A/N: I added a scene to this chapter in response to some valid concerns expressed to me privately and not so privately. That section hasn't been beta'd, see if you can figure out which part. ;)

Gibbs pushed his way in to the Sheriff's office, followed by Ziva, McGee and two other agents. The clerk and other deputies were being guarded by more NCIS agents in the other room.

"What's going on?" Nelson sputtered, reaching for his gun.

"I wouldn't do that," Gibbs said coldly, his gun aimed at the other man's head.

"What do you think you're doing?"

"I have reason to believe that you and your deputy have knowledge of the whereabouts of my agent. One of you is going to tell me where he is." Gibbs' eyes were cold.

"I don't know what you're talking about," Nelson said calmly, sitting back in his chair. "I've never seen your guy, no one has."

"That's not true," Ziva said, "he was seen in the diner. Your girlfriend served him lunch." She leaned closer to him. "Do you think she served him something else?"

Nelson's face turned red. Gibbs pulled Ziva back. "Not now, Officer David. I'll question Sheriff Nelson later." He went behind the desk and handcuffed Nelson to his chair. He turned to the two agents standing by the door. "Make sure he stays behind his desk. Ziva, McGee, with me." The two agents followed him out of the room.

"Where's Agent DiNozzo?" Gibbs' voice was low and hard, a dangerous sign to anyone who knew him. Deputy Johnson didn't, and remained relaxed, even cocky, leaning back in his chair casually.

"I don't know any DieNozzo," he drawled, smiling lazily at the agent. The next thing he knew his chair had been kicked out from under him and he was pushed up against the wall, Gibbs' face just inches away from his own.

"I know you're involved in his disappearance," Gibbs hissed. "If you don't tell me where he is, I'll make sure you end up in a hole so deep your own mother won't recognize you when you get out."

"You got nothing on me," growled Johnson. "You can't lock me up for no reason."

"Oh, I'll find a reason." Johnson swallowed hard at the sight of the feral grin on Gibbs' face. "I'll find a reason to have you thrown into the worst federal penitentiary in the country. And I'll make sure the other inmates find out that you're a pedophile. They love your kind in prison. You'll be spending the rest of your life bent over or on your knees."

"I never hurt no kids," sputtered Johnson, struggling to loosen Gibbs' grip on his shirt.

"That's what the charges will say. By the time anyone tries to mount an appeal, you'll be well-acquainted with your fellow inmates."

"You can't do that," protested the terrified man.

"Watch me." Gibbs released Johnson, and stormed out of the interrogation room, leaving the deputy there to contemplate what had just happened.

Ziva and McGee were waiting in the corridor.

"Did he tell you where Tony is?" asked Ziva.

"Not yet."

"Let me talk to him," Ziva said, her eyes glinting dangerously. "I'll get him to tell us, and I won't leave a mark on him."

Gibbs shook his head. "If anyone is going to break any rules, it'll be me," he said. "We'll let him stew for awhile."

"Gibbs," protested Ziva. "Tony may not have the time. We don't even know if he's still alive."

"He's alive. If he's not, someone will pay."

"At least let me talk to the girl," argued Ziva. "I know she's in on this somehow. Give me fifteen minutes alone with her."

Gibbs studied Ziva for a moment, considering her suggestion. Finally, he gave a curt nod. "Fifteen minutes. Nothing physical, Ziva. Just find out what you can."

Ziva nodded. "I will."

"McGee, you're with me." Gibbs strode off briskly, with McGee following close behind.

Robert Nelson was sitting sullenly behind his desk, still handcuffed to his chair and guarded by two NCIS agents. Thoughts of how he was going to make Gibbs pay for this indignity filled his mind and he smiled to himself.

"What's so funny?" Gibbs and McGee entered the office, dismissing the other agents.

Nelson just looked at the senior agent, his eyes narrowed, the smile still lingering on his face. Gibbs pulled up a chair and sat across from the sheriff while McGee stayed by the door, never taking his eyes off Nelson. The two older men stared at each other for a moment, neither one saying a word.

Finally Gibbs sat back and smiled. "You're not a local," he said casually, "how'd you get yourself elected as sheriff?"

Nelson shrugged, "The people know a good lawman when they see him. They needed someone to come in and clean up the riffraff."

"That's not what we hear," Gibbs replied. "Agent McGee, tell Sheriff Nelson what you found out."

"According to the State Police, the crime rate in Dawson County has been pretty low, about average for a population of its size. The last sheriff was in office for twenty years and never had to fire his weapon."

Nelson gave a scornful snort, "No one talks to the State Police around here."

"Special Agent McGee is pretty good at digging up facts," Gibbs replied. "You'd be amazed at what he can find out. Go on, McGee."

"I spoke extensively with Joshua McHenry," McGee continued, pleased at his boss' endorsement, "who's had a few run-ins with Deputy Johnson."

"McHenry's a drunk," Nelson said, "you can't trust a thing he says."

McGee shook his head, "McHenry joined AA, he's been clean for sixth months. He seemed very reliable when I spoke to him. I trust what he says."

"We've also heard from DEA," Gibbs added, "it seems there's been a sudden increase in problems with drugs in the neighboring counties. Drug-related crime has gone up significantly in the past two years. What do you make of that, Sheriff?"

Nelson shrugged, "I guess they don't have as strong a sheriff's department as we do."

Gibbs chuckled, "Could be," he agreed. "Or it could be that you've got a drug running operation going and are spreading your poison to the counties around you."

"Do you have any proof?" Nelson said, smirking at Gibbs.

"Oh we'll get it," Gibbs replied, leaning forward. "Trust me, you're going down for that. The question is, do you want to add kidnapping and murder of a Federal Agent to the charges?"

"I don't know anything about your missing agent," Nelson said.

"I think you do," Gibbs said, "I think you found out that your girlfriend came on to Agent DiNozzo and you got jealous. Maybe you were threatened by him. He's young, handsome, charming; and he's a Federal Agent, not a local cop. Maybe you were afraid your pretty girlfriend would run off with him."

Nelson snorted, "Sally would run off with a pig farmer if he gave her the time of day. Since I've never seen your agent, I can't say whether or not I'd be jealous, but I guarantee you one thing, I don't feel inferior to any Federal Agents."

Gibbs smiled ruefully. Sheriff Nelson wasn't going to be easy to trip up. He sat for a moment before he spoke again.

"You were in Desert Storm," he said.

Nelson nodded.

"Received a few commendations for bravery," Gibbs continued. "I guess Dawson County was about as far away from the Middle East as you could get."

Nelson stayed silent.

"What did you do to get those commendations?"

"You know so much about me," replied Nelson, "I'm sure you've read the reports."

"It just surprises me that a former Special Forces man would want to settle down in a rural county and set up a drug operation, especially with your record. I can understand your deputy coming back home and causing trouble, but you're a mystery," Gibbs cocked his head and looked at Nelson appraisingly.

"Marines never did get us," Nelson said, chuckling.

Gibbs eyebrows went up, "How did you know I was a Marine?" he said in surprise.

Nelson shifted uncomfortably. "You look like ex-military," he said, "and you act like it. I just guessed."

"Really," Gibbs replied. "Good guess." He stood up and leaned over the desk, his face close to Nelson's. "I'm going to find my missing agent, and if he's dead or he dies by the time I get to him, you and your deputy will never make it to prison alive," he murmured softly, "Count on it."