Disclaimer is back in Chapter 1
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Chapter 17
"Mrs. Reed?" Ziva asked into the phone.
"Yes." Came the response.
"My name is Ziva David and I'm calling from Washington. I work for NCIS."
"Being a military wife, you'll be happy to know that I know what that stands for." Came the smiling response.
"I'm calling about your husband, Captain Jason Reed."
Silence.
"Mrs. Reed?"
"I'm here." The smile was gone from the voice. "What's wrong with Jason? Has something happened?"
"He's disappeared, ma'am."
A gasp.
"Disappeared?" The voice was faint.
Ziva hated to lie to the woman. Finding out her husband had disappeared was one form of emotional trauma. Soon, she would learn that he was dead. Double hit.
"Yes, ma'am. Early yesterday morning he was reported missing." Ziva winced at that. She shouldn't have given the time.
"By whom?"
"A coworker."
"Why would a coworker report him missing? I mean, they were working at the lab at that time of day, right? Maybe he just went home for the night."
"They weren't at the lab, ma'am."
Silence again.
"I see."
"Ma'am, do you know if your husband has any enemies?"
"Not that I'm aware of."
"Are you aware of his reputation at work?" Ziva consciously paid attention to her tenses…no past tense allowed here.
"He's a hard worker…gets the job done."
"What about his non-professional reputation."
Silence.
"Ma'am?"
"I am aware of his rather…social…skills."
"And how did you feel about that?"
"It's part of why I married him. Jason made me feel like royalty…like I was his reason for being. I couldn't ask him to stop being him." The voice on the other end paused. "But I just wish he wasn't quite so social."
"What do you mean?"
"I heard he was going out with a co-worker." Blurted the wife.
"Who did you hear this from?"
"Captain Payette. She emailed me about it a few days ago. I actually received another email from her today, but she didn't mention anything about Jason disappearing…just saying hi."
"I see."
"Do you know anything, Ms. David? Do you know where he is? Is he okay?"
"When I know something, you'll know something, Mrs. Reed. Thank you for your time." Ziva gently hung up.
Gibbs stared at Ziva from his desk.
"Well?" He asked sharply.
"I think we need to call Captain Payette in." Ziva explained the phone conversation.
Gibbs nodded in agreement.
"Do it. And if she or Van Werther puts up a fight, arrest them."
Ziva grinned.
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"So nice to see you again, Special Agent David." Captain Payette smiled over Gibbs' shoulder towards the two-way mirror.
Behind the glass, Ziva shivered.
"Looks like our little Ziva has an admirer." DiNozzo cooed.
"Jar it, DiNozzo."
"That's 'can it', Ziva." McGee offered helpfully.
Ziva glared at him.
"You know, I'd pay some good money to see the two of you together. Jello wrestling pit. Dancing together. In bed. The possibilities are endless." Tony purred.
Ziva punched him in the arm.
"Hey! That hurt." He protested.
"Good."
He draped an arm around Ziva's shoulders.
"You know I'm kidding, right, Zee-vah?"
She glared at him. The name again…her senses were on alert.
"Because," Tony slowly started walking two fingers up her arm. Tingles…she was tingling…not good. They were watching an interrogation. McGee was in the room. They were at work. And…oh…not the inner elbow! She closed her eyes. "Because, I'm really not into the whole two-women-at-once thing…honest…just one woman…just one to totally focus on…give all of my attention to…"
"Too bad you're not her type." Ziva managed to whisper out, nodding towards the interrogation room.
Tony grinned.
"Yeah…a shame." He whispered back.
McGee watched the byplay…or rather foreplay…and suddenly found himself wishing he was somewhere else. He was beginning to feel like a voyeur with these two. Although, Abby would probably just sit here and grin…hell, she'd probably bring in some popcorn to munch on during the show.
"I guess that leaves you." Tony said in low seductive voice.
Ziva shivered.
"DiNozzo…Tony…we're at work…and we're not alone…." Her voice sounded strained, even to her own ears.
"Probie won't tell a soul…but you're right…we're at work." Tony's voice rose a bit, but his arm didn't leave Ziva. "I'll make you a bet."
Alarm bells rang inside her head.
"Bet?" She asked suspiciously.
Tony nodded.
"I'll bet you that Reed's disappearance is not due to technological espionage…but pure…unrequited…good old fashioned….lust."
Ziva stared at Tony's mouth as he dragged out the last word. She could see his tongue move behind his upper front teeth to from the letter l…the way his mouth remained open during the u-sound…and became fascinated with the slight curling of his lips on the harsh st-resonance.
"I'll take you…"
"Quiet, Probie!" Tony snapped back at Tim and returned his probing gaze back to Ziva. She nodded.
"We have a bet?" Tony asked.
Ziva nodded more confidently.
"You're on, DiNozzo. Not everything is about sex."
"But all the interesting stuff is." He waggled his eyebrows and turned his attention back to Gibbs in the room.
"You didn't ask what the wager is." Tony said, still watching Gibbs.
Ziva kicked herself. Trapped by DiNozzo. She pursed her lips.
"Well? What is it?" She snapped.
"Supper and a movie…in."
"In?" Ziva frowned.
"Yup. I lose and you come over to my place. I'll cook supper and we'll stay in and watch a movie of your choice. You lose and you're cooking me supper at your place…and we watch a movie there, too…my choice."
The brunette scowled. Roxane's voice came back to her….lace, satin or plain cotton.
"I'll send you a list of my favourite meals." Ziva boasted.
"And I'll send you a list of my favourite desserts." Tony countered.
McGee watched the two nervously. If Gibbs found out about this…and even though he wasn't involved, he knew Gibbs would read him the riot act and…and…whoops! Gibbs was started to speak.