A bit of a short chapter here. Hope you all enjoy. I've gotten a short way into chapter 4. I hope to have that one up by sometime early next week. That one should be longer.
MERCHANDISE – Chapter Two – "Professional Courtesy"
Gibbs and DiNozzo rode the elevator up from Abby's lab to the bullpen in silence. Gibbs was busy thinking about how he intended to break Hal Musgrave in Interrogation. Tony was fiddling with his new smart phone. Regardless of whether Gibbs could break him or not, Musgrave's goose was cooked. He'd resisted arrest, and the blood sample that Tony had collected from the pavement, a result of a minor laceration, would tie him to the murder of Petty Officer Lauren Wood, but Gibbs wanted the confession anyway. He always did.
The doors opened and they both stepped out into the orange painted hallway, Tony slipping his phone back into the little leather belt case that held it. McGee was still with Abby, and Ziva had run out to pick them up a late lunch from the Chinese place down the street. Only Kate should have been in the bullpen, finishing up on the background for Musgrave. They were both surprised to find Director Vance standing at Kate's desk and getting an update from her.
"Ah, Gibbs," he said, "you brought in Musgrave?"
"Yeah," the MCRT leader said, maneuvering around Vance to reach his own desk. "He's in Interrogation."
"Any doubt that he's the right man?" Vance asked.
"Nope," Gibbs said. "My gut says he did it."
Tony jumped in, "Abby is running a DNA test right now that will prove it beyond any doubt…not that I would ever doubt your gut, Boss."
"Good," Vance said. "Gibbs, we have a guest in my office. I need you for this meeting."
"I'm on my way to interrogate Musgrave," Gibbs said as he slid his Sig into his top, right hand desk drawer.
"Agent Todd can handle that," Vance said. Before Tony could ask why he hadn't been chosen, Vance continued. "You and I, and Agent DiNozzo, are going to have a little chat with Agent Fornell."
Kate looked to Gibbs, who nooded that she should, indeed take the Interrogation. "What does the FBI want this time?" Gibbs asked as Kate started for the elevator.
"They want a favor," Vance replied, somewhat cryptically, "and I'm inclined to agree, but only with your say so. It is your team, after all."
DiNozzo's brow furrowed as he considered the Director's statement. In general, since he'd joined NCIS, there had been more animosity and dirty tricks between NCIS and FBI than any real sense of fraternity and cooperation. Of course, Gibbs and Fornell had proven on a few occasions that they could set aside their differences and work together, when it was truly required. He wondered if this would be one of those times. He followed his two superiors up the stairs and into the Director's office.
Fornell was sitting at the small conference table in Vance's office, sipping at a cup of coffee that he'd brought with him. Three more cups sat on the corner of the table, along with a small paper sack with small packets of cream and sugar. He stood when the other men entered, extending a hand. "Jethro," he said.
"Tobias," Gibbs responded, shaking the offered hand, and then a cup of coffee before sitting opposite the FBI man.
Having already greeted the Director, Fornell offered his hand to Tony next, "Di-Notzo."
"Toby," Tony said. He shook Fornell's hand and set about making himself the sickly sweet coffee that Gibbs could never understand.
Once everyone was settled, Director Vance decided it was time to get the ball rolling. "Agent Fornell has requested that your team be temporarily assigned to his FBI task force, Gibbs."
Tony nearly choked on his sip of coffee, and Gibbs' eyes narrowed dangerously as he glared across the table at Fornell. Before he could turn said death glare on Vance, the Director continued, "I'm inclined to agree with his request." Tony's eyes, which he'd have wagered a year's salary could not get bigger, near doubled in size. Even the unflappable L.J. Gibbs seemed just the tiniest bit surprised. "However," Vance went on, "I intend to leave the decision up to you. It is your team, and there is no true Navy connection here that I can see."
Gibbs looked across the table to Fornell, "What is this about, Tobias?"
Fornell reached down to the briefcase that rested beside his chair, setting it on the table in front of him. He removed three thick manila file folders, sliding one across the table to each of the three men seated with him. "Director Murray authorized me to set up a new Task Force this morning," he said as Tony and Gibbs opened the files and began to leaf through them. The Director had already reviewed an electronic copy.
"Twenty-five kids in the last week," DiNozzo said, letting a slow whistle escape through his teeth.
"Human trafficking," Gibbs said. "What makes this something NCIS would devote resources to?"
"Nothing," Tobias answered honestly. "I'm here for more personal reasons." Gibbs quirked an eyebrow at that remark and took another sip of his coffee. "I'm overseeing the Task Force, but Director Murray wants me to stay in D.C., so I chose another Agent to head it up."
"I take it we know this Agent?" Gibbs said.
"Oh, God," Tony said, "not Sacks! Please don't let it be Sacks!"
"Relax, DiNotzo," Tobias said, "Agent Sacks transferred to the Chicago office two months ago. Seely Booth is in charge, and he wants your team on the Task Force."
"Why?" The question was from the Director, but it was the exact one Gibbs had intended to ask next.
"He respects you, Gibbs," Tobias answered.
"That can't be the only reason you agreed to it," Gibbs said.
"You're a great investigator."
"That's true, Boss," Tony put in. "Besides, Booth is one of the few FBI guys we've met who isn't a total douche. No offense, Toby."
"None taken, DiNotzo."
"What haven't you told us yet?" Gibbs asked.
"Check the list of victims," Tobias said. "As I understand it, you know one of the possible victims." Gibbs flipped through the file until he found the name.
"Alexis Castle," he paused for a moment, drawing a deep breath. "Damn."
"Booth caught that case this morning. She's been missing since Wednesday night," Fornell said.
Gibbs looked to Vance with a weighing expression.
"It's your call, Gibbs," the Director said.
"You'd be reporting to Booth," Fornell said, "and he'd be reporting to me."
"Tony," Gibbs said, "go downstairs and brief the team."
"On it, Boss," DiNozzo said, scooping up his copy of the file, and Vance's as well on his way out. "You don't mind, right Director?" He took Vance's silence as agreement.
When DiNozzo was gone, Gibbs asked, "Your Director agreed to this?"
"I had to do a little tap dance, but in the end…" Tobias said, ending with a shrug.
"Who else is in on this?" Gibbs asked.
"So far," Fornell responded, "Booth has a dozen Agents here in Washington, and half-a-dozen in Boston, New York, Philly, Baltimore and Atlanta. The BAU is sending an Agent to advise Booth, most likely Emily Prentiss."
"We've worked with her before. She's good," Gibbs said, at Vance's questioning look. "Local LEOs?"
Fornell said, "D.C. Metro has a Detective named Cheney. Beckett and Castle are flying down from New York. I believe you know them all. The names for the Boston, Philly, Baltimore and Atlanta guys are in the file."
"Let's get started," Gibbs said, standing and moving toward the door. Fornell followed him.
