Hey, sorry for taking so long. I had a really busy week. I hope you like this chapter. Please let me know if you have any suggestions or if you don't understand it. I am trying to make it more flowing, but still incorporate several scenes. Just to let you all know this is the sequel to A Familiar Face. Let me know what you think! Thanks to those of you who have reviewed the story already!
(Here is the ending of chapter 3)
"Who is in interrogation now?"
"Hughes and Gray are here."
"Call Ziva and tell her to pick up Captain Tory." Vance shooed her out of his office, but stopped her before she closed the door. "I want all of you back in my office in two hours."
"Yes Director." She glared. He had taken her title away and in a way it was a blessing but at the same time a curse.
Chapter 4
"Agent Gibbs," Austin Gray greeted him as Gibbs walked into the room. McGee, Ziva, and Tony watched through the glass mirror as Gibbs took a seat across from Gray.
"That's Gibbs' father-in-law." McGee said almost hesitantly.
"They could be the same age." Tony chuckled. "Someone has a father complex."
"A what?" Ziva asked, looking strangely at Tony. They were supposed to be interrogating Hughes and Tory, but they wanted to see how Gibbs would react to meeting his father-in-law for the first time.
"A father complex," Tony replied. "It's where a female…usually younger…dates a man significantly older."
"There is nothing wrong with dating an older man." Ziva shrugged.
"What Tony means is Madeline is young and she is dating someone who could be…or rather is…her father's age." McGee added.
"I think dating older men is better. They have more maturity." Ziva smirked.
"I don't think that describes-" McGee was elbowed in the stomach by Tony, silencing him.
"I'm not that old." Tony crossed his arms over his chest.
"But I am still younger," Ziva smiled before a serious look crossed her face and she silenced everyone.
"Captain Gray," Gibbs unbuttoned his blazer and relaxed into the chair.
"Why am I here? Do I need a lawyer?"
"No, you are just here to answer a few questions." Gibbs informed him. "But, should you wish to retain legal counsel you can."
"What do you want to know that I already haven't told Maddie?"
"Agent Todd has informed me of the basic information."
"You mean Agent Gibbs?" He smirked. "I know she is married."
"Tell me when the last time is that you spoke to your daughter." Gibbs pulled out his pad and pencil to take notes.
"Which one?"
"Danielle,"
"About a month ago, she was calling from her apartment in D.C. She had just gotten home from work and was going to be meeting Graycin Hughes for dinner. He was her on and off again boyfriend for the past couple years. He lives here and in California. She met him while he was stationed in Germany on tour. She was doing a piece there on the soldiers and the war effort."
"Do you know this Hughes?"
"I've never met him, only heard about him. I did some digging and found out he was arrested a few times for being disorderly and for a claim of domestic abuse. I told Danielle he was no good. She didn't want to listen, but I think Maddie talked some sense into her. She wanted to break it off with Hughes, but he had this big trip planned with her to go to France and everything had already been paid for. She was supposed to go three weeks ago and stay for a week. I haven't heard from her at all which is unusual because she calls every night." He finished.
"Did she leave any information on where she would be staying?"
"No," He shook his head. "But then again it's your job to find that information out isn't it?"
"We'll reach you at your home should we have any more questions." Gibbs stood up and headed for the door.
"You know you never asked me," Gray sat there.
"Asked you what?"
"For my permission to marry Maddie, I mean she is my daughter after all."
"I don't need your permission." Gibbs left the door open a crack as he walked over to where Gray was sitting. "She doesn't want to be bothered with you. Should you choose to continue to harass her I will put an end to it. Do you understand me?"
"No need for threats Agent Gibbs," He stood up. "Tell Madeline I said goodbye."
"Run!" Tony knew if they were caught standing around they'd get yelled at.
As they scattered into the hallway, Ziva ducked into the observation room of the second interrogation room where Tory was being held. Tony headed down to where Hughes was kept and McGee was still in the hallway as Gibbs stepped out of the room. Gibbs waited for Gray to enter the elevator before pulling McGee aside.
"What are you doing?" Gibbs asked.
"Uh – getting the information from Danielle's credit card?"
"Well what are you doing down here?"
"Nothing boss,"
"Get to work McGee,"
"Yes boss," McGee headed up to the main floor where his desk was as Gibbs went down the hallway to the next room. He wanted to wait to talk to Hughes until he got the information from McGee. Walking into the observation room, he found Ziva waiting for him.
"Why are you standing around?"
"Do you want me to interrogate him?" Ziva asked.
"I want you to be doing something not standing around." Gibbs shook his head. "I don't know what's with you people today." Ziva left the room and headed into the room where Tory was sitting.
"What is the meaning of this?" The older captain of fifty years asked as Ziva walked in with a folder. "Do I need a lawyer?"
"Do you think you need one because if you are guilty than yes you will need one."
"I have nothing to hide."
"The body we found on base today was of a young woman." She pulled out a picture of the girl's face and showed it to him. "We have information saying that she was with you."
"I've seen her around base. She probably is with one of the younger guys."
"She's not an American citizen. She was purchased and we have reliable information saying that she was purchased by you." Ziva pulled out a pile of papers that were stapled together. "We got a search warrant that gave us access to search your home, bank records, and phone records."
"I had no notice that you were doing this."
"What we found was a withdrawal of five hundred thousand dollars and the money was transferred to an off shore bank account…this one." She pointed to another paper that had a routing number on it. "What could you have possibly bought with that much money in such short of time?"
"I was paying off a house I bought in Hawaii."
"Oh really?" She flipped through the papers. "Because we have the documents here stating that the foreclosure you were going to buy fell through so they never received that money."
"I want a lawyer."
"Are you sure about that?" Ziva chuckled. "Because we have Lt. Hughes next door who you made several phone calls to in the past couple months and I'm sure he'd be able to enlighten us about your extracurricular activities." She went to stand, but he put his hand up to stop her.
"Wait," He sighed. "Give me a minute."
"You have a minute." She stood up and leaned against the wall. "Gather your thoughts,"
"What are you doing here?" Tony asked as he came face to face with Madeline in the observation room where Hughes was waiting.
"Trying to think of the best possible way to kill him without leaving any evidence behind," Madeline looked through the glass.
"Little spiteful?" Tony joked.
"For all I know he could have killed my sister."
"How did you-"
"I know you were all watching me when I was talking to Captain Gray."
"Oh,"
"You and McGee are very predictable you know that?" Madeline smacked him upside the head.
"Just looking out for you," Tony winced. "You know Ziva was there too?"
"She was looking out for me." Smiling to herself, she knew how to leave Tony speechless.
"Did I tell you how ravishing you-" He started but she shushed him.
"I married DiNozzo,"
"Yeah, because he got to you first." Pulling Madeline into his arms, he started to joke with her to take her mind off of her sister and Hughes.
"Oh DiNozzo, you know it would have never worked out for us." She swooned.
"Because I'm not old enough?" He winked.
"No, because there are some things that come with age…that get better…" She whispered in his ear. "And better…and better."
"Oh," Tony waited for a second before realization hit him. Backing away, he closed and covered his eyes acting as if he had seen something he hadn't wanted to see. "Didn't want to picture that…oh…that's my boss… oh."
"You know we did have two children?"
"Stop!" He whined. "I have images burned in my mind."
"Oh calm yourself." She smacked his arm. "Where is Jethro?"
"Gibbs is in interrogation observing Ziva with Captain Tory."
"Think I'd have a shot with him?" She pointed her chin to Hughes. "Just one round?"
"You know what will happen, but then again you can probably work your way back in by…"
"Tony, Jethro and I stay professional at work."
"Where are you going?" He asked.
"In," She walked out and into the interrogation room.
"Well talk." Ziva sat back down and put a piece of paper and a pen in front of him. "And make sure to write it down."
"I knew Hughes from when we were both stationed in Germany. After he returned from Germany to California, I knew he was seeing a girl in D.C. He showed me her picture when we were deployed."
"How did you get involved with this girl?" She pointed to the photo.
"While over there, I told Hughes of my issues."
"Your issues in bed?" Ziva smirked.
"No, that I wanted to settle down. I am perfectly capable in bed." He rebutted.
"Continue,"
"When he went back to California where we were stationed before D.C. he told me he found someone for me. When I got stateside he introduced her to me and I liked what I saw. It wasn't until a week later, when I came to D.C. that I found out she was illegal and I would have to pay for her…"
"How did Hughes get the girl into the country?"
"He knew someone in California by the border."
"What do you mean?"
"He wouldn't tell me, but I think there are some people he knows that keep a channel open on the border for smuggling."
"How did the girl get to D.C.?"
"She flew with tickets he paid for. She came to live with me and we were married, but then she tried to run."
"Did you kill her?"
"I-"
"Did you kill her!" She slammed her fist down on the table. "She was eighteen, taken from her home, starved, and beaten."
"No, I didn't kill her."
"Then who did?"
"I don't know." He sighed. "When she started acting out I wanted my money back for someone who actually wanted to be with me. So I took her back to Hughes once he got to D.C. He has an apartment in Georgetown. I don't know how she got to the barracks. I hadn't seen her for a week. He told me he was going to try and talk some sense into her." Tory wrote on the paper. "Can I get a deal and a lawyer now?"
"Fine," Ziva walked to the door. "Next time you are having intimacy issues go to one of those man stores where you can buy porn do not buy a woman who is being human trafficked."
"I told you I-" He didn't have time to finish as she shut the door and met Jethro in the hallway.
"What did I tell you last time I saw you Graycin?" Madeline stood behind him, both hands on the desk leaning over him, as she spoke into his ear.
"I believe it was along the lines of you'd kill me if I hurt your sister."
"Yeah," She smirked. "And what else?"
"You'd castrate me first." Tony winced from behind the glass.
"Where should we start?" Wrapping her arm around his neck, she put him in a choke hold. "Where is she Hughes?"
"I don't know what you're talking about." He shook his body, trying to loosen her grip. "This is brutality. I could have your badge you know that?"
"Oh you want to make this a fair fight?" She let go of him, reached down, and released him from his cuffs. "Let's dance girlie."
"You know Madeline, I never liked you." He pushed his chair back. "You were always butting yourself into me and Danielle's business." He flung the table back against the wall giving them more space.
"Oh no," Tony went out into the hallway to find Ziva, Gibbs, and McGee standing in what he called a 'campfire' position. "Boss,"
"DiNozzo get to work!" Gibbs tried to shoo him away as McGee continued working.
"I checked out Danielle Gray's credit card and she did purchase two tickets to France, of course, the money was transferred from Hughes bank account to pay for it. However, I called the airport and got the footage from the airport and they did board the flight."
"What is the however for?" Ziva asked.
"Boss-" Tony could only imagine what was happening with Madeline.
"When they arrived in Paris she was pushed out on the wheel chair. If you zoom in on the camera footage she looks like she was drugged. Then, an hour later, under a credit card for Danielle Clark, two tickets were bought to go to Chihuahua. They arrived there the next day and all the airport has is footage of them leaving the airport."
"Did you get a license plate?" Gibbs asked.
"Yeah," He nodded. "Abby is working on it now."
"Boss," Tony said loudly.
"What Tony?" Gibbs, Ziva, and McGee all looked at him as if he had rudely interrupted their conversation.
"You might want to go in there." He pointed to the interrogation room. "I don't think Hughes is going to be doing so well much longer." Tony followed them into the observation room looking in on the interrogation.
"Come on Graycin, you hit her…why can't you hit me?" Madeline punched him in the gut.
"Stupid bitch," Running at her, he rammed her into the opposite wall pinning her there.
"Madeline!" Jethro let his emotions get the better of him and headed for the door.
"Listen here you prick," Kneeing Hughes in the groin, he backed away from her. "You're going to tell me where my sister is." Kicking him again, she slammed him onto the ground. "And you're going to start talking now." Putting her foot on his throat she caught her breath as he put his hands up in surrender.
"Agent Todd." Gibbs rushed in and called her over to him. Reluctantly, she walked away from Hughes, who was still on the ground.
"Yes boss?" She wiped her lip, noticing some blood on her hand.
"Outside now." Taking her out into the hallway, he brushed back a strand of her disheveled hair and wiped away the last spot of blood. "Are you okay?"
"Yeah, just peachy."
"Now that that is taken care of…" He kissed her forehead. "What the hell do you think you were doing in there?" He smacked the back of her head. "You could have been hurt."
"This is domestic assault now." She rubbed the back of her head.
"I told you that I'd bench you. Clearly, I need to now after seeing that." His finger pointed to the closed door.
"It won't happen again. You can't take me off the case plus Vance wanted us all involved anyways."
"Did he tell you anything?" Gibbs asked.
"Who? Vance or Hughes, because Hughes was a little too preoccupied to talk."
"Vance."
"He said nothing, just that he wanted to see us all in his office about two hours ago. I assume he will be here shortly."
"Boss!" McGee burst out of the door as Ziva ran from the observation room to the interrogation room.
"What?" Both Madeline and Jethro answered. She still was used to being called boss or director.
"I need an ambulance to headquarters." Tony spoke on the cell phone as he walked down the hallway to the elevator.
"What's going on?" Gibbs snapped his fingers in front of McGee.
"Its Hughes sir," He started to explain. "He stood up after you guys left and then he fell back down and started seizing. There was foam coming from his mouth. Ziva is in with him and Tony is getting the ambulance."
"Madeline?" Gibbs looked to her.
"I hit him, but I avoided serious damage boss," She responded. "He's not on any drugs that I know of."
"Gibbs," Ziva walked out of the room as the EMTs ran down the hallway towards the room. "He's dead."
All eyes turned to Madeline and Gibbs as the EMTs went into the room to get the body. Madeline felt a wave of guilt rush over her. She couldn't have hit him that hard? Could she? Looking at Gibbs, he gave her a reassuring glance before they heard Vance's voice from down the hallway.
"It wasn't you." Ziva answered. "A few years ago I was in an elevator with a suspect. I may have…hit him…and he died. They thought I killed him, but I was proved innocent." She put a hand on Madeline's shoulder.
"Thanks Ziva," She smiled.
"All of you in my office now." Vance ordered as a look crossed all of their faces. They knew this could only lead to disaster…and more paper work.
