She watched them enter the hotel foyer, and felt a second's flash of real irritation. They had arrived earlier than she had anticipated. She would have to compensate for this development. Slow them down. Or speed them up, keep them off balance long enough for her to find it.
She had underestimated the simple country girl chosen to transport the goods. Louise Farrell had hidden the notebooks and map. It was a matter of time before she found them, but she needed free rein. Without interference.
Liat Tuvia turned the car and drove away.
...ooo0ooo...
"The Maltese Falcon..."
"Tony!" Ziva snapped, "enough!" She carefully replaced the things she had moved from the suitcase. Louise Farrell might have been dead, but it seemed very disrespectful to the young woman to make a mess of her belongings.
"As I was saying, The Maltese Falcon..."
"Tony, Icriem is not a falcon, Maltese or otherwise." Ziva snapped, exasperated, and Tony's widening grins said it all, he had the upper hand. Desperately, Ziva cast a sideways glance at McGee.
"Nice divert! Zee-Vah." Tony's smirk was pure mischief. "Soooo... McGeek, Abby and Ben-Gidon seemed pretty close back there."
"I didn't notice." Even to his own ears McGee's words sounded unconvincing. Abby liked Ben-Gidon, he obviously liked her and it is none of my business.
"That would be more convincing, Probie, if you didn't look like there was a stormcloud over your head."
McGee scowled, "I do not." He summoned what little dignity he could muster and stooped to place another number by the evidence he was examining. Snapping off a series of shots to cover his confusion.
Tony moved in for the kill. "And is that the sound of teeth grinding?"
"Just your imagination." McGee straightened up.
DiNozzo's eyes narrowed slightly. Probie almost sounded convincing, apart from that suggestion of a pout from his lower lip, and the eyebrows which were trying not to draw together over his nose.
DiNozzo opened his mouth to say as much.
"Bag and tag, DiNozzo, we are running out of time on this one." Gibbs emerged from the bathroom, evidence bags in hand. "Get it all packed up and transported to Abby."
"The whole room, boss?"
"Yes, Tony... the whole room." The infamous Gibbs' enigmatic stare still had the power to make Tony squirm. "See what Abby can make of it."
...ooo0ooo...
It really was alarmingly easy to slip into the evidence garage unseen. Liat moved quietly into the shadows as the sound of voices filtered back as the elevator doors slid open.
Her target stepped out, followed closely by Liat's former partner. Damn. Then Liat realised this was going to work in her favour. They were talking, distracted. Abby's hand strayed up to Malachi's cheek, her thumb gently swiping at the smudge of paint, as he turned his head to plant a kiss in her palm.
Liat struck like a viper.
"Hands up."
As Malachi spun round, clawing frantically for his weapon with his left hand, she drove the butt of her gun into his wounded shoulder with all the force she could muster.
Malachi howled in agony and fell to his knees, bending over, he tried to hold on as his vision blurred.
"Malachi!" Abby cried out in distress and tried to help him. But Liat stepped between them and levelled her gun at the forensic specialist. "Leave him." She reached out with her free hand and grabbed the wounded man's shoulder, twisting with all her strength.
Malachi's eyes were screwed shut against the pain, and Abby shook her head in terror. Blood was already soaking through his shirt. "I'll do whatever you want, just don't hurt him again, please."
Liat gestured with the weapon. "Move."
"Abby!" Malachi's anguished cry strengthened Abby's resolve, she had to get Liat away from him.
The Israeli woman stepped behind her former partner and pistol-whipped him with all her strength. He crumpled and fell forwards.
Abby desperately wanted to go to him, but the muzzle of that gun was pointing straight at her, unwavering. She had to get Liat away from Malachi before she hurt him any more.
"Move."
"You can't possibly hope to get away with this." Abby moved, but slowly.
Liat smirked, "it is obvious that Special Agent Gibbs will do almost anything to protect you."
Abby connected the dots, "it was you... you killed Louise Farrell... you shot Malachi in the alley."
"I did."
"Why?"
"I had a job to do and they were both in the way."
The callous statement also took Abby's breath away, numbly she stared at the ruthless young woman who was dragging her away. Part of her wanted to fight back, the other part knew that would be too great a risk, she needed a better opportunity.
"You drive." They reached a black car, and Abby very reluctantly slid behind the wheel. She had hoped that she would have a chance at the car, but Liat was a step ahead. Abby bided her time, this would take better planning.
...ooo0ooo...
A shiver crawled up Gibbs' spine and he pressed his foot down harder on the gas pedal. His gut told him that something was seriously wrong.
...ooo0ooo...
He came to on the floor, head pounding, his shoulder was bleeding and he felt dizzy and weak. "Abby!" he croaked, but there was no answer and he knew that Liat had her. He had to get help.
He tried to lever himself upright, but blood loss and pain were making his head swim, his vision was blurred and his co-ordination was shot. Slowly and painfully he crawled to the tool cage, and reached up with his good hand. It took him three attempts but he finally managed to pull himself up.
Malachi steadied himself, he was on autopilot as he stumbled into the elevator.
...ooo0ooo...
Gibbs pressed the button for the elevator, something felt wrong and Abby didn't answer when he called, which might mean nothing, but could be something.
He turned, frustrated, the elevator seemed ridiculously slow. Jabbed his thumb on the button again.
A quiet ping announced the arrival of the elevator and Gibbs swung round. The doors swished open.
Malachi stumbled forward, and Gibbs moved swiftly to support the wilting Israeli. "What happened?" The words left his lips even as Malachi's choked response sent a cold shudder down his spine.
"Liat has Abby."
