but... if she is to make a full report this time, unlike from the Sakathian mission, Kylah can use all the backup she can get. Clearly Singh values Collins and thinks she has potential. If anything, her command of this mission has been just as disastrous as the last one--the only benefit is that none of their team has been injured this time.
Not physically, anyway.
The door opens and Kylah's head shifts toward the entrance. Graham looks miserable, Velir his usual even-keeled self. And so she listened to Velir, Kylah thinks, both proud of Velir and strangely annoyed. She wants him to succeed, but she does not want his head turned by Collins's favoritism. He has a good head on his shoulders and does not seem the type to respond to flattery, but... he is still a man.
I cannot be jealous already, Kylah thinks irritably. I have not earned any right to that. But surely, surely he cannot forget that at the heart of Jeremi Collins lies someone who would have chained a man to his dying, soon-to-be-monstrous wife.
She waits for some announcement or decision... any decision, as long as it has actually been considered instead of leapt-upon as the first option posited by somoene other than Kylah. Collins seems incapable of strategic thought or decision-making. Does pregnancy do that to a woman? Her mother had six pregnancies that Kylah knows about--including four miscarriages--and none of them seemed to affect her thusly. Then again, her mother was Elasian. Human women are likely more frail.
As Collins sits, she feels a sharp twinge in her abdomen, but it ends as quickly as it started. "Change of plans, team. Ensign Kylah and Ensign Graham will handle the announcement together. Doctor T'Var and I will check on the Admiral and his aide. Lieutenant Delaney and Ensign Rangin will interview Misters Khövsgöl and Palver. The four of you," she looks at the Security team Vargas sent down, "make yourselves visible in the public areas. If one of the teams needs back up, we'll call." She looks at the almost empty coffee cup in front of her and gulps the last drops. Cold coffee is better than no coffee.
"After the announcement, and answering any questions that come up, Kylah," she faces the young ensign how looks like she's even smaller than before, like she's trying to disappear, "You and Graham talk to the Hsus, gently" she looks at Graham, "Yes, they are both still suspects, but they are also key people here at the resort. See what you can finesse out of them." Jeremi then looks at Delaney and Rangin. "When you finish those two interviews, Delaney, you can go super-sleuth on the Resort's tech, while Rangin talks to the nightclub staff. We'll save Fastolfe for later when we can approach him en masse.
"When T'Var and I are satisfied that the Admiral is fine, we'll check in with the other two teams and go where we're needed." she pauses a minute, then adds "I'm thinking we might try to encourage Hardin and Ebling to go back to the Yorktown for their safety, until the investigation is over. Any thoughts?"
Kylah sits and slowly moves her hands beneath the table, where she can clutch them together and let her nails dig into her flesh. It is worse than she expected. Not only is Vargas's order about Collins's role in the announcement being ignored, but Kylah has been paired--alone--with Graham. She must be doing this on purpose, Kylah thinks in despair. Working with me is so abhorrant she will defy Vargas's direct order.
Unable to look at Graham, Kylah wonders if Velir approves of this decision. Maybe she misjudged his reason for suggesting T'Var switch with Graham earlier. It probably had nothing to do with him somehow intuiting how intimidating she finds Graham. The thought was silly and girlish, a fantasy of some perfect mental connection between them. Why should Velir know her every thought? He is not an empath, Kylah thinks bleakly, with an inward shudder at Graham's words.
She would rather not speak but she does so in a low monotone. "Yes, sir. What about Rosemary Calvin? She is not included on the schedule, but she is the only person in the introduction room aside from Khövsgöl, the Vice Admiral and Ebling whom we have not yet interviewed."
Collins thinks a moment then replies to Kylah "You and Graham will interview her once you've gotten all you can from the Hsus. If you need a break, any of you, take one, a brief one; but call it in. I'd like to know where everyone is at any given point."
Kylah nods at Collins's decision, her hands clasping more tightly atop her thighs. So now she will have to tell Collins when she goes to the infirmary--assuming she can get away from Graham? Better and better.
Rangin's face remains calm as Lt. Collins re-issues Graham's suggestions to the rest of the team. It's just a set of orders and although he's glad Lt. Collins has made a decision, Rangin is still a little disappointed she chose Graham's suggestions instead. Rangin wonders what is was that meant she chose that way, was it information he didn't have or just that she was listening to the perosn with more experience.
In the end, it didn't matter, although even straight off, it was obvious that Graham's suggestions were incomplete, Kylah showing that something was missing and they still needed to give the new security officers access to the command post. But it was good to see Lt. Collins at least answer the question effectively and look more like the leader she was supposed to be. Should he...should he...Rangin tumbles the thought in his mind that he should just let the point go, he had raised it earlier as part of his suggestions but they were all supposed to be working together. It still needed to be done, but having got Lt Collins this far, each extra question would slowly strip a little more authority from her. No, best for the moment to leave it as an oversight and it could be dealt with later, after all, he was surprised it hadn't been top of Graham's list.
Rangin looks across the table to Kylah, where she is sat upright, "Good Luck", he calls across to her quietly, before Rangin turns to Lt. Delaney and says in the same quiet voice. "Sir, ready when you are."
Kylah looks over to Rangin when he calls out to her. "Thank you," she says evenly. She can hardly say anything to him about how much she dreads being alone with Graham. "You as well."
She waits for Collins to dismiss the meeting.
Again with the twinge! What the hell!?!. Collins looks around the table. Nobody said anything about her idea to get the Admiral and his aide to safety, which surprises her. They've been coaching me to ask for input and when I do, no one speaks up. She mentally rolls her eyes then stands up and says "We'll reconvene in two hours, unless one of you is onto something big. Dismissed."
"Aye, ma'am," Mahmoud says briskly. He turns to his team. "Mr. Dodson, you're with me. We'll start in the main lobby and cover the hotel floors. Mr. de la Paz, you and Mr. Markovich will patrol the other public spaces. Start with the gardens and work inward from there."
Delaney stands and says to Rangin, "Off we go, then. Want to talk to Khövsgöl first?"
Dr. T'Var asks Collins, "Shall I call Vice Adm. Hardin and Lt. Cmdr. Ebling and tell them to expect our visit shortly?"
It is now 1007 hours.
"Yes, please" Collins tells T'Var, but a bigger twinge makes her sit down again. She lets out little high pitched grunt when this last one hits.
Rangin nods at Lt. Delaney, "It's as good as any a place to start. He's hotel staff, so the best place to find out where he is will be the admin offices. See what his rota is and if we can pull him off to one side for a few minutes."
Rangin smiles and looks back across at Kylah, "Kylah, I believe you're likely to be heading to the admin offices as well to talk to Mrs Hsu. Mind if we join you and Mr Graham?"
Rangin then hears something from Lt Collins direction and he turns round to see if she is ok.