Chapter 12 Death Comes to Us All

It's quiet in the morgue. Ducky asks Jimmy to leave for lunch and he happily leaves after looking at the group assembled to view the body.

Gibbs and Hotchner stand back by the door giving the family some room. James and Harry hang back also to allow their parents see the body first.

Ducky pulls the sheet from over head of the body. Knowing that they were coming Jimmy placed Mr. King back on the table where they did the autopsy.

M takes an involuntary step back, wanting to somehow distance herself from such a violent death. Ironic considering that she deals out death frequently enough. However, it's different when you care for the victim.

"Thank you Doctor." Chester says as he looks at the familiar face of his younger cousin. "First Robert and now Malcolm."

Death and espionage surrounds his family and has for generations.

"Could you please transfer the body to this funeral home for preparations?" He hands Ducky a card. Ducky takes the card as he hands Chester a release form to sign.

"Yes, but it will not happen until later today and it will take a least a day. Are you able to wait?"

"We will." The lovely Mrs. King says quickly to Ducky as she rests her hand gently on his arm.

"Yes." Chester says as he motions the boys forward. Harry and Bond move in and stand at attention. Bond salutes and bows his head for a moment. He stands close behind his mother placing his hands supportively on her shoulders. Harry looks at them and then puts his arm around his father's shoulder to make the show complete.

"I appreciate the care you've shown my family Dr. Mallard. He will be honoured appropriately once we return home."

"It's the least I could do for a serviceman from home." He shakes Chester's hand as the man moves away back towards Gibbs followed by the sons.

Chester turns back for one final look at the body and notices that M has not left. She is looking down at the body with intense interest.

"Coming dear?"

M gives a slight nod of her head to signal to him not to intrude. She looks at the good doctor and smiles slightly. "No I want to say my final goodbyes to Malcolm. I'm sure that Dr. Mallard can bring me up to meet you. They may want to ask you something further and take your information."

"Yes...yes I most certainly can." Ducky interjects with a barely contained grin on his face.

Bond's already at the door with a scowl on his handsome face as he steps back into the room towards his mother. M shoots him a glare as Chester touches his arm.

"Come along James, I'm sure your mother will be fine and they want us to tell us any other theories they may have about what happened to Malcolm. I think we should possibly take a drive to where he was found tomorrow" Chester says looking at agents Gibbs and Hotchner.

"That's up to you I will show you a map and give you coordinates to the location, if you like." Hotchner says as they lead the guests back to the lifts and the conference room.

James locks eyes on her and she nods slightly. He leaves and M releases the breath she was holding in the hopes that Bond would not cause a scene and insist on staying.

Once they leave, M gazes down at her old friend and brushes a stray hair off his forehead.

"You were close to him." Ducky says, as more of a statement then a question.

M looks at Malcolm's hands and holds one in hers as she begins to speak. "He and I have been friends for almost all of our lives." She continues to look at the body and touch his hair and shoulders as if examining him. "You see we all grew up together. Chester has always been the bossy eldest. Robert, Malcolm and I were all in the same year. Can I see the wound?"

Ducky looks somewhat shocked but pulls down the sheet to his waist exposing Malcolm Kings broad chest and the scarring caused by the autopsy.

The bullet wound is to the chest. "He died quickly but he did fight. There is bruising on his face that you obviously noticed earlier and on his arms, legs and shoulders. He fought his attacker and may have even managed to shoot him according to the gun residue. Any gun he had with him, was not found. Owens was killed instantly by a shot to the head from behind. I believe he was shot first and that gave the Commodore time to react and fight back."

The woman's eyes rake the man's body as she sighs. "Poor Malcolm." She caresses his shoulder tentatively as if shocked by how cold he is. Of course she shouldn't be. Her first husband has only been gone a year and she treated him the same way when she saw his body.

"If you don't mind me asking, how is it that you ended up with your current husband? There seems to be a strain between you."

M smirks at Ducky. "You are very perceptive for a doctor of the dead Dr. Mallard. I am going to assume you are Scottish much like my first husband."

"Yes I am, you're first husband?"

M needs to get this man to her side, so she begins a tale that is unfortunately not far enough from the truth. Although, many of the characters have changed places and names changed to protect her cover. The intent is the same...she will attempt to secure the doctor's attention and hopefully he will help her by providing information they require, if the listening devices they plant are discovered.

"Andrew Bond. Yes, he was a good friend of Chester's. I met him in university."

"I find it hard to believe that your current husband let you get away so easily?"

"Yes, well he always just assumed I would be there when and more appropriately if, he wanted me. He was torturous to me in our youth and my mother always said it was because he liked me. I had my doubts and Chester arrogantly assumed that I would want him as the eldest. I swear the marriage was arranged in my youth."

"That arrangement did not allow for love?"

"No...of course it didn't!" Emma King says to Ducky with a sarcastic laugh. "The families never allowed for me falling in love with another."

"What was your relationship with the deceased?"

"Malcolm and I got along so well, that everyone assumed it would be the two of us to marry, but it wasn't like that...then." M realizes that she's giving the good doctor enough evidence to assume they were lovers, so she quickly attempts to cover it, as if a casual slip. "However, Malcolm did like riling Chester up and alluding to a relationship."

"The two of you?" Ducky asks pointing at Malcolm.

"No…" The denial sounds hollow even to her own ears. "He eventually fell deeply in love with a woman named Anne, after I married Andrew. They eventually married but she tragically died in childbirth with the baby."

"That's a shame. So how did you end up married to his friend Bond?"

"I met Andrew at a university party Chester invited me to. Robert, his brother took me just because he wanted to see his brother's face turn purple, or so he alway said."

"You dated his brother too?"

"Are you shocked Dr. Mallard?"

"Ducky. I insist you call me Ducky. No, you are a beautiful woman and I can see exactly why they would be attracted to you. So how did you go full circle; from annoyed teens attracted to each other, but never managing to get there, to being married later in life?"

Mrs. King shrugs her shoulders and tries to retake control of the conversation. "Are you married Ducky?"

"No...no a bachelor my entire life."

"Who was she?"

"I beg your pardon?" He says shocked.

"The woman who stole your heart and ended up with your best friend."

Ducky blushes and looks down at the dead man between them. This woman is intriguingly perceptive and very adept at putting Ducky off his game. If he had a game that is. There is something more than a little mysterious about her and he finds that incredibly sexy.

"Ducky, I'm sorry but it seems as if something similar has happened to you?" M stares at the man who begins to shift on his feet. He was Chester in this scenario, M's sure of it.

The story she weaves is convoluted in truth and fact with enough made up to make it sensational in nature. Dr. Mallard may believe none, or all of it and she cares little. She just needed to see Malcolm one last time.

"Do you want a moment alone with the body?"

"You just want to escape from my question Doctor." She says with a sly smile, hoping he will giver her a few moments time with Malcolm.

"Ha, I suppose I do. Your husband was your great love?"

"Which one?"

Ducky stumbles with his words. "I...assume...Mr. King...your relationship began young, but went through…"

"No. Not Chester. Bond was my love. I married for love first and…"

"Money second?" Ducky inquires somewhat shocked.

"No...it...well...it is what it is. You thought this was a tale of unrequited love on my part...no...I'm afraid not. For Chester perhaps, but he has always been far more interested in finally winning me. Regardless of the fact I've aged and am hardly anyone's prize at this point of my life."

"That is not true at all my dear. Now; I must admit you have me very intrigued. Your husband seems smitten with you. Although, I sense your son is not happy with him as your second husband. Your son respected the deceased Commodore?"

"Yes James was in the navy also. He does...did greatly respect Malcolm, whom he has know as an uncle like figure his entire life. James has never liked Chester."

"Really? Why is that?"

"I really don't understand how you do it Ducky?" M feigns, with genuine surprise.

"Do what?"

"I feel like I can bare my soul to you and you will...well… help." M read the bios on all the American agents that Q sent her. She will give him little but false information in the hopes that he can remain a close contact here in the U.S. because of this connection between them.

Donald Mallard has a degree in psychology and is as able as any of the profilers from the BAU to assess what he can about her and Chester King. This is exactly why she knew that they could not play pretend loving family to any great success. These people would see through that in a minute. Only internal strife and the fact that they have nothing to do with these murders is saving them from being interrogated rather than treated as guests.

Ducky moves around the table and stands beside M and takes her hand in his. "I will listen and I will not judge and not just for the reasons you think."

"What do I think?" M barely whispers, acting shyly caught off guard by the doctor's proximity and with his hand holding hers. She never thought she had it in her to manage any sort of seduction.

M now understands why Bond loves the thrill of the hunt on missions. Her hand is sweating and her heart pounding with the subterfuge.

It's liberating, if you don't mind possibly causing the unsuspecting person possible heartache, or in 007's case death. However, Dr. Mallard could be doing the same to her under the circumstances. Flirting to get the answers he seeks.

"You think it's all part of NCIS's investigation."

"Isn't it?"

"From the moment I met you...well. I've rarely been drawn to a woman, like I am to you."

M flushes demurely and looks back at Malcolm. "He told me not to marry Chester, when we were young, but as time passed he changed his mind."

"Malcolm?"

"Yes."

"Why would he say that?"

"Malcolm, always felt that I was a possession to be won. Just a prize to Chester. Our families and peers all knew that Chester made a declaration and decision to want me, seemingly out of the blue. Actually, it was the second I met Andrew that Chester puffed out his chest. Malcolm always felt that if I caved and married for money...I would be reaffirming that Arthur always gets his way."

Ducky looks bemused at this information. "Arthur? So the cousins did not always see eye to eye?"

Damn she slipped and used his code name. Dr. Mallard is quite distracting, as he has not yet released her hand and continues standing close to her and looking into her eyes. Almost like he is attempting hypnosis with the action. Thus forcing M to alertly stand her ground and continue with her story, even with the small distracting caresses of her hand.

"No...sorry Arthur is the nickname we all had for Chester...as in King Arthur. And no; they did not see eye to eye but they were family." M finally takes her hand back and moves away from the body as she seemingly struggles to explain more of this convoluted story she's managed to create.

"It's just that Chester is, was, and always has been very arrogant as the first born King."

"And? I sense that something more happened. How did your husband and Chester get along?"

"It was strained but we all continued to socialize within our circle, as it were. I told Malcolm my apprehensions about Chester years ago and that is why he didn't want me to marry him in our youth."

"What apprehensions? He's not a violent man is he?"

"No, not at all." M say hesitantly.

"I sense there is more to it than that. What happened between you?"

"It was just something that happened at my wedding that I...I suppose I was concerned something...would happen, more because of Andrew's jealousy...than Chester. It's just that he never could keep his mouth shut."

Ducky moves towards her again and takes her hand again. He pulls M over to the chairs and puts the kettle on and gets a pot of tea ready while they get comfortable. Mrs. King may manage to share some story from her past that contains a clue as to why Malcolm King is lying here dead.

"Don't think that Chester had anything to do with Malcolm's death. Family loyalty is very important to the Kings. Malcolm was investigating something that happened in his past that he never forgot."

"Do you know what and why his cousin, with whom he had a strained relationship, was the only number in his phone?"

Of coarse M knows why he was here, but she plans on keeping that information to herself if she can help it.

"That is not entirely true. My number was in his mobile also, but my machine malfunctioned and the call was garbled noise that came in from the BAU agent Hotchner."

Ducky makes them two cups of tea as they sit. "Why was their relationship strained by what you told him?"

M looks down at her toes in embarrassment. "I will tell you, but It's nothing nefarious as it sounds and over the course of 30 years...it was something that I could not talk about with Andrew...he would have killed Chester."

Creative storytelling will now be part of her dossier for future missions...and they said she would make a terrible agent. So far this handsome doctor is hanging on her every word.

"I am beyond intrigued. What was it dear? I will hold it under Doctor patient confidentiality if that alleviates your concerns any."

"Thank you Ducky. You are far too kind." This is a test of the man's character. He will report everything or nothing. Once Q lets them know what the discussion is after they leave, M will know if she has this man on her side.

"I can see that things are strained between you and Mr. King, on your side. He on the other hand, is openly affectionate with you."

"Yes, he is. I don't think this marriage is going to last but…"

"You're scared? That is why your son guards you so."

M doesn't answer but plays the worried wife to perfection. Flirting with the man makes him off guard enough to gloss over any inaccuracies in her story. She barely managed to cover the slip up of using Arthur instead of Chester.

"Chester asked me to dance at my wedding."

"Yes."

"Well I said yes. And as we spun around the dance floor he said something to me. At the time, it reaffirmed what Andrew and Malcolm had always said about him fancying me. I always chose to brush away and ignore Chester's desire for me. I had far too much champagne in me by that time, but I really wanted to take it as a joke you see. I tried to laugh it away but the way he looked at me...I...giggled, but I soon felt uncomfortable in his arms."

"But it wasn't a joke and you were unsettled enough to kept in in the back of your mind for thirty years."

"Yes. I did."

"Can you tell me?"

"I can but it's somewhat embarrassing."

"I'm sure there is nothing to be embarrassed about."

"He said...I've been watching you for years darling. Holding on to the image of what we would become together. I always planned on marrying you, once we matured and I'd sown my wild oats. I do want happiness for you and Andrew, but you have been, and always were meant to be mine. I can, and will be patient man, but you will be mine someday."

M takes a sip of her tea after her confession to Ducky. Not bad on the spot like this. She's guilty of reading too many bloody romance novels.

His brows are furrowed in dismay. "And he told Malcolm this? What did he do? Was he threatening your husband?"

"No...no...and I tried to brush it off. When Andrew died in a accident in Switzerland...I worried because they were there together. Malcolm insisted that it was an accident as I had confessed to him, his older cousin's obsession after our marriage. He came to me as soon as he heard. Chester called to inform him of the accident first so that he could be with me to soften the blow."

"So how did you end up married to Mr. Chester King?"

"At the funeral he came to me and hugged me. He whispered something to me that made me cry, but now looking back, I cannot deny the truth of it, because it happened."

"What did he say?"

"I will give you some time but you will be mine. It has been our destiny since the beginning."

"He was arrogant enough to think that would work? Are you sure he had nothing to do with your husband's death?"

M's laying a trail to Chester feet so if she needs to slip away with Bond to investigate further the Americans will be watching the Kingsman and not MI6. There is nothing that will endanger Chester. He was no way involved with the death of his cousin, but a diversion may be necessary.

"I am. Malcolm would never have eventually encouraged me to marry him if he'd murdered my first husband. Besides, why would he wait years, just to marry me in our less than attractive old age?"

"I would hardly call you unattractive at any age, my dear. What of Chester's son? He married someone?"

"Yes he did. Rose was her name and it only lasted 5 years. They had Harry and they divorced. Then he married Alice and that lasted 5 years also."

"He married again?"

"Oh he married three women." None of this is a lie. Chester did have short marriages. "At the wedding between him and Lana he gave a speech directed at our table, which contained Malcolm, Robert and their wives and Andrew and myself. This will be my last wedding. Everyone laughed until..."

"What?"

"After the applause died down he continued. Until the love of my life is finally free."

"I take it that marriage didn't last after that."

Sadly some of this is also factual. Chester drunkenly admitted as much to M's real husband Nigel during the bachelor party for his third and final marriage.

"No, he stared right at me. Robert and Malcolm each had to grab one of Andrew's arms as he was clearly headed up to punch him. The rest of the audience had no idea what was going on."

"So after all this history between you, Malcolm encouraged you to marry Chester?"

"Yes, Chester convinced him of his sincerity. That it was more than just his arrogance that kept a flame burning in his heart for me. We married within a year of Andrew's death. Does that shock you?"

"No, not at all. Your son is still not happy about this."

"No...James must know something from his father about Chester King. That has something to do with why they do not get along, although he won't admit it to me."

"I for one, am very glad you came to collect the body."

"Believe it or not, so am I Ducky. Ducky do you believe in instant attraction?"

Ducky looks at her suddenly apprehensive. "Yes I do, now."

The two of them smile into their respective cups of tea. Ducky has no idea what he's going to do with this information but he desperately wants to take Emma King out to spend time with her.

M can tell by the way he eyes his coat and the door that he wants to leave suddenly. So just to add fuel to the fire she says, "I know, and yes I would love to sneak away with you for quick dessert, something sweet, while Chester is busy. Do you think you could arrange it?"

Ducky smiles, "you read my mind." He walks to the phone on the wall and begins speaking with someone. M stands and moves once again to stand beside Malcolm's body. Working through the stories in her head. It's always more believable to remain close to the truth. Some of what she told Ducky was true.

M had the chance to examine Malcolm's body and the slight discolouration on his trigger finger is proof he had his gun and fired it and the slight stickiness tells her even more than that. The KGB is involved in this tragedy and has been from 1979 and they are still bloody well here. Just as Malcolm had expected. They were waiting, watching Owens and they killed them for coming too close to the truth.

Bond will be furious with her for leaving them to deal with the FBI and NCIS. Fortunately she can play the wife who knows little, very adeptly now. A few years of drama classes that she finally gets to use against these men. Let the Americans question the men, they know nothing of what is really going on here anyway.

Only M suspects and now understands the true meaning behind these murders. What to disseminate to the Americans will be the next issue. They should catch these former KGB agents before they kill again. However, she will send Bond after them and have him take care of them quietly. She owes it to Malcolm and his friend Owens.

If they go this route it may aim all the focus on them and Britain. M doesn't want the Americans stumbling into their old business. James will have to be very careful.

M will direct them to examining her pretend husband and leave her in the shadows to get the real work done. Sometimes being underestimated as a woman has its benefits. It seems cruel to use the lovely doctor Mallard this way, but it's the only thing she can think to do.

Ducky's a very nice man but she's working a case and there is no time for personal feelings to convolute things.

Poor Malcolm, she warned him not to go back. What would Ducky say if he learned that it's Malcolm she was seeing after so long? Not his arrogant cousin who's currently pretending to be her husband. For that matter what will Chester say when, or if he discovers their affair?

No. She can't let this out. It will infuriate Chester and blow their entire cover. M will just have to mourn in silence. Malcolm was such a good friend and a wonderful man. She told Ducky the truth, he was a friend to her real husband Nigel, just as Chester and Robert King were.

Malcolm actually did approach her at the funeral. Finally admitting to her that he was still in love with her and always had been.

Malcolm explained to her that he disappeared into the navy on active service when she married Nigel Mansfield. He told her it was to get away from having to see them together, as a happy couple. He was happy with his girlfriend and eventual wife Anne, but it was not the same thing..

At Nigel's funeral Malcolm said he wanted to beat his cousin to telling her how he felt about her. Malcolm knows exactly who Olivia is and her position in MI6, he has always known. He eventually told her all about his adventure in America all those years ago. One night after dinner they shared a few drinks at her flat and he told her the story. That was the night they became lovers.

Their relationship barely started, when the phone call came from Shady Pines. Now her friend and secret lover lies dead before her. The tragedy here is that Malcolm proposed to her the night before he left to come here. She hesitated and never gave him an answer. She told him she would give him an answer when he returned from America.

A tear drops from her eye unconsciously as she relives private moments between them in the recent past. Why did she hesitate to tell him yes? What an unmitigated disaster!

M straightens up to collect herself when she hears Ducky end his call. No one can know this...the pain is far too personal and she will not be seen as weak, it's not in her nature.

The only thing keeping her focused, is the rage in knowing that he waited and she never told him how much he meant to her. Dare she think it now? He lifted her out of the doldrums and grief from Nigel's death. And damn it; if she didn't fall in love with him for it.

She knew what people would say...why can you believe it! Isn't she moving on fast!

This fact always sounds out in her head in her annoying sister-in-law Josephine's voice. This disparagement would insult Nigel's memory and M couldn't have that. Not after being such an absentee wife over the years.

Ducky returns to find her holding the hand of the deceased Mr. King. This woman is very mysterious and she seems far closer to the deceased Mr. King than she's letting on. Ducky will question her more over dessert at the diner. He could swear that tears were falling from her eyes as she held the dead man's hand.

To be continued...