A/N: I am so happy - I got seven reviews on the last chapter! :D Since I'm really, really grateful to all of you for taking the time to review, I'mn going to devote some time to each of you individually. Please bear with me, as this will be a rather long note. If you'd rather not read it, go ahead and scroll down to the story.

First, Rebel Magnus, thank you for being the first to review (usually) on each chapter. About Kensi's POV...well, all I'll say is that she will be making an appearance soon - very soon.

lizard1969, thank you for your input. It's okay if you don't review every chapter; as long as you drop me a line now and then I'll be happy.

Suuz-5-5, you can believe whatever you like - but I shall not give anything away ;) The fire is coming soon, though - it'll start burning hot and truly a little after Kensi reappears.

Thank you, justdreaming-83. I like it when my readers quote my story to me - it makes me feel as if they are really getting a good read if they like it enough to do that.

TwilightPony21, I really, really like your reviews! They're longer than most, but I like it because of that, because you tell me so much more! Thank you for that.

Welcome back, zzsydneyzz. I'm glad this is proving to be a good story for you to read while you drink coffee. And I am especially glad that you're happy with my update speed. I think my daily updates are a very unique part of me - so far, I haven't come across any FF writer who updates as fast as I do. And the Callen/Kensi element is coming soon, I assure you. All in good time, as Hetty would say.

terken - again, you are entitled to your opinion, but I am not going to say anything. Just wait and see. The green jelly bracelet will have significance later on.

I'm glad you all like the way I'm writing the characters. I tried my best to capture the spirit of the show - including banter and a case storyline - and it's nice to know I've succeeded.

If you've been patient enough to wade your way through this extra long author's note, you have my extra gratitude. I won't take up anymore of your time - here's chapter six!

Chapter Six: Bait

Deeks waited patiently as Chester rummaged in his box of case files, looking for two in particular.

"Here we are," he said, pulling them out and slapping them down in front of Deeks. "That one's Montley's case file, and this one is everything we have on the Reynolds murder."

"Thanks a bunch, man," Deeks said sincerely, shaking his hand. "I appreciate you doing this."

Chester shrugged it off. "If you'd asked me this morning I would've said no, but our lab techs keep coming up with evidence that suggests this case belongs in NCIS jurisdiction, so it's all yours. I have instructions to hand the entire case over to you. And I gotta tell you, I don't envy you one bit."

Deeks smiled. "Lotta work?"

"You bet. This is one of the most convoluted cases I've ever come across. I wish you good luck in trying to solve it."

"Trying to solve it?" Deeks asked with a smirk.

"Bet you a Franklin you won't be able to solve this in a month," Chester challenged.

"Deal," Deeks agreed at once.

They shook on it, then Deeks made his way out of the precinct with the files.

NCIS: LA

Eric worked earnestly, concentrating intently with a single-minded focus that drove all thoughts except one out of his mind. Unfortunately, though, his focus had yet to gain him any lead whatsoever on Kensi's whereabouts; so when the door opened and Callen, Sam, and Rose came in, Eric snapped.

"Before you ask, I don't have anything yet on Kensi's location, but I did unearth a ton of information on Al Juhaida's terrorist activities that Nell is currently looking through, but you gotta give us some time. We're not miracle workers."

"Eric…" Callen began.

"There's just too much to go over, too many possibilities and fake trails and loose ends…"

"Eric."

"…not to mention dead ends – and there's only two of us, and –"

"Eric!"

Eric shut off his feverish rant and took a breath as he turned to face Callen. Callen couldn't help smiling.

"I think I have an idea that would save you two a lot of work. You interested?"

Eric spread out his hands in a 'Well, duh!' gesture, and Nell said, "Please. I'm all ears."

"Before you explain," Deeks interjected, coming into the room with Hetty trailing behind him, "you need to see this." He flipped open LAPD's case file on Reynolds and slipped out a sheet of typewritten paper that listed all of Reynolds' known family members. "Notice anything?"

Nell stared, unable to understand what her eyes told her. "There's no mention of Reynolds having a brother." She looked at Eric.

"What? Give me that." He snatched the paper and peered at it, but as Nell said, he found no record of a 'Lance Corporal Kirby Reynolds'. "I don't understand…" he began, pulling up Reynolds' records on the computer. "He's not here anymore either…but I swear there was a file on Kirby Reynolds."

"You sure you didn't pull up another file by mistake?" Sam asked.

"I'm sure – because according to this, no one named Kirby Reynolds exists in the Navy."

"Yeah, no one at LAPD has ever heard of him either," said Deeks. "I scanned the file on my way out of the precinct, and when I didn't find Reynolds' brother in the records, I went back to ask Chester. He told me Reynolds didn't have a brother."

"But that's impossible," Eric objected. "I saw the file…"

"There is an explanation," Nell spoke up. Everyone looked at her. "Now, I'm not finding fault with your hacking skills or your firewalls," she said to Eric, "but it's possible that someone managed to implant a false file that was programmed to delete itself after it had been opened."

"And that would explain why no one's ever heard of Kirby Reynolds before," Eric realized. "The information would only have been on our computer, and once I closed the file after opening it this morning, there would be no trace of it anywhere."

"Wait, so you're saying someone hacked into the system and implanted a false file?" Sam queried.

"And whoever it was wanted you to go to 'Kirby's' apartment for some reason," Nell added. Callen and Sam exchanged glances. "But why?"

"Did you find anything important at that apartment, Mr. Hanna?" Hetty asked.

Wordlessly, Callen showed her the jelly bracelet. Hetty understood.

"Ah," she said sadly. "Miss Blye."

"Kensi was there?" Eric asked incredulously. "But if Kensi wanted you to go there to find that bracelet, then she must have planted the file." He turned back to the computer, typing commands with quick fingers. "But that's impossible, because Kensi wouldn't know how to get past my firewalls. I don't tell anyone my passwords or security codes."

"I doubt there's anything about Kensi that would surprise me anymore," said Sam. "For all we know she's a better hacker than you."

"Anything else, Deeks?" Callen inquired.

"Uh, no," Deeks replied. "Nothing that would be any help to us, that is. Trust me, I looked through all the reports."

"So what's your plan, Callen?" Rose asked.

Callen looked around. "Right, so the most important thing now is to catch Kensi and bring her in for questioning. All the evidence points to her. Kensi bought those missiles from Montley and killed Reynolds. She planted a fake file to lead us to that apartment, where she left that jelly bracelet for us to find. And she's been working with Ali Ochbar and Al Juhaida for almost three years now. Kensi is the key. If we get Kensi, we unlock a whole load of information that could be vital to national security."

"I'll buy that," Sam agreed.

"But Kensi's smart," Callen continued. "She knows how we work; she knows what we do. She knows all our usual tricks, so it's time to pull out something unusual."

"Which is?" Deeks asked.

"We're gonna bait her," said Callen. "Those missiles she bought need SIM cards to work – SIM cards she doesn't have. Eric, I want you to put it about that Montley had a partner who held on to those cards. Make it look like an underground source. Kensi is sure to come looking for them."

Eric nodded and had the info up on the net within seconds.

"How do you know someone else from Al Juhaida won't come for them?" Rose asked.

"Because I know Kensi. She'll want to take care of this herself. And that's how we're gonna get her."

One of the computers emitted a sharp beep. Eric looked surprised.

"Whoa," he said. "Callen, I've got a reply already."

"What's it say?"

"'Want to buy the cards. When and where?'" Eric read.

"Set up a meet," Callen instructed. "Six o' clock by the pier."

Eric did so, and a moment later a reply flashed on the screen. "She'll be there," he announced.

"So now all we have to do is send someone to meet her," surmised Deeks.

"There's just one problem," said Sam. "Kensi knows what all of us look like; who's gonna play Montley's partner?"

Callen looked at Rose. "You ready to go undercover?"

A/N: I'll admit, I was a little hesitant about including an OC agent at first, but the storyline required it - so I'm glad you guys seem to like her. And I'll give you a small spoiler - Kensi will appear tomorrow! See you guys!