29 August 2008
SMITH HAD BEEN running down his list, questioning numerous men. Then he called in Larry Kay. Having never been questioned in connection with a criminal act before, Kay found it an interesting academic exercise. In fact, after being shot at on a regular basis, he thought it might have been the least nerve-racking thing he’d done since landing in Afghanistan.
Kay was certain that Captain Hill and 1SG Scott had handled the detainees appropriately. In the TOC conference room, Smith had a standard 15-6 form waiting for him, a single sheet of paper lying on the long table. Kay sat down.
After dispensing with preliminary formalities, Smith got to the money questions:
“Have you seen any detainees being abused?”
“Have you heard rumors of detainee abuse?”
“Have you heard of a cover-up of detainee abuse?”
Kay’s answers were no, no, and no.
“Thank you, Lieutenant. That’s all I have,” Smith said.
Kay exited the room as comfortably as he’d entered it.
Later that day, a Black Hawk touched down at the Airborne LZ. The bird carried four people in its belly: LTC Dixon Gunther, the deputy commanding officer of the Brigade; JAG17 officer CPT Stephen Latino, a lawyer for the Brigade; Captain Victoria Scragg, the Brigade provost; and a law enforcement professional, or LEP, consulting with the Army. That afternoon, a convoy arrived, picked up Major Smith, and ferried him away. A new investigation was about to begin.