"Gibbs, we've got a problem." Director Vance was sitting behind his desk. He was wearing the same suit as the day before and his tie hung loosely around his neck. Tony was pacing the floor with his cell phone pressed tightly against his ear. He was whispering in rushed, urgent tones.
"You're damn straight we've got a problem, Leon." Gibbs put his hands on Vance's desk and leaned forward. "This is a team. And the last time I checked, my team doesn't keep secrets."
Vance stood up in anger. "Now isn't the time for that, Gibbs. DiNozzo has been on the phone with the FBI for the last hour. We've had a serious security breach."
Tony hung up his call. "Okay, Director. Fornell is doing damage control over at the FBI. He says that he can keep it quiet long enough for us to fix the situation."
"What is the damn situation?!" Gibbs asked angrily.
"Fill him in, DiNozzo. If you'll excuse me for a moment, a package has been dropped off for me." Vance left the room to talk to his receptionist about the mysterious package, leaving a nervous looking DiNozzo in front of an angry looking Gibbs.
"Start talking."
"Boss, do you remember the Adler case?" Tony asked.
"Of course I remember the Adler case, DiNozzo. It's only been a month."
"Well, there was a delay in processing, and Adler wasn't transferred to Gitmo as quickly as she should have been. She took advantage of the delay in processing, and managed to escape two weeks ago."
"You're telling me that she escaped the Navy Yard holding cell?" Gibbs asked quietly.
"Yes, Boss."
"And how in the hell did she do that?"
"She faked her death. When the body was being transported, she made her escape."
"Bishop, get me all the files on the Adler case. Put out a BOLO for Rory Adler. McGee, get me security camera footage from the holding cell, and from the bullpen about an hour ago," Gibbs ordered. Bishop left the room immediately, McGee lingered.
"Boss, why do you want me t-"
"Now, McGee."
"On it, Boss." McGee left the room, leaving Tony and Gibbs alone.
"Why am I just hearing about this now?" Gibbs asked as he approached Tony.
"The Director needed some information on Adler last night, and I just kinda stuck around to help, Boss. He's the one who wanted to be secretive."
Gibbs raised his hand and swiftly slapped the back of Tony's head.
"You broke rule #3 and rule #15 in less than twenty four hours, DiNozzo."
"Sorry, Boss. Rule #3 never be unreachable. What was rule #15 again?" Tony asked.
"Always work as a team, DiNozzo."
"Got it, Boss. I'll go help McGee." Tony slipped out of the room, happy to escape a second head-slap from Gibbs.
Gibbs turned to leave, but stopped short of seeing Vance reentering the office, shaking with anger.
"What is it, Leon?" Gibbs asked.
Leon handed Gibbs a large manila envelope.
"Someone dropped this off an hour ago. All my receptionist knows is that it was a dark haired woman."
Gibbs opened the envelope and withdrew several large black and white photographs. Vance began to pace back and forth across the room.
"They're stills from the security cameras in the Navy Yard holding cell. They're all pictures of Adler making her great escape. Who could get access to this?" Vance asked incredulously.
Gibbs looked closely at one of the photographs which was a close up of Adler playing dead in her cell. His eyes lingered on her pale face.
"Dammit, Leon!" Gibbs exhaled angrily. "I know who dropped these photos off. It was Adler."
"What do you mean, Gibbs? That's impossible. She'd have to be insane to walk in here."
"I saw her get off the elevator, but she looked different. She changed her appearance, so that we wouldn't be able to tell it was her. She dyed her hair. I should have known."
"Why would she give me these photos? There was no note, just the pictures."
Gibbs thought for a moment, trying to put himself in Adler's shoes.
"I don't know, Leon. But you can bet your ass that I'll find out."
Gibbs put the photos back in the envelope, and turned to leave the office, but Vance stopped him.
"Gibbs, I want to know how she managed to fool the guards at the holding cell. I want to know why the hell she would come back to the Navy Yard after successfully getting away. And most of all, I want to know where she is," Vance said seriously. He looked Gibbs straight in the eye as he spoke. Gibbs nodded, and left the office with the envelope in his hand.
As he descended the staircase, Gibbs pulled out his phone and dialed Abby's number.
"Abs, I've got something for you to analyze. I want fingerprints."
