Disclaimer : You'll have to re-read Chapter 1 for it.

Chapter 7

"What an original way to find out my marital state, Special Agent Gibbs." Roxane shot back. "I prefer Ms. I'm too old for Miss. You could try Roxane however. Less formal and would probably put me at ease during this interrogation."

"It's an interview."

"Whatever." She waved a hand in the air, dismissively.

Gibbs' hands clenched around the file.

"The beginning please." He repeated.

"You'll have to be more specific." Roxane replied, staring back at Gibbs, undaunted.

"Roxane, please tell us your name, position, company and relationship with Captain Jason Reed." Ziva asked patiently. She was going to need all of her patience to refrain from smacking either of these two...may both at this rate.

Roxane's blue eyes never left Gibbs' own as she started to talk in a monotone voice.

"Roxane Jamieson, Director of Training, Strategic Operations with Lansing Corporation. In regards to this investigation, we provide a liaison service between Canadian and American militaries, with the mission to reduce the likelihood of another friendly fire incident experienced several years back in Afghanistan. In our efforts to improve communications and the working relationships between the two militaries, there are joint operations with representatives from both sides."

"And Captain Reed?" Gibbs asked, returning the stare.

"Captain Reed was assisting us in developing a computer-based simulation for joint war game operations. Our contract is with a local company…Intel Initiatives….affectionately referred to as aye-aye."

Ziva rolled her eyes at the bad joke.

"Who is Sara McLean?" Ziva asked.

"Ah, Sara." Roxane drawled out slowly. "An assistant programmer. She could go far in the world if she got it out of her head that the Prince Charming is just around the corner. She's so busy looking for Mr. Right…while passing the time with Mr. Right Now. I believe she and Captain Reed were working on a module regarding possible countermeasures during a fire-fight in a jungle environment. You'd have to ask their direct supervisor at I.I."

"And that would be?" Gibbs probed.

Roxane thought for a moment. "Van Werther. Ferdinand Van Werther."

Gibbs blinked.

"Yeah…not the prettiest of names. But I went to school with a guy who actually had the name Erdem Ordem. I think his father was the Swedish chef from the Muppets. I'm not kidding. We just called him Bork Bork."

Gibbs swallowed a smile, but one side of his mouth slightly tilted up.

Ziva looked confused.

"American humour?"

Roxane nodded.

"I will never understand how American culture has evolved." She mused.

Roxane frowned. "Hey, my love of opera is attributed to Bugs Bunny. The very first opera I saw was "The Barber of Seville" and, sure, while all I could picture was the wascaly wabbit and Elmer Fudd, I damned well appreciated the music."

"We digress." Gibbs stated.

Roxane took a sip of her water.

"What else would you like to know?" She asked.

"The obvious. Who would want to kill Captain Reed and why." He replied.

"Ask his wife." Roxane said calmly.

Ziva looked up, started.

"He's married?"

"Was Ziva…he was married. While a competent soldier and an excellent computer programmer, our darling Captain was no saint. He could easily be distracted by a nice set of legs and an even nicer set of brea…"

"Ms. McLean mentioned something about co-workers not dating." Gibbs interrupted.

Roxane nodded. "Probably something Ferdinand put into place. This guy has all the social life a cucumber on the 'reduced to clear' cart. But, I'll admit, he gets the job done. I think his theory was that if the team worked around the clock, they'd get the program done in record time, I.I. would get their bonus, and he'd be a sought-after commodity on the computer scene."

"Miss…Ms…Roxane…." Gibbs leaned forward. "I have to ask this. Where were you last night?"

"On a plane, from Ottawa to Washington. Company plane." She wrote something down on a piece of paper and slid it across the table to Gibbs. "This is the cell phone number for the pilot. He can send you the plane manifest, including passengers, cargo and flight plan."

Gibbs nodded.

"Thank you."

"Will there be anything else, Special Agent Gibbs?"

"No. Thank you for coming in."

Roxane stood up.

"Ziva knows how to reach me if I can be of any further assistance."

Ziva stood up, as well.

"I'll walk you out."