Nate reached office and found Eric working frantically in the Ops Center. Usually, he has his friend and partner Nell helping him with the research. Nate felt guilty for commandeering Nell's services to keep Kensi away from the investigation. Shaking his head, he sidled next to the Technical Analyst.
"What's up Eric?" Nate asked in a friendly, welcoming, and low voice in an attempt to not startle Eric and failed. Eric jumped and almost knocked the keyboard off the table in front of him.
"Um…Er…Nothing. I'm just trying to track down Jackson Murdoch. As per the prison records, he has been in touch with the inmate Micky Arthur for the past six months. From the information Petrov gave us, after being in touch with Arthur for over three months, Murdoch contacted Petrov. So it is safe to say that either Arthur or Murdoch has contacts with in the Wit-Sec program. Davis has been to visit Arthur earlier in the day today…" Eric was rambling.
"Eric…breathe." Nate instructed the Technical Analyst calmly and brought him down from the highly worked up state he is in. Taking a few deep breaths, Eric calmed down to some extent.
"Deeks is our friend too, Eric. There is no way we're letting anyone get away with hurting Deeks and neither are we going to lose Deeks. We need you on top of your game." Nate directed Eric in a quiet voice.
"But Nell isn't here and I am finding it difficult to concentrate on too many things. Usually we divide the work and conquer it but without Nell here, I am stuck with too many variables to look into…" Eric started rambling again and stopped as he saw Nate give him a very patient look. "I'm rambling again." Eric looked embarrassed.
"No need to be embarrassed, Eric. You're right. Over the past year or so, you've gotten used to the concept of a partner in your work. It's hard to work alone after having someone to share your burden. But remember, before Nell joined OSP, you were running the entire show alone. So, you know you can do it. I know you can do it. Hetty knows you can do it. Hell, the entire NCIS knows you can run this show all by yourself, okay. Just believe in yourself. Take a deep breath and start again." Nate coached Eric. Eric took a deep breath and started concentrating again.
"Ok, so we know that Arthur is the one pulling the strings and either Arthur or Murdoch is well connected. Do you think he has connections within NCIS?" Nate asked.
"I haven't found anything to suggest that but we will be able to find only if they try to contact with someone within NCIS." Eric replied as he continued tapping away at the keyboard.
"From what we know, Mr Arthur is in the prison and Mr Murdoch is off the grid. No matter how many connections you have, the freedom is very limited in their situations. Unless their LAPD contact leaks the information that NCIS is handling this case, they wouldn't contact his connections within NCIS. Mr Beale, get Mr Bates on the phone." Hetty made sudden appearance in the room.
"Yes, Hetty." Eric replied as he connected the call. He got used to such sudden appearances from the diminutive looking woman and wasn't startled by her presence.
"Bates" Lieutenant Bates' curt voice streamed through the speaker in the Ops Center.
"Mr Bates, Hetty from NCIS." Hetty responded in a genial voice.
"Ms Lange, we have no further leads on 'Kings Of Los Angeles'…" Bates started.
"Mr Bates, I need you to leak the information that NCIS is taking point on this case and LAPD is involved only on a need to know basis." Hetty interrupted.
"Ms Lange, that's exactly what's happening. Since you were also attacked, and you being a NCIS Asset, we're not leading the investigation." Bates replied.
"I know, Mr Bates. However, only a handful of people in LAPD know that Mr Deeks is kidnapped and NCIS is running the investigation. Mr Arthur is pulling the strings from the prison and Mr Murdoch is following orders. One of them is well connected to be able to find Mr Petrov's Wit-Sec details. We want to weed out any leaks within our Agency and it would help if they initiate contact. So please do it." Hetty patiently explained the purpose.
"Sure, Ms Lange" Bates replied and disconnected the line.
"Mr Beale, you know what to do." Hetty indirectly ordered the Technical Analyst and left the Ops center as Eric nodded in response and started building a fake case file in a location on the servers accessible to all the NCIS Agents.
As Kensi raced down the I-710 S, Nell went through every detail she could find on William Davis, the Wit-Sec ID for Jackson Murdoch as well as his original name. Finally, she identified that Jack is staying at a motel close to the Long Beach Port. Nell quickly shot a text to Eric and Callen with the address.
Just as Callen and Sam reached the Mission, Callen's phone chimed indicating the receipt of a message. Callen sighed as he opened and read the message.
Jackson Murdoch No Vacancy Motel, Long Beach Port, Kensi and Nell en route.
"Shit" Callen muttered as he took off at run towards Hetty's office. Even though Sam wasn't aware of what was happening, he was hot on Callen's heels and arrived at Hetty's desk just in time to find Eric, Nate, and Callen standing near Hetty's desk.
"Do I have to call names to report what you've got?" Hetty asked looking at her charges one at a time.
"Kensi and Nell are after Murdoch. Nell found his Motel near Long Beach Port." Callen reported.
"I believe you ordered Ms Blye off the case, Mr Getz." Hetty commented as she looked at the Psychologist.
"I did, Hetty. Nell was supposed to keep an eye on Kensi." Nate reported.
"Why did you pull her off the case? With Deeks missing, we are already short on hands." Sam growled at Nate.
"She was compromised Mr Hanna. Jackson Murdoch was her fiancé." Hetty stated.
"The very same one that walked out on her seven years ago on a Christmas morning?" Callen more stated than asked as he looked at Nate for confirmation.
Nate nodded and said," Her reactions to the facts about Murdoch were clear indications that she hasn't moved on from him and I wasn't prepared to risk Marty's safety to test that theory." Nate replied, standing his ground firmly.
"Then why is she chasing Murdoch now?" Sam asked.
"More importantly, why is Nell accompanying her?" Eric started worrying about his partner.
"Ms Jones is well trained but isn't trained enough to stop Ms Blye. My guess, she is trying to Keep Ms Blye safe." Hetty ordered her charges.
"It's takes about seven hours to travel from San Quentin Prison to Long Beach Port without attracting any attention. As per prison records, William Davis was at the prison about 3 hours ago. We have time to catch up with Kensi and Nell and set a trap for Murdoch." Nate commented.
"That is a good plan, Mr Getz." Hetty praised Nate and when there isn't any movement from her charges, "Now Move." Hetty ordered.
Samantha and Alan drove down to Deeks family home in Long Beach. Thomas and Katherine weren't expecting Samantha over that weekend and were pleasantly surprised by her car pulling up. They were even happier to see Alan exiting the vehicle. It has been over a year since Alan has visited them. Katherine opened the door to welcome them. Thomas who waited for them behind his wife understood that something bad has happened as he took in the crestfallen expressions on his daughter and friend.
"What happened?" Thomas asked as concern leaked through his voice. He feared the worst.
"Marty is kidnapped." Alan spoke bluntly, knowing that neither the Retired Cop nor his wife would like it if Alan beats around the bush.
"OH MY GOD!" The words escaped both Katherine's and Thomas's mouths involuntarily. Alan and Samantha held them quietly and led them to the couch. Samantha went to the fridge and brought some water for her parents.
"When?"
"Where?" Katherine and Thomas asked at the same time remembering the phone call just before Marty left Hawaii.
"Yesterday evening in Manhattan Beach." Samantha answered as she sat down wearily on a chair.
"Who is leading the case? Maybe I can look up some friends in LAPD…" Thomas started as tears formed in his eyes and his voice cracked.
"No need, NCIS is looking into this." Alan answered
"I didn't think Marty has become a Federal Agent yet. He was supposed to report to the Academy in Quantico today and call us once all the formalities were complete." Thomas looked at Samantha and Alan.
"His Boss at NCIS when he was a Liaison Officer there was with him when the attack occurred. Marty and she had taken out 5 perps and injured two more before she was blindsided and Marty was taken." Alan sighed. He knows that this is very bad news. Both Thomas and Katherine are aware of the reasons why their adopted son maintained distance from them since the day Katherine was attacked. Even though Samantha and Dean displayed open contempt and anger, all four of them loved Marty.
"Someone he's put away has come for him, isn't it?" Thomas asked as he looked at Alan for confirmation.
"Looks that way. I gave the NCIS Team a Federal Warrant to help them look at every case he's worked. Hopefully they'll have some answers in a few hours." Alan replied.
"Does Dean know?" Katherine asked.
"Not yet." Samantha answered as she looked at Alan who stopped her from calling Dean.
"Don't call him yet. He's being trained to become a Cop just like his Old man and brother. If he hears this, he'll go after whoever did it by himself. It isn't safe. Sam told me that he's coming home this weekend. Let him come and we'll break the news." Alan explained. Thomas nodded as he took his wife into his arms, letting her rest her head against his chest. He rubbed her back in a comforting gesture.