When I woke up in the morning I looked up at the clock, nine am. I slept way later then I had hoped that I would have. I feel refreshed and ready to go though, so that is a good thing but I could definitely go for some coffee here soon. I quickly changed into my work clothes and made my way to the bathroom to freshen up for the day, greeting Abby along the way.
In the bathroom I properly washed my hair with shampoo and conditioner in the sink. While the conditioner was setting in I quickly washed and exfoliated my face before I did my makeup and brushed my teeth. You know I could really go for a bowl of fruit or something to go with that coffee... I am feeling a lot better this morning then I did last night, or any of yesterday for that matter. I'm not even going to bother with those crutches today, I'm not hurting. I'm also going to hold off on taking anything for the pain until I really need it.
The reason why everything was so horrible for me yesterday is because Labor Day for everyone else is like Friday the 13thfor me. Bad things always happen on that day, and I'm usually a basket case. It doesn't matter how much training I have, until we get who killing Alison there isn't going to be any changing Labor Day for me.
I washed the conditioner out of my hair, put a headband on to get it out of my face, and I braided it back so when it dries it can have a pretty wave to it. I look much better than I did yesterday, which I am extremely thankful for. If I am going to be seeing the people of my past I need to show them how far I've come in the world. I am Special Agent Aria DiNozzo with NCIS and I am just as good as my husband at my job who has been doing this for ten years longer than I have.
When I felt like I looked presentable I went to the coffee cart outside and got a cup of coffee and that bowl of fruit I've been wanting before I walked back to my desk so I can get updated on what happened over the night and this morning. I'm going to try to keep things objective standpoint and not a personal one. Today is a new day, and I am going to be back to my normal self.
I sat down at my desk and started looking through my email when Tony walked back in. "Hey babe, how're you feeling this morning?" he asked as he gave me my morning kiss and stole my coffee. When he pulled away he took a big gulp out of it, and like every morning he had a look of disgust on his face.
There was nothing to do but laugh at him, "You know you do that every morning, and you hate it every time. Why do you keep on doing that?" I asked him truly curious about why has has done that since the morning after our first date where he took me to a showing of Casablanca. I love how we share a love of old movies.
He shrugged, "We like almost everything the same, except your coffee, so I figure if I drink it long enough then I'll like it too. After I decide that I like your coffee I'll start with books, but you know that could take years. You didn't answer my question, how are you this morning?" he informed me, yup I just loved him a little bit more for that.
A smile spread across my face and I kissed him, "You are so sweet. And yes, I'm doing just fine this morning. You were right I needed a good night's sleep. Besides, I'm always a basket case on Labor Day. So, what happened while I was asleep? Fill me in." I ordered getting down to business so we can get this show on the road.
Tony sat back down in his chair, "Kahn admitted that he did go to look at the crime scene, and he did help with getting the back yard put together, but he wasn't the one to kill her, he had never even seen her before you showed him those photos. When we talked with Marshall it took a while but she admitted the she helped Melissa Hastings find a girl that fit the profile, I can't help but think she's keeping something from us though. We got a hit on the BOLO for Paige McCullers, I actually just got back from picking her up. Would you like to question her?" he asked updating me on everything that happened in my absence.
I stood from my seat and nodded my head, "I would love to go ask her a few questions. Care to accompany me?" I asked as I gathered everything that I would need for the investigation, including the evidence that she stashed in the park and I put it all in a bag so I could bring it out as I saw fit.
He smiled as he took my hand as I stood up. "I also got an agent out to our house there was a listening device on every ground floor window. We've got that taken care of and it should be safe for us to go back there tonight." he informed me on the safety of our home.
Tony and I walked hand in hand to observation where Gibbs and McGee are watching Paige sit and bawl. "She won't stop crying. She hasn't even looked up at her reflection since we put her in there." McGee informed me when I walked in. I looked at her, age has really done a number on her. She might only be twenty-five years old but she looks as if she could be forty. Yup, there is a story to be told here.
Gibbs looked me over, "You gonna be okay to do this?" he asked with the knowledge of the condition I was last night and how I pretty much completely lost it.
I shook my head, "I'll be fine." I promised him as I took Tony's hand and left the observation room and walked into the interrogation room where McCullers is uneasily waiting for us to come in and speak with her.
McCullers didn't so much as look up at us when we walked in, "Get it together McCullers! This is an interrogation room, not a cry room." I told her letting the harshness over rule my voice. She's already scared, so scaring her a little bit more will get her to tell me everything that I want to know.
She slowly looked up at me with wide eyes, "Aria? Wh- What are you doing here?" she whimpered in terror of seeing someone she knew from the past. Her eyes are red and bloodshot, her hair in limp against her head, and her entire body is shaking. She is in quite a state, so there must be a reason behind that- what has she done?
I sat down in the chair in front of her, "Yes, I'm NCIS Special Agent Aria DiNozzo, this is my partner Special Agent Anthony DiNozzo." I introduced ourselves just like I would for anyone else. Just because I knew Paige in a past life doesn't mean that I really know anything about her now. It's been six years since I've seen her, things have changed, people have changed. I pulled out the photo of Camden's dead body lying on a table in autopsy, "Do you know this girl?" I questioned.
As soon as she saw the picture she let out a shriek, "Is that Alison?" she asked trying not to look at the picture too closely. At first glance, it does look a lot like Alison, but you would know after taking a good look at her face that it really isn't her lying on that table.
I shook my head, "The resemblance is remarkable, but no, that is not Alison. This is Andrea Camden. She was fifteen years old, murdered. She received a blow to the back of her head from a shovel, but that isn't what killed her, she suffocated in a back yard grave. Does any of the sound familiar to you?" I told her as I placed the picture of the head wound on top of the first picture.
She nodded her head, "That's how Alison died. What does any of this have to do with me? I promise you I didn't kill anyone, you can give me a polygraph, I'm telling you the truth." she promised me. I could see it in her eyes that she really is telling me the truth. She didn't kill anyone, but she is still keeping something from me and now I have to find out what that is.
Tony looked back at the glass knowing that Gibbs and McGee are right there watching us, "Play the video." he ordered. A few seconds later the video started playing on the screen.
There was no need for me to give the color commentary for this one. As soon as she watched a few seconds of the video she started to hyperventilate. "I... have... a … son... they... took... him... they... text... me... lists... of... things... to... go... and... where... to... be." she informed me through breaths in a weak voice.
I stood up and helped her put her arms over your head, "Okay, I believe you. We will find your son, but you've got to calm down and give us some more information." I ordered her, then looked at Tony, "Get her some water." I requested. We have got to keep her calm, I understand why she isn't but this isn't doing anything for her little boy.
Once we got her to calm down enough we moved her from interrogation to a conference room so she could feel a little more comfortable and understand that she isn't in trouble for trying to get her son back. "Tell me about your son, do you have any pictures? How old is he- what is his name?" I asked going through the list of information that we need as soon as possible.
She nodded her head and pulled out her phone, "That's my son, Ryder. He's six months old, he has cerebral palsy, he has seizures and has a hard time eating sometimes. I just need him back- I need to take care of my baby." she told us as she started to cry again as she saw the picture of her son.
There is no doubt that is her child, he looks so much like her. I looked over at McGee, "Go get Ducky." I requested, then turned back to Paige, "Do you have any idea who took him?" I asked in return for the information that she has given me.
She shrugged her shoulders, "I really don't know. The only time that I really ever get out of the house is when I'll take him to a doctor's appointment. I live with my parents right now so they take care of pretty much everything else. My parents were on a trip about two weeks ago, so I was at home by myself with the baby. When I woke up after taking a nap I went to go check on him him the nursery he was gone and I got this text message that if I tried to call the cops that they would kill him. They said that they would give him back after they had me do some things for him." she informed us as she accepted the box of tissues that Gibbs handed her.
"What kind of things do they have you do?" Gibbs asked her once she had dried her eyes and taken another few deep breaths .
She shrugged, "They gave me shopping lists and different places to go. Yesterday I had to come near here and play on my phone for fifteen minutes, then go straight to Walmart and get a list of things that you would put with animals or something. Everything is very specific, a certain brand, a certain place to buy it. After I do the shopping they always leave me a place to leave the stuff, last time it was a park, I had to leave it in a locker." Paige explained as she brought up the text messages for us to see.
Tony took the phone from her, "We need to get McGee and Abby on this." he said as he read through the text messages, all anonymous sent from a burner phone. Maybe McGee will be able to hack it or something. There is the health and safety of a baby on the line now.
When McGee returned with Ducky, Ducky took a seat across the table from Paige and Tony passed her phone to McGee so that he can take it down to Abby's lab and work on that with her. "I'm Dr. Mallard, but you can call me Ducky." Ducky introduced himself as he shook Paige's hand. "Can you tell me more about your son's health?" he started to ask her questions about Ryder so that we can get a better idea about how serious this is.
I placed a hand on Paige's shoulder, "We'll be back in a little bit, there are some things that we need to look into right now." I told her and led Tony out of the room and back to the squad room without saying a word, I'm thinking, adding up all of the pieces in my mind, trying to add up all of the pieces.
When we got back to our desks I put the boots for my ankles back on since they had started to hurt pretty bad over the last few minutes. "I absolutely believe that she has a son, but in high school at least, she was a lesbian. She dated Emily for a little while, is she keeping a possible rape from us?" I thought out loud to get Tony's thoughts on the matter.
He raise his eyebrows, "Do you think they might have raped her or provoked her so that she would have a baby that they could hold against her?" he asked a little surprised to hear my theory on the possibility of her being raped.
I nodded my head, "This has Melissa Hastings written all over it. She's always wanted children, but after she suffered her miscarriage she lost the ability to have children. She faked being pregnant for months after that because she couldn't bring herself to believe it. It would be just like her. If she is behind that then she has no intentions of giving Ryder back. They're making Paige get all of the props for their little show so they don't have that against them. First, I think I'm going to give Emily a call, then possibly Spencer." I decided as I talked my thoughts out trying to figure this complicated puzzle out.
Tony nodded his head, "I'll call the agent watching the park and see if he's found anything, then update the BOLO to include Ryder. This is sick, absolutely sick. Children aren't supposed to be involved in this stuff." Tony said with disgust in his voice.
Palmer walked in, "This is horrible. Breena and I are thinking about having a baby. What if something like this were to happen to our baby? I wouldn't be able to live with myself." he commented as he sat down in McGee's chair, well I guess he wants to get all touchy feely now.
I sighed, "This is the result of some sick things that have been in the works for about a decade now. Don't let a case stop you from living your life." I advised, there is no need for Palmer to be thinking about things this way. If they want to have a baby then there shouldn't be anything to stop them from having one. "Now have you gone through Ian Thomas's autopsy report yet?" I asked him as I picked up my phone in preparation to call Emily.
He shook his head, "I'll go work on that. Thank you, Aria." he said as I got back up and walked back to the stairs. He is becoming more like Ducky everyday. He goes on about stories, he always takes the stairs, he's even started having conversations with the bodies.
I dialed Emily's number and she picked up on the second ring, "Hey, Aria. How's everything going over there?" she asked wanting her promised update.
"Things are definitely getting interesting, that is for sure. When was the last time you spoke with Paige McCullers?" I asked not having time to go into any details about anything.
"I don't know. Probably about three years ago. I'm friends with her on facebook but she doesn't get on there all that often anymore. Why? She isn't apart of all of this is she?" she asked starting to get pretty concerned.
"Not in the way that you would think. Did you know that she has a son?" I asked wondering if Emily knows anything about Paige's sexuality.
"No, the last I had heard she was dating a girl that was like a wood-shop major or something like that, but that's been a while ago." she told me of the last things she knew about Paige's relationships.
I sighed, I really wish that I could go into detail with Emily what is going on, "I can't say much but I can tell you that Paige is not at any kind of fault that I can see. Thanks for telling me what you know, I've got to go." I told her as I watched Tony starting to jump up and down looking at his computer. Either something has happened or my husband has officially got absolutely insane.
We both hung up and I walked over to Tony's desk to see what he was going on about, "I got permission to access Paige's medical records and fifteen months ago she was brought to the hospital because she was attacked, they knew that she had been raped but she refused the morning after pill and an abortion. She wanted to keep the baby." he informed me as he read the medical report.
Great, so my theory is proving to be right. This is getting taking scary to a whole other level. "Please tell me that we've got a hit on our BOLO for Melissa." I almost begged. If I thought that it would help to go around town searching for her then I would, but that would just be counter productive.
Tony shook his head, "Nothing yet, but if she has a baby with her then it won't be long. She'll have to go buy formula and diapers, if he get's sick she'll have to take him to the hospital. We'll get her, I promise. While you're going to talk to Paige I'll have Gibbs come with me and talk to Noel and Jenna again. We never asked them anything about Melissa, and since he has admitted to having some part or another in this I wouldn't be surprised if he was the one to rape her." he told me as he followed behind me so he could get Gibbs.
When I walked back in she was saying something to Ducky, "Why didn't you tell us that you were raped?" I interrupted, not accusingly, but rather annoyed. Her keeping this bit of information from us cost of precious time from her away from her baby.
Tears started welling in her red, blood-shot eyes yet again. After the couple of weeks she had, I really don't blame her, but she has got to keep it together for the sake of her baby. "Because it's embarrassing. Who wants to go telling people that they've been taken advantage of?" she replied as she looked down at her hands.
I sat back down next to her, and put one of my hands over her's so that she'll look up at me. "You are not in trouble, we just need to know everything. Do you know who attacked you?" I asked trying to make it clear to her the importance of this situation. If she ever wants her son back we have to know every detail.
She shook her head, "He was wearing a mask over his face, I have no clue. It was dark, all I could make out was that he was huge, like not tall huge but... buff." she replied as she dabbed at her eyes again trying to get herself under control again.
Noel roughly fits this description, it's a good thing Tony is already getting him back in interrogation. "I understand, it's okay. When you got to the hospital the next morning, why did you refuse the morning after pill, or when you found out that you were pregnant, abortion?" I asked, truly curious as to why she did that. I'm sure that I would have done the same thing had I been in her position, but it's different for everyone.
For the first time since I walked back into the room she looked back up at me, "I'm a lesbian, Aria. It's not like I could get pregnant on my own. I didn't have the money for insemination, so after the damage was done I figured that I would try to make something good come of it. I don't think I could have killed an innocent little baby anyway." she informed me then proceeded to let out a sob.
This is understandable, "Had you talked to doctors in your neighborhood about insemination before the attack?" I asked. Whoever planned this could have seen that she wanted a child, so they raped her because they knew that she would keep it.
She nodded, "For about a year I'd been looking into it, and working all of the time so I could save money. I even moved back into my parents house so I wouldn't have to pay rent or for grocery's." she replied, thankfully not understanding that I'm thinking that all of this was planned out far in advance that she would have a baby.
I looked at Ducky, "Can I speak to you for a moment, Ducky?" I asked him as I stood up and made my way back to the door.
We closed the door and I leaned back against the wall, "Do you think that whoever this is planned on her getting pregnant so they could use her baby as collateral?" he asked me, obviously understanding where I was getting at when I was asking Paige those questions.
"Yes, Melissa Hastings is written all over that part of it," I let my voice drop to a barely audible whisper, "If it is Hastings that has her baby she has no intentions of giving him back. She's always wanted to have a baby, and when she had a miscarriage when her husband died she was told that she would never be able to have children again. I know that she won't let anything happen to the baby, but they will kill Paige if they can get a hold of her." I told him, needing him to know this since he is the best profiler around here.
He thought about it for a moment, "I'm not sure whether they would kill her. They seem pretty big on keeping with the theme of recreating the deaths from the past. Why that is only they can really know, but I don't think that they will kill anyone but their intended target unless someone gets in their way during the actual act." he advised as he predicted our killers probable actions.
I nodded my head, "Okay, I'm going to bring someone in to sit with her for a while, I need to go talk to Gibbs." I told him as I grabbed the first agent I saw, "Jenkins, what are you doing right now?" I asked him pulling him back in the direction of Paige.
He held up a stack of papers, "I was about to go make copies." he told me with a little bit of confusion.
Good, nothing important. "Not anymore, I need you to sit in there with McCullers for me." I told him as I lead him back into the conference room where Paige is now standing next to the window starting at the sky.
"This is Special Agent Jenkins, he is going to sit in here with you for a few minutes while I go consult with my team on some things. Try to stay calm, we are going to do everything that we can to get your son back to you safely." I promised her as I pushed Jenkins into the room.
She nodded her head, "Can I ask you something, Aria?" she asked without turning to face me. She continued to stare out the window and look at the sky and the clouds giving the appearance that it might rain later.
"Sure." just because she asks me something doesn't mean I have to answer, and if it's something that I can say to make her feel better then I want to say it. I cannot even imagine what she is going through right now. Tony and I have never talked about children, there have been times where we haven't used protection, but I haven't gotten pregnant as of yet of be able to understand.
"Have you talked with Emily lately?" she asked as she turned around to face me for the first time since I walked back into the room. She looks... Sick- and desperate. I wish that there was something more I could do for her, but I don't think there is.
I nodded my head, "Just this morning." I answered, from the look in her eyes I can tell that she misses Emily, even after all of these years. They did kind of have a hard breakup. Maybe once this is all over they can reconnect, Emily isn't seeing anyone at the moment, it could work.
"How is she?" she looked hopeful for something good to come out of my mouth. I know all I've really been saying are things that she probably doesn't like hearing.
"She's good. She's living in Texas so she can be closer to her parents, and she is coaching a swim team at one of the colleges." I informed her before I walked out of the room so I can go see Gibbs and Tony and talk to them about my idea about using Paige as bait.
I ran to interrogation to the observation room. Tony is standing there and watching Gibbs trying to get something, anything, more out of Noel. Something that will tell us where that poor baby is. Although, as much as I think Melissa is capable of murder, I know that he should be safe if he is with her. "How is it coming?" I asked was I watched Gibbs start to yell.
Tony shook his head, "We've got nothing. We'll keep working him, get him tired then maybe we'll get something out of him. What about you?" he asked as he turned to face me.
"I think that we need to let McCullers go and put a tail on her. They'll come looking for her, she's been the third member of their team to go MIA. My best guess is that they are freaking out." I told him what I was hoping to do.
He smiled, "Good thinking, I'll get someone on that to get McCullers on that, you go check the BOLOs, if we've gotten a hit in the last little bit maybe we won't have to send her out. She's already a nervous wreck as it is." I he as we walked out of the observation room together.
I hurried to my desk and crossed my fingers as I checked our BOLOs. Not that I was surprised, but there still wasn't anything. Where could they be? I quickly emailed Spencer to see if Melissa has a place here in D.C., there was nothing that I could find under her name, or her parents for that matter. Would she have put one under Spencer's name? There is that possibility, or maybe she put Melissa Thomas for Ian?
As I started searching the two names Spencer emailed me back saying that she really didn't know, but it isn't uncommon for her to do business here. I replied asking if there was a hotel that she liked to use in general, or while she is here.
The results of my search came up, and sure enough there is an apartment under the name of Spencer Hastings that's around fifteen minutes away from the crime scene. It's clever since Spencer is married now and goes by Cavanaugh. I called Tony to update him on my most recent find, "Hold up on getting McCullers ready, I think I just found where Melissa Hastings apartment here in D.C." I informed him as soon as I heard that he had picked up the phone.
"Don't go anywhere, I'll be there in two minutes, we'll go together." he said and hung up the phone.
I took this chance to change from my ballet flats into my knee-high boots that look amazing and are very sensible for the job that I have. They are comfortable and easy to run in. As I finished zipping up the second boot Tony came running in. "Give me the address, I'll drive." he told me as he stopped in front of me.
I threw a sticky note at him as I grabbed my bag. "Good, that way I can update the girls. I'll also call McGee and have him come a few minutes later for backup." I replied as we both hurried to the elevator and then to the car.
A/N Please review! There is more to come :)
XOXO ~ TotalCowGirl