Chapter 2

Gibbs had handed the piece of paper with the friends' names on it to DiNozzo and McGee, with instructions that they visit the friends and get anything that may help solve Naomi's murder.

"Where you going, Boss?" Tony had asked.

"The parents, DiNozzo."

Mr and Mrs Yosef lived in Bethesda, which is largely a Jewish area round D.C., Gibbs and Ziva found the house with ease. They alighted the car and made their way to the door. Ziva knocked and waited for it to open. Mr Yosef was a tall man, but he appeared stooped and his clothes decidedly crumpled as if he had been sleeping in them.

"Agent David NCIS," as she showed him her ID, "Mr Yosef, I'm sorry for your loss," now looking over his shoulder to see a woman crying, it had to be his wife. A younger woman had her arm round her.

"My sister-in-law Shira, Rachel's sister, she is a Haredi Jew, my wife went against her religious beliefs and married me, I'm more reform."

"As I am sir" Ziva replied, "This is Special Agent Gibbs," as she indicated to the man behind her, who was holding his badge in view.

"Sorry for your loss sir, but we need to ask you some questions?" Gibbs now spoke.

"Yes of course, come in…please," as Mr Yosef opened the door further to allow the two agents in, "And please call me Adam," as he saw Ziva shake her head.

Shira loosened her grip on her sister, and standing announced, "I will make tea or would you prefer coffee?"

"Not for us," Gibbs replied, "But thank you," as he saw Adam motion that they sit, and Shira leave to make whatever she had decided on.

"I will stand if you don't mind," Ziva said.

"Please I don't know what you want to know," Adam Yosef began to say. "Naomi always wanted to be in the Navy, something to do with the uniform, "as he smiled a watery smile.

"My baby, we had tried so long for a child and now she has been taken, "Rachel began to sob.

"Mrs Yosef, have you any idea who might have wanted to harm Naomi. Did she have any boyfriends?" Ziva began to ask gently.

"No-one of importance, she had a couple of friends who were boys. They used to go the Military Balls or whatever you call them. But she was too career orientated; she wanted to do her job first. I always hoped she would maybe get the Military out her system so to speak, and then settle down to be a wife and mother. Have the children I could never have," as Rachel now started to cry again.

"I'm sorry but I had to ask," Ziva apologised.

"It is Chanukah shortly," Adam began to say, "It will hurt my wife even harder," as he now looked at Ziva.

Ziva thought to herself, Chanukah, the Jewish eight-day, wintertime "festival of lights," celebrated with a nightly Chanukah lighting, special prayers and fried foods. Maybe the special prayers will be more haunting now.

"Do you have family Ziva?" Rachel suddenly asked looking at her.

"My father was Eli David, Mossad and my brother was killed in the line of duty so to speak. I had a sister but she died when she was 16, my mother divorced my father, and she is also dead, so I have no-one, my work is my family," she replied, her own tears beginning to form as she looked away and at Gibbs.

"Then you must share Chanukah with us," Rachel smiled, "I cannot have a daughter of someone, not spend Chanukah with a family."

"You are too kind," Ziva replied as Mr Yosef opened the door for Gibbs and her to leave.

"If you could perhaps call me if you decide against my wife's offer, I will quite understand," Adam said as he stood in the door frame tears in his eyes.

"No Sir, I will be delighted to accept," as she now smiled and followed Gibbs to the car.