“Interesting.” Sienna said, “Not really surprising since David worked there on the base.”
“True. Let’s go there. I can call ahead and have someone meet us to answer our questions.”
* * *
They pulled up to the gate of the naval base after crossing the long blue bridge to the island of Coronado. The guard saluted A.J. smartly. After A.J. flashed his ID and Sienna showed him her badge, the guard waved them through. A.J. drove toward the building that housed security.
They parked and got out. A.J. could smell the ocean along with diesel fuel used to run the big ships that transported the very weapons in question, along with items for the exchange where Navy personnel bought their groceries and sundries.
Inside the building, they walked to the front desk. Sienna showed her badge. “We’re here to ask some questions regarding Corporal Buckner.”
After waiting fifteen minutes, a tall man dressed in civilian clothes approached them. “Lieutenant Camacho, Detective Parker, I’m Rob Norton, agent with the NIS—Naval Intelligence Service. Could you come with me?” He led them to a room that looked very similar to the interrogation rooms at the division. He sat down in the spare chair in the Spartan room.
“What can I do for you?”
A.J. spoke. “We’ve got a reason to believe that one of your trucks was involved with gunrunning.”
“What is the basis for this assumption?”
“Detective Parker has in custody an M-4 that was confiscated from a civilian who says he tried to buy a whole shipment of arms from Corporal David Buckner.”
“While it’s true that the corporal has been listed as UL, we don’t have any reason to suspect that he was involved in any other crimes. At least, at this time.”
“The perp identified David’s picture.”
“As you know, Detective, perpetrators of such crimes lie to the police all the time.”
“Are you actively searching for Corporal Buckner?”
“We’ve got a couple more pressing cases at this time.”
“Are you involved in tracking him down?”
“No. He’s not one of my cases. Is there anything else I can help you with?”
“We’d like to question Corporal Buckner’s supervisor and partner.”
“I’ll see what I can do.”
Rob got up and left the room.
A.J. turned to Sienna. “What do you think?”
“I think he’s lying through his teeth.”
“Yeah, I caught that.”
After thirty minutes, Rob returned. “Corporal Buckner’s supervisor can see you.”
Sienna got up from her chair. “I don’t appreciate being jerked around.”
“Beg your pardon?”
“You know what I’m talking about. You might be an NIS agent, but there’s still something called obstruction of justice. I can arrest you for that and throw your ass in jail.”
He gave her a smug look. “You’d have to prove that I was in some way obstructing your case.”
“The Navy sent me as a liaison. That means they are willing to cooperate with me. Why aren’t you?”