Chapter 4
2013
By now Emily has met everyone on the team. She is stood in autopsy with Tim, Gibbs and Ducky staring into the cold, dead face of her father. She sobs and McGee wraps his arms around her from behind. She hugs him and doesn't let go. McGee sighs and kisses her head before nodding to Ducky who puts her father back into the cooler drawer. McGee says nothing but Emily asks the question, he's most worried about hearing the answer to.
"Why? Why would someone do this?" She sobs again.
"That's what we're going to find out." Gibbs says kindly, yet determined. Emily nods and then looks at Ducky.
"How?" Her voice cracks and she whimpers softly. McGee squeezes her reassuringly again.
"Gunshot wound to the chest. If its any consolation he put up a fight and death was instantaneous." Ducky says kindly to the young woman who is shivering with fear in Timothy's arms. "My dear would you understand what this note means?" Ducky asks holding out an evidence bag to her, She takes it gingerly.
The note reads: Your Daughter For My Daughter. R.M.
Emily shivers and drops the note leaning closer to McGee, who has been reading over her shoulder. Tim looks at her quizzically and she points to the note he has caught. Tim reads it and growls, turning Emily to face him.
"I won't let him touch you or her ever again. Do you hear me, Emmeline Jane?" Tim vows angrily and Emily nods not saying a word leaning her forehead against McGee's chest. "Bastard." He mutters angrily.
"McGee! What the hell is wrong with you?" Gibbs complains.
"I think that is Emily's story to tell, not mine." McGee says and they return to the conference room accompanied by Ducky.
"So, Miss Garrett, what does the note mean?" Gibbs asks as they sit in the conference room, McGee beside Emmeline who cradles a cup of tea between her shaking hands. Tony and Ziva stand behind Ducky who sits opposite Emmeline with Gibbs at the table.
"It was 1996, sophomore year at MIT. It was June, a few days after I found out about my mother's death and I had got engaged to Tim…" She began slowly and McGee swallowed at the painful memory taking her hand as she recited.