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Striding through the bullpen, Gibbs was surprised to find Special Agent DiNozzo still at his desk, "DiNozzo, why are you still here? I could have sworn I sent you to go and pull those auction records from the archives."
Tony stood right up, "Right, Boss… And since you also told me to figure out something about that dummy company, I figured it was better if Ziva went over there to pick up the records that I had pre-pulled for her, and she's stopping by the personnel office at the Navy Department to get a list of servicemen at the warehouse for the five years prior to closing."
Gibbs sipped from his coffee cup, "And just what are you doing?"
"Well, I've been abusing my family connections trying to track down some intell on that dummy company. I've also found the auction house that handled the disposition, and just set up an interview with the two people who ran the auction." When Tony was neither interrupted nor struck in the back of the head, he continued, "I'm hoping they might have something in addition to the stuff at archives; like cancelled checks or something. Plus, I figure I can work to see if they remember any details from the auction itself; maybe help us flesh out our suspects."
"You had any luck tracking down the company yet?" Gibbs continued to draw on his coffee cup.
"No, I keep coming up empty, which is not a good thing… I think these guys just picked some random name and told the auction place they were with a company to hide their identities… But Boss, what I can't get my head around is why would they have been hiding two years ago, when the murders didn't start until thirteen months ago." Tony paused again to see if Gibbs was still paying attention, "Are we sure this Marine chick knows her stuff? I mean, it just seems pretty out there what she said in that humongous report of hers."
Gibbs gave Tony one of those questioning looks of his that always made Tony shiver, "Did you read the report?"
"Well, parts of it…" As Gibbs shot him an even deeper look, Tony buckled, "Okay, so I got the short version from McGee, but still… Two suspects seems a little out there to me. Serials just don't work well with others."
Gibbs turned to his desk and put his cup down on the top surface, "I might have agreed with you, if we were dealing with two serials… But we only have one killer here." Gibbs signed in to his computer and then looked around, "Where's McGee?"
"Ah, he got done with his escort duty and then was helping Abby get all the evidence and the files catalogued and put away." Tony sat back down at his workstation, "And he said something about running an algo-something or other from her terminal down in the lab. Said if you needed him to just page him."
Just as they were getting to work at their respective cubicals, Ziva David came barreling into the bullpen pushing a dolly with several boxes and a stack of thick manilla envelopes on it. "Tony, I know why you sent me over to the archives, and you better believe you owe me one." She was pushing a wayward strand of hair out of her face as she leaned back against her workstation.
Tony just flashed her one of those electric smiles of his, "Hey… You were the one who wanted to get out of here for a little while… I was just obliging."
She made an unhappy face at him and then turned to see Gibbs at his workstation, "Oh, Gibbs… Director Sheppard is looking for you… Said something about getting there before the cement on your boots was dry?" Her face was showing its confusion at yet another American phrase she did not quite understand.
"Right, Tony, you help Ziva with those files until McGee gets back, or you have your interview." Gibbs got up, grabbed his coffee cup and headed for the administrative level.
He was starting to regret not having grabbed that second cup when he had a chance, because his conversations with the Director always left him needing more coffee. When he reached the waiting area her assistant, Cynthia, motioned for him to walk right in. What he found inside made him certain he was going to need more coffee.
Seated in the Director's office was Jennifer Sheppard, the Commandant of the Marine Corps and the Secretary of Defense. This was not a good sign.
Director Sheppard was the only one to stand, "Agent Gibbs, would you close the door, please?" Gibbs did as he was requested and turned back to the assemblage with some hesitance. "Please take a seat, we have some things to discuss before this afternoon's briefing. Oh, and before I forget, I should introduce you to the Secretary-."
Commandant May interrupted her, "There's no need to introduce these two, Director Sheppard… Seeing as the Gunny spent a few days in the brig for decking the man, I think they are well acquainted." Director Sheppard looked positively ashen at the Commandant's statement and was hoping Gibbs had something to diffuse the situation.
"D'you ever get that tooth fixed?" Gibbs said as he took his seat.
The SecDef nodded his head and then said, "I hear that knot I gave you might have done you some good."
Gibbs smirked at the retort. "Yeah, well it wasn't the first time that was tried."
Commandant May stepped in to end the discourse, "And certainly not the last… Perhaps we should get this meeting underway before they start unzipping to see who wins again, shall we?" That statement might have caused most women to blush, but Jenn Sheppard had been around Gibbs for too long, she just chuckled.
"Gibbs, these gentlemen are here to check on the progress of the case so far, and to discuss some possible changes they want to make regarding this case… Among other things." Director Sheppard showed Gibbs her one tell when it came to giving him an idea of what is really going on. Most people might not have thought Director Sheppard would have a good poker face, but Jethro Gibbs knew better, and for her to show him even a hint of her hand made him acutely aware that he better be careful, since they had him at the table with the big boys today. This might be a good sign afterall.