Chapter 1 - How it began

The taxi pulled up outside the building. Ann jumped out of the taxi and headed towards the security gate. As she hurried, she almost ran into a man exiting the area. "John," she exclaimed.

"Ann, what are you doing here?"

"I got the call about the accident and came right over. "

"What accident?" John asked her.

"Some commander called and told me that you had been hurt." Ann explained."He told me that you were asking for me and that I needed to get over here right now. "

"Ann, I'm fine. There was no accident."

"I don't understand."

"The CO must have got the wrong file. I'm fine, Ann." John brushed his hand down the side of his NWUs. "Surprised you came."

"John..." Ann's face reflected the hurt in her voice.

"Sorry. That was a low blow." John ran his hand through his hair.

"I still love you, John. Even though we didn't make it together. I'll never stop caring about you."

"I heard you're getting married."

"In a few months."

"Is he good to you?"

"Yeah, he is."

"I'm glad. You deserve someone who will love you and take care of you. I'm sorry, Ann."

"For what?" Ann was perplexed.

"Not being there for you."

"You couldn't help that you were deployed. Maybe we were too young to get married. I mean, I knew who you were when I married you. I thought I understood about the absences but I just wasn't strong enough. I couldn't take the lonely nights. I should have been honest with you sooner. I know it hurt you the way it ended."

"I'm not the first to get a Dear John letter overseas."

"I still could have handled it better."

"We both could have."

"I guess I should go. I'm meeting Robert for dinner at La Bonne Nuit."

"Thanks for coming."

Ann nodded. "Anytime. I do still love you. We just..."

"I know...me, too." John smiled down at her sadly as she stepped forward and went up on tiptoes to kiss him gently. As her lips made contact with his, he felt her jerk and the unexpected wetness on his face. "Ann...my god, Ann...Someone call 911. Ann!"

"Jezebel...Harlot...Just like the rest...trapping men, leading them on...Whore..." The black clad figure let himself into the staircase through the roof access door and disappeared.

In the bullpen, the phone rang. "Gibbs." Before the phone was even hung up, he was tossing keys towards his senior agent and pulling his jacket from the chair back. "Gear up. Petty Officer's wife has been shot."

When the team arrived, the area had already been taped off by the local police and Gibbs could see them questioning bystanders. "DiNozzo..."

"Coordinate with local LEOs and re-interview the witnesses. On it, boss."

"Ziva..."

"I will photograph the scene and document the evidence."

"McGee..."

"Talk to the cab driver and have Abby start pulling records on our vic. On it."

Gibbs looked at them as they stood waiting. "Go."

"Yes, boss." They chorused as they hurried away.

Gibbs smirked as he flashed his ID to a local detective and approached the young man wearing blood spattered NWUs . "Petty Officer Ashton?"

"Sir?"

"Special Agent Gibbs NCIS. I understand you were with your wife when she was shot."

"Ex-wife."

"Pardon me?"

"Ann is...was my ex-wife. We were divorced a year ago, while I was overseas."

"So she was here for a visit." Gibbs questioned.

"No. She said my CO had called and told her that I had been in an accident and that she needed to come down here right away."

"Was there an accident?"

"No, sir. Someone must have pulled the wrong file. She was getting ready to leave when..." John looked down at his bloody hands. "I didn't see anyone. I didn't even hear the shot. She just..."

Gibbs looked at the two sailors standing behind him. "Did you see the shooting?"

"No, sir. Petty Officer Ashton is in our unit. We didn't want him to be alone."

"Take him home. There's nothing he can do here." Gibbs turned and began to walk towards the body where Ducky was kneeling. "We'll be in touch."

"Yes, sir. Thank you, Special Agent. Come on, John." The two lead their buddy away to a waiting car.

"What you got, Ducky?"

"Our deceased is in her late twenties. COD is a gunshot to her head. Based on the angle of the shot, I'd say the shooter was on the roof top of one of those buildings." Ducky gestured across the street. "One shot; instantly fatal."

"So it was premeditated. Ashton said someone lured her here to make sure she would be here at this time."

Tony worked quickly; lucky that none of the detectives appeared to have a vested interest in keeping another murder case on top of their work loads. They were only too willing to provide copies of their notes. As he made the circuit, he was oblivious to the green eyes that were following him around the scene and the soft sigh of frustration that he was never alone long enough to make contact. When he turned to make his way towards the approaching Gibbs, she was spurred into an act of desperation.

The remainder of the Gibbs team was shocked as a police officer threw herself into Tony's arms and gave him a long, passionate kiss. "Tony, I've missed you so much. We have got to get together soon."

"Officer Shale, what is the meaning of this behavior?"

"Sorry, Detective Lewis. I just hadn't seen Tony is such a long time, I guess I lost my head."

"This will be going in your record. Get back to the station."

"Yes, sir." Turning she caught Tony's eye and mouthed "Call me", before following the detective away.

"A red-head, Tony?" McGee smirked.

"Who was your friend, DiNozzo?" Gibbs quirked an eyebrow.

"I have no clue." Tony was left looking in shock at the folded paper she had slipped into his hand. "Never met her before in my life."