Chapter 3

Tony woke up with a start, unsure why. It was dark, quiet.

...but wait, it wasn't quiet.

What was that sound?

He sat up in the dark house. As he looked toward the window, he saw a lot of movement from Tim's cot.

"Hey...McGee."

No response.

"Tim, what's up?"

Suddenly, Tim sat up, too, but instead of talking to Tony, he stood and started toward the door.

"Tim, where you going?"

Still, no response.

Tony got up and hurried over, grabbing Tim by the arm just as he got to the door.

"Hey! Probie! Wake up!"

He could barely make out Tim's eyes in the darkness, but he saw Tim blink a few times. Then, Tim looked around.

"What's going on?" he asked.

"I'd like to ask you that," Tony said. "No walking in your sleep, all right? That's just too weird."

Tim laughed. "Well, I don't usually, but I don't know that I have a lot of control over that."

"Were you dreaming?"

"Not that I remember."

"Okay. Back to bed, then. Please?"

Tim chuckled.

"Gladly, even if that cot isn't very comfortable."

Tony grinned. "That's because you're wussy."

"I'll keep that in mind."

Tim went back to his cot and lay down. Tony followed suit and fell asleep again.

x.x.x.x.x.x.x

The pounding woke Tim up, his heart thudding wildly in his chest. He sat up and saw Tony doing the same.

"Who would that be?" Tim asked. He looked at the display on his phone. "It's three a.m."

"I don't know," Tony said.

He got up and started for the door.

"Who is it?" he said loudly.

Then, the pounding was on the wall behind them. Tim jumped again and spun around.

The pounding continued as whatever it was seemed to be running around the house really fast.

"Okay. This is ridiculous," Tony said. "If they're trying to scare us, they're not. I'm just irritated."

Tim couldn't explain why, but he was scared. In fact, when he realized that Tony was about to go outside, it was like something momentarily took control of his mouth.

"Don't go out there!" he said.

Even to himself, his voice sounded strange. He saw Tony turn away from the door.

"What's wrong, Tim?"

"I...don't know, but I really, really don't think you should go out there right now, Tony."

Then, they heard what sounded like something on the roof.

"I don't know what's out there, but don't open the door. Please, don't open the door."

"Okay... Okay, Tim. Whatever you say."

Tony's voice was extremely calm, as if he was worried about Tim's sanity and was trying to calm the crazy person. Tim didn't really blame him. He took a deep breath and tried to calm down. He walked back to his cot and sat down on it.

The pounding on the walls resumed, and he was terrified by it, but he tried not to show it. Tony walked to his cot and sat, facing Tim.

"What do you think is so dangerous?" he asked.

"I don't know. Honestly, I have no idea."

"Then, why are you so worried?"

"I don't know that, either." Tim looked toward the window, and let out an undignified shout. "Look!"

Tony turned, but he was too slow. The...the thing was gone. The pounding didn't start up again.

"What?"

"There was something in the window. Not someone. Something. The eyes were glowing...like when you shine a light on a dog's eyes."

"Tim, are you nuts?"

"I don't know. Maybe...but I feel like I'm awake and sane."

"Okay. Well, we'll see what happens in the morning. If you still feel that way..."

"I'll let you know. Maybe it's just my imagination working overtime after what happened yesterday."

"What happened?"

"I thought I saw something out in the desert while I was looking for Officer Lapahie. I tripped over a rock and fell. I couldn't tell you what I saw, but there was something out there. And with the way that PFC Miller was killed... Maybe I'm just on edge."

"Okay. I'll buy that...as long as you don't try to hide anything."

"I won't."

"Okay." Tony took breath and sighed. "I'm still tired."

"Yeah. Me, too."

"I'm going back to sleep. See you when the sun comes up. Sweet dreams, Probie."

Tony lay down and was asleep in just a few minutes. Tim still felt extremely tense after what he'd seen. That had not been his imagination. Now, he couldn't deny that it was possible someone was just playing a trick on them, but still, there had been something in the window, something that was moving very quickly...and could climb. Whatever it was, Tim was sure that he didn't want to see it without a barrier between them.

Tim didn't get back to sleep until about an hour later.

x.x.x.x.x.x.x

Tony sat up and yawned. The sun was up, thank goodness. The night had been strange enough. With that thought, he looked over at Tim who was still asleep. What had got into him during the night? His reaction had been strange at best, disturbing at worst. If Tim had sounded any less terrified, Tony would have ignored him and gone outside anyway, but there had been something in Tim's voice, something that had stopped him in his tracks. Even if he had been worried about Tim's sanity a little, he couldn't have gone outside after hearing that fear.

He decided to get ready for the day. He thought that maybe the tiny bathroom might have improved...maybe the water was magically hot.

Nope. Well, he'd had cold showers before. Quickly, he got himself clean and then out of the cold water. By the time he dressed and came out of the bathroom, Tim was awake, just stretching as he stood up from the cot.

Tony scrutinized him. There was no sign of the near hysteria that Tim had expressed during the night. Tim turned and smiled at him.

"How was the shower?"

"Still cold," he said.

Tim grimaced. He seemed completely normal now. Still, they should probably talk about it by the logical light of day.

...after breakfast.

Tim went into the bathroom and Tony got the water heating up on the propane stove so they could have some coffee. Just instant, but it was better than not having anything at all. The water in the shower stayed on for all of two minutes, and Tony grinned to himself. Clearly, Tim had no desire to linger, either.

"I hope the coffee's hot," Tim said as he came out of the bathroom, "because the water was freezing."

"Hot, yes. Tasty? That's a different matter."

Tony held out the cup of instant. Tim wrinkled his nose but drank it. Then, to Tony's surprise, he went to the topic on Tony's mind.

"I can't explain what happened last night," he said, staring at his cup. "I don't feel anything like I did last night. I must have just freaked out. I know I overreacted."

"Do you really?"

Tim looked up and smiled.

"Almost. From a logical perspective, it makes a lot more sense that it was someone trying to scare us...kids maybe, especially after all that time we spent yesterday trying to talk to people. It makes sense. It really does."

Tony smiled back. "But?"

"But...just for the sake argument?"

"Okay. Go for it."

"If it wasn't some kids trying to scare us...what was it?"

"What do you think it was?"

Tim hesitated, hitched his shoulder and looked away quickly.

"You were going to say something, Probie. What?" Tony asked.

"Nothing!"

"Remember, this is just for the sake of argument." Tony raised his eyebrows. "Come on, Probie. Say it."

"I have no idea what it was...but it was evil. If it wasn't some kids playing a trick...of course."

Evil. Tony didn't say anything about that, but that was pretty strong. Tim smiled.

"But that was just for the sake of argument." He finished his coffee. "So...what's first?"

"You have that gobbledy-goop that Miller wrote in his email?"

"Yeah."

"Okay. When Officer Lapahie comes by, we'll ask him about it if we get a chance to say anything. Then, we'll get the time line from him or whoever can tell us. He said the council would speak to us today."

Tim nodded and went to grab his stuff. Tony watched him. Tim paused and looked back at him.

"I'm fine, Tony. I think I was just letting myself get spooked."

"Uh-huh."

Tim just raised an eyebrow. "Are you coming?"

"Yeah. I'm coming."

x.x.x.x.x.x.x

"He was near here in the night."

Derrick nodded. It wasn't good, but it wasn't surprising.

"He went to the house the agents are staying in. Sunnie Zah saw him through her window. She's sure."

"Did he get in?" Derrick asked in concern. They wouldn't have known what they were hearing. "Did they open the door when he knocked?"

"No. It doesn't seem that he got in."

"Why would he go there? His focus has always been on us. They're strangers."

"Perhaps that's why. He could have seen them out in the desert."

Derrick thought about what Agent McGee had said the first day the agents had been here. He had seen something. What if it had been him?

"It's possible. Should we tell them, warn them of the danger they could be in?"

"No."

The answer was immediate.

"They won't believe us. They're outsiders. They're here because Robbie brought someone with him when he should have kept it to himself. Let them investigate that and then leave."

"That may put them in danger."

"We have bigger problems, and it is our decision that you do not tell the agents about what is going on. It is not their concern. The sooner they finish and leave, the better."

Derrick nodded in acceptance. He understood the reasoning and even agreed with it. Mostly. If the agents were being targeted, it might be worse if they weren't warned of the danger. Still...maybe it was just a fluke. Maybe he was just going through and tormenting as many as he could. That would fit.

He hoped so.

x.x.x.x.x.x.x

Tony and Tim left the house and headed toward what looked like the main gathering spot of this area. A few cars were on the road. There were some kids getting into a large van. Some older people were standing together talking. Officer Lapahie was with them. As soon as he saw them, his expression closed off.

"I'm tired of seeing that," Tim said. "I wish he'd trust us. The old man I talked to our first day took the time to talk to me and he said he believed me."

"Don't let him get to you, McGee."

"I know. I'll work on it." Still, Tim couldn't deny that he still felt edgy after last night. Officer Lapahie's lack of trust wasn't helping that feeling.

"Good. I don't want to have to keep being the more reasonable of the two of us."

Tim chuckled and then schooled his expression as Officer Lapahie approached them.

"Good morning, Officer Lapahie," Tony said.

"Good morning," Officer Lapahie said, neutrally. "How did you sleep?"

"Fine," Tony said without batting an eye. There was no reason to bring up the sounds in the night or whatever Tim had seen.

Tim could have sworn that Officer Lapahie looked a little surprised by that easy answer.

"Good. What can I do for you?"

"First, a quick question."

"Yes?"

Tim held out the paper with the phrase that PFC Miller had written.

"Do you recognize this? Is it a Navajo phrase?"

He looked and Tim watched as he examined it. If he recognized it, he gave no sign at all.

"No. It's not Navajo."

On a whim, Tim decided to probe a little bit.

"Are there any other dialects the Diné speak that this could be? Any variations or even other languages?"

This time, Tim knew he'd surprised Officer Lapahie, although he didn't know why. However, Officer Lapahie did check it again more closely.

"No. I don't recognize this at all. I'm sorry." He handed the paper back. "Why?"

"Petty Officer Miller wrote about it to his family, said that he probably had spelled it wrong but that it had something to do with why Petty Officer Natani was coming here."

"Either it's so wrong that I don't recognize it or it's not a Diné word."

"All right. Thanks."

"Is there anything else?"

"Yes," Tony said. "Could you, or anyone else for that matter, tell us what happened from the time that Natani and Miller got here to when Miller was found dead?"

Officer Lapahie took a breath and considered the question. Then, he looked over at the small group who were clearly watching and waiting for something.

"None of us were with them all the time, but all of us can give you parts. If this is important..."

"Yes, it is," Tony said.

"All right. Come on."

He led them to the group.

"This is the council. They make decisions for the clans that live here. They are also neighbors and friends." He looked at them. "Agent DiNozzo and Agent McGee would like to ask about what happened."

"Of course. Come inside and we can talk about it."

"Thank you," Tony said.

Tim caught the formal tone. Once again, Tony was keeping himself completely professional. The same closed-off expression was on the faces of all the men on the council. Tim caught a glimpse of the people who had stopped to watch them, but before he could feel self-conscious about the attention, he noticed the old Navajo man again. He smiled and nodded to him. The man smiled back.

Then, it was inside. Tony and Tim sat down and the council sat across from them.

"Robbie and his friend came here a few days ago."

"What was the reason?" Tony asked. "We haven't been able to figure that out from what Petty Officer Miller told his family. Was it something personal?"

"Yes. It was about his brother," Officer Lapahie said.

The others stiffened, and Officer Lapahie said nothing more.

"What about his brother?" Tim asked. "You said before that he had...gone astray? Was that why?"

"Yes," said one of the council. "His brother was...betraying his upbringing."

"In what way?"

"He was rebellious."

"Was?" Tony asked.

"Probably still is," Officer Lapahie said. "It was more a last effort to reach him that led us to ask Robbie to come back."

"Are they close?"

"Not for years, but they are each the only family they have left. It was worth a try."

"So...where is he?" Tim asked. "Petty Officer Natani's brother. Where is he?"

"We don't know."

"What about when they came here. Where was he, then?"

"We don't know."

"Then, why ask him to come here if you didn't know where his brother was?"

"He'd been seen, here and there, but no one has known where he is staying, where he is hiding."

Tim looked sideways at Tony. This was one of the more frustrating interviews they'd done. Tony leaned forward.

"Do you think that Petty Officer Natani's brother could have killed Petty Officer Miller?"

They all exchanged significant glances.

"We would hope that he would never do such a thing."

"But it's possible?" Tony persisted.

"Many things are possible."

Tim felt himself getting tense. Why was he so on edge? It didn't make sense, particularly when Tony was so easily keeping himself cool.

"Where were they staying?"

"Two houses north of here."

"Would you mind if we looked at it?"

"The other man's belongings have already been taken out."

"We know," Tony said. "We need to look into every angle."

"Yes, that would be fine," Officer Lapahie said. "I can let you in."

"Thanks. So...after they got here, what did they do?"

"Robbie introduced his friend to many of us. He showed him around. Then, after they'd been here for a couple of days, in the night, Robbie left the house. His friend went with him. When they were both gone in the morning, we went out looking for them and found Robbie's friend, but not Robbie. We've been looking for him ever since."

"Is there anything else you can think of that we might need to know?"

"No."

"All right. Thank you for your time."

Tony looked at Tim and they stood up together. Officer Lapahie left the building with them.

"Robbie's house is just over this way," he said.

"Thanks," Tony said.

Tim started looking around as they walked. He said nothing, but he was searching for that thing again. He couldn't get rid of the feeling of being watched...no, hunted. It put him on edge, and made everything else worse. ...but what bothered him was that no one else seemed to see what he'd seen, and he knew he'd seen something. This wasn't his imagination. He just didn't have the slightest idea what he was seeing.

"Hey, McGee. You coming?"

Tim scanned the area one more time and then nodded.

"Yeah, I'm coming."

He followed Tony and Officer Lapahie into the house. It was a little larger than what Tony and Tim were staying in, but not by much. However, it had been kept up quite well. Tony walked around the room. Tim could tell that he didn't expect to see anything in here.

...but Tim saw something that pinged on his brain. There was a photograph of two young men. He walked over to it.

"Who is this?"

"Robbie and...his brother," Officer Lapahie said.

Tim looked up. "What's his name?"

Officer Lapahie hesitated. "Does it matter?"

For no reason that Tim could explain, his patience suddenly broke. He was frustrated that there were so many road blocks being put up. He was worried about whatever it was that he kept seeing. He was afraid for reasons he couldn't articulate. ...and he felt lost in what he was starting to feel was a completely different world. He was not in the mood for more mistrust.

"Officer Lapahie," he said, trying to keep himself from shouting, "we are trying to figure out how a man died! We are here because a petty officer of the U.S. Navy is dead, by unknown means! Another petty officer is missing, someone that, apparently, you know! We're not here to take over. We're not here to do anything but investigate a crime! That's your job, too. The least you could do is stop trying to keep us from doing our job. I get that you don't want us here, but we're not leaving until we find the truth, until we figure out why one man was killed and another has vanished! If he's alive, we want to find him. If he's not, we want to know why. If you have more important things to do again today, please go do them and let us do our job."

After he stopped talking, he was embarrassed, but he refused to apologize. He was still irritated...as much because he felt like he should say he was sorry as he was because of the way Officer Lapahie was acting.

There was an awkward silence.

"McGee...maybe you should go out and get some fresh air. Clear your head a little," Tony suggested/ordered.

Tim took a breath and nodded.

"Excuse me, Officer Lapahie," he said and then walked out of the house.