A/N: So sorry. It has been a while since I last posted in this story. I've had computer issues, health issues and of course the holidays. Well there will be no more excuses just more writing and editing of things already written. Thank you for your patience and for all the previously written reviews that were glorious. BlackBear53

Chapter 11

Kensi and I had visited Khost in the past but living here, even while working, gives you a whole different outlook on the people who inhabit the area. Khost is one of the cultural centers of Afghani life and we learned a lot about the history of the Afghani people while in that city. Don't get me wrong the Afghani people live a hard life and many times you don't know who your neighbors are and what their beliefs are. Some might even be members of the Taliban. Like I said, you just don't know. Kensi and I always chose to live away, on the outskirts or the town, far from most of the natives but again you never knew who watched you and why they would do that.

When I moved my cart to the market outside of the airbase in Khost many of the other vendors were resentful of any spot I might take. It didn't make any difference if you were from the town or a refugee trying to make a life for your family they just didn't care for strangers. I was there selling my tools but it also proved beneficial to keeping an eye on locals and who came and went from the airfield. There were some interesting people coming and going so we found the resident NCIS agent and reported this things to him.

Kensi actually had more freedom to garner information. She understands Pashtu but can't speak it. When we go to the market she picks up information on area Taliban locations and movements then sending to the NCIS agents in Khost. Market time for Kensi meant personal freedom. It gets her out of the house and gives her something constructive to do. She watched the other women day after day as they gathered their food wares at the market areas. She did this so that she could observe their means of carrying those purchases home. Some of the women carried woven bags, some used home-made baskets that they carried home on their heads and some of the women even had metal carts that their husbands purchased for them from the airbase. Not one of them used they type of basket that Celeste Weir carried and that bothered Kensi and much to her dismay you couldn't even purchase one in all of Khost. That damn basket haunted Kensi for she thought it might be a connection that could solve what we looked into. She felt it was used for a purpose and the shopping was a ploy to cover whatever she did. She wanted someone in Kabul to check into it: but who? We couldn't exactly call Leland Walker. He'd talk with Weir and the game would be up. She felt she'd think about it some more, so I let her stew over it but I'd only give her a small grace period.

While I sat at the gates of the airfield for the next two months Celeste Weir came and went four times. At the end of those two months Hassiq Runani moved on to a town, much smaller in size, but still part of his father-in-laws parliamentary district. During that time Weir didn't show-up and we began to wonder if we'd got it wrong.

Sam Miller, the agent from Khost, came to our home one night with bad news. Two more service men had been executed. Both Marines had been based in Khost. Miller had found no reason for them to be killed. Both were just grunts that had no special jobs. The killings had followed them to Khost but further more they'd followed Weir. Agent Miller had more to share as well. There were rumors that two agents had moved into the area. His concern was that the rumor pertained to us. He wanted us to move in closer to his office where we'd be protected. When we said no, he suggested moving further into the hills. Both Kensi and I thanked him for his worry but we'd stay put. After he left Kensi said she wanted to stay to see if we'd flush out someone else who could lead us to the truth.

Much to our dismay Celeste Weir didn't show up and we surmised that no airbase meant no travelling to this place for her.

A few days after Miller's visit I went to the town square to sell my goods. Another vendor started yelling at me for getting one of the better spots in the market. I'd always had a cordial relationship with this particular vendor so the scene he created made me wonder what had happened to change that. I generously offered him my space and moved my cart to the far end of the square.

After the day of brisk sales, which I have to say surprised me, I headed for home. I was a short way from home when I ran into some of the men who'd objected to my original place. I'd never seen any of them outside of the market before today but they apparently were serious about those objections. When I acknowledged those objections, they apparently didn't believe me and so they impressed that upon me. They let me know how they felt with a pretty serious beating, so severe that I had no idea how long I lay in the ditch by the road. Kensi came by later looking for me. She found me a brought me home in my cart. I don't remember much of that night but I understand Kensi found a doctor in the next small town and forced him to come with her. For a woman who was acting deaf and dumb she did well. I'd have loved to see how she did it.

While those gentlemen beat me others stole some of the goods from my cart but I looked at that as part of their warning and decided to live with it. Those goods eventually showed up in the market place and when they did I received a visit from the first vendor; the one who'd given me a hard time. He'd grown suspicious when my tools showed up for resale and I hadn't. He'd found our home and asked about what happened to me. This gentleman's name was Omid Hazziq. He held the unofficial title of Square Master. He asked several questions ending with the most important one. 'Did I recognize the men who attacked me?' Since I honestly couldn't, I had to say no. Omid had some ideas as to their identities but if he said anything it could cause him and his family serious problems. I understood what he meant so I said nothing. He turned to leave, telling me he hoped to see me back in the market soon. He waved over his shoulder as me walked down the road back to town.

Kensi came from the back room and watched as Hazziq walked down the road. "He came on a fishing expedition."

I nodded as I watched him. I knew we were getting close and that was a good thing after so long.

Hazziq Runani left the next day on his roundabout way to Kandahar.

Just after he left, Kensi and I went to see Sam Miller on our way to Kandahar. We had to wait for an hour for him to come back to his office and Kensi paced like a mad woman. I knew something bothered her but she wasn't in the mood to share. I knew enough to let her be.

When Miller got back he immediately noticed the faded bruises on my face and asked about it.

I told him the same thing I told Omid and I also saw that it didn't sit well with him.

Kensi asked about finding a way to get information out of Kabul. She needed someone to check out Weir's basket.

Sam Miller didn't understand Kensi's urge to know. So she explained it to him. When the reasons had been given he wondered out loud as to who might help since NCIS was out of the loop.

I remembered the Army Major who ran CID and his pony in this race. "A Major Allen, Army CID, is also looking into the murders. Maybe he'd help us. He wants this stopped as well."

Sam nodded. "That could work. He'll need a reason to look for her."

I looked to Kensi who nodded her approval and then back to Sam. "He won't need any other reason than treason. Ask him to keep an eye on her and let you know what he finds."

Kensi then spoke up, "Tell him she carries a large basket that she uses for shopping. Someone may be may be slipping the information into the basket without her knowledge or she may even be doing it on her own. I don't know which but it needs to be stopped."

Miller picked up his SAT phone and placed that call to Major Allen. We sat and listened.

Major Allen, still ' oh so' amiable, gave Miller a start when he growled. "Not this crap again"

Sam just ignored him and moved into his spiel about treason and how it affected all of the armed servicemen and women.

Major Allen began to pay attention. When the topic of Celeste Weir and NCIS came around he questioned why she hadn't been taken out of the game.

I had to admit it was an honest question but one that Sam had to lie about. "We tried but we think the Taliban got our investigators. Now we need to try another way. We'd like you to get hold of Weir's basket and check it out. See if there is anything unusual about it. If there is we'll set up a little trap for the user. If not we'll try something else. Either way we need to stop these murders."

Major Allen agreed to that. "What do you suggest?"

Sam turned to Kensi who wrote what she needed and then gave him Kensi's idea. The Major agreed to let Sam know what happened.

We just hoped it would be soon.