Chapter Six
"Call for you, boss. Claims you will want to speak with him; gave no name," McGee called to his boss, who had emerged into the room, coffee in his hand.
Good to see. Gibbs had not had a coffee since Kate was shot. Of course, who knew how much of the whiskey he stored in his basement had been consumed over the last few days. Probably more than Gibbs would like to admit. He claimed he only drank it after being around Fornell, or on one of his three wedding anniversaries. Then there was when ex-wife number two called on his birthday—to wish him something other than a "happy day."
It took something big to keep Gibbs off his coffee. Of course, for others around him, it took a lot of their sanity.
"If it's a case, give it to Balboa," Gibbs said.
"He's pretty adamant on speaking with you."
Gibbs sighed, and took the phone. "Yeah, Gibbs," he answered gruffly.
A gentle yet hated voice was heard. "Hello, Gibbs. And how is Special Agent Dinozzo? Sadly, I did not know him as well as I knew you and Caitlyn. I regret it most sincerely. You know I never had anything against any of you."
"As usual, you would feel no remorse over killing Todd, then?" Gibbs remained composed, but his heart was beating wildly.
Tony's eyes widened, and he reached for his own phone to pick up the line. Gibbs saw him, and shook his head. When it appeared the agent was about to disobey his boss, Gibbs gave McGee a nod.
McGee roughly pushed Tony away from his desk. "You aren't going to help things, here," he hissed, and Tony fell back into his seat, subdued, but listening intently.
Gibbs returned his focus to the phone, snapping his fingers at McGee to run a trace on the call.
"Ah, I am very sorry about Caitlyn. You know it was supposed to be for you. She took it for you, because I would never hurt Caitlyn like that."
"Never kill her? Just mess with her mind, like you've done for a year and a half?"
"More than that, Gibbs."
"Why did you call, Haswari?
"To give you my deep condolences. Oh, and to inform you: You cannot escape me forever, my friend. You cannot. Even as your friends fall down beside you, you will think you can escape. It is not going to happen, Agent Gibbs."
The click of the phone being hung up was heard.
"We've got it down to a two block location at Pennsylvania and Independence." McGee informed Gibbs.
"The very heart of DC. One of the most secured areas in the world." Tony added.
"Haswari has taken a large leap. From military base to this," Gibbs replied.
"You think he's going to bomb the White House?" McGee asked.
Gibbs thought for a moment. "No, he's planning something much bigger. Haswari knows we would trace the call. He's trying to distract us from his real plan, whatever it might be."
Tony stood up. "What are we going to do, boss?"
"What do you think, Tony? We're gonna find the psycho!"
……………………………………………………………………………………………….
His muscles tensed as he sanded the rough wood. Not a lot of progress had been made, he mused. Of course, more recently it had grown. He had been building this since—since ex wife three had left. The one that took the sailboat (it had to have been in her name) with her. Blasted woman!
He took a sip of his whiskey, then suddenly put his tool down, and leaned against the boat frame.
Kate should have been here with him. How he had longed to ask her to come with him, to help him, to watch him, or to keep him company. He was afraid—that she would laugh at him, ore worse, that she would do it, but then hurt him. Just like all women.
He was afraid that she was afraid he would hurt her. Three marriages were hardly a good recommendation. She was smarter than that. It wouldn't work out. He always knew she would have chosen Dinozzo, despite the game they played. Now she left the totally both alone.
Ex-wife one had left. He was lonely, he found wife two. She left, he grew hopeless. Wife three came along. She left, he grew tired of women. And they though Dinozzo was the one with commitment issues!
And then, when he most hated it, when he swore he'd never love again, a bright young new face appeared. Kate. And just as quickly, again when he most needed her, she was gone. Left him to a curse of eternal loneliness. Left Dinozzo to a lifetime of regrets. Left them all, with something that needed to be finished. That would never be completed.
Why live like this? Why let Haswari do it? He could shoot himself. Spare himself the agony. Tony would eventually come and find him. Or maybe three angry women waiting for their alimony checks. They would come in, and see him, like Kate, lying in his own blood. His self, his real self, would be with her.
Not down here.
Not hunting Ari.
Not making him pay.
But what good would he do? Tony and McGee could handle that. Oh, there was no doubt Tony would take every inch of life out of Haswari. And McGee would gladly help him.
It wouldn't bring her back. Haswari would be gone. With Kate. And the ones left would have years of endless suffering.
Gibbs reached for his gun, held it to his head, and closed his eyes.