"Sir, I'll be happy to make the trip for you." Rhian's voice was earnest. "But not if he's going."
"That's not fair! I've never been to England. And besides, I found the bank. Without me there wouldn't be anything to go to." Tony tried to plead his case while Ziva chuckled quietly.
"Any of us could have done that search once we had the name and ID to work with," Rhian said coldly.
"Any of us could have done that search," he mocked her and she nearly stuck her tongue out at him.
Wilson rubbed his temples. "Ziva, you haven't said anything at all in this discussion. Don't you care whether or not you go to England?"
"I've been to England, it does not really matter to me if I go there again." She shrugged.
"Good," Rhian said decisively. "Then let her and I go. We'll be back in no time with the information."
"Hold on. I hate to burst your bubble, Rhian, but I'm afraid I should be the one to go." Wilson turned to the young woman. "I'm the head of the staff for this investigation, and as such I'm going to need to handle the paperwork to get the box opened for us."
"Right, Sir. Of course. But you'll need me with you. I'll pack my bag," she said with confidence.
"What I need is for you to stay here and keep an eye on this end of the investigation. Whatever else happened, she died here. We need to keep looking for her killer." Wilson looked around the table.
Rhian nodded, slightly deflated, but still determined to make the best of it. "Excellent, then. I'm sure Ziva and I can handle things admirably while you're gone, Sir."
"Rhian, quit rushing me." He eyed Tony and Ziva. "Is Ziva the only one of you with experience in intelligence?"
Tony started to open his mouth but Ziva beat him to it. "I wouldn't say Tony is lacking in intelligence, he is simply rather foolish sometimes." As the man in question smirked at her, Ziva continued. "In answer to your question, I believe that I am the far more experienced intelligence operative."
"Despite her obvious language difficulties," Tony added, quietly.
"I heard that, DiNozzo," Ziva shot back.
"Are you two quite through?" Wilson folded his hands on his desk. "All right, then. I would much prefer to take Walter, who is already familiar with this case. However, it appears, Officer David, that you and I will be making this trip. We will have the Embassy set you up as a diplomatic courier for me. Then there will be no hassles going through customs."
Rhian felt her stomach sink. That meant she was stuck here with… him! Oh, God, no! How in the hell could Wilson do this to her? She closed her eyes and pressed her lips together to keep from screaming. Either at her boss for the unfairness of it all. Or at the man seated beside her, whose company she would now have to endure for several days unabated.
She glanced sideways to find Tony grinning oh-so-confidently at her.
"What do you say we do lunch, partner?"
"Over my dead body."