"He's late," Palmer said watching Gibbs drive up in the 2007 Dodge Charger.
"Jimmy, Gibbs is never late," Dr. Donald Mallard assured the young man. "He works on his own time table."
"Oh, I see, doctor," Palmer said nervously finished packing his equipment.
"What do we have, Ducky?" Gibbs asked the medical examiner as he entered the crime scene.
"I don't know, Jethro," Ducky stated. "A single shot to the head, very professional."
"Okay. DiNozzo!" Gibbs called out.
"Yeah, boss?" DiNozzo asked moving forward.
"Start getting statements," Gibbs ordered.
"Right. . . boss," DiNozzo said moving away from McGee and Ziva to start talking to witnesses.
"Gibbs," Ziva said kneeling near the body. "Could this be gang related?"
"It's a dead Marine," Gibbs pointed out.
"Could've been some kind of gang initiation," McGee announced. He looked up at Gibbs and then down at Ziva. "You know, like someone had to kill military personnel in order to join a gang."
"What do you know about gangs, McGee?" Gibbs asked.
"Not too much, boss," McGee stated as he backed down.
"Well, generally, gang killings are messy," Gibbs told him. "They aren't as professional as this. One shot, one kill, McGee. Gangs fire many bullets at one time."
"Right," McGee agreed.
"What about a dispute?" Ziva asked. "Could've been with another soldier, got into a heated argument, and BLAM!"
"Blam?" Gibbs asked with a smile.
"What?" Ziva aksed shifting her eyes between the two men.
"Nothing."
"Hey, Boss, I think I might have something," DiNozzo said returning to the group. "Seems Mrs. Miller over there is a great eye witness."
"Are you going to make me ask what she said, DiNozzo?"
"No, boss," Tony answered Gibbs. "She said she heard a gunshot, but never saw the gun."
"That doesn't help us, Tony," Ziva interrupted.
"Well, I thought it was something," Tony said. "Then she saw the man gone down. Now, they heard the gunshot, in broad daylight, Gibbs."
"Professionals have a tendency to use a silencer," Gibbs mentioned.
"Right, boss," DiNozzo agreed.
Gibbs turned and looked at the body then looked up at the tall buildings around them. "Sniper."
To Be Continued. . .