"Did you rob a store?" Kate joked while McGee entered the building with a bag full of laptops.
"Ehhh, it looks that way doesn't it. No, I just picked up a selection for Tony to choose from, is he in? I tried calling his cell but he didn't pick up." Tim told her while ignoring the fact that Tony not answering his cell was somewhat bothersome.
"Yeah, he just got in not that long ago. Just to let you know, Tony is not that all tech-savy. So processed with caution."
The computer specialist laughed at Kate's warning while agreeing to do so.
"Come in!" Tony yelled, not even a second after McGee knocked on the door.
"Please don't tell me you had those just laying around?" Tony asked, as soon as he saw the bag McGee came in with.
"No, I did not. I borrowed them, a friend of mine owns a computer store, I just picked the ones that I thought would be best suited for you." Tim explained.
"What kind of friend?" Tony decided to pry.
"Just a buddy of mine." He brushed off while pulling out the first model and placing it in front of the older man.
They, well mostly McGee, spend the next 30 or so minutes going through the choices and choosing the best one for Tony to use.
"Why aren't you a computer specialist somewhere legit?" Tony asked while messing around with his new toy.
"Are you saying you're not legit?" Tim teased.
"Of course, I'm the real deal. I'm just saying your skill level of computers is way above standard geek level."
"Thanks..? But I am still settling in. Getting back on my feet."
"Must have been big." Tony more so murmured while turning his back to grab something behind him.
"What?" McGee asked.
"No, I am just saying that it must have been something big that made you leave Boston."
"I left for a number of reasons but it was mainly…personal," selecting the last word carefully.
"Personal." Tony mocked while getting up and grabbing his bag.
"Want to go house shopping with me?" He asked.
"House shopping?" Tim repeated dumbfounded.
"Yeah, I am going to check out the house Jake was at yesterday, see if there is anything special about it."
"Did you talk to the wife?" McGee asked once they were on the road.
"Yeah, she said they aren't really looking for a place. I mean they've discussed it but since he took the job at NCIS, it's been on a standstill."
"What did she say when you told her that he was looking?"
"She was mainly concerned with the location. It's further away from both of their jobs. Especially, Jake's."
They pulled into the same spot from yesterday and got out.
"Mr. DiNozzo, I'm correct?" The real-estate lady asked once they entered.
"Please call me Tony and this is Tim, he's looking with me today." He greeted while shaking her hand.
The real – estate went on to talk about how the house is still going through some re- vaping and how it was just recently expanded.
"This is a perfect for a secret office." Tim expressed once they were both checking out the secret attic that was behind the bookshelf.
"Or secret activity." Tony murmured.
"What do you think he's into?"
"I don't really know, I have a few guesses in mind but nothing concrete yet. Would you buy this house?" Tony asked.
"Would I buy it?" McGee repeated.
"Are you a parrot today?" Tony questioned with mild concerned.
"I mean not now but in the future, yeah I would consider it."
"Excluding money, why would you wait?"
"Cause I am not married and honestly it would be kind of sad for a single guy to be living in a house this nice."
"Even if you don't have kids, would you still live here with your significant other."
"Yeah, kids would be a perfect edition to the house but it can still work without them. Are they expecting kids?"
"No, Bishop says that they're still on the fence about it, but it seems they are leaning towards the 'no' side."
"It just seems sudden." Tony went on to say. "New job, looking for a new place, more secretive."
"Maybe he has another job. Something under the books and NCIS is just a cover up." Tim suggested.
"That's an idea. Or something outright illegal."
They both made their way out of the house thanking the lady for her service and getting back into the car.
"Why would he have an illegal job? Money?" Tim questioned, getting more curious about this case of Tony's.
"No, from what I have been told they are good on money. It has to be something bigger. Owing a favor to someone or maybe even just getting involved in the wrong crowd."
"He working in cyber crimes…."
"And who would want to get a computer geek in their illegal action." Tony finished for him.
"I would have put it in better terms, but yes."
"He did work in NSA. They deal with some serious stuff over there."
"Yeah, I guess. I mean if he is working with someone sketchy than they could just be using him as the tech guy. Where exactly are we going?" Tim asked once he realized they were going in the opposite direction of Tony's office.
"Oh, I have to stop by my apartment." He casually mentioned.
McGee just raised his eyebrow, indication for Tony to explain why.
He let out a big sigh before turning into his street.
"My father lives in the same apartment complex as me. Annoying as hell, I tell you. I keep leaving housing pamphlets in his apartment or even trying to convince him to move back to New York where he belongs. No luck so far though. Anywho he's sick, it's just the flu but he's acting like it's the freaking plague. As his only living heir, it's my civic duty to keep him alive. His words not mine, he wants me to make him soup, I have some I just have to hand deliver it to him. Despite the fact it's just 3 floors up and he has a freaking key. But whatever." Tony ranted while getting out of the car. "Be right back."
Tim looked around the car, it was pretty neat. Which he was surprised because he expected Tony to be a total slob. There was just the usual papers scattered in the back and Tony's equipment. The console just had some wrappers and his iPod on top.
Making sure that the PI was still inside, he decided to look through his music taste:
Frank Sanitaria
Ella Fitzgerald
Sammy Davis Jr.
Michael Buble
A touch of Bob Marley.
Tim didn't know what to expect from the PI but it was not that. It was actually surprised that they had pretty similar music taste.
Tim quickly put the ipod back and pulled out his phone when he saw Tony come out of the building.
"You don't live with your old man, do you?" Tony asked once he got back into the car.
"Umm...no."
"Good, count your lucky stars. I swear my dad moving in was not the best idea. I mean at least he doesn't actually live with me. Now that would be something." Tony said while pulling out of the parking spot.
"What about a gang?" McGee suggested after thinking more about the case.
"What?"
"What if Jake is part of some gang?" He repeated.
"He doesn't really seem like a 'join a gang' type. But let's say he is, what gang?" Tony asked, seeing if McGee was actually going somewhere with this.
"Ummm…I don't have an answer to that. I mean where does he normally hang out?" He quickly asked, after getting the side glare from the PI.
"At work and home. The wife mentioned something about weekend trips to somewhere but I can ask specifically when I see her later." He confirmed.
"Now come on, you can't just drop off a new toy at my door and expect me to figure it out all on my own." Tony somewhat commanded when they pulled into the office.
"I did leave a manual for you." McGee reminded him while walking in with him.
"Manuals are for squares." He said while picking up the stack of mail left for him on Kate's desk and heading towards his office.
"And if you really didn't want to help me you would have made up some better excuse. Also, you wouldn't have followed me in."
"Only because I don't want you to break the damn thing when you just got it."
"Whatever you say, McGoo." Tony teased while opening up the door.
"Okay, so this is the 'on' button." He said slowly with a hint of a smirk.
"I'm learning so much." The PI exaggerated.
Sorry, I haven't posted in a while. Life got in the way but enjoy this chapter! Thanks for all the reviews and favorites so far :). You all are awesomesause. Leave some theories or what would you like to see. I would love to read them.