Tony had been gone for two days, but there was no traceable sign of where the SFA had gone yet. He had sneaked away with his cell turned off.
Gibbs figured that since he was on long Island anyway, he may as well pay Tony's lawyer a visit.
He had waited patiently, for the two days, for Gardiner to come back from a business trip. Over that time, he also checked in with McGee frequently, to see if anyone had heard from Tony or if there had been any signal on him. It was difficult for McGee, being busy working with another team, but he got back to Gibbs quickly enough when he needed him to.
It was 11:30 hours, and Mr. Gardiner had just arrived at his office in Selden, a coffee in hand, when Gibbs took it from him.
"Excuse me!" Mr. Gardiner said, a bit thrown off an annoyed. "What are you doing?"
Gibbs took a sip and scowled, dumping it out in the bushes near the front door of the Victorian house Gardiner had his office in.
"Saving you from making a terrible mistake. That coffee was really bad."
"Who-"
"Special Agent Gibbs," he took out his badge and showed it to Gardiner.
"Wait," Gardiner said, still annoyed, but thinking. "Didn't I see you at Mr. DiNozzo Senior's service?"
"Yes. But i didn't say hello because I hate lawyers."
"What are you…doing here?" the man asked nervously. "You're young Anthony's Boss correct?"
"Yes. Can we talk inside, Mr. Gardiner?"
"Ah, sure we can," the man pushed his glassed up higher on his nose and opened the door.
They entered a warm foyer, with a long hall tree, covered in brochures and business cards from the other professionals who had suites in the building.
"My suite is right here," the tall, thin man pulled out a key and opened his office door.
Gibbs followed him in, passing by a desk that was obviously for the secretary who wasn't there. They went around the other side of it to a room filled with old furniture, books, and file cabinets.
Gardiner went to the chair behind his desk and motioned for Gibbs to sit first, "Please."
Gibbs scowled at him, and plopped down in the leather chair in front of his desk.
"I'd have Amanda get you coffee, but she's out on vacation, and I don't think I'd want to give you one anyway, since your palette is so…delicate. What can I do for you, Agent Gibbs?" Gardiner said, sitting down himself, and trying to smooth out the ruffles in his composure.
Gibbs leaned forward, glaring at the man.
"You can tell me about the package you gave Tony, after the service."
Gardiner licked his lips nervously. "I can't do that."
Gibbs continued the glare for a moment, and then smiled a little.
"Confidentiality?"
"Yes," Gardiner said in a less than confident tone.
"Mmm," Gibbs nodded his head. "Mr. Gardiner, did you hear from Tony in the last several days? And, think twice before you answer. I can have your phone records checked if need be."
Gardiner frowned, and swallowed harshly.
"Yes."
"And?"
"We had financial matters to discuss in regard to his father's estate, and also I needed to arrange for him to have keys for the house in the Hamptons."
"I see." Gibbs sighed, relaxing back for a moment.
"And did you give him keys, Mr. Gardiner?'
Gardiner sighed. He knew where this was going.
"Yes. I had them left in the mailbox."
"But you don't know if Tony ever picked them up?"
"Well, ahhh, I assume he has them…"
"Never assume, Mr. Gardiner." Gibbs suddenly got up, perusing the books on Gardiner's shelves. "Actually, I heard the house burned down," Gibbs said almost absently.
"Yes." Gardiner was starting to sweat. "What do you want, Agent Gibbs? Can we please get to the point?"
Gibbs turned on him, and his eyes held a hawk-like focus, a cold stare, that chilled Gardiner to the bone.
"I want you to answer my questions," Gibbs said in a low, menacing growl, "or I can easily suggest to the locals that you had something to do with that house going up."
"You…can't. You wouldn't…it would potentially also implicate the young Mr. DiNozzo."
"He's already been implicated, probably by you to CYA," Gibbs continued. "So no new news there. But, I can probably help smooth things over for you and Tony, if you cooperate. And, it won't go any further than this room."
Gardiner seemed to be thinking furiously.
"Up to you, Gardiner," Gibbs crooned, "it's either the hard way, or the easy way. You decide."
Gardiner sighed.
"What do you want to know?"
"Tony had a letter in that package. A personal letter. I want to know what it said."
"Then you'll have to ask him, Agent Gibbs, because I don't know what was in that letter. It was hand written and sealed by Mr. DiNozzo Senior himself. I was not privy to it's contents."
Gibbs watched the man for any signs of subterfuge. There were none.
Gibbs let out a huff in frustration.
"Can you tell me anything else?"
"Not about the letter. But I did speak to young Mr. DiNozzo today, just before I arrived."
Gibbs tilted his head expectantly.
"I don't know where he is…but he's asked me to transfer some funding from his father's accounts to his."
"Did he say where he was?"
"You don't know?" Gardiner asked snarkily.
"No. And I'm trying to find him."
"Why?"
"That's what I'm trying to find out."
Tony pulled in to Sharlee's after lunchtime.
As he got out of the car, she ran to meet him, shrieking in joy.
She almost knocked him over with the hug, reminding him of Abby…
"Hey Sharlee!" he grinned, as she pulled back and they looked at eachother.
She was still beautiful, though she had definitely aged and gained a bit of weight around her middle. She was dressed in plain slacks and a fitted jacket.
"Look at you!" he said. "A suit! I love suits!"
She laughed, "Well now, you look pretty good yourself there, Dee! You don't seem to have aged very much. You must be having lots of sex!"
He snorted, "Is that the secret?"
"Nah," she laughed, "I've got myself a younger beau and I get it plenty. Still getting' older'n dirt."
She lead him into the large house that served as her office and established brothel. It looked like a standard ranch house, but with several cottages out back, detached.
The outside of the building looked old an worn, but it was incredibly illusive, not telling of the modern and warm décor inside.
The walked through the large front room, with its oriental rugs and rustic oak furniture. There was a huge fireplace, and couches and chairs. It looked like the lounge of a club of some kind.
He followed her down a small hallway, to the right, passing a leggy girl, in a short purple dress, who cheerfully said, "Good Morning, Ms. Sharlee!"
"Good morning Rebecca!" she responded gaily.
The dark haired creature slowed and smiled, passing Tony, passing her aqua blue eyes over him.
He almost walked into Sharlee, and she laughed.
"In here, Dee, before you hurt yourself!" She motioned him into an office with two windows, bright and fresh looking, with a clean oak desk and two chairs. On one wall was a sumptuous suede couch, in a rust color. "Have a seat. You wanna' drink, sugar?"
"No," he smiled, sinking into the delicious suede. "I'm good."
She smiled, eyeing him, and then sat next to him.
"No pictures of the kids?" he said, a little nervous suddenly.
She chuckled, "No. This isn't the place for anyone to know about my personal life. But I'll get you over my house for dinner with the kids. You won't believe how they've grown. Jacob is just about a young man now, and his sister…lemme' tell you, she's gonna break more than a few hearts…"
Tony smiled warmly.
He felt nervous again. But now he knew why. It was the way she was looking at him, scrutinizing…
"Dee," she said gently, putting a hand on his knee, "what are you running from?"
He looked away, but recovered quickly.
"You know, I'm a Fed now?"
"No shit."
"Yeah," he pulled out his badge, and showed it to her. "NCIS. In DC."
"Well, I'll be damned. Pretty impressive for the likes of you!"
He laughed at her. "Yeah."
Putting his badge away he said, "I'm…on vacation for a few weeks. And I just need to blow off some steam…maybe with a little…assistance…" he suddenly felt a little embarrassed. He'd never paid for sex in his life. But this was different. He needed to avoid any attachments or further complications…
"Mmm-hmm," she said, still looking at him closely. "You know, Dee, we have a lot of catching up to do. But…we have plenty of time. I expect to see you around a few times while you're out here. But…I understand."
He looked at her disbelievingly.
"Oh, not about whatever it is you're not telling me… I know people. I know men. And I know you, Dee. Doesn't matter that so much time has passed. You needed to get away. And now you're here."
"And now I'm here, " he echoed her softly, smiling.
"What is it you want to do exactly? While you're here?"
"Well," he sighed, and looked down for a moment. Then he looked back up at her with a wry smile. "A little bit of 'Viva Las Vegas' meets 'Leaving Las Vegas'."
"Still with the movies, huh Dee?" she chuckled. "Well I haven't seen either of those, but, let's start with who you're looking for."
She got up and got a binder off her desk, and handed it to him.
He opened it, and looked up at her with uncertainty.
"In that book are all my girls, and my boys, and menus of what services are available to you."
"Wow," he said, raising his brows as he perused the pages of the book. They were all young, beautiful. Sexy. "I guess I should ask some questions…"
"Out here, it's all legal. As long as you stay here, at the ranch. But, it's illegal to have people come to the hotels, and especially troublesome in Vegas proper." She leaned back, sitting on her desk, and folded her arms. "Now, you and I go way back, and I will never forget what you did for me and mine. So, sugar, if you want to stay in a hotel, as long as it's outside the hot zone, I will send them to you. I trust you. And...as long as you don't get crazy...I can discount some of my fees."
He nodded, "I can pay, Sharlee. It is after all, a legal service." And a good way to get rid of Senior's money. I hope the old sonofabitch rolls in his grave.
He looked back down at the book.
"What if…there are some things…I…um," he was struggling to ask.
"Some things not on the menu ?" She smiled. "You can either pass them by me, or to the girls individually. As long as it's nothing that will harm them, and they agree to it, it's all good."
He nodded.
"I don't remember you ever saying you were into anything…different…but then again, you never did take me up on my offers." She smiled wistfully at him.
"Well, Sharlee, that just shows you how foolish youth can be."
She chuckled. "It's so good to see you, Dee. How about we have dinner at my house tomorrow night?"
"Sure," he said warmly. He looked at the book once more, and closed it. "I think I'm gonna' go get a hotel room, and I'll call you about…this."
"Sure, sugar. However you want it."
"Just…two things…"
"What, Dee?"
"Well, first is my Boss…"
"Your Boss?"
"Yeah…he's uh…well, he…we're friends…and he worries about me…and I just wanted to get away for a while…"
"It's no one's business that you're here, Dee. Don't you worry about that."
He nodded in appreciation.
"What was the other thing?"
"Ah," he smiled sheepishly, "I don't suppose you have a 'take out' menu?"