Note: an apology for the late update – I have been super busy with work and study, but here is a new chapter.
Squad room
It is late in the evening. There is a thunderstorm outside, and the rain is slamming against the windowfront of the squad room. Bishop is sitting at her desk, tracking Johnny Holland's credit card activities. McGee is also at his desk, still going through all of the chats on Johnny Hollands multiple dating websites. He is getting help from Torres to sort through all of it.
"man, I don't understand why any women would even chat with this guy. He got no moves, man." Torres says.
"well, you can give him some dating advice once we find him and prevent him from killing someone else. According to what I have found, Jack declined his latest dinner invitation two days ago." McGee says.
"he probably already got his next victim," Bishop says, looking up from her computer. Her two fellow agents agree with concerned looks on their faces.
"I'll check to see if any lieutenant has been reported missing," Torres says and sits down at his desk.
"where is Gibbs?" that is director Vance calling from the top of the staircase.
"We don't know, director." McGee answers truthfully. "where are we on tracing Johnathan Holland?" Vance asks as he walks down the stairs and into the squad room.
"We are currently tracing his car, his cellphone, and his credit card. So far, nothing. It is like this man only uses any of it on the day he kills his next victim. Otherwise, it is like he only lives his life on dating sites." McGee says.
"interesting life," Leon comments more to himself than to the agents.
"what about his computer?" Vance asks.
"well, Kasie has been working on it, but so far, not much. We suspect he got another one because he has been accessing his dating profiles regularly since we searched his apartment two days ago," Bishop informs.
"but can't he access those sites from any computer or any device that's got internet?" Vance asks.
McGee nods. "pretty much, yeah.
"can you trace him when he goes online?" Vance asks.
"I have been trying, but this guy is good. He is never online for long and is constantly changing connection." McGee says, a bit irritated.
"Leon, what brings you in here?" Gibbs says as he walks into the squad room and sits down at his desk.
"When did you last speak with Sloane?" Leon asks directly to Gibbs.
"why?" Gibbs asks and takes a sip of his coffee.
"I haven't seen her for hours, and I can't reach her on her cell."
"she had a meeting in her office earlier," Gibbs says, referring to her visit from Faith.
"It is Friday night. Maybe she got plans." Torres says and adds more mumbling. "Like some of us."
"you got someplace better to be than here to catch a serial killer, Torres?" Gibbs asks, irritated at Torres.
"no, sir." Torres quickly says and sits down behind his desk.
"McGee trace Jack's cellphone." Vance orders. McGee looks over at Gibbs for confirmation. That doesn't go unnoticed by Vance.
"Agent McGee." Vance says, and McGee stops typing for a moment. "are you confused about who is the director of this agency?" McGee looks confused around to his fellow agents and then to Vance. "no, sir. I believe that would be you, sir."
"then why are you looking over at Gibbs for confirmation before following my orders?" Vance asks. He is now standing right in front of McGee's desk, looking quite intimidating down on McGee.
"I… I was just checking, sir." McGee answers nervously.
"because I am the unit leader, Vance. McGee is on my team and therefore takes orders from me." Gibbs says from his desk, not even bothering to stand up.
"Agent Gibbs. My orders supersede every other order given by anyone in this agency." Vance says and walks over to Gibbs's desk. He now stands in front of Gibbs's desk and looks down at Gibbs in the same intimidating way as he did on McGee, but Gibbs doesn't let it get to him.
"is now really the time for a pissing contest, Leon?" Gibbs asks, irritated, and takes a sip of his coffee. He knows how much it bothers Vance that Gibbs uses his first name in front of the agents. Vance is just standing tall in front of Gibbs's desk and stares down at Gibbs while Gibbs stares back at Leon with the same intensity.
"oh my. We have a problem." McGee says. that catches the attention of the two men. "Jack's cellphone is in a parking lot near a bar, and it hasn't moved for 2 hours. So, either something happened to her or Torres was right." McGee brings up the signal from Jack's cellphone. It seems to be in the middle of a parking lot near a bar.
"Yeah, either way, there seems to be a problem," Gibbs says and stands up and grabs his weapon and cellphone.
"let's go." Gibbs orders, and the three agents follow Gibbs to the elevator.
Parking lot
The team arrives at the almost empty parking lot. Jack's little blue car is parked in the middle of the lot. There are only a few other cars parked on the lot. Before they get out of the car, Gibbs gives each agent a task.
"Torres and McGee check Jack's car. Bishop, you are with me." Gibbs orders and gets out of the car and into the thunderstorm and pouring rain.
"where are we going, boss?" Bishop asks and follows Gibbs. They cross the parking lot and walk to the nearby restaurant. McGee and Torres get out of the car and walks to Jack's car.
"don't see any signs of forced entry." McGee quickly states.
"did you notice Vance and Gibbs back at the office?" Torres asks.
"They are both very good friends with Jack and is concerned about her," McGee comments a little cold.
"yeah or maybe there is more. maybe it is a love triangle." Torres suggests.
"It is pouring rain, Torres. Can we please just hurry it up?" McGee asks, irritated while rain is beginning to drip down the color of his coat. Torres tries to take the door handle. To his immense surprise, the car is unlocked.
"What kind of agent leaves her car unlocked?" Torres asks and looks into the car through the passenger door. "got her cellphone." Torres says and takes it and hands it to McGee. Torres checks the glovebox. To his immense surprise, he finds Jack's badge, credential, and an empty firearms holster.
"who brings their weapon but no credential to a date?" Torres asks.
"I got a bad feeling about this," McGee says, concerned and look around the empty parking lot.
The restaurant
Gibbs and Bishop enter the restaurant and greeted by a young tall, dark-haired waiter.
"good evening, sir. I'm Dan. I'll be your wait. Do you need a table for 2?" the young waiter says and smiles at Bishop and Gibbs. Gibbs takes out his credentials.
"NCIS. Special agents Gibbs and Bishop." Gibbs says. "this woman, was she here earlier tonight?" Gibbs asks, and Bishop shows the waiter a picture of Jack.
"yes, sir. She was here with a fine gentleman earlier." Dan says.
"This man?" Bishop asks and takes out a picture of Jonathan Holland.
"yes, ma'am." Dan answers. "is there a problem?" Dan suddenly asks, concerned.
"Were you their waiter, Dan?" Bishop asks.
"yes, ma'am. They didn't order food. They only ordered drinks." Dan informs them with an amiable smile towards Bishop.
"How did they seem to you?" Gibbs asks while he is looking around the restaurant that also has a large bar area.
"I beg your pardon, sir," Dan says, a bit confused.
"did they seem flirty, or more like old friends catching up, or awkward first date?" Bishop suggests.
"oh." Dan now seems to understand the question. "it was kind of odd actually." Dan says. a couple walks in, so Dan moves Gibbs and Bishop aside from the door.
"odd how?" Gibbs asks.
"He seemed very interested in her. like he was really into her." Dan explains. Now Bishop tries to hide her smile about Dan. He reminds her of the gossip king from high school.
"How did she seem?" Gibbs asks.
"well… more like she was catching up with an old friend. You know, like when you go have a drink with an old friend or colleague you haven't seen in years. She was more like that. She even asked him about his mother." Dan explains like he is weirded out. "who asks their date about his mother?" Dan asks Ellie. Then he is interrupted by a colleague.
"excuse me for a moment," Dan says before he walks to help his colleague.
"why would she ask about his dead mother?" Ellie asks Gibs quietly.
"to see if he would tell her the truth. If he says she is alive and well. he was lying."
"and it would make Jack think what else he would be lying about," Bishop says. Gibbs nods. Shortly after, the waiter Dan comes back.
"my apology, sir. Emergency in the kitchen."
"We just got one more question for you," Gibbs says. Dan is standing in front of them, eagerly awaiting their question. "how did they seem when they left?" Gibbs asks.
"hmm… not like they were going to continue their date more private if that is what you mean, sir," Dan says with a knowing grin on his face mostly directed at Bishop.
"it wasn't. I was asking…" Gibbs says, annoyed and holds an annoying pause. "did they seem friendly and chatty when they left, or did they leave separate?"
"they left together. They seemed like two friends who left together. He was very much a gentleman to her. Assisting her with her coat and walking her, I presume, to her car. They didn't seem like a couple who was about to hit the town if you understand?" Dan jokes, but neither Ellie nor Gibbs seems to like his joke.
"But you didn't see them reach the car at the parking lot across the street?" Gibbs asks.
"no, sir. I had other customers to attend." Dan answers.
"do you have a surveillance camera here?" Bishop asks.
"no, ma'am. We respect our customers ' privacy."
"did they make a reservation, or did they just show up?" Gibbs asks.
"let me have a look." Dan says and looks in the ordering book. "they called in advance and made a reservation for a party for 2.," Dan informs them.
"where there made any special requests in advance?" Gibbs asks.
"yes, sir. Mr. Holland requested a glass of champagne for his date to be ready when she arrived. He arrived about 20 minutes before her, sir." Dan answers.
"thank you," Bishop says politely to Dan when Gibbs walks towards the door without a word.
"anything else I can do for you, Agent Bishop?" Dan asks with a friendly smile.
"no, thanks. Thank you for your help." Bishop follows Gibbs out into the rain. She then remembers something and runs back inside.
"actually." She says once she steps inside. "one more thing."
"yes." Dan is very quick to respond to her request."
"can you give me a description of Agent Jack Sloane's clothing?"
"oh yes, he was…" Dan begins.
"I'm sorry, I mean the woman's clothing."
Dan looks confused at her. "the woman's name is Jack?" Dan asks confused
"yes. please give me a description of what the woman was wearing." Bishop asks.
"okay. um, let me see." Dan says, clearly making a big deal out of remembering the details. "she was wearing a knee-long, gorgeous, very simple asymmetrical white dress. There was a nice cut in her dress, revealing her lower abdominal area. Clearly very well trained body. Nice high heels. Not too high. Just the right height for her to match her date. Shoulder long curly golden blonde hair. Dark eye makeup. Not too much. a light red color lip-gloss."
"just her clothing, please. That will be fine." Bishop interrupts. "did she have any purse?"
"yes. she was carrying a black need little purse. It matched perfectly with her black nail polish with a slight hint of silver glitter in it. it was perfect."
"thank you," Bishop says a little crept about his almost obsessive description of Jack.
"she was so beautiful," Dan says, almost drooling.
"okay. Thank you. you have been a big help." Bishop says and leaves the restaurant. She catches up with Gibbs in their car.
"I got a description of Jack's clothing. She definitely sounds like she dressed up for the date." Bishop says.
"you think she agreed to go on a date with him?" Gibbs asks.
"I don't know. I don't want to but considering that Holland made a reservation and Jack dressed up. It is starting to look like she went on this date voluntary."
"unless she was under duress," Gibbs says. Bishop look confused at him.
"she was testing him regarding his mother, to see if he was lying to her. why would she do that if she wanted to be on a date with him? that is an interrogation technic."
"Yeah, why use an interrogation technic on a date?" Bishop asks more to herself than to Gibbs.