Chapter 48

Ziva stood stiffly beside Vance's desk. Roman was apparently completely involved looking at Vance's boxing photo collection. He suddenly stiffened and turned toward Ziva.

"The photos on this wall." He gestured to those in front of him toward his right. "These are of Leon Vance?"

"Yes." Ziva said shortly. "Should we not stay on track?"

Roman turned fully in her direction slipping his hands into his pocket. He tipped his head slightly turning his head slightly to the side. His fathomless dark eyes moved over her slowly.

"Ziva. I tried to demonstrate the need to refocus your attention at times to give the mind a chance to relax. Did I not?" He moved soundlessly to the large picture window behind Vance's desk.

"Yes." Ziva spoke through clenched teeth. "I am completely focused Roman."

"My point exactly." Roman said quietly rocking slightly a half smile on his face. "I have missed your acerbic wit my dear."

Ziva whirled toward him her eyes full of anger. The door opened quickly and Vance stood there, folders in his right arm. He moved toward his desk.

Roman remained by the window the same half smile on his face. Leon put his folders down and turned to Roman.

"Have a seat please." He gestured to the chairs in front of his desk. Roman moved to them without comment. Leon turned his focus to Ziva.

"I see you brought your 'consultant' into my office Ms. David. I believe that introductions are in order." Leon's face was expressionless and his eye contact with Roman direct and unforgiving.

Ziva stood stiffly. "Yes Director. This office is completely soundproofed and otherwise secure. It seemed the logical place for us to wait for you."

Leon merely raised an eyebrow. "And?"

"The circumstances at the hospital generated such a type of information that I knew we would need the input of a contact I had." She moved forward and placed her phone on his desk.

Leon didn't touch it. His gaze remained on Roman. "And?" He said again.

"Director this is Roman Ben-Sallota. He is an expert in deciphering those Tattoos you see here." She gestured at the phone. Glancing up she saw he and Roman remained in their expressionless connection.

"Roman, may I present NCIS Director Leon Vance." Roman stepped toward Vance and extended his hand.

"A pleasantly anticipated moment Director." He said smoothly, a half smile again on his face.

Leon remained carefully in control but acknowledged privately that he had just shook the hand of Death.

"Well, this is an interesting incident to be sure. Please sit." He took his own chair and picked up Ziva's phone.

"Director, I have the photos open to the soldier at the hospital. It was my initial examination there that led to all that has followed." Ziva leaned forward toward Vance.

Roman watched her closely. Her body language spoke volumes to Roman. He leaned back into the chair and steepled his fingers. The half-smile remained on his face.

Vance was watching Ben-Sallota closely even as he absorbed the photos. Glancing up he directed his overt attention back to Ziva.

"Gibbs." He spoke flatly and emphasis as he put the phone back on his desk.

Ziva folded her arms back into herself. It was a move that spoke unknowingly to both men.

"He has been moved home at his demand." She lifted a hand. "With the help of his Marines and a group of friends that appeared with Mike Franks, the house has been fortified."

Roman spoke then. "I have a team there also Director Vance. We have a very specific knowledge base for this group. Master Gunnery Sgt. Franks is being most agreeable and seeks knowledge."

Vance leaned onto his elbows on the desk. "Yes. That is good news." He tapped his finger on the phone, leaned back and folded his hands. "Now I want to know what you both feel is happening here."

"Yes Director" Roman rose to his feet. "I hope you will indulge me; I think better when moving. I will remain in your sight." He glanced at Vance who nodded once.

"My intelligence team became aware of the whereabouts of Ilyescu Narvo approximately 10 years ago. He had not only joined but had made his way to the head of a group that did not seem to have its own designation. We had been tracking the group since it had appeared amongst the PLO."

"Of course, our interest became more focused when we obtained our first prisoner. We had simply left the dead in place until the prisoner. We stripped him as a matter of course, prior to completing some intended damage, and there they were. Unfortunately, the prisoner came equipped with a suicide capsule. We did not find this as we became distracted by the tattoos. Most unprofessional. Measures to rectify this deficit had to be enacted. But I digress."

"The tattoos were of course immediately mesmerizing. They were so inexplicable and detailed. In a move of complete surprise, to me, the senior members of our organization reached out to the Mossad for assistance. A team was dispatched for examination of the corpse."

"Did they provide any information?" Vance remained expressionless but Ziva could see his focus was complete and engaged.

"No Director. Once again, or should I say as always, we were on our own." Roman was once again gazing out the window. It appeared there was a storm coming. Roman felt that was appropriate.

"You didn't attempt to contact any other intelligence agencies." Leon said the words flatly as a statement not a question.

Roman turned to face Vance directly. The sky had darkened with the insipient rain. Lightening lit up the sky, seeming to silhouette Roman's sturdy frame.

"We never stopped searching for them. But to answer your question directly Director Vance, no."

"May I ask why?" Vance asked rocking his chair slightly.

"There are always a few factors to be considered when seeking assistance from other agencies. I will narrow those factors still more. For us they are respect and trust. But for us, we do not trust within, let alone without." Roman returned to his chair.

"Even for the possible advancement and/or protection of your organization?" Vance asked calmly.

Roman looked down at Leon and gave his trademark half smile. "We seem to work well without the input Director. Have you ever heard of my organization before today?"

"No." Vance said flatly.

"That is as we wish. I will state unequivocally that none of the other world intelligence agencies know of us either. Perhaps that helps to clarify how important this contact with you is."

"I see. So, am I wrong to think that you are expecting full and equal reciprocity in this investigation?" Leon steepled his fingers. Ziva remained alert, one hand near her gun.

Roman stood completely still, his eye contact with Vance steady. Leon for his part considered Roman's eyes to be dead and unreadable. Leon had always felt he was a good interrogator. To be such a thing you had to be able to read even the smallest clue in a subject's body language and behaviors. With Roman, he felt that any sign of humanity had been burned out of him long, long ago. Leon turned slightly toward Ziva.

"May I assume you contacted Mr. Salotta?" Leon placed his hands on the desk.

"Yes Director." Ziva straightened herself in the chair. "I had reason to know that Mr. Salotta has had experience with these people. I would consider him an expert."

"Explain how you came to know of Mr. Salotta's experience? I do not think his organization advertises all that much." Roman shook his head after lowering his gaze.

"I joined Mr. Salotta's group Director. In the course of my first years with Mossad, my partner and I tried to develop leads we had uncovered in a previous case. I can only assume we became an irritation, an inconvenience. I was unexpectedly contacted by Mr. Salotta. He proposed to meet. I am not sure why?" She looked to Roman.

He shrugged slightly. "I could say it was because of your beauty, but that is not the primary reason. We researched both you and your partner. My conclusion was that you were the primary 'brain' behind the success of your team. On that premise I reached out to you."

Leon looked back at Ziva. She nodded and repositioned herself. "Alright then." She said quietly.

Roman smiled then, it was genuine and Leon thought he looked almost human. "There are not many with information to ask Director. You will have to decide if you wish involvement with us or not. If not, I guarantee you will have no more contact from us."

"And Ms. David?" Leon watched Ziva's face closely.

"We have been removed from her life for many years now. To vanish is easy. To remain 'lost' takes work." Roman settled back in his chair and crossed his legs.

It was Vance's turn to stand. He paced slowly toward the door; his chin lowered, his hands clasped behind his back. He made exactly three circuits, door to window and back. He was aware of Ben-Salotta's interested perusal. He returned to stand behind his desk.

"At this point I believe I can see where an exchange of information will be mutually beneficial. A decision as to whether or not we can otherwise combine resources will have to be decided after we lay our cards on the table. Agreed?"

"I am glad you are a man who waits to make a considered and thorough decision before action." Roman stood and shook hands with Vance.

"I expect the same of you Mr. Ben-Salotta." Leon clasped the man's hand firmly and Roman nodded slowly.

"I will contact you again. Our files will be delivered within the next hour." Roman moved toward the door. "Reciprocity is not just a concept; it will be expected."

"Acknowledged." Vance said with a nod. "Look forward to hearing from you."

Roman turned to look at Ziva. "How lovely."

When the door closed, she shivered. She wasn't physically cold but the ice in her core was expanding out. She closed her eyes and shook her head.

"We need to talk." Leon said and returned to his desk. He looked at Ziva expectantly.