Leah picked at the objects masquerading as food on the tray. The colors and shapes all approximated food, but the texture and the taste made her tongue cringe. She forced herself to choke it down, nonetheless. She'd need every point in her favor if she were going to make good her escape.
A knock at her door happily distracted her. Come in. Quickly, if you have real food!
A slight chuckle accompanied Luke Howards as he stepped near her bed, and she found herself only slightly surprised to see him.
Cap'n. I have something for you. She reached over to the bedside table a picked up one of the envelopes lying there. I'm leaving. That's my resignation. I did the job Doug hired me to do and I just don't have the heart to walk back into that station without him there.
Howards turned the envelope over in his hands, nodding. I can't say I'm too surprised. Guess Gibbs finally got to you. At her surprised look, he continued quickly, Well, Arlington's loss is NCIS' gain. I hope you'll be happy there, Leah.
She snapped her mouth shut. It wouldn't do to reveal anything at this moment. She picked up the kiddie-sized cup of milk on her tray and took a sip before speaking. Was there anything else?Yeah, actually. Curtis gave me the files Doug lifted from your office and...Whoa, hold on... Curtis... Dr. Curtis the M.E. had my files, my stolen files? And Doug... Is there a beginning to this story? Leah leaned back in her bed and rubbed her temples.
I think so, although I kept feeling like I walked in the theater in the middle of the movie, too. Here's what I know...
He proceeded to fill her in on the conversation that he'd been privy to earlier in the day. She responded by laying out the plan that she and Doug had set up some time back and telling him the whole story of the forged documents ring that she'd nearly busted close to six months back.
That's when I thought I had Ed for certain. I knew something was rotten in Arlington, if you'll pardon the paraphrase. I also knew there were other agencies who would be interested and could help. So I slipped the evidence to NCIS. And thanks to them, we were all close.But someone in the department found out and leaked. Howards nodded. Did you find out who?I have my suspicions but I can't prove it. And it wasn't until just two days ago that I knew that Perry and Ketterer, the CIA agent who screwed that whole bust, were connected. She sighed and closed her eyes.
Well, I know who squealed to Perry. And I can prove it. He watched her eyes fly open as he continued. And I need your help with something else, even if you are going Fed on me. He pulled out the file and flipped to a page, explaining his dilemma with the drug sting he had planned.
Oh, man, Howards. She shook her head. You can trust him to run the sting... what you can't trust him with is the drugs. The good news is with Perry out of commission he might be a little slower to act. What you might do is set up a second sting to catch him...
They brainstormed for a little while longer and then Leah begged his forgiveness as she yawned for the fourth time in a sentence. I really do need a nap, I think.Sure, Leah. Thanks for everything. And if you ever get tired of flashing a Fed badge, come on back across the river. There are a few of us who actually appreciate good work. Especially after someone knocks some sense into us. He smiled at her laugh and left her grimacing at the remains of her dinner, long gone cold.