I hope this answers some more questions.
It's Not What You Think-Chapter 9-She Has Been Returned
Large field-location classified-0800 local time.
There were already criminalists taking pictures and collecting evidence when they got there.
"Why area they all here?" McGee asked Gibbs & Lili as Gibbs stopped the car. Ducky and Jimmy Palmer arrived five minutes later.
"I don't know McGee," Gibbs answered as they climbed out of the sedan. They were greeted by Detective Johnson, the same man who had been at Kate's crime scene.
"Detective Johnson, what the hell's going on?" Gibbs greeted him.
"Someone called in a DB half-an-hour ago. What are you doing here?"
"Did the face belonging to the body look at all familiar to you, detective?"
"It's Agent Todd," the man answered.
"Exactly. She's been missing for the past day and a half." The detective gave Gibbs a confused expression.
"Don't ask," Lili advised him as she went to talk to one of the people collecting evidence. Ducky and Jimmy proceeded over to where the body was and were shocked to discover that it had been dressed. Quickly getting over their initial shock, they began the process of loading it onto the stretcher, when they were stopped by another detective, a woman who they had had never met before.
"What do you two think you're doing with that body?" she asked them.
"It's already been autopsied, detective. They're simply taking it back to our morgue," Lili answered her. She flashed the woman her badge and let the two men get on with their business.
"If you don't believe me, then take it up with that nice man over there in the hat. He'll be glad to tell you what's going on. And while you're at it, sign this." She handed the woman a clipboard and pen. On the clipboard was a gag order stating that she was never to speak of this until ordered to do so by the United States Navy and Marine Corps. The detective begrudgingly agreed and signed the order, all the while stating that it wasn't procedure to do so.
"That's tough. But you still have to. Thank you!" Lili thanked her cheerily before walking back over to where Gibbs and company were standing. Ducky and Jimmy were now loading the gurney into the van and Gibbs and Detective Johnson were just finishing up their talk. Lili handed the older agent the clipboard and pen, which he in turn handed to the detective.
"No complaining. I've had enough complaining about that form when I had to get your friends to sign it," she told the man.
"Fine. Whatever," he answered as he signed it. Gibbs nodded to him and then proceeded to walk back to the car, McGee and Lili following close behind.
NCIS HQ Autopsy lab.-0930 local time.
"It's odd, Jethro. Whoever took the body dressed it," Ducky said as the two men were examining what damage had been done. "But all appears well. She can be released whenever her family comes."
The body. Those two words seemed so disrespectful.
"Okay, thanks Duck," he said as he headed out of autopsy.
"Are you going to inform the Todds?"
"Soon. I need to have a conversation with Lili, first."
NCIS HQ bullpen.
"Lili!" Gibbs yelled at her.
"Yeah, Jethro?"
"You and I are going to have a little talk in my office," he told her as he headed back to the elevator. She groaned and grabbed a file. She had been expecting something like this for the last two hours.
In the elevator, Gibbs pressed the emergency stop button on the panel and the emergency lights turned on.
"Mind telling me what's going on?" She handed him the file.
"That explains everything that I was sworn to secrecy on. And now you are, too," she said as he skimmed through the pages.
"Kate was the target?" Lili nodded.
"This was put together to keep everyone else safe. Are you going to tell Tony?"
"I'll tell him after the service."
"As long as you're the one who tells him. I have enough trouble dealing with grieving widows. I don't know if I could handle a grieving friend."
Gibbs nodded in understanding. "Yeah. Well, I guess you'll be going back to San Diego," he said, changing the subject.
"Yeah. I have a court martial to prepare for." He looked at her oddly as he pressing the ON button. "Marine under suspicion of killing a sailor while the ship was anchored at Cordoba."
"Well, good luck with that."
"I'm going to stay for the service, if that's all right."
"I think it would be a great comfort if you were there."
"I'll definitely stay, then."
"Good." The two agents smiled and exited the elevator, walking back to their desks.
One chapter left! Please review!
