Kevin got lucky with his cell-phone leads and found four cell phones that had been discarded which were traced back to the vics. However there was a lot of damage done to them and Kevin wasn't sure what could be pulled off of them. Once again it was another close but not close enough situation with the suspect playing "pull the rug out at the last minute." They were allowed to find the phones but they were very far from being in working order. Kevin though did notice that the Sim-Cards were in tact. The phones themselves were damaged beyond repair, but the Sim-Cards were the key. They stored a plethora of personal information and that could be a major key in gaining some ground.
Kevin, if he had the time, could probably pull some information off of the Sim-Cards, but he still had the Traffic Cam footage to scour through. He called The Major and told him of his situation and The Major told him to go down to City Hall look over the files of those in the CSI Unit and pick someone to be their Forensics Scientist. They had one lined up but she had to back out due to personal reasons and they needed someone in the lab. The Major told Kevin to send him a copy of the file of his choice. Kevin found what he believed to be the ideal person for the job; Dr. Celia Carter. He sent a copy of the file over to the Major who texted him: "Perfect. Bring her in, and if Palmer gives you attitude call me immediately."
Kevin walked up to the office of Dr. Howard Palmer the CSI Unit director. He was a good scientist and more than capable at his job, but he believed his press clippings a little too much. Not to mention he was very much into office politics in that if he liked you he would make your life there very pleasant, but if he didn't like you you'd spend every waking moment begging for the sweet release of death. Palmer's authority was rarely challenged and if you tried to challenge it usually it was career suicide. Mainly because his brother-in-law was forth in command in at City Hall who was considering a run at the Mayor's chair, and Palmer was not above calling in favors from his brother-in-law.
Kevin touched the screen on his phone and let it slide back into his outside coat pocket,knocked on the door, and Palmer said, "Yeah it's open."
Kevin opened the door, entered the office and closed it. Palmer was "busy" reviewing files, but Kevin noticed a web browser opened to a site called "party girls." Kevin looked at him and said "Hello Dr. Palmer. I'm here on official MCU business."
Kevin flashed his ID and dropped a transfer order on his desk. Palmer looked up at him and said with great sarcasm, "Well hello Boy Wonder. What can I do for the great and mighty MCU?"
Kevin and Palmer had a bit of a history with another.The CSI Unit was ready to discard what appeared to be a busted lap-top at Deputy Mayor Byerson's murder. Kevin said he could get some items of it, and the lead tech let Kevin have a shot at it. Kevin worked for three days straight and was finally able to salvage some data which helped move the investigation into overdrive. Palmer has never forgotten or forgave Kevin for showing up his department. It was only because of his brother-in-law he still had a job.
Kevin replied, "Simple I don't wanna be here any longer than I have to be, so sign off on the transfer of Dr. Celia Carter over to MCU and we'll be outta here."
Palmer just glanced at the transfer and said, "No. Sorry you can't have her. She's too valuable to my department."
Kevin stepped forward and said, "Valuable for what? You and your other cronies have done everything in your power to keep her down here for almost five years. She has the potential of being one of the best techs here and you all see her as nothing more than a glorified lackey. She leaves with me that Transfer order says so."
Palmer nodded and said, "Is that a fact." He took out a lighter and burned the order. As he dropped it in the trash can Kevin said, "You're burning an official Transfer Order."
Palmer replied, "Oh darn I was making a copy of the order, and the copier over-heated and burned it. Sorry old equipment. You see we aren't getting anything really this year, because of that damn MCU project you're involved with West. You all think you're so damn special well let me tell you what Boy Wonder your Major O'Bannion isn't going to make it work over there. He's just another badge to me I couldn't care less about him, you or the rest of the misfit club. So hit the bricks Boy! I have many bullets to shoot you all down with. When you're looking for us to process something for you sorry we're backed up."
Kevin nodded and said, "You don't sound bitter. Much. Still smarting over being passed over for the MCU slot I see." Palmer glared at him for a moment. Kevin knew Palmer was a finalist for the MCU Forensics position, but O'Bannion shot him down. The Major didn't want City Hall politics in the MCU.
Kevin pulled his phone out and hit the touch screen twice and Palmer asked, "What's that?"
Kevin touched the screen and suddenly the audio of Palmer's rant about MCU was coming out of his phone. Palmer's eyes grew huge and Kevin said, "The picture ain't gonna be worth anything, but the audio is perfection. I just sent a copy of your rant to Major O'Bannion, and my guess he's already sent it up the chain of command."
Palmer shrugged his shoulders and said, "So what's he can do about it? Like I said I got many bullets to take care of you all. More than enough to shut you all down, and by the time it gets to anyone with any real power MCU will be a memory."
Kevin nodded and said, "That might be true, but have you read your rules and regs concerning MCU? It was sent out to all department heads. I liked the one about Transfers specifically heading five, paragraph two, sub-section B. You know the one that states all transfers to MCU must be approved by and orders notarized by Commissioner Wallace. "
Palmer looked as though he had just seen the end of the world. Kevin said, "That's right you just destroyed an official document from Commissioner Wallace. You may have many bullets, but in the end a good sharp-shooter only needs one to do the job. Tell the Commissioner I said hi when he calls any minute now."
Palmer's phone began to ring and he picked up the phone slowly and said, "Palmer...yes Commissioner Wallace...yes sir...no sir that won't be necessary it'll be fine. No sir...no sir...yes sir... Another copy for our records will be most useful sir thank you sir...I..well sir I....yes sir....yes sir...yes sir...yes sir...thank you sir. Right away sir...good b....." Palmer sat there with his mouth open and Kevin could hear the dial tone. Palmer hung up the phone and said with great fear in his voice without looking at Kevin, "You can go get Dr. Carter she's now a member of MCU. Down the hall third door on the left."
Kevin replied, "It's been a pleasure and a nightmare." Kevin turned and began to leave as Palmer said, "One day. One day it's all gonna end for you all at MCU, and then I'll..."
Kevin turned back and interrupted, "Yeah yeah and you'll get us and our little dog too. Give it a break Palmer. If you're gonna make threats like that be original." Kevin shook his head and rolled his eyes as he walked away. Kevin walked down to Dr. Carter's office and noticed it was not only the only office without a name plate on the door, but it was right next to the supply closet.
Kevin knocked on the door and heard someone say, "Come in."
Kevin entered the glorified broom closet and saw a woman typing up a report...on a typewriter! She wore a lab coat, had soft dark blonde hair, with dark green eyes, and appeared to be very frustrated.
She turned to Kevin and asked, "Can I help you?"
Kevin just stared for a moment and then snapped back to reality. He pulled something out of his pocket with his left hand and said, "MCU West Detective Kevin."
She just looked at Kevin for a moment and said, "Okay your driver's license photo looks better than mine, and I don't think your first name is MCU. According to your driver's license photo it's Kevin,"
Kevin blinked twice and then he looked over at his left hand and said, "D'Oh!" He put his wallet away and pulled out his MCU ID and said, "Detective Kevin West MCU. Please stop what you're doing Dr. Carter. You're no longer a part of this department you've been officially transferred to MCU by order of Commissioner Wallace."
Dr. Carter asked, "I'm working in the MCU Forensics lab with all the tech, tools, other scientists, and a real computer?"
Kevin shook his head and replied, "No Dr. Carter you're not working with other scientists. You are the Forensics Department. It's all you Dr. Carter you run the entire place. We work one case at a time which means you call the shots in the lab. You answer to our C-O Major O'Bannion and the Commissioner only now."
Dr Carter tilted her head back and a single tear ran down her cheek as she smiled and mouthed, "Thank you. I finally get to use all my skills."
Kevin asked, "Do you need to pack any personal items Dr. Carter?"
Carter with her head still tilted back replied, "No. I don't trust anyone enough here to leave out any personal items." She looked at Kevin and said with a crooked smile, "My name is Celia and I prefer you'd use that or CC your call Detective West."
Kevin said, "Only if you call me Kevin. At MCU we don't stand too much on formal titles amongst ourselves although we call our C-O by rank though. Your ID and other items should be ready by the time we get to MCU."
Celia nodded and said, "Good enough for me Kevin." Celia stood up and said, "Let's get out of here. We got work to do."
Kevin and Celia left the lab and Celia followed Kevin's car to MCU. He led her into the lab and when Kevin cut on the light Celia stood there in stunned silence for a moment. She finally said, "Oh my this is just incredible. It's unreal." Celia looked over at Kevin and said, "Thank you Kevin."
Kevin replied, "Celia I just made the recommendation Major O'Bannion was the one who made it happen. I'm sure you'll see him and the others soon enough. Right now though we have a case to solve."
Kevin explained the case and gave Celia the cell-phones with the Sim-Cards. She just looked them over and said, "It's gonna be difficult." Celia looked at Kevin and said with a crooked smile, "But not impossible for me to do. Get on out of here Kevin I got work to do." Celia put on rubber gloves,cracked her knuckles, and said, "This is gonna be fun."
Kevin nodded and said, "Okay I'll be scouting traffic cam footage." He gave her his card and said, "If you find anything let me know." Kevin shrugged his shoulders and said, "Since I'm the only person you know here. You know I figure it'll be ummm yeah ummm."
Celia pulled out her phone and programmed his number in it. She wrote down her number on his card and gave it back to him with a smile. Kevin quickly programmed it in and said, "Right I'll ummm I ummm check on you later."
Celia nodded and said, "I'll be here."
With that Kevin left as Celia began to take apart the phones and studying them closely.