CH 7 – Investigation
"Where to, boss?" Tony asked while shrugging on his backpack and holstering his Sig.
Gibbs reached out and gently grabbed Tony's arm. He looked around before practically whispering, "Majestic."
Ziva brought the NCIS truck to a tire screeching halt in front of Majestic and jumped out, slamming the door. McGee, who had been thrown forward then back in his seat, quickly scrambled out of the passenger side and tried to get his equilibrium back. He met Ziva at the back doors of the truck to get the rest of their gear.
"Shit, Ziva!" McGee exclaimed and glared at Ziva. "Are you ever going to learn how to drive?" McGee was getting used to Gibbs' insane driving, but Ziva David was in a league of her own. Traffic lights, stop signs, and speed limits meant nothing to her. She once said that they were 'only suggestions.' He wondered if he would ever get used to it, but he doubted it.
"My driving is fine, McGee! We got here, did we not?" Ziva retorted while scowling at him.
They stopped arguing as Tony and Gibbs pulled up behind the truck less than a minute later. Gibbs immediately located the local LEO who had gotten the original call. The officer stepped up to Gibbs with an outstretched hand. "Special Agent Gibbs? I'm Officer Brooks. Nice to meet you." The men shook hands and nodded to each other. "We got a call about a stabbing. I found the dead guy's military ID so I had you guys called in. He's just outside the back door, in the alley. A bar employee found him about an hour or so ago when he was taking out the trash."
The LEO led Gibbs and the team around the corner to the alley as Gibbs started barking out orders. "Tony, sketch and shoot. McGee, bad and tag. Ziva, witness statements." All three agents snapped into action.
Gibbs crouched over the beaten and brutalized body and waited as Ducky and Palmer pulled up in the ME van at the end of the alley. He looked over the body and the ground immediately around it while Ducky and Palmer gathered their equipment.
"Ah, Jethro! What have we here?" Ducky said as he walked up and crouched down next to Gibbs. He took the liver probe from his bag and immediately set about trying to determine the time of death.
"Dead naval officer, Duck. Looks like a pretty brutal attack." Gibbs may be a hard-ass ex-Marine, but crime scenes like this still bothered him. "Time of death, Duck?"
Ducky made a cursory examination of the body. "Oh, I'd say our officer here died between approximately 4:00 and 7:00 this morning. He's in full rigor. Looks to have been repeatedly beaten and stabbed, but of course I will have to get him home for a thorough examination. Ducky stood up and called out, "Mr. Palmer, a body bag and the gurney, please."
Jimmy Palmer, who was standing behind Ducky waiting for instructions, jumped into action. "Right away Dr. Mallard."
"We just got here and haven't taken photos yet, Duck." Gibbs looked over to find Tony fiddling with his camera and whistled loudly. "Hey, DiNozzo! Get your ass over here and start shooting!"
Tony jogged the short distance and grinned at Gibbs. "Sorry, boss. Had to find new batteries for the camera." Tony got into investigator mode and starting at the victim's feet began shooting photos of the body and surrounding area. A few minutes later he suddenly stopped and nearly dropped the camera when he got a look at the dead man's face. Tony visibly paled and took a few steps back looking like he was about to faint.
"Jethro!" Ducky shouted, alerting Gibbs. Gibbs looked up to see Tony swaying as he stumbled backward only to be stopped in his tracks by a Dumpster. Gibbs immediately ran over to Tony to steady him and grabbed the camera.
"McGee!" Gibbs shouted thrusting the camera at him when he trotted up, "Help me get DiNozzo to the truck, and then I need you to finish getting the photos."
"Uh, sure. Boss, what's wrong?" McGee looked at Tony with concern. "What happened?"
"Don't know, McGee." Gibbs threw one of Tony's arms over his shoulder, and together he and McGee led Tony to the NCIS truck and sat him down in the back. Tony didn't speak a word and looked like he was going to be sick.
"Thanks, McGee. I'll take care of Tony. You get back to work. Once you're done with the photos, have Ziva help you collect and bag the evidence. We'll need to search the alley for the murder weapon." Gibbs' eyes assessed Tony as he gave McGee his orders.
McGee noticed how Gibbs was looking at Tony while keeping an arm firmly around Tony's waist. He suddenly felt like he was intruding on an intimate moment, so he cleared his throat. "Yeah, sure, boss. Don't worry, I'm on it." McGee gave Tony an assessing look before he hurried back over to the body and finished photographing the body. He looked at Ducky and noticed the concerned look on his face. He stood next to Ducky and asked quietly, "Ducky, what happened? Tony doesn't look so good, and Gibbs looks really worried."
Ducky's brow was furrowed and his mouth was in a tight line. "I don't know, Timothy. One minute Anthony was taking photographs and the next … well, you saw his reaction. I have no idea what has upset Anthony."
"Well, Gibbs said he'll look after Tony for now. You better check him out, though." Concern was clear in McGee's voice. Tony may pull pranks and tease him mercilessly, but they were on some level as close as brothers. "I'm done here, Ducky. You guys can take the body. I'll get Ziva and look for the murder weapon."
Ducky gave McGee a reassuring smile. "That is a good idea, Timothy. You are a good friend to Anthony. I'll check on him after we've loaded the van." McGee just nodded and smiled back at Ducky.
Back at the truck, Gibbs sat next to Tony speaking softly trying to calm his agent, friend and lover. "Tone?" No response. "Tony?" Gibbs spoke a little more forcefully. Still nothing. "DINOZZO!" Gibbs barked, finally causing Tony to blink and look at him. "Jesus Tony, you with me?" Gibbs relaxed a bit as awareness crept back into Tony's eyes.
Tony turned to Gibbs and tried to talk, but only nodded as he could barely speak. Gibbs reached into one of the compartments in the back of the truck and found a bottle of water which he placed into Tony's shaking hand. With a shaky voice Tony responded, "I'm okay, boss."
"Tony, what the hell happened? I've never seen you react like this at a crime scene." Gibbs spoke softly while he placed a hand on Tony's shoulder and gave it a reassuring squeeze.
Tony managed to remove the cap from the bottle and took a long drink. "Gibbs … Jethro," he managed to croak out. "The victim … it's … uh … oh God … it's that guy Greg. His name's Greg Adams."
Gibbs just stared at Tony and tried to gauge his reaction. Both men then looked over to see Ducky and Palmer loading the body bag onto the gurney and wheel it toward them.
"Tony, are you sure?" Gibbs turned back to Tony and swallowed hard. Gibbs suddenly wondered if maybe Tony had feelings for Greg after all. That would explain his strong reaction.
"Yeah, Gibbs. I'm sure." Tony nodded, exhaled and closed his eyes. "Jesus, I just … saw him a few days ago." Tony took a series of deep breaths and gave Gibbs a weak smile. "I'm okay now. Thanks, boss. I gotta get back to work." Tony made to stand when Gibbs pulled him back down.
"You're not going anywhere until Ducky looks you over." Gibbs snapped and he stood abruptly to leave. Before he could take a step, Tony reached out and grabbed his arm and pulled him back.
He looked up at Gibbs with pleading eyes. He sighed as he took in Gibbs emotionless expression. "Gibbs, please sit back down." Gibbs slowly sat down and looked down at the ground with his hands on his knees. "Hey!" Tony said quietly while bumping shoulders with Gibbs, "Jethro, I meant it when I said I didn't have feelings for him. You have to believe me. He was a nice guy, but we were only friends, and barely that. A couple of drinks, a dance or two, and … you know." Tony looked at Gibbs with sad eyes.
Blue eyes locked with green for a few moments before Gibbs nodded. "I know, and I believe you, Tony," he whispered, "It's just kinda … hinky." Tony frowned and nodded his understanding.
Tony leaned into Gibbs and whispered in his ear, "I know, Jethro, but after last night you have to know that I love only you." Both men watched as Palmer finished securing the gurney while Ducky grabbed his medical bag and walked quickly toward them.
"My dear Anthony, are you quite all right? You gave me quite a scare." Tony smiled at the grandfatherly concern as Ducky spoke to him.
"Sorry. Yeah, I'm fine, Ducky. Just a little shocked. I, um, knew the victim." Tony looked away from Gibbs and took another drink.
"Ah, I see. It must have been quite a shock." Ducky looked from Tony to Gibbs and noticed a deep frown on his friend's face. The look Gibbs gave him was a clear signal that now was not the time for asking questions. "Yes, very well then, let me just check your vitals my dear boy. I do not want you to have another episode." Ducky patted Tony on the knee and quickly completed his examination. He assured Gibbs that Tony's blood pressure, pulse and temperature were all fine. "Just rest for a few more minutes, Anthony, and you should be fine." Ducky smiled at both of them before gathering up his bag and heading to the van.
McGee caught up with Ziva inside the bar and found her talking to one of the burly bouncers who was nearing the end of his shift. Dave Martin was a huge man. McGee snorted to himself at the though that this guy could probably bench press a tank. Dave nodded to Ziva as McGee approached them.
"Sorry to interrupt," McGee said as he gave the bouncer a curt nod. "Hey, Ziva. Umm … Tony's sick, so I need your help collecting evidence."
"Is he all right, McGee? What happened?" Ziva looked at McGee with concern and surprise. Tony had seemed fine all morning. She turned to the bouncer. "We will need to ask you some more questions later, Mr. Martin."
"Yes ma'am. I'll be here for another hour or so. Otherwise, I'll be back here around 7:00 tonight." The bouncer excused himself and made his way to the bar where other employees were gathered.
McGee pulled Ziva to the door and together they walked out into the alley. "I don't know, Ziva. He was fine until he got a look at the victim's face. I think he recognized him. He nearly fainted, and Gibbs and I had to take him to the truck. Gibbs is with him now. I've never seen him react like that at a crime scene."
Ziva's eyes narrowed as she looked at McGee's concerned expression. "How do you think Tony knows him? I mean, McGee, this is a bar in DuPont Circle. Everyone knows that there are a lot of gay bars in this neighborhood. I have been told that this is a gay bar. You know what that means do you not? Does Tony often hang out in clubs like this?"
McGee brow furrowed and crossed his arms before scolding Ziva. "It's really none of our business if he does, Ziva. Would you have a problem with it if he did?" McGee wasn't homophobic at all, but he didn't know what Ziva would think if she found out Tony hung out in alternative clubs.
"No, McGee, of course not!" Ziva yelled back at him, affronted that McGee would think that. "It is just hard to image, what with Tony's endless stories about all of the beautiful women he has dated. If some of those women turned out to be men instead, I would not care." Ziva paused for a moment to calm herself before turning to McGee and smiling sadly as she placed a hand on his arm. "I have suffered greatly due to prejudice and bigotry, McGee. I could not and would not ever hold something like this against Tony, or anyone for that matter. I may tease Tony, but I would never day or do anything to intentionally hurt him."
McGee ran a hand down his face and sighed. "I know, Ziva. I'm sorry. We don't even know how Tony knows the dead guy, so we better get back to work. I guess we'll find out soon enough." McGee and Ziva began gathering trace evidence and searching for a possible murder weapon. Ziva found a knife under the Dumpster Tony had been leaning against. It was a switch blade with a 6-inch blade that covered in blood. Ziva called out, "I found our murder weapon," as she placed it in an evidence bag to secure the chain of evidence.
Once Ducky cleared Tony, he and Gibbs made their way into the bar to begin interviewing employees. There were only a handful of employees gathered around the bar. Majestic was open from 3:00 pm to 2:00 am. At this time of day, most of the employees were on duty to clean up from the night before and to get the bar re-stocked and ready to open. Employees just beginning their shifts stated that they didn't see or hear anything because they had just arrived for work a short time ago to find the police already here.
A lot of the regular night crew employees knew Greg Adams. He was a regular at least three nights a week. They all described him as looking a lot like Gibbs. Gibbs just rolled his eyes while Tony looked away and blushed. Greg was fairly popular at the club. He wore nice clothes and seemed to be attracted to both men and women. He was a great dancer, and could easily charm a partner into joining him in one of the back rooms of the club.
Gibbs asked to see the private rooms. One of the wait staff led Gibbs to the private rooms through a curtained doorway behind the bar. There were six rooms down the long hallway, all equipped with various BDSM equipment. One room in particular was fully outfitted. It was the largest of the six rooms. A St. Andrew's Cross was in the center of one wall. A rack of canes, whips, floggers, paddles, and riding crops hung next to it. Chains of various lengths hung from the ceiling. A padded bench was in the center of the room. There was a queen size bed against the wall to the left of the St. Andrews Cross, and a leather couch was against the opposite wall. This room was set up for some serious, hardcore scenes. Gibbs shuddered and quickly backed out of the room to meet up with Tony.
While Gibbs was in back, Tony spoke with the same burly, muscle-bound bouncer that Ziva had already interviewed. He repeated what he had told Ziva; that he found the body when he helped take the trash out at about 5:30. He ran in and told the bartender, Brian Schmidt, who called the police about thirty minutes later. Tony asked Dave if the bar had any security cameras. Dave said he would go get all the tapes from last night and this morning.
Gibbs caught up with Tony who was finishing up. Together they walked over to the bar. Brian the bartender was busy washing and drying glasses as they approached. Gibbs stepped up to the bar and cleared his throat before pulling out and flashing his badge. Tony hesitated and stayed back. Gibbs looked back at him in confusion. Normally, Tony would be right next to him pounding on the bar and leaning in to get the bartender's attention. Instead, he remained two steps behind Gibbs.
Brian Schmidt was tall, about 6'2". He was muscular but lean. He had shoulder length jet black hair and deep blue eyes. Gibbs put his age at about 25 to 30. Gibbs noticed that he had a Marine tattoo on his right bicep that was partly covered by the t-shirt he was wearing.
Brian looked up to find Gibbs assessing him. He smiled when he recognized Gibbs, who held his badge in his face. "Special Agent Gibbs, NCIS." He snapped it shut and put it in his pocket. "You the bar manager?"
Brian licked his lips and smiled. "Uh, yea. I've worked here since the place opened about six months ago. The owner is a friend of mine." He gave Gibbs a quick leer then smiled brightly at him. "I've seen you in here before. Been a while, but I'd never forget a good-looking guy like you."
Gibbs rolled his eyes and glared at the man. This was the same bartender who hit on him the night he was here with Mitch. Trying to clear his memories of that night from his mind, Gibbs shook his head and cleared his throat. Gibbs questioned him for a few more minutes. Tony never spoke up once, which had Gibbs concerned. Tony loved to swagger in, turn on the charm, and get witnesses to give up information. He excelled at it, so Gibbs couldn't for the life of him figure out why Tony was standing there without saying a word.
Gibbs finally had enough and turned to Tony. "Tony? You feeling okay?" Gibbs noticed that Tony's eyes looked a little glazed, but he figured it was just from his earlier shock.
Tony looked at Gibbs and frowned. "M'fine, Gibbs. Just trying to process, that's all."
Gibbs placed a hand on Tony's shoulder. "Okay, I'm gonna go check on Ziva and McGee. Have a seat and relax. I'll be back in a minute." Gibbs led Tony to a booth and made him sit.
Tony sighed heavily. "Sure thing, boss. M'not going anywhere." Gibbs narrowed his eyes and gave Tony a long assessing look before he turned and walked to the exit. Gibbs' gut was telling him that something was wrong, and that he needed to get Tony out of here soon.
Gibbs found McGee and Ziva loading all the evidence and equipment into the back of the truck. Without looking at either agent, Gibbs said, "You two take this stuff back to Abby. Tony and I will finish up the interviews here and we'll meet you back at the office."
Ziva stepped into Gibbs' personal space to get his attention. "Gibbs, is everything all right? You do not look at all well, and McGee told me what happened to Tony earlier." She placed her hands on Gibbs' shoulders and looked directly into his eyes. "We are a team and a family, Gibbs. Whatever is going on, please tell us what we can do to help."
McGee stepped up to them and glanced sideways at Ziva before turning his attention to Gibbs. "Yeah, boss. It's obvious that something is wrong and I'm worried about Tony."
Gibbs grinned weakly at the two agents. He knew that Tony drove them crazy, but Ziva was right; they were a family and would look out for each other. "Thanks, both of you. You did really good work today. We'll fill you in when Tony and I get back to the office."
McGee closed the doors to the truck and managed to grab the keys from Ziva's hand before running to get into the driver's seat and locking the door. Gibbs just stood there as the inevitable sibling squabbling began. Ziva started by yelling at McGee to give back the keys. McGee yelled back that he wanted to get back to the office alive and then Ziva called him a patsy. "It's pansy, Ziva, and no I'm not." Gibbs shook his head and grinned as the two younger agents drove off. He was pretty sure he could still hear them arguing as they headed down the street.
Gibbs ran a hand down his face and headed back into the bar, only to find Tony gone.
