Kate found the manager with little difficulty. turned out to be a woman in her mid-fifties who liked to talk. So Kate steered her onto the desired subject and then listened. Unfortunately the few facts she gleaned were of little value. Yes, 2F had been vacant for three months. No, no one had lived there temporarily. Yes, there was some furniture in it; the old tenant had left it and if a new lessee didn't want it they'd just chuck it. Yes, as a matter of fact, someone did ask to see the apartment late Tuesday afternoon, but no, she didn't get the woman's name. And so on. Frustrated, Kate thanked the manager for her time and gave her a card asking her to call if she could think of anything else.
She left the building and walked over to the car. The heat was cloying, causing tendrils of hair to cling to her neck. The building had no air-conditioning; according to the Holder had sought a cooling breeze on the fire escape and fell. Now the only part of the story not suspect was that the building retained a great deal of heat. She wondered what was taking Gibbs and Tony so long, but she really didn't feel up to facing the alley again. Spotting a convenience store across the street, she decided to make a quick run there instead and surprise her teammates. She returned carrying three ice-cold water bottles, but neither of the men had yet to show. Putting two of the bottles down in the small shadow of the car, Kate leaned back against the vehicle, opened the last and drank thirstily. Then she took the cold plastic and ran it around her neck, hoping to cool off.
Gibbs and Tony rounded the corner from the alley, engrossed in the whys and wherefores of what now looked like murder. It took them a couple steps to look up and notice Kate. Tony had to swallow hard and force his feet to keep moving. She had just finished taking a long drink from a bottle and was now running the sweating container around her neck, damp curls of hair cascading around her face as she bent her head forward. Her eyes were closed and the look on her face suggested the cooling effect the damp object was having was pleasurable indeed. He bit back the groan that threatened to burst forth. What exquisite torture this was, seeing her like this and remembering what she felt like against him.
Tony heard the word barked by Gibbs and it was almost enough to break the spell. Her eyes snapped open and focused on the two men.
Hi. I, uh, got you some water. I thought we could use it with this heat.
She leaned over to pick up the bottles and Tony bit his lip. And just as quickly released it. It would not do for Gibbs to notice. Besides, there was something wonderfully enjoyable in being hopelessly tormented this way. He watched Kate hand one bottle to Gibbs and then turn to him. He gave her a slow grin and took the bottle from her, making sure to stroke her fingers in the process.
Thanks Kate. You're right, it's very hot. I could definitely use this to cool off. His eyes never left hers as he responded, but he couldn't read the emotion in them.
Kate felt Tony's fingers caress hers as she passed him the water. His words were so full of double entendre, how could Gibbs miss it? Yet it seemed the other man didn't notice. Which was probably a good thing, because if he had, he might also have seen the green eyes darken with desire. And she thought she was hot before! She thought she might just spontaneously combust with the way Tony's eyes were devouring her now. This was not good! Okay, this would be very good, if they weren't at work. But not now. And certainly not with spectators!
Tony fished out the car keys and popped the locks as he headed for the driver's seat. Kate and Gibbs opened the doors, but when they felt the heat roll out of the car, they waited to get in until the engine was running and the air blowing. On the way back to the office, they discussed the day's findings. Kate said little upon hearing that the fire escape had been deliberately weakened. The heat of the day and facing down her fears had sapped much of her strength, so she filed this new piece of information away for later processing. Right now, sitting in the back seat with the car's steady motion, she found herself dozing off.
