The next day Gibbs and Kate pulled into the parking lot of World Wide Chefs, Inc in La Plata, Maryland. The building towered above them thirty two stories; with more windows than one should bother to count, it looked out of place in this small East Coast town. The doors in front of the building opened automatically, allowing them to enter. Within the building it looked like a sterile environment from a futuristic science fiction movie; straight ahead there was a white desk. As they approached the receptionist people wandered through the lobby finding where they were supposed to go. As they reached the desk they noted that the receptionist's name was Lila Roberts; she sat behind the desk a headset perched over her ear and a nail file in her hand. When she didn't acknowledge their presence right away, Gibbs cleared his throat loudly. As soon as she turned to face them it was obvious that she was an over paid, under experienced receptionist, fresh out of college and not a day over twenty-two.
"Yes? May I help you?" Lila asked, a smooth accent lacing her words.
"Ms. Roberts…NCIS, we're here to look around and talk to some people about an incident we're investigating," Gibbs snapped, eyeing her appearance and growing more disgusted by the minute.
"I don't think I can do anything for you…" she said, in her same tone, childlike yet indignant, refusing to be of use.
"Now…Ms. Roberts, I realize that you're just the receptionist here and you most likely do not know this company inside out, but is there someone we could or should talk to?" Kate cut in, growing irritated.
"Well…you should talk to Mr. Thompson, but he's not in right now," she said, eyeing them skeptically, as if she was trying to figure out what they needed to know. All Gibbs needed to do was flash Kate a stern look and she excused herself to examine the lobby premises.
"Now…what can you tell me about the company?" Gibbs asked in a low, stern tone.
"Nothing…" Lila said, dragging the word out to emphasize her point.
"Well, when can I see…Mr. Thompson was it?" Gibbs asked through clenched teeth.
"You'll have to make an appointment," she said, "I'm afraid he's booked for a while, and he doesn't meet with clients inside his office."
"Well when and where can I see him?" Gibbs growled, trying to hide his irritation, "it's urgent."
"I can schedule you in a few days," she said, her fingers moving like lightning across her keyboard, "ah yes…Wednesday, a few days from now."
"Thank you, I didn't know that," Gibbs snapped, knowing that if he pushed he'd end up with a meeting later in the week rather than earlier. "That's fine…now where will I be meeting him?"
"He is free at 4:30pm and he will be able to meet you at the corner of 4th and Pine St," She said, her boredom showing in full now. By this time, Gibbs couldn't stand her unwillingness to help; handing yet another person his card, he turned and walked out of the building. Kate followed close behind, knowing yet again her boss knew something she didn't.
"It's a cover," he said flatly to Kate as they approached the car.
"When are we going to go meet the boss?" she asked, wanting desperately to take this person down.
"I know what you're thinking Kate, and I really don't think it's a good idea," he began in his normal stern tone, one that was supposed to tell his team to not question him. Normally Kate would listen, but given the circumstances she couldn't care less.
"But Gibbs–" She began in protest.
"No, Kate," he snapped, "I don't want to put you in danger…who knows why this guy is out to hurt you through family, I'm not taking any chances, end of discussion."
Gibbs went silent once he turned onto the main road. He knew someone was out to get Kate, he had no idea why or how this mystery person, the CEO of this 'company' was going to go about it. He would force her to stay in the office on Wednesday and take McGee and Tony to take this man out of the world, no matter what.