5

Chameleon

Author's Note: My thanks to everyone who has read and reviewed so far, if you left a signed review I've already thanked you personally, to those of you who have reviewed as guests, followed or listed this as a favourite, thank you!

This will be a multi-chapter story within the Abyss to Zenith strand, and is also an entry for the Original Character Challenge on the NFA.

Prologue

The night was cold and clear, the stars forming a shimmering canopy above his head, but the man saw no beauty, he had stepped into the courtyard to escape her tears. For days now his dear wife had been crying and he had been powerless to help her; how could he when his own heart was breaking? Their only son, the light of their lives was dead, and they were living in a world of pain and sorrow. They had loved him, perhaps too much, when he had asked them for permission to travel to Europe they had hesitated, his upbringing had not prepared him for the hedonistic lifestyle he would encounter there, but he had begged them, and from his earliest childhood they had been able to deny him nothing.

Now he was gone, their dearest child dead before his time, so much promise, so much beauty and love snuffed out in an instant. Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Nahyan bit back a sob; he would cry no more, his tears would not bring Faisal back to them, nor would they punish the man who had caused his son's death. Faisal had taken the bend too fast, lost control and the car had careered into a ravine. In a matter of moments his son was gone, the police told him no one else was involved, no one bore any guilt, it was a tragic accident. The grieving father knew better, he knew who was to blame, and he would make him pay.

What made matters much worse was he was the one who had invited Anthony DiNozzo into his own home, who watched as Faisal fell under the older man's spell. Like a moth to a flame, Faisal had succumbed to the charms of the dashing, suave, sophisticated man who held him enthralled with tales of dazzling parties, beautiful women, fast cars, a world full of wonders. It was no surprise when Faisal came to them and asked to accompany DiNozzo on his return to Monaco; Sheikh Mohammed sighed, how easily DiNozzo had charmed his son, and how foolish he and Suheera had been to agree. They had been able to justify the decision, Faisal needed to learn how to behave in the company of businessmen from outside the Middle East, and this had seemed too good an opportunity to miss; if only he had stopped to think, to find out more about the man who wished to introduce his son to a new world. The truth was the Sheikh had also been beguiled by the American; he had the priceless gift of making whoever he was speaking to feel as if they were the most important person in the world, and who wouldn't be flattered by such attention?

He shuddered; they had been fools indeed to be taken in by DiNozzo's honeyed words, and what a price they had paid. Now the time had come for the final accounting to be made, for DiNozzo to settle the blood debt, not with his own blood, that would be too quick, too easy. A smile totally devoid of warmth spread across Mohammed's face, he had received news earlier this evening, news that had given him the first frisson of pleasure he had felt since Faisal's death. DiNozzo had a son, a son who shared his name and who would soon share the fate of Mohammed's own beloved child. Anthony DiNozzo Senior would feel the pain he lived with every minute of every day, he would know the grief that came from laying his own flesh and blood in the ground, when this profligate father mourned at the graveside of his only son, then and only then would he be able to rest, content in the knowledge that their son had been avenged.

With determination etched on his face Sheikh Mohammed returned to his home ignoring the quiet sobs coming from his wife's room, he hurried to his study, picked up the phone and dialled a number he had never thought to use. His call was answered on the second ring. "You once said if I had need of your...services I could call upon you."

"I keep my promises, you have a name?"

"Anthony DiNozzo Junior, he is an American Federal Agent, will that make a difference?"

"The price is higher, but rest assured the outcome will be the same. My people will begin working immediately; you will be contacted when the task is complete."

"How do I make payment?"

"Look out for a visitor with a contract to sign, he will request part payment, the full balance is to be paid when success is confirmed."

"I...you have my grateful thanks."

"Save your thanks, the task may take some time to complete; my organisation is successful because we take care to complete the contract without harm to our own...consultants, therefore we will not be rushed, is that clear?"

"I can be patient just as long as I know you are working to fulfil my contract."

"You have my word, and as you know my word is my bond. We will not speak again until the...problem is eradicated, fare you well, and accept my condolences on your loss."

His hand was shaking a little as he returned the phone to its cradle, he had done it, he had ordered the death of a fellow human being, could he live with such a burden? Of course he could, if he could live with the searing pain of his own loss he would be able to endure this stain on his conscience. Knowing DiNozzo was suffering the way he did would make his own life bearable, all he had to do was wait.

NCIS NCIS

He stepped from the shower, roughly dried his hair and wrapped the towel around his waist; another job successfully completed and no way to tie him to the murder scene, he smiled. He was good at his job and he was ready to enjoy some of the spoils of his latest success, he knew the payment would soon be in his offshore account; all he had to do was telephone head office to confirm the kill. The recently purchased disposable cell phone was charged and ready to use, he keyed in the number and waited.

"Yes or no?"

"Yes, contract concluded."

"Excellent, payment is being made as we speak. I know you would normally have some time off now, however, I have a job I feel is perfect for your particular range of skills."

He sat down with a sigh; it didn't look as if he was going to be trying his luck at the poker tables in Las Vegas after all. "This had better be good."

"Oh it is I assure you, how would you like to earn a $500,000 bonus?"

"Sounds risky, who is it?"

"An armed Federal Agent, by the name of Anthony DiNozzo, he works for the Naval Criminal Investigative Service, from all accounts he is good at his job, very good."

"I'm very good at my job too; I shall look forward to a challenge, so many of my recent contracts have been so easy, I almost feel I'm taking money under false pretences...almost."

"I thought you might enjoy this one. The details will go to the usual place, the password is the name of your training officer, we will speak again when you get to Washington DC."

The call ended and the man packed the few remaining personal possessions still lying on the hotel room bed, He would get a good night's sleep and set off for DC in the morning, he was happy to forgo his usual post-contract recreation, after all it wasn't every day he got to pit his wits against a trained investigator, his smile widened, killing Anthony DiNozzo would be highly satisfying, and he'd have another half a million dollars in his retirement fund, life was sweet indeed.