Chapter 24
"I'm curious, Captain, why you didn't tell anyone about Captain Reed being married." Tony figured he cut to the chase.
Captain Payette shrugged.
"It is up to the Captain to talk about his personal life." She said with her French accent. "He was kind enough to forward me her Christmas card because he knew that I knew his wife."
Tony rolled his eyes at the fake sincerity.
"Any why did you tell Mrs. Reed that her husband was chasing Roxane Jamieson?"
Captain Payette blinked.
"Excusez-moi?"
"Roxane Jamieson. You told Mrs. Reed that her husband was interested in her. Why?"
"I…uh…I don't know what you're talking about. I mentioned to your other agents that Captain Reed was interested in her and that she wouldn't give him the time of day."
"But that's not what you told his wife." Tony said firmly.
"And why do you say that?" The Captain questioned.
Tony quickly debated how to explain the conversations the team had had with the Captain's wife.
"We've spoken with her, Captain." He shook his head sadly. "Did you think that we would not tell the poor woman about her husband's disappearance?"
Emilie pursed her lips in frustration.
Gibbs entered the observation room, staring through the one-sided mirror that allowed him to watch Janet Reed. He was surprised to see only Ziva in the room with him.
"Where are Tony and McGee?"
"Tony is questioning Captain Payette. Tim is observing."
"Why wasn't I called when she arrived?"
"We did not wish to disturb you." Ziva paused. "Tony also felt that he was the least biased to interview the Captain."
Gibbs raised an eyebrow.
"Did he now?" He asked quietly.
"Roxane and Captain Reed…they didn't…couldn't…she wouldn't…" Ziva started.
"You saw her reaction when she identified the body, Ziva." Gibbs tried to keep the pain out of his voice.
"That was because she was reliving the bombing. She would never get involved with someone who worked for her…indirectly or otherwise." Ziva protested. "That…woman…and trust me when I say I'm being kind in calling her that…is lying!"
"I'd like to believe that Ziva." Gibbs admitted. "And in my heart, I do. But the evidence…"
"The evidence shows a dyed blonde hair…Roxane is natural. The evidence shows that the Captain was killed while Roxane was on a plane."
"I'm not saying she killed him, Ziva." He looked at her deeply. "But what if she's involved?"
"She isn't." Ziva said firmly. "And if you think she is, you don't deserve her!"
Ziva stormed out of the room. Gibbs watched her leave before returning his gaze back onto Janet Reed.
He honestly didn't believe Roxane was involved, and it was soothing to know that Ziva felt the same, but it did hurt to hear her name linked, even as a lie.
"So, let's try this again, shall we, Captain?" Tony rounded the table and sat down across from the Canadian female officer. "Why would you tell Janet Reed that her husband was interested in a woman, but then tell us something else?"
"Would you believe amusement?"
Tony's face remained impassive.
"Non? Apparently not." The Captain sighed. "Perhaps you could send that delightful Agent David in? I might be more willing to answer the questions if they came from her lips."
Tony's eyes narrowed.
"Again, non. A shame, really." Emilie pouted prettily. Well, Tony figured he probably would have found her lips pretty if another more gorgeous set hadn't been connecting with his own last night.
"It is quite simple, really. Captain Reed was abusing his wife." She chuckled at Tony's look of disbelief. "No, not physically. Those wounds heal. He ignored his wife. Abused her trust in him. Tossed his vows of fidelity into the garbage as soon as he was given the chance. I thought that it was time she actually saw…and then perhaps she would move on to the life she deserves."
"But what was she going to see? Roxane Jamieson was not interested in Captain Reed."
Captain Payette waved a hand in the air. "It does not matter. If it wasn't Ms. Jamieson, it would be someone else. Janet needed to see the monster she had married and take action."
"What if I said that we believe she made her husband disappear? Would that action be appropriate in your eyes?" Tony asked coldly.
Emilie stared in shock.
"What if I said that Captain Reed is dead? Would that action be appropriate in your eyes?"
The Captain's mouth dropped open.
"Captain Reed? He is dead!"
"Did I say that?" Tony grinned. "Hey, I need a drink. You need a drink? No? Just sit tight, I'll be back soon."
Tony pushed himself away from the desk and left the room.
"Was that smart, Tony? Letting her know about Captain Reed?" Tim asked as Tony entered the observation room being used for the second interview.
"Did I, at any point, say that the Captain was dead?" Tony retaliated. "I just wanted to see her reaction, Probie."
"Well, she looks shocked. If she did kill the Captain, she's a great actress."
"How's our Captain doing, DiNozzo?" Gibbs barked as entered the room.
"Cold, Gibbs. I've seen lizards that were more warm-blooded than that one." Tony replied, ducking at a swat that never came. He frowned in confusion. "I mentioned a situation where Captain Reed might be dead and she did look genuinely shocked."
"Let's give Captain Reed's wife some time to think things over. I'll go talk to Captain Payette." Gibbs said.
"Uh, boss, are you sure that's such a hot idea?" Tony asked.
"Do you have a reason to think otherwise, DiNozzo?" Gibbs countered.
Tony mulled his answer over.
"No, guess not." He said slowly. "We'll be in here observing."
Gibbs knew that while that was standard operating procedure, Tony was hinting that they'd be there just in case things got out of hand.
"So you like being amused, do you, Captain?" Gibbs asked as entered the room. Captain Payette straightened in her chair.
"Can I help it if I have a sense of humour?" The French voice sounded almost petulant.
"Why would you want the Captain's wife down here?"
Silence.
"You see, I'm not buying this whole 'mis-treated wife' act of yours. I had a look at the electronic time cards for your lab. Seems like you've been putting in a lot of overtime, Captain."
"Your point?"
"Captain Reed spent a lot of extra time working as well. Now the way I see it, calling down his wife would distract him, causing him to spend less time at the lab and that would leave you time to do something…like….oh, I don't know…copy programs, set-up Captain Reed for failure, plot treason…"
"I would never be a traitor to my country!" Payette spat out, furious at the slanderous comment.
"But you did want Captain Reed out of the lab right?"
"God yes. He was breathing down my neck nonstop…deadlines to be met, no time for proper debugging or testing…I just needed some space."
"Space for what?"
More silence. Gibbs had quickly determined that Payette's silence meant she was hiding something.
"Being in the military doesn't pay much, does it?" Gibbs asked his voice tinged with compassion.
"We don't answer the calling for money, Special Agent Gibbs. We wish to serve our country, our people."
"But you want more don't you?"
"Who doesn't? But I'm not stupid. I have a funny feeling that you're implying that I would copy the software for sale to another company or country."
Gibbs raised an eyebrow.
"I would never betray my country in that manner."
"Oh?" Gibbs asked. "And in which manner would you betray your country?"
"Bastard."
"I've been called worse." Gibbs shrugged off the insult.