Gibbs walked back to his desk, deliberately ignoring the redhead lying on the floor near hers. His first stop that morning had been to see the coroner. Ducky had had no luck tracking down the cantharidin used to poison their victims as yet. According to the M.E., the drug was no longer available in the US, but easily obtainable in Canada and via the Internet.
The doctor's wealth of knowledge had come in handy. In the hands of a professional it is an extremely effective preparation. It leaves no scars behind after removing the wart or molluscum, which is why some doctors here will continue to use cantharidin preps, despite the ban. I'm trying to sort out whether our murderer corrupted a local doctor or simply imported the drug himself.
Next, Abby decided to play the good news, bad news game with him. Good news was that she finally had an ID on the body in Curtis' morgue. Bad news was that he was a civilian military contractor. Leaving the man with Curtis was irritating and Abby's uncharacteristic edginess when he stopped by her lab was troubling. Unfortunately he'd been unable to solve either problem there, although he'd tried.
Frustrated with his day so far, he sat down, sorting through the information he had, trying to find a new point of attack. When the rest of the team began to arrive, he barely flicked his eyes in their direction.
Morning, Boss! Tony's cheerful call went largely unnoticed, earning the tall agent a smug look from McGee who had just dropped his backpack on his desk.
McGee's more sedate repetition of the greeting received no reply either. It wasn't until Kate walked up, Kitty in tow, that Gibbs made any effort to acknowledge the group.
Kate? Care to explain? He fixed his gaze on the girl. He saw what appeared to be a pretty young girl, somewhere in her early teens. With curly chestnut hair, dark eyes and slightly olive-toned skin, she showed promise of being a great beauty later in life. Her attitude was an odd cross between nervous and streetwise and Gibbs waited with thinly veiled impatience for his agent to fill him in on the reason for her presence.
Gibbs, this is Kitty. Kitty, this is my boss, Special Agent Gibbs. Sometimes he's... grumpy. Just ignore it, it's nothing personal. Kate glared at Gibbs until he extended a hand to shake the one Kitty held out. Kitty and her friend, Candy, have some important information for us on the murders.Well, let's have it. He sat back and waited. He watched as the girl first glanced at Kate then turned her eyes back to him. Suddenly he felt a very worldly gaze descend on him from the childlike eyes; he met the assessment steadily and was somehow inexplicably pleased when she gave a tiny nod of acceptance.
Candy come to me yesterday, she began, speaking only to him. She was talking about some house on the street where they had some funny candy, you know, the kind you eat. Anyways, she said she tried to snitch a piece when she finished there, and some chick got, like, totally freaked on her. She paused, eyeing him.
What made you suspicious about this? Gibbs had no idea where this was going, but Kate seemed to think there was something here and he had nothing else to work with.
It was the way she was actin'. All edgy an' stuff. So I asked her what else went on. She said nothin' happened, but she thought she heard something. Then she started whisperin' real fast, goin' on about Miz Fed, there, Kitty tipped her head toward Kate, who had gone back to her desk, sayin' we had to get out, like, right then.Okay, so what did she hear? Gibbs looked from the girl to the woman who had brought her.
Kate was on the phone, obviously irritated. Tony spoke up from across the aisle. We don't know, yet. Someone was waiting for them, Boss, took a shot at us. Candy's in the hospital, under guard by our people and a doctor with more attitude than a Doberman.'Bout damn time! Kate slammed the phone receiver down. Let's go, she said to Tony. The doctor said he's just seen Candy and he thinks she's strong enough for a ten-minute visit.
Gibbs stood at the same time as Tony. When Kate glanced at him, Gibbs simply stared her down. Kate shrugged her acquiescence; the three agents and Kitty made their way toward the elevator. McGee looked up from his desk and quickly ended his phone call.
Oh, uh, Boss? He caught up to the rest of the team, shooting a fast glance at Kate before turning to Gibbs. Abby has some information for us.Well, what is it, McGee? Gibbs had fixed his gaze on the man as the group arranged themselves in the elevator.
She said she'd rather go over it with someone, he responded hesitantly. Again he flicked a glance toward Kate.
The brunette spoke up. Gibbs, what if I go see what has Abby so worried? You and Tony could take Kitty with you to the hospital. She turned to the girl. Would that be okay with you?Yeah, Tony's cool. We're buds. But he needs to be a whole lot less grouchy, she added, jerking a thumb at Gibbs. Kitty eyed the ex-Marine warily. You talk to Candy like you talk to everybody else and you gonna be in trouble, Mister. Candy's a sweet girl, scared a people like you. You don't be nice, she ain't gonna say shit. With that, she pushed past the agents and exited through the just opening doors.
Gibbs nodded at Kate then quickly followed Kitty out of the open elevator doors. Tony, catching up with him, opened his mouth to comment and the older man quietly said, I wouldn't, DiNozzo.