I had the story, bit by bit, from various people, and, as generally happens' in such cases, each time it was a different story.
Ethan Frome: Edith Wharton
They sat in the conference room, that would be Ziva, McGee, Sacks and Tony, each looking around, Tony still silent, Sacks sitting with a satisfied smirk on his face; they heard the door creak and open, only Sacks acknowledged Gibbs and his Boss. Fornell sat opposite Tony.
"Want to tell us your side of the story, because right now the dead, don't talk," Fornell growled.
Tony looked at Gibbs who gave a slight head up nod.
"Well, I got a strange phone call early this morning….well three, the second at 02.38…." Tony began to say, nervously looking at Gibbs.
"You know this precisely, Agent DiNozzo," Sacks questioned.
"Like yeah….I was standing naked in my kitchen with the refrigerator door open…." Tony laughed.
"You normally stand naked at that time of the morning with the cold air round your body…." Fornell asked.
"Yep, 'spec when one wakes up from a dream of Ziva sta…." Tony didn't finish as Gibbs slapped his head, "Sorry Boss…no, I sleep au naturale, I woke with the first call, was hungry and went to the refrigerator for something to eat…."
"And that's when the second call came?" Fornell continued.
"Yes, I looked at the microwave clock as I replaced the phone in the cradle," Tony replied, licking his lips nervously.
"And the final one, Agent DiNozzo?" Fornell continued to ask.
"How do you know there was a third," Tony asked now realising the error of speech.
"Let's say the last call on the dead woman's cell was 02.59, that be right….now are you going to tell me what the last thing she said to you was?" Fornell continued.
"Who are you and what do you want, and my name is not Steve?" Tony now replied smiling.
"And what did she say to that?" Sacks enquired.
"Something along the lines of; I know…but I want you to know, I love you…..and then she went aaahhhhh" and then I heard a thud, as the cell hit the tarmac, but in the back ground I did hear the sound of a car speeding away," Tony finished saying, now looking at Gibbs.
"So looks like DiNozzo is in the clear," Gibbs now added.
"Not so fast Gibbs," as Fornell now turned back to Tony, "Where were you this morning? Been looking at the crime scene?"
"How could I look at a crime scene if I wasn't there, and have no idea where to look?" Tony now retaliated.
"We got to look at every option Agent DiNozzo, do I not remember you being framed before?" Sacks now asked.
"Oh yeah, and since when have you been worried about my health…" Tony came back with smarmily.
"Tony…enough," Gibbs said now glaring at Sacks, "I think we all need to visit the crime scene and make our own investigations and take it from there. Tony, you will show is the way?"
-oOo-
The team followed Fornell and Sacks to Rock Creek Park and one of the walking camping sites. The area sealed off and Metro cops standing guard.
"You never did tell me, where you were this morning DiNozzo?" Gibbs growled.
"No I didn't, did I," Tony answered looking at his feet.
"I'm waiting," Gibbs retaliated with, "And make it a good one eh."
"Ok, I fell asleep on the couch. I lay awake for long enough thinking who I'd pissed off. Who would have called me up? I don't as a rule give put my landline, always my cell. Thought at first it was one of Ziva's practical jokes," Tony replied.
"I would not do such a thing, but I would like to know one thing?" Ziva asked, "You dream of me sta…, you never finished the word, so would that be standing, or starkers?"
"I would say, staring at Ziva standing stark naked," Tim laughed.
"So you too dream of me?" Ziva shouted at the boys.
"Oi, you three, we're here to see the crime scene not argue, and hey Tobias," Gibbs shouted over to Fornell, "You never told us what the vic died from."
"I never promised you that information, I just hoped DiNozzo here would maybe trip himself up," Fornell replied smiling.
"So what did she die of?" Gibbs asked as nicely as he could.
"Knife, stabbed in the back, the blade piercing her heart, death almost instantaneous," Sacks replied.
"Kind of knife?" Gibbs continued.
"Forensics say a Tanto," Fornell replied.
"Hey, that not what you carry?" Sacks now enquired of Ziva."
"It is, but why look at me?" Ziva replied shocked and stepping back.
"Maybe you were in it together," Sacks grinned back.
"Oi, again, do we have a name?" Gibbs ordered.
"Stacy….Stacy Kennedy, and she was the daughter of a Baltimore cop," Fornell now replied standing and looking at Tony.
