Abby! I think we need to go back through all the tapes! Tim was speaking as the doors to the lab slid open. His words were swallowed by pounding waves of music and rather than trying to make himself heard over the din, he headed for the sound system controls to lower the volume. Hey! Hands off the tunes! And you don't have to shout.
Rolling his eyes, he ignored her comments and repeated his previous statement.
We're three-quarters of the way through the Surveillance Film Festival and you want to start over? Why?
Tim had a pretty good idea what Abby's reaction would be to his next words, so he shot them out like bullets from a MAC-10. Because I just finished talking to Ducky and it's possible that because of the drug interaction that Gibbs only thinks he saw Ari—McGee, we are not having this discussion! We already agreed that we're trusting Gibbs. He said he saw Ari, so that's who we're looking for on these tapes. She turned away from him, unwilling to continue the conversation.
Did anyone tell you that Gibbs mistook a phlebotomist for Kate while he was drugged? Tim snapped back in frustration.
Abby spoke without lifting her eyes from her work. No. But didn't you say that hallucinations were possible? Does it really surprise you that he'd see Kate? She paused and looked up at him earnestly. Wouldn't you want to see her just one more time? I know I would. But that doesn't mean that Gibbs hallucinated everyone he saw. Let's be realistic here, okay? We know Ari's after him, why shouldn't we believe him if that's who he says he saw? She turned back to her work, effectively shutting him down.
Abby. Abby! He let out a frustrated sigh and turned toward the stack of finished tapes on the lab table. Fine, you keep searching for Ari. I'm starting over from the beginning and checking out anyone suspicious. My gut tells me that we're making a mistake by only looking for one man.And my gut tells me that you don't care as much about catching Kate's killer as you say you do, McGee! Abby said very quietly eyes never leaving the screen she was watching.
Believe what you want, Abbs, Tim said tiredly. I care about catching them both. If they're the same man, then that just makes it easier.
They worked in an uncomfortable silence, Tim starting with the tapes of the parking lot exits that the facial recognition software had previously scanned. He stifled a yawn and glanced sidelong at Abby to see her lips pressed together in irritation when she saw which tapes he was working with. He expected some sort of rebuke, but she said nothing and her continued silence only made him even more aware of the extra work he was creating. If only she weren't so unwilling to see the situation from his point of view, this wouldn't seem so damn frustrating. Yanking out the first tape, he kept himself from slamming it down, not wanting to seem petulant, even though he was certain he was right.
A short while later, she let out an excited yelp and slugged Tim in the shoulder.
Well, score one for easier, because I just found him. There's your man, McGee. Now tell me that's not Ari! She sat back and pointed to the screen triumphantly. The image it showed was of a man, unaware of the camera that captured him. His head was slightly turned, but he'd clearly made no effort to hide from this camera as he had the ones inside the hospital. The picture wasn't the best one Tim had seen and he checked the identifier on the camera. This one, he realized was one of the newer cameras that had been installed, the angle excellent for capturing license plates of cars, lousy for people's faces. He only hoped they had enough for Abby to work with.
Is there any way to enhance that? he asked. Then maybe we can run it against the facial recognition software for a positive match. His pulse quickened as he realized where the man was standing. The dirtbag had a clear view of the door they'd used to exit the hospital last night – and the timestamp at the bottom of the screen indicated that he likely had been a witness to Gibb's liberation.
he said, as he pointed to the timestamp, This guy, whoever he is, may know we've moved Gibbs!
Abby didn't bother to comment. She was busy working electronic magic on the still frame from the digital tape. As the image became clearer with each pass, Tim watched details come into focus.
Hey Abbs, that look like an ID badge from the hospital to you?Yeah, I think so. Think our guy really is a hospital employee? She paused and looked up at him.
Dunno, but I'm definitely gonna check it out.
She continued to sharpen the image further and a moment later Tim uttered a soft comment. We've got him now. Check it out.A cigarette! Abby cried, spying the object in their man's hand. If we can get the butts, Tim reminded her. He immediately called the local LEOs to request their help in collecting the potential evidence left behind. Thankfully, aware of Gibbs' accident and the incident at the hospital, the locals were both helpful and cooperative. Tim agreed to drive out later that day and pick up whatever butts were bagged.
Excited as he was with these discoveries, however, as the face became more distinct, he found himself growing more and more uneasy. Finally Abby brought the recognition software online with the enhanced image. But by now, Tim didn't need to wait for computer clarification. He knew his quarry's face, had studied the characteristics for input into the original search and dissected the dossier on the man after Kate's death. The computer's analysis flashed on the screen in red letters, as his own, in complete agreement, was torn from his lips.
Abby, that's not Ari