Chapter 23
"Where's Agent Lowe?" Ziva asked the young agent sitting in the hallway. She had been making her rounds, and the presence of a new FBI agent bothered her.
"He requested reassignment. I'm filling in until Agent Gyllenskog gets back."
"And that will be?"
The fresh-faced agent looked at his watch. "In about an hour. I'm Agent Michael Donaldson, but no one ever calls me that."
"Why not?"
"I'm the new guy. The other agents all call me Don."
"Okay... Don. Tell Agent Gyllenskog that we will be wanting to speak to him when he gets back."
"Yes, ma'am."
"Aren't you going to ask who I am?"
"Oh, I know who you are, ma'am," Don said respectfully. "Agent Lowe told me all about you, and I read the entire case file from cover to cover at least a dozen times. I didn't want to be ignorant of any aspect of it."
"In that case, don't call me 'ma'am'. I'm a Mossad officer, not in the Navy."
"Yes, ma- Officer David," he said, pronouncing her name correctly.
"Good. Thank you, Agent Donaldson."
Don blinked and then smiled at the formal address. He nodded and returned to his seat. As he watched Ziva walk down the hall, he decided she was pretty easy on the eyes. He couldn't see what Agent Lowe had disliked about her. She was hard, yes, but she was on the job. That's what was required. Besides, she'd at least given him some respect, which was more than he could say for his colleagues. She turned the corner and disappeared from view. He found himself wishing that the room was closer to him. Don shook his head ruefully. He was being silly. There were still details of the case to absorb; so he flipped open the files again and began to peruse them idly, all the while keeping an eye and ear open for any invaders. When Agent Gyllenskog touched him on the shoulder, he couldn't figure out how he'd missed him.
"Agent Gyllenskog! I didn't even hear you. I promise, I was paying attention."
"I know you were, Don. Don't worry so much." Agent Gyllenskog grinned at the younger agent's discomfiture. "Anything happen while I was gone?"
"Nothing, in particular. Officer David came by and she said that she and Agent DiNozzo want to see you."
"That's fine. Stay here until I get back."
"Yes, sir."
Agent Gyllenskog turned quickly so that his grimace didn't show. Don almost saluted when he came around. He was young and naive, but time would cure both of those problems, provided he lived that long.