Hollis grimaced as she climbed the staircase – and not entirely because her body was stiffening up and she was desperate for a shower.
She was still annoyed with herself for allowing Ziva to provoke her. But the frustration had been compounded when Jen had rejoined them with the news that, so far, the investigation was stalled – that the team at headquarters had nothing. It wasn't so much the news that concerned her – though it wasn't exactly what she'd been hoping for – but the shuttered expression on Jenny's face as she delivered it. It was an expression that suggested that Jethro had not confined his remarks to the case, and if he had been within range she would have been sorely tempted to deliver one of his famous headslaps. Jen really didn't need the distraction right now and she was already heartily sick of watching the two of them tear each other to pieces.
Ziva had read the expression as well and as they'd returned along the path she'd stayed close to Jen, talking softly to her often - in what Hollis had recognised as Hebrew. She'd been surprised by that, even more surprised when Jen had answered her in the same language. She was sure the exclusion had been deliberate, at least on Officer David's part. She hadn't enjoyed the way it made her feel.
But, by the time they were back at the house Jen was back in role and whatever had been bothering her was locked away. "Do you want the shower first?" She asked as they neared their room.
"We could share," Hollis replied, slipping smoothly back into the part of Jen's lover as she heard the sound of footsteps further along the corridor.
"You know that doesn't actually save time or water," Jen responded – every bit the indulgent partner, smiling as she came face to face with Valerie Sheffield.
"Mrs Sheffield."
"You've obviously been enjoying the grounds," the older woman observed.
"Someone's a fitness fanatic" Jen responded, glaring at Hollis. "Has this absurd idea about running most days."
"Which you never stop complaining about," Hollis rolled her eyes and tugged Jen after her, "we'll see you later – I really need a shower."
The room had been swept for listening devices again that morning after the beds had been made and the towels changed. But apparently they'd had a visitor since then – because there was a sheet of paper lying on the bed that hadn't been there when they'd left.
"Damn," Jen breathed and then moving onto investigative mode she crossed to her case and removed a discrete bag that contained a basic forensics kit. "I'll have Ziva check who is staying on this floor. See if we can work out who our visitor was."
"Mrs Sheffield was coming from this direction" Hollis pointed out.
"I know." Carefully she unfolded the paper to reveal a single line of print, the warning stark. 'The pretty things that Anna likes get broken.'
"Someone's trying to warn us," Hollis observed, "warn you in fact." She had no doubt who the note was referring to.
"I'll get it back to Abby, maybe she can get something off it."
"And in the meantime?"
"Perhaps I need to have a word with Mrs Sheffield."
Jen scanned the room carefully, spotting her boss's wife and sighing at the knowledge that this was going to be complicated no matter how carefully she approached it. And she was going to have to make the approach – even if Mrs Sheffield hadn't been the one to leave the note in the room.
"I think we need to have a conversation," she said – pulling up a chair opposite the woman, waiting for her to look up from the book she was reading.
"Really?"
Jen met her gaze, refusing to be stared down until finally she conceded, "perhaps it would be best to decide how to address this ... awkward situation."
Valerie Sheffield wasn't here alone. Her partner was a publishing executive and from what Jen had been able to observe the relationship gave every impression of being well established and very affectionate. Which would be fine if her husband wasn't the Secretary of the Navy. Jen wasn't sure how the two women had got away without as much as a whisper of suspicion being attached to their relationship, she guessed that they worked hard at being discrete – perhaps were only ever together in this circle.
"We know some of each others secrets, things we've both worked hard to keep hidden."
"I'm not really planning to tell my husband about your relationship with Colonel Mann my dear. Apart from breaking the rules of this group I would have to explain how I found out, and I think we both know I have no intention of doing that. I don't think you need to worry – he's fairly convinced that you're interested in men and I can attest to his not being the most observant of men."
"Clearly I'm not planning to say anything to him either – I'm good at keeping secrets." Jen offered the reassurance she hadn't been asked for – knowing that on the face of it they were caught in a situation where they needed to trust each other. But, she was here to investigate a murder and everything that Valerie Sheffield thought they shared was a lie.
"Someone was in our room – while we were out running." She watched carefully for a reaction – wasn't sure that there was anything to see other than a flicker of curiosity.
"Was anything stolen?"
"No, actually something was left behind. A note – with a warning about Anna."
Cool eyes assessed her for a moment.
"One could hardly fail to notice how attentive she's been. Anna isn't discrete when something she wants catches her eye and she doesn't enjoy being single. Perhaps Colonel Mann should be worried."
"It isn't just about what Anna wants" Jen reminded her. "And I'm careful with my choices."
"Oh I'm sure you are. I imagine you are very careful about who you let close to you."
Too careful perhaps, too wary and certainly far too cognisant of what was at stake. Jen knew that she kept the men in her life, her real life, at arms length – where they couldn't provide emotional complications. Or that was the theory anyway.
