CHAPTER 12:

"Bryce!" Edison shouted as he slammed open the hotel room door.

Bryce yawned and rolled over in bed.

"I know you're up," Edison told him, angrily. "I told you to keep out of this investigation and you went and called the very man we went to interview."

"I don't trust that Gibbs," Bryce pointed out. "He's so set on me being wrong. I don't want him to just disregard any evidence because it might prove otherwise."

"Well after tonight's little scene, I don't trust you either," Edison retorted.

Bryce grabbed his clothes and stormed into the bathroom. A moment later, fully dressed, he came out and headed for the main door.

"Where do you think you're going?" Edison asked.

"What do you care?" Bryce shot back.

"You're staying here," Edison told him, his voice clearly indicating that there was no room for argument.

"That's false imprisonment, Edison," Bryce snapped.

"No," Edison returned, "it's protection. It's ten at night and there is nothing out there that's open that would be safe for a sixteen year old boy. No matter how smart you are."

"I can take care of myself," Bryce pointed out.

"No, you can't," Edison told him. Then, in a calmer voice he added. "Do you remember how I was when Paddy Ashton was killed?"

Bryce nodded.

"If anything happened to you, I'd probably feel even worse," Edison explained. "You're just a kid. And as long as we're in America, you're my responsibility. So please try to stay out of danger. That includes snooping in military computers. I don't want you arrested or executed."

Bryce swallowed nervously, then nodded.

"Yes, Edison," he agreed.

"So," Edison asked, determined at this point to not waste any possible leads, "did you find anything?"

Bryce shook his head, "he hung up on me. And I'm not stupid enough to try and hack a naval vessel when I've already made myself known to them."

"Just hang back for a bit," Edison warned him. "Gibbs is onto you and he's not happy."

Bryce sighed unhappily.

"Now," Edison suggested, "Why don't you put your pajamas back on and go back to sleep?"

"I can't now," Bryce told him.

Edison shrugged.

"Then, let's see what's on TV."