The Last Gasp
Fight till the Last Gasp.
William Shakespeare.
Chapter One
"Hi, handsome," she said to him.
Special Agent Anthony DiNozzo was on his third gin and tonic. He was in an English mood tonight, so he thought he'd have a Paddington drink, the drink his mother preferred to drink when she was getting drunk. As a boy he remembered smelling the juniper berry based alcohol on her breath and cringe because it meant she'd be ignoring him. His father was always a scotch man, and the expensive stuff, too.
He gave her his best I'm interested smile. It was a smile that was enough to keep her interested but not enough to charm her yet.
"What's your name?" he asked her.
"Melony," she answered.
She was a brunette, around five foot four, Ziva's height. He had to admit that she had a killer rack and her jeans and the way she dressed accentuated all the right parts. Her brown eyes reminded him think of Ziva, also, which threw him off slightly. I thought I was here tonight to forget about her.
Instead coming out for a drink with him tonight, Ziva went to dinner with Ray. Abby hinted that he was going finally to pop the question to her tonight. Ziva married; Ziva forever out of reach, forever the great love of his lost and it would remain unrequited.
"Melony, how old are you?" he asked.
"Twenty-two," she replied.
He wanted to tell her to go away right then and there, but he kept looking into her eyes which reminded him so much of Ziva's. He wanted to spend the night staring into those eyes and having those eyes look at him.
"I'm eighteen years older than you, Melony. You should find someone closer to your age," he said.
"What's your name?" she asked him. She was not going anywhere.
He looked around. The bar was crowded enough with guys her age. He'd admit that some of them were even better looking than him, though none of them wore Armani as well as he did, and probably few had his natural charm.
"Special Agent Anthony DiNozzo," he said then he gave her his best million dollars, the one that said: I should have been a movie star smile.
"Special Agent? Are you FBI?" she said.
"I'm a federal agent but not FBI. NCIS. We work for the navy solving crimes against navy personnel and working some counter terrorism jobs and such," he said.
"I'm studying psychology at Georgetown," she said.
"And you'd like to psychoanalyze me, I suppose," he teased her.
"I was thinking more therapy than analysis," she smiled at him.
"Why me?"
"I like men, not boys," she purred.
"Well, I'm a little boy at heart," he said.
She moved in close to him to the point her body was rubbing up against his body. A licentious smile crept across her face as a sudden tumescence occurred in his pants, one which made her smile broaden.
"That's not a boy's," she said.
"Where do you live, Melony?" he asked.
"Georgetown," she said.
She lived on the first floor of a Brownstone in Georgetown. It was a small one bedroom. Tony knew the area. She probably paid two grand a month for the apartment. He smelled a trust fund. Of course, he'd know what that smelled like. Although he was disinherited by his father, his mother left him some property, a nice nest egg, and decent trust fund. The Paddingtons were wealthy. It didn't kick in until he was twenty-one, so he had to take care of his own schooling, but once it kicked in it's kept him in nice suits, vacations, apartments, and cars. No one knew about it, because it was hidden in tax shelters on the Isle of Man. The Paddingtons were also smart.
They were standing in her living room when she turned suddenly and kissed him. It was just the invitation he was looking for. Why not? Who was he saving himself for anyway? Ziva. Ziva was never going to be his. Take your solace where you can find it, DiNozzo.
He kissed her back passionately, then he whispered in her ear: "Where's your bedroom?"
"Down the hall," she moaned as he kissed her again.
Soon they were nude and their bodies intertwined lying on her bed. Tony lay on top of her when suddenly he saw her eyes become wide with horror. He turned to look but someone jabbed him with a needle in the neck. Immediately, Tony felt the effect of whatever it was that was put in his body. He couldn't move his body. All he could do was look about and panic.
Melony screamed then the men dressed all in black, with black leather gloves on and a black ski mask, stuck her with the same needle. Soon she couldn't move, either.
The masked man pulled Tony out of bed and put him on the floor then propped him against the wall so he had a good view of whatever the bastard was going to do. God, please, please, let me move my muscles. Please let me save her. I don't want to watch. Please!
"You get to watch and listen while I have fun," he said in gruff, guttural voice.
For the next twenty minutes Tony witnesses the worst horror of his life as Melony as methodically cut into and slowly murdered in front of him. He heard as she attempted to scream but couldn't; he watched as he saw tears escape her eyes until they were sightless and dead; and then there was the blood. The blood flowed like it was mere water instead of such an important life giving fluid.
God, why me? Why did I have to see this? Why couldn't I help her? Why me?
The masked man finished his fun then he turned and showed Tony her heart. Tony expected to be next, but the masked man left him alive. The murderer was done so he called the police, dropped a burn phone on the floor, and left.
NCIS
The paralysis had finally passed and the doctor took him off oxygen since he had developed trouble breathing. He was sitting in a bed in Georgetown, when a metro police detective and another man came into his room. The detective's name was Edgar Tanner, a cop nearing retirement. Tony knew him. He was a good solid cop who had done the job long enough not to be surprised by anything.
"DiNozzo, you've looked better," Tanner said to him.
Tony stared at him with his sea green eyes trying to not convey any emotions but what he felt was pure rage and self-hate.
"Lt. Det. Tanner," he said.
"This is Special Agent Kevin Morse, FBI," he said.
"You've got yourself a serial killer, don't you?" Tony asked.
Tanner shrugged. Morse, who was balding with a granite jaw and humorless face, spoke: "Tell me everything that happened, Special Agent DiNozzo."
Being a top investigator he gave Morse every bit of information he could remember sparing no details. He commented that the man used black combat boots, that whatever paralytic agent he used, it was quick and effective, so he probably had medical skills. Tony recalled that they called this fun then really did speak again, though he seemed to enjoy himself. He also pointed out that Melony suffered.
Morse recorded it with a small digital recorder, as well as took notes. They were finishing up when Special Agent Gibbs walked into the room. One glance at his boss and Tony could tell from the glare in his crystal blue, steel eyes that he was angry. Gibbs ran a hand through his silver and black hair.
"Mind telling me what happened here to my agent?" he barked.
"He picked up a young woman in bar, went back to her place and proceeded to have sex. When they were in the middle of their fun, someone came into the bedroom and gave him and the victim a neuromuscular blocking agent then proceeded to butcher the young woman, removing her heart and taking it with him, while your agent could do nothing but watch," Morse explained.
"Jesus, DiNozzo, what did you get yourself into?" Gibbs said, as he turned and looked at him.
"What exactly did he use on me?" asked Tony.
"Nimbex," Morse answered.
"Are you feeling alright, DiNozzo?" asked Gibbs.
Tony ignored Gibbs and stared at Morse: "I want to help find this bastard. I'm a good investigator and I know I can help."
"No. And, no, NCIS can't be involved in the investigation. Your agent was a witness not a victim. She's the second victim of this bastard. Neither vic was navy or related to the navy," said Morse who he looked sharply at Tony. "I'll need you to come down to the Hoover building in a few days to sign the witness report and that will end your participation in this."
Morse left with Tanner in tow. Tony glared at the door burning a hole in it. He was not going to be stopped. There was no way they would keep him from finding Melony's killer, not after what he was forced to watch.
"What are you going to do, DiNozzo?" asked Gibbs.
"I'm going to find the son-of-a-bitch who killed her, Gibbs," he said. "That's what I'm going to do."
"FBI won't give us the case and Vance won't fight to get us on the case. He understands that this type of thing belongs to the FBI," said Gibbs, seeing that his agent was now on the cutting edge. He has to stay away from this case. He's too close to it. He's too close to the edge. This could push him right over the edge and he'll never come back. I have to keep him away from this case.
"How many people sell Nimbex?" mused Tony. "That has to be a decent lead. And taking the heart, there has to be reason for that. Just have to figure out how this bastard thinks, why he does the things he does and I'll be able to get him."
"DiNozzo, drop it," Gibbs said softly. "This is not our case."
"I can't drop it, Gibbs. I watched while he did it. I saw the fear in her eyes, the terror and the pleading for help, but I couldn't help her. All I could do was watch. Watch! I watched him cut into her and take her still beating heart from her body," he said then looked at Gibbs as if he couldn't understand his boss' request. This man is the Ahab of NCIS agents and he is acting like he can't understand why I need to catch this mother fucker.
"I'll call Rachel Cranston. She can talk you through this. Help you get over it," suggested Gibbs.
"No, I don't need to talk. I don't want to talk. I've had enough with talking, joking, deflecting and all the rest. All I want is a chance to put that bastard behind bars for life," he said.
"Are you sure about this?" Gibbs asked. I better back off a little for now.
"Positive."
"Okay, let me check with the doctors to see when you can get out of here," said Gibbs then he left.
I can't give up on this. She was young, she didn't deserve want happened to her and she had Ziva's eyes. Damn it, Tony, what is wrong with you. Kate didn't deserve to die; Paula didn't deserve to die. Neither did Jenny. You've a fucking good luck charm for women.
He threw his legs over the side of the bed and sat there. Regardless of what Gibbs found out, he was leaving. He'd sign himself AMA if he had to in order to get out of there. There was too much to think about and too much to do to waste time in the hospital.
Chapter Two
Monday came and McGee and Ziva were happily discussing their weekend activities. McGee had been in a World of Warcraft marathon session spending ceaseless hours playing, while Ziva had spent it in her apartment with Ray. Gibbs came into the bullpen and noticed that Ziva had a diamond on her finger. That's all Dinozzo going to need to see. He's already on the edge. He doesn't need his feelings for Ziva to push him any further over the edge.
He looked saw that Tony's back pack and overcoat were at his desk already.
"Is DiNozzo in?" Gibbs asked gruffly.
"When I got in he was here and he went up to talk to Vance," said McGee.
"How did he seem?" asked Gibbs.
"Quiet, real quiet," he said. "He looked like he didn't get any sleep this weekend."
"He must have been fooling around," said Ziva.
He must have been drinking and feeling guilt all weekend. I should have visited him. I should have had him come home with me, thought Gibbs.
"Damn it," Gibbs growled then he stood up and came around his desk to head for the stairs to the mezzanine, but stop when he saw a calm faced DiNozzo and an annoyed looking Vance coming out of his office.
DiNozzo came down the stairs with Vance trailing behind him. They walked over to his desk. Tony took his service sidearm out of his locked drawer and placed it on his desk then he placed his smartphone, badge, and ID on the desk. Without speaking he took his overcoat and left. Gibbs had caught a look at his face. He was pale with dark circles under his eyes. He had not been sleeping much. Vance exhaled.
"What happened, Leon?" growled Gibbs.
"He told me what happened Friday night. He wanted a leave of absence. I told him yes just as long as he used the time to recover from the incident not investigate it. I told him if I found out he interfered with the FBI's case, I'd have to punish him. We argued and then he resigned," Vance. "I spent the last half hour trying to convince him not to resign, not to toss his career away, but he's hell bent on catching the killer of that girl himself, Gibbs. I didn't want this to go down this way."
"Don't put his resignation in before I have a chance to talk to him, Leon," said Gibbs. "Give me a chance to talk him out of throwing it all away."
"All right, I give you some time," said Vance then he shook his head and walked away.
Both McGee and Ziva sat their stunned. Ziva looked over at Tony's desk. What had happened to make him quit his job, a job he loved? I should not have teased him.
"Gibbs, what is happening with Tony?" asked Ziva.
He closed his eyes. Gibbs didn't want to answer but he knew that the team needed to know because it affected them.
"On Friday night, Tony went home with a woman to her apartment. They were attacked while in bed and Nimbex was used on them to paralyze them. He watched as the man cut out her heart, called the police and left," he said.
"That's horrible," said McGee. McGee's face turned white as he thought about what Tony had witnessed and was unable to do anything to stop it.
"What does he intend to do?" asked Ziva.
Gibbs looked at her for a moment. The last few years Tony had allowed the clown persona had almost overtaken his reputation as an investigator. He looked at Ziva then at McGee. Did they forget what DiNozzo was capable? I should have been pushing him to be the leader and investigator he could be instead of letting him just cover my six.
"He intends on finding the serial killer and bring him to justice," said Gibbs.
"How?" McGee arrogantly said.
"Without our help?" Ziva smugly asked.
"Have either one of worked as a homicide detective with a closure rate of 92 percent in a city with the highest murder rate in the country?" he asked rhetorically.
Neither one of them dared to answer him. They sat quietly. They knew Tony was considered a great homicide detective in Baltimore.
"Have either you ever worked with me as a two man team setting the record closure rate for this agency of 97 percent?" he asked.
Neither one of them answered.
"Tel Aviv and being interrogated by Eli David and turning it against him, Somalia, his Baltimore partner's death, leading this team when I retired, the last mole hunt and a hundred other instances he has shown you that he is more than a playboy and clown, but you keep getting taken in by his masks. You keep forgetting what he is capable of," he said.
"What can we do to help him?" asked Ziva, suddenly remembering the fact that he had always had her six, he always tried to protect her, and that she had learned to bury her feeling about him. He's gone.
"Nothing. I need to see if I can back him away from the edge and that won't be easy because when he wants to fuck his life up no one can stop him," he said then he got up and stormed out of the bullpen and to the elevator.
NCIS
"Tanner, you know me. I'm a cop at heart, a homicide detective and a damned good one. I just handed in my federal badge and I am willing to work as a consultant on this case for gratis, if that is what it takes. I just want to work on this fucking case. I'll do it quietly, take no credit if I solve it, give whoever I have to praise. I need this," Tony argued with Lt. Det. Tanner at the Second District.
"Tony, let me talk to a few people in the department. I know you are a stud detective with a rep in Baltimore that no one can touch and I think there are some who'd love to have you join us, so let me talk to a few people. This department could use someone like you," he said.
Tony went to write down his smartphone number but remembered he no longer had one.
"I have to buy a new phone. My old one belonged to NCIS," said Tony.
"They give us i-Phones. I don't know how the damn thing works half the time but I can play Sinatra on it," said Tanner.
Tony smiled. He forgot that he was at ease with fellow cops. NCIS kept him because it became family, Gibbs, Abby, Ducky, Jimmy, McGee, and Ziva. Well, Ziva was a whole other can of worms. But being a cop was natural to me.
"I'll call you tomorrow after I buy a new smartphone," he said.
"Do that, Tone," he said. "I'll talk to some people. I should have something for you."
"I'm counting on you, Tanner," he said.
"Count on me, Tone," he replied.
"Expect my call, Tanner," he said then he walked out of his office.
NCIS
Tony walked into his apartment with his new smartphone still in its box. He took it out and plugged it and its power source in to charge the phone up. Later, he'd program it with numbers. It would be easy now, since he wouldn't need any of the NCIS numbers or his former team numbers. Right now he couldn't regret what he did. All his energy had to go into getting into this investigation before going it alone.
He dumped his overcoat on the chair and looked at his watch. It was three o'clock in the afternoon, Oct. 31st. He was supposed to go with Abby to a Halloween party to Stan Burley's house with his wife and two kids in VA. It was supposed to be a welcome home party since he had decided to take a position as a contingency agent rather than stay on as an agent afloat, but that would be out.
There was a knock at his door. He didn't have to answer it to know who it was: Gibbs. The knock had his feel to it. Tony walked over and opened the door then he turned and walked into the living room letting Gibbs let himself into his apartment.
"She would have felt everything he did to her, Gibbs. Every cut, every deep incision, until he took her heart from her, she felt it," he said.
"Still not a reason to throw away your career, Tony," he said.
"But solving shit like this is my career. Why even bother being a cop if I can't solve a case like this?" Tony said.
"And that's what you do at NCIS," Gibbs said. "You're a great investigator and the best partner I've had. I probably haven't told you this enough lately, but you are important to me. You're family. We can solve important case together at NCIS."
"But not this case and I need to solve this case, Gibbs. I have no reason to be here on this earth unless I solve this case. He did it in front of me. He showed me her heart. He taunted me with it, knowing I could do nothing about it. I have to do something about it," he growled barely containing his anger.
"Why? Tony. Make me understand," Gibbs said.
"If I had acted properly, she probably would have had a few drinks and gone home alone, but I didn't act properly. I knew she was too young for me, but I went home with her. I went with her for only one reason," he said his words barely hiding his anguish.
"What was the reason?" Gibbs asked.
"She had Ziva's eyes," he looked at Gibbs and the mask had fallen off and the pain he felt showed on his face.
"Tony, I'm sorry. I didn't realize you cared that deeply for her," he said.
"I went to Somalia for her. I love her, Gibbs. Like I loved Kate and I loved Jeanne. And I've lost her like I lost them, but this poor girl didn't deserve to die like that. That sick bastard has to be brought to justice and I have to do it," he said as his eyes began to tear up.
There was a new knock on his door followed by: "Tony, Tony, let me in or I'll huff and I'll puff."
Wiping away the tears Tony smiled as did Gibbs. It was Abby.
Gibbs opened the door to expose Abby dressed as Elvira, including the plunging neckline.
"Hi, Gibbs," she said then came into Tony's apartment. "Did I hear correctly from Tim that you resigned today?"
"Yes, Abs."
"What are you thinking, Anthony DiNozzo? You can't resign. I'm glad Gibbs is here to talk some sense into you."
"It's already done it, Abs. I handed everything in and I'm not coming back," he said.
"Tony, you can't. You're my work buddy, my pal. I count on you," she said.
"I'm not going tonight to Stan's. Maybe Gibbs can go with you. I've got things to do," he said
"But, Tony," she said softly, her eyes filling up.
He walked up to her and kissed the top of her head then he looked at Gibbs: "Take care of her."
"Are you sure about this, Tony?" asked Gibbs.
"I'm sure. I've got no choice. I've lost too much and now I have to make a stand," he said. "Hell, it's about time I move on, isn't it?"
"Tony, you're breaking up our family. You can't do this," she said.
Gibbs took her by the shoulders and they left.
"I already did, Abby," he said.
He walked over to the bottles of liquor he left on a table in the living room along with glasses. Grabbing the Glenfiddich bottle, he poured himself a healthy glass. Taking glass and bottle to the sofa, he sat down and poured the single malt scotch down his throat then poured himself another glass. The only way he was going to fall asleep tonight was by passing out.
That night all Tony dreamt about was blood. Buckets of blood, rivers of blood, and even single droplets of blood haunted his REM sleep. He woke in a clammy sweat that was so bad his sheets were wet. A shiver went down his spine as he got up to shower and then towel himself off and try to shake the damned bloody dream off.
After drying himself off and changing tee shirts, he walked into his living room to grab a drink. This time he took the whole bottle of Glenfiddich but no glass and sat down on his sofa. Opening the bottle he took a long swig. This one is going to stay with me a long time. I can't shake it. He took another long swig.
His father once bought a fifteen thousand dollar bottle of Glenfiddich. It was fifty years old and he told Tony when he was twelve that it was an investment. Two days later he saw his father drink the whole bottle after dinner. He lifted the bottle up and made a toasting motion.
"Here's to you, dad. We DiNozzo's know how to drown our sorrows in bottle," he said then he took another long, heartfelt swig.
Chapter Three
"Morning, Boss," said McGee, as Gibbs came into the bullpen holding a large coffee and looking sour.
"Gibbs," mumbled Ziva.
Gibbs sat down then he took a sip of his coffee. Damn it, DiNozzo. I need you. You're my senior field agent. You were my senior field agent. I can't avoid this, though. I can deal with it for now and keep Vance satisfied.
"McGee, move your stuff to DiNozzo desk. I'll talk to Vance later to make it official. You're my new senior field agent," he said.
"But, Boss," McGee started to speak.
"Don't argue or talk or remark, just move your damned gear," he said. "I'll have Vance give you the files for picking a new probie for the team."
"Gibbs, what about Tony?" Ziva asked.
"He won't be coming back. I don't want to hear his name mentioned again today. Move on. It should be easy for both of you to forget about him," growled Gibbs then he looked at McGee. "You always thought you were smarter than him and superior now you get to prove it."
McGee looked at him in shock but he didn't say anything. Gibbs was angry and on a rampage, and you didn't argue with him or play with him in this mood unless you were Tony.
Ziva looked over at Gibbs and had an expression on her face as if she was going to say something about Tony.
Gibbs looked at Ziva: "You're got Ray now. You don't need DiNozzo."
Ziva opened her mouth to speak then she stopped. He is in pain and lashing out. Tony was like a son to him. I understand that. I will deal with this later. I have to deal with this later. I can't let Tony just leave without talking to him.
Gibbs stood up: "I'll be up with Vance."
He left them to talk to Vance to make the changes in his team official.
"He's really gone," said McGee. "I didn't want him to go."
"I know, McGee," she said. And I am worried about Tony.
NCIS
Tony woke with a raging headache from drinking. The bottle was empty. Stumbling to the kitchen he grabbed the aspirin bottle from a cabinet, shook out four aspirins, and dried swallowed them. He took a deep breath and called Ducky.
"Dr. Mallard," the geriatric Attenborough raised and trained doctor answered his phone.
"Ducky, it's me," Tony said.
"Anthony, dear boy, what have you gotten yourself involved in?"
"Gibbs told you," he said.
"Yes."
"Nimbex, Ducky," he said.
"Cisatracurium besilate, a neuromuscular blocking agent. It is used by anesthesiologists to paralyze patients for operations," he said.
"Is it difficult to use?" said Tony.
"It does have side effects, especially if misused, such a histamine release, or reflex tachycardia. You have to know what you are doing," he said. "Why do you asked?"
"You heard what happened to me?" he asked.
"Yes, my dear boy," said Ducky.
"He used Nimbex," said Tony.
"That must have been frightening, my boy," he said.
"It was more frightening for her then me," Tony remarked.
"Yes, I must agree," he agreed.
"How hard is it to get nimbex?" he asked.
"If you are in the medical or pharmaceutical profession, it shouldn't be too hard," he answered.
"Thanks, Ducky," Tony said.
"When can I see you, dear boy?" he asked. "I worried about you and would love to have a talk."
"We'll have dinner soon."
"Excellent," Ducky hung up.
Next up was Lt. Det. Edgar Tanner. He called The Metropolitan Police Department of District of Columbia.
"Metro, how can I help you?" a bored female voice asked.
"Lt. Tanner, please. It's Tony DiNozzo," he said.
"Tanner," the familiar voice answered the telephone.
"It's me, DiNozzo," Tony said.
"I'm glad you called. The Chief of Police called Baltimore then talked to a Tom Morrow from Homeland Security about you and she wants to see you today," said Tanner. "She suddenly has a jones for you. I think it has to do with the beating we have been taking in the press."
"What time?" asked Tony.
"Hour and half at HQ on Indiana Ave. Chief Katherine Rainer will be waiting to talk to you," Tanner said.
"You're the best Tanner," said Tony.
NCIS
It was chilly out and he decided to let his mood and suit match. He chose a Brioni charcoal grey with a linen white shirt and black silk tie along with a pair of black leather Oxford shoes and black camel hair overcoat. When he spied himself in the mirror, Tony thought he could be easily going after the mafia again undercover as going to the Metro DC Chief of police.
Arriving at police HQ he was escorted by an African American women with hazel eyes and a face and figure that belonged modeling to the Chief's office. Her name was Sgt. Traci Strong and she barely said two words to Tony which suited him. Tony placed her age around twenty-eight or nine. After what happened to Melony he was contemplating a wife of celibacy and purity in the realm of sex.
"She see you right away," the secretary said as she looked up and saw Sgt. Strong and Tony.
They entered the woody, blue rug office of Chief Katherine Rainier. The chief was a few years older than Tony, attractive, reddish hair and a figure that made her uniform hand pleasantly. She sat behind a mahogany desk on the telephone and motioned Tony to sit in a chair in front of her desk, while Sgt. Strong sat down on a leather sofa.
"I'll let you know mayor," she said and hung up.
For a few moments she watched Tony as he took of his overcoat and tossed it on the chair beside him. She smiled.
"You're everything I heard about," she said.
"How so?" he asked.
"Expensively groomed and it suited you," she said.
Tony crossed his legs and smiled.
"My department has taken a great deal of flak in the media lately for being too Homeland Security centric and letting important parts of traditional policing go," she said. "I need to remedy that, but I can only do it on the cheap. You present a solution."
"Chief Rainier, you realize why I'm here, right?" he asked.
"The murder of Melony Donner," she said.
"I want to investigate it and whatever other cases occur with this killer," he said.
"Do you know my predecessor started a Major Case Victims Unit but never started a Major Case Unit to investigate these major cases," she said.
"No, I didn't. I have to admit to limited knowledge to Metro's organizational chart," he said.
"I want you to take the rank of Inspector and start a Major Case Unit for me. Pick ten detectives, plus I'll assign some uniforms to you, and take on those cases we considers either volatile, difficult, celebrity, or impossible and solve them. You're supposed to be a great investigator, a legendary homicide detective, then I want you to prove it," she said.
"Melony Donner?" he asked.
"She is one of your cases I need you to take on three or four cases right away once you pick your men and I want you to work all the cases not just the one you are interested in Mr. DiNozzo," she said.
Mr. DiNozzo. She was pointing out to him that he was on the outside and was powerless. He was no longer a fed or a cop, he was a civilian and she was offering him a golden deal. Take it DiNozzo. This is the only way you are getting back into the game on this. Take her offer.
"Where will MCU be located?" he asked.
"We have some police property we are renovating at Buzzard's Point, not too far from the Navy Yard," she said.
"Or the National's ballpark," he countered, "but still a hell hole."
"You'll have plenty of room," she told him. "Will you become Inspector DiNozzo?"
"I'll take it," he smiled.
"You're first recruit is Sgt. Traci Strong. She'll be your right hand," the chief said.
"Promote her to lieutenant then. Sergeants drive inspectors around they aren't right hands," he said.
"Strong, you just made lieutenant," smiled Chief Rainier then she looked at Tony. "You need nine more. Get to work."
"I don't have a badge, ID, gun, or even a good luck kiss," he smiled.
"Strong, take him to personnel and tell them to speed him through the process and give him whatever else he wants," smiled Rainier.
Tony stood up and collected his overcoat.
"Oh, I expect results or I'll fire your ass," Chief Rainier said.
"Yes, ma'am," he said then followed Strong out of the office.
"Thanks for the promotion," Strong smiled, "but you're not getting that kiss."
"I don't expect it," he said.
NCIS
Tony was on his smartphone after finishing with the personnel office. He was thrilled with having to take the job, but he understood where Chief Rainier was coming from. She wasn't going to give him authority and access to her department's sources without a payment and that meant he was now Inspector DiNozzo and he needed to solve more than Melony's murder.
"Tanner," the old crusty detective answered.
"How much time you have left on the job?" he asked.
"I was going to shuffle off in two months, but, you know, I'm get cold feet," he said.
"Thirty years," Dinozzo said.
"Thirty years. I joined when I was twenty-two," he said. "Why DiNozzo?"
"That's Inspector DiNozzo of Metro's Major Case Unit and I want you to be part of it. Stick around a year or two, Tanner," he said.
"She really shit bagged you, didn't she?" he laughed.
"Yeah, this is the price I have to pay to be on the case, which will become one of mine," Tony explained. "So you in?"
"I have to admit that I enjoy your company, so why not?" he said.
"Good. We now need eight more detectives and we have a unit," sighed Tony. "You know eight good, detectives on Metro, Tanner?"
"Trust me?" he asked.
"I don't have a choice."
"Good, Inspector," said Tanner then he hung up.
Tony looked at now Lt. Strong as they stood on the steps of HQ and a cold wind started to blow. He now had a unit to put together, as he adjusted his new Glock 19 on his hip and then attacked his new gold inspector's badge to his belt right in front of his sidearm.
"You expecting trouble?" asked Strong.
"I don't expect trouble but it always seems to find me," he said. "I need coffee and food."
"You're the boss," she said.
"Come on a know a deli which makes a great Philly cheese steak," he said.
They arrived at the deli in a Grey unmarked Chevrolet Impala. Ss an inspector Tony was afforded a car and a driver. The driver in this case was Strong.
They got out and entered the deli, Strong got them a table while Tony placed their order: a Philly steak and cheese for him and a chicken salad for her along with two coffees. Since they knew him well, he paid for it and then pointed out the table where they were sitting.
"Should be ten minutes," he said sitting down.
"Tanner said he was going to get you more bodies," she said.
"Yeah. Do you know Lt. Det. Tanner?" he asked her.
"Only be rep. He's supposed to be one of the best," she said.
"Would you tell me that if his rep was as one of the worst?" Tony asked.
"No, I'd tell you the truth," she said then noticed a tall thin, reedy man in a black pants, shirt, coat and overcoat and a smaller, attractive dark haired woman in khakis, a jeans shirt, and a brown leather jacket eyeing her new boss. It made her feel uncomfortable. She pointed towards them and inquired: "Friends?"
Tony looked over and saw Ziva and McGee in line to order their lunch. Both were gawking at him. Ziva said something to McGee then walked towards them.
"Old co-workers," he said to Strong.
"Tony, I have been trying to get in touch with you," she said to him as she came up to the table.
Tony looked at the diamond on her finger. It was a nice piece of rock, but nothing spectacular, pretty much just like Ray.
"Nice diamond, Agent David," he said.
"Do not start, Tony," she sighed, "or I will break your fingers to get your attention."
Strong quickly flashed Ziva her badge and warned her: "I don't like the way you are threatening Inspector DiNozzo."
"Inspector DiNozzo?" Ziva looked confused.
Their order was brought over by a delivery boy. Tony had him the easiest five dollars of his life then he stood up. When he adjusted his overcoat, Ziva say his new gold badge.
"You can shut your mouth in surprise," he said. "And don't worry, I'm out of your hair. Give Ray my best."
Strong grabbed on coffee and the sandwiches and Tony grabbed the other. He waved at McGee then he and Strong strode out of the deli.
NCIS
"Gibbs, she said he was Inspector DiNozzo and then I saw his badge. He is an Inspector in the Metro Police. I think that happened rather quickly," she said in a state of denial.
McGee was online checking the Metro's website. They heard a noise coming from him that sounded like air escaping from a tire.
"There is announcement on their website of the hiring of Anthony DiNozzo, formerly of NCIS and Baltimore Police, will assume the rank of inspector and form the Major Case Unit," read McGee in a state of awe.
"How could he get a job so fast?" said Ziva.
"He's that good and it is recognized more outside of NCIS then inside," growled Gibbs. Taking that job means he's not coming back. Damn it, DiNozzo. I need to talk to him.
"So he is gone for good, Gibbs?" asked Ziva.
"Yeah, he is gone, Ziva. Damn it, he's gone," Gibbs said.
I never thought I'd lose Tony. Yes, I'd been distant with lately because I've given most of my attention to Ray . Damn it, Dinozzo.