Following Manning's prognosis—that Agent McGee, while having a motive for wanting these men dead, was not so unbalanced from years of torment (and recent months of hazing) that he would seek out revenge on past grievances—the Metro detectives had no choice but to let him go. But they weren't happy about it.
"He nearly lost his lunch just remembering the state of their bodies," Manning confided to Kelly and Washburn. "I can't see him having the stomach to carry out gruesome tortures and murders or taking pleasure in them."
"It could have been an act," Kelly said gruffly.
"If it was Agent McGee is in the wrong line of business. There are some things a person can't fake."
"What about the theory that he suppressed memories of doing any of this?" Washburn asked.
"Possible, but very unlikely. I saw no indication of repressed memories when talking with him. Besides, from what I've read about the two murders they were far too methodical to have been done by someone in that sort of mental state. The person who did this knew what they were doing. I shudder to say they quite enjoyed doing it."
She nodded. "Okay. I guess I should go tell them both the good news."
Tim still hadn't spoken a word since being brought back to the waiting room. He wondered if doctor-patient confidentiality reached this far. Obviously there would be some breach of confidentiality (otherwise why even have the damned psychiatrist on your payroll?) but would he have to tell them everything that had been discussed? Not that Tim had said anything incriminating, of course, but a few embarrassing topics had come up and he hoped they would remain private.
When Washburn entered Tim nearly jumped to his feet. He tried to read her facial expression, hoping to figure out what the verdict was, but her face was so void of anything that he couldn't quite tell.
"You're free to go, Agent McGee."
He let out the breath he hadn't realized he was holding and leaned back in his seat. "Just like that?" he asked in a soft voice.
"Well, not quite," she said, "I'm sure you know we expect you to not try and leave town."
Gibbs snorted. "Why would he?"
She narrowed her eyes at him, but didn't respond. "And we can't say that we've officially removed you from our list of persons of interest. But for now we can't hold you."
The two men stood, coats in hand, and walked past Washburn with Gibbs leading. Tim caught her eyes as he passed; they were still uncertain, still wondering if there was more to him than she had seen so far.
Tim looked away. He still felt guilty about what had happened to Wickmar and Ashcroft (and Fitcher, as he had already resigned himself to the thought that Fitcher would soon meet the same fate as the other two), so he didn't need the added scorn and suspicion of anyone else.
"Glad that's over," he muttered as he and Gibbs slid into the car. "Though, I guess it really isn't. They'll still try to pin it on me."
"That's why we've got to find the person who killed Wickmar and Ashcroft ourselves."
He looked at Gibbs. "But Ashcroft isn't in our jurisdiction. Won't we be impeding on their case?"
"We offered them a joint investigation and they turned it down," Gibbs said as he took a sharp turn. "That shouldn't stop us from finding Wickmar's killer. The fact that the person who killed Wickmar also killed Ashcroft isn't our fault."
Tim was quiet as they took another sharp turn; he was so lost in his own thoughts he didn't even notice they were going well over the speed limit, something that worried Gibbs.
"Boss?" he said finally. "You…you know I didn't do this, right?"
Gibbs almost laughed. "I wouldn't have mouthed off to Metro if I had even an inkling that you were involved. You're not a killer."
"What about the others? Tony and Kate…and Abby?"
"What about them?"
"Do you think they'll suspect me?"
"Don't know," Gibbs said as he swerved into the right lane, just barely missing an oncoming truck. "Though it may be to your benefit if they do."
"How's that?"
"They'll think twice before poking fun at you."
Linda Fitcher was harried and tired when she opened the door for Tony and Kate. After introducing themselves and flashing their badges, she invited them inside. A girl who couldn't have been older than three was lying on her stomach in the living room, carefully drawing pictures, a pile of crayons resting beside her. With her legs swaying back and forth above her she didn't look like a little girl who knew her daddy may never come back.
Her mother knelt beside her. "Julie, why don't you go to your room to finish coloring. I need to talk to some people."
Julie stood, grabbing her art supplies, and looked at Tony and Kate with her head tilted to the side. "Who are you?"
"We're federal agents," Tony said, knowing the young girl probably had no idea what that meant. "We're a special kind of police officer. I'm Tony and this is Kate."
"I'm Julie and I'm gonna be four soon."
Tony couldn't help but smile.
"Julie," her mother repeated, giving her a gentle push toward the hallway, "go color in your room. We may have to pick your brother up in a little while."
Tony and Kate waited until Julie had left and they had heard the soft closing of a door before they spoke. "We're sorry to barge in on you like this, Mrs. Fitcher," Kate said.
"I don't understand," Linda said. "You said you work for the Navy? But Ryan wasn't in the military."
"We're working a case that may involve him," Tony explained. "He had two high school friends, Daniel Wickmar and Steven Ashcroft. Did you ever meet them?"
She nodded. "They were at our wedding. Ryan hasn't been in touch with them for a while, though; I think the three of them sort of went their separate ways." She wiped a stray tear from her cheek and asked, "What have they got to do with this?"
"They've both been murdered," Kate said.
That sent Linda over the edge. She let out a heavy sob as tears began spilling. "And you think…you think the person who killed them may have killed Ryan?"
"It's only a theory at this point."
She shook her head violently. "No…no, there's no reason anyone would want to kill him. He was a good man!"
Tony knew the question he had to ask. It wouldn't be a pleasant one and he was already bracing himself for the anger it would incite. "Mrs. Fitcher, we have reason to believe your husband's old friends were killed because of a little bullying they did when they were in high school. Did your husband ever talk about that?"
Linda started to shake her head, prepared to vehemently deny the claim at which he was hinting. Halfway through, she stopped and drooped her head, a hand coming up to her mouth. "We all went out one night a few years back. It was me, Ryan, and them; I think one of them had a girlfriend with him, but I don't remember her name. We went to this crappy bar and they started drinking…a lot. I think they were trying to keep up with each other, beer for beer. Some stupid macho thing. Anyway, after a few beers they started reminiscing about high school, talking about some of the things they'd done."
"Such as?" Kate prompted.
"I don't really remember. I stopped listening, not really wanting to hear it." She looked up and bit her bottom lip gently. "When Ryan and I met in college, he was something of a cocky, macho guy. I settled him down, got his head on straight. He admitted that he hadn't been the nicest guy in high school, but that he was past that. I'm not saying that changes anything he may have done back then, but why wait all this time? Why do something now?"
Tony and Kate glanced at each other, neither certain of the answer to her question.
"Did he ever mention anyone in particular?" Tony asked.
She shrugged. "When he and his friends were talking that night they kept mentioning someone they called 'the computer geek.' I guess it was just some poor kid."
Linda stood, once again wiping away tears. "If you have no more questions, I have to pick my son up in an hour and I still have a lot to do until then."
"We'll be in touch if we hear anything more," Kate promised as she and Tony also stood. "And if you can think of anything, please call us."
As they were escorted out, the two of them were met with an unpleasant sight. "Detective Kelly, Detective Washburn," Tony greeted with a big, fake smile. "Fancy meeting you here."
Kelly glared at the two. "I could say the same for you. Mind telling me why you're here?"
"Investigating a case, the same as you, I'm guessing."
"Last I checked, Mr. Fitcher was a civilian."
"And you're right," Tony retorted, giving the man a grin. "But since there's a strong link between our dead Marine and our missing Mr. Fitcher, we figured it would be smart to find out what we could."
Kelly stepped up to him so that they were toe to toe. "Listen up, 'cause I've got a message I want you to deliver to your boss: if you and your team interfere with our investigation, I'll have to assume you're trying to cover up for your buddy and will waste no time in charging each of you. Got it?"
"Could you repeat that? I may have to write it down somewhere so I don't forget it."
Rather than reply, the man turned and walked toward the door with his partner, muttering something about a "little smartass."
"You don't need to push his buttons that way," Kate chided as she and Tony slid into the Sedan.
"I know," he said as he put the car into gear. He flashed her a smile, adding, "but it's so much fun!"