Framed Chapter 3
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Kensi, Sam and Callen headed out and split up to canvas the area and returned back a few hours later.
"Anything?" Asked Callen
"People remember seeing her in the area, but never two Nell's at the same time." Said Kensi
"We need to get a look at those surveillance tapes." Said Callen as they made their way back to OPS.
Meanwhile Nell and Deeks had finished prepping and were in the boathouse waiting for Destasio's arrival while Hetty was just arriving when she heard Deeks starting to speak and waited before entering.
Deeks got up to make them both a cup of tea while they waited.
"So uh you never mentioned that you had a twin sister. I mean I knew you said you came from a big family. But I mean a twin sister that's kind of cool."
Nell shot Deeks a look.
"I mean, it's not cool when she frames you for murder but other than that."
Nell smiled. "It's alright Deeks. I understand."
"We lost touch when I moved to LA. I feel bad that I didn't stay in touch with her you know, maybe if I had I wouldn't be in this situation." She said as avoided eye contact with Deeks.
"Nell look at me." He said, but Nell still didn't make eye contact.
"Nell? Nelly? Nellosaurus?" Said Deeks. The last one caused Nell to smile and chuckle softly and look back at Deeks.
Deeks put his hand over Nell's. "None of this is your fault. Understand. We're gonna find your sister and clear your name."
Nell nodded.
"Mr Deeks is right Ms Jones." Said Hetty as she walked into the boatshed. "None of this is our fault, we will find your sister and she will face what she has done."
Nell smiled and nodded.
"Mr Deeks, Detective Destasio will be here shortly. Are you and Ms Jones prepared?"
"Yep, we're good to go." He said as Nell nodded.
"Now we wait." Said Hetty as she took at seat at the table next to Deeks and Nell.
Meanwhile Callen, Sam and Kensi had arrived back at the mission at walked up the stairs and into OPS.
"Any luck with the canvas?" Asked Eric as the three of them walked back in to OPS.
"People remember seeing Nell in the area, but not two of them at the same time or even around the same time." Said Kensi
"Eric, how are you going with the surveillance footage? Asked Sam.
Eric picked up his tablet and brought up 4 screens on the big screen and started playing the footage.
"I've been going through the footage of Nell's paths over the last two weeks looking to see if anyone's been following her. This is what I found." He said as he enlarged two of the screens.
The four of them watched the surveillance footage and saw who they assumed to be Melissa following Nell on her running path.
"We can't confirm that's Melissa." Said Kensi
Callen looked at Kensi. "Eric, follow the person following Nell, and let me know the minute they face the camera. Also keep trying to find their face on any reflective surfaces. Anything you can do to put together a composite."
Eric nodded.
"Eric can you send those 3 surveillance videos, one to of each of us and let us go through it. Send it to our tablets." Said Callen
"On it G." Replied Eric as he tapped his tablet and sent the videos to the three of them as they headed out of OPS and down the stairs and headed back to their desks to start going through the security footage.
Meanwhile Detective Destasio had arrived at the boatshed and walked into find Deeks, Hetty and most importantly Nell sitting at the table.
Hetty got up to greet Detective Destasio whilst Deeks stayed protectively by Nell's side.
"Detective Destasio" She said as she extended her hand.
"Miss Lange." He said as he extended his hand in return.
He walked towards Deeks and Nell.
"Deeks" He said as he looked at him.
"Destasio." He replied not getting up.
"And you must be the reason we're all here." He said as he looked at Nell.
Hetty swallowed hard before introducing Nell.
"Destasio pulled out a chair and took at seat at the table.
"Ms Jones, we you on camera leaving the scene after Ramon Cantano was shot, we have eye witnesses hear him say your name, they heard you arguing with the victim in the minutes leading up to the shooting."
"I might be wrong but I didn't hear a question in their Destasio" Said Deeks.
Destasio shot Deeks a look.
"Ms Jones, what was your relationship with Ramon Cantano?"
"We were dating." She replied.
"You were dating? I see, did any of your friends, family, colleagues know."
"No, it was new."
Nell was answering the questions with short simply responses, just like Deeks had told her too."
"Did you see Mr Cantano the day he was murdered?" he said as he tried to get a reaction out of Nell, but she was holding her own.
Nell thought to herself. "Do I tell him about the argument, the confrontation in the park? He already got mine, Melissa's face off the security footage, if I lie, he'll know." Nell turned to Deeks who nodded.
"Yes I saw him on the day he died?"
"When and where did you see him Ms Jones?"
Nell mind flashed back to the images on the surveillance tape of Melissa shooting Ramon. She was completely zoned off to what was happening around her.
"Ms Jones?" Said Destasio in a more forceful tone, but Nell didn't respond.
Deeks moved his hand to Nell. "Nell? It's Deeks, you alright?"
Nell shook herself back to reality. "Sorry, um what was the question?" she asked.
Destasio asked again.
"I saw him earlier that day. I went to his apartment to surprise him."
"And this is when you got into the fight?"
Nell nodded.
"What was the fight about?"
"I saw a woman coming out of his apartment."
"He was cheating, and you confronted him, you argued."
"I asked him to leave me alone and I left. I went back to my apartment." She said
Destasio pulled out a file from his briefcase. "It's what, about a 15, 20 minute drive back to your apartment? We dumped Cantano's phone and I can see he called you not long after you got back to your apartment. What did you two talk about?"
"I just told him that we were over and that I didn't want to talk to him and for him to leave me alone."
"Really that's funny because after we found out who you were we had some uniforms canvass your building and they said that they heard you yelling I hate you, I hate you. I wish you were dead, and you got your wish Miss Jones because Ramon Cantano is dead.
"She was upset Destasio." Said Deeks.
"Really Deeks? Was she angry enough to kill him over it?" He said as he looked at Nell.
Deeks stood up, put his hands on the desk and leaned over towards Destasio. "This woman is highly respected federal officer and an extraordinary human being who's done more for this country that you can only dream about Destasio. She is being set up."
"Oh this should be good. Really Deeks and who exactly would be setting her up. We have her on video so unless she has a twin roaming around Los Angeles. ..."
Deeks, Nell and Hetty smiled. "Something funny to you?" He asked.
Deeks started to speak but Hetty put her hand up to stop him. "Detective Destasio what Mr Deeks is trying to say is that Ms Jones does indeed have an identical twin. Here in Los Angeles."
"I'm sorry she has a what?"
Deeks started to speak but put her hand on his to stop him. "I have an identical twin sister. Her name is Melissa." Said Nell.
Destasio sat and thought for a moment before speaking. "Okay let me get this straight you have an identical twin and you think she's responsible for killing Ramon. That she's tried to frame you and yet we've been through all the security footage in the area and we can't find any trace of your double. Explain that?"
"She's smart okay. She's obviously memorised where the cameras are and avoided them. I mean come on Destasio really. If you actually did your job and checked out Melissa Jones you would know that she was in Trenton Psychiatric, she was on medication and had recently been released."
"You're trying to tell me how to do my job Deeks." He said as he chuckled. "That's real interesting, considering you basically dumped us for NCIS. When was the last time you even walked into a LAPD precient Deeks. huh."
Deeks stood up. "You know what Destasio you're right. I haven't been to LAPD in a while, but it doesn't stop me from remembering how to be a detective and how to work a case"
Hetty stood up. "Mr Deeks.."
Destasio put his hand up and cut her off, while Nell sat silently watching the banter got back and forth.
"It's alright Ms Lange. I initially came here with enough evidence to arrest Ms Jones. We have..
"Wait, what. You can't arrest her" He said as he and Hetty moved in front of Nell to block her from Destasio. "You can't prove that's her."
"Relax Deeks. I said initially. Know that I know she has a twin. I'll look into that. Speaking of which Deeks mind telling me how you knew that her sister was in Trenton Psych and that she was medicated?"
Deeks remained silent.
Destasio smiled. "This is an LAPD investigation Deeks. Ramon Cantano was a civilian!"
"Indeed he was Detective Destasio; however your suspect is one of my people"
Destasio chuckled and looked down at Hetty. "If anyone from NCIS interferes with this investigation I will not hesitate to arrest them for interfering in an ongoing investigation. Stay away from this case. Do you understand me?" he asked
Hetty smiled. "Of course Detective Destasio."
"I also expect Ms Jones to be available for further questioning and not be pulled for some secret mission or find out she's been shipped out of the country." He said as he picked up his jacket and walked out of the boatshed.
"Well that went..." Said Deeks
"Atleast he didn't arrest me" Said Nell.
"No, but we need to find evidence to show that Melissa was following you."
At that moment Eric's face came up on the monitor.
"Hey Guys.."
"Whoa, Eric, I think you're developing ESP." Said Deeks
Eric smiled.
"How are you coming with the security footage Mr Beale?"
"It was alot to go through on my own. Kensi, Sam and Callen are going through different routes each."
"We need to know where they are at with the footage Eric." Said Deeks.
"I'm on it." Said Eric as the screen went blank.
Meanwhile back down in the bullpen Callen, Kensi and Sam were going through surveillance footage when Eric came running down the stairs.
"Hey. I just had Hetty on the monitor and she wants to know where you guys are at with the surveillance footage.
The three of them looked at each other. "We're not completely finished yet."
"Alright then throw up what you have got." He said frustrated voice as he looked at the monitor.
"Eric." Said Callen who stood staring at him along with Sam and Kensi.
Eric turned around to face them realising how he sounded. "Sorry guys it's just its Nell."
Kensi who was standing closest to Eric put her hand on his shoulder and squeezed.
"It's alright we get it" Said Sam as Eric used his tablet to throw up the still's the rest of them had freeze framed from the videos.
"I don't see..."
"Wait" Said Eric as he froze the footage and smiled.
"Eric?" Said Callen
"You found something, didn't you?" Asked Sam
"I didn't see this before. Damn it!"
"Eric what didn't you see?" Asked Callen
"Nell headed back to her apartment, after the shooting. I picked her up on surveillance cameras going into her apartment" Said Eric as he played the feed as the three of them looked on.
"Now watch" He said as they watched on and saw a second figure shaped just like Nell enter the building and exit a little while later."
"Before you ask that's not Nell." Said Eric.
"How do you know?" Asked Sam
"Because, here I have Nell exiting her building for work at 7.37am the next morning."
"Then the other person that exited earlier, has to have been Melissa." Said Kensi
Eric nodded.
"Eric do we have any other footage of Melissa in the area in the time that she left the apartment and when Nell exited the building?" Asked Callen
"I'm still sifting through G."
"Sift fast Eric, and let Hetty know what you found, we're on our way to the boatshed." He said as the three of them exited OPS and headed for the boatshed.
Eric quickly headed back to his station and connected via video link to the boathouse to find Deeks and Nell sitting at the table talking.
"Uh guys, guys I have some news where's Hetty?"
"I'm right here Mr Beale." She replied as she came back into camera shot.
Eric went through and explained to Hetty, Deeks and Nell what he had found.
"Well done Mr Beale." Smiled Hetty
"Thanks Eric." Said Nell
Eric smiled and disconnected the video link. A few minutes later Callen, Sam and Kensi walked into the boathouse.
"Eric fill you guys in?" Asked Callen
"Yes, Mr Beale has brought us all up to speed indeed Mr Callen. Now to discuss arrangements for you Ms Jones. I don't recommend that you return home as Detective Destasio will be there keeping an eye on you and as for your sister I assume she will be under the impression that you have been arrested and as such would not be likely to return to your apartment. Here is a key to a NCIS safe house, go there and wait." She said as she held the key out for Nell as the four of them looked on.
Deeks stepped forward. "Hetty. I'm not trying to question you or this decision, or well maybe I am, but it's safer if Nell has one of us with her, we don't know if Melissa has anymore plans regarding Nell and with Destasio out keeping an eye on her..."
Hetty thought for a moment before speaking. "Hmmm, good argument Mr Deeks." She said as she smiled.
"She can come and stay with me at my apartment." Offered Deeks.
"Wait a minute, why you Deeks?" Asked Sam
"Well, you Sam have a family, you have kids, Callen you don't even own a bed, a lounge, TV, food and Kensi, well if we let Nell stay with Kensi we'd never find her the next morning, she'd be trapped under all the things Kensi hoards." Smiled Deeks
"For the last time Deeks I am not a hoarder!" Replied Kensi as everyone chuckled
"So Ms Jones, you will stay under the watchful eye of Mr Deeks."
"Yeah, but who's going to watch Deeks." Smiled Sam
"Going...to..watch, wow Sam."
"We'll be fine Sam" Said Nell.
"You ready to rock Nellosaurus." Said Deeks as he picked up his jacket
Nell smiled and nodded and grabbed her things and headed out of the boathouse.
"Really I don't get anything for the Nellosaurus! No laughs...nothing!" he said as he followed her out.
Next chapter Melissa Jones has another target in her sights, but who will it be.
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