Author's Note: I have put an immense amount of effort and research into this story, but I may have made some factual errors regarding Marine Corps & some of the location references (I live in Australia, so I am going by maps). Please let me know of any errors & I hope you enjoy my story.

This chapter isn't particularly exciting, but its gives essential information for later chapters.

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The NCIS team arrives at Petty Officer Logan Rainer's to relieve the police officer staking out. Tony, Ziva & McGee enter to find the lounge room in disarray. Furniture is overturned & items lie smashed on the floor.

"According to Petty Officer Rainer's superior at the Marine Corps facility on Navy Street, he has not been in for two days," Ziva says, as she opens her kit to dust for prints.

"What did they say about Rainer's character?" Tony asks, snapping photos of the entire room.

"Apparently he was a loose canon," Ziva answers. "Often he was getting into trouble & acting violently towards others but never actually committed an act of violence."

"Until now," Tony murmurs.

McGee returns from searching the house. "I found this note, stuck to the screen of a computer in the bedroom."

102 Delafield Place, Thursday, 12 noon.

"That's midday tomorrow," says Ziva.

Tony says, "It's getting late. We'll thoroughly process this scene, try to find any evidence to tell us who the man Rainer assaulted was. We'll head over to Delafield Place early tomorrow morning & ambush Rainer when he shows up."

Tony flips open his cell phone & calls the Director. After a few rings she answers.

"Tony, how is the investigation going?" She asks.

"We're making progress, Director. Rainer's house looks like a bomb hit it. Something definitely went down here. We've got a lead, we should have Rainer in custody tomorrow."

"Keep up the good work, Tony."

"Thanks, boss."

ooooooOOOoooooo

Director Sheppard puts her cell phone back into her hand bag as she approaches the door of her hotel room.

"How's Tony doing?" Gibbs asks, as he opens the door for the Director.

"Just fine, Jethro. Have some faith in him. The conference dinner was delicious, don't you think?"

"It's a shame such an enjoyable evening was ruined by some old guy droning on."

"That 'old guy' was the National Security Advisor, Jethro, and I hope you were listening. You may think you know it all but if you get cocky, you'll slip up. Now, I'll see you at 7am sharp in the lobby. The conference resumes at 7:30am."

The Director enters her room & Gibbs retires to his room next door. He turns down silk sheets of his king sized bed & removes his shirt. As he turns on the sound system & dims the lights, there is a knock on the door. He grins & goes to open it, habitually making sure his gun is within reach.

He opens the door to see Jen, holding a bottle of champagne.

"Room service left this in my suite. I thought it must be a mistake – but then noticed I it was a bottle of Henriot Vintage Brut."

Gibbs, leaning on the doorframe with his arm, just looks up and gives her a devious, subtle grin.

"After all these years, Jethro, you remembered the champagne we drank in Paris?"

He steps aside to allows her to enter the room, closing the door behind her.

To be continued...
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