Author's Note: All mistakes are my own. I do not have a Beta Reader.

Disclaimer: I do not own the NCIS universe or its characters.


Chapter Seven: 2018 July 23-Washington D.C.

The dark gray sky overhead and the heavy rain created a mood of despair as Alex drove her vintage black Mustang along the deserted highway towards the prison.

"You know what I see," Tony asks breaking the silence that was in the car?

"Corn," Alex replies.

"Yes. Corn, corn, and oh look, more corn," Tony says.

"It's Kansas."

"Is Alex Covington your real name," Tony asks changing the subject?

Alex glances over at Tony before replying a bit sarcastically, "Technically, all my aliases are real names. But if you are wondering if Alex Covington is my birth name? Then, that is a yes."

Tony sits there for a moment absorbing the new information about the young CIA agent before asking, "Why are you doing this?"

"Because it is the right thing to do."

"In my experience, most CIA operatives don't give a damn about the right thing. Take Kort for example. He never did anything unless he could get something out of it."

Alex snorts, "I'm not most people, DiNozzo. Besides, you shouldn't judge a person based on the actions of others. You should judge the person based on their own actions."

Tony doesn't reply.

Alex slows her driving as she nears the prison gate.

The guard at the gate motions her to roll down her window.

"Name and id," the guard asks?

Alex pulls out her black wallet while Tony hands his wallet over to Alex. Alex hands the guard both of their wallets and tells him, "Officer Alex Covington, I work for the CIA and this is Anthony DiNozzo, former NCIS Special Agent. We are here to speak to Ray Cruz former CIA Operative."

The guard looks both ids thoroughly before saying, "I'm sorry but Mr. DiNozzo doesn't have the security clearance to visit Inmate Ray Cruz."

A brief look of annoyance crossed Alex's face but that was quickly covered up.

"Look, Mr.-" Alex glances down at the guard's uniform looking for a name tag, "Smith. I really shouldn't be telling you this but you leave me no choice."

Alex looks around and motions the guard to lean forward, "DiNozzo, over there, is a deep undercover operative from France. Has been for three years. If word got out about him being in the CIA it could be a threat to national security. And Ray Cruz has the intel we need to protect this country. So do you really want to be the reason that the nation is compromised and on top of that really piss off the Director of the CIA by not letting his top operatives get the information they need to stop this threat?"

The guard visibly gulps before straightening up and opening the gate to the prison.

"Have a nice day," the guard gives their wallets back to Alex.

"Thank you," Alex gives an innocent smile before driving into the prison parking lot.

"What was that," Tony asks?

"A way for you to get in without having to fill out a mountain of paperwork," Alex says handing him his wallet and getting out of her car.

Tony follows Alex into the lobby of the prison, where they sign in and are lead to a private visiting room.

The visiting room was a smallish white room with no windows, a metal table that was bolted to the floor, and four metal chairs. Alex sits down in a chair that faces the door and Tony sits beside her.

"How long are we going to have to wait," Tony asks?

"It hasn't even been a minute."

The door that Alex and Tony entered through opens again but this time with Ray Cruz (who was wearing prison orange and not one of his signature suits) and a beefy guard leading him.

"You can leave the cuffs on," Alex says just as the guard was going to uncuff Cruz.

The guard nodded, "I'll be outside. Just knock twice when you're done."

The guard shuts the door behind him and Cruz smirks at Alex.

"I guess you didn't come here to talk about the weather seeing as you brought DiNozzo."

"CIA-Ray," Tony says.

"DiNozzo."

Alex leans forward, "I want to know about Trent Kort."

"He dead. Didn't you hear," Cruz says?

"He killed Ziva. Didn't you hear," Alex snarks back?

Cruz's face darkens and his eye twitches.

"What do you really want, Covington," he growls.

"I wanna know every single person Kort has ever had contact with. Be it an ally or an old partner."

"What makes you think I know this."

"You worked with Kort," Tony stands up, slamming his hands on the table.

Cruz clenches his jaw, "Kort, like any other CIA operative, had people everywhere."

"Stop avoiding the question, Cruz," Alex says.

"I was his handler for a couple of years-"

"Before you got put in prison," Tony says.

Cruz glares at Tony, "Anyway, the handler before me was a man by the name of James Anderson."

Alex's face pales at Ray Cruz's revelation.

"Where is Anderson now," Tony asks?

"Are you sure it is James Anderson," Alex asks ignoring Tony?

"I'm sure. He and Kort worked together for a long time."

"Who the hell is he," Tony yells?

"Tony," Alex says. "James Anderson is the director of the CIA."

"Well, that's just great," Tony flops back onto his chair as his hands go up.


"Mcgee," Mcgee answers his desk phone.

"Can you run a search on a James Anderson," Tony says.

"Now?"

"No, tomorrow is good. YES, now!"

"I can't."

"What do you mean you can't?"

"I'm busy chasing a lead right now. Ask Abby."

"When has chasing a lead ever stopped you from running a search?"

"I seriously can't right now, Tony."

Tony hangs up without another word and calls Abby.

"Abby Sciuto speaking," Abby answers.

"Abby, I need you to run a search on a James Anderson."

"Hey Tony, how are you? Oh, hey Abby-"

"Fine, we are in St. Louis right now. Can you, please, run the search," Tony replies cutting Abby off.

"I don't understand why you couldn't have flown to Kansas and back. It would have been quicker."

Alex overhears this and replies, "The CIA monitors the airports and flights near Leavenworth."

"James Anderson, it says he is the current director of the CIA. Nothing that really stands out on his file," Abby says.

"What about his phone calls," Tony asks?

"Nothing."

Tony sighs and looks at Alex with a raised eyebrow. Alex gestures for the phone and Tony hands it over.

"Hey, have you gotten anything off the letters yet?"

"No, I haven't. The letters that you gave me are clean. No fingerprints, no DNA, No return address on the envelopes. So basically nothing."

"How about the cell phone with the missing sim card?"

"The phone has been wiped clean. No fingerprints."

"Thanks, Abby. Tell Gibbs, DiNozzo and I will be back in DC in the morning. I have to make a pit stop and pick something up first," Alex says.

"Okay, I will."

Alex hangs up and gives Tony his phone back.

"Where are we going," Tony asks?

"Pennsylvania. I have a safe house there."

"How many safe houses do you have exactly?"

"More than you'll ever know."