Chapter 2

New Orleans to Virginia.

Catriona, a pale skinned, elegantly built, dark haired lass, sat on the bench outside her boss's house with her head in her hands. Her large, emerald eyes were rimmed with redness form bouts of crying.

"Cat, you should gets out of N.O for a while." She looked up as a man, blocked the sun. Their supreme boss- as Andy had always called him- Bobby Jenden stood, towering over her, his middle aged face ruddy with sun.

"I know. Sir, I have a request, as Andy's friend and associate-" Catriona began. But Jenden cut her off.

"You know I can't authorise that, Cat."

"I know. But I don't want some inefficient intern doing it and I don't want that brute from the hospital doing it either. I know can't... I was too close to him. But I know someone who would do it professionally and with decorum. Please, let me take him to Virginia."

"To Leon's group? No way." Jenden argued.

"Not to Leon, to Dr Mallard, their resident ME. I have the pleasure of knowing him personally. I know he'd do it." Cat smiled sadly and Bobby caved in.

"Alright, but you take some time off too," Jenden agreed, reluctantly, helping Catriona from her seat on the wall. "Be careful, Catriona."

"I will. Thank you, Bobby." Cat smiled as she turned to walk away, hitching her travel bag onto her shoulder.

"Mallard!" He called after her and she turned.

"Yes?"

"Is Dr Mallard a relation of yours?" Bobby asked as she climbed into driving seat of the NCIS Medical Examiners truck.

"No. No relation." Cat said flashing him a little smile which hid the truth. Bobby, who fell for that trick often enough when the Catriona or one of the women on his team did that, nodded. He believed her and that, for now, was good. He'd work it out sooner or later- then she'd be in trouble.

She dialled in a number on her cell phone and then put it to her ear, before she drove away. The recipient answered on the first ring.

"Hay, its me... No, I'm okay, we'll, kind of. I'm bringing you a body... Yeah I know, but I can't so this one alone... I'm going to need a room too... Yes, thanks. I'll see you in a few hours. I'm coming straight to NCIS... Alright, bye." She disconnected her call, put her phone away and took a deep breath before she drove her boss back to her hometown.