Without a Trace
Disclaimer; I own nothing having to do with NCIS or NCIS:LA.
Chapter 7
DiNozzo pulled up to the curb several cars back from where Bishop now sat with Deeks. He could tell they were having a conversation. Suddenly Bishop held something up, her phone maybe, and Deeks was looking at her. Did she just take his picture? He wasn't sure. From his vantage point it now looked like Deeks was resting. Minutes later Deeks turned towards Bishop and then got out of the car and walked away. It wasn't until he disappeared around the corner that Bishop slowly pulled from the curb and continued down the street and out of sight.
Tony sat in the car for quite some time. Deeks, he assumed, was somewhere along the street around the corner watching Niko's house. He was just about to start the car when somebody rapped on the passenger side window. DiNozzo was caught off guard and he jumped slightly. He looked to see who had snuck up on him and was shocked to see Deeks staring back in the window at him. Tony unlocked the door. Deeks got in and looked at Tony.
"Did Gibbs send you out to babysit me?" He asked coldly. Tony studied Deeks' face, the detective's eyes cold and hard. DiNozzo knew Deeks had slipped into his alias. Apparently Max Gentry was not a friendly person.
"Not exactly." Tony lied. He was surprised at the difference in Deeks' demeanor.
"I can handle myself. I've done this before," he said sarcastically.
Before Tony could reply, his phone began ringing. Tony pulled it from his pocket quickly, checking the caller ID before answering. "Yeah, boss?" Tony listened and then nodded silently, looking at the detective. "Okay, I'll let him know." DiNozzo slid his phone back in his jacket pocket before saying anything.
"What did Gibbs want?" Deeks asked.
Tony turned to him, "Your team back in LA has been looking into Niko's history. Apparently he is married to the sister of someone you had a hand in putting behind bars - a dirty cop named Frank Scarli." At the mention of Scarli's name, Tony could see the hatred growing in Deeks' eyes.
"Scarli," Deeks spat, "yeah, didn't see that coming." He looked at Tony, "So I'm compromised?"
"They don't know for sure. Your team wants you to stand down. Gibbs told me to let you make the call, but I'm to back you up either way." Deeks stared at Tony for several moments, thinking. Tony continued, "Look, Marty – I've been in your shoes. I've done the undercover thing, maybe not to the extent you have, but I am not opposed to following your lead here."
Deeks nodded at Tony, his eyes softening, "Good to know. I appreciate the offer, but maybe we should see if Niko knows me as Deeks or still thinks I'm Max first. Either way could go bad quick, no sense in putting us both in harm's way just yet."
"I don't know if I like that idea or not, Marty," Tony confessed. "Did you see Niko when you walked his street?" He wondered aloud.
Deeks shook his head, "No, but the van was in the driveway. Let's pull onto his street from the other end of the block. There's a spot we can sit and watch from. If he leaves we'll follow him. Depending on where he goes I'll try to initiate contact."
Tony nodded in agreement and drove around the block and parked where Deeks had pointed out.
Back at NCIS, Director Vance and Gibbs were having a discussion about Deeks. "Gibbs, do you really think it was a good idea to let Deeks decide how this plays out after finding out he may be compromised?"
Gibbs shrugged, "Detective Deeks is damn good at his job, Leon. He's a lot smarter than Callen gives him credit for."
"I won't argue that Deeks has been undervalued by Callen's team, Gibbs. I don't see how that is relevant in this case."
Gibbs smiled, "Callen's team has him second guessing himself. If we let him run this op his way, he will get results."
Leon looked at Gibbs, doubt still showing in his eyes, "You have DiNozzo backing him up, though?"
Gibbs nodded, "He is with him right now."
Leon looked at Gibbs for a moment before sighing. "I'm going to trust your judgment on this, Gibbs. I don't like it, though, not one bit. We don't even know for sure this Niko character had anything to do with our dead marine. Deeks and DiNozzo could be on a wild goose chase that ends up having nothing to do with NCIS."
Gibbs didn't reply, just looked at Leon with an expression that clearly meant 'yeah, so what?' Vance turned and headed back up to his office.
Deeks and Tony had been sitting down the street from Niko's house for hours. They were both starving.
"Marty, let's go grab something to eat. We can go to my place and get a good night's rest and start fresh in the morning. Besides, I'm gonna need to change into something that doesn't scream federal agent."
Deeks grinned, "Good point. Okay, so what's good to eat around here?"
Tony smiled back as he put his seat belt on and started the car, "You are in for a treat, my friend!" He put the car in gear and drove off.
The next morning they were sitting back in the same spot they had been in the day before, watching for movement at Niko's place. Deeks was looking through binoculars. The van was still in the same spot, as well.
"Surely this guy has a life of some kind," Tony stated, irritation in his tone. He fidgeted with the burn phone he had picked up that morning, tapping out a text and sending it. Deeks had his own burn phone now, as well.
"Not much for sitting and waiting, partner?" Deeks asked jokingly. He dropped the binoculars in his lap and turned to Tony, a slight grin on his face. It felt wrong calling somebody other than Kensi that, but he liked Tony. They got along great, and they were technically partners now, so he made the exception. He pulled his phone out of his pocket and powered it up.
Tony turned and met Deeks' gaze. "If you must know, Marty, no – I don't have much patience for the sitting around and waiting."
Deeks tapped his own text out before he focused back on the house. "Well, Tony, I think our wait is over. Niko and I'm assuming his wife dead ahead." Deeks nodded in their direction.
Tony hurriedly turned his attention to the couple now getting in the van. Niko backed out onto the street and pulled away.
"Thank God they went that direction," Tony said as he started the car. He waited for the van to make the corner before he took off after it.
They tailed Niko for several miles, always staying back far enough they wouldn't be noticed. The van slowed, the right turn signal coming on. Tony moved over to the other lane and drove past as it turned into a convenience store parking lot. They went a block past and doubled back. Tony pulled to the curb on the intersecting street across from the store, keeping their view of the van out in front of them.
Soon after, Niko and the woman he was with came out to the van. It looked like a simple coffee stop, both carrying a Styrofoam cup. Deeks and Tony watched as they climbed back in the van and continued on their way. They followed them south, away from town. Eventually the van pulled into a small, rundown marina. The couple got out and disappeared inside.
Tony cruised on by, "Okay, so now what?" He asked impatiently.
Deeks had been scanning the surrounding area as they went by. "Stop and let me out," he said confidently.
"You're joking, right?" Tony glared at him as he slowed the car, knowing full well Deeks was doing anything but joking right now.
"I'll walk back up the road and start looking at those boats sitting there for sale. Maybe Niko runs the place and he'll come out to push a sale. That'll be my way in." The car had come to a stop. Deeks opened his door to step out.
"Wait, what do you want me to do?" Tony asked quickly.
Deeks looked back the way they had come. "There's a little spot across from the marina back there where you can pull off. Should be enough brush to give you decent cover. Just watch. If it looks like I am in trouble, come in after me – we'll play it just like we talked about. If it seems too serious, call for back up and wait."
Deeks moved to get out of the car when Tony grabbed his arm, "Hey Marty – be careful." Deeks, already having slipped back into Max's frame of mind, nodded at Tony. He appreciated that he had back up, although he hoped he wouldn't need it. Tony let go of his arm, Deeks got out and shut the door. As he started walking back towards the marina, Tony turned the car around. He passed Deeks and continued on until he saw the clearing Deeks had told him about. He pulled in and sat, waiting for Marty to catch up and approach the line of boats sitting out front.
Deeks walked into the front lot of the marina, keeping a watchful eye on the building as he moved towards the closest boat. It was a cabin cruiser. He ran his hand down the side, pretending to examine its condition. He went around the back of it and worked his way to the front again. Deeks stepped around the bow and found himself face to face with Niko Pellicci.
"Well, well, well, if it isn't Max Gentry. What brings you to the east, old friend?" Niko asked genuinely, extending his hand for a shake. Max accepted the offer, shaking Niko's hand before dropping his own back to his side. He was about to answer when he felt the unmistakable poke of a gun in his back.
"Why don't we move this little reunion inside, shall we?" Niko suggested forcefully. Max tipped his head slightly, acknowledging Niko's order. As they started walking to the office door Max heard a car approach. The gun at his back was removed as the trio turned to see who was driving the mysterious car.
Marty smiled as he heard Tony's voice call out, "Everything alright here, Max?"
Max grinned from ear to ear when he saw Tony standing next to the car, a 9mm pistol in each hand.
"Everything's fine now," Max said joyfully as he pulled his own gun from the back of his waistband. The smug look on Niko's face was gone, replaced with one of dismay.
Tony stepped around the front of the car, still holding his weapons on Niko and his wife. "Damn, Max, I can't believe you let a woman get the drop on you. Didn't I teach you better than that, bro?" Tony asked with sarcasm filling his voice.
Max turned to Niko's wife. With his left hand, he slowly ran his fingers through her long brunette hair before moving them to her cheek. He caressed her face gently with his thumb. He felt her shiver at his touch. "Such a pretty thing you have here, Niko." Max looked the woman straight in the eyes. The anger he saw there slowly changed to a look of fear. "I'll take that, sweetheart," he said as he took her gun from her hand.
Max turned his gaze to Niko. "Like you were saying, why don't we move this little party inside, yeah?" Max nodded towards the building and they made the rest of their way to the door.
Once inside, Max took in the surroundings. The showroom, if it could still be considered that, was not very well lit. Off to the left there were several offices, all with windows facing the open area they now stood in. At the back of the room was a counter, beyond that another door to what Deeks assumed was the shop.
Niko spoke. "So Max, who is your friend here?"
"Niko, meet my older brother, Gordon." Tony nodded at Niko.
Max caught the slight smirk on Niko's face as he looked at Gordon. Something didn't feel right, and his feeling was proven correct as four men with rifles stood up from behind the counter at the back of the room.
Niko smiled, his eyes lit up. "Well, it's so nice to meet you, Gordon."
Deeks and Tony shared a knowing look, both on the same page. The next few moments would either give them the upper hand again or it would be lights out. Neither of them planned on backing down now.
TBC
