Sorry this took so long to post! A combination of writers' block and two very busy schedules sabotaged our posting schedule. Hopefully, it won't happen again. There may be a longer-than-normal break between the next chapter (16) and its sequel (17) but we'll do our best to avoid it. Enjoy!

"You're not going to like it, Gibbs," Abby admitted sadly, handing him the results.

"The weapons don't match," he deduced, before even glancing at the paper in his hand.

"Nope."

"Well, he said they wouldn't." Gibbs seemed oddly unfazed by the information.

"Yeah, I've been wondering about that," Daniel piped up. "Why would he tell you that? Why not just let you assume he was innocent?"

"He's playing with us," Tony explained when Gibbs didn't answer. "Trying to prove he's smarter."

"Did you check the videos, DiNozzo?" Gibbs asked suddenly, emerging from deep thought.

Tony was caught off-guard. "Uh, what videos, boss?"

"The security tapes, DiNozzo!" Gibbs snapped, growing agitated. He was onto something.

"'Course, boss," Tony answered, looking affronted. "Soon as we got here. But they only show the outside of the elevator. And it's kind of hard to look for someone carrying a gun when everyone is..."

"What about the other elevators? You didn't check their tapes, did you?"

"We didn't have a reason to, boss."

"We do now. Abbs, check out the east elevator tapes." Gibbs paused, frowning. "Who talked to the west elevator guard?"

"He's not here," Kate replied. "Emergency leave."

"Then get him here!" Gibbs growled.

"What exactly am I looking for, oh great one?" Abby asked, advancing the east elevator security tapes frame-by-frame.

"Is Hoedemaker there for the whole TOD window? Between Ducky and Jack, we've got it down to sometime around 1000."

Abby squinted in concentration, the tip of her tongue peeking out from behind her pursed lips. Gibbs waited, barely restraining his impatience. Half an hour later, Abby surfaced.

"Do you want the good news or the bad news first?"

"Abby..." Gibbs warned.

"Okay, bad first," she shrugged. "Hoedemaker was there the whole time. From 0900 to 1200, in fact, he didn't leave at all. Not even to, y'know, answer nature's call. Obviously he doesn't drink nearly as much coffee as you --"

"The good news?"

"There's something hinky about this tape."

"That's good...?" Gibbs' eyebrows knitted together.

"Gibbs! Track with me, here! 'Hinky' could mean 'tampered with' and 'tampered with' means --"

"No alibi," Gibbs concluded. He kissed her head and muttered, "You're the best, Abbs," before walking out.

"I know," she smirked, turning back to the tape to determine the precise source of the 'hinkiness' she had sensed.

"ha'Shem, are you serious?"

Kate discreetly scrutinized the youthful SF seated in front of her. Isaac Mayer was an earnest-looking kid, all idealism and friendliness with only the slightest hint of worldly experience creeping into his innocent eyes. The lithe, swarthy, young Jew had only been assigned to the SGC a month ago; he'd been in the Air Force for all of eighteen months.

"Very serious, unfortunately. Could you answer a few questions for me?"

"Of course. If it will help you find the killer."

"Were you in the west elevator the day Colonel Havelock was murdered?"

"Yes," he answered openly. "Until I got a phone call from my mother saying my bubbie was very sick."

"I'm sorry, 'bubbie'?" Kate asked.

"Grandmother," Mayer clarified. "I requested emergency leave and left immediately to be with the family."

"What time did your mother call?" Kate inquired.

"I'm not sure," he replied, looking troubled that he couldn't answer. "Before 1200, I know that. Maybe around 0900?"

"We'll get the phone records," Kate assured him. "Did anyone suspicious enter the elevator while you were there?"

"Suspicious, ma'am?"

"Anyone doing something strange or out of place? Looking around a lot; asking lots of questions; acting nervous?"

"I don't think so," he answered, again bothered by his lack of memory. "A lot of people go in and out of the elevator every day."

"I understand." Kate considered something he'd already said. "Who did you request emergency leave from? General O'Neill?"

"Oh, no, ma'am," he laughed lightly. "He can't be bothered with an elevator guard's family crisis. I spoke to my supervisor, Staff Sergeant Hoedemaker."