NCIS Season 9
Episode 9.5.1
Clues
By: Lady JenDragon
Disclaimer: The usual…not mine. Dr. Hature is my character though. I needed to throw a wrench into the system sort to speak. Shake 'em up and let things roll!
Author's Notes: I do love a good old-fashioned mystery.
CLUES
PART ONE
Chapter One
The two-lane highway was backed up for most of a mile. Most of the cars were beginning to pull out of line and turn around and head back to where ever they came.
The dark Dodge Charger contained three people, a man with graying hair sitting behind the wheel, a younger Goth woman in the passenger front with pigtails, and a woman leaning against the backseat behind the front passenger. Jethro Gibbs sat behind the wheel wearing a black coat, blue polo and white undershirt visible where the polo parted in the top.
Abby Sciuto wore all black including coat and a rather shiny rhinestone dog collar, a deviation from her usual attire while working in the passenger seat. Ziva remained in her field attire too tired to worry about her appearance after rummaging around in hay barn all day.
"You think we're going to make it back tonight?" Abby looked out the window.
It was rare for her to accompany the Major Case Response Team to a crime scene. However, the crime took place in northern rural Virginia three hours away and the Navy wanted NCIS to handle the investigation of the triple homicide. All they had were the three corpses and a lot of physical evidence to run once they returned to headquarters at the Navy Yard.
It turned out that two Army privates and a Navy Lieutenant were found dead in a barn by the owner of a vacant farm off rural route seven off the 281. Robert Barnes found the boys when he came to clean out the place so the real estate agent could show the property to a developer. With the proximity to the interstate, the property was large enough to warrant a subdivision with only a few small towns close enough to make an increase in population possible.
"I doubt it." Gibbs responded softly. "The storm's come through early."
Abby sighed. All three victims were shot in the chest by a rifle at close range. They were able to secure a number of rifles from the locals to make a comparison. The local police were instrumental in rounding up the locals to take enough information for their investigation. If an arrest were possible following analysis, the LEO's would handle the arrest on their end.
"Great." Abby pouted silently. "I had this RAD party to go to tonight."
"RAD party?" Zivas queried from the backseat.
"Friend's Halloween party." She got all excited. "Live music, bobbing for apples, haunted mazes and a good old fashioned hay ride too. It was going to be a great night."
"Not in this weather." Gibbs shook his head.
Chapter Two
Behind them was the NCIS Major Case Response Team field vehicle with two men inside only a few years apart. Both were still dressed in their field attire since they left the crime scene almost four hours ago. Anthony DiNozzo sat behind the wheel gripping the steering wheel tightly then released the tension in his fingers. Occasionally he cricked his neck bending his head side to side. Tim McGee played on his phone most of the trip and continued to look stuff up on his phone since traffic started.
Tony hated driving in traffic. "I told Gibbs we should've taken the main freeway back. But no, he headed this way instead."
McGee checked his watch and sighed. "So much for Halloween plans. I've downloaded the files of the three victims. I'm sure we'll stop soon."
"Not until we've found a long winding road with a looming haunted house at the end of it." Tony lowered his voice to a creepy tone as if introducing the story. "There's a Halloween party in progress. Little do they know there's a sadistic killer waiting in the shadows until one by one, they all die."
McGee took a breath and looked at DiNozzo. "Please."
It was then he noticed the small road off to the right. Looked like a driveway to him. His eyes quickly followed it into the trees. McGee gulped when he saw the large house off in the distance with all lights lit up. He could barely make out the small parking lot before the front door. It appeared there was a large party going on there. McGee's eyes widened but he said nothing to DiNozzo in case the senior field agent was right and a killer was running around loose there. Tony moved the truck forward a few feet and stopped once more.
Chapter Three
The NCIS Coroner truck sat behind the first NCIS truck with a young man behind the wheel appearing bored and the older gentleman poking his head out the window to find out more about the hold up ahead. Ducky Mallard would see nothing of the mess ahead.
"The road's closed ahead but they won't tell us till we get there as usual. My guess, flooded like every where else since we started heading back." Ducky rolled up the window. "They did warn us the storm would hit tonight."
"Yes, but not like this." Palmer sighed. "I was supposed to go to this Halloween party with Brina tonight."
Ducky smiled at young love. "You call to tell her you won't make it?"
"I texted her I was on my way back but I'm stuck in traffic now." Palmer leaned against the seat cushion. "She's a little disappointed but she's going with her friends now. I wanted to wait until we stopped to send a 'yes' or 'no' text."
"I doubt you'll make it now." Ducky smiled. "You mind as well text her, we've got time, Mr. Palmer."
Suddenly they began moving forward at a steady pace. They went for another mile before they came to another halt again. It was not until they reached the blockade that Ducky realized that Jethro was out of the car talking to the Sheriff dressed in yellow rain gear and boots discussing the situation. This did not bode well for NCIS at the moment.
Gibbs turned and walked through the rain unphased. He stopped by the MCRT truck with DiNozzo and McGee telling them something. He looked back at Ducky and nodded then gave unintelligible instructions. Gibbs made his way back to the Coroner's truck coming to Ducky's side. Ducky rolled down the window.
"Road's flooded ahead in six locations, took out four cars earlier." Gibbs nodded behind the truck. "McGee said he saw a house a few miles back where we might find shelter for the night."
"Why not go back to that cute town?" Ducky asked. "There were a number of hotels there."
"Road's flooded behind us according to the radio." Gibbs squinted in the rain. "We're stuck here overnight. Some of the people ahead of us went back to knock on doors to see if they can stay the night at local residences. We should do the same."
Ducky nodded and rolled up the window again. They waited for Gibbs to return to the sedan. He turned the car around and led the way back to the driveway seen by McGee earlier. DiNozzo was quick on his tail and Palmer followed cautiously despite Ducky's urging him to drive faster so they would not get lost.
Chapter Four
The driveway up to the house appeared eerie and looming. The trees moved in the storm's raging rains and winds. Wet leaves blew across the driveway as the three vehicles made their way up the driveway. Unfortunately, there were so many car, the NCIS Coroners truck plugged the driveway. They had no choice but to stop.
Gibbs, Abby, and Ziva parked where the car fit and they ran for the front door under the large wrap-around porch. Once there, they realized the house was an old Victorian style house with four stories. It appeared to be quite a massive house even from the outside. The lights pouring out of the windows hid the party-goers inside from Peeping Toms.
Minute later McGee, Tony, Palmer and Ducky came up onto the porch out of the rain.
"See, I told you." Tony started. "Large looming house, party, the only thing we're missing is a sadistic killer." He avoided looking at Gibbs and Abby staring at him and lowered his voice. "I hate Halloween!"
McGee rolled his eyes. Ziva walked forward and rang the doorbell then. They stood huddled together in the chilly wind.
"Who wants to say 'trick or treat'?" Tony asked sarcastically.
Gibbs hand whipped out and smacked him up the back of the head.
"Kidding, boss." Tony replied more professional. "I love dropping in on unsuspecting parties on Halloween."
Then the front door opened and a woman dressed as Hera, Queen of the Roman Gods smiled at them. She eyes everyone on the front porch.
"Awe…you guys came with a plan." She laughed happily. "Good costumes."
Ziva looked to McGee and Tony. They certainly did appear in costume, all three were dressed alike. Then again, Ducky and Palmer wore their NCIS field uniforms as well. Gibbs appeared rather authoritative in his NCIS hat and field jacket.
"Yeah." Abby stepped forward brightly. "We're stuck in the storm. Can we bunk here for the night?"
The woman's eyes rolled. "Ah, more crashers then. Come on in, the more the merrier."
"There's others here?" Gibbs asked as he stepped through the threshold first.
Hera Queen of the Gods smiled and nodded. "Three couples came before you." She gave McGee and Tony an extra long stare of interest. "There's plenty of room, there's bedrooms all over this place. The place is rented for the party and over night. Wouldn't want to encourage drunken driving, now would we? Feel free to join us."
The foyer was well lit and large. It spanned two stories tall with large portraits of family members from the past. It was looming and dark in the upper corners. Abby took little notice and followed Hera through to the parlor where the open double doors to the right showed the party in full swing.
A man wearing a Peacock costume was dancing by the fireplace. Most of the furniture was moved to the walls to allow for mingling to occur in the middle otherwise it would have been a more impressive view of the grandeur of the house. There were quite a few people in various costumes, high quality costumes, mingling around the room. Most of the party attendees stopped to look at the group of new arrivals.
Hera stepped into the parlor and announced to everyone. "All, this is our latest group of refugees!"
The music stopped then. The Peacock stepped forward and smiled. He was flanked by Dracula and a gargoyle carrying drinks. There was a Goth, a geisha, black cat, Dr. Giggles, Papa Smurf, Scarecrow, Batman, the Chess-shire Cat from Alice in wonderland, George W., and a man dressed in a plain suit rounded out the group. The Peacock removed his mask and looked one-by-one to each member of the NCIS group. He was dark haired, brown eyed with a mustache and rounded features. He stood six two and a few pounds over weight.
"Oh my god!" Abby exclaimed and gave out a high-pitched squeal. "You're me!"
McGee and Tony did not recognize the short woman with black hair pulled into pigtails, a red corset pushing up her ample bosom, a transparent black shirt covered the corset and torso, with long black leggings and platform boots. A rhinestone dog collar an inch thick was around her neck.
Abby hugged the woman. "I'm so honored, Hach!"
"Hach?" Tony blinked twice and looked closely.
McGee, Ducky, Palmer, Gibbs, and Ziva all took a long look at the temporary forensic scientist waiting for her new lab in Norfolk to open standing before them much taller than normal. They never thought she would go this far.
She appeared so proper and…not like Abby at all when she first worked with the group on their last case. Dr. Hature, or Hach as she preferred to be called, lacked the flair of Abby. She was quirky but lacked the loveable Goth vibe they had grown used to over the years. However, Goth was a lifestyle not a Halloween costume for Abby Sciuto. Abby could barely contain her happiness at finding Hach at a Halloween party hugging her longer than normal. Hach had to peel Abby off to breathe.
"Glad you approve." Hach replied coolly but was glad to see Abby. "It was the best I could do on short notice. What are all of you doing here?"
"Road's flooded two miles south and eight miles north." Ziva offered. "We're coming back from northern…"
"Ah, the triple homicide?" Hach inquired.
"Yeah." McGee smiled moving closer, his eyes never leaving Hach. "Lucky for us you were having a party."
"Not me." Hach shook her head. "Fr…an acquaintance of mine, Roger Kyte is. He's the Peacock." She turned to the others in the room. "It's okay everyone, these are my colleagues who got caught in the storm. They work for NCIS."
"Awesome!" The Peacock smiled. "Then let's get the party going again. The more the merrier."
Gibbs walked towards Hach. "Where are the other couples?"
"In the library." Hach pointed absentmindedly. "Go back into the hall, turn right down to the left just before reaching the double doors to the kitchen."
Gibbs was the only one to walk out of the parlor in search of the other couples. He was not sure exactly why he felt the need to talk to the weary travelers. But if he was staying in a house with them overnight during a storm he wanted to know whom he was living with under the same roof. His gut did not like the idea of being caught in a strange place with three corpses in the coroner's truck overnight. The evidence would not be processed until much later and there was a sense of urgency in the case.
Hach's directions were spot on.
Chapter Five
Gibbs found the Library double doors were left open to the interior. A rather large room filled with wall-to-wall, floor-to-ceiling shelves of books, artifacts from traveling, and various knick-knacks. There were three sofas set in a U-shape in the center with a bold coffee table set in the center. Three couples sat on the sofas talking amongst themselves quietly, occasionally eyeing each other.
One man, probably in his late sixties with white hair, stood up wearing a simple brown suit with yellow collared shirt and western rope as a tie. His boots were leather and he wore a cowboy hat. His wife was dressed in a simple floral dress and shoes. She appeared a few years younger than her husband. She wore a simple wedding band on her finger.
The other two couples were higher class. Both men wore black suits and ties with white shirts and variation on gray ties. They were in the middle fifties for age and appeared to know one another. Clearly there was some animosity between them before he arrived.
Both women associated with the men in black suits were well dressed; one in a black dress and the other in a green dress with appropriate accessories. They both wore large diamond rings on their ring fingers. He guessed they were about ten years younger than their counterparts in age. Their outer coats were draped over the back of the sofa. Gibbs smirked as the women caught a glimpse of him and straightened.
"Evening." Gibbs began flashing his credentials. "Special Agent Gibbs with NCIS."
"Is there a problem?" The cowboy wanted to know.
"What's NCIS?" The cowboy's wife asked.
"Naval Criminal Investigative Service." Gibbs replied.
"I thought you were in costume." The woman in the black dress replied.
"No." Gibbs shook his head. "No problems either. Like you, just got stuck in the storm on the way back to DC."
"Storm came early." The man in the black suit with the woman in the black dress spoke. "I knew we should've waited until tomorrow to try driving home from Stephanie's."
"No need to complicate things Dale." The woman in black spoke. "We should feel lucky the party was going on other wise we'd have to break in to get out of the storm."
The cowboy and his wife rolled their eyes clearly offended.
Gibbs noted the responses and added. "The roads are washed out either way up the highway. Are you planning to wait here or stay the night?"
The woman in the green dress stood up. "It appears we have no choice but to stay the night."
Gibbs decided on the more direct approach. "Names please. It'll make assigning bedrooms much simpler."
"Dale Camdell and my wife, Stella." The man in black suit with the woman in black dress stood up. "We're heading to Connecticut to visit our youngest daughter away at college. Guess we should've taken the interstate."
"It's worse." Gibbs responded. "Flooded in sections according to the local PD."
"Jesse Powers. My wife, Sophia." The other man in black suit offered, his wife in the green dress. "Did they say how long the storm's supposed to last?"
"Couple of days." Gibbs offered no comfort. "We might catch a break and it'll hold off enough for us to get out in the morning." He turned to the cowboy and his wife. "And you are, sir?"
"Martin Wright and my wife Patty." He smiled at Gibbs. "You seem like a good man, Agent Gibbs."
"Some people might disagree with you." Gibbs nodded. "I'll find out what's going on with the rooms. Did anyone talk to you?"
Stella Camdell answered. "No one. They only offered us the Library for the time being until things got sorted out."
Gibbs nodded and left the library.
Chapter Six
McGee and Tony waited in the hall for Gibbs. They missed where he went and decided it was best not to join in on the festivities. Ducky, Palmer and Ziva however joined Abby and Hach at the party.
"So what do we do?" McGee wanted to know. "Has anyone even looked around the house?"
"Do what we do best." Gibbs walked up to the two agents. "Let's do a sweep of the upper floors, find out if there's anyone around. Also, check bedrooms. There's three couples in the Library looking tired."
"Since when do we sweep of a civilian house, boss?" Tony asked point blank and regretted it immediately.
"Since it became ours, DiNozzo." Gibbs glared at his agent. "Get Ziva to help in the sweep. Ducky and Palmer can figure out what to do with our cargo after everyone gets settled. Anyone find out how long this place was rented for?"
McGee caught sight of Ziva and Abby waving them over.
"Tonight only." Tony answered and smiled. "I thought to ask while you were gone."
"McGee, DiNozzo, work your way down from the top." Gibbs checked his watch. "I'll meet you going up."
Gibbs headed towards the stairs. He pulled his gun and checked the clip and re-holstered climbing the first step towards the second floor. Ziva and Abby arrived with Ducky and Palmer in tow.
"We're up." Tony looked to Ziva. "The Boss is antsy. Let's not keep him waiting."
"What?" Ziva frowned.
"Sweep the floors, do a quick check while we're alone and no one's hiding." Tony looked to Ducky and Palmer. "Ziva, take Abby and start at the second floor and work your way up. Gibbs already went up, you'll meet up with him. Ducky and Palmer, the popsicles okay in the truck overnight?"
Ducky shrugged. "I don't see why not. I won't be able to do anything until I get them back to NCIS anyway."
Tony continued. "Good. Find some food for everyone. There's three couples in the library waiting for bedrooms. Once we sweep, any room with no suitcases, split them up. Gibbs orders."
"Jethro's being rather thorough for a last minute visit." Ducky smirked. "I wonder what he's up to."
"We have our marching orders." Tony motioned towards McGee and smiled. "Let's get cracking, McDeadman."
McGee rolled his eyes as he followed Tony to the stairs. They quickly climbed the steps and disappeared out of sight at the top. They heard Tony say, 'I hate creepy old houses' from the echo in the second floor hallway.
Ziva glanced at Abby and shrugged. Abby appeared overly fascinated at exploring the house more. Eagerly Ziva and she followed suit climbing the stairs in search of Gibbs.
Hach looked to Ducky. "I'll show you where the kitchen is. The food was delivered last night for the party and the staff set up before they left for the weekend. We should have plenty for a few days in case we get stuck longer than tonight."
She led them towards the back of the house. There were no servants or help hired for the Halloween party, only the set up portion. Ducky seemed more intrigued by Hach's costume than he was by the explanation. He took a longer than normal survey from head to toe.
Jimmy let his eyes follow after the doctor as they walked towards the kitchen. At one point, he jumped when he realized Dr. Mallard caught him straying after the woman. She did not seem interested in small talk. They walked in silence most of the way to the kitchen.
Chapter Seven
The group reconvened at the top of the stairs on the second floor. The house was split into one main hall that split at the grand staircase. Various paintings hung along the hallway between dim sconces screwed into the walls. Tony and McGee walked with Ziva and Abby.
"You guys find anything odd?" Tony sighed. "We got nothing. A lot of old dusty bedrooms and a nursery."
"Four rooms in the left wing have suitcases already set out. Those are taken. The entire right hall appears available if those couples want to retire for the night. Everyone else seems to be at the party." Ziva watched McGee and Tony. "You find Gibbs?"
"No." Tony glanced down both hallways. "Where'd he get off to?"
"No idea." McGee checked his phone. "I've got crappy coverage here. My internet connection comes-and-goes since we started our sweep."
Abby nodded. "I couldn't get a good signal either. I tried to send three texts, not one of them was sent."
Gibbs mysteriously appeared behind Tony DiNozzo.
"Wow." Tony shook his shoulders. "Anyone feel a chill just now? I be this place is haunted by a mean ghost."
Ziva smiled along with Abby.
"He's behind me, isn't he?" Tony winced in expectation of the slap.
Abby nodded sympathetically. "He does that to everyone, Tony."
"Come on." Gibbs walked past the group and began descending the stairs.
The others followed Gibbs and Tony down the stairs. Abby had to be extra careful coming down. She held onto the railing the entire way. Ziva stayed behind to make sure Abby made it back to the first floor in one piece.
"Only four rooms seem taken in the left hall." Tony recited his report for the second time. "There's a lot of bedrooms in this place, boss. Everyone should find something for the night. Two rooms on the third floor have two bunk beds in each but the others have one bed each. Fourth floor's the nursery and attic space. I count a total of fourteen rooms that could be used as bedrooms. That's still a lot more people than beds, boss."
"Thanks, Ziva." Gibbs reached the bottom first.
Gibbs turned at the bottom of the stairs and headed for the Library. He would give the couples a chance to choose their rooms for the night.
Chapter Eight
McGee tracked the bags into the house out of the pouring rain. Tony disappeared up the stairs since Gibbs assigned McGee, DiNozzo, Ducky and Jimmy one of the rooms with the bunk beds. Who slept where was the problem of the roommates. Either way, he was to take their bags up to the third floor.
Begrudgingly, he left the laughter of the party carrying on in the parlor behind hauling his latest quarry up the stairs. He could find something to eat later. McGee found the room a little more cheerful. However, he found Tony took the bottom bunk to the left. Ducky placed his hat on the other lower bunk. Jimmy took the top bunk over Ducky.
"Great." McGee sighed. "Fine."
He dropped the stuff and turned back to head back downstairs. As he walked down the hallway, he heard a footstep behind him. McGee spun around only finding darkness and shadows in the hall leading towards the far window at the end. He could make out the storm and the occasional lightning flash. A hand on his SIG, he cautiously walked down the hall towards the source of the footstep he heard.
"Hello?" McGee called. "Anyone there?"
He held his breath then sighed. It was probably Tony waiting in the shadows to jump out and scare him. Though DiNozzo hated Halloween, leave it to him to try some trick in honor of the holiday. Well, he was not going to fall for it. Then there was a thud from one of the rooms.
McGee rushed forward and stopped outside the door of the one bedroom. He took a deep breath and prepared to open the door. His hand on the knob, it opened under someone else's pull. The woman who met them at the front door dressed as Hera greeted him with a large smile. She yanked him into the room.
The large room was elegantly decorated with a rich wood bedroom set including a bed canopy, dresser and vanity. The bed was set against the wall off to the left in the middle with two nightstands were on either side. The dresser sat beneath the window with nothing on top. The vanity was on the wall to the right between the closet door and the bathroom door. Paintings of landscapes hung above the bed and over the vanity.
McGee found himself slammed against the wall. Hera pressed her body against his. The wet jacket he wore transferred some of the moisture to her. Her costume suddenly became a bit more revealing. She wore little undergarments.
"Well, hello, NCIS Agent." Hera moved her lips close to his. "What's your name?"
"Uh, Tim." McGee was unsure how to respond to the woman. "Uh, you okay?"
"I will be, Tim." Hera kissed McGee softly. "The goddess is feeling restless."
Hera kissed him again and again. At first he tried to avoid her kiss but then gave in to her primal needs. She was quite feisty and was already trying to remove his jacket. The jacket slid off his shoulders and onto the floor. She tossed off his hat and ripped open his shirt. One of the buttons flew across the room.
"Make me your queen, Zeus." Hera whispered.
Hera pulled Tim across the room to the bed. She pushed him backwards onto the bed and then crawled over him straddling him. Eagerly, she kissed him again. McGee responded sliding his hands over the woman's back and waist. His next task was forgotten as the room suddenly became too hot for clothes.
Chapter Nine
The kitchen was an expansive open area with oak cabinets stained dark from floor to ceiling wrapped around the room. The three sunken, stainless steel sinks were nestled below the window to the backyard. The massive refrigerator was off to the right against the door leading to the backyard. The six-burner stove was on the wall across from the sink with a massive hood above it stretching to the ten-foot ceiling.
Hach sat with Abby, Ziva, Ducky and Jimmy Palmer in the kitchen eating at the center island. The granite counter tops were light colored and were covered with an assortment of plates, glasses, and desserts. The food delivered was well prepared and came with warming racks. The food remained hot. Gibbs entered the kitchen with DiNozzo in tow.
"Anyone see, McGee?" Gibbs asked.
"Last I saw him, he was taking stuff up to the third floor." Ducky offered. "Sit down and have a bite, Jethro. There's not much to do but visit."
The Peacock burst into the kitchen through the double doors. "Anyone see Janice?"
The group looked at one another not knowing who Janice was.
Hach looked up. "Running loose, I'm afraid."
"Damn." Roger Kyte in the Peacock suit muttered. "Warn everyone."
He left at that moment clearly flustered about the situation. The others looked to Hach to explain. Gibbs and Tony helped themselves to some of the food on the center island.
"Hera, or Janice Elder as she's known in the real world, is a bit of a nymphomaniac." Hach noted the expressions of the men in the room. "She's known to be a bit feisty and doesn't like it when you tell her 'no'. If she corners you, call for help. You've been warned."
Jimmy and Ducky glanced at one another. Gibbs smirked. Tony shrugged as if he did not believe Hach. Hach realized McGee had not been seen in a while. If Hera was missing, it was a pretty good bet Hera got her first catch of the day.
"Really?" Abby asked fascinated. "She's, like, a real nymphomaniac?"
Hach nodded making another sandwich. "I diagnosed her. Fits the profile to a 'T' and has all the symptoms. I went to a conference with her boss and he brought her along to take notes. His assistant it seemed. She nailed half the committee on new medical technology by sun down. A bit embarrassing really." She ate her sandwich.
Ziva and Abby smirked at one another. Then they huddled and began eager discussion over who would be nailed by Hera Queen of the Gods by the time they left. Hach seemed unconcerned with their conversation.
Tony wondered if Hera would actually visit him in the middle of the night. As if Gibbs understood his expression, his head snapped forward suddenly. Gibbs did not hide the fact he head slapped DiNozzo. Ducky smiled at the action. Jimmy appeared to fear receiving such violence from Agent Gibbs. Even Hach had to admit she was amused.
"Ow." Tony winced. "Sorry, boss."
Gibbs said nothing and ate beside Tony.
Chapter Ten
The couples in the library were invited to have something to eat in the kitchen. They prepared plates of food and took drinks with them back to the library. Gibbs informed them that sleeping arrangements on the second floor were open in the wing on the right side of the grand stairway. They could go and choose a room for the night.
After eating, the three couples disappeared upstairs. The men appeared to avoid one another. Ziva watched them exit the house, obtained their luggage from the car, and returned to the house. All appeared fearful of mingling with the others at the party and NCIS. Strange behavior.
Once the couples were settled, Ziva went back to the kitchen unsure if Gibbs would approve of them hanging out at the party in the parlor. She glimpsed Hach talking happily with several of the men in attendance. Despite her costume, Ziva got the distinct impression that Dr. Hature did not mingle with men for pleasure. Not an issue but Ziva was curious as to why the doctor appeared rather cold. Her manners suggested social understanding of etiquette but where being a woman was involved, she lacked experience. She had yet to spot Hach wearing a skirt.
McGee appeared an hour later in the kitchen.
"Finally made it down, Tim?" Ziva questioned beside Tony.
"Where's Abby?" McGee inquired.
"Joined the party with Hach." Tony appeared unhappy. "I doubt the boss would want us to mingle with our hosts much. We might have too much fun."
McGee wondered if it would be improper to care. "Well, we are under the same roof. Couldn't hurt to go mingle. We might learn a few things about our hosts, right?
"I like the way you think, probie." Tony pointed at McGee.
"Let me eat real quick."
He ate with Tony and Ziva sharing stories of past Halloweens. Tony and Ziva laughed as McGee shared the time when his sister showed up as Elvira and he was Frankenstein at school. He had to report to the principal's office since he wired the bully's desk to the local light socket nearby his desk during class. McGee got tired of being pushed around. Earned him a week's detention but it was so worth it.
Chapter Eleven
Time passed slowly as the party wore on. Hach did not stick around for a second round in the kitchen deciding to join the party before McGee appeared again asking a thousand questions about how she hacked his computer. Gibbs and Ducky chose to follow the doctor back to the parlor as well leaving what remained of his team in the kitchen. There was a reason they went to investigate the party.
"What do you see?" Gibbs asked Ducky quietly from the corner of the room.
A woman came by dressed as a cat and offered them punch. Ducky accepted both glasses and handed one to Jethro. It was best to blend in. Gibbs did not drink from his glass, glimpsing it but kept it in his hand. Leroy Jethro Gibbs was not known to be social at NCIS.
"A lot of rich people." Ducky replied taking a sip.
"Besides that?" Gibbs appeared slightly irritated.
"I recognize a few people." Ducky nodded towards the women in the corner. "Terri Howler, the cat costume, she works in medical technology at Kelvin Technologies. I met her at a conference a few years ago. NCIS was looking into purchasing their x-ray machine. The man she's talking to is Marco Rinner, son of pharmaceutical giant NAV & Tamco CEO Clay Rinner."
"What are they all doing here for a Halloween party?" Gibbs was suspicious.
"You're guess is as good as mine, Jethro." Ducky grimaced.
A few minutes later, Tony, Ziva and McGee joined the party. They nodded towards Gibbs that they were on recon and would report back later. Abby stood with Hach talking to three men: one dressed as George W., another as the Scarecrow from the Wizard of Oz, and the third as Batman.
TO BE CONTINUED…