He pulled his Sedan up to the side of the road exiting the vehicle he got a sense of the cold early December air. This time of the year was symbolic to him the time when autumn ends and winter begins the time of change. Change, that was something which was always frequent in his life, in any life for that matter especially with the events from the last few years.
Shaking his head from the thoughts he headed through the park where a uniformed police officer approached him as soon as he was closed enough he whipped out his badge and flashed it.
"Gibbs, NCIS." He said clearly as held his badge up for the officer to see.
"Officer Hilton." The young woman introduced as she shook his hand. "I'm assuming you're the boss that the other agents referred too?"
"Where are they?" Gibbs asked he was here to do a job and he was not going to deter away from that. Officer Hilton beckoned Gibbs to follow her as they walked she explained the situation.
"Your agents were just finishing up when these two guys from the FBI showed up and both started arguing about who had the scene first. The DOA had Marine credentials and if its one less murder for us then we were more than happy to give it to you guys." Officer Hilton informed as they approached the scene where four agents were talking with one another. One of them, a young brown haired man wearing slacks, loafers and a regulation NCIS windbreaker approached him.
"Have fun." Officer Hilton snarked as she walked away.
Gibbs watched the young man approach him.
"McGee what the hell, I though you had this handled." Gibbs said to his senior field agent.
"Boss I'm sorry but the Bureau said that the Marine's MO matches that of a killer they've been looking into recently. By the time Ducky and Jimmy collected the body they showed up." McGee explained.
Gibbs walked forward to where the other three agents were talking, a Hispanic man also in an NCIS windbreaker was explaining to two men in suits a bald African American and a middle-aged Italian.
"Look just go back to your fancy Quantico office to do more educated guessing or what makes Bundy wannabes tick and let the pro investigators do their thing." Gibbs heard the Hispanic man said with an all too-knowing smile just in time for Gibbs to walk forward and give a sharp smack upside his head.
"Thank you, Torres. I'll take it from here." Gibbs said as the young man gave one last look to the FBI agents before walking off while rubbing the now sore part of his head. Gibbs turned back to face the agents one he didn't recognize but the other he knew all too well.
"Agent Rossi. Long time no see." Was Gibbs' forced civil greeting.
"Gibbs," Rossi rapped back as the other man extended his hand to shake "This is Agent Stephen Walker."
"A pleasure Agent Gibbs I heard the stories and I just want to say I'm a fan of your work." Walker said in awe still hoping the grey-haired man would shake his hand. After a brief moment of not making a move Walker withdrew his hand as Gibbs spoke up again.
"Look I know you profilers have cases that need solving but the victim is Marines so that makes this case mine I'll have my ME do his job and I'll personally forward you the information to help you out." Gibbs said. "Give Hotchner my regards." Gibbs was ready to leave when he saw a black SUV pull up along the street behind Rossi and Walker.
"Yeah…about that…" Rossi began but Gibbs didn't even register what the man said as he saw the occupant of the SUV stepped out and jogged her way up to them. She was dressed in a full pant suit with a bright red shirt, her dark raven hair was just as he remembered it even if it had been years.
"Agent Prentiss," Walker began as the woman approached them "This is…."
"We know each other." Prentiss intersected as she turned to face the NCIS agent she hadn't seen or spoken to in the longest time.
"Gibbs." She greeted politely.
"Did Hotchner send you here to convince me to give this case to the BAU?" Gibbs asked.
"No Agent Hotchner is no longer with the BAU. I'm the SAC now I just wanted to know how this victim was killed and that if we could compare notes on our current on going case. I've tried calling you but your number's out of service." Emily said to the man she had history with.
"New phone." Gibbs answered simply.
Prentiss took a deep sigh the way Gibbs was speaking to here was no different the time she first met him while consulting him and his team on a case.
"I see, anyways all I'm asking is if you can let us confirm it's the same killer." She tried to explain.
"Like I told these two, once my Medical Examiner does his finding and evidence from the scene is processed I'll personally deliver any information. Good day Agent Prentiss." Gibbs said before turning and walking away not only because he had a murder to solve but also for not wanting to be in the presence of the woman any longer.