Chapter 22 The Missing Marine

Julia calls the nearest police precinct and gets the captain. They know her and Donald because of their charity work.

"Hello Julia, this is captain Knox. What can I do for you?"

"Captain, good to hear your voice. Donald is missing! I've been up at Stanford with Kensi and her family for three or more weeks. I came home today and he's gone!"

"When did you last talk to him?"

"A . . . about a week ago. I thought it was strange that I couldn't reach him for the last week, but I just ignored it and now there is no sign of him. What are we going to do?"

"Well, he's a retired Marine, correct?"

"Yes, so what?"

"Well, we will have to turn this over to NCIS and let them handle it. Do you know who they are?"

"Yes, I know Henrietta Lange, she officiated at Kensi's wedding a month ago."

"Good, she or someone from her office will be in touch with you soon. In the meantime, don't you or anyone disturb anything as it may be evidence. Understand?"

"Yes."

"Fine, I hope Donald turns up soon, good-bye."

"Good-bye captain."


AN HOUR LAER

Julia's phone rings, unknown caller. "Hello?"

"Hello Julia, Hetty here. I understand your husband wasn't home when you arrived home today, correct?"

"Correct." Julia recounts what she's done, what she's found, what she hasn't found, who she called etc.

"Thank you for that detailed report, my dear. FYI agents Callen and Hanna have been on this call, I am assigning them to your case. They will come to you tomorrow to start their investigation; I will accompany them on this 1st visit. Until then don't disturb anything, please."

"May I sleep in the bed?"

"What is the condition of the bed?"

"Freshly made, Marine style like always."

"Gentlemen, may she sleep in their bed?"

"Yes," Callen replies.

"Anything else, Julia?"

"No, thanks for coming so soon."

"No problem, see you tomorrow. Good-bye."

"Good-bye."


"Hello, Kensi Deeks here. How may I help you?"

"Baby, I love to hear you say that!"

"Mom! What's up?"

"Are you sitting down?"

"MOM!"

"Your dad is missing."

"Missing? As in . . . gone?"

"Yes, gone." Julia repeats her conversation with Hetty and tells Kensi that Hetty and two agents will visit her tomorrow to start the investigation. Kensi promises to tell Marty the news that evening and requests that Julia and Hetty call them before the agents leave, if possible.

Julia promises to do that if it works out. They hang up after Julia prays for their families.


As soon as Marty walks in the door he knows something is amiss. "What's up babe, I can see it all over your face?"

"My dad is missing!"

"What? When?"

"When mom got home, he wasn't there, no sign of him. NCIS has been assigned the case. Hetty and two agents are visiting her tomorrow."

"Will they call us?"

"I asked mom to do that."

"I'm going to call Hetty."

"Marty!"

"Just a quick call, don't worry."

"Put it on speaker!"

"I will."


"Hello, Marty. I assume you have heard the news."

"Yes, Kensi just told me. Just a quick call, is there anything we can do?"

"Just be available for a call from myself or one of my agents to do fact finding."

"Certainly, when?"

"Would tomorrow noon work?" Hetty asks.

"Yes, I could be at Kensi's office at South Bay. Do you have that number?" He looks at Kensi, she nods YES.

"Yes, I do."

"We'll talk with you then."


LATER THAT EVENING

"Marty, what if I take notes in the form of an email, and send it to Hetty? It will give her a head start on our talk tomorrow?"

"Brilliant idea, Kens."

She gets her laptop and sits cross-legged on the couch.

"So, are you thinking that your dad is suffering from depression? Something else? Where do we start?"

"Marty, are you thinking abduction?"

"No, nobody has said anything about any clues re a struggle. I don't see your dad going peacefully."

"I agree. There have been two setbacks for him lately that worry me. He was so pumped about working with me and South Bay; then that fell apart. Then we are fostering two kids and mom and I are speaking Portuguese with them; I heard him mutter 'I'm living in a foreign country!' a couple of times. It seems like this is all my fault!" Kensi starts to cry, lays her head back on the couch and closes her eyes.

"Wait a minute, babe! Bringing your dad in for sniper training was a logical thing to do; I thought of it at the same time as you. But the decision not to start offering that training was a whole group decision, and a good business decision at that. So, no one person gets the blame (or credit) for that. You aren't doing this alone, remember?"

"Yeah, thanks."

"And the kids. I knew what that outcome would be even before I called you. I walked into that right by your side. Together, right?"

"Sometimes you're an ass . . . you know that!?"

"I've been told. Good thing you love me!"

"I do!" Kens says softly.

"I love you too!" Marty returns.

"So, it's not all my fault, but don't you think those things could contribute to this situation?"

"Yes, they certainly could. However, I don't see how they help us find your dad. Let's send Hetty the email and see what tomorrow's talk brings."

"Do you think I should go south, so I can be with mom?"

"I think we both should. The more I think about this, the worse I feel. We have a spare sitter, right?" Marty inquires.

"Yes, but we haven't used her yet."

"Kens, can you call her; I'll see if we can get a mid-morning flight tomorrow? It's Friday, and my 2 classes can be cancelled."

"Ok."

Marty heads to the bedroom to make some calls, Kensi stays in the living room.

LATER

Marty: "I have us on a 10:00 AM flight from SFO to Orange County, rented a Jeep Grand Cherokee."

Kensi: "I talked to the caregiver; she sounds nice. Very fluent in Portuguese, she will be here at 7:30 AM. We need to be sure the kids know we are NOT leaving them forever."

"Definitely!"