Tony groaned when he looked at his clock. '0845.'
It was a rare Saturday morning where the team wasn't on call. Actually it was a rare extended weekend, where they didn't have to go in until that Tuesday. All he had planned to do on his mini-break was to do some much-needed sleeping, household chores, watch movies and go out. That of course wasn't the case because someone was calling him way too early for his liking.
"DiNozzo"
"Tony I know it's early and I'm sorry but can you come over here please. I was out with Jethro. And someone broke into my apartment and left a mess. I think they were looking for something."
At this point Tony was already up and putting on the first pair of pants he saw.
"McGee calm down I'm on my way now"
Tony was up and over to McGee's place in less than 15 minutes. If it wasn't for the panic tone in his voice he would have put up a better argument. But once he got over there he knew he made the right decision. The place was a mess! The bookshelves were turned over leaving papers and books scattered all over the floor. The desk McGee used for writing was flipped over and the type writer on the floor. Cabinets and drawers were open and even Jethro's little area was flipped upside down. It looked like the only thing that was not touched at all was the computer area. Starring in disbelief he saw Tim walk out of the bedroom looking just as confused.
"It's no better in there"
"What happened?"
McGee sighed and ran his hands through his hair.
"I don't really know Tony. Jethro woke me up at exactly 7:12. I was going to ignore him but he's really stubborn. So we left at 7:21. Drove over to the park about 10 minutes from here. Ran 2 miles. Walked an extra mile. Finished that at 8:00 on the dot. We then drove over to the pet store. 8:05. There until 8:26. Got here 8:40. Knew something was wrong when I pulled up. Call it my gut. Pulled out my gun. And entered my apartment saw this then called you. Would have called Ziva first but she went to Richmond with Abby. And you know Gibbs is in Mexico until Tuesday."
Tony couldn't help but think and smile at how McGeeish it was of him to be that exact.
"Is that it?"
"Actually, now that you mentioned it when I was driving into the parking lot a red jeep rushed out. The only reason I remember it because he almost hit me head on and I had to swerve to avoid it. I only got a glimpse of the plates. Maryland A21. That's all I got."
"Guessing you didn't touch anything?"
McGee just rose his eyebrows and gave him a look.
"Of course not well let's do what we do. I think I have stuff in my car"
"Here" McGee said while handing him gloves. "I took pictures already. Granted on my phone but still. I rather not have my whole apartment transferred to the navy yard. So do you think we can dust prints and only bring things I think that are necessary? And I called Ziva anyways and despite me protesting she and Abby are going to be up here in about 2 hours. An hour and a half if Ziva's driving."
Impressed Tony started making his way to the bedroom.
"McGee!" Tony yelled when he was in the bathroom searching through it.
"Yeah"
"Look what I found"
Tony was holding up a small red pocketknife that seemed to roll under the sink.
"That is not mine. Must be the intruder's"
"Bag and tag it, we can get Abby to see if she can lift prints from it and maybe trace on where it came from."
"Tony there is no need to put her to work as well we don't even know what this is, it could be random and…"
Tony didn't let him finish that sentence. He put his hand on McGee's shoulder and looked him straight in his eyes. "Look, Tim, obviously this wasn't random, well it doesn't seem random. Someone might be after you and your life could be in danger. Abby and Ziva would not mind doing their jobs to protect/ help you out. You wouldn't have called me if you didn't feel that this was a random break-in. Well, you would have but later in the day when normal people who are off wakes up. Plus, if Gibbs was here he would be saying the same thing. Let us help you, I mean unless you want metro to take over?"
He let out a sigh, shaking his head at the thought of totally random police forces handling his stuff. "Fine. Before they get here though can you help me with dusting for prints on the book shelf and desk and then getting them up?"
"Sure"
It took a while to get the prints that they needed but once that was done. They got the bookshelves and desk up and started going through the books and papers taking small notes on everything.
"Oh my God, I can't believe I missed that."
"Missed what" Tony asked while coming out of the kitchen. Just then Ziva and Abby came knocking on the door.
"Ziva describe me in Spanish." McGee said
"What?"
"Like say what I am wearing but in Spanish."
"Okay." Ziva gave a perfect description in Spanish on what McGee was wearing and what he looked like.
"This woman. Late – twenties, early thirties, medium build, brunette, brown eyes was talking on her cell phone when we entered the pet store eyeing me down. I know my Spanish is rusty and all but it sounded like the exact description Ziva just gave. Then when we were walking out she stopped me and started talking to me while petting Jethro. She wasn't just petting him it was like she was groping him. Trying to buy time, it was like she was trying to prevent me from leaving the store.
"Hey, Abby do you think that you might can pull up prints from Jet's fur or dog collar?"
"Yeah, totally."
"McGee what are you getting at?" Tony asked already seeing the wheels in McGee's brain turning.
"I think she has something to with the break in, I could have sworn she took a picture of my plates when we were driving away. And I heard her on the phone again. Something about eagle and leaving. Guessing she was talking about me. I think it is my gut telling me she has something to do with it."
"Do we know what the person was looking for?" Ziva asked still trying to look over the damage.
"No and the strangest thing is they didn't touch my computer at all. No attempt to type in my password. I don't think they even tried to look around it."
"How did they get in?" Abby asked looking over the lock.
"I think by the window in the bathroom, it was open well more like pried open. It wouldn't have been that hard to climb up. Or a lock picking kit and just climbed out of the window to get out. Already dusted the door for prints."
"Did you call Gibbs yet?"
"I will, later"
Everyone gave him a look meaning sooner than later because they all know he will somehow find out.
"Okay, Tony and Ziva can you interview the neighbors and meet me and Abs back at NCIS. We can start on the evidence me and Tony found."
Both of them looked at him for a minute before Tony cleared his throat.
"He means now people, chop chop." With that Ziva was making her way out the door and Abby was gathering up Jethro and some of the evidence.
McGee gave the senior field agent a smile and a silent thank you.
With little information from the neighbors saying that they heard nothing or they saw really nothing, Tony and Ziva were headed back to the navy yard.
"Hey you have anything?" Tim said entering her lab and handing her a cafpow!
"Thanks and our mystery woman definitely left prints on his collar. Running her fingerprints through AFIAS now. The pocketknife is another story. There is no prints on it at all. It looks like it has only been used once or twice and the label seems to be scratched off."
"Ehh, anything else?"
"Yeah, looks like your laptop has not been touched at all like you guessed. All your flies are there and seems haven't been in use since 11:00 last night. I analyzed the pictures and it looks whoever was in your house was focusing on just the books and papers and the drawers. You said there were 2 type ribbons?"
"Yeah, I was going to pick some more up today."
"So they didn't touch that either and the only finger prints I can find on your typewriters is yours. The only prints on the door is yours, Tony's and some kids. Who I am guessing is the one who watches Jethro on late nights. I picked up prints on your bookshelf running it. Did you talk to Gibbs?"
"Yeah, he said he'll be here tomorrow. And that Rule #38 is in effect and that I am not allowed to sleep in my house until this gets solved."
"Does Tony know that?"
"Yeah, he knows." Tony said while walking in with Ziva.
"Looks like you'll be sleeping in my place for a few nights. And before you argue about Jethro as long as he keeps quiet and not a disturbance he can stay with us. Landlord cleared it. So what now….boss?"
McGee gave a smirk hearing Tony call him the boss. 'Oh, sweet satisfaction.'
"Ziva start looking through cases I worked. Back 4 years, ones that might have a grudge, stuff like that. Pretty sure I saw Dorneget here you can have him help you. Me and Tony will go to the pet store to see if anyone knows about this woman and then back to my place to look through some more things. Abby can you call me as soon as you have a match and keep an eye on Jethro please."
"Aye, aye sir" Abby said fake saluting him and gave him a smile. With that they all departed their separate ways. Walking into the pet store, Tim was glad to be greeted by the same check out woman that was there earlier.
"Don't tell me Jethro went through all that food already?"
McGee just let out a small laugh and shook his head. "No, I'm actually here for work. Julie this is Special Agent Anthony DiNozzo. NCIS"
"Well, I had no idea you worked with the feds. What can I do for you Agent McGee?" She said with a smile.
"Do you know the woman that was here earlier who was all over Jethro."
"Umm…yeah well I don't know her but she was here before."
"When?" Tony asked
"About a week ago, she was asking about the area saying she was thinking about moving over here. Actually, she was asking about the apartment complex that you live in. I told her I really didn't know about it since I live on the other side of town."
"Did she ask anything specific?"
"Safety, she wanted to know how secure and crime rate over there. How many levels and the structure of the building was it old or new. Still couldn't tell her much though. Why is she in some type of trouble?"
"We believe that she is connected to a break in."
"Ah I see, well that is all I can tell you. Actually, if it helps she went into the drug store next door and I saw her come out with hair dye and what looked like a prescription bag."
"Thanks Julie." She handed him her card. "If you remember anything else, call."
They went over to the drug store but that was a dead-end since the woman used an aliases for her prescription. Making their way back to the apartment they were hoping it could give them some clue and hoping that the team was getting somewhere.
Back at the apartment they were only 20 minutes in when Tony noticed one of the night stands that was overturned and it look that the drawer was pried open with some type of sharp object.
"McGee"
"Yeah?"
"Where do you keep your gun?"
"In my drawer near my bed"
"Locked?"
"Yeah, I had to get a new stand and the drawer locked so I just thought that I should keep it in there."
"And you said that you had your gun with you?"
"Yeah."
"Where's the key?"
"I just got it about a couple of days ago so I haven't had time to put in on my key ring…Oh my God!" He ran over to his dresser and reached into the back of the drawers and pulled out a small box but had nothing in it. "They took my key…great."
"Is it the key only to the drawer?"
"Yeah. But how would they know?"
"Well, they could have watched you. Julie said the woman was asking about your apartment area. And if you just got it a couple of days ago than they could have followed you or something like that."
"But why would they want my gun?"
"They want to frame you. Thinking they would place your gun at some crime scene or use it. They probably took some clothing fibers and other small things to set you up. And yes I know this because how many times have I been set up for murder."
"So they want to frame me for murder?" McGee said still trying to put all the pieces together in his head.
"I don't know, that is just my guess. I mean there is a first time for everything right?" Tony said with a smile trying to lighten the mood.
"How comforting, thanks" McGee said with a fake smile.
Tony just shrugged. "It could be an NCIS case it would be easier to frame you if it was. I am pretty sure it would be easier though."
"Makes sense. I can look into all the different active cases and look over what the evidence they have. So back to the navy yard we go."
"Wait, you have to pack your bag."
"I have an overnight bag."
"I highly doubt you'll be over for just one night. Pack like a week of stuff. Do you want me to get Jethro's things?"
"Sure, thanks."
"That's what I am here for"
They were all packed and ready in 30 minutes. Even though the state of his apartment was still a mess. He knew that until they got to the bottom of this he would have no time to get it in the state he wanted.
An idea that came and wanted to explore. So love it, hate it? Lol. Reviews are helpful. Oh, and if anyone forgot rule #36 is "Your case, Your lead" and since it is McGee's apartment it is his lead. :)