Chapter 11

Distinguished-looking men, elegant women in expensive dresses and even more expensive jewels, waiters circulating with trays of champagne flutes. The excitement and anticipation surrounding the opening of the new wing at the Los Angeles Museum of Ancient History was palpable.

SECNAV shared a laugh with Winifred Korinth, whom she had not seen in many years. Mrs. Korinth pulled out some old photos and they huddled over them.

But not everyone was who they seemed to be. Numerous undercover LAPD officers and NCIS agents discreetly worked the crowd. Callen and Sam were posing as wealthy bankers and Kensi was playing the part of a curator at the museum.

Across the room, she spotted Deeks chatting up Dr. Elise Korinth, a vision in an apricot-colored designer dress, and wondered what kind of yarn he was spinning. She decided she needed to find out, although Dr. Korinth nodded and seemed genuinely interested.

"Martin Deeks, attorney. I make sure the team has all the necessary permits and paperwork before the dig begins. You know, keep everything on the up and up."

"Yes, that is a vital component of archaeology today. So unlike the early days of my father's explorations."

He threw out some more legalese or maybe it was just BS. Kensi wasn't sure, but it sounded impressive and it was amusing to listen to Deeks playing his part. She had almost forgotten that he was, in fact, a member of the California bar.

Deeks noticed Kensi approaching. "Ah, Dr. Korinth. Have you meet Ms. Blye? She's one of the curators here at the museum."

The two women shook hands. Dr. Korinth asked some questions and Kensi spewed out a bunch of facts about antiquities, either from Wikipedia or maybe a dossier prepared by Hetty. Once she paused as if carefully considering a question. Actually, she was waiting while Eric fed her the answer through her ear wig. No matter, she sounded sexy as hell.

That's my girl, thought Deeks with admiration. He nodded and seemed to be following the conversation while his eyes noted the people around them. He saw Mr. Beckwith greeting well-wishers near the front of the gallery. He was holding his injured arm gingerly after refusing his wife's suggestion to wear the sling from the hospital.

A small podium was set up in front of the double doors that would be opened in a few minutes to reveal the new wing. A new group of people came up to speak to Dr. Korinth and Kensi and Deeks drifted away.

A waiter came by and Deeks snagged two flutes of champagne. "Deeks, we're on duty," Kensi reminded him.

"I know, but I'm thirsty and if we don't appear to mingle we stand out as law enforcement. Look at SECNAV's security boys. Are those gorillas in suits, or what?"

"There is that," she said and took a delicate sip of the bubbly.

"How do you do it?" he asked.

"Do what?"

"Wear those killer heels. Don't get me wrong, I like them. They enhance your allure."

Kensi looked down at her feet and shrugged. "It's just something girls know how to do."

"For the record, I'm eternally grateful that you're the one wearing them and not me."

Kensi laughed. "That would be a sight to behold."

Callen was speaking now. "Anything unusual, guys?"

"Nada. All quiet on this side," said Deeks.

"Let's hope it stays that way," said Callen.

"Ladies and gentlemen. Thank you so much for joining us for this very special evening," began Mr. Beckwith at the podium. He paused and stared at someone in the crowd, a look of shock on his face. He cleared his throat. "Pardon me. I've been a little under the weather the last couple days." An aide behind him passed him a bottle of water. He took a quick swallow and made some brief remarks before introducing Dr. Elise Korinth.

She spoke for about 15 minutes about her late father and his love for Egyptology. Then she turned around to cut a large ceremonial red ribbon and open the double doors to the new wing. The applause was robust and the crowd began to press into the first gallery. Exclamations of delight were heard as the priceless artifacts and antiquities were revealed.

"Did you see that?" asked Kensi.

"Yeah. Something's not right," said Deeks. "He recognized someone."

Eric spoke in their ears. "Guys, an hour ago LAPD found a wrecked and abandoned car near the home of Carolyn Pearson, daughter of Ronald and Emily Beckwith. A Trump mask was found in the back seat. It's being processed for DNA and fingerprints as we speak."

"We've been looking at this wrong," said Sam. "It's about Beckwith, not the Korinths or Bradley Webster."

"I think you're right," said Callen.

Eric continued. "There's more. The wrecked car is registered to a Justin Pearson, same address as Carolyn and her black Mercedes is now reported stolen. I'm sending you Justin's picture."

"Kensi, Deeks?"

"We heard. I think Justin's here in the crowd," said Kensi.

Shouts erupted at the front of the gallery. A young man in jeans and a black jacket was waving a gun as he confronted Beckwith. "You think you can lock me up in that place like a dog? I'm your family! I hate you!"

Guests began screaming and running in all directions. Weapons came out as LAPD and NCIS agents tried to get control of the crowd. SECNAV's security detail rushed her out a back entrance. LAPD rounded up Winifred and Elise Korinth and stashed them in a secure office. As if there wasn't enough confusion already, the lights flickered and the gallery went dark. It was several long seconds before the emergency lights came on.

"Justin, it was for your own good. We didn't know how else to help you," wailed Beckwith. He dropped to his knees and started sobbing. "Please don't do anything stupid. Think of your mother. She loves you so much. All of us want what's best for you."

"Listen to him, Justin. Don't make the situation any worse," said Sam. "I don't want to hurt you. See, I'm laying down my weapon." As he placed it on the floor, Callen grabbed Justin from behind and disarmed him. He kicked the weapon toward Sam.

Five seconds before the lights went out, Deeks couldn't believe what he was seeing. "Kensi, look! Obama at your one o'clock."

Kensi was stunned. One of the waiters was pulling on an Obama mask and running into the new wing with a fireman's axe in his hand. "What the hell?"

"Federal agent!" she yelled and they took off after him. He ran around a corner and raised the axe to hack into a long case displaying gold jewelry on loan from the Egyptian Museum in Cairo.

"Bad idea, dude," yelled Deeks. "The spirits of all those dead Pharaohs are gonna rise up out of their pyramids and bite you in the butt and haunt your dreams."

Without taking her eyes off Obama, Kensi said, "Say what?"

Undeterred, Obama swung twice at the case, but nothing happened. "Shit!" he yelled. Then he threw the axe toward Kensi and Deeks and reached behind his back for a gun.

"Hey!" yelled Kensi. "Drop the weapon!"

"Shut up, bitch!" He fired repeatedly at the case.

"Hey, you moron. That's bulletproof glass," said Deeks. "I'm really tired of this jerk."

"Copy that," agreed Kensi. They fired simultaneously as Obama turned to run deeper into the gallery. He face-planted on the cold marble floor and yelped and writhed in pain. "You bitches hit both sides of my ass!"

"You should be glad we didn't double-tap you in the forehead," said Kensi. Deeks cuffed him and rolled him onto his back. Kensi bent and ripped off the mask. "Would you look at this."

"Well, well. Museum creeper guy."

The guy blinked in surprise. "That's right. You thought we didn't notice you that day, but we did because we're federal agents and that's what we do. Can I get a high-five, Kensi?"

"Oh, yeah." They slapped palms. She looked back to their perp. "Actually, he had a bad feeling about you and I trust him because he's my partner."

Deeks grinned at Kensi. A moment of understanding passed between them. "Thanks, partner."