Disclaimer is back in Chapter 1.
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Chapter 18
"So, Captain Payette, I understand that you and Captain Reed's wife are penpals." Gibbs started.
"That's not a crime, is it?" A brown eyebrow arched questioningly
Gibbs shrugged.
"No, of course not. I'm curious, though, how you two met."
"Christmas stuff. I told you that Janet…Mrs. Reed…send us all Christmas cards. She knew we would all be heading home for the holidays, but I guess she wanted to send us stuff before then. Just to get us in the mood." The Quebecois accent became slightly more thick as the Captain remembered. "I sent her a thank you note, along with my email address…if she ever wanted to talk."
"Talk." Gibbs managed not to sneer, but the patented Gibbs' "I-don't-believe-you" look was apparent on his face.
"Talk." Captain Payette nodded. "Ma mère was a military wife…I saw how lonely she was when my father was away."
Gibbs nodded.
"So I take it that she responded to your note?"
Emilie nodded.
"And just what did you two talk about?"
The Captain remained silent.
"Captain, please. I'm trying to solve this case."
"If Captain Reed was missing, why is NCIS the only agency involved? I have not yet seen any local authorities. Have you notified the Canadian Embassy?"
"We're trying to keep this quiet until we learn more."
"Why?"
Gibbs noted how the interrogation had turned. He didn't like that.
"Because that's how we do things. Now what did you and Mrs. Reed talk about?"
"Stuff."
"Such as?"
"Girl stuff."
"I understand that that can mean several things in your case."
"It's not a crime to have the preferences that I do." The Captain looked towards the two-way mirror and smiled seductively. "Of course, if Ms. David prefers, I can be a very…bad…girl…"
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"Oh, she so wants you." Tony grinned, side stepping Ziva's punch.
"She's a suspect, Tony."
"Is that the only thing stopping you?"
"She is trying to distract us."
"It's working…I'm already thinking of what I want for dessert."
"Too bad you won't get it as you're going to lose."
Tony shrugged and grinned.
"Either way, I win."
Ziva glared at him. Roxane was right…what did she find so charming about Anthony DiNozzo?
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McGee entered Abby's domain with a big sigh.
"Why so glum, chum?" Abby's cheerful voice called out from her desk.
"Ever feel like you have no control in life, Abs?"
"All the time…it rocks!"
Tim stared at her in disbelief.
"How can you say that?"
"Because, if you had control all of the time, you'd have no fun in life!"
"But Gibbs…"
"Defense rests, Your Honour." Abby patted Tim on the arm. "Gibbs' idea of fun is working on his boat. As much as I love the man, he isn't exactly known for being the life of the party."
Abby took a step back and studied the young man.
"What's brought on this philosophical musing anyway?"
"Ziva."
Abby crossed her eyes.
"Seriously. Tony's obviously trying to get her into his bed. So is Captain Payette…one of the suspects in the Reed case. She's oblivious to it all…or avoiding it all quite nicely. But now she and Tony have made a bet on this case. I just can't keep up with all of this."
"Does Gibbs know?"
"No."
Abby's eyes sparkled.
"Abs, you're not going to tell him. They'll get in trouble." Tim's voice warned.
"So?" Abby practically bounced up and down in her plotting glee.
"I was in the room and while I'm not betting, Gibbs will yell at me, too."
Abby pouted.
"The fact that your adorable butt is on the line is the only thing saving them." Abby declared.
Tim twisted to look over his shoulder.
"You think my butt is adorable?" He asked.
"Absolutely precious, McGee." Gibbs deadpanned as he walked in. "Anything for me, Abby?"
Tim blushed, as he furiously hoped all Gibbs had heard was the conversation about McGee's butt.
"That sandbox had more divots and valleys in it than the sand traps from the last NCIS golf tournament."
"Meaning…"
"Meaning we've got squat."
Gibbs scowled.
"However, I was going through some of the other evidence that you were kind enough to bring me and I found a lovely blonde hair in some trash."
Gibbs blinked. Roxane was blonde. Roxane was on a plane at the time of the murder. But could her hair have transferred onto the killer at an earlier time? But there were lots of blonde people on the planet. One blonde hair did not make her a killer. His heart began to calm down.
"It's a dye job." Abby announced.
"Say again."
"It's dyed." Abby pointed to a microscope. "Have a looksie."
"Just explain it to me, Abs."
"Okay…there's an extra layer surrounding the follicle. That's the dye."
"And the natural colour?"
"Brunette."
Payette was a brunette.