Subject To Review
When the memorandum had come down from the head of the Jeffersonian Institution, Brennan had first read it in disbelief, then printed it off and taken it to Cam (who, of course, had already seen it).
In due course, Brennan, along with a subdued Cam, found themselves in the office of Dr. Albert Greer, one of the Jeffersonian’s most senior administrators.
“I should think it was very clear, Dr. Brennan,” Dr. Greer said. “In light of Dr. Addy’s involvement with the serial killer referred to by your department as ‘Gormogon,’” Dr. Greer’s lips pursed-the media had taken the nickname and run with it, adding one more layer of sensation to an already sensational story, “the Medico-Legal lab and its employees are under official review. Effective immediately.”
“But I don’t understand,” Brennan said. “We’ve filed reports. We filled out the review questionnaires that were given to us.” Brennan looked over at Cam who was standing with her arms crossed, staring at the edge of Dr. Greer’s desk. “What more is there to be said? Or done?”
Dr. Greer raised his white eyebrows in what looked a great deal like disbelief.
“Dr. Brennan, those reports and reviews were just the preliminaries. The Medico-Legal lab is being thoroughly investigated not only by the Jeffersonian, but by the FBI and the US Attorney’s office. And I’ll have you know that there are people at high levels of all three organizations who are saying that it should have been done a long time ago, given some of the, shall we say ‘colorful incidents’ that have come to be associated with you and your colleagues.”
Brennan had no good reply to that, and the glance that she threw at Cam was more than a little guilty. Hodgins’s less than honest actions on the Brancroft case. Angela’s refusal to testify in court against Brennan’s father. Brennan’s own reinterpretation of the facts of that case to generate reasonable doubt about her father’s guilt. They had thought that they had lucked out in that there had been no real backlash over any of it.
Maybe Cam simply hadn’t passed it down to them.
Dr. Greer got up from his chair, standing as imposingly behind his desk as his short stature would allow.
Unfortunately, he didn’t really need a height advantage. The message he was delivering was damning enough.
“I don’t think you appreciate exactly how badly the credibility of the entire lab has been compromised, Dr. Brennan. Every case that Dr. Addy contributed to in his capacity as a forensic anthropologist now has the potential to be reopened. We may very well be facing legal action from the families of Gormogon’s victims. And while none of us might legally be charged with severe lapse in judgment in not realizing that a killer was working right on the premises, rest assured that that is going to be scrutinized as well.”
“So, you and your colleagues will cooperate. Fully. That means making yourselves available to answer questions. Completing written reports and reviews. Giving investigators full access to your files, phone logs, email accounts, and anything else tied to this institution that they deem worthy of reviewing. And, in general, not drawing any more attention to your department if you all wish to keep your jobs. Do I make myself clear?”
“Very clear, sir,” Cam said, taking hold of Brennan’s arm (and squeezing a little bit harder than strictly necessary). “I’ll be calling a staff meeting this afternoon to make sure that everyone is informed and knows how to proceed.”
Dr. Greer grunted and dismissed them with a wave.
Brennan managed to keep her peace until they were on the mezzanine, crossing over from the administrative offices. “I can understand a review, but I can’t believe that they would carry it to these lengths. What good is it going to do?”
Cam sighed and halted. The mezzanine was largely deserted, only a few people coming and going on the floor below.
“The good it’s going to do is that it will prove to the higher ups and to the public that they are taking this seriously.” Cam held up one hand to cut off what was to be Brennan’s immediate reply. “Yes-you and I know that we all already take this seriously. But people have screwed up big-time, and someone has to pay. And that someone is us. The lab. This is politics. They’ll slap us in the doghouse for a while, and the end result, when this all blows over, will be that we can go back to work as usual.” Cam sighed heavily. “Or as close to it as we’re going to be able to get.”
“But for how long? With what they’re describing, how long is this going to take?” Brennan asked.
“If we’re lucky? Weeks. Since I don’t see us getting that lucky, it’s probably going to be more like months.”
Brennan all but gaped at her boss. “But…months? We’re not being allowed to work any cases that may go to trial until the review is completed. Months? They’ll put cases on hold that long?”
Cam shook her head. “In those cases, they’ll likely send remains either down to Tennessee or out to Northwestern. Or there is a good possibility that they’ll bring teams in from outside to use our facilities. You’d better be prepared for that.”
Cam sounded as if she could use some preparation herself, at the thought of outside contractors being brought in to work in the Jeffersonian’s lab.
“Then what are we supposed to do?” Brennan asked.
Cam shrugged.
“There are plenty of historic bones down in Limbo waiting to be identified. War remains-no one is going to care if you work on those. The geology and mineralogy departments can keep Hodgins busy. Angela will probably have an arm-long list of people wanting her help with exhibits and displays. And I’ll be making nice with investigators.”
“And we’ll cooperate. And hope like hell that they don’t decide to string anyone up as an example.”
In due course, Brennan, along with a subdued Cam, found themselves in the office of Dr. Albert Greer, one of the Jeffersonian’s most senior administrators.
“I should think it was very clear, Dr. Brennan,” Dr. Greer said. “In light of Dr. Addy’s involvement with the serial killer referred to by your department as ‘Gormogon,’” Dr. Greer’s lips pursed-the media had taken the nickname and run with it, adding one more layer of sensation to an already sensational story, “the Medico-Legal lab and its employees are under official review. Effective immediately.”
“But I don’t understand,” Brennan said. “We’ve filed reports. We filled out the review questionnaires that were given to us.” Brennan looked over at Cam who was standing with her arms crossed, staring at the edge of Dr. Greer’s desk. “What more is there to be said? Or done?”
Dr. Greer raised his white eyebrows in what looked a great deal like disbelief.
“Dr. Brennan, those reports and reviews were just the preliminaries. The Medico-Legal lab is being thoroughly investigated not only by the Jeffersonian, but by the FBI and the US Attorney’s office. And I’ll have you know that there are people at high levels of all three organizations who are saying that it should have been done a long time ago, given some of the, shall we say ‘colorful incidents’ that have come to be associated with you and your colleagues.”
Brennan had no good reply to that, and the glance that she threw at Cam was more than a little guilty. Hodgins’s less than honest actions on the Brancroft case. Angela’s refusal to testify in court against Brennan’s father. Brennan’s own reinterpretation of the facts of that case to generate reasonable doubt about her father’s guilt. They had thought that they had lucked out in that there had been no real backlash over any of it.
Maybe Cam simply hadn’t passed it down to them.
Dr. Greer got up from his chair, standing as imposingly behind his desk as his short stature would allow.
Unfortunately, he didn’t really need a height advantage. The message he was delivering was damning enough.
“I don’t think you appreciate exactly how badly the credibility of the entire lab has been compromised, Dr. Brennan. Every case that Dr. Addy contributed to in his capacity as a forensic anthropologist now has the potential to be reopened. We may very well be facing legal action from the families of Gormogon’s victims. And while none of us might legally be charged with severe lapse in judgment in not realizing that a killer was working right on the premises, rest assured that that is going to be scrutinized as well.”
“So, you and your colleagues will cooperate. Fully. That means making yourselves available to answer questions. Completing written reports and reviews. Giving investigators full access to your files, phone logs, email accounts, and anything else tied to this institution that they deem worthy of reviewing. And, in general, not drawing any more attention to your department if you all wish to keep your jobs. Do I make myself clear?”
“Very clear, sir,” Cam said, taking hold of Brennan’s arm (and squeezing a little bit harder than strictly necessary). “I’ll be calling a staff meeting this afternoon to make sure that everyone is informed and knows how to proceed.”
Dr. Greer grunted and dismissed them with a wave.
Brennan managed to keep her peace until they were on the mezzanine, crossing over from the administrative offices. “I can understand a review, but I can’t believe that they would carry it to these lengths. What good is it going to do?”
Cam sighed and halted. The mezzanine was largely deserted, only a few people coming and going on the floor below.
“The good it’s going to do is that it will prove to the higher ups and to the public that they are taking this seriously.” Cam held up one hand to cut off what was to be Brennan’s immediate reply. “Yes-you and I know that we all already take this seriously. But people have screwed up big-time, and someone has to pay. And that someone is us. The lab. This is politics. They’ll slap us in the doghouse for a while, and the end result, when this all blows over, will be that we can go back to work as usual.” Cam sighed heavily. “Or as close to it as we’re going to be able to get.”
“But for how long? With what they’re describing, how long is this going to take?” Brennan asked.
“If we’re lucky? Weeks. Since I don’t see us getting that lucky, it’s probably going to be more like months.”
Brennan all but gaped at her boss. “But…months? We’re not being allowed to work any cases that may go to trial until the review is completed. Months? They’ll put cases on hold that long?”
Cam shook her head. “In those cases, they’ll likely send remains either down to Tennessee or out to Northwestern. Or there is a good possibility that they’ll bring teams in from outside to use our facilities. You’d better be prepared for that.”
Cam sounded as if she could use some preparation herself, at the thought of outside contractors being brought in to work in the Jeffersonian’s lab.
“Then what are we supposed to do?” Brennan asked.
Cam shrugged.
“There are plenty of historic bones down in Limbo waiting to be identified. War remains-no one is going to care if you work on those. The geology and mineralogy departments can keep Hodgins busy. Angela will probably have an arm-long list of people wanting her help with exhibits and displays. And I’ll be making nice with investigators.”
“And we’ll cooperate. And hope like hell that they don’t decide to string anyone up as an example.”