I started this story 'Human too' but took I down because I wasn't happy with it. But now I feel like I'm getting it right. Rewrote with the same concept in mind and it takes place right after Humbug but before Kensi and Deeks's secret came out. THANK YOU to Dramamam5 and Hoosier65 who encourage me to continue this story. I took your comments and made changes, so let me know what you think.
Don't own anything!
"To your left, Sam." Callen yelled over the coms.
"Why do they always run." Kensi said while running after the other guy.
"Because they think they're smart." Deeks said as he pulled the one guy to the floor and cuffed him. "I'm I right?"
"Screw you, man!"
"Well at least after this, we're done." Sam said grabbing the last one by his legs and bringing him to the ground.
As they handed their new friends over to LAPD, they slowly made their way back to OSP.
"I can't wait to get home, take a long bubble bath with a tub of Rocky Road and watch Top model." Kensi said as she grabbed her bag.
"Not so fast Agent Blye. We're not done yet." Hetty said as she made her way up the stairs.
"Hetty, we've been working non-stop for the past 48 hours. Can't the rest wait till tomorrow? Callen asked as the other agents dropped their bags and made their way out of the bullpen.
"Unfortunately, it can't wait Mr. Callen."
"What do we know Miss. Jones?"
"While you guys were chasing our new friends, a bomb went off in the Hills. The house belongs to a Russian immigrant, Miss Olga Romanova. She uses the house as a go-between for new immigrants coming to work or study."
"So, how does it fit into the case we're working on?" Sam asked.
"Some believe the house is a front for prostitution and money laundering."
"Still not answering the question, Nell."
"LAPD bomb squad found eight bodies in the house." Nell said as she brought up the crime scene photos. "They think two of the bodies belong to Olga and her bodyguard, Daniil Boris. They also found two bodies belonging to a former private Lance Keratan and a Navy officer Grant Tute."
"And the rest of the bodies?" Hetty asked.
"We're still waiting on DNA but we know that DHS was looking into the house for months."
"I've made a phone call and they're willing to share some of their intel as long as we share what we find with them." Hetty said with a smile. "They'll be waiting for you at the boatshed."
"Kensi, Deeks go through our Russian friend's phones again and see if we missed something the first time. Sam and I will meet DHS to see what they have to help us close this case so we can go home." Callen said as he followed Sam out.
At the boatshed
"Agent Meyer, DHS. This is Alex Lemmon with Immigration."
"Why is Immigration involved?" Sam asked.
"Because we believe that Miss. Romanova and her partners are involved in prostitution, money laundering and illegal immigration."
"We've been looking into Olga and her partners for over two years but they're always one step ahead of us."
"So, what do you know?" Callen asked.
"This is Olga Romanova." Agent Meyer said while a picture appeared on the screen, "She was born in Russia, normal up bring and after school she became a nun. She immigrated to the US 15 years ago and has never been in trouble with the law. She does have a few friends with questionable business dealings but so far we can't get that last few pieces to nail her."
"When did she chance for a holy nun to a madam?"
"Has NCIS ever heard about a program called 'Russian Dolls'?"
Callen and Sam shook their heads.
"It's believed that Olga is part of a program where young girls are sent to a different country, get the best education, learn the land and then introduce them to rich men and have something big to lose. Normally it's small things: have a mistress or two in the side, stealing money for the business stuff like that."
"Ah, old fashion blackmail."
"Let's say she's running this 'Russian Dolls', how many girls are we talking about?"
"With everything we found so far, there are four girls at a time. They come to the US, get to know the way of life and after that, we don't know what happens to them. But there's one girl that's been with Olga since she moved to the US. Her passport states that her name is Emma-Grace Romanova but we know that Olga never gave birth to a child."
"Immigration believes that while Olga worked as a nun, the monastery was known for taking in orphans that have been left on their steps. She probably took this girl in and raised her as her own. When she immigrated, she brought her with her as her daughter."
"We know she's not like the other girls living there."
"What do you mean?" Callen asked.
"Emma-Grace comes and goes as she pleases as far as you can with a bodyguard around you. She graduated high school at 12 and got a full ride to UCLA studying Criminal Phycology and Behavior. But there's one thing that doesn't make sense."
"What's that?" Sam asked.
"Every Friday at noon, a car arrives to pick her up and then that same car drops her off at school, where her bodyguard waits for her on Monday morning. Then when she's done for the day, he drives her home where she stays until the next Friday."
"Did you guys follow the car that picks her up on Fridays?"
"We did. She gets dropped off at a hotel downtown and meets up with a man named Joan-Jacques Phillips. We know he runs an import/export business out of New York but he did some business with a family you're familiar with."
"And who would that be?" Callen asked.
"Comescu."
"Okay, let's say Olga runs a prostitution and money laundering operation with the Comescu family. She's going to have friends in high places and people who can get girls in and out of the country without anyone knowing. And they don't have that power anymore. We took care of that years ago." Sam said, trying to keep his partners anger at bay.
"We don't think the girls that come into the US, leave the US. We were tipped off a couple of months ago that once the girls turn 18, they disappear without a trace."
"This girl can be the key to solving your case. Maybe she is like the other girls but is kept for this Joan-Jacques Phillips and is why you can't nail Olga." Callen said. "Is there a way that we can get this girl away from her bodyguard and get her to talk to us?"
"I wish that was so simple, Agent Callen. Her bodyguard is with her 24/7. The only time she's out of his site is when she's in class and that's only because the school doesn't allow him in. This poor girl has no friends, her head always down or in a book. I'm even surprised Olga lets her leave the house to go to school."
"Then we'll have to talk to her while she's in class." Callen said as he took out his phone. "Hey, Nell, what time did the bomb go off on Friday? "
"The call came in at 12:15 pm."
"Can you find information on an Emma-Grace Romanova. She's a student at UCLA."
"I'll see what I can find. And when you're done, Hetty wants an update." Nell said before she disconnected.
"Want to share your plan with the room, Agent Callen?"
"If we follow the routine like any other Friday, they picked Emma-Grace up at noon and took her to the hotel. She expects the weekend to be like any other and that she will be dropped off Monday morning. But her bodyguard isn't going to be there because he's dead and she doesn't have a home to return to."
"What if she saw the news and knew about the bombing?" Agent Meyer asked.
"I don't think she'll be watching the news while with a client." Lemmon said.
"Have you ever thought that that poor girl didn't ask for this and that she's just a pawn in this game?" Sam said as he slammed his hand on the table.
"I didn't… I didn't mean…." Lennon started to say but stopped when Sam held up his hand.
"No, you didn't but this girl is not like the other girls. She's a victim too, so start treating her as one."
As the two men stared at each other, Callen's phone rang.
"Hi, Kensi. What's up?"
"We found something that you would want to see." Kensi said.
"Okay, on our way." Callen said touching Sam's arm. "Let's go. Deeks and Kensi found something. Agent Meyer, Mr. Lennon we'll call you when we have something to share."
"Miss. Jones, update." Hetty said as she walked into OPS.
"Callen asked us to find information on an Emma-Grace. She's one of the girls that DHS believes live in the house with Olga." Nell said as she brought up a picture of Emma-Grace.
"My, my how you have grown." Hetty said as she looked at the pictures of the teenager.
"You know her?" Eric asked.
"She looks like someone I knew years back. What did you find so far?"
"She came over with Olga and her paperwork says she's her adoptive daughter. She graduated high school four years ago and is now a student at UCLA. DHS knows that she comes and goes as she wants but she has a bodyguard with her 24/7. She can speak eight languages and just looking at all her records; she makes me look dumb. So, I can see why Olga kept her on a leash."
"What a life? You have the freedom to do something but still have a ball and chain with you wherever you go." Eric said with a sad look.
"Nell, Eric we found something." Kensi said as she walked into OPS.
"Who's that?" Deeks said as he came in after Kensi.
"That's Emma-Grace and she's too young for you, Mr. Deeks."
"We're here, so want to tell us what you know." Callen said as they walked in.
"Going through the calls made in the bomb area, we found that one phone call was made just seconds before the bomb went off. And it belongs to one of your Russian friends." Kensi said with a smile.
"Wait so the bomb was set off remotely?" Sam said.
"Looks that way." Nell said.
"Finally!" Eric yelled.
"What do you have Beale?" Callen said.
"I've been looking into the home security systems in the area around the house… oh my word." Eric said as he stood up and put the video on the screen.
Everyone just looked on as they saw a car stop, a man getting out to grab the teenager and forcing her into a car. The teenager didn't make it easy on the guy but he overpowered her and forced her in the car before the vehicle sped away moments before an explosion cut the feed out.
"Eric find that car now!" Kensi said before anyone else got the chance.
"On it!"
"Hurry up Eric." Sam said to poor Eric who was trying his best to work fast.
"Got it! They're stopped at an abounded theatre in Hollywood. The address is on your phones right now."
"Please try and keep one alive so we can get information out of them." Granger said as the agents ran past him.
"Can't make any promises." Deeks said as he left.
It didn't take the agents long to get to the theatre and ready in their gear.
"Kensi, Deeks back door. Sam and I will take the front. We're breaching at the same time."
"Got it." Deeks said as he followed Kensi to the back.
"Okay, everyone in place?"
"Ready!" Kensi replied.
"Okay… one… two… go!"