Trust Me

SheppardStables outside Washington, DC

"Detective, the truck is registered to a Jethro Gibbs. Address in DC."

"Thank you."

Detective Morris wrote the information in his notebook and watched as the coroner's assistant loaded the body into the truck. He walked over to talk to the medical examiner.

"Got a time of death?"

"I'd say last night, probably between 8:00 and 10:00. Single gunshot to the heart. Appears to be of the same caliber as the gun your man found. I can give you details in a couple of days."

"Thanks doc."

A uniformed officer approached Det. Morris and informed him of the information about the gun they found.

"The Sig is registered to a Special Agent Jethro Gibbs with NCIS. Isn't that the same name Taylor found on the truck registration?"

"Sure is. I wonder where Agent Gibbs is now. Let's go see if our witnesses know who and where he is."

Detective Morris approached a stocky young man who was leaning against a railing outside the stable.

"You're Troy Lucas right? You know a Jethro Gibbs?"

"Yeah sure. He keeps a horse here." The young man looked past the detective into the barn area. "Looks like his horse is gone though. He comes out on Fridays sometimes and stays out all night. Usually he comes back about this time on Saturday morning."

"Did you see him here last night?"

"Yes. He was talking to Mr. Sheppard. They were kind of arguing I think. He was still here when I left at 7:00."

"What makes you think they were arguing?"

"Gibbs was giving Mr. Sheppard something but he didn't want it. He kept saying no but Gibbs, he was pushing it you know. Kept saying for Mr. Sheppard to take it and not be stubborn. That's all I saw."

"Okay Mr. Lucas, go with this officer and give him a written statement. Be sure we have your address and phone number then you can go."

Detective Morris turned toward the barn area and made his way over to speak to the woman sitting on some hay bales.

"Ms. Sheppard, I'm Detective Morris. I'm sorry for our loss. Do you know a man named Jethro Gibbs?"

"No, I don't think so. Is he the one who killed my father?"

"We don't know. Mr. Lucas said he was here last night. Did you see him?"

"I just got here this morning. I came out to surprise my father." She took a deep breath and tried to regain her composure. Finding her father dead this morning was certainly not how she had expected to begin their reunion. All she really wanted to do was crawl in a corner and have a good cry. Then she might get her own gun and shoot this Mr. Gibbs herself.

NCIS Special Agent Jethro Gibbs was returning to the Sheppard Stables after spending the night sleeping under the stars and trying to put a nasty, difficult case out of his mind. When he came out of the trees surrounding the stable area he was surprised to see several police cars in the barn area and cops all over the place. He was even more surprised to find their guns pointed at him and more than one of them yelling at him to stop.

Gibbs drew his mount to a stop beside one of the patrol cars and showed the approaching officers his hands. Whatever was going on it seemed they thought he was the bad guy. A young officer came closer and pointing his weapon at Gibbs' chest asked him his name then told him to get off the horse. Gibbs dismounted and the young officer pushed him up against the car. He quickly frisked Gibbs then told him to put his right hand behind his back. When Gibbs started to turn around instead the officer slammed him down hard against the trunk of the car.

"You hard of hearing? Hand behind your back, now."

"I'm a Federal Agent. What's going on."

"I don't care if you're the damn Director of the FBI, put your hand behind your back."

The officer was leaning into Gibbs, pressing his face painfully into the trunk lid with his forearm on the back of Gibbs' neck. Gibbs decided he better just comply so he put his right hand behind him and the officer quickly snapped a handcuff on his wrist. Then he wrenched Gibbs' left arm back forcefully and cuffed that wrist, tightly. Then he jerked up on the cuffs, pulling Gibbs into a standing position. The officer turned him around and pushed Gibbs up against the side of the patrol car with his hand in the middle of his chest. Gibbs glared at him and was glad to see a man in a suit approaching.

"I got it officer," he shot the young cop a withering glare and took Gibbs by the arm leading him away.

"You Jethro Gibbs?"

"I am."

"You hurt?"

"I'll live. What's his problem?"

"His first homicide I think."

"You uncuff me and I won't file a complaint. I don't know what the hell is going on here but I'm no threat to you or your men."

The detective looked at Gibbs and decided to give him the benefit of the doubt for now. He unlocked the handcuffs and Gibbs thanked him, rubbing his wrists and trying to sort out what was going on. He reached up and felt his left cheekbone already swelling.

The detective held up a plastic bag with a Sig Sauer handgun in it. "This your gun?"

"I have a Sig. You tell me, it that one mine?"

"Yes, it is. Agent Gibbs, at the moment you're my prime suspect in the murder of Jasper Sheppard."

TBC