PART 7: MISSING YOU
"Wolfe's gone."
"What do you mean 'Wolfe's gone', DiNozzo?!"
Tony sighed. "They took him. The CCTV shows him being injected by something. Abby could try and get a number plate from the video?" Gibbs gave him the usual stone cold expression of 'do-it-then-DiNozzo' and the Italian nodded. "On it, boss." He immediately made his way down to the forensics lab to go through the tapes with Abby.
Kate was sat at her desk, when she received an email from an unknown sender. "Uh, McGee!" She called to the younger agent. McGee rushed over to the computer, and put the email on the plasma. It was a video of Ryan. Tied to a chair, bleeding from all different places on his body. "Play the video, Kate." Gibbs said coldly. Kate nodded. She pressed play, and the video began. It almost felt as thought they were looking the CSI right in the eyes.
"Alix has kidnapped me, and expects the MDPD and NCIS to give him freedom on exchange for my life.." He huffed. "..fucking bastard." Ryan spat some blood out and exhaled. "I'm being held in some kind of underground cell, the truck was a blue jeep with custom tyres and Henley is still out there. Don't let him walk away-" He said quickly, before someone shouted and the video ended.
All three agents were horrified. They were supposed to be looking after him. He'd been the next target the whole time, and they already captured him. Kate felt bad for questioning his investigation process and Tim just wanted to do anything to find him. As for Gibbs, he knew that the only way to find Wolfe was to find Henley.
"We're going after Henley and we are going to get him alive so that son of a bitch will tell us where Wolfe is." Gibbs said.
"But Gibbs, how are we gonna know where to look?"
"The video." The senior agent said in a matter-of-fact tone of voice, before he disappeared up the stairs.
"How many old buildings have basements?"
"A few." Abby replied.
Tony nodded dejectedly. He wanted to find his cousin. Ryan was the MDPD liaison and the only person who knew this case inside and out. So solving this without him wasn't going to be easy. "You really care about him.. don't you?" Abby quietly inquired as she worked on getting a clear license plate. Tony gave a short chuckle. "Yeah.. he's family."
The forensic scientist was quite intrigued by this side of Tony. He was softer. Didn't share his usual charismatic charm. It was obvious that his cousin's disappearance made him feel the things he'd always pushed deep down and tried to forget about. His phone started ringing and DiNozzo picked it up. Tony didn't realize it was one of Ryan's partners.
"Is this Anthony DiNozzo?" The southerner asked.
"Yes. That must make you Calleigh.. I'm sorry we have to speak on terms like these."
Calleigh exhaled softly. It was true. Ryan had been kidnapped. Abby had forwarded the video to the Crime Lab so they could help with the identification. They were in this together. Their officer was kidnapped and it was down to them to find him. "Ryan told me that he had a lead.. a few days ago. He said it was something to do with meth he found on the device used in attempt to hurt him and your forensic scientist?"
"Yeah. He said he found trace evidence that could link our suspects to all the murders. The methamphetamine. I didn't realize how until I read over previous case reports. He's really worked this case thoroughly."
"That's Ryan alright," She said. "He's always done things professionally.. and even taught me a few things I thought I already knew."
They were on call for a while, comparing results from the videos. The CSIs were working on the footage of Ryan's abduction while Abby was working on the video of him in the cell. "He was right about the blue jeep. The partial number plate matches a make and model - the dark blue jeep belonging to.. our serial killer. But it's Alix Bayer who took him."
"We're still trying to get a location, but hopefully we'll be able to get one soon."
Calleigh couldn't help but feel like maybe she should've gone to Washington too. Maybe it would've been better. Maybe he wouldn't have gotten kidnapped so violently. Even seeing him so helpless makes her feel awful. Ryan is her partner. Her friend. The person she knew she could always confide in.. and maybe someone she might've taken for granted.
While Eric and Dan were working on the footage, she was sat in her office staring at a picture of them from their mini trip to New Orleans. She was holding vigil for him. The blonde couldn't bare to watch that video again. He looked numb. Like all he wanted was for it to be over. She wanted him to hopeful.. but it was easier said than done.
"Calleigh,"
Calleigh put down the picture and looked up at Valera, who was standing in the doorway. "Maxine, how can I help you?" She asked, recapturing her composure. Valera smiled, entering the office. The DNA analyst could tell Calleigh wasn't okay after seeing Ryan like that. The ballistics expert hadn't been around after she had witnessed the video. And she knew why. "He'll hold on." Valera assured her.
"I know." She sighed, staring at his face in the photo.
Valera nodded. Calleigh was usually the most optimistic person anyone had ever seen, but after today.. not even her optimism could bring a smile to her face. She missed Wolfe.. and was worried for him.
