Disclaimer: NCIS and its characters do not belong to me and I am making no money from this.
Thanks once again for reading, for the alerts and favourites and a special thank you to those who take the time to review, particularly to the anonymous reviewers who I can't thank personally, I really appreciate it, VP.
Bonus points go to combatcrazy and MarieEsmeraldaDumbledore-Black who recognized what Karen was doing now, well done, VP.
"She was a business woman, ran her own IT company, she could have given McGee a run for his money, she was real smart, I think she was a programmer before setting up the company. Anyway, she was very successful, probably what Dad liked about her, beautiful and lots of money. Last time I saw her must have been four, five years ago, don't know what she's doing now."
"Well, well, well," Fornell looked up from his study of Tony's computer catching McGee's eye. "Looks like we've got another connection between DiNozzo Senior and Vincent Franco." He clicked the remote putting the information up on the plasma. "Karen Sylvester is the ex Mrs DiNozzo number four, she went back to her maiden name after her divorce."
"What do we know about her?" McGee asked trying to keep his surprise in check. "Was the divorce amicable?"
"No idea about the divorce," Fornell replied, scanning his information. "Shame you can't ask DiNutzo."
"Don't know that he'd've known anyway," Tim said ruefully, acknowledging Fornell's suggestion with a sideways glance. "He never really talked about his family."
"Mmm, well it says here that Karen Sylvester is the CEO of Sylvo Electronics."
McGee's eyes widened at the news.
"You know them?" the older man asked.
"Oh yes, definitely, they're one of the major producers of software for the defence industry."
"Damn," Fornell muttered.
"Did she found the business?" McGee wondered, taking the remote and flicking through various screens.
"She was already CEO when they married but I can't find any evidence of DiNozzo being involved with defence contracts," Fornell supplied, looking down at his notes.
Tim kept quiet, there was no way he was going to breach Tony's confidence by letting the FBI agent in on the true nature of Senior's business dealings unless it was absolutely necessary. Instead he dug a little further, finally coming across what he was looking for. "She's highly qualified," he said. "She would certainly have been capable of setting up the cameras and transmitters."
"But is she capable of murder?" Fornell asked. "And is she working with her husband?"
"Why don't you keep digging," Tim suggested. "I need to clear my head, I'm going for coffee. Can I get you anything?"
Fornell nodded his thanks, recognising the younger man's motivation in moving away from unwanted attention. He turned his attention back to the computer, his frown deepening as he read the contents of an incoming email.
McGee quickly made his way outside bypassing the coffee dealer in the park, making a mental note to take the drinks back later. Once he was out of earshot he took out his cell and sat down on a nearby bench. Gibbs answered on the first ring and Tim filled him in without waiting to be asked. Moments later he heard a rustling as Gibbs moved the phone away from his ear to talk to DiNozzo, the young man suppressed a smile as he heard his boss asking, "How the hell does this speaker work?" Finally he had to bite his cheek to keep his expression serious as he heard the voice on the other end.
"Hey McGoo, what gives?"
Tony sounded tired but McGee was relieved to hear him nonetheless, quickly he reiterated what they had found out about Karen Sylvester and asked what his partner knew of her.
"Nothing much McGee," DiNozzo admitted. "As I was telling Gibbs I liked her, she was really smart. As you say she was into computers, ran her own company but it was never talked about when I was there. Didn't give off any vibes that had me worried, as far as I knew she was still married to Dad, didn't know until he told me that he'd remarried and divorced again since then."
McGee winced knowing that Tony hated talking about personal details but recognising that it would be important to him to get the facts out in the open. "So you don't know why they divorced then?"
Tony shook his head, looking over at Gibbs. He knew that the older man would forgive him for not going into detail but he also knew that he couldn't forgive himself if anything happened to his father because he cared too much about his personal feelings to be honest. Taking a deep breath he said tonelessly. "I would imagine that she either became too interested in business to give him any time or was no longer willing to subsidise his business dealings."
McGee hesitated a moment too long before replying but he kept his answer brief. "Thanks, I'll see what I can find." He knew that there was no point in asking Tony if he knew of any reason why Karen would want his father, or himself for that matter, dead, the older man would have told him if he did. Sighing he got up and made his way resolutely over to collect the coffees before heading back inside.
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DiNozzo handed the cell back to Gibbs, his face impassive but Jethro wasn't fooled. Not for the first time he cursed the elder DiNozzo for screwing with his son. Knowing that said son wouldn't appreciate sympathy however he kept his manner gruff and set about making another pot of coffee to give Tony time to get his thoughts in order.
The coffee had almost brewed before the younger man spoke but when he did he was all business. "The Karen I knew wasn't a murderer," he said quietly, looking Gibbs in the eye.
"Did you know her well," Gibbs asked, not doubting his SFA but looking for any information that was forthcoming.
"Not really," Tony admitted. "I spent a few days with them before they were married," he pursed his lips, thinking, "must have been seven, eight years ago. Like I said she was much smarter than Dad's usual choice of wife, but still beautiful. She wasn't dismissive of me though, seemed interested in what I did, even things that interested me." He smiled ruefully before adding, "Maybe she was just storing up information for the future."
"Do you really think that Tony?" Gibbs questioned, not liking his agent's self doubts.
The younger man paused, giving the question serious consideration. Finally he shook his head, leaning back and closing his eyes. "Nah, I didn't at the time, no reason to doubt myself now, unless she gives us one," he added.
"McGee and Fornell are looking into her and Franco too," Gibbs said thinking aloud. "We know that someone at Franco Enterprises is responsible for setting up the kidnapping and contacting Senior, Karen had the expertise to set up the cameras and transmitters to lead us to you. Neither of them has a record. Someone has been one step ahead of us all along and been ruthlessly cleaning up after themselves."
"We know that Taylor was watching Dad and I last month," Tony added, "But she must have been following one of us or else it was an opportunist attack."
"No," Gibbs stated categorically. "Not opportunist but why must she have been following one of you?" he asked, wondering what had drawn his friend to that conclusion, sometimes Tony's thought processes were interesting to say the least.
"Dad didn't decide which hotel he was staying at until he knew where Prince Sayif was going to be," DiNozzo admitted.
"Maybe she was recruited by someone at the Adams House?"
"And then went on to become a sniper in her spare time? Come on Boss," Tony paused at Gibbs' smirk realising he'd been played. The older man shared his sense of humour and, although he seldom showed it, Tony could often see the laughter in his eyes. He wondered if his partners ever thought to look but somehow he doubted that they'd believe the fearsome Leroy Jethro Gibbs could actually laugh out loud. Suddenly feeling a little better he tipped his head in acknowledgement to the older man before leaning back tiredly against his pillows.
"Get some rest Tony," Gibbs advised, reaching over to check the younger man's temperature again. Satisfied he was about to turn away when DiNozzo spoke again.
"If 'they' are expecting Dad won't they have someone staking out the airport?" he reasoned. "Can't risk him being seen with one of us."
Gibbs nodded, it'd been bothering him as well but he also had in mind that they needed to keep Senior safe, not approaching the man could leave him exposed, particularly if Tony's captors believed he had died. They had no further bargaining power; assuming they'd actually had it in the first place. Frowning he turned back to his agent who was watching him curiously. "What would Taylor have seen at the Adams House?"
"Excuse me?" Tony looked confused.
"When she saw the two of you what were you doing? Would there have been any reason for her to think Senior would care if you were abducted?"
DiNozzo paled as he realised the implications of what Gibbs was saying. "The first time we were having drinks, you'd have to have been within earshot to know," he sighed before continuing. "To know that things weren't exactly friendly. Then when Dad went to check out, he hugged me and that's when he told me he loved me." He looked bleakly over at Gibbs knowing that the older man understood his confusion over his father's words. They had spoken of it several times afterwards and the older man had suggested that perhaps his father had been trying to make amends; perhaps, in his own way he believed what he had said.
"Would Karen see your relationship like that?" Gibbs asked finally, hating to do so but needing to know.
Tony shook his head. "We hardly exchanged two words the entire time I was there; she'd have seen strained politeness at best."
"Franco?"
"Wouldn't know but I doubt Dad would have thought to mention me." DiNozzo kept his face impassive but Gibbs could see the depth of hurt in his green eyes. He looked steadily at the younger man giving him strength, only glancing down when Tony finally gifted him with a small smile and settled back again into his pillows.
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McGee strode back into the bullpen carrying two cups of coffee. He handed one to Fornell with a slight shake of his head knowing that the agent would understand. Neither man had expected that Tony would have been able to help, Tim because he knew that DiNozzo's relationship with his father was strained and Fornell because he knew enough from his own observations. Gibbs' SFA had never once mentioned his family within his hearing and his relationship with Jethro was so obviously more than that of co-workers.
"What have you got?" McGee interrupted Fornell's train of thought and he looked up quickly. Tim was surprised to see a strange look in his eyes, almost akin to embarrassment. "What?" he asked again.
"Judge came through on the wire tap," Fornell began, "techs are setting it up now and I've called Sacks."
"And?" the younger man queried, taking a moment to enjoy his new found assurance.
"My team has come up with more on Taylor Stewart, AKA Taylor Newman, AKA Terri Hopkins, seems she's been a busy girl and is wanted in several states for fraud. The Bureau has her listed as a Person of Interest as she's suspected of three counts of murder and conspiracy to murder.
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Vincent Franco looked across at the other two people in the room and put his cell down on the spotless mahogany desk. His movements were cultured and purposeful but there was no mistaking the malice in his eyes.
"DiNozzo will arrive at 10:30 tomorrow, his plane lands at Dulles. I want you to fly to DC tonight Mark," he instructed his aide. "Take your cell and be sure to only use my private number when contacting me. The FBI has succeeded in getting a judge to sign off on a phone tap. You will need to leave by the secure exit, if they are listening no doubt they are also watching." His eyes slid over to the room's other occupant sitting unperturbed on one of his stuffed leather chairs. He admired her greatly, beauty and brains; it was a shame she wouldn't live to see tomorrow.
"My dear," he addressed her courteously, all trace of malevolence gone from his gaze. "Your work has served us well; Spinelli will escort you out of the building, away from prying eyes. I must make a more public exit but I will see you in DC tomorrow." Turning to his right hand man he concluded coldly. "Be at the rendezvous by 0800 tomorrow," he instructed and with one last look at the lady he left the room, knowing that he would never see her again.
TBC
Not quite as much action as I had anticipated but we're getting there. Thanks for reading and reviewing it's great to know people are enjoying my story, VP.