I ran towards NCIS Head Quarters with every amount of energy I had left I me, I stole a glance behind me and noticed the two men, from six blocks ago, were still chasing me. What did I ever do to them? I asked myself as I kept running.
"What's the matter miss?" a tall man with dark brown hair asked as he grabbed my arm. I turned and saw the two men that were following me had slowed to a walk.
"See those two men?" I asked him, nodding towards the two.
"Ya what about them?" the man asked.
"They've been following me for six blocks. I thought maybe the Navy yard would scare them off, but it hasn't seemed to work."
"Why are they following you?" he questioned.
"The truth is, I have no idea why, but please help me." I bagged, hope in my eyes.
"Sure," he agreed. "Go inside and wait for me." I followed his orders and ran inside and didn't turn back.
Tony POV
"Go inside and wait for me." I told the young woman. She followed my orders and ran inside, she didn't even turn to look back, as soon as she was inside the two men started heading for the door. "Can I help you two?" I asked as they approached. "That woman is wanted." The first man told me. He was average height and build.
"By who?" I asked.
"Our boss." The second man replied. The second man looked just like the first, so much so that they could be brothers.
"And who do you work for?" I inquired.
"That's none of your damn business." The first informed me.
"Uh, yes it is my business, since I'm a cop." I told the pair. At this they looked at each other and started running, in the opposite direction. "I need some help!" I shouted as I ran after them, soon I was joined by three other agents. We caught up to them pretty quick, I guess it helped that that girl had run six blocks. "Take them in for questioning." I ordered the agents; led the way and as soon as I was inside I grabbed the woman and head upstairs.
"Thank you." She seemed to whisper as we rode the elevator up.
"Any time." I smiled, and I could see a faint smile appear on her lips. "I'm Tony by the way."
"Crystal." She introduced. "My father is, was, in the Navy."
"Was?" I inquired.
"He's dead now." She said sadly.
"I'm sorry." Was all I could think to say, "How long?"
"Just this morning." She told me. "Maybe that's the other reason I ran to the Navy yard."
"Don't worry, we'll find who killed your father." I promised just as we reached our floor. "Just out of curiosity, how were you able to run six blocks?"
"I'm a cop." She replied.
"Then where's your gun."
"There was a mole in the department; they said I was a dirty cop. That I stole money and drugs."
"Did you?" I inquired.
"No. My mother came from a wealthy family, and seems to shower me with gifts and being a cop I don't do drugs. Unless I'm undercover that is."
"Who's this DiNozzo?" Gibbs asked me.
"Her names Crystal, some men were chasing her, have them in custody Boss."
"And why is she here?" Gibbs asked again.
"My father was killed this morning sir, navy officer, the two men were in the house once I got there. I ran out and drove for a few miles, they ended up crashing my car six blocks north of the base, I ran those six blocks them on my tail the whole time until agent DiNozzo her helped me." Crystal informed Gibbs.
"What's your father's name?" Gibbs asked.
"Lt. Commander Brian Riley." Crystal told him.
"DiNozzo take Miss. Riley to the conference room and stay with her until we get back, the rest of you, grab your bags." Gibbs ordered,
"I'll keep her safe." I promised as I watched my teammates walk towards the elevator, Ziva gave me a look. "What?" I mouthed her response
"Behave."
"This way Crystal." I guided as I led her to one of the conference rooms. "Have a set." I offered once I opened the door. "I'm sorry to do this to you, but I have to ask you some standard questions."
"I understand." Crystal replied. Man her voice is like velvet I thought to myself, taking a set across from her.
Crystal POV
"When was the last time you saw your father?" Tony asked me.
"Besides this morning, two days ago." I answered.
"And when you saw him, did he seem different at all?" Tony inquired.
"He did seem upset." I answered thinking back to that day. "He told me that my mother had done something terrible, but he didn't tell me what."
"Anything else?" Tony pondered.
I thought for a moment then said "My father also said something about some younger officers pulling pranks on him."
"Did he say any names?" Tony calmly asked.
"Petty officer George, and Petty officer Fernando." I answered.
"K, stay here. I'll be right back." Tony ordered.
Tony POV
"Petty officer's George and Fernando." I told Gibbs.
"Start a search on them," Gibbs ordered; "See if anything comes up."
"On it boss. What about the girl?" I asked staring at the door.
"Put an officer outside her door. And DiNozzo after you get that search started, pay a visit to one of our friends that were chasing her, we'll be back soon."
With that he hung up. "You," I called for an agent. "Protect this girl with your life, and get her anything she needs. I'll be back soon." Some days its good being a senior agent I thought. I quickly started a search for the two Petty officers', and then ran down to one of the interrogation rooms. "So," I started as I entered the room. "You better tell me why you were chasing Miss. Riley; it better be good."
The first words out of his mouth "I want a lawyer."
"Fine," I tell him, "But we both know how this is going to end so just tell me."
"Lawyer." Was all he replied; with that I left the room. I got to the bull pen just as everyone else arrived.
"And?" Gibbs asked.
"Miss Riley is still a little shocked, but seems to be ok. And one of friends lawyered up." I reported.
"I hate lawyers." Gibbs mumbled as he walked to his desk. "Ziva, could you go keep Miss Riley company please."
"Sure thing boss." Ziva replied walking to the conference rooms.
"Wait," I cried, "Don't you think it would be better if I went?"
"No Tony." Gibbs said. "
And besides woman like when other women are around at a time like this." Ziva added.
Crystal POV
It seemed like Tony was gone for hours, but eventually the door did open again, but it wasn't Tony. It was a woman in her 30's and she looked like she was from the Middle East somewhere.
"Hi, I'm Agent Ziva David." She introduced, "I work with Tony."
"Nice to meet you." I managed to smile. At this moment I did need another woman to talk to.
"So Miss Riley." She started.
"Please call me Crystal." I informed her.
"Ok, so Crystal what happened this morning?"
"I went over to my parent's house this morning because my dad and I were supposed to have breakfast together." I started. "But when I got there the house was a mess and he was dead on the floor. It looked like COD was a gunshot to the chest with maybe a 32."
"You sure know a lot about this kind of stuff, may I ask why?" she asked.
"I'm a cop." I told her, "but there's a mole in my department and they've convinced people that I'm a dirty cop."
"Are you?"
"No. Like I told agent DiNozzo my mother came from a wealthy family, I don't need money, and drugs are just plain stupid. I've done some undercover ops where I helped put away drug dealers."
"So you gave enemies then?" she stated.
"Of course I do." I cried, "You think one of them found my family and killed my dad?"
"Maybe, but you should write down a list of anyone who would want to get revenge." She suggested.
"Done," I say grabbing the pad of paper.
"That's a short list." Ziva says, as she looks over my four names.
"If it's any help two are dead, ones in jail and the other we have eyes on at all times." I inform her.
"What about your father, does he have any enemies that you know of?"
"None." I reply. "I mean some of the privets and petty officer's liked to prank him. I told Tony the details."
"Thanks," Ziva smiled as she left.
Tony POV
"What's taking her so long?" I asked impatiently as I glance over at Ziva's desk.
"Relax Tony." McGee said, "I'm sure Ziva will be back any minute."
"That's what you said 15 minutes ago." I remind him.
"Any hits on those Petty officer's yet?" Gibbs asked as he walked towards us.
"Results coming up on the screen now." McGee replied. "Petty officer's Jos Fernando and Petty officer Mike George, according to their records both have a history of violence, that didn't change once they joined the navy. They seem to enjoy playing pranks on their senior officers. The last prank they pulled though didn't end the way they planned."
"What happened?" I asked.
"They gave their commander a heart attack." McGee answered. Ziva then entered.
"Did she say anything new?" Gibbs asked. "No, Lieutenant Commander Riley seems like an honest, kind man from what she's told us. Though she did admit to touching the body."
"That shouldn't be a shocker though." I say.
"Ziva, go talk to the other man who was chasing her." Gibbs ordered.
"Right away." Ziva said then took off, and then Gibbs' phone went off.
"K, I'll be right there Ab's. Tony see what else you can find on these two, McGee go through their bank and phone records see if you can find out anything."
Gibbs POV
I took the elevator down to Abby's lab, something about Crystal Riley seemed familiar, but I couldn't put my finger on it. "What have you got Ab's?" I ask as I walk into the lab.
"Just waiting on the results to see who touched the body last." Abby told me. "If it helps the daughter admitted to touching it."
"I already ruled her out, but the computer told me something funny." Abby said.
"What did it tell you?" I inquired.
"Apparently Riley wasn't her father, well not her biological father anyways."
"Tony mentioned that she did say that he told her that her mother had done something awful."
"Can you find out who her biological father is? Maybe he found out and went to confront Riley." I suggested.
"Already on it." Abby smiled.
"That's my girl," I smiled, "call me when the results come in."
"You'll be the first to know. Well I'll be the first, but you can be the second!" Abby shouted at me. I rode the elevator back to the bull pen, than I walked to where we were keeping Crystal. "
We need to talk." I say as soon as I open the door.
"About what?" she asked in a calm voice.
"You said that your father said that your mother had done something horrible right?" I seemed to yell.
"Yeah, but he never told me what." She answered. "
Crystal, Riley wasn't your biological father. Did you know that?" Crystal looked at me with shock in her face.
She said "I had a feeling he might not be, but I never looked into it." Then I saw her cringe.
"Crystal," I started, "Did your father ever hurt you."
"No." she replied.
"Then how do you explain the bruise?"
"Comes with the job." She brushed off.
"Not the ones I see." I told her. "You can tell me."
After a few minutes she sighed and said "It seemed ever since I was little he looked at me funny, we still bonded, but I knew it wasn't the same way my friends bonded with their dads. Then at around the age of nine he started to beat me, my mom tried to stop him but he would just brush her off. But I knew after he was done with me, he would take out his rage on her, I never understood why. Then I noticed that I had nothing really in common with my dad, no physical features that is, I mean both my 'parents' had brown eyes and I had blue. As soon as I went to collage I moved out, my mom later told me that after I did the beatings stopped. Mom later told me that before her and dad got married she dated another man, she didn't go into any details, but her saying that meant that Riley might not be my true father. I wish I knew who he is, or was, than maybe things might seem clearer."
We sat in silence for a few minutes and I digested what this beautiful young woman just told me. "We'll find out who killed Riley, and who your biological father is." I promised her as I took her hands in mine, "I promise."
"Thanks." She whispered as I kissed the top of her head and left. I gave her a reassuring smile before I left. "Gibbs wait." Crystal calls just as I open the door.
"I know you want to keep me safe, but I'm getting hungry and sitting in this room is making my butt fall asleep. Is there any way I could leave this room? Even for a few minutes?"
"Sure," I tell her. "Follow me." It seems like she jumps out of the chair and follows me, I can see her smiling as we walk back towards the bull pen. When we get there Abby is there.
"Gibbs it's a good thing you're here, and this must be Lt. Commander Riley's daughter, hi I'm Abby."
"Abby, you have something." I remind her.
"Oh yeah, sorry. You were right about Crystal not being Riley's biological daughter, and I have the results right her."
"And?" Crystal asked, "Who's my biological father." Abby hands me the envelope, everyone is silent as I open it and pull out a single piece of paper and look at the results.
"So?" Crystal and Tony ask.
"I'm her father." I answer.
Tony POV
"You're her father?" I repeat. There go my chances of possibly dating her, I sigh. Gibbs hands me the results and I can feel Crystal, Ziva and McGee looking over my shoulder.
"So what does this mean now?" Ziva asked looking up.
"This means the killer could know this." Gibbs answered. "Ziva, Tony take Crystal with you to go get some food; be back here in half an hour got it!"
"Got it boss." We both answered as the three of us headed for the elevator. Once inside I turned to face Crystal.
"Yes?" she asked.
"You said you were a cop right?" I asked.
"Yeah, what about it?"
"Where are you going with this Tony?" Ziva sighed.
"Maybe we could call in a favor and have Crystal become an NCIS agent." I suggested.
"That's not a bad idea Tony." Ziva agreed.
"Actually I only became a cop because I was too young at the time to become an NCIS agent. Before the investigation started I planned to talk to my chief about becoming one." Crystal informed us.
"But who ever thought you were a dirty cop had other ideas?" Ziva suggested.
"Or maybe, whoever it was that said that didn't want me to learn the truth." Crystal added.
"I think we need to find out who paged you as a dirty cop." I told the girls, they agreed with me. When we go to our favourite Chinese place we noticed it was deserted, which was strange for this time of the day.
"Something's wrong." Ziva whispered as we drew our guns. We silently walked around; we thought it was all clear until we heard Crystal give out a scream. We ran back to where she last was but she was gone, but who ever took her left us a greeting card."You want to phone Gibbs or should I?" Ziva asked.
"I will." I sighed as I took out my phone.
"Gibbs." Gibbs answered.
"Uh boss," I started, "We have a problem."
"And what would that be DiNozzo?" he asked.
"Crystal's gone." I tell him.
"Get back here now!" he yells into the phone. I hang up and Ziva and I do I quick sweep to see if he left us anything else, but the card was all he left. We raced back to NCIS HQ and told Gibbs everything that happened, then the Gibbs' phone rung.
Gibbs POV
"Hello?" I said.
"Agent Gibbs." The voice said, I nodded towards McGee and he started to trace the call.
"What do you want?" I asked the man, anger in my voice.
"I want Crystal, and now I have her." I could hear him smirk.
"Why?" I asked.
"She's a beautiful woman, and she turned down my employer one to many times." He informed me.
"So what are you going to do?" I asked. "Kill her?"
"No, but desperate times call for desperate measures." He said. "But I will tell you this I hope you got all the information you needed from her, because you won't see her again." With that he hung up.
"Tell me you got something!" I yell at McGee.
"He's in a warehouse not to far from here." He said.
"Tony, Ziva you're with me." I yell as I grabbed my gun and headed for the elevator, the two got in just in time.
"What's the plan?" Tony asked.
"Don't have one." I admit as we get in the car.
"And what if she's not there?" Ziva questioned.
"Then we find out where he took her." I try to say in a calm voice. We get to the warehouse, I motion I'll take the front so the others went around back. I walked in gun drawn, I could hear the echo of my footsteps as I walked farther into the building. I saw a door up ahead and carefully walked towards it, I peeked inside but couldn't see anything. I slammed the door open and only found a man standing in the middle of the room. "Where is she!" I yelled at the man. He just turned to face me and smiled, then Tony and Ziva entered, there was nowhere to run. "Where is my daughter!" I yelled again.
"She's gone." He said.
"What do you mean gone?" Tony asked, just as confused as I was. You better not have killed her I thought.
"Gone, not in DC anymore." The man stated. I could tell by his voice that it was the same man who had called me.
"Where is she" I asked again.
"On a plane with another college of mine, the plane has already left. You'll never find her now." He smiled.
"Want to bet?" I asked. "DiNozzo, cuff him."
"Right away boss," Tony answered arresting the man.
Back at HQ
"Is he talking yet?" I asked DiNozzo as he walked back from the interrogation room.
"Not yet boss." He sadly replied.
"McGee do we have any idea who he is?" I shouted.
"Come up on the screen as we speak." McGee said."His name is Collin McDear, 31, lives here in DC."
"It says here that he currently unemployed." Ziva informed me.
"Well obviously he's working for someone. McGee go through his phone and credit cards, I want to know where this guy has been, who he's called; who's called him. Ziva, you and I are going to have a little chat with him, and Tony find out what planes have left today. I don't care what you have to do, just find out anything from the past four hours." I order as Ziva and I head to the interrogation room. I open the door and calmly sit across from Collin, Ziva stands behind me against the wall.
"So Mr. McDear," I begin, "why did you take Crystal Riley?"
"My employer asked me too. Apparently her old man owed him money and she was going to be used as, collateral damage." Collin informs us.
"Well I can see one issue with that story." Ziva informed him.
"And what's that?" he smirked.
"Crystal wasn't Riley's real daughter." She informed him.
"Hey I didn't know that." Collin told us putting his hands up.
"He raised her, so we put two and two together. Who is her real father then?"
"I am!" I yell at him slamming my hands on the table.
"So she had two marine fathers?" he asked, I could hear fear in his voice.
"Yes, and this marine has the power to put you away for a long, long time." Ziva seemed to smile.
"NOW WHERE IS SHE?!" "I already told you, she's on her way out of state."
"Is her plane staying in the states?" Ziva asked.
"Yes, it's staying along the coast." Collins told us.
"Where is it landing?" I yell.
"I don't know where ok, I was just told to get her, put her on the plane, and distract the police long enough for the plane to leave." I stared into his eyes.
"I believe him Gibbs." I heard Ziva say, so did I, but I still had a lot of unanswered questions.
"McDear reserved five calls from the same number today." McGee informed us. "I traced the number and it belongs to a Sargent Baily." McGee pulled up his licence and personal file. "Says here, that he has a house in Los Angeles, and that Crystal filed an arrestment report against him in 2010."
"Think that's what made him crazy?" Ziva asked.
"Maybe," McGee commented.
"Well, she is quiet beautiful." Tony added; I shot him a look.
"Sorry boss." He quickly apologized.
"Got a hit on the plane," McGee told us, "There was a privet jet that took off from the DC airport at two this afternoon, final destination LAX."
"So he's taking her to LA then." Tony concluded."Where are you going?" Tony called after me.
"To talk to the Director," I yelled back. I didn't even bother to knock.
"Come on in." Vance said, turning to face me.
"We need to talk." I tell him. "About what?" he asks.
"You have a team in LA correct?"
"Yeah, so what?" he questioned.
"We need their help." I inform him. "Crystal has been taken; the plane she's on is headed to LA."
"I'll call Hetty and tell her to get her team ready." Vance told me as I headed for the door. "Gibbs." He called after me, "They'll find her. I was thinking of hiring her, she's good. And if I remember your rules that's number five." I couldn't help but give a little smile to myself.
TO BE CONTINUED…