Chapter 7
Gibbs and his team were out on a call when Natalie was due at the office so he actually called to reschedule their interviews for them with Cynthia. Cynthia had taken a particularly liking for the director's granddaughter and made herself an honorary secretary for Natalie. DiNozzo and Kate were due to be interviewed this morning and he asked if they could be moved to the afternoon. Luckily, the case wasn't a dead body so Ducky was available to swap with them as was Cynthia herself. Gibbs appreciated the help and they went back to interviewing the Captain about the missing cargo.
Natalie arrived at NCIS and was excited to take her new badge. The security guard on duty had her sign off on also receiving a packet. It contained a map of the facility as well as security information and numbers she was to call if she needed anything. She thanked the older fellow and went in on her own as she knew where she was doing this time. She pressed the button for the elevator when her cell phone rang.
"Hello?" she asked.
"Natalie, it's Cynthia, I have a bit of bad news. Gibbs needed his team on a case this morning so I've had to reschedule some interviews around. Are you here yet?" asked Cynthia.
The elevator opened a couple people came off and she went in and pressed the button for the 2nd floor. "Yes, just getting in the elevator, I'll see you at your office for the update then if that's alright," confirmed Nat as the doors shut.
"See you-" was all Natalie managed to hear before the call cut off. The joys of elevators, she thought to herself. She exited on the second floor by herself and smiled to a few of the people who looked up from their desks. One gentleman actually stopped her.
"You're Miss Kane, right?" he asked her. He was about her height, friendly enough but he had what she was beginning to see as "cop face". He had dark brown hair and a neat appearance. Natalie noted that he had a holster for a gun that currently was not on his person.
She smiled at him, "Yes I am, can I help you?"
"I'm Special Agent Pacci, I wanted to set up an interview with you in person. DiNozzo has been talking all week how you would be in today and I thought today would be a good day to do it." He held out his hand in greeting and they shook.
Natalie pulled out her planner. Cynthia had been emailing her with updated on people who were setting up appointments through her and Natalie appreciated the sentiment of the gesture. "It's wonderful to meet you Special Agent, I've got openings next week on Thursday and Friday afternoon."
He smiled and led her over to his desk. His own planner already on his desk. He was an older agent and clearly preferred the pen to paper method much like Natalie did herself. "Unless I get a case I will be free all day Friday, I have to weekend shift."
Natalie grabbed her pencil and wrote Pacci under another agent's name. "I can come find you when I'm done with another subject then on Friday."
"And you can call me Chris." Natalie thanked him for taking the time to speak with her and wished him a good day. She walked past the empty looking bullpen and went upstairs to see Cynthia.
"Morning, Cynthia." Natalie was genuinely pleased to see the woman after a long week.
"Morning, so update is this: Agent Gibbs has his team in the field doing interviews and investigating a stolen cargo container that was due to be put on the 'Kennedy'. He assured me that he will have Agents DiNozzo and Todd back this afternoon so I've done a bit of reshuffling and you'll be doing your interview with me now and Doctor Mallard after that." Cynthia was smiling and looked beautiful this morning. "Are you okay doing mine here? I have to man the phone while the director is out to a meeting with the joint chiefs."
Natalie put her things down on the loveseat across from Cynthia's desk, "Not a problem, I'm comfortable anywhere." Natalie pulled out the standard non-disclosure agreement that they would both sign as a statement that their conversations would be between them and anonymous for her paper. She also pulled out an agreement to be signed that stated Cynthia would permit to being recorded. Natalie handed them over, "If you don't mind reading these and signing them, then I'll sign them as well. And for reference they stay in my locked briefcase until I get home and then they are put in a safe."
Cynthia read them over nodding her head in understanding before signing. Natalie took them back and signed in front of Cynthia. She then pulled out her recorder and notebook. "We can actually use the director's office," Cynthia told her, "It gives a bit more privacy and if someone comes it gives us time to stop for them."
Natalie nodded her head and followed Cynthia into the directors office. They sat at the conference table and left the door ajar so Cynthia could keep an ear out for visitors and phone calls.
"This is Natalie Kane with Cynthia, subject title A100." Natalie continued the opening for the recording noting the date and time of the interview as well as the special nature of the interviewee and the potential for stop and go. "Would you mind giving me some background to your position at NCIS? Like what a typical day would entail for you, hours worked, stresses?" Natalie wanted to start her interviews by easing people into their positions before getting personal. It also gave her a frame of reference for their work tasks.
"I'm the assistant to the director and I have been working in this capacity for 7 years. Director Morrow is actually my second director and I was grateful that he wanted to keep me on as many people hire their own assistants and rarely keep the previous ones." Natalie nodded and made a note of that as a stressor any time there was a change in leadership. "I arrange the directors schedule on a daily, weekly and monthly basis and there are often sudden changes that need to be addressed. I also deal primarily with his correspondence, phone calls, and anything minor that does not need his immediate attention. I usually arrive at work at 6am and will be here until 7pm most evenings unless other circumstances arise. Director Morrow will send me home earlier than that on slower days or if I've covered everything for his evening already."
"That can make for some long days. Tell me a little about your personal life. Married, Kids?" Natalie wanted to lead her into that direction as long hours away from your relationships outside of work could make it hard to have a social life. Research suggested that social activities and developing close relationships were an integral part of one's emotional and mental health.
"I'm single still, I just haven't found the right guy yet," Cynthia chuckled. "I've never been in a hurry to get married and my last relationship lasted 2 years. We broke up because his job was taking him overseas and we wouldn't be able to maintain a long distance relationship. We had begun to grow apart and it was a mutual understanding." Natalie made some notes, Cynthia appeared well adjusted towards the relationship and breakup but Natalie wanted to keep an eye there and make sure there wasn't something deeper going on.
"Friends?" Natalie prompted her.
"Oh yes, there's a few of the assistant's I've gotten to know with my time in DC. Three of us like to meet once a week to catch up and let off some steam. We make it a habit knowing that we all work long hours and it's hard to find friends who understand what we do."
Natalie made a couple more notes, "You're very fortunate to have found such friends." Nat looked up at the pretty brunette across the table. Her posture and body language showed she'd been relaxed through the whole conversation and Natalie decided it was time to see if this was a front or if Cynthia would get rattled. "What's the hardest part of your job? What brings you stress in your life?"
Cynthia glanced down at the table and uncrossed and re-crossed her legs. Small signs of agitation. "The hours can be hard at times, especially if my parents or brother is in town to visit my sister…" Cynthia paused and took a few deep breaths and when she looked up her eyes had gone glassy. Unshed tears sat ever so slightly in her eyes, "They don't always understand as they usually plan trips well in advance and there's been emergencies before where I can't really leave. They often have many questions, are disappointed and in the case of my parents, angry."
"I know this is hard," Natalie said reaching over and taking Cynthia's hand, "but it really helps to talk about it with someone, doesn't have to be me. I know NCIS has therapists and counsellors available, have you spoken to them about your guilt?"
Cynthia looked startled when Nat said 'guilt'. Natalie figured, like most children, disappointing their parents made them feel guilty but many couldn't put that word to the feeling. It would put too much onus on the parents. "No, they are others that need their time more than me." Cynthia pulled back on the table and was shaking her head as she said that.
Time for some tough truths Natalie thought, "No. Cynthia, you deserve their time as much as anyone else. There is no scale when it comes to personal problems and feelings. No one person is more or less deserving of help. And it's okay to have feelings and it is not your fault for how your family feels. Each person is responsible for their own emotions and actions. That doesn't mean they have the right to make you feel bad about not making it to see them."
"I guess, I just hate that Debbie, my sister, is a housewife and mother and she has all this time to visit and cook meals and host family. I resent her a little I think." Cynthia shook her head and put her head in her hands- "I can't believe I just said that."
Natalie rushed to her side and handed her a tissue from the box on the table. Crouching beside Cynthia's chair she touched her arm, "It's okay. It's okay to feel like this. Lots of siblings come to resent each other for little things at times. It doesn't make you a bad person and it doesn't reflect badly on your relationship either." Cynthia was looking down at her so she smiled slightly, "You told me you weren't ready to get married right? Can I ask why?"
"I always wanted to get a steady and secure job first. I love DC and politics and working at NCIS has been a dream. SecNav promised last year that they would look into changing policy that meant incoming directors wouldn't be able to just dismiss previous assistants. I'm waiting for that to go into effect so I know I will always have a position here."
"And if you were married, do you want kids? To be a housewife?" Natalie asked. She knew where she wanted to go with her line of questioning she just needed Cynthia to get there herself.
"Kids maybe, but I could never just sit at home. Long weekends get a bit much for me at times because I don't have enough to do. I like to be busy. And I have a maid because I can't keep a place clean longer than a couple weeks."
"How's your cooking?" Natalie asked with a quirk of her eyebrow and mouth.
Cynthia laughed, "Non-existant."
Natalie sat back in her chair and smiled at Cynthia, "So let me recap. You love your job and you've wanted job security before settling down like most reasonable adults. You need help with cleaning and cooking and being a housewife is just not in your skillset or one of your dreams…"At Cynthia's nod Natalie started to see the realization flash in Cynthia's eyes. "So being your sister, would be hell for you huh?"
"Oh yeah, I love her two year old twins but being with them 24/7 would not be fun or rewarding for me like it is her." Cynthia began to realize she didn't need to resent her sister anything. They wanted two different lives.
"So who thinks you should be more like her?" Natalie put down a couple notes as she asked the really hard question.
"Mom." The response was immediate and from the look on Cynthia's face, unexpected.
"It's okay Cynthia. Half the battle is learning who's voice in your head is making you think or feel that way. From there its up to you. You can try and have your voice heard by your mom, and others, or you can accept that no matter what, that's what a parent wants for you."
Cynthia chuckled and said, "Thank-you Natalie, I hadn't realized how much that bugs me at times."
"I'm glad to help. Anything else you want to talk about? Anything bugging you lately about your job or working here?" Natalie noticed they'd been talking for about an hour and miraculously they hadn't been interrupted yet.
"Not today, I mean there are days where I hear about reports, or read them myself, and the information can be a little upsetting but most days I don't actually have to read anything. I guess sometimes dealing with other agencies can get aggravating. They all want their own way and they want everything, NOW." She was chuckling so Natalie figured Cynthia had her own ways of dealing with those days. "Can we keep talking though? I just don't often feel comfortable with others to talk like this. I've kinda surprised myself a little."
"We most certainly can. Just know I'm not exactly a licensed therapist and if I feel at any point that you should see one I will make that recommendation." Natalie stopped the recording and smiled at Cynthia.
"I appreciate that. How often should we meet?" Cynthia asked this while running back to her office to answer the suddenly ringing phone.
Perfect timing, Natalie thought. Cynthia quickly took down a message for the director and by then Nat had packed up her things and met her in the outer office. She took out her date book though. "Well you aren't high risk or anything but I don't want you to feel like you can't talk to me if something comes up," Natalie reached into the outer pocket of her lockable briefcase bag and handed Cynthia a business card. They were simple. Just stated Natalie's name, her degrees and her cell phone number. "So I would maybe say once every two weeks but call me if you need me. If I can't answer, like when I'm in an interview or something, I always set my phone to give a little message that lets you know when I'll be free and do leave a message so I can call back."
Cynthia took the card gratefully. "Thank you Natalie. I do appreciate this. When I set an appointment to have an interview I didn't expect you to get much out of me for your study, I hope differently now or else I'd feel bad, but talking with you makes me feel better." She looked slightly ashamed.
"It's perfectly fine. And I never know what will or won't work well for research. Something less exciting like record keeping and secretarial work may produce interesting emotional aspects that you wouldn't necessarily expect. Everyone knows and fully expects a psychological and emotional toll on investigators but there is always much more to the whole picture than one piece."
Cynthia was smiling when Natalie left to go meet up with Ducky. Natalie personally didn't care if anything came from her interviews with Cynthia for her paper. Because it was rewarding enough knowing it was helping Cynthia and that mattered more to Natalie than any paper or doctorate degree. Helping others was the goal. Always.
She pressed the button on the elevator to go down and watched as it was rising up to her floor. She was busy putting her date book and pencil back in her bag so when she heard it ding she immediately stepped forward and ran into something firm but soft. Startled she let out a slight umph and felt hands grip her arms just above her elbows to steady her. She looked up and felt bad. She ran into someone. Special Agent Gibbs stepped out of the elevator and ushered her in. She was still staring at him when he reached in and asked "What floor?"
Nat recovered, "Oh…um… autopsy." She mumbled he pressed the correct button and smiled at her as the doors closed.
"You're lucky he wasn't holding a coffee." The deep male voice startled her. Why am I so frazzled, Nat wondered. DiNozzo was in the elevator with her. "He hates having his coffee messed with." DiNozzo smiled down and her and was carrying a large plastic bucket filled with what looked like evidence. Which made sense when he stepped around her and out on Abby's floor. "Hope you're not this quiet this afternoon," he called to her as the doors closed after him. She started to respond but realized it was too late.
"Damnit," she muttered to herself before arriving one floor lower and exiting the elevator. The doors to autopsy were already open and Natalie popped her head in, "Ducky?" she asked.
"Down here my dear, I'm just finishing up," came the Scottish brogue of Natalie's favorite medical examiner. He's the only ME you know, of course he's your favorite she thought to herself. Doesn't make it any less true came the chipper retort in her head.
Natalie walked down to the last table where Ducky was stitching up his Y-incision on an older man. He had grey hair, though not much of it, and it looked like maybe a natural death since Natalie didn't see any visible wounds or bruising. "Morning Ducky, so glad you were willing to change up your schedule for me."
"Not a problem my dear, I pushed an autopsy to this afternoon, which works better since Gerald had a dentist appointment this morning. This way I will have this assistance this afternoon." He tied off the last stitch and put down his utensils. "Commander Newell, this is Miss Natalie Kane, she's studying to be a psychologist and is researching for what I'm sure is going to be a remarkable expose into the minds of NCIS employees." Natalie smiled, "This is Commander Newell, he died of a stroke I'm afraid. Passed away peacefully in his bed next to his wife. Bit of scare for her I'm sure, but of all the ways an armed forces person could pass I suppose this would be preferable." Ducky finished putting away tools and placing some in a nearby sink to be disinfected first. "Would you mind putting on a pair of gloves and helping me put the Commander to bed?"
"Do you always talk to them?" she asked while she grabbed a pair of gloves from a nearby shelf.
"Yes, I find what we do to be so invasive. I feel it humanizes them a little more and helps from feeling too detached. I think if you are too detached you could miss things," he told her as they got the Commander onto a gurney and over to the freezers. "Of course too much empathy means you miss things too. A fine balance is key" Ducky said raising his finger in the air to punctuate his point. Natalie smiled and they rolled the Commander into his 'bed'. "His wife will be making arrangements this afternoon. He had a long and decorated career. I hope he finds peace now." Ducky closed the door and led her over to the one sink.
They washed their hands together and as they were drying their hands Ducky asked, "I hope this wasn't too traumatic for you, I had hoped to get him finished up earlier but I had a call from another medical examiner asking my opinion on something and while the answer was simple that man could talk your ear off." Natalie chuckled.
"I dunno Ducky, isn't that the pot calling the kettle black?" she teased.
Ducky looked up startled at her and smiled, "I suppose an argument could be made, just as long as I'm not boring. He went on and on about the shape of a mole on the man's buttock only to realize his assistant hadn't properly cleaned the man, if you know what I mean." Ducky lead her over to his desk and pulled out his chair for her, "Have a seat my dear, I'll gladly take a stool today," and off he walked to bring one of the rolling stools over from across the room.
Natalie took a seat in the desk chair, "Doctor, you could never be boring, even that story seemed interesting. Not the so called mole itself but what it ended up being makes for an interesting story," she told him while she lowered the stool and sat with her.
"Too true, my dear."
Natalie got him to sign his papers and pulled out her recorder and notebook. "First Interview with Doctor Donald Mallard, subject ID F001." She continued her usual shpiel.
"Why F001?" Ducky asked as she finished up.
"Oh, I separated everyone into three categories. Administrative is A, Forensics is F and Special Agents are-"
"S?" interrupted Ducky with a chuckle.
Natalie chuckled as well, "Actually they are I for Investigators."
"How clever" complimented Ducky.
"Thanks, obviously the number just coincides with the order people have been admitted to the study. I have a list of everyone and those who are more inclined to continue the study are given priority numbers. I'd hate to constantly be referring to you as F367. Not that I even have that many forensics personnel involved." She chuckled.
"Of course." Ducky smiled at her and gestured for her to proceed.
Natalie glanced at her notes from early and noted that easing Cynthia into the questioning was good and she knew from Doctor Mallard's personality he would tangeant off which Nat was fine with. You never knew what you could learn by just letting people talk. It's why she was glad to have a few hours with the doctor. "So, Will you tell me a bit about your job, day to day, hours, and common stresses?" she asked in starting.
"Well my hours are often determined on if there is a current case. I could be called out in the middle of the night for a crime scene but there are also times when I come in at 7 or 8 am and only stay til around 6 or so. My mother lives with me and she has dementia so it's important I get home at a regular time every day for her health of course." Ducky continued, "We do autopsies on any naval or marine personnel who have died, even one's assumed as natural causes like the Commander. We even do the odd autopsy for other agencies if requested. I'm known to be quite thorough and highly respected in my field." He paused, "not that I'm bragging," he clarified.
"How many autopsies would you say you perform a week?" Natalie wondered.
Ducky took a moment to think, "A slow week maybe only 1 but I've had as much as 20 to do in a week."
"Goodness!" Natalie exclaimed. "Mind if I ask why?"
"Of course not," Ducky started, "you see one of the military's ordinance disposal teams were taking a load out to Quantico when they were rear-ended by a truck driver not paying attention. They truck had a hood ornament that happened to hit one of the ordinances causing an explosion which then caused the rest to explode killing the two marine's in the truck, the transport driver and 7 other civilians in the area. We were lucky that there weren't more cars on the road at the time. Oh it also killed 4 of the cows that unfortunate driver was carting. I found out later they were going to a slaughter house so they would have died shortly anyway." Ducky chuckled slightly, "The explosion meant we had only bits and pieces here and there and it took some time to even put the puzzle back together and it was during that process we noticed some of our bones were just far too large for people and noticed that one of the poor beasts exploded while the others were merely burnt to a crisp. The rest of the cargo sustained a few bruises and abrasions. Remarkable strong animals if you consider what happened to them.
"Oh my," was all Nat could think to say, "But that only accounts for half of your autopsies that week."
Ducky laughed, "Yes there was also a training accident in Norfolk earlier that week and several navy personnel drowned during a diving exercise. You see, Private First Class was jealous of a buddy that was promoted ahead of him. So he sabatoged his buddy's air tank, but in doing so unwittingly damaged the other tanks and no one noticed until it was too late. One of the rescue divers tragically died bringing the unit to the surface when the ocean surface let go in one dangerous section and he was swept deeper and away from the others. He fell into a suddenly opening in the ocean floor and it took a 70 ft dive to rescue his body then. It was a very dark and sad case."
"Do you often feel that way during cases?" she asked him. She made notes as she had listened to him. While the doctor had seen some very interesting cases and obviously had a remarkable memory for them, she could see the emotions play across his face in his re-telling.
"Yes, humanity never ceases to surprise me with their cruelty to others. I find I end up looking forward to issuing a natural cause of death for people." Ducky sighed, "Many days you wonder at what could make people treat each other in such ways or what brings people to feel that suicide or murder are their only options."
Natalie nodded and made a note of the intense interest Ducky clearly had for psychology, "Hence your interest in the mysteries of the mind?" she asked. He nodded. "How about your personal life doctor, you said you have a mother at home?" she asked steering the conversation a little more personal.
"I'm single I'm afraid, my mother bothered my about it for years and when her memory is good, still does." Ducky got a far off look in his eye as he continued, "It's hard as a medical professional to find someone, let alone if you are a medical examiner. I mean I don't meet many eligible bachelorettes at work," he teased, "but I've dated and hoped for the best but just haven't seemed to find someone who can accept what I do. To many people it's very dark and unseemly. I mean you can hardly talk about your day at work over dinner dates." Ducky paused before continuing, "but I suppose it hasn't dampened my spirit. While I may be too old for children now I truly believe that love knows no age." He smiled at her.
"Very true, all it takes is two people to put in the time, effort and affection to make a relationship" she replied. "Do you ever get lonely?"
"Oh of course. But I have friends and I date when I can. Mother makes it difficult to have a social life, but I'm all she has." Ducky bounced a little, "Oh! Except her Corgis!" he explained. "She dotes on them so, they are little beasts at times. Why Tyson is so names because he's a biter!" He looked at her as he said that as though he was telling a big secret and it made Natalie laugh.
"You seem remarkably well adjusted Ducky, if you don't mind me saying," she told him.
Ducky sighed, "I suppose. I have an old friend from medical school who dropped out to become a psychologist. We speak over the phone when things get rough, but I do find I can bottle things up at times. It's not easy for me to talk when things are more personal. If you ask anyone I normally wear my heart on my sleeve. Why just this week we found a mummified corpse in a pod. I was happy to see the ones responsible pay for what they did. They stole money from the dispersing office and the poor fellow ended up getting blamed. He had a young wife and newborn at home that were denied any benefits because of his dishonorable discharge. I am happy to state that wrong is being rectified now. But it doesn't change that he never even got to see his baby daughter."
Natalie wrote a note and was left with thoughts, How often were families denied the benefits they needed because of mistakes like this? Natalie's brow was furrowed in her thinking, I hope this doesn't happen too often. I mean I understand if someone has clearly been at fault. Oh god, what happens if you were honored with a medal and later you did something stupid, did they take that medal away? It didn't change what they did to deserve it in the first place really.
"Oh dear, I'm sorry if I've upset you," Ducky said while placing a hand on her knee.
Natalie looked up at the doctor, "Oh no, I was just thinking."
"Oh good. I was worried when you looked cross with your brow so furrowed" he told her.
Natalie laughed, "That's my deep in thought face, or so my mother coined it. I'm afraid I do it whenever I get lost on a train of thought. I was just thinking about families and those with awarded medals things like that."
"Oh I see. Yes sadly they will take away medals if you've done something dishonorable. It happens, but most deserve it. It takes extraordinary valor and bravery to receive medals of commadation. Of course, I know someone who refuses to accept them. He's an agent here, and refuses any medal award him for his work here. He doesn't like the attention and in his mind, there are others that deserve the respect and valor." Ducky's phone rang so he answered it, "Autopsy… yes…oh of course. It's for you my dear" he told her.
Natalie was startled as she paused her recorder and took the phone, "Hello?"
"This is Gibbs, my team is ordering lunch, wondered if you wanted something, Kate's picking up food and is hoping to eat and talk this afternoon if that's alright?"
"Oh sure, um, what are you ordering?"
"Chinese."
"Just a lo mein and egg roll with plum sauce. Oooo and wonton soup, love that stuff."
"Alright, see you in 30." And with that he hung up.
Natalie handed the reciever back to Ducky, "Apparently I get to have lunch with Kate during our interview, I still have 30 minutes before I have to be upstairs…" she trailed off.
"Oh, well I may have another story for you."
25 minutes later Natalie was in the elevator to go upstairs and meet with Gibb's team for lunch. Ducky was happily starting into his packed lunch while he waited for Gerald to get back so they could start the autopsy together. Natalie liked her talk with Ducky. She felt it really did show the more grueling aspects of his job and was an interesting window into his psyche as well. She wasn't lying when she said he was remarkably well adjusted. She supposed at his age and doing his job for so long that he would have his own ways of coping. She was looking forward to discovering those. Maybe it would help future MEs.
She exited on the 2nd floor and went over to where Gibbs and his team hung out. Kate had apparently just gotten back and was handing out food. "Jesus, Tony!" she heard her say, "Can you try to eat less like a pig?" And Natalie finally got into a position to see Tony shoveling food into his mouth as fast as he could "Mnnmrrgmrmgmeat" was his only response around a mouth full of food. "GROSS" cried Kate. Tony must have chewed and swallowed, "Gotta eat quick," he clarified, "Gibbs wants me to go bring in Sanders for interrogation." Tony then shoveled more food in his mouth before grabbing his jacket. Natalie finally rounded the bull pen to their area when he finished this mouthful. "Don't worry Natalie, I'll be back by 2 for our interview" he told her with a wink before stealing an chicken ball from Kate and heading to the elevators.
"Gibbs wouldn't let him finish lunch first?" Natalie asked Kate since the boss man himself wasn't there.
"Gibbs prefers you get things done before you eat" Kate chuckled. Upon seeing that Nat was looking for Gibbs Kate explained, "Gibbs is getting an update on forensics from Abby, he'll be back in a few minutes, but here's your food." Kate handed a small paper bag to Natalie and Natalie pulled out her wallet to pay. "Oh no, it's on me" Kate informed her and Natalie thanked her. They sat at Kate's desk while they ate and chatted about where Kate got the food. It was good Chinese and that was always worth knowing about.
"So I have a couple papers for you to sign first and I hope you are okay with my recording this? Did you want a private room?" Natalie was worried it might feel exposed as anyone walking by would hear them.
"Around here there's rarely privacy and since DiNozzo will be gone for our time slot, I can talk freely with no worries. That man is the most nosiest person you'll ever meet. Nothing is sacred to him" Kate told her.
"Yep, but he makes a great investigator for it," Gibbs piped up startling Natalie.
"I like to say you get used to it," Kate said in an aside to Natalie upon seeing her jump, "But you don't."
Gibbs was chuckling as he sat at his desk, "Report" was all he said and Kate had put down her good and walked over to Gibb's desk handing him a file.
"Everything DOD had on the contents of the container. The manifest they had and the one found at port were missing two key items: A case of painkillers and the new credit cards for the dispersing office on the Kennedy" Kate reported quickly and consicely.
"Good, Food?" he asked her finally looking up. She grabbed a large paper bag and handed it over.
"DiNozzo's chow mein is still in there if you're extra hungry today" Kate said walking back to her desk smirking.
Gibbs grabbed a container and started to eat sipping at the coffee he had brought with him. "You ladies do your thing, I've got stuff to read," he told them before turning to his computer while he ate.
Kate told her they might as well start so Nat turned on her recorder and prepared for her third interview of the day.