Title: Classified

Chapter 2

*****

"This is useless," I say, laying my head on my desk. 

I've checked Major Pickett's phone records.  Not for the last three months.  No.  Gibbs changed his mind, so I checked them for the last six months.  He called his girlfriend regularly.  He didn't call his mother nearly enough. He ate a lot of pizza.  And he called to make an appointment to take his car in last week.  He was boring. 

And the saddest part of it is that if somebody knocked me off, the poor guy stuck investigating my death would find out that I'm just as boring as Major Pickett.  At least he had a girlfriend.

I let out a breath.  "Why me?"

Just then, I get the sensation that I'm being watched, and so I lift up my head.  I find myself looking up at good-looking, well-groomed man. He's dressed in a three-piece suit and has a cell phone in one hand.  Plus, he has a cocky grin plastered all over his face.  I'm guessing this is Kate's non-boyfriend.     

"Can I help you?" I say.

He laughs lightly.  "I didn't realize the NCIS had nap time.  Don't let them know over at JAG, or they'll have to have it, too."

Yeah, he's cocky and overconfident.  Definitely Kate's type.

"I'm looking for Caitlin Todd," he says curtly.

I decide to have a little fun with him. "Who's asking?"

He raises both eyebrows and smiles.  "I'm asking."

"Can I see some ID?"

"Tony!"  Kate swoops up beside us.  Glowering at me, she turns her attention to our visitor.  "Clay!  It's so good to see you."

"C'mere," he says.

After they embrace, Kate takes a step back and looks Agent Wonderful up and down.  "You look great!"

He looks all right.

"Thanks," he grins.  Then he looks at me like he's just remembered I'm here.  He gestures to me and says to Kate, "This is Tony?" 

"Yep," she says.

He narrows his eyes at me, and then shrugs.  "I guess you're right," he says.

Kate nods.  "Told you."

"What?"  I ask. 

"Come on," she says, tugging Clay by the wrist.  "Let me introduce you to Gibbs."

"Wait a second," I say.  "What did you tell him?"

"Never mind," she says.

"Kate!"  I jump out of my seat and hurry over to them.

It occurs to me that she might just be messing with me.  Licking my lips, I smile and try to turn the tables on her.  "So, you've been telling him all about me, huh?  I didn't know you thought about me so much."

Clay laughs out loud.  "You weren't kidding, Caitlin."

At that moment, Gibbs' office door opens and Gibbs emerges in the doorway, looking annoyed.  "What the hell's going on out here?"

This is good.  Gibbs'll wipe the high and mighty smirk off this guy's face.

"Gibbs," Kate says cheerfully.  "We were on our way to see you."

Gibbs nods.  "Is this your ex?"

She stands up straight.  "This is my friend.  We only dated a couple of times."

I snicker, and glance sideways at Clay. 

He catches my gaze, leans in, and whispers, "That's two more times than you."

I feel my cheeks begin to burn, so I avert my eyes.

"Hello, Agent Gibbs," Clay says, holding out his hand.  "Clayton Webb."

Gibbs narrows his eyes.  "I've heard the name," he says slowly.

I take a step forward.  "I thought spies were supposed to be sneaky," I say dramatically.  "How has Gibbs heard of you?"

Clay shrugs and turns to Gibbs.  "Kate tells me you need information."

"Yeah," Gibbs says, exhaling.  "Why would you be inclined to give it to us?"

Kate makes a slight choking sound.  "Gibbs, come on.  You don't have to be confrontational."

"I'm sorry," he says brusquely.  "I haven't had the best of luck with the Agency."

Just then, Clay's cell phone goes off, and he theatrically flips it open.  "Excuse me, Agent Gibbs.  Webb."  He grimaces.  "Oh, for God's sake.  What do you want now?"

Gibbs crosses his arms, looking more aggravated by the second.

Clay starts to pace.  "I'm not a fast food restaurant!  You can't just shout into a clown's mouth every time you want something."  He angrily snaps the phone shut and turns back to Gibbs like nothing happened.  "My apologies.  You were saying?"

Gibbs considers him for a minute, disappears into his office, and then returns with Major Pickett's file.  "We're investigating the murder of a dead Marine.  We think he might have been CIA."

Clay takes the file from Gibbs, barely glances at it, and then tosses onto a desk.  "I'm not at liberty to say."

Taking a step toward Clay, Gibbs says, "Don't you people get tired of sounding like a broken record?"

Straightening his tie almost violently, Clay says, "I'm sorry national security is an inconvenience to you."

Gibbs tightens his jaw.  "And I'm sorry we bothered you."

Clay leans in and kisses Kate on the cheek.  "I'll call you tomorrow, Caitlin."

"Clay, come on," she pleads.

"I'm sorry," he says, walking away.  When he reaches the elevator, he stops and just stands there without pushing the button.  After about forty-five seconds, he slowly turns around and walks back to us.  Scowling at Gibbs, he says, "Give me the damn file."

Gibbs looks mildly surprised, but he hands Clay the file. 

Clay flips through the papers.  Biting his bottom lip, he hands it back to Gibbs.  "He was ours."

"What else can you tell me?"

Clay runs a hand through his hair.  "He was one of mine.  He was supposed to meet me, but he never made it."

"What was he meeting you for?" I ask.

Clay glances over his shoulder at me.  "That's classified."

I frown.

"I mean it," he says.  He looks at each of us.  "I can't tell you everything.  I really can't."

"Is it possible that he was killed because the mission you were on?"  Gibbs asks.

"It's always possible Agent Gibbs."

"What aren't you telling us?" Kate asks, putting one hand on Clay's arm.

"Countless things."

"But there's something specific."

Clay looks suddenly uncomfortable.  "All I can tell you right now is that . . . I hope I'm wrong about why he's dead."