Chapter 4
Tim McGee knew what it was like to be the new guy. He had been hazed by DiNozzo and Kate and even though he had gained some seniority, he still got teased and made fun of by DiNozzo and occasionally Gibbs. It was more subtle, like calling him Elf Lord. With the new agent in the house who introduced himself as Ray Salazaar, it seemed that no one knew what to do with him save for Gibbs and Abby. And it gave plenty of room to study and think.
Per Gibbs, he gave the rundown of the case to Ray and the man listened and studied the file with intensity that made it seem like he was getting ready for an op that was life or death. He asked questions when necessary for clarification and none of them seemed redundant or made to be annoying. McGee liked that and it soothed the fact that the man in the desk next to his knew his favorite lab rat, Abby, and in a familiar manner. It had McGee curious and glancing at the man throughout the day.
The rapid clicking was not bothersome but it had McGee glance over and watch as Ray ran through the keys on his laptop with great speed. He thought he was fast but it looked like he had some competition. After his debrief, Ray had gone to work, cracking his laptop open. McGee had offered to log him in but the man declined politely.
As it turned out, he had his own login. It had McGee frown at that since the newest agent was pretty much a probie, as in being the new guy. It took time to get clearance and the like even if they did speed things up. That busted the theory of completely new guy, and maybe one that was already an agent, but was moved to Gibbs' team and already had the access. Either way, the point was that the man had access and he looked very comfortable using it.
It had piqued DiNozzo's interest, but he was unusually subtle about it. McGee knew without a doubt that the senior field agent was checking in with HR about Ray Salazaar. He glanced over to see Ziva working and she appeared to not be bothered, but he couldn't forget her reaction that morning. McGee considered it was attraction and he wouldn't be wrong since Ray seemed to have a similar reaction almost seemed to stare right through the woman. McGee thought that was very brave since Ziva was former Mossad and knew multiple ways of maiming to killing someone.
Turning his focus back to Ray, McGee observed that the man was really going at it with something. He leaned over to see what he was working on since Gibbs hadn't technically given him anything to do. In fact, the boss hadn't been back to the bullpen since he went up to speak with Director Vance. So there was plenty of time to ask questions. It was just a matter of who would do it first.
Ray was well aware that he was being watched and observed. He expected it and he knew Gibbs would leave him to do the explaining. He was just waiting until one of them asked. First thing he learned after being sent into exile was to never volunteer information. Let them ask and even then, don't give them more than what they asked for. It was a defense mechanism since he had been burned a couple of times after that and since then, it was approach with caution. Something that was hit or miss with him.
He knew that McGee was curious about what he was doing by the way he kept leaning over to take a look. At one point, he shifted to angle himself so the agent could get a better look, but made it look like he was stretching. He liked McGee on sight and his gut was telling him that it was okay to let the guard down a little.
He went through the casefile and the leads that had been followed up on already. His biggest thing was looking into Leland Biotech. There was something about that biotech firm that struck a nerve. It had him rub the back of his neck while he sifted through information. He had to piece together why an op from long ago was connected.
"Wow. You've gone through everything. And that's new."
Ray blinked and realized that McGee had sidled closer. He glanced at the agent and tapped a few keys. "Went a little deeper on Leland. A degree in computers works wonders, plus amusement on weekends and it helps to have security clearance," he replied, explaining what he was doing. He gave a slight grin to show McGee that he wasn't the bogeyman.
"You program?" McGee heard the explanation and while the fact that Ray admitted to security clearance, he was hung on the fact that the man knew computers.
"For fun mostly, but at the office… it's useful." Ray tapped a few more keys. He was used to holding conversations while otherwise occupied, but only if it wasn't during a serious matter like an op. He gave a slight grin since he remembered that he had something for Abby, meaning that he would have to make time later to go and see her. He clicked a few keys and brought up another page.
McGee had been watching and was impressed. They had more on Leland than their initial search gave them. He watched Ray frown as he opened up a web page and entered in the address. What he saw had him blink in surprise, "Wait. You're that Salazaar?"
Ray blinked and looked at McGee. He found the agent looking at him like he just met the pope or his favorite celebrity. He then glanced at what he was looking at and realized what had happened. He didn't realize that it would be recognizable once the connection was made, but he could have a little bit of fun with it. A ghost of a grin appeared and he couldn't help but tease the agent, "What other Salazaars are there?"
"Yeah McGoo, what other ones are there that haven't got a redaction as long as the Navy Yard," DiNozzo addressed McGee, but was looking at Ray. He had narrowed his eyes in suspicion at the man.
Ziva had been doing her work, finding it easy to pretend that everything was fine. She only looked up when she heard the tone in DiNozzo's voice. She heard the suspicion and it made her feel protective of Ray. She was tempted to jump up and come to his defense, but she knew well enough that he could handle it. She just didn't like it.
Ray looked at DiNozzo and gave a wry grin, "I see you've accessed HR. Redaction is a common thing when you are a former SEAL."
"You're a SEAL?"
"Former," Ray uttered though that wasn't true. He could still be called into active duty. He was just reservist. Time for technicalities later. "Some things still aren't clear to be released and… I've been undercover."
Ziva blinked at that. It wasn't exactly a lie. He did work undercover when he had to. He just wasn't known because he was NCIS's black ops operator. That was one thing he couldn't tell, but he knew how to work around it. The fact that he was mentioning it at all meant that he was giving a degree of trust to the team. That was a relief.
"Not to mention that you're the founder and CEO of DigiCom, the country's top programming company. They've developed programs used in forensic analysis, training programs…" McGee was filling in more blanks on the one thing that Ray could be a sort of public face in.
DigiCom, was the development company that Ray started when he realized that he wasn't going to get back in as a field agent. While he was paid, he needed another source of income. He started off small with the one thing that was always in the forefront of his thoughts and that was forensic analysis. He studied the competition and made something completely new and it jumpstarted his company on the path to being a top company with rumors that it had government contracts. The main specialty was in communications technology, but it branched into other areas. It was pretty impressive and nonexistent if one went to where Ray actually lived.
Ray could hear the hero worship in McGee's voice. No doubt NCIS and sister agencies have utilized training programs from his company or used technologies developed to do their jobs. Last he was aware, a prototype in communications was being used with an ODA team from DIA. He replied, "The gaming division has picked up in recent years. We recently got a contract to create Deep Six."
McGee wanted to groan at that. He remembered when his publisher approached him about an offer that was made. It was to create a tactical game story based on his book. At the time he said yes it was to get his publisher off his back for another book. He figured it was no big deal and it wasn't like anyone was going to find out until much later down the line when it came out, and even then it wasn't like his co-workers were into gaming. Now he was sitting with the owner and everyone knew. He tried keeping a neutral face.
"I always liked games that forced you to think and from my understanding, the names were going to be changed or something like that." Ray frowned as he was checking a few things. "Not my area though. That's Jo's."
"But you are the owner?" McGee raised his brow in a questioning manner.
"Yep. I get a kick out of making things that help catch the bad guys." Ray continued to stare at the screen, finding the connection he was looking for. "Now I remember why that sounded familiar."
"What sounded familiar?"
"I have a consultant over at Leland on nanotech." Ray sat back and frowned, wondering if that was the connection. The thing was, no one at DigiCom knew about his time as a field operator. They knew he was a former SEAL but that was about it. Mostly it was praise on his ingenuity. This though could spell trouble on his end.
"And you didn't think to tell us?" DiNozzo was on his feet and making his way towards Ray.
Ray sat back in his seat and looked at the senior field agent. He recognized the assertion of authority but he wasn't afraid of DiNozzo. He gave a look like he was bored or it wasn't a big deal. Usually that infuriated people. He shrugged his shoulders in a nonchalant manner, "I may be the owner and CEO, but my right hand Jo is the one that handles operations. I only see the reports."
"Sounds a little irresponsible to me," DiNozzo allowed as he studied the man. "It sounds like it's an excuse for something else."
Ziva thought she was going to have a heart attack the moment she heard that. She worried that someone would find out about him from the moment she accepted his offer of being a contact. It guilted her when she left him and went back to Mossad that led to her capture in Somalia. It relieved her when he came to save her and then guilted her again when he left after bringing her home. And yet she couldn't live without him in her life and she made that clear. Now it seemed that DiNozzo was going to unravel that.
Ray looked at DiNozzo. It could be that the man figured things out or he was just looking for an excuse. He was in the hot seat, and he could tell that it was bothering Ziva. He looked at DiNozzo and replied, "Maybe, but my talent is in programming and building things. Jo makes sure that I don't run it into the ground after I let it grow. I don't know all the projects, but I am consulted on when there's a problem. I like getting my hands dirty. Not sure about you." He cast a glance at DiNozzo's suit.
McGee blinked at that move while Ziva felt the air rush back into her lungs. It was a risk that Ray was taking making a comment about the suit DiNozzo was wearing, but McGee had to admire that since the man wasn't about to let DiNozzo walk all over him, and yet he was being oddly polite for someone who had once been one to get his hands dirty.
DiNozzo looked at Ray and a sort of awkward stare off began. It was awkward since DiNozzo was standing up and looking down at Ray. It was positional-wise a stance of dominance. Yet, Ray was looking up with a firm look and it hinted at anything but submission. It was clear to people in the room that the man had been in a leadership position and was not so easily intimidated by posturing of seniority. He had earned his stripes and wore them proudly.
"Grab your gear."
The spell was broken when Gibbs' voice entered the bullpen as he walked towards his desk to pull out his service weapon. "Got a dead sailor related to our dead Marine."
That got everyone moving except Ray. He sat back in his seat as he minimized his windows and locked his laptop. He watched as everyone started leaving, well aware he hadn't received any word in regards to his status. He may be reinstated, but he had to be cleared to handle evidence. He didn't even know why he closed his session on his laptop. Old habits.
"Do you need a special invitation, Salazaar?"
"On your six, Boss."
It was automatic for Ray to stand up and start moving. He started to head towards the garage where everyone else was heading when he was stopped by Gibbs. He looked down to see a holstered Sig being held out towards him. He glanced at the man with a raised brow and got his silent answer, encouraging him to wrap his hand around the weapon and pick it. Nothing more was said as the pair walked towards the elevator with Ray clipping the weapon to his belt.
It was a stroll down memory lane for Ray as he walked around the crime scene, sketching and writing on a notebook. Ziva was examining for evidence that could lead to their killer. McGee was taking photos of the scene and DiNozzo was talking to witnesses. Gibbs had handed out the assignments this time around even though his team usually did it automatically. Ray suspected that it was to prevent DiNozzo from giving him the dirty work. He wasn't going to question it but do his job.
He walked around the area, making note of evidence tags and marking them on his sketch. He also took note of measurements, angles and wrote them in his notebook. It was more eyes and no hands, but it was a start, and he started figuring out what Gibbs wanted him to do. He would indulge. So, he continued his observations, noting everything, but he couldn't help but let his gaze linger on Ziva. Luckily, Ducky's assistant Palmer was in his view.
Ziva was well aware that Ray was staring at her, and knew well enough he was only doing it because Palmer was there. For what reason and purpose, she guessed had to do with why he was walking around the scene. He wasn't just doing a basic sketch of the scene. She decided to ignore it and continue looking for anything that the killer could have left behind.
Palmer was oblivious to the staring and the tension that was existing between the newest agent and Ziva. He went about his business prepping the body for transport back to HQ after receiving a polite welcome from Ray even though they had bumped into each other earlier. He didn't have any issues with the man, and didn't doubt the fact that if Gibbs had him there it was because he wanted him there. He figured that Ray was a specialist since he seemed to be taking more notes than anyone else while completing a crime sketch.
Ray was well aware that this was an acid test and he was being studied. He knew that Gibbs knew he could be an investigator. It was a matter of showing the others that he could do the job. He studied the body as Palmer laid out the body bag and kneeled to survey the scene, noting the entry point on the body. Ducky had declared it was a GSW to the back. He looked at the injury and the way the blood pooled and frowned as he continued to kneel and stare at it. A thought was coming to mind as he shifted to look at the area around the body.
"What are you doing?"
Ray shifted to see that Ziva was looking at him. Her expression showed professional curiosity but her eyes spoke volumes. He knew that bluffing his way out was not going to fly with her. Besides, he had nothing to hide. He straightened up and gestured at the scene, "Surveying the scene. Getting a feel for it while sketching."
"Getting a feel for what?" Ziva was writing on the evidence envelope for the evidence she had collected.
"The scene. Visualizing it going down." Ray moved closer and looked at the body. "Palmer, was there unburnt powder?"
Palmer finished getting the body in the bag and was preparing to lift it. He frowned as he recalled the initial observations and replied, "No."
Ziva frowned, asking, "What does that have to do anything?"
"Presence of powder," Ray explained. He stood above where the body fell and started turning in a circle, eyeing the surrounding buildings. "Indicates an extremely close encounter. The usual effect on the entry would is stippling. Lack of it means that there was some distance, like dueling distance, but taking into account the witness statements… I'd say that Lt. Caldwell was hit by a sniper round. More likely from a Remington SR-8."
"Now that is laughable," DiNozzo's voice entered as Palmer rolled the body away. "There is no way you can tell what kind of a rifle that was used."
"Entry hole is consistent with a .338 Lapua Magnum," Ray pointed out, "The kind of ammo used for a Remington and it's one of the more popular rifle." He gave a slight shrug and allowed, "Of course, Ducky will need to retrieve the bullet and Abbey would need to confirm."
DiNozzo and Ziva looked at Ray like he had just recited the algorithms to launch a space shuttle. He looked back at them like it was the most obvious thing in the world. DiNozzo frowned and asked, more as a means of trying to make a fool of Ray, "Okay, so, if it was a sniper, then why was Lt. Caldwell out here in the first place?"
"Can't tell you that," Ray replied with a shrug, "But I can tell you where it came from."
DiNozzo grinned at that, "Alright then. Show me."
Ray gestured for Ziva to come towards him. Once she was close enough, he moved her to where he could ascertain the victim had been standing when he went down. "Since Ziva is roughly the height of the lieutenant, she'll be Caldwell. From initial observation of the body, point of entry was here," he explained. Using his gloved pinky, he touched Ziva's back gently.
DiNozzo was impressed and amused. He could tell Ziva wasn't liking it and it showed in her face. In fact, he didn't know anyone who could touch the ninja from Mossad like that and walk away without being maimed. It was a slow means of gaining favor.
Ray ignored everything except presenting his evidence, "Now the angle suggests coming from an elevation that is gradual but not steep. Makes sense since there are no skyscrapers out here. Taking that into account, position of victim, wind adjustments, our killer fired from approximately… that direction." Ray pointed at what appeared to be an old warehouse. He shrugged his shoulders, "Give or take."
"Nice to see you haven't lost your touch," Gibbs' voice entered as he approached. He had seen the whole demonstration and decided to let it play out. He couldn't protect Ray from everything and the man knew how to play well with others.
Ray shrugged as DiNozzo squirmed wondering how much of the conversation Gibbs may have heard. It was a wild card since sometimes he did and sometimes he didn't and it was always random, if you judged by the head slaps. Ray was the one that replied, "I know my guns and specs."
Gibbs didn't comment on that, but he gave a silent command that Ray acknowledged. He did say, "Take McGee with you."
Ray nodded as he put his crime sketch in his kit and picked it up. It was going to be a hike to the building, but not a problem for him. He paused by McGee as he was wrapping up his photos and said, "Need you to come with me."
"What for?"
"Found where the bullet came from."
McGee pursed his lips. He considered questioning it, but decided against it. He picked up his kit and made sure his camera was secure before trotting to catch up with the newest agent. He waited until they arrived at an old warehouse that was a hike from their crime scene to ask, "You're saying that the bullet that killed Lt. Caldwell came from here?" He frowned at that since he was not entirely aware of the conversation that explained it.
"Killer was a sniper, McGee," Ray replied as he looked upwards and a means of getting to the roof. "Lack of powder, angle and lack of evidence confirms it." He found what he was looking for and gestured for McGee to follow.
McGee was wide eyed at the explanation, but accepted it. "And you think this is from where he shot from?"
"About the right distance for a decent shot," Ray replied as he started climbing the fire escape. "It's what I would have done. If I were still a SEAL."
McGee nodded, accepting the unspoken answer that the agent with him was like Gibbs in that they both trained as snipers. It took one to know one. He followed Ray up the escape to the roof, pausing slightly to take a breath. Heights still made him nervous, but not crippling in fear. He just needed the moment to reassure himself.
The breeze was cool and it rippled through Ray's hair as he did an initial survey of the building. He looked along the wall that would have faced where the crime scene was. There were a number of good spots to shoot from. Without precise measurements, he was just going to have to search until they found something. He gestured at the wall, "That wall. Take it slow. Look for anything to indicate a sniper next. Dirt voids, casings, if any… the works."
McGee nodded and went to the opposite end of their search area. He held his camera and noted that Ray had pulled out one himself and started looking at the ground. McGee turned his attention to his task and started looking. It was slow and almost tedious, but they had to check everything. Even McGee could see that there were a number of potential places and there could be evidence that was tracked as the shooter made his exit.
It was a good lesson in patience since they were both near the middle when McGee caught a glint of something. He kneeled to take a closer look while calling, "Ray. I got something."
Ray looked up from where he had been looking and moved over to where McGee was hunkered down and joined him. He pulled out an evidence marker and put it next to what McGee was looking at and let the agent take a few shots. He blinked as he saw it, not quite believing that they would find something like what he was looking at.
Reaching out tentatively with a gloved hand, Ray picked up the piece of evidence and brought it to eye level. It was shell casing. A .338 like he said it would be. Now that they found it, he had to verify that this would have been the place. He handed the casing to McGee to bag and tag and shifted to look at the ledge for any signs of a pod rest for the barrel.
He didn't see one, but he was kneeling and facing in the direction of the crime scene. Using his camera like a scope, he brought it up to take a look. He moved the camera around and visualized the shooter tracking his target. It reminded him when he was a greenie and his partner was his spotter. He maneuvered the camera until he caught Ziva. He tracked her as she was finishing what she was doing.
"So you think this is it?"
Ray blinked and lowered the camera. "Yeah," he replied as he cleared his throat. "Line of sight to the victim is from here." He gestured where he was positioned. "Casing would have cleared after the shot was made, but he didn't police the casing." He looked downward at the ground where it had been marked.
"Good or bad?"
"Good for us… maybe." Ray mused a bit at that. Good snipers policed their brass when the job was done. This was sloppy. And he didn't like it.
"Maybe a calling card," McGee offered. He held out the evidence bag with the casing. "There appears to be some sort of marking on the casing. Looks manmade."
Ray looked up sharply and held out his hand. "Let me see."
McGee handed it over a little confused at the tone he was hearing. He didn't say anything, but finished up to make sure that they didn't leave anything behind. In the meantime, Ray studied the evidence and rotated the bag until he saw what McGee had been looking at. He felt his throat constrict slightly at what he saw. Things just got a lot more complicated.
A/N: Another dead body and it seems what Ray fears is what everyone suspects. Things just got a little more complicated. Stay tuned for more Operation Dead Zone.