I'm so sorry it took so long to update. This is another filler chapter, but there are a variety of reasons why I haven't been able to post the next few chapters, but they will be up soon. Please read and review!
Spoilers 5x04 "Identity Crisis"
"Not bad," Tony hears Ziva say and his curiosity meter is peeked.
"All right, look at this one. You're going to going to love this guy," Tony notices the two women's matching smile as they glance back at McGee's computer screen.
"Yeah, he would not be safe with me. I would eat him," the Israeli woman's eye light up and Tony is a little bit horrified.
"He's so adorable. How can you say no to that face?" Tony eyes narrow as the two women peer over McGee's shoulders to look at the screen.
"Please tell me you're looking for a man for Ziva?" Tony asks because there is really no man who can handle the machine that is Ziva David.
"Not me," Tony eyes narrow on the man as Ziva looks over her shoulder at him.
"McGoo, is there something you want to tell me? Or has Kate finally decided that a dating site isn't the worst idea on the planet," this earns him a glare from the two agents, one especially from his fellow Senior Field Agent.
"Looking at animal rescue sites," McGee says not looking up from the computer screen.
"McGee's thinking about getting a puppy," Tony tries hard not to chuckle as he walks over to McGee's desk.
"Puppy's a lot of work—you got to feed it, walk it, train it," Tony knows he would never do it.
"Oh you mean like you?" Tony growls at her and Kate fails miserably not to laugh and Tony can't help the smile that it brings to his face.
"Yeah. I'm not 12, all right?" McGee glances between the two of them and then goes back to looking at the screen while saying this.
"I work hard. I deserve someone who will jump up all excited when I get home, you know? Lay on the couch, watch TV. Maybe lick my face a little bit," Tony can't help, but laugh it is so obvious that McGee needs a girlfriend desperately. Both Ziva and Kate laugh at McGee's enthusiasm.
"Might be easier getting a girlfriend," he is glad he says this because this makes Ziva laugh and Kate looks on knowingly.
"Oh!" Ziva lets out with laughter in her voice obviously figuring out that he is making fun of McGee.
"Which might be even easier with a puppy. Even for you," Tony can't help the incredulous look that fills his face at hearing this.
"I'm not ready to start taking tips from you on this yet, Probie," yet, not ever is what Tony thinks.
"Tony, I think it's time you get back on that horse," he is not as broken up about Jeanne as he has pretended to be. He is biding his time before he makes a move on Kate and sweeps her off her feet.
"Hmm," Tony purposefully looks away from Kate as he pretends to ponder this.
"Are you getting a pony?" Tony glances at the screen not surprised by Ziva misunderstanding what McGee is telling him.
"It's an adage," he hopes that will get the point across.
"I'm not familiar with that breed," Tony holds a serious expression not letting on that he is about to let out a joke. Kate sends him a warning look to not be mean.
"Yeah, well, they are quite rare. Sort of a cross between a Pegasus and a unicorn," this earns an eye roll from the ex-Secret Service Agent.
"Ziva, what getting back on horse really means is that after you have failed at something you have to get up and try again. So the saying goes if you fall off the horse, you should get back on it again. Also adage means the same thing as idiom," Tony focuses his eyes on the screen as Kate is nice enough to explain the saying to Ziva.
"So, who's the favorite?" he stares long and hard at the screen.
"The pit bull," Tony can hear the disgust in the Mossad Officer's voice both about the dog and his joke.
"I'm surprised, McGee doesn't want a little purse sized dog," Tony smirks at Kate's dig.
"Yeah the pit bull makes sense for you or Kate. Not really for McGee," he can't help the laugh as he thinks of something a little less mean then what Kate had said, but none the less mean. Tony realizes that saying the love of his life needs a pit bull isn't going to help his cause.
"He's more of a spaniel kind of guy. Cocker, maybe?" His eyes light up imagining the man with a spaniel.
Tony glances up horrified as Gibbs slides in next to McGee as Kate is now peering over his head next to Ziva. "How about an Australian Shepherd?"
"Oh," Tony thinks it over and it totally makes sense.
"They're working dogs," Gibbs walks away to his desk while saying this.
"Pick it up, DiNozzo," the man orders.
"On it, boss," Tony heads straight for his desk as Ziva and Kate head to their desks as well.
"A.F.I.P, smooth things over," that doesn't sound good.
"Please hold. What did we do to incur the wrath of the Armed Forces Institute of Pathology?" it wasn't like he had done anything bad in a while.
"Ducky kept one of their cadavers," Gibbs says looking over at him from his desk.
"Ducky stole a cadaver?" Ziva asks.
"I'm sure he had a good reason," McGee adds.
"Ducky wouldn't steal anything," Kate laughs and Tony can tell she doesn't even really believe her own statement.
"I hope so," they all prepare to follow the team leader.
"Sit. Stay," Tony lets out a breath and he is immensely glad he isn't actually a dog owned by Gibbs. That dog would get in trouble for having any kind of fun what so ever.
"What did you find under the pier?" their boss asks meeting them as the four of them make the trek back from where the body had been found.
"Uh, 85 cents, two batteries and a bottle cap," Tony pokes McGee him the headphone as the two of them are a few steps behind Ziva, Kate, and Gibbs. Kate gives a shrug indicating that she hadn't found anything either.
"No mercury, no needle," Ziva adds.
"Keep looking. Got to find someone who knew him," Gibbs says.
"Highland Beach in October. Not much of a tourist draw. Soft-shell crab season's almost over. People really like boats that much?" Tony can't help, but skeptical.
"You work for the Navy, DiNozzo," this earns a knowing look from the older female agent.
"That doesn't mean I like boats," this earns a chuckle from Kate as he follows Gibbs towards a nearby restaurant.
"Maybe we should start with this waitress," Kate would so roll her eyes if she had been here to hear that.
"Eating or asking questions? If you were hoping for subtle, you could have lost the guns. Or at least the hats," the woman raises a good point. He thinks their windbreakers and hats are rather obvious.
"Uh, excuse me. I'd just like to show you a photo, see if, uh, you recognize this man?" Tony follows the waitress over to the bar as Gibbs walks around talking to other patrons.
"Okay. You trying to build suspense?" he gets a little flustered realizing he hasn't pulled out the picture.
"No. Uh, it's just that the man in the photo is dead and, uh, some people find that shocking," he hopes that is reassuring.
"Oh. Thanks for being gentle," gentle is a nice word to hear. If only he could get those kinds of compliments out of Kate he wouldn't feel like he is fighting a loosing battle.
"I'm a gentleman, "Tony says flashing her a pearly white smile and even if he is in love with Kate he won't pass the chance up to flirt with a pretty girl especially since his partner doesn't even seem to know he is alive other than when she is taunting him. Though they do share a love for making fun of McGee, he doesn't think it is something to base a relationship on. Okay he knows he is just being bleak because they have a lot more in common than that, but it is just hard when he seems to be getting nothing from her.
"Uh, so, the waitress, Miss Shannon O'Hara remembers our guy. Never got a name, paid cash, big tipper. How about you biker gang there?" he knows it probably didn't go well.
"Oh, they're just passing through," he nods.
"That it?" he asks surprised that the man didn't get more.
"Yeah, they don't like cops much. Check out the brunette at the table," Tony turns to where Gibbs is looking and there sits a pretty young thing in a pant suit.
"God eye, boss. I'll tell you, my radar is just totally shot. She's smokin'. That's not what you meant. You were suggesting that she seems interested in our presence, maybe a little too interested, and that I should question her. Not a problem. Mm. That's a problem," Tony glances around mostly gagging his boss' reaction and when he turns back the woman is gone.
Kate leans against the Charger waiting for Tony and Gibbs to appear so they can head back to the Navy Yard, when she notices a well dressed woman heading towards them that is obviously the one Gibbs wants them to look.
"Oh, excuse us," she says as she purposefully runs into her as does Ziva.
"No, excuse me," the woman glances between them.
"Mind if we ask where you're going in such a hurry?" Kate glances at McGee says this.
"What business if it of NCIS?" the woman obviously knows who they are. Well they still had the hats and windbreakers on which were a dead giveaway to those who had heard of the small federal agency.
"We're looking for anyone who might have known this man," Gibbs adds handing the photo to her.
"He's dead?" the woman is definitely shocked and Kate can tell that there is definitely a story behind how this woman and the man on Ducky's table no each other.
"You know him?" Gibbs asks.
"His name's Marvin Hinton. He was with me," Kate raises her eyebrow questioning the way that this well dressed woman has said this, but she wouldn't be surprised if the woman was pumping the dead man for information.
"And you are?" Kate can tell that this woman could very well be a detective or federal agent.
"Careful. I was just reaching for my I.D.," Kate gets why Ziva might be scared about the woman pulling out a gun. Though the woman would be no match for the five of them especially since they have her surrounded.
"Special Agent Courtney Krieger," Gibbs reads looking over the badge.
"Hinton was working for the FBI," Kate is definitely interested now.
"Still can't find any record of Marvin Hinton," McGee says frustrated.
"And you won't Marvin Hinton doesn't exist anymore," Kate eyes Krieger interested as the woman stands directly in front of her desk so she glance at the rest of the team.
"Anymore?" Kate can sense an FBI cover up coming on.
"His cellmates swear Marvin Hinton served six years at Cumberland, although any record of it vanished when he was released last month. We had to reassemble his history by hand; it's not complete. He once went by the name Fredrick LeClaire," that is interesting.
"Hinton aka LeClaire. Bootlegging, false I.D.s, resisting arrest, theft," McGee reads off.
"The guy's a career felon," Gibbs doesn't look all that surprised. FBI and criminals it kind of tracks even with his death being oddly suspicious, it must have something to do with the fact that the dead man doesn't exist anymore.
"Interstate trafficking, primarily," Krieger clarifies.
"How did he show up on your radar?" Ziva asks obviously confused by why this guy is important to the FBI.
"Was a routine tip. Picked him up offloading stolen cargo containers," Krieger adds.
"At which point, you discover a nameless man whose entire history's been erased. No fingerprints, no criminal record," Tony adds and he has a point.
"Not even a high school transcript," Krieger says walking around a little more as she says this.
"That's impossible, you'd need first-person access to a federal mainframe, credit ratings, countless private companies," McGee adds having obviously thought it over before.
"That's be like taking spit out of the ocean," Kate cringes at Tony's analogy. Only Tony would find such a disgusting adage that makes her a little grossed out.
"I've seen it done to a point, but that would take months and a lot of money," she quickly adds and Krieger nods in agreement.
"How did he do it?" Gibbs asks as the woman stops in front of him.
"Claim he didn't. Said he was contacted by someone offering the service," Agent Krieger says glancing between all of them.
"The Eraser," Tony says out of thin air and Kate wonders where Tony has pulled that one from.
"What movie is that from?" McGee asks eyeing Tony suspiciously and of course only Tony could come up with movie references and nothing else.
"I don't know, Flashdance?" only Tony would think that is obvious. Sometimes she wonders when he has had the time to watch even half of the movies he has referenced.
"Why was Hinton not back in prison?" she asks and she notices Ziva raised eyebrow and she has stolen what the woman had wanted to say.
"He was a small fish, but the eraser… he's our real target. We hoped he would contact Hinton, get paid off and finish the job," Krieger once again goes back to pacing.
"Provide Hinton with a new identity," Tony adds as the woman stops near her desk.
"One that wouldn't raise any red flags with any of the federal agencies, smart," Kate says satisfied because it would have been easy for the man to slip through the cracks especially if he hadn't planned on leaving the country or participating in any big jobs.
"Exactly. I was left to baby-sit. It was my first field assignment. Never expected him to be killed," Kate would have to agree with that, but this woman is obviously inexperienced since she wasn't keeping a closer eye on him and didn't realize the man was dead until they told her.
"That is what happens to bait," Ziva words come with a bite and Kate wonders what Krieger has done to befall into the wrath of one Ziva David. Okay, wrath is a little much, but it is clear as day that Ziva feels obvious distaste towards the young FBI agent.
"Hey, it's not your fault," Kate raises her eyebrow at hearing this and seeing Tony reach out to the FBI agent. Tony trying to defend Krieger's actions makes her roll her eyes because honestly the man couldn't keep it in his pants.
"So why didn't Hinton skip town when he had the opportunity?" McGee asks obviously perplexed.
"He was having too good a time on the government expense account. But we did have him under 24-hour monitoring, three-team shifts," Krieger says emphasizing her point by showing them the picture.
"What changed?" Gibbs looks like if the woman was a team member he would have criticized her by now and probably made the woman cry like a baby.
"The eraser didn't make contact. They pulled my surveillance team to chase other leads," Kate raises her eyebrow at the woman saying her surveillance team.
"You notify your boss. We need to know everything you know," Gibbs adds like an order and the woman nods.
"The Bureau set Hinton up here?" Tony looks perplexed as the elevator door slides open.
"To maintain the appearance he was flush," Krieger says leading the way. FBI does have the resources to set a man like Hinton up with a nice apartment and Kate isn't surprised that they did.
"Anyone else have their own key?" Gibbs asks as they all walk off the elevator.
"No, we met here weekly so on one would see us together. He agreed to play along in exchange for leniency. But he knew it could be dangerous," the woman says this while opening the door to the apartment.
"Wow, forgot the puppy, McGee. A place like this is what you need to score with the chicks," typical Tony always saying the most ridiculous thing.
"Yes because that's what a girl wants a guy with a bachelor's pad equipped with all the latest electronics. Sometimes women want more substance, DiNozzo," she states hoping that one day the man will figure out that there is more to life than scoring chicks and lots of money.
"What does substance classify as Kate?" she gives him a look and he immediately tenses up and then smiles.
"Here," Gibbs says as he slides open a set of doors to the bedroom.
"Boss, this could be the murder weapon: mercury," McGee says this as he gets out at out a tube and captures the silver liquid while Tony puts on a pair of gloves as Kate walks to stand beside Ziva who is taking pictures of the bloody sheets.
"Positive for blood," Kate quickly gets out the black light and signals to Tony to turn off the lights as McGee pulls down the ruffled top sheet.
"Ooh, fluids. Lots of them," Ziva enthusiasm alarms her a little.
"No surprise there," Tony says flicking the light back on.
"Six years in prison," McGee adds from the other side of the bed.
"Nothing out of ordinary in the bathroom," she adds after taking a quick look noticing that there is barely anything in the bathroom.
"The eraser made the initial contact at the Crab Shack," Krieger tells Gibbs.
"Not face to face?" Gibbs asks as they re-enter the main room.
"No, slipped him a note," Krieger says not looking at them.
"So, you sent Hinton back, hoping for another one," Gibbs sounds annoyed now.
"Hinton was supposed to keep a record of anyone he came in contact with. I was running background checks, chasing down his leads. I was waiting for anything new," Krieger's frustration is evident.
"You got your wish. Your first crime scene. He was killed in that room," Ziva annoyance is evident and Kate wonders if Ziva lied to her and she truly has feelings for Tony.
"Delivery for Tony," the delivery boy says to Tony and it is now a few hours later eight in the evening to be exact.
"I got it, I got it," Tony motions to Krieger who is sitting at his desk.
"Thank you," the guy says with a smile.
"Hey, how are you?" Kate rolls her eyes.
"Good, thanks." The delivery guy says.
"Whoa. Here you go. Thank you. Have a good night. I… Keep the change. Portobello mushroom, no tomato. Philly cheese steak, extra steak, extra cheese. Grilled chicken Caesar wrap, extra lettuce," Kate catches her wrap and gives a smile because it is one of her favorites.
"These are all Hinton's contacts," Krieger says and Kate gives an eyebrow raise not being able to see the file.
"Ha, can't help but notice they're all women," Tony lets out a growl as he stares at the file, "What made him think that eraser was a woman?"
"I don't know that he did," Krieger says taking a bite of her burger.
"Well… 'Cause you know, you said he was enjoying himself .Y-you…" Kate chuckles catching site of what Tony has stumbled on. Kate tries really hard to suppress the words in throat.
Ziva does not however, "You have mushroom in your teeth,"
"Where's your bathroom?" at least this woman has some earnest qualities in her.
"Ah, I will show you where it is," yeah more like he wants to take her there to get into her pants.
Kate slides behind Tony's desk and glances down at the surveillance photos, "This guy is like Tony, if Tony were a criminal and more successfully at picking up women." This makes Ziva roar with laughter at her desk and McGee begins to chuckle as he joins them in the squad room glancing between the two of them.
"Hey, so I have been thinking about the murder. Why kill him that way? I mean, an injection into the brain— definitely not the most common method," this screams someone who has done this before.
"Or the easiest, I can think of several ways that are easier," McGee gives her a raised eyebrow and looks a little horrified, but nods in agreement after a long moment.
"To find out 'Why'" you must ask 'who.' Some tidy. Someone who doesn't like messes." Kate can already tell where Ziva is going with this as she advances towards Tony's desk where she is standing.
"You have a theory? Someone who needs to be in constant control of the situation. Someone who does not like to lose control of their emotions," Kate hands Special Agent Krieger's briefcase to the Mossad Officer as she looks pointedly at the junior agent.
"Ziva, what are you doing?" Kate isn't surprised to see that McGee is horrified.
"Uh, I'm not an expert here, but I'm pretty sure what you're doing now is a violation of the code. I can't believe you would encourage her, Kate," she rewards him with a shrug as Ziva begins to riffle through the briefcase for clues.
"It is not against the law," only Ziva would find a reason like that to justify what she is doing. Not that Kate wouldn't have done it herself, but it is Ziva's theory and she so prefers not to get caught riffling through the FBI agent's bag.
"The woman's code," Kate is not surprised McGee knows what that is.
"McGee, I bet you if we take a strand of her hair, it will match the sample from Hinton's condo," Kate wonders if Ziva is talking about in Hinton's bed.
"Well of course it would. She's already said she has been there every week," it depends which hair sample he is talking about.
"This woman is uptight. Not even a single strand," Kate wonders why Ziva looks so disappointed.
"We will have to go to the source," Kate can see the thought process on McGee's face.
"Ziva no hair pulling," Kate cannot believe that McGee says this with a straight face.
"She is the only one that was in contact with Hinton. It would have been easy for her to just sweep him under the rug," Kate likes Ziva's choice of words.
"Motive?" McGee quickly supplies.
"I've got to agree with McGee on this one that is too much of a leap," Ziva glances back at her with an annoyed expression.
"She's ambitious. He became too much of a complication. When someone's that uptight, it's only a matter of time before they… snap," Kate glances away from Ziva as she heads towards McGee as they share an incredulous look.
"Okay. You don't like her," McGee is right the woman is acting like a jealous girlfriend.
"Do you?" Ziva asks glancing between the two of them.
"I understand what she's going through. I remember what it was like to be green, afraid you're going to mess up," Kate remembers McGee's first two years and how hard he worked to be perfect and had even called Tony sir thinking that would help.
"Which she did," Kate raises her eyebrow sure that Ziva messed up at least once during her first year. Kate knows she did.
"So what, you want to rub it in?" Kate agrees with that.
"Come on, Ziva, I think she deserves a little sympathy. Kate don't you agree?" Kate sends McGee a look telling him to leave her out of this.
"Tony seems to like her," Kate rolls her eyes as Ziva's narrow.
"I do not think Gibbs does," a blind person could see that.
"Gibbs doesn't like anyone that shows incompetence what did you expect? And Tony only likes her because he wants to sleep with her," Kate can't help her annoyance. It seemed Tony wouldn't change. Not that she ever thought he would.
"My boss looks mad," it is the next day and they are all seated in the viewing chairs in MTAC as Gibbs, Shepard and Fornell come down the ramp towards them.
"He's going to chew you up," Kate loves Ziva and her mess ups.
"Out. Chew you out," Tony's annoyance makes it all the better.
"Chew you up isn't that far off, Fornell is looking angry," Kate adds giving the FBI agent a nod which the man returns.
"Maybe not, maybe he's one of those silent killer types, like Kate," Kate rolls her eyes he has been saying stuff like that to her since he learned she is now a sniper.
"What do you know about this eraser?" the Director asks ready to be briefed and add her own knowledge.
"McGee. Believe to be a Pakistani national raised in India and England. Made his name working with terrorists," Kate looks towards the screen and Fornell as he begins his presentation.
"Clean I.D.s, easy transit," Gibbs adds.
"Facilitated Basque terror attacks in Spain, IRA bombing in England. The GIA bombing in France in 1995," Fornell says as more pictures fill the screen.
"Killed eight, wounded hundreds, led by Khlad Kelkal," the Director adds.
"French authorities identified the man who made it possible as Kamal Kokani," Fornell says pointing to the MTAC screen.
"That's a lot of 'K's.' 'K's' are funny. Agent Krieger. You ever see The Sunshine Boys?" he is trying to impress the young agent and Kate rolls her eyes.
"Shut up, Tony," Kate fires off before Ziva can shush him. Tony rewards her with an apologetic smile and Kate can't help the triumph that spreads through her veins.
"But they weren't able to put a face to the name before he disappeared off the radar," Fornell says forcing his hands into his pockets.
"Apparently, he's relocated to Maryland. Upgraded his system for taking people off the grid," the Director says.
"We were tipped off to Hinton," Tony reaches over to poke Kate in the knee, but his hand is flicked away and he shakes it in pain.
"So it's possible that Kamal dropped the dime himself to test his work," Fornell adds glancing between the director and Gibbs.
"His work seems impeccable. Even we can't remove someone completely from the system like that," Tony notices Shepard's eyes flicker towards Kate even though it's for a brief second.
"Now he's covering his tracks," Fornell adds clearly annoyed.
"And shopping the service to terrorists overseas," Gibbs says turning to look back at the Director.
"I'll monitor the situations in the training camps, watch closely for any movement. I suggest you pick up Kamal's trail on this end," Shepard says.
"No trace. No face. This ought to be easy," Tony says as they all head back out of MTAC.
"Special Agent Krieger. A word," Fornell fires off and the four of them head down the stair.
"According to his Interpol bio, Kamal rarely ventures out of his safe house once it is established," Kate says.
"Style's cloak-and-dagger. Low-tech. No cell phone, no electronic messages," it is true that is how spooks did it in the old days.
"Smart," Gibbs adds.
"He prefers to pass notes. The Bureau provided several intercepted by the French 12 years ago. Coded. Abby has them now," Ziva says.
"I don't give a flying crap what it states in the handbook! You don't know enough to make a decision on your own!" Fornell's voice thunders from above them.
"That was long overdue," Ziva exasperation makes it very clear that she is glad to hear Fornell yelling at Krieger.
"Every new Agent needs a good yelling at to realize that they aren't perfect and that they aren't the best agent in the world," Kate adds knowing she has been there.
"What you got against her?" Tony's question is more directed towards Ziva then her.
"I do not like cleaning up after other people. It is very clear what you would have against her," Kate has quickly come to learn that Ziva dislikes incompetence much like Gibbs.
"Excuse me?" his completely confused.
"You want to sleep with her." Ziva' bluntness surprises him, but Tony can see it doesn't even faze Kate.
"I…" he can't find the right words to tell them it's not true.
"He can't even deny it. Same old Tony, I thought maybe the two years I spent away had changed you into a better man. A man who isn't stuck on sleeping with every girl he sees instead of actually getting know another person. I thought you had learned to want a relationship, at the very least with a woman. I mean god she's just a girl, she's not even a woman. I thought you had become a man who might need a woman," Tony gapes as the two woman walk away leaving him stunned. It is liked they just doubled teamed him even though Kate had stayed mostly quiet till the end and spouted off all her annoyance. Tony can't help the fact that his heart swells because Kate's rant just showed him how jealous she is and now he isn't as worried about her not feeling the same way anymore. Even though he is still a little horrified he can't help the smile that spreads to his lips. He knows a part of him is attracted to Agent Krieger because she reminds him of Kate when she first joined the team and since he knows it is very unlikely that he will ever act on his feelings towards his Senior Field Agent he knows that he is imaging what it could be like with Kate by flirting with Krieger.
"You believe that? An e-mail!" Fornell adds furious walking by him.
"Assuming he still likes home cooking, there are 15 Indian restaurants within a ten-mile radius of Highland Beach," Kate turns to look at McGee.
"Kamal doesn't travel," Gibbs says.
"Confine the search to walking distance," Fornell adds.
There's only one in the vicinity— Punjab Tandoori," McGee says bringing up the resturant on a map that shows the city blocks.
"Man's got to eat. We know he's been in the area," Fornell adds.
"If he's using the same M.O., passing notes; who's he hand 'em to?" McGee asks.
"Any chance he's got people from the old country working on this side?" Tony asks leaning over McGee desk to see the computer screen.
"Makes that restaurant the perfect place to hang out if he does," McGee adds looking at the two older agents.
"Slim chance he could be at the restaurant himself," Gibbs says before turning to Fornell.
"Let's keep this low-key when we go scope it out," Fornell says glancing over just as Ziva and Krieger enter the squad room together.
"Have to go in undercover," Kate catches Tony eyeing all three them in the room.
"Hi. Table for two, please," Kate hears from over the video feed.
"Right this way," the waiter says.
"Looks like a nice place, doesn't it honey?" Kate can hear the smoothness in Tony's delivery.
"Mm-hmm," she can tell Courtney is nervous.
"Sure does, sweet cheeks. Hold it steady, I'm gonna zoom in here," Kate's eyes light up at hearing this from McGee.
"Eyes on the waiter, DiNozzo!" Kate spats out and Ziva rolls her eyes also.
"Our specials this evening are the…malsa chops and the lobia curry. The lobia is my personal favorite," she has no idea what that is.
"And freeze," Ziva orders.
"Here are the menus and I'll be right back to take your order," the Indian man says.
"Facial I.D. should only take a second here," McGee adds and she watches the facial recognition program begin to run.
"Unless he has been erased," Ziva adds.
"Ashwin Ramji. Married father of three. Resident since 1987, legal citizen 1999," McGee says listing off the key points of interest.
"Seems clean," Ziva adds.
"I can't even find so much as a parking ticket," Kate adds.
"Courtney, can you get a shot of the kitchen staff?" Kate asks, but gets no response.
"She looks tense. Think maybe it should be one of you in there, I mean this is kind of like your specialty, undercover work, right, Kate?" McGee asks covering his mic. and he motions for them to do the same.
"If I went in there with DiNozzo they would think we are married because we would be arguing our heads off," Kate isn't surprised when her to companions laugh.
"I think she'll do fine," Kate gives a nod glad that Ziva has let go of her annoyance against the FBI agent.
"What did she do to suddenly inspire so much confidence from you?" Kate asks.
Ziva shrugs and McGee gives a smile as does Kate.
"Act natural. Just a normal date," Kate gives an eyebrow raise, wondering if Tony has actual ever been on a full on date with anyone.
"Can I tell you a secret? It's been a while," Kate can't help the chuckle because this girl is barely fresh out of college.
"Me, too. Well, work comes first. Just pretend you like me," that is a lie, it has been less than a month since his break up with Jeanne.
"That's not too hard to do," wow, subtlety is obviously not this girl's style.
"You have really soft hands," awkward. She knows the three of them can hear the two of them right?
"How is it going, Tony?" Kate thanks god that Ziva voices her annoyance before she does.
"Whoa," Tony screams out and Kate can't tell what is going on, but she has a good idea.
"I'm so sorry," the woman says trying to dry the wet spot on his pants.
"It's okay," Tony stammers out and Kate can't help, but laugh as he looks so embarrassed.
"Good thing we didn't put the mic in his pants," Kate suppresses her laughter as Ziva giggles.
"I'm just gonna go clean this up," watching Tony stumble away from the table lightens the mood.
"Or does that mean giving yourself a helping hand?" Kate can't help the smirk that spreads over her cheeks as Ziva and McGee burst out laughing.
"Not quite how I remember dating and no, god, gross Kate," Kate can hear the shock in his voice from what she has said and the fact that he is still trying to clean up the water on his pants.
"Feels about par for the course," McGee adds glancing at the two of them.
"Sorry. Sorry, man," Tony apologizes running into another employee.
"Excuse me," the guy ducks away without being seen.
"Didn't get a good look at the delivery boy," McGee says.
"Well, looks like they keep him busy," Tony's glasses catch sight of a long list of deliveries.
"Maybe Kamal gets take-out," Tony says.
"Cross-checking the addresses," McGee adds and she watches him scan the image in and goes through running the search at almost lighting speed.
"Can I help you, sir?" the waiter asks.
Tony laughs, "Yeah. Can we get out food to go? Because my girlfriend…"
"Ah." The man chuckles and Kate returns her eye to the second screen in the van waiting for McGee's address checking to come up. "I understand. Very naughty."
"Stop. Third on the list," she notices it just as Ziva says it.
"It's a rented apartment," McGee adds missing the point.
"Look at the name on the lease, McGee," and the man realizes it right away.
"Moving in," Kate gives Ziva a nod as McGee drives the truck just a little bit in front of the target.
"What he...? Ow! What the hell's going on?" the delivery boy screams as Ziva forces him into the truck and she and Tony force him to the floor. The boy looks at them fearfully as she Krieger and Tony stare down at him while Ziva, Fornell, and Gibbs search the house.
"Where's the guy who lives here?" Gibbs orders.
"How would I know? I just deliver the food," the boy actually looks a little scared.
"How's he going to eat if he's not home?" Fornell asks obviously annoyed that the delivery boy is missing the point.
"It's a standing dinner order. I-I drop off his meal every afternoon, and he pays two weeks in advance," the poor delivery boy is looking up at all of them horrified.
"So you've seen him?" Gibbs asks.
"Yeah. Once. Gave me a-a big wade of cash and a... and a good tip," the boy says leaning his elbows on his knees.
"Can you describe him?" Fornell asks.
"Okay, I guess. Uh…older black guy, about my height, maybe-maybe a little taller," she can tell he is describing some similar to Hinton.
"What about this guy—you seen him before?" Gibbs says pulling out the picture of the Hinton.
"Is this a trick question?" the boy asks.
"That is the guy who lives here," Gibbs asks.
"Frederick LeClaire," Tony says in awe.
"Marvin Hinton," Courtney says with a nod.
"Kamal Konkani," Ziva adds.
"The eraser," Kate adds to the growing list.
"How much longer are we going to do this?" the boy looks shaky.
"Anxious to get out?" Kate asks with a laugh.
"Wasn't planning on spending the night in custody. I have a term paper due tomorrow," she gives him a raised eyebrow not really believing that this kid would put in a lot of effort.
"Grad student in electrical engineering. Solid B-minus average. You grew up in Hagerstown. It is a nice neighborhood?" Ziva is clearly trying to establish a connection, but Kate can tell it isn't working.
"My parents were working class. I've had jobs since I was 13 and I've had to work twice as hard as the silver spoons to get where I am," the guy looks a little bored now.
"The delivery boy," Kate can't help, but chuckle under her breath waiting till she needs to say something.
"What did I do wrong? Was there something in the package? Drugs?" Kate can see the indication that Ziva isn't getting anything so she pushes herself off the wall as Ziva stands from her chair and the both exit the interrogation room hoping leaving the guy to stew will help get some information out of him.
"Hinton was Kamal that explains his so-called retirement," Tony says as he paces back and forth as he glances between the three women.
"He was in prison," Ziva adds.
"Spending his time improving the technique for eliminating a person's history," Krieger adds from her position leaning on Tony's desk.
"Well. Which means…" Tony tries for the answer.
"He was testing it on himself," Kate fires off finally joining in the conversation, Tony glances towards her nodding.
"So, why…" Tony feels like he can't get a word in edge wise.
"Let himself be caught on the trafficking charge?" Ziva asks just adding more questions to the ever growing pile.
"And who…" he once again gets cut off, but this time by Courtney.
"Killed him?" her confusion is evident.
"That… was clearly not part of the plan," Kate adds and Tony notices her glancing at the FBI agent.
"We were working under the assumption the eraser killed his client to cover his tracks. What if it was the other way around?" Krieger asks.
"The eraser was killed by one of his clients?" Ziva asks.
"Terrorists?" when Courtney says this she receives an incredulous look from the other two women.
"We don't even know if they've arrived yet," he states before Kate can.
"There are still multiple options here of people who would want him dead to clean up after themselves," Kate says with a tired smile.
"Another client, then," Ziva says offer a palm to Kate.
"Someone… with a past they needed to forget," Ziva says clarifying a little further.
"And once the client's past had been erased, he kills Kamal," Courtney adds and it is like three way tennis between this women and the rally is going on forever.
"To eliminate the only person who knows his true identity," Tony's eyes narrow when Kate says this before he can get it out.
"Almost. Not a him, a her," Courtney says obviously knowing where to look.
"One of his girlfriends…" Tony asks waiting for someone to pick up his thought.
"Was actually a client," Kate adds with a laugh and Tony has a feeling there is something behind that.
"Cute. She was erased, so we don't know anything about her," Tony says stating the obvious.
"Nope, Tony, we know how she kills and that says a lot about a person," Tony cringes, but chuckles knowing the profiler in Kate would surmise that.
"The girls have a theory," Tony says when Gibbs, Fornell, and McGee appear.
"We are women, Tony," Tony earns a glare from Kate and the funny thing is the oldest brunette had called Courtney a girl just this afternoon.
"The murder does not have anything to do with terrorism," Ziva says in her very drawn out way.
"It's one of the eraser's other clients," Courtney says after a moment.
"So the killer could be anyone from anywhere?" Fornell doesn't seem very happy with this prospect.
"We've been sifting through crimes involving mercury. We do not find a similar murder, but…" Kate says finally joining the theory pow-wow.
"Idaho three years ago. George Barney dies in his sleep after having a few too many drinks," Courtney says and Kate leans over and punches a few buttons on Ziva's keyboard to bring the information up on plasma behind her own desk.
"Choked to death on his own vomit," Ziva adds and Tony cringes realizing that sounds like a terrible way to go.
"He's buried on his family farm," Courtney says.
"Last month, the Barneys are digging a new well. It turns out, the groundwater had been contaminated," Ziva states.
"EPA was called in, uh, traced the source of the contamination back to a leak in George Barney's casket," Krieger adds.
"Mercury," Gibbs says.
"His young widow had been the high school science teacher. She moved on after his untimely death," Kate adds.
"Local cops couldn't track her down," Krieger adds.
"She killed her husband," McGee says getting to the point finally.
"Here's a picture of the grieving wife," damn he had been so distracted by how pretty she was.
"Look familiar?" he asks Gibbs and the man nods.
"Do you need me to identify another photo?" the woman asks as they enter the room.
"Recognize this person?" Tony sets down the file.
"Her hair matches one of the samples from Hinton's condo," Ziva says.
"And the murder has her signature," Kate says.
"All right, look. It was a tragedy when my husband died. The entire town thought so," the waitress adds.
"Doesn't sound like you shared their sentiments," Tony says lightly.
"They didn't know what he was like when he was drunk, which was all the time," that isn't an excuse to kill someone.
"So when the opportunity presented itself to start a new life, you took it," Tony is almost disgusted.
"Wouldn't you?" Tony eyes flicker to the glass knowing that the others were looking on. That Kate is watching.
"How did Marvin Hinton know you were on the run?" Gibbs asks finally joining in the interrogation.
"He knew everything about me in one look, everything that matters. He knew how I'd gotten my new name. He said he's been contacted the same way," the woman says this and looks up at Gibbs.
"So you went home with him? Did it occur to you that he was the one who set up your new identity? That he was toying with you? 'Cause he was the only one who knew about your past. Right?" Tony feels like this girls is stupid as Gibbs leans to her level.
"I didn't kill him," she almost sounds convincing.
"I'd suppose it wouldn't be any fun if she just admitted it," Fornell says and she shrugs.
"Yes, sir," Kate looks over a Fornell and lets out a humored breath,
"Delivery boy still here?" Fornell asks making sure everything is wrapped up.
"Waiting in the conference room," Ziva adds.
"Make sure he gets home. Special Agent Krieger. Nice work today," she gives the woman a smile.
"So I didn't ask you how does it feel to be back?" that is a loaded question if ever there is one.
"Pretty good, I missed D.C.," there is so much more she could say, but not to Fornell.
"I'm sure it's nice to have your old life back," she nods it is true.
"It's is." Kate states as Gibbs sends her and Fornell a nod as they wrap up the interview with O'Hara.
"She killed once for a new life," Gibbs asks turning to look back at the four of them as they reenter the squad room, Tony isn't completely convinced that it is the waitress even though all of Ziva, Courtney, and Kate's work gives them pretty good motive.
"Why not twice?"Tony says finishing Gibbs' thought.
"Did us favor—Kamal is dead," Fornell says glancing at him and Kate.
"It doesn't seem to bother his international client," the Director says turning towards them.
"The terrorist training camp?" Gibbs asks.
"Marine task force just went in," Director says.
"And?" Fornell asks knowing there is more.
"One terrorist killed. They found an American passport on his body. It went through squeaky clean," the Shepard looks worried.
"Kamal had completed the job," Kate says.
"What about the rest of the cell?" Fornell asks.
"Too late. Already gone," Director says and it is about to get ugly.
"They're on their way here," Gibbs says and it is only a matter of hours.
"And the only man who knows who they are is past telling us," Tony says adding to the fact that they have hit a dead end.
"That's not certain, Tony. Our dead man may have one thing left to say," Ducky says joining them.
"We cracked it, Gibbs; me and Ducky— we solved the puzzle we were just looking at it wrong," Abby says as they all walk into the lab.
"Yeah, it was Jordan, uh… Dr. Hampton who had the idea of excising the section of inked flesh," Tony thinks it is obvious Ducky had a crush.
"That is so gross," he has seen a lot of things in his life, but seeing Abby holding a piece of excised skin is not something he wants to think about.
"Two words, Tony, meat puzzle," Kate lets out chuckles when he turns to look at her is a little green and he is glad that she enjoys his pain.
"But what we found is so cool. The blotchy, thick, blue jailhouse, dye—that's just a camouflage," Abby's enthusiasm always worries him.
"Yes, the real clue is underneath, hidden like a painted-over Monet canvas," that means nothing to him, but Ducky obviously thinks it makes sense. Kate nods with a smile obviously liking Ducky's reference and Tony wonders if it is stuff like that qualifies as substance.
"Hiding a picture within a picture or in this case a blob," Abby gives him a nod.
"All I had to do was eliminate the blue to clarify it. This… is the original tattoo. It's beautiful with deeper needling," Abby says bringing up the imagine on the plasma.
"Professional work," Gibbs says as if that is obvious.
"It's a masterpiece; it's a Blaine Parker. He's something of a legend, Boston artist," only Abby would know something like that.
"A man like Hinton trying to shed his past…" Fornell is obviously astounded.
"So I talked to Parker's assistant and she was able to determine the exact dates when Hinton got the original tattoo," Abby says cutting off Fornell.
"Over a period of several days, ten years ago," Ducky adds the needed information.
"Interpol's timeline, puts Kamal in London ten years ago," Kate says finally.
"Hinton's not Kamal. Delivery boy lied to us," Fornell says nodding at Kate.
"He did more than that; he set us up. He wanted us to believe it was Hinton," Gibbs says turning to look at the FBI agent.
"You think the kid's Kamal?" Tony thinks it is very possible.
"He would have had to start when he was eight years old," Fornell states and Tony has come up with the perfect movie reference The Princess Bride. The Mask of Zorro would have worked to, but he much prefers The Princess Bride.
"Not if he's the new Dread Pirate Roberts," he hopes they get this.
"I love The Princess Bride. No one would ever surrender to the Dread Pirate Westley," Tony notices the smile that Kate gives when Abby says this and Tony isn't surprised that the brunette likes that movie as well. She did seem like a Princess Bride type of girl even though she is tough on the outside he knows she is a romantic at heart.
Tony chuckles and then coughs fearful of Gibbs. "Uh, the Dread Pirate Roberts picks a successor, then trains him, starts calling him Roberts and then settles into a cushy retirement. It's the name 'Kamal' that sells the business."
"From your closet," Fornell says as Gibbs spreads out the photos of evidence they had taken.
"Special delivery," Gibbs says clearly annoyed.
"How did you find Kamal?" Fornell says leaning back in his chair a little bit.
"You don't find Kamal. Kamal finds you," all Tony can think of is a bad Chuck Norris joke.
"He tempts you with money or the power? Or just the chance to become somebody else?" someone better is more like it because seriously look at the kid.
"Kamal could tell you needed him," Gibbs says adding to Fornell's thought.
"He needed me. He can't even work his own computer. Man's a dinosaur," the original Kamal seemed to having a good time of it though years before this guy showed up.
"He knows how to read people," Gibbs says and that isn't surprising.
"Cover his tracks. But you don't have the discipline. Hinton figure you out," Fornell adds.
"He would've led the FBI right to you," Gibbs says.
"So you killed him before he got the chance. Made us think he was Kamal. Then you framed another client for his murder," Fornell takes his turn.
"Shannon O'Hara aka Karen Barney," Gibbs asserts.
"You knew how she killed in the past. She was your first client," Fornell says.
"Good for you. You've got the whole story," that sounds a little like a confession.
"The worst mistake you made…" Gibbs and Fornell tough routine starting now.
"You tried to shoot our agents," Fornell's eyes narrow and he and Gibbs are clearly know what theya re going to do.
"Hey, let me hang that up for you, Tobias," Gibbs takes Fornell suit jacket and puts it on the camera, but they can still see.
"Sit down!" Fornell screams and he pushes the boy back in the chair before wiping all of the papers of the metal table and
"What do you want?" the boy looks scared now.
"The rest of your client list. Tell us where to find the real Kamal! Now!" Gibbs brings and screams just at the right moment. The delivery boy folds after that easily like a wet napkin.
"I was at an embassy party once—gated, razor wire, surveillance system, the whole deal— and this guy just walks in the front door, wearing a T-shirt that says 'Liquor store.' Holds up a brown paper bag, and he goes, 'Did anyone order, um, a bottle of vodka?'" he loves that story.
"Hmm, the places you can access when you look the part," Ziva looks amazed.
"You mean, Tony, right because I'm sure if he wasn't wearing a tux, they would never let him in the door," this makes Ziva laugh and he gives Kate a soft set glare, but he truly loves their banter.
"This thing starts kind of slow," the popcorn is already starting to dwindle and they have only been sitting her five minutes.
"I'm sure it gets better," Tony eyes Kate who leans back in her chair.
"The picture's up, boss," McGee says and he glues his eyes to the MTAC screen.
"An NCIS production. Brought to you by Leroy Jethro Gibbs. Starring, as usual, the FBI, and the elusive Kamal Konkani," Tony voice booms in his movie announcer voice.
"Freeze it," Gibbs orders to McGee sitting at the closest computer bank.
"Hmm. The Dread Pirate Roberts, I presume," this makes a smile appear on both the women's faces as they can clearly see Krieger and Fornell haling the guy away.
"Did you get her number?" Ziva fires off in a perfect British accent.
"Who, Courtney? No," he didn't even really think she was that pretty, but he would never tell the two women that especially since it had produced such a visceral reaction from Kate in the form of an angry rant that admittedly left him a little stunned, but seen her cheeks red like that he wonders what her cheeks would look like if she were hot and bothered.
Kate laughs along with Ziva and she glances over Tony, "I did. She wants to learn how to fight."
"She gave me her number too," Kate says leaning back into her chair with a smile.
"Oh, god, the poor suspects the FBI brings in," this makes everyone including Ziva and Kate bursts into laughter and Gibbs musters a smile. Kate reaches into the popcorn bucket and her hand touches Tony's and he sends her a bright smile which she returns.