Rather than going to the bullpen, Gibbs got on the elevator and headed down to Abby's lab. As always, the music was deafening and the positive energy was tangible. Abby was at her desk, typing away on her computer.
"Hey Abs. What are you doing?" Gibbs asked as he approached her.
Abby looked up with a smile, and turned down the music so that he could hear her.
"Hey Gibbs. I was just adding some finishing touches to my report on the Adler case," Abby said.
"Well, you'd better hold off on those finishing touches," Gibbs said. "The Adler case has been reopened. Somehow, she managed to escape from her holding cell."
"What?!" Abby exclaimed. "How could she escape? Are you messing with me, Gibbs?"
"I'm not messing with you, Abs. That's not all. She was here earlier. I don't know how she got past security, but she did. I don't know how she got past me either."
"Why would she come back to the Navy Yard? Isn't that risky?" Abby asked, feeling nervous that a criminal like Rory Adler could slip past security.
"She came back to drop this off." Gibbs handed Abby the envelope. "So many people have touched it by now, Abs, I don't know if you'll be able to get an accurate print. But I need you to try."
Abby peeked inside the envelope and then stood up, suddenly excited. "You got it, Gibbs. When you come back I'll be able to tell you where this came from, when the photos were printed and a whole lot more."
"Thanks, Abs." Gibbs left Abby's lab, and got back on the elevator. Still, he didn't return to the bullpen, instead he went down to Autopsy.
"Mr. Palmer!" Ducky called. He waited for an answer.
"Yes, Doctor?" Palmer called back.
"What are you doing under there?" Ducky bent over to get a better look at Jimmy Palmer, who was on his hands and knees underneath one of the autopsy tables.
"I found a stain on the linoleum, Doctor. I'm trying to clean it, but it's a tough one," Palmer replied. He scrubbed the floor with one hand, and pushed his falling glasses back onto his nose with the other.
"What are you using?"
"Water..." Palmer answered.
"I think you'll have an easier time if you go get a surface cleaner from the janitor's closet."
"Good idea, Doctor." Jimmy stood, and straightened his scrubs. "I'll go do that." Jimmy marched toward the door, and passed Gibbs on his way out.
"Good morning, Agent Gibbs."
"Morning, Palmer," Gibbs muttered. Once the autopsy doors closed behind him, Gibbs and Ducky were alone.
"What can I do for you, Jethro?" Ducky asked, with a small smile for his friend.
Gibbs sat down on one of the autopsy tables, and took a deep breath.
"The Adler case has been reopened, I need you to tell me everything you can about Rory Adler."
"Why has the case been reopened? Surely you didn't make a mistake," said Ducky quietly.
"I don't know, Duck. Apparently, Adler escaped from her holding cell before she could be shipped off to Gitmo."
"She escaped from her holding cell on the Navy Yard?" Ducky asked incredulously.
"Yep. And she came back this morning to drop off some surveillance photos of her making her great escape. She walked right past me, and I didn't notice that it was her. She changed the color of her hair, and she fooled me. I just can't shake this feeling that she's trying to prove something."
"Jethro, she intended to fool you. But I guarantee you won't let it happen again. I know you wont, so don't beat yourself up about it. Now, is it possible that Rory Adler is innocent? Is it possible that you missed something during your investigation?"
"I don't know, Duck."
"When I did a profile on Miss Adler last month, I noticed that she had a strong thirst to prove herself. Perhaps her arrest was such a large blow to her ego, that she feels the need to prove that she's better than you, and better than NCIS as a whole."
"What else did you learn about her that could help the investigation?"
"From watching the recording of your last interrogation of her, I picked up that she's very strong minded, and strong willed. She's very intelligent, Jethro, and that may prove to be challenging for you. To be honest, she's a lot like you. I think the key to your investigation will be that you have to put yourself in her shoes. That's the only way you'll get to the bottom of things."
The autopsy doors slid open, and Jimmy Palmer entered the room holding a large spray bottle.
"I found it, Doctor," Palmer said with a grin.
Gibbs hopped off of the autopsy table and patted Ducky on the back.
"Thanks, Duck." Gibbs left autopsy, finally ready to head to the bullpen and get to work.
