6

Chameleon

Chapter One

"How come every time you buy a new TV I have to set it up for you? Can't you read the user manual?"

"If I had to I would, but I just happen to have a buddy who knows everything there is to know about the tech stuff. You have a thing Tim, I told you before, if I had a thing I would show it off every time...and any place."

"Like your apartment?"

Tony didn't even try to hide his triumphant grin. "Can't think of a better place, can you?"

"And do you have a time in mind?" Tim wished he could be annoyed at Tony for making the assumption that he had nothing to do with his off-duty hours, but with Tony practically fluttering his eyelashes at him it was impossible.

"As it happens, I'm at a loose end Friday night, how about you set up my system and I buy you dinner."

"Pizza or Chinese Tony?"

"You can choose...hey, don't raise your eyebrows at me. If I took you to a restaurant you wouldn't be able to watch a movie on my brand new 47" high definition TV."

"Neither will you if I don't set it up for you."

Tony leaned across Tim's desk. "Pretty please Tim, it won't take long, if you don't want dinner and a movie you'll be done in less than an hour, plenty of time to be, you know, wherever you want to be..."

Tim grinned. "Oh no Tony, you don't get off so easy, I'll set up your TV, you can pay for take-out and we'll watch a movie; my choice."

"Not a Harry Potter movie Tim, please..."

"Deal, they're not as good as the books anyhow. It'll be a surprise, you like surprises, don't you?"

"I like good surprises..."

"Then you'll like this one, okay Tony, I'll set up your TV Friday night, so long as we don't get a new case."

The next three days were quiet; Gibbs took the opportunity to have them all spend some time on the firing range and in the gym. All their outstanding case reports were completed and filed, and it was with a sense of relief that Tony and Tim headed for the parking lot when Gibbs called time early Friday evening.

NCIS NCIS

He watched as the two men entered the apartment building, one of them was his prey, the other he recognised from the dossier he had received. They seemed happy in each other's company, a comfortable, easy companionship such as he had never known. For years he'd been a solitary creature, not by choice, by necessity; in his line of business it would be foolish to make connections, he had to be ready to move at a moment's notice, to become the person who could get the job done.

He made a note of the time and headed off to his hotel. There was no need to wait around any longer, there hadn't really been any need for him to observe the apartment, but if time allowed he always liked to get a feel for the way his targets lived, the more information he had, the more successful he was; to date he had a one hundred percent record, and he intended to keep it that way.

His hotel belonged to one of the ubiquitous chains that seemed to be sprouting everywhere, cold, soulless places where the idea of personal service seemed to be anathema...absolutely perfect for him in his quest to remain invisible. He had checked in using the automated system and had already spent 24 hours in the hotel without speaking to another soul, exactly what he had hoped for when he saw the multi-story concrete monolith for the first time. In the elevator he was careful not to make eye-contact with his fellow passengers, and it wasn't difficult, most people were too wrapped up in their own lives to bother about anyone else. He was the only one to get off on his floor, and even if anyone else had been in the hotel corridor it was unlikely they would give a second glance to the bespectacled, slightly balding man.

He slid the security bolt in place, threw his spectacles on the bed and headed for the bathroom; with a brief smile he picked up a wash bag, took out a small bottle and some cotton pads. He soaked a pad and started to dab along his forehead, little by little the plastic skin started to lift, revealing his natural hairline but not his natural hair colour; for the first stage of this operation he had decided on a dark blonde look. He switched on his recently acquired tablet and settled down to read the dossier again, he had read it so many times he almost knew it by heart, but it never hurt to check again, just in case he'd missed something, he rarely did. Efficiency and accuracy were his bywords; he was good at his job and the rewards for success had been high, but never as high as this contract. It turned out the client was not only willing to pay well for Anthony DiNozzo's death, but he'd also offered a million dollar bonus if DiNozzo was killed within the confines of the Navy Yard and was told why he had to die, an up close and personal killing inside a military base, a huge challenge. He wasn't worried, if anything it made this contract even more enticing; of late his work had become humdrum, routine, almost tedious, and his thoughts had turned more than once to his life when the killing was done. This contract could enable him to change direction, he had a client who was willing to wait provided his conditions were met, and with such a massive bonus on offer this could be the job that gave him the financial freedom to retire from the murder game.

NCIS NCIS

"So Tony, good surprise?"

They were sitting on Tony's couch waiting for the pizza to be delivered, the brand new TV gleaming on its chrome stand.

"You have to ask?"

Tony had been an admiring observer as Tim worked his techie magic; he'd set up the TV without any problems, even managing to get over his dismay that Tony still had a VHS player along with the expected DVD and BluRay machines, then he had surprised Tony by linking up his state of the art sound system to the TV. The difference it made to the quality of his viewing experience was astonishing; and last but not least came the icing on the cake. Tim connected the TV to Tony's internet which would enable him to download movies and watch them, not on the 15 inch laptop screen, but in full, high definition 47 inch splendour.

"Wait 'til you see the movie I've chosen, you might change your mind."

"Tim, after what you've done tonight I'd even sit quiet through Sleepless in Seattle."

With a brief chuckle Tim reached into the bag in which he'd carried the cables and connectors required to complete the evening's task. "I wouldn't do that to you Tony; here, a small happy new TV gift, does this one work for you?" He handed Tony a slim metal box.

"Skyfall! BluRay, high definition, DFS surround sound...this is a limited edition Tim, are you sure you don't want to keep it?"

"It's all yours Tony."

"Thanks Tim, this one works for me, it works perfectly."

"You sure? I mean some Bond purists weren't so impressed with it, but I've heard it's a good movie."

"Good? It's a great movie and you couldn't have made a better choice, there are some huge set pieces...I won't spoil it for you, but they're going to look and sound great!"

The intercom sounded and Tony let the delivery guy into the building, five minutes later they were digging in to the extra hot pepperoni pizza as the crystal clear picture took them on another adventure with Tony's favourite movie character. After the sensational opening sequence Tony glanced over at his friend and smiled when he heard a whispered, "Wow."

As Adele's voice filled the room Tony took a sip of his beer. "Thanks for this Tim, all of this, seriously..."

"No problem, it was pretty easy stuff; now, I know it's hard for you, but do you think you can keep quiet for a while, you may have seen this movie before, but it's all new to me."

"Gotcha!" Tony leaned back and let himself be drawn back into the fantasy world that was a James Bond movie. From the corner of his eye he caught a glimpse of gold and smiled again. Kate really seemed to be enjoying having another goldfish for company, the smile slipped for a moment. He'd known loss in his life, at times it felt like all he'd known was loss, but sitting here, a great movie being screened in all its glory and his best friend by his side, life felt good, it felt very good indeed.

NCIS NCIS

His supper had been as tasteless as he'd expected when he made his purchases earlier. No matter, a pre-packaged BLT sandwich and a bag of potato chips had sated his hunger, and when he was working that was all he wanted from his food. Gourmet dining and indulging in fine wines was for times when he was between contracts, not for when he was working. As he dried himself off following a long, hot shower he took a look at his reflection, yet another change of persona, sometimes it was hard to remember...

As a young man he had known exactly what he wanted to do, his career was mapped out, his future assured…how quickly things had changed and how easily he had put aside the man he was. There were times he almost forgot Jeremy Stanley had truly existed, for so many years he had spent his life being different people, hiding his true identity behind make-up, hair-pieces, body padding, anything to hide who he really was. He used every means at his disposal to blend into the background, to hide in plain sight, it was a skill that had served him very well and had gained him the admiration of his fellow Assassins. The soubriquet they had given him reflected his skill at remaining hidden and at liberty after years of working for the organisation, it was a name he relished; The Chameleon.