AN: This is a short chapter, but it's for a reason. Just three to go after this one. Hope everybody in Sandy's path is staying safe! Side note: As of two chapters ago, this is my third-longest story, after Life Is Made and Razor's Edge. It just passed Steal My Breath Away.
Chapter 27
Tony looked over. "McBabble, what are you talking about?"
"How did you guys figure out that she did it?" McGee repeated. "Dorney and I had only narrowed it down to four people."
"Wait, you are saying that she is one of the serial killer suspects?" Ziva looked from McGee to the screen, and Tony was just glad he hadn't been the one to ask.
"She was a classmate of one of Boone's early victims, Sarah McCray," McGee said. "They both had parents in the Navy and were stationed in the Norfolk area."
"McGee, this wasn't for the serial killer case," Tony said. "This is Aaron's sister, the one who beat him up."
"Well, she also has clearance for all of the bases," McGee retorted. "She's based at Little Creek, and she travels to Quantico twice a week and the Navy Yard every other week as a liaison with teams on those bases."
Tony blinked. "Are you sure, McSearchEngine?"
"Yes, Tony." McGee handed him the paper. "We missed her in the early rounds of searching because she was a regular on those days at the bases, so the guards didn't think anything of it."
"And, she is a woman." Ziva tapped her chin. "Did we not determine this was a crime committed by a man?"
"If she's strong enough to beat up her younger brother and she's got military training, she could have committed any of the crimes we've uncovered," Tony said. "Even the SEAL had been drugged — his reflexes would have been slower than normal."
"So now what?" McGee said. "And where's Abby?"
"Right here, McGee." Abby bounced into the bullpen. "Major Mass Spec is running the samples now, but the quick basic tests I did didn't turn up anything." She frowned. "I couldn't get Aaron to talk, though. He just said he didn't need help. Oooh, is that a new suspect?"
"That's Aaron's sister," Ziva said.
"And we think she's our serial killer," McGee added.
Abby's mouth dropped open, and Tony would have laughed if the whole thing hadn't been so unfunny.
"'Fraid so, Abs," he said. "You didn't see her at the coffee shop, did you?"
Abby shook her head. "No, but she looks kind of familiar."
"She might have been in the shop yesterday when we went in," Ziva said. "Dorneget, do you remember those two sailors two in front of us in line?"
Dorney nodded. "Yeah, the quiet ones." He looked at the screen. "It's possible."
Tony thought about it for a second. "That would make sense — if she's abusive, she'd use her trips to the Navy Yard to intimidate him."
"And that would explain how she is getting her information," Ziva added. "Aaron is always in the coffee shop. He has heard plenty over the years."
Tony nodded. "So let's go find her, and arrest her for domestic violence. That will get her in here, and we can bring Aaron in to keep him safe — and to find out how much information he's given her over the years."
"I believe McGee and I should be the ones to bring in Aaron," Ziva said. "We are perhaps no so threatening as you and Gibbs would be."
Tony snorted. "Says the most deadly person on the team."
He winced at the headslap. "Right, Boss. Sorry, Boss."
Gibbs walked into the bullpen and they all started explaining. After a minute of the five of them trying to talk over each other, Gibbs whistled them to a stop.
"Ziva, McGee, the coffee shop. Talk to the manager first, discreetly. Make sure they know Aaron isn't in trouble." Gibbs turned. "Dorneget, stay with Abby. Update the others. DiNozzo, with me."
Tony grabbed his gun and badge and followed Gibbs into the elevator.
"Gibbs, wait." Vance's voice carried from the landing on the stairs. "We've got two more bodies — eighteen total. Balboa's team is working on one, and Krone's team has the other. Both killed yesterday, one in the afternoon, one overnight."
"Abs, get forensics done yesterday," Gibbs said. "We're bringing her in and nailing her to the wall."
Tony finished what Gibbs hadn't said in his head: Before she killed again, and got another team member.
~NCIS~NCIS~NCIS~NCIS~
They think they have everything figured out, but all they have done is bring me within the gate, ready to strike. I was prepared for this, and I will make sure that they regret it. How much will Agent Leroy Jethro Gibbs hate himself if I am able to continue killing within his castle? I had hoped to get away unnoticed, but this may be even better. I will get to watch them fall apart.
