Chapter Two
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Chapter Two
"Well that didn't really tell us much" Callen muttered with a sigh as they left the family home.
"She's still grieving G" Sam berated the younger man gently. Callen sighed again, not really meaning to sound unsympathetic.
"I know that Sam" he responded. He didn't mean to appear callous- he just didn't have the level of understanding that Sam had- he had never known family life, so couldn't possibly relate to how the family now felt. The two partners continued walking to the car in unison- as always, just before they made it back to where the challenger was parked Callen's phone chirped in his pocket.
"We are hitting dead ends" Kensi told them through the phone. "His family are certain that Walsh was a lovely boy that just wanted to serve his country and do right by his family" she finished with a sigh of frustration.
"That's the same story we got here Kens- maybe it's true" Callen stated with a grin- the cynical side of him not fully willing to accept it yet.
"You never know" the junior agent responded with a grin, more than used to her boss' slightly jaded view of relationships- not that she could really comment when she mostly shared his views. "See you back at Ops" she finished before disconnecting.
"No closer to finding a motive" Sam commented as the two stopped at the challenger.
"Nope- but maybe we aren't looking in the right places Sam- we need to dig deeper and see what the link is with the other murders" Callen reasoned.
"Great- I love digging through files" responded the seasoned navy seal with a sigh as he opened the door to the car.
"Er- aren't you forgetting something?" Callen stated with a sigh.
"What?" Sam questioned in confusion. Callen held his hand out and lightly clicked his fingers.
"I'm driving on the way back remember?" he challenged with a smirk.
"Ah come on G- you don't even want to drive" Sam replied, trying to eliminate the whine from his voice as he spoke.
"Actually I really feel like driving today Sam- just me and the road- bliss" he stated taking the keys from his partner's grasp. Without further word he was in the driver's seat and had started the engine with a roar- leaving Sam little choice other than to buckle himself into the passenger seat and cling on whilst his partner put his prized possession through her paces.
LA-LA-LA-LA-LA-LA-LA
Callen and Sam made it back to Ops in record timing and Callen couldn't help the grin that covered his face as he walked in- spinning the keys on his finger as he did so. Sam looked a completed contrast- his face the picture of displeasure as he walked in behind his partner.
"What's up with Sam?" Kensi questioned the team leader as he moved towards his desk.
"He doesn't like control being taken away" Callen replied, looking up at his partner with a smirk.
"No G- I don't like clinging on for dear life for the entirety of an hour's drive" Sam chipped in, his displeasure carried in his voice.
"Wait- you let Callen drive the challenger?" Deeks queried.
"He practically cried like a baby as I started the engine" Callen responded, sitting down at his desk with a grin.
"Only because you used a tank of gas revving her" Sam cut in.
"Admit it Sam- you hate losing control" Callen challenged.
"I don't have control issues G- I just like driving my car" the former seal argued as he sat at his desk- cracking his knuckles in front of him as he did so. Callen looked at him with a quirked eyebrow- before turning his attention to the younger partnership.
"You guys dug anything else up?" he questioned.
"Not really- nothing to link any of the victims other than them being serving marines recently returning to Pendleton from a tour. All of them in long term relationships and all of them set to get married before returning for a second tour" Deeks told them all as he brought the images up on the screen. "All of them killed in exactly the same way- a single shot to the head, and each of them on a reunion date with their fiancées. Nothing at all to suggest any of them had any enemies- all of them highly respected marines with impeccable service records" the detective finished with a slight look of defeat on his face.
"All of their financials came back squeaky clean and all of them appear normal service men- not too rich and not too poor. There is nothing to say that any of them have even met each other" Nell interjected with a sigh.
"There has to be some link. Eric link in with recruitment and find out a list of recent rejects from the corps- either at training or application stage. Nell dig a little deeper into each of the victims' families- see if any of them are linked? Any debts, enemies etc etc. Kensi and Deeks- look into the other murders- the ballistic reports- find the weapon" Callen instructed, when he was sure that everyone was clear on their roles he nodded at Sam and the two senior agents were heading back out of the office and getting into the Challenger- this time with Sam at the wheel.
"Crime scene?" he asked as he started the engine.
"Crime scene" Callen agreed with a nod.
LA-LA-LA-LA-LA-LA-LA
Some hours later the entire team were back at Ops, tired and seemingly no closer to solving the case.
"What about the fiancées?" Callen questioned rubbing his hand over his face- not missing the exhausted faces of his team members.
"Just normal girls- all three were high school romances" Kensi replied rubbing at her neck in a weak effort at reducing the tension.
"The ballistics are back on the most recent murder- the same weapon appears to have been used in each of the murders. It is currently being run through the system to see if anything else flags up against it" Deeks informed them sipping at his industrial sized mug of coffee.
"Listen we have nothing to run with tonight- go home and come back tomorrow with fresh heads and hopefully all the reports will be back" Callen instructed the team as he sat down at his desk. Kensi and Deeks eagerly nodded, grabbing their bags and heading out with a jaunty wave over their shoulders.
"What about you G?" Sam questioned when the rest of the team were out of ear shot.
"I have some calls to make Sam- then I'll head off home" Callen responded- opening his laptop as he spoke.
"You sure you don't want to grab a bite?" Sam offered, recognising that his partner hadn't eaten all day.
"Na I'm good. Go home Sam- see your family" he instructed gently as he turned his attention back to the computer. Sam hesitated for a moment before surrendering and with a wave left for the night leaving his partner behind. Callen had his attention focussed on the screen in front of him- determined to find some semblance of a lead in the case before the rest of the team returned the next day.
"You need rest as well Mr Callen" a voice told him from behind.
"I'm fine Hetty" he responded without looking up from the computer screen. Hetty moved closer- cup of tea poised between her fingers.
"You are not a machine, you too need food and rest" she admonished him gently- well used to checking that her team leader was taking care of himself.
"I will Hetty- I just need to check something out and then I'll head home" he responded, still not removing his glance from the screen. Hetty sighed, knowing that the stubborn agent that she was so fond of was clearly not going to go anywhere.
"What makes you think that you will find anything that the rest of the team will have missed?" she challenged as she moved to stand behind her agent.
"Because I know what I am looking for" he responded, as he tilted the screen and showed her exactly what he had been looking for.
End Chapter Two
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