CHAPTER 3

Kate, Tony, and McGee are all in the bullpen trying to find a new lead in the case. McGee sits at his desk absorbed in phone records, while Kate is looking over the personal file of the victim that they just received an I.D. on. Tony is playing Solitaire on his computer.

"Petty Officer Tom Lynch's record is exemplary; it's spotless," Kate says with a sigh.

"Lynch? No relation to the director David Lynch?" Tony says

"Who?" Kate asks

"David Lynch, director of cult movies like Mullholland Dirve, Lost Highway. Don't tell me you've never heard of him"

"No Tony, I've heard of David Lynch."

"I have," McGee says.

"Well, you would have Probie. Geeks always know the cult classics."

McGee makes his "not funny" face at Tony.

"What have we got?" Gibbs asks as he walks into the bullpen.

Kate stands up and walks over to the flat screen. "Petty Officer Tom Lynch. His record is spotless. Received the Medal of Honor and Distinguished Service Medal during his tour in Iraq."

"Phone records show one incoming call the night he was reported missing. The call was from a blocked number."

Gibbs stares at McGee.

"And I will find out what the number is."

"Tony" Gibbs shouts.

"Yeah boss."

"Well," Gibbs asks impatiently.

"The Petty Officer has no known enemies and no one knows why he was found in a warehouse that far from Norfolk. He was known to stay around the base or with a friend in Virginia when he went on shore leave."

Gibbs sits down at his desk. "Abby may have found us a lead. McGee, go down to the lab to see if Sean's made any progress."

"On it boss."

"And Tony," Gibbs gestures for Tony to come closer, "Abby said If you don't go easy on this one, you'll be hearing from her later."

Tony smiles nervously. "She wouldn't hurt me, would she?"

Gibbs slaps Tony's head "Well, she won't be smacking the back of your head, that's for sure."

Gibbs looks back at his computer. "Kate, grab your gear. You and Tony are going to the Petty Officer's house."

McGee gets off the elevator and walks into Abby's lab and smiles sadly. There's no loud music blaring as the door opens and he really misses that along with her company.

"Hey Sean. Gibbs wants to know if you have anything."

Sean lets out the breath he was holding in. "Oh hi Tim. I'll have something in a minute."

McGee looks at him funny. "You were expecting Tony, weren't you?"

"No, I, um." Sean sighs, "Yeah. He really doesn't like me, does he?"

"No, I don't think it's that. Tony's just….he loves Abby like a sister and he doesn't like seeing anyone else in her lab. He really misses her."

"Wow, she really must be something. I wish I could meet her. Everyone around here seems so sad that she's not here. "

"Well, Abby is a very lovable person. You'd like her." McGee tells Sean. "We're all pretty protective over her and her lab, but Tony is protective in a different way."

"The immature way?" Kate says as she walks up to the guys.

"I thought you were on your way to Petty Officer Lynch's house." McGee says

"I thought I'd come down here and see if we're looking for something specific." Kate replies.

There's a beep somewhere in the lab and Sean grabs a sheet off of the printer.

"Hmm. That's weird." Sean says after reading over the paper.

"What's weird?" Kate asks

"Fish."

"Fish?" McGee says incredibly.

"Fish and salt. A bit of fuel maybe," Sean says.

"So we're looking for a rope and fishing gear, possibly evidence that he was on a fishing boat." Kate determines.

"Yup. That's where the rope was most likely used before it became a murder weapon."