Chapter Nine: Lost and Found

"Lost people are different. They will drive around in the same circle over and over rather than try a new path.
Their fear of getting more lost paralyzes them into staying lost in the area that's just become familiar.
It supersedes their ability to chart a new course.
They circle and backtrack and stay comfortably lost because it's less scary than seeing something different than what's presently in front of them." Jill A. Davis

Las Vegas
November 11th, 1942
9:45 am

Cursing the rain Tobias began walking back up the slippery embankment.

"So?" Gibbs questioned.

"So? So I think I got mud in my socks!"
With the look Gibbs sent him Fornell sighed and continued," He hasn't been down there long, but from the looks of it he's been dead for a good while."

"So it is Anderson?"

"Can't be sure until they get him back to the morgue but I'd bet on it."

"What are they doing here?"
Confused by the sudden change of topic Fornell turned to see who Gibbs was talking about.

"Agent Gibbs, Fornell." Nate greeted.

"We heard you found our missing accountant. Where is he?" Munch asked, getting straight to the point.

"Down there." Gibbs pointed to the bottom of the muddy embankment.
Frustrated that Anderson wouldn't be giving them any answers Munch continued," So why were you guys looking for him anyway?"

"We've been helping out the IRS. We're almost positive Anderson is Rossi's bookie, figured if we shook him up a bit he'd move the books, make sure they're safe.
We'd be there to intercept, give the books to the IRS and hopefully find something good enough to finally knock Rossi off his throne. And you?" Gibbs questioned curtly.

"His wife was murdered. Wanted to know why he hadn't been looking for her." Nate answered.

"Do you think their deaths are connected?" Fornell wondered.

"Well that's what we're going to figure out." Munch said turning around.

"Did I just witness the famous Gibbs willingly hand out our information.
The same Gibbs you have to nearly pry open for his testimony." whispered Tobias.

"Tobias the best way to keep things a secret is to make sure no one is looking for them.
If you give them something they won't start digging, if there not digging than they won't be
hiding what they find, and if they don't hide it than we can also get a look at it. Now, do I need to spell out anything else?"

"Oh, No I gotcha now." Fornell said a little bit upset he didn't catch on to his partners plans.

Getting in the car Munch stopped as he heard Gibbs calling for him. "Yeah?"

"Hey, I figured since we've both been digging on Anderson we could maybe get together; see what
we can put together from what we found on him. Maybe it'll lead us both somewhere."

A bit skeptical, this was the same Gibbs he'd once had the misfortune of working with, Munch hesitantly replied, "What could it hurt?"
Aside from the fact that the man wasn't known to play well with others. "Come to the station and we'll start from there."

Watching the detectives drive away Fornell replied, "You're going to ruin our reputation if people find out your not only co-operating, but being friendly about it."

Shaking his head and laughing slightly Gibbs just turned around and watched as Anderson was pulled up and out of the embankment.

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Rossi's Home
9:40 am

"I told you morons to find him not to kill him!" Rossi yelled, more than enraged by the news he had just received.

"First off, I don't care what they just told you I didn't kill nobody.
Secondly I ain't no moron and you're not gonna be talking to me like some mindless animal." Eliot seethed walking towards Rossi, fists clenched.

Standing in front of Eliot to halt whatever drastic action he was about to take Morgan calmly replied, "What are you talking about?"

"What am I talking about!" He roared.
" I send you two goons ta' find Anderson and he shows up dead.
You're supposed to be the best and you couldn't even follow simple directions!"

Having had enough Eliot snapped, "I'm about to give you a firsthand demonstration on how good I am old man.
I'm not some punk rookie you can intimidate; the closest we got to that weasel was checking out his home!"

Knowing he didn't have too much time before Rossi pushed Eliot over the edge Morgan continued, "I pulled a few strings while
Eliot sweet talked some of his neighbors and we found out the last time he was home was around the same time his wife was killed.
I couldn't get any details on that but apparently she's one of the victims from that serial killer that's been in the papers."

"You hear that!" Eliot spat, "We never touched 'em."

"Then you get back over to his place and take care of it! I don't want nothing over there pointing back to me, got it."
Rossi ordered, "And unless you aren't happy with your current health," Rossi pointed to Eliot, "I'd watch my words boy."

Holding the door for Derek to exit, Eliot fumed, "I ain't your boy" and slammed the door.

"So how do you wanna take care of Anderson's place?" Derek wondered out loud.

"What I really wanna take care of is Rossi's face." Eliot mumbled stomping out the front door.

"I hear that!" Derek says laughing.

The "Apple Pie"...It's like the "Cherry Pie" but with life guards. (Eliot Spencer - LEVERAGE)