"Let's start over shall we. My name is Tony DiNozzo, I work for NCIS. I like playing Tetris, watching movies and coffee".
The girl looked at his hand before putting her hand in his.
"I'm Alexandra Opal Templeton. I like movies, boxing and ice tea".
"Well Alexandra Opal Templeton, can I ask you where you were when your father was murdered?"
"It's Alex" She looked back at the ground. She knew that she should be upset that her father was dead but all she felt was relief.
"Why do you need to know?"
DiNozzo sighed. Alex was guarded in her responses. Getting her to trust him would not be easy.
"We need to account the whereabouts of you so we can rule you out as a suspect"
The last word that came out of Tony's mouth were enough to push Alex over the edge. All the while she and Tony were making small talk her head was racing. Would they know about the bruises? Would they suspect her? She had motive, means, and opportunity. She lived with the bastard for god's sake, that was until she was kicked out.
Alex leapt off the curb and broke into a sprint. Her bare feet pounded the pavement as she dashed down the street, past the blocks where she had created so many happy memories. Not in the last three years. Not anymore. Never again.
"Gibbs" Tony shouted to the team leaded as he took up the chase. Gibbs dropped his coffee at the feet of the local Leo he was talking to and joined in the chase. They chased her along the pavement, across several roads and through a crowded shopping centre before following her into an alleyway.
Alex reached the end before realising that there was a large truck blocking her escape. She spun her head around and saw that both Tony and Gibbs were just meters from her, guns drawn. Both men were panting heavily. Alex felt a flicker of pride at being able to outrun them before it was overshadowed by her flight or fight response. Hers said flight.
"Alex, we're not going to hurt you. We just want to talk" Tony called.
"Talk, what is there to talk about huh? I bet you say that to every bastard you point guns at. You won't shoot me". Alex was almost hysterical now.
"You want to know who killed him? I wish it was me, I really do, but it wasn't. I can't help, now let me go. Let me go. I want no part in this"
Alex flung herself at the agents, trying to make a run for it. Although both of them were surprised, Tony managed to drop his weapon and grab her on the way past. Encircling her with both arms he restrained her flailing fists.
"Let me go you son-of-a-bitch. Leave me alone!" She kicked out at Tony's shins causing him to grunt in pain but still keeping his grip tight. Tears appeared in his fancy Ermenegildo Zegna suit sleeves as Alex raked her fingernails across his arms in an attempt to free herself.
Gibbs cuffed her as she struggled against Tony.
"You can let go now DiNozzo" he informed the gasping agent.
"I can see how you'd be good at boxing" Tony bent over trying to regain his breath before examining the damage to his clothing.
"Damn, I knew I shouldn't have worn my favourite suit today. You've got claws like a jaguar".
Ziva turned up to the alley in Gibbs car a few seconds later. Alex was marched to the door with Tony and Gibbs on either side of her, god forsake if she made another bid for freedom. After buckling her into the back Gibbs looked at Tony with raised eyebrows.
"Claws like a Jaguar DiNozzo?"
"A cat is a bit to cliché boss, I'm going for something a little more inventive. Besides…" Tony re-examined his arm. "I don't think a cat could make this much damage."
After instructing Tony to take Alex back to NCIS, with a warning that if anything happened to his car he would be riding the desk for a month, Gibbs returned to the house with Ziva.
"McGee!"
"Yes boss?"
"Update"
McGee shifted nervously. "Neighbours heard the shot last night but apparently it's nothing new. Shots were heard regularly and officials have been round several times. Petty Officer Templeton claimed that they weren't gunshots but just him dropping heavy things. Officials couldn't find proof on anything different. Also screaming was a pretty common occurrence. It sounds like it was mostly the daughter and father going at it. Only started after the mother's death".
"Ziva?"
"Yes Gibbs. The house was furnished well. The girl's bedroom looked like she hadn't been there for at least a week. Much more than you could afford on one salary. It must have cost an arm and a knee"
"A leg Ziva" McGee corrected. "It must have cost an arm and a leg"
"Yes that too. Multiple body parts"
Gibbs inwardly grinned at Ziva's way of covering her mistake. Although she had been in the country for some time she was yet to grasp American idioms.
"Okay, wrap it up then head back to headquarters. I'll catch a ride with Ducky".
DiNozzo adjusted the rear view mirror as he made his way back to NCIS with Alex. He noticed she was extremely fidgety, probably from nerves. She glared at him as his eyes caught hers.
"You just gonna look at me or tell me where you're taking me?" she hissed.
Tony decided to ignore the comment. "So Alex, how old are you?"
She turned back to look out the window, shifting as her hands pressed against the back seat.
Tony sighed. "I'll do you a deal. You tell me your age and I'll remove those cuffs"
"You mean these cuffs?" she dangled open cuffs from her finger.
"Shit!" Tony swore and almost ran off the road. "How'd you get those off?"
"You obviously don't know that girls carry bobby pins like, all the time"