Chapter 14: Questions

"Anyone who uses the phrase 'easy as taking candy from a baby' has never tried taking candy from a baby." - Unknown

"Why would someone just drop a dead body on my door?" Sophie asked having calmed down since arriving at the police station.

"I think you know exactly why Mrs. Rossi. I think you got tired of your husband sleeping with the help and decided
to finally do something about it." Gibbs pushed; trying to figure out how she felt about her husband's infidelity.

"How could I? You were right there, you saw me.
Why would I have screamed if I killed her?" Sophie was shocked, were they seriously accusing her of murder?

"No I know you didn't kill her, I can't see you getting your hands dirty like that.
So who did you hire to kill her, maybe the same guy that killed the other four?"

"What other four? I didn't get anyone killed!" Sophie couldn't believe this was happening.

"EJ Barrett" Gibbs started laying down photographs. "Jordan Todd, Katelyn Todd, Ashley Seaver. I know all these girls worked for you.
Just admit that you got them knocked off because your husband showed more interest in them then you."

"That's not true."

"So you're saying you don't know any of these women?
You do know that we already know about the brothel and any lies you're trying to use won't do anything for you.
So maybe you didn't kill them because you were jealous, maybe you got them killed because they didn't want to work for you anymore."

"I know them, we were friends but I didn't get them killed."

"So they did work in your brothel?"

"I don't know anything about a brothel, last I heard Ashley had gotten herself a spot in a Broadway musical and Kate headed to LA, she's been trying to make a name for herself.
I honestly don't know what happened to the other two." Looking down at the photographs she sighed out, "Well I guess I do now."

"You can deny the brothel all you want it doesn't matter, but tell me if the woman in this picture with these girls worked for you."

"I told you they don't work for me."

Placing the photo in front of her Gibbs stated. "Just tell me if you know her."

"It's Emily."Sophie spoke in recognition. "Emily Prentiss."

Looking closely at the photo Gibbs cursed.
He hadn't seen her, only heard her voice, but why hadn't Nate and Tobias noticed.
Getting up he decided he would go find those two and ask them personally.

"Wait! You can't keep me here. I've done nothing wrong." Sophie was not going to spend the night in jail; especially not when she had a casino opening.

"Well if you've done nothing wrong than you're free to go."
Watching as Sophie started to rise he continued, "In 70 hours" before pulling the door shut.

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The Hoot
Pulling on her studded choker Abby sighed, she had promised to tone it down but looking in the mirror she almost didn't recognize herself.
Deciding that a little extra jewelry couldn't hurt she turned to grab her jewelry box but jumped as someone grabbed her from behind and covered her mouth.

"Don't you dare scream." A voice whispered close to her ear.

Abby's eyes widened, she recognized that voice.

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"Where's Abby?' Rossi asked no one in particular.

"Last I seen her she was in the dressing room." Came JJ's distracted reply as she fiddled with the back of Ziva's gown.

"Well I need her here. Someone go find her." Rossi ordered.
His wife was missing, no one at home was answering the telephone, and now his daughter had disappeared.
He really hoped this wasn't a sign of how the night would go.

"No need." Came the reply of one James Sterling as he appeared behind Rossi, a frightened Abby pressed to his chest, knife at her throat.

Ignoring the girls' shouts Rossi asked, "What do you want? You name it and it's yours, just don't hurt her."

"Oh I don't intend to, she's just here to make sure you listen." Sterling drawled in Abby's ear slowly
dragging the knife down her collarbone before replacing it at a higher point of her neck.

"I'm listening." Rossi stated, trying his best to seem unaffected.
He might have seemed heartless but if there was one person at all that he cared about it would be his daughter.

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"So?" Both men jumped as Gibbs spoke, wondering how he snuck up behind them.

"She's up in her room now.
A little while back she went down to the casino but the guy out front wouldn't let her in." Nate brought Gibbs up to speed.

"I thought the hotel and casino were connected, why didn't she just go through the lobby's entrance?" Gibbs pried.

"That entrance isn't available to guests until after tonight's opening." Fornell explained before continuing, "What are you doing here anyway?"

Pulling the photo out of his jackets pocket Gibbs showed them. "The fifth woman in this picture is Emily Prentiss."

While they checked the photo with disbelieving faces Gibbs went on. "What we need to figure out is if she's a target or a"

"Suspect" Nate finished.

"Look" Fornell grabbed their attention.
The three looked on as Emily exited the elevator.

"Let's go." Gibbs ordered as he began to follow Emily out of the hotels back entrance.

Starting to get suspicious as to why Emily was going through the back alley Gibbs decided to hang back a bit.

"What's she doing?" Fornell whispered.

"That's what I'm trying to figure out Toby." Sometimes Gibbs couldn't help but wonder why he was given the partner that always questioned the obvious.

"I think she just slid that window open." Nate was trying to see past the shadow of the sun that had almost completely set.

"Nate go around front, tell the guard you just saw someone break in a back room and that you'll take care of it.
Make sure he doesn't come with you. That place is set to open any time now, just stay out of sight.
We'll follow her this way and figure out what she's up to." Gibbs ordered.

"See you inside." Nate excused, slowly sneaking back up the alleyway and towards the front of the hotel.

"Ready"

Tobias knew that should have been a question but with Gibbs he was almost positive it was an order.

Ducking by the window where Emily had just disappeared Gibbs peered
inside what appeared to be a dressing room."Get in there Tobias."

"Why do I have to go first?" Fornell complained not to thrilled with the idea of falling."

"Because if you don't I'll push you through. Now go!" Gibbs ordered not understanding how Fornell could possibly
be scared of a ten foot drop and not having the time or patience at the moment to deal with the situation kindly.

"Alright I'm going. No need to get pushy." Fornell answered.
Even if he did fall the outcome would still be better than if Gibbs pushed him.
Slowly putting his legs through he barely suppressed a scream when he was pushed down by the shoulders and nearly fell on his head.

"I thought you weren't going to push me if I went willingly." Fornell fumed.

"You were taking too long." was Gibbs simple reply as he dropped down, landing on his feet with a hollow thud.
Heading to the door Gibbs slowly pulled it open peeking out carefully.
He watched Emily carefully turn a corner before he walked out, slowly following.

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"You thought you could just use my sister and then throw her out like she was garbage!
She loves you and you treat her like dirt!" Sterling spat.

"I don't know who your sister is." Rossi slowly replied trying not to anger the man.

"Oh yes you do. Emily has been trying to get you to notice her for months now.
She's tried to convince every tramp that you were attempting to cast for lead in your show to go off and find better.
She even gave a few of her own gigs away just so you'd realize you needed her. I decided that wasn't enough though, those girls needed to be punished.
My sister worked hard for her reputation and watching those girls was like watching her name being smeared.
Suddenly she was a nobody and you made it worse by trying to replace her." Sterling explained feeling enraged.

"I didn't know Emily loved me. I can give her her own show,
have it over shadow the old one. Just don't hurt Abby." Rossi bargained.

"No, you see that's your problem! You don't know how to treat women!" James shouted over the top of Ziva's foreign mumbling.
"Ziva over there worked for her spot. Abby chose her because she was talented.
You just look for girls who are willing like the ones in that whore house you and your wife got going.
You see they're actually ladies and I'm surprised that you managed to raise one but I suspect that's more despite than because of you.
Those girls I left for you, but the damn cops left my message out of the papers.
I put them in that blue dress that Emily used to tell you she dreamed of wearing in your show.
Tattooed them with an owl, you know the one that represents your casino; your nickname.
I dropped the last one on your porch, figured you'd get the message for sure that way but no you just couldn't be where you're supposed to.
No matter though all five of them got what they deserved and you will too." Sterling threatened pressing the knife just a little closer.

"Oh my Lord, James! What are you doing?" Emily was absolutely in shock over what she was seeing.

"I'm fixing things Ema. Let me deal with this so we can move on. You're better off without him."
Sterling wrapped his arm around Abby's throat before he settled the knife on a table and pulled out a gun.
Pointing it at Rossi the last thing to be heard was a 'Bang!' before all the women screamed.

"You can't pick your family but you can always pick your nose." (Jimmy Palmer NCIS)