9

Parallel Lines

A/N: Checked out a chapter at the fanfic site. I recommend selecting the ½ page width for easier reading.

o…o…o…o…o

Chapter 9

Scene: On the road

So, that bloke was calling Sue at home now, was he? fumed Bobby as he drove home. Sue seemed to enjoy talking to him. Was there something going on between the two of them? But, how could there be? They'd just met. They were colleagues, at most friends. At least Sue acted like they could be friends. That was Sue. But that bloke, Tony, now he seemed very interested.

He shouldn't be surprised. He'd seen it happen before…with the DEA agent, the secret agent man and others. Sue was pretty, smart and was one of the kindest people he knew. People responded to her sympathetic nature—even Myles. Why shouldn't Tony? But he still didn't like it…he didn't like it at all.

Well, he'd be around to keep an eye on them and even if he wasn't, he was sure Gibbs would. The case always came first with Gibbs.

o…o…o…o…o

Next day

Scene: FBI Interrogation Room

"How well did you know Grant Phillips?" asked Bobby.

"You already asked me that at the restaurant," Chad Russell replied briefly.

"Well, I wasn't there," stated Myles. "Enlighten me."

Russell rolled his eyes. "Like I said, I know…knew Grant," he corrected himself.

"How well?" inquired Myles.

"As well as you know anyone you spend 24/7 with for months at a time; all the while wondering if today was going to be your last."

It was Myles' turn to roll his eyes. "I take it that means very well."

Russell shrugged. "Yeah, you could say that. I wasn't his best bud but we were pretty tight."

"Do you have any idea why someone would want him dead?"

"No, I don't. Grant was a good guy, the kind of guy you want covering your six in combat and he did. Why would anyone want a guy like that dead?"

"You tell us, mate. That's what we're trying to find out."

"I don't know. I didn't know when you asked me at the restaurant and I don't know now."

"Did you even think about it?"

Russell looked at him disbelievingly. "Sure I thought about it and I keep coming up with the same question—who would want to kill a guy like Grant?"

Behind the observation mirror Gibbs stared at the suspect while the NCIS team exchanged glances. What was he thinking?

"Kate?" barked Gibbs. He expected his agents to know the question. Kate did not disappoint him.

She was frowning. "He seems more sure of himself today. There were none of the hesitations he had yesterday."

"You think he had time to talk over the situation with his buddies?" asked Tony.

"He made one call to Craig Wilson at 2:30 yesterday afternoon," supplied Sue who had been watching the conversation. "Aside from that, no unusual activity. SOG reported no one left their homes last night except Marla Delgado who came back about ninety minutes later."

"I think we need to visit Craig Wilson again," announced Gibbs. "What about Brian Montgomery?"

"Agent Manning and I will be heading out to his office as soon as we're finished here," Kate informed him.

"Well," Gibbs glared, "what are you waiting for? Get Manning and go."

"Right."

Bobby and Myles were outside the interrogation room when Kate exited the viewing room. The two men turned to face her.

"What do you think?" asked Bobby.

"I think he may have had time and some help to work on his story," Kate responded promptly. "Sue reported Wilson had a phone call from Russell yesterday afternoon. Draw your own conclusions from that." She gave the Aussie agent a meaningful look.

He nodded thoughtfully. "Hmmm. What next?"

"Brian Montgomery should be back from his trip."

"And Gibbs wants us to interview him."

"You got it," she smiled. She was surprised and pleased at how well they were working together.

"Beauty and brains," admired Myles. "A wonderful combination."

Kate looked at the blonde FBI agent with a puzzled expression. Was he hitting on her? The unexpected compliment sounded sincere enough. "Um…thanks."

Bobby smirked. He wondered how long it would take before Myles turned on the charm.

Out of the corner of his eye, Myles caught Bobby's expression. "You can't deny Special Agent Todd possesses both to the nth degree."

Bobby looked at Kate critically and dropped a conspiratorial wink. "You're right, Myles. I totally agree with you."

She smiled in appreciation.

"I'll get my coat, very Special Agent Todd. Meet you back here?"

"Sure, Special Agent Manning."

"I'll keep Special Agent Todd company until you get back," offered Myles. "To discuss the case, of course," he added hastily.

"Of course," said Bobby dryly.

"Now who do you think killed Grant Phillips?" Myles asked Kate as Bobby headed to the elevator.

o…o…o…o…o

Scene: Work Place

"I told you all I know," declared Craig Wilson.

"We just wondered if maybe you remembered something else," said Sue, "especially after your phone call from Chad Russell."

Wilson paused for a fraction of a moment. "I don't know what you're talking about," he said evenly.

"Chad Russell placed a phone call to you at approximately 2:30 yesterday afternoon," she shared, "after he had a visit from other members of our team."

"Do you want to change your story now?" Tony asked.

"Not change but clarify."

"We're listening."

"Chad called to ask if I'd heard about Grant. He thought I'd want to know."

"Because he was such a good friend."

"Right."

"You still don't have any idea who shot your good friend, stuffed him in the backseat of a car and drove it off the side of a mountain?" Tony asked skeptically.

"No! If I knew I'd tell you! Like I've been telling you, Grant was a good guy…one of the best. You needed anything, anything at all, he'd tried to help."

"Did you know he paid his grandmother's medical bills?" Sue shared.

Wilson was still for moment then shrugged. "It wasn't a secret he was helping out his grandmother."

"We're talking major medical bills here," said Tony.

At the NCIS agent's statement, Wilson became totally still for a second, a flicker of his lashes the only indication that the revelation had shocked him. Sue's gaze was thoughtful as she observed the suspect.

"How much we talking about?" he asked diffidently as he played with a speck of dust on the table.

"Hey!" broke in Tony. "We're—"

There was something… she took a chance. "It was close to twenty thousand dollars," she disclosed every sense on alert.

"Twenty…" Wilson licked his lips. "That's a lot of money."

"Yes, it is."

"Do you know where he would get that kind of money?"

"I don't know."

"No idea at all?"

"No."

"Did you know it's against international law to sell an artifact from another country even if you find it?" Tony asked changing tactics.

"So what's that got to do with Grant's death?"

"You tell me."

Wilson looked at the trio. "I still don't know what you're talking about."

"You're saying you know nothing about stolen artifacts?"

"Not a thing."

"Okay. Just don't be surprised if we want to talk to you again."

"Don't make it any time soon."

o…o…o…o…o

Scene: Car dealership

"Hi! How can I help you?" Brian Montgomery pleasantly greeted the NCIS and FBI agents at the reception desk. He extended his hand in welcome.

"Brian Montgomery?"

"At your service," he smiled. "Tell me what you're looking for in a car and I just know we have the right one for you."

"Is there somewhere we can talk privately?" Kate requested.

Montgomery looked puzzled. "You're not looking for a new car?"

"No, we're not, mate," Bobby replied affirmatively. He discreetly showed his badge. "Special Agent Manning, FBI and Special Agent Todd, NCIS."

Immediately, Montgomery's affable manner changed.

"Federal agents." His eyes shifted between the tall Aussie and the slender brunette. "Follow me."

He led them to the empty lounge and closed the door and turned to face them.

"Does this have anything to do with Grant?"

"You know?" Kate asked.

"Then it's true?" Montgomery persisted.

"What's true?"

"He was murdered."

The two agents shared a look.

"I see one of your mates gave you a call."

"Yeah. Hard to keep something like that quiet. Murdered," repeated Montgomery in disbelief. "Who would want to kill Grant?"

"That's what we're hoping you can tell us."

"Me?"

"We're hoping you have information that could help us with this case."

"Like what?"

"Where were you the weekend of May 20th?" asked Kate.

"This past weekend?"

She nodded.

"Um…a bunch of us went up to Craig's cabin for the weekend."

"Craig Wilson?" Kate asked in confirmation as she made notes on her PDA.

"Right."

"Could you tell us who else was there?" Bobby asked as he scribbled on his notepad.

"Craig, of course, Chad, Carlos, Jordan, and me."

"That would be Chad Russell, Carlos Delgado and Jordan Beckett?" clarified Kate.

"You already seem to know who was there," Montgomery said defensively. "Why ask me?"

"Standard procedure," she soothed flashing a perfunctory smile. "We like to be as clear as possible whenever possible, Mr. Montgomery. Avoids confusion later on. Now was anyone else expected?"

"Only Grant." He ran a hand over his face. "And now we know why he didn't show."

"Weren't any of you concerned when he didn't come or even call?"

"A little…but we thought maybe something came up with his grandmother. She's has some health issues. That's why Grant opted to switch to the Reserves. Be closer for her."

"They seemed close."

"She pretty much raised him."

"You seem to have known him pretty well."

"There was a lot of time to talk."

"Did Grant have any enemies?"

"Grant? Nah," responded Montgomery shaking his head. "Everybody liked him." A sickened expression painted his face. "At least I thought so."

"Did you all get there at the same time?"

"I showed up on Saturday morning and Carlos came about an hour later and Jordan after that. Craig and Chad were already there."

"Did you anything unusual happen?"

"Unusual?"

"Yeah…did anyone behave differently or something out of the ordinary happen?"

He frowned trying to think. "Not really…unless you count Carlos tripping over that root. I think that was the most excitement we had during the whole weekend."

"Are you saying you were bored?"

"Not bored. The whole purpose of these get-togethers is to kick back and relax."

"When was the last time you were in touch with Jordan Beckett?" Bobby asked.

"Jordan? Haven't seen him since that Sunday."

"You sure now?"

"Sure I'm sure. Why?"

"We've been trying reach him," answered Kate. "Nobody seems to have seen or heard from him since he left the cabin."

"You're not thinking…."

"We're not thinking anything, Mr. Montgomery," she smiled perfunctorily. "We'd just like to talk to him. If you should hear from him, could you call this number?" she requested handing him her card.

Montgomery studied it then slipped it into his pocket. "Sure."

"Thanks, mate," said Bobby stowing his notepad away in his coat pocket.

"We're sorry about your friend," Kate said sympathetically.

"I am, too," remarked Montgomery shaking his head. "I'm not saying it because he's dead. Grant was a great guy."

"By the way," Bobby interjected casually, "can you remember when Carlos Delgado sprained his ankle?"

"Sunday morning," he answered promptly. "Why?"

"There was some confusion about which day it happened. Not important but I like to get my facts straight." He raised a hand. "Thanks for clearing it up. If we have any more questions, we'll be contacting you."

Montgomery nodded as Bobby and Kate left.

"That seems to be the impression all around—Grant Phillips was a great guy," Kate commented as they walked to the car.

"Not so great," responded Bobby as he opened the door.

Kate looked at him in question.

"Somebody killed him."

o…o…o…o…o