9
My thanks to everyone who continues to support this story, I'm amazed people are still interested. You're right about siblings earthdragon, and you're also right about Benjamin, extreme is the word! Gail, I've always been a McAbby fan too, now Delilah's on the scene I've had to change my tune but I still love to write Tim and Abby as very good friends.
Sunday 16 November: 20.55
"He has to help us Boss, if he doesn't…" Tony didn't have to look at the clock to know how long they had, his internal body clock had been keeping time ever since midday, at that point Tim probably had twelve hours, now…if Benjamin Rivkin acted the way Ducky thought he would, they had just three hours to find Tim, this guy had to have some answers.
Following Vance's call Director Elbaz had come through for them; she'd given them the names of two Kidon operatives still based in DC who had been part of the team when Michael was based there. Unfortunately she wasn't able to give them a location, all afternoon and into the evening NCIS and FBI agents had been searching for them. Ellie had contacted former colleagues from the NSA, and Delilah, relieved at last to be able to help even if from a distance, had called everyone she knew who might be able to offer assistance. They were out of options and every minute it took to find Covitz or Sherman was a minute less to get to Tim.
Sadly Ira Sherman and Gideon Covitz had proved to be very elusive, the Mossad Director had allowed them to have pictures of the men but she wouldn't allow them to be circulated to local LEOs. She might want to help Director Vance, but she certainly wasn't prepared to compromise any operation Kidon were working on; finally, just as they were giving up hope a tip from the NSA led to Ira Sherman being spotted at a kosher restaurant on Lamberton Drive in Silver Spring.
Now he was sitting in the interrogation room and Tony was desperate to get in there and rip some answers from his tight-lipped mouth.
"He'll tell us what he knows and we'll get to Tim, we still have time Tony." Gibbs rested his hand on the door handle. "Are you ready for this, we don't lay a hand on him, clear?"
"I know what the Director promised Boss, I can handle this."
"Let's go." Tony followed Gibbs inside, breathing deep to get himself under control; he wanted to beat the information out of this guy if necessary…he wouldn't do it because Vance had promised his Mossad counterpart they wouldn't lay a hand on her operatives.
The bearded man sitting upright at the table glared at them as they entered the room. "I am still waiting for an explanation, why was I dragged away from my dinner?"
"No one dragged you here, you were invited to answer some questions, and you have permission from Director Elbaz to speak with us."
"I am aware of that, however, you have wasted your time. I have nothing to say to the man who killed my friend."
Tony took a single step closer to Sherman before he felt Gibbs' hand on his shoulder. With great reluctance he moved back and waited for Gibbs to begin.
"How long have you been in contact with Benjamin Rivkin?"
Sherman leaned back in his chair, the picture of studied indifference. "I have known Benjamin for many years; I stood by his side at Michael's funeral."
"And since then?"
"We have spoken often, his family is gone, he needs his friends."
"To do what?"
"To survive, to recover from the blows he has suffered. This man." Sherman pointed at Tony without raising his eyes. "He tore Benjamin's life apart, he deserves whatever happens to him."
"You have something to say, you look at me you…"
"Tony! Stand down." Gibbs stepped between Tony and Ira, determined to keep the promise Vance had made. Reluctantly, Tony moved away from the table; he tried to look relaxed but he was balanced on the balls of his feet, ready to pounce if Sherman refused to co-operate.
"I already told you I have nothing to say, I would like to leave now,"
"Not going to happen, your Director told us we could keep you here as long as we need. Why don't you tell us what you know and you can get out of here?"
"There is nothing to tell, I spoke with a friend, offered him solace."
"And information, did you lead Benjamin to Agent McGee?"
"Lead him…?" There was a slight dent in Sherman's mask of indifference. "He, Benjamin, he asked me for details about DiNozzo's colleagues in order to know more about the man who murdered Michael."
"Okay, and what did you expect him to do with the information?"
"Get close to DiNozzo and kill him."
Inside Gibbs was screaming, his every instinct telling him to go for the jugular, outwardly he managed to remain calm and quiet. "You were okay with that, the murder of a United States Federal Agent?"
It seemed Sherman could detect he underlying chill in Gibbs' voice, he shifted slightly in his chair. "To kill a killer, I see nothing wrong in this."
"Even if the killing was self-defence? Michael Rivkin was trying to kill Agent DiNozzo."
"So you say."
"He broke my arm! If I hadn't fired, he'd have killed me!" Tony couldn't hold back any longer, he leaned across the table, staring into Ira Sherman's eyes, all he got back was contempt.
"You expect me to believe you?"
"I don't care what you believe, it's the truth, now tell us, where is Rivkin?" He thumped his fist on the table, wishing it was Sherman's face. "Tell us, damn it!"
"I will tell you nothing! Get him away from me Agent Gibbs or I will not be responsible for my actions."
Any other time Gibbs would have been happy to let Tony do what he wanted, heck, maybe he could beat an answer out of him. He'd have let him try, if only they didn't have to find Tim, and find him fast. He pulled Tony away from the table, ready to send him out of the room.
"Let me get to him Boss, he'll tell me where Tim is, or I'll…"
"I can't do my job with you here Tony, go talk to Bishop, see if they've found Covitz, maybe he'll be more co-operative."
Tony hesitated for a second, he wanted to stay, but he knew he wasn't doing any good here. "He knows something Boss." Tony's whispered comment could only be heard by Gibbs.
"Then we'll know soon. Go Tony, I'll work on him."
When Tony was gone Gibbs walked back to the table, careful to keep his movements slow and deliberate; he pulled out his chair and sat down opposite Sherman. "Let's start again."
"In time, first I have a question for you, about Agent McGee."
It was just about the last thing Gibbs had expected to hear; he was prepared to go with it for a little while and see where it led. "You can ask, doesn't mean I have to answer."
"I understand." Sherman leaned over the table, getting closer to Gibbs, without the hated DiNozzo in the room he felt able to relax a little. "Your agent, you say he is missing, how long?"
"Two days, Benjamin took him Friday afternoon."
"I do not…this is not what we…Benjamin was after DiNozzo, he told me. DiNozzo had to pay for what he did to Michael, and I agreed, a life for a life."
"That's what he's planning, only it's not DiNozzo he's going to kill, it's Special Agent McGee."
"No! He would not, he is an honourable man, Benjamin promised me everything I told him was to help him get to DiNozzo."
"Then he lied to you, see for yourself." Gibbs opened the file, took out a copy of Rivkin's letter and handed it to Sherman. As he digested the words written on the page Sherman's hand started to tremble, only slightly, but enough for Gibbs to know he was seriously shaken by what he was reading.
He put the paper on the table and sighed deeply. "I…Benjamin has been very….troubled. His parents both died soon after Michael, did you know? Of course you would not, how could you? He was broken…and then, when he decided to seek his revenge, to kill DiNozzo, he became focussed, strong once more. I was willing to help him Gibbs. Michael was my friend, he saved my life…I could not save him, the least I could do was help his brother kill the man who shot him in cold blood."
"You know better Sherman! You saw the autopsy report, Ziva must have told you what happened."
Sherman shook his head. "She refused to discuss it, all she would tell us was that there was a struggle…and afterward, my friend was dead and DiNozzo walked away."
"He was hurt, and if he hadn't fought back Michael would have killed him, he was out of control, just like Benjamin is now. Help us, you know what Benjamin is doing is wrong, Tim McGee had nothing to do with Michael's death, you think it's right he should be the one to pay?"
"I do not…it goes against what I believe. I am no saint Agent Gibbs, I have killed men, one woman too, but only to save myself, to protect a brother in arms, or for the security of Israel. If Benjamin had taken his revenge on DiNozzo I would not be prepared to stop him, the man killed his brother, perhaps it is for a brother to kill him…to take an innocent life…I would never have expected such an action."
"Then help us, do you have any idea where Benjamin might have taken him?"
"When Michael was part of our unit we had places…when we required a secure location, somewhere quiet, off the grid as you call it. Several of them have been condemned since then; we never chose the most salubrious locations. Only three remain, Benjamin was most interested…"
"Where?" Gibbs grabbed his notebook and pen, this could be it at last, the break they'd been praying for.
"In South West DC, we had two units at Brandenburg Storage."
"He was there, but Rivkin moved him." Gibbs bit back his disappointment and waited for the next location. "You said three, where else? Come on Sherman, we're running out of time."
"The basement of a hostel on 11th Street NW…no wait, I think…there was a farm…the stable area; I told Benjamin, it was the place Michael used the most."
"Exact location, now!"
"Near Fort Loudon, off Highway 30. If you let me use a computer I can give you the GPS coordinates."
Gibbs took out his phone and selected a number. "Dorneget, bring a laptop to Interrogation 1, as soon as Sherman gets the coordinates send them to Tony's phone…don't ask questions, just get down here."
Sunday 16 November: 23.35
"How much longer?" Tony held on tight to his seat as Gibbs took another bend at high speed. They couldn't go any faster, he knew, only it still wasn't fast enough.
Ever since Gibbs had left the interrogation room they'd been in the midst of a whirlwind of activity. Two teams were despatched, one to the hostel and the other, led by Gibbs and including Tony and Ellie was taking the almost two hour drive into Pennsylvania and Fort Loudon. About thirty minutes into their drive they'd had news that the hostel basement was clear, but there were signs of recent use. From then on all their resources were concentrated on the farm, if Benjamin was following in his brother's footsteps Tim would be there, he had to be.
At Ducky's insistence a medevac helicopter was in the air, out of earshot of the farm, but close enough to get there within minutes of Tim being found; he wanted Tim transported to a level one trauma centre as soon as possible. "Regardless of whether Timothy has sustained any injuries, given the conditions under which he has been held, his previous condition can only have worsened. I want him to get top notch medical attention as soon as possible."
Director Vance had been happy to get permission for the chopper to be airborne, he'd listened with Abby and Jimmy as Ducky outlined the possible consequences of Tim's ordeal. Sick to begin with it was likely Tim was on the verge of, or already suffering from pneumonia, they'd seen where he'd been held, knew he was without a jacket and guessed he wasn't likely to be getting much in the line of home comforts. The night was getting colder, and if temperatures continued to fall…"Ducky, tell me he's going to be okay."
"My dearest Abigail, I wish I could. I can tell you Jethro and the others will do everything humanly possible to return him to us." He'd held out his arms to her and she'd taken the comfort she found was only possible from contact with someone she loved.
Sunday 16 November: 23.40
A different kind of pain pulled Tim back to consciousness. He'd blacked out again, how long this time…? With slow, tortured movements he managed to open his eyes and sit up. Sure enough Benjamin Rivkin stood over him, his foot raised to kick him again if he failed to rouse.
"It seems that every time I see you, you are sleeping, you Americans, too soft." He stooped down to look Tim in the eye. "Very soon I will put an end to your miserable existence, I have everything I need, a few adjustments to be made and I will be ready."
Tim leaned his head against the wall and looked beyond Rivkin's shoulder. There was more light this time, and as he managed to focus he understood why, a camera…Rivkin was going to film this…
"Ah yes, as you see, I will be giving DiNozzo proof positive of your demise, he will be able to watch you die over and over, and I hope and pray every time he sees it he will feel a fraction of my pain."
"You're….crazy…Tony, he…he did nothing…wrong." Tim waited for the blow, this time Rivkin simply smiled. "I will not raise my hand to you again, do you have any idea how pitiful you are in your soiled clothes, lying in the dirt, waiting to die?"
Tim wanted to tell Rivkin exactly what he thought of him, he wanted it so bad he could almost taste it, but he knew he had almost exhausted his reserves of energy. When Rivkin left him earlier Tim had searched his prison, mostly on his knees, there was no energy for getting to his feet, if he could find a way out, or something else to help…it had been wasted energy, and now was not the time to waste more. Soon…he'd bide his time, there would be a moment, just one second when Rivkin was distracted, all he needed was one second.