Author's Note: Hope everyone is doing well. Have a great weekend!
"This is a surprise," Sonny answered when Kellie called him from her hotel room, "Last I heard you were working a kidnapping case for the feds."
"That's why I'm calling," Kellie said, "The word is Beau and Bella Le Requin are trying to expand their black market adoption and/or child labor ring into the U.S. But no one seems to know where. We've been able to locate what I think is a stopping point in Mexico near the gulf coast where they may be taking the girls."
"You're sure the place they're taking the kids isn't where they're doing business or taking them," Sonny asked.
"It's in the middle of nowhere," Kellie said, "And there's no obvious place from there. I can make some guesses."
"But that's a lot ground to start with," Sonny said.
"I'm hoping you or your people in Florida or South America have heard something," Kellie said, "If someone's trying to make a move in that area and it's not on law enforcement's radar."
"I haven't heard anything," Sonny said, "Florida's been pretty quiet. But I'll have Brick make some discreet inquiries."
"I'd appreciate it," Kellie said, "Can you have Brick call me directly?"
"Yeah," Sonny said, "I'll have him do that."
"I'll make sure no one knows where I got any information," Kellie said, "I know that could lead for repercussions for you."
"I can handle any repercussions," Sonny said, "Besides when you shut down the whole operation, there won't be any to handle."
"They are sloppy," Kellie said, "Handle way too much of the work themselves, particularly the kidnappings. Even with their crazy maze of shell companies and fake expired licenses."
"It'll eventually catch up with them," Sonny said, "The sooner the better. How are the Feds treating you?"
"Most of them are okay," Kellie said, "The lead agent is a pain in the butt though."
"Let me guess he goes completely by the book," Sonny said.
"And then some," Kellie said, "He did everything he possibly could to keep me from being put on the case or least delay it as much as he could."
"Do I even want to ask how you responded to that?" Sonny said.
"I showed up at NCIS headquarters and took over his desk," Kellie said.
"I wish I could have seen the look on his face," Sonny said, "He's not giving you a hard time for being my daughter is he."
"He insists on calling me "Corinthos" and nothing else," Kellie said.
"Take it as a compliment," Sonny said.
Kellie shrugged, "Before I go, do you have any recommendations for high-end bourbon."
"I can text you some," Sonny said, "That's not your usual drink."
"I'm considering a peace offering," Kellie said, hesitantly.
"There's nothing wrong with that," Sonny said, "In fact, I think I know of something that will have that agent singing a different tune."
Gibbs House
Gibbs was sanding the boat in his basement.
"How do you plan on getting the boat out of here?" Kellie asked, coming down the stairs and startling him.
"Any one ever tell you to knock, Corinthos?" Gibbs replied.
"I did," Kellie said, "You obviously didn't hear me. And you left your door unlocked. I told my guard do a check of the perimeter and let me know what suggestions he has for beefing up the security on your place."
"You can give all the suggestions you want," Gibbs said, "Doesn't mean I have to use them."
"Why would a federal agent leave their door unlocked?" Kellie asked, "Aren't you worried that some enemy of yours might show up looking for payback?"
"That's my business. What brings you by?" Gibbs replied, sanding, "Your people call with information yet?"
"Not yet. My father hadn't heard anything. But he has a guy making some inquires," Kellie said, setting a brown bag on the bench, "Look, I know you don't like me. I'm not crazy about having to work with you either. But we are working on this case together. I'm hoping we can negotiate an actual truce. Maybe we could actually work together to find Tali instead of…"
"News flash, Corinthos, this isn't a mob meeting you where get to negotiate terms."" Gibbs said, "You really have no business butting into this investigation."
"And here I brought a peace offering," Kellie said, ripping the brown bag to reveal a bottle of bourbon, "I heard you were partial to Bourbon. But since you obviously don't want it. I guess I'll take it and leave."
"Hold on a minute," Gibbs said, grabbing the bottle and inspecting, "This is expensive stuff."
"I asked for recommendations," Kellie said, "Hopefully it's to your tastes."
"Only one way to find out," Gibbs said, grabbing a couple of glasses. He opened the bottle and poured into each glass. He hand Kellie one of the glasses.
Kellie and Gibbs both took sips out of the glass.
"Not bad," Gibbs said as Kellie noted from his expression it was more than not bad.
"It's alright," Kellie replied.
"You don't care for bourbon," Gibbs said having watched her tolerate the drink more than anything else. Gibbs opened a cabinet and pulled out a bottle of tequila. He handed it to Kellie.
"Good guess. Where'd this come from?" Kellie replied, "I've never heard of this."
"Friend of mine who spent a lot of time in Mexico brought it back as gift," Gibbs asked, taking the bottle back and pouring Kellie a glass.
Kellie took a sip.
"Better?" Gibbs asked.
"Thank you," Kellie nodded.
"You're welcome," Gibbs said, "Now start sanding."
"What?" Kellie asked as Gibbs handed her a hand sander.
"Sand the boat, Corinthos," Gibbs said, motioning to a spot near the boat, "Consider it part of negotiating a truce."