Disclaimer: I do not own NCIS. I am not American and I have never been to Washington DC. I did research but apologies if things are a little bit off

Four federal agents in black windbreakers and matching hats stood on the steps of the Jefferson Memorial, looking at the tapped off crime scene. The body of Staff Sergeant Todd Ferguson was laid on the floor of the memorial as if he was asleep. Except his eyes were wide open and there was a slit across this throat from ear to ear.

'Anderson' barked Ellie, giving orders. 'Take photos. Wilson, take measurements and sketch. Cabot, go and talk to the person who found the body.' The agents disbanded and started on their assigned tasks. Ellie went over to see Jimmy Palmer as he peered over the body, his medical assistant, Tiffany Gonzalez doing battle with the gurney.

'Hi Jimmy.'

'Morning Ellie.'

'You got anything?'

'Well, there's a good chance cause of death is this cut to the throat, but I'll know more after the autopsy.'

'When?' asked Ellie, hoping for a time of death.

'Between 1 and 2am, I'd say.' Jimmy looked up and down the body. 'You know, given that the jugular vein was severed, I would expect there to be more blood.'

'So, he was killed somewhere else and moved here?' confirmed Anderson as she took photos of the body.

'It would appear so' agreed Jimmy. Cabot came over.

'The witness didn't really see anything Boss. She runs past the memorial every Monday, Wednesday and Friday mornings, around 7 am. She called the cops, who called the feds.

'What about park rangers?'

'I spoke to a Ned Jerry, a park ranger. He said the rangers are on duty from 8am to 11pm.' Ellie looked around the memorial.

'Any security cameras?'

'A few inside and a few outside, but Boss, there's multiple ways to get to memorial. I'm not sure how much they will have caught.'

'But the staff sergeant isn't exactly small' said Wilson. 'Figuring out how he got here will help us narrow potential suspects.'

'Yeah' said Ellie slowly. She was still looking around the site.

'Boss?' asked Cabot.

'Get the security tapes to Kasie. She might be able to do something with them.'

'Will do boss' replied Cabot. He looked out, squinting in the sun. 'Um, Boss?'

'Yeah?'

'FBI's here.'

'Great' replied Ellie.

'They're going to try to take the case from us?' asked Anderson.

'Nope' replied Ellie and she made her way over to a woman, wearing a black suit.

Monica Lopez was to the FBI what Ellie was to NCIS. She had joined after graduating from Yale Law School and had made her way through the FBI to be one of the senior agents in the Major Crimes Division of the Washington DC field office.

'Bishop' said Lopez.

'Lopez.'

'How are you?'

'I'm good. You?'

'Could be worse.' Ellie smiled.

'What are you doing here Monica? This our crime scene. Victim's a marine.'

'I know, but it's the Jefferson Memorial Ellie. We have to be on our toes. What can you tell me?'

'Victim is Staff Sergeant Todd Ferguson. Cause of death appears to be severed jugular vein. That's it so far.'

'No suspects?' Ellie snorted.

'Lopez, we've had the case for hour. We haven't gotten that far yet.'

'Sorry. Keep me in the loop Ellie?'

'As long as you do the same.' The two women shook on it. Lopez turned to go back to her car.

'Say hello to Nick for me, will you?' Ellie smiled.

'Will do' and she waved Lopez goodbye.

Wilson rifled through the drawers in his desk.

'Anyone got any aspirin or painkillers?' he asked. Cabot smiled, opened his top bottom drawer and pulled out some painkillers. He went and handed them over to Wilson.

'This is why I clean my desk every Monday morning' he said.

'What? In case Wilson has a hangover?' said Anderson. Cabot chuckled and Wilson swallowed two tablets.

'Update' barked Ellie. Anderson picked up the clicker and the plasma raised up out of the partition. They had updated all the electronics and network three years ago, meaning the MCRT had state of the art technology to catch the bad guys with. Cabot, Wilson and Ellie joined Anderson at the plasma in the middle of the bullpen.

'Staff Sergeant Todd Ferguson' began Anderson. 'Born 24th January 2006, making him thirty years old.'

'He was born in Baltimore to Emily and Alexander Ferguson, and was an only child. His mother is a retired teaching assistant, and his father works at Illumine, a marketing company that started in 2008. He's an account manager there' added Wilson.

'Where did Ferguson work?' asked Ellie. Cabot took the clicker from Wilson.

'Sergeant Ferguson joined the marines in 2024, straight out of high school. He was currently stationed at Quantico where he was working in base logistics. He deployed in 2025 after completing boot camp, and then again in 2029 and 2031. Clean record, no indiscretions and he was steadily making his way up the enlisted ranks.' Ellie paused for a moment.

'Finances?'

'Nothing fishy there either boss' said Anderson. 'Ferguson is squeaky clean.' Ellie pulled a face. Something felt off.

'Wilson and Anderson' began Ellie. 'Go see Ferguson's parents in Baltimore. Let them know about their son. Cabot, go to Quantico. Interview his CO and fellow marines.' Ellie's phone rang. 'Yep, Jimmy. I'm on my way.'

Thank you for reading. Hope you enjoyed it