here we go people. i wonder how many OTHER of you have guessed whats it the case? I hope I'm not being obvious and boring. Plz enjoy!
"A deal, Fornell?" asked Gibbs, in a voice that would have cooled down the Sahara Desert. "May I remind you that I am understaffed, due to the fact that…"
"I know, Gibbs. But I have an agent missing too. You help me find mine, I help you find yours."
Gibbs just sat and simmered, but Fornell ploughed on, Tony and McGee staring at him in wrapped fascination.
"Your agent disappeared because of this stupid case thing, well, so did mine. I think it's connected, but I don't think we can get to the bottom of this without your help."
Tony and McGee exchanged a look. Kate had been missing for about 9 hours. They weren't clear on what Gibbs was going to do at eight, when Tony was meant to meet the kidnappers. Everyone had arrived early. That showed how much they were worried. McGee had showed up at six, and had been surprised to find Tony already sitting distractedly at his desk. He wouldn't say how long he had been there. No one was surprised to see Gibbs sweep in with his coffee at five past six, his things already shoved under his desk. By the look of his clothes, McGee guessed that he had stayed up all night working on his boat. Or had never left at all.
Fornell was still debating desperately. "Gibbs, c'mon. We're both in the same boat here. If either of us finds a lead, it could help find either of our agents. Time's important here, and we're wasting it!"
Gibbs gave him a long look, and Tony and McGee held their collective breaths.
"What's his name?"
Fornell looked relieved.
"Jake Marsden."
STEWSTEWSTWESTEWSTEWSTEWSTEW
Kate stirred, her eyelids fluttering as she awoke. Or rather, appeared to awaken. She had been awake for some time, listening to a phone conversation that would not have taken place near her if they thought she'd hear it.
"So, Mr DiNozzo, you don't need to worry about your very charming friend for another 8 hours. But we have only changed the time for because of some mitigating circumstances. Not because we are in any way having qualms about killing young Caitlin here."
He listened for a moment, then smiled. "If you find the case, all the better for you. And Caitlin. But I would just like to meet with you. And your boss." Some talk from whom she presumed and hoped to be Tony.
"No, I'm afraid you cannot speak to her." Then Tony, speaking loudly from the other end of the line.
"She's asleep, my dear boy, and she looks like she needs it. Horrible bags under her eyes. Looks like hell." Kate prayed that Tony wouldn't fall for such obvious baiting, but it seemed he did. A smile played around the lips of the tall man.
"I'm afraid I must go now, Mr DiNozzo. Very busy; business matters to attend to, and all that. I will see you at three p.m. sharp." He hung up with a snap, and Kate took that as her opportunity to wake up. She gazed up into the eyes of her captor, then around her in bemusement.
"Ah, Caitlin, I see you are with us again. May I say that you look quite refreshed this morning?"
"No you may not." Kate snapped, cursing herself. He knew that she'd heard the conversation.
"There has been a little change of plan. Mr DiNozzo will be joining us at 3 o' clock this afternoon instead. I didn't like to get him out of bed so early. Seems he was awake already though. Quite worried about you. But we're taking good care of you, aren't we?"
He knelt down to her level, and she only had the strength of mind to glare at him. She was tired, bruised and sore from sleeping in a warehouse all night. And she was starving. They seemed to feel that handcuffs wouldn't hold her, so they'd keep her as weak as a kitten through lack of food. They gave her plenty to drink though. There was a large bottle of water next to her. Only her fingers were so numb from the cuffs and the freezing air in the warehouse that she couldn't hope to open it. Her mouth was dry from the dust, and she coughed a little, before the man took pity on her.
Unscrewing the lid and holding it to her lips, he said, "I suppose, now that we will have to endure each other's company for a few hours more, I should tell you my name."
Kate concentrated on drinking, and didn't look up at him.
"You can call me Ethan, if you like."
Kate choked, and sprayed out some water over his shirt. He didn't seem to notice.
"Ethan?" she managed. "Ethan Wright? Serial killer and convicted fraudster?"
He smiled at being recognised. "I'm glad you've heard of me."
"Heard of you?" she slid back a little, away from him. "What are you going to do to me?"
"Oh, I'm not going to murder you, Caitlin."
"But you said… that if we didn't have the case…"
"Well," he said, a little sheepishly, she fancied, "It seems we may have been mistaken about whose possession the case was in."
'Mistaken!' She wanted to shriek, but he seemed to be falling for her helpless act, so she bit it down.
"So… you'll let me go?"
"Perhaps."
well - it is developing, we see! PLEASE review! I am only averaging 3 per chapter! NOT good enough peoples! lol! And a very merry christmas to ya all!