At Ops, Eric and Abby were trying to trace the curare variant and other unidentified compounds. Dr. Bradman had been able to tell them that it was developed by an American research group, but he was unsure who. It gave them somewhere to start, though, and Abby and Eric were sure it was enough. It was just going to take some time.

Abby was focused as she bounced from screen to screen, typing frantically and inhaling her latest Caf-Pow. Eric was torn between his work, and watching the feeds from the boatshed. He hated having Nell in the same building as Verette, and wanted an eye on her at all times. It wasn't that he didn't trust Callen and Sam - he was just overprotective of his partner. He sighed as he tore himself away from the screen displaying the video feeds and tried to focus on work.

He had sent the LAPD to Isabelle Hinkler's home, and they had found her exactly where Cynthia had left her. She was taken to hospital with a concussion, but it didn't look too serious. The police reported that she was more concerned about Julia than herself, which made Eric smile. The little girl was charming and seemed to have everyone wrapped around her little finger. He wondered what would happen to her when this mess was over.

As Sam walked into the interrogation room, Verette looked up at him smugly.

"So when do I get to see my daughter?" He asked, leaning back in his chair. Sam quickly slammed the chair back down and grabbed Verette's shirt.

"Never." He replied, deadly serious. "The only way that's going to happen is over my dead body. Even if you don't tell us what we need to know, we'll find the answers we need. After what you've done, you are NEVER going to see her." Sam was pissed, and Verette's attitude was only making it worse. "So are you going to co-operate and tell us what we need to know in hopes that you might someday get out of prison - or are you going to fall between the cracks and accidentally get sent to Gitmo?" He asked.

"You're bluffing" Verette snorted. "And I think I'd like my lawyer now, and my phone call." Sam snorted right back.

"Lawyer? Phone call? What do you think this is? You may have been able to squirm you way out of charges before, but you've never played ball with us. We're feds, and you hurt one of our own. My boss doesn't take too kindly to that, and neither does her boss. All it takes is a look" he glanced at the camera "and you vanish - never to be seen again. Is that what you'd like? To disappear?" Sam knew he might be bluffing a bit, but he also knew he could squash this man like a bug and still sleep soundly that night. Verette maintained his arrogant demeanor but Sam could see the tiniest bit of fear creeping in. "OK, don't want to talk? That's fine. We have ways to make that happen." He glanced back at the camera and nodded, and the blinking red light went off. Callen opened the door and entered, carrying a large, heavy bag.

"This the one you want?" He asked his partner. "Video's off. Need a hand in here?" He knew this routine, they'd done it before. The cameras were still running, but Verette didn't need to know that. Eric could - and would - erase the footage if it came down to it. But he was pretty confident that one look at Sam's bag of tricks would have Verette spilling everything they wanted to know.

Sam unzipped the bag with a grin. "You can stay and watch if you like. Got the clean up guys ready?" The first thing he pulled out was a smock, covered in paint the colour of dried blood. "Gotta keep the clothes clean, my wife doesn't like it when I come home all bloody." He continued to pull out an assortment of tools and knives, also covered in the reddish brown paint, and lastly a medical kit. As he unrolled the kit on the table, displaying a collection of syringes and vials, Verette started to sweat.

"What are you going to do with all that?" He stammered.

"I thought that was obvious" Sam replied with a shrug.

"You can't do that! I have the right to not be subjected to cruel and unusual punishment!" Verette yelped, the legal words sounding ridiculous coming from his mouth. Both Sam and Callen chuckled.

"Sorry man, you escaped and we couldn't find you. No one's going to see or hear from you again. Guess you just vanished." Callen told him. Verette genuinely looked terrified and he hesitated.

"You don't have to do this!" He pleaded.

"What if we want to?" Sam asked. "You hurt our friend. Now we hurt you." Verette was fighting the cuffs now. "Although, I suppose if you answered our questions nicely... we might be willing to reconsider?"

Verette nodded frantically. "Fine, I'll tell you anything. Just put that crap away!" He yelled.

"You tell us what we need to know - as long as you keep talking, I'll keep packing it up." Sam said. "Deal?" Verette quickly agreed, and started to tell them everything.

"Aw, Darn" Callen said to his partner. "I was looking forward to watching him squirm."

"It's ok, G" Sam responded. "If we don't like his answers, we can pull it all out again."