Good morning, everyone!
I'm really sorry I didn't post more yesterday... I kinda fell asleep *blushes*
But here I am today... still sleepy but meh... let's post away.
Usual disclaimers: Blah blah blah... something to do with CBS... blah blah blah... and a Bellisario guy...
I do happen to own Elizabeth Hadley, Kirsty Randall, Ilya Smirnov, Creepy Man On The Phone, Cpl. Andrew Collins, Dmitri Vasiliev, Matthew Jackson and Paul Morris.
Enjoy, my darlings ;)
CHAPTER 3
"Please, take a seat, Miss Randall" Gibbs instructed after closing the interrogation room door "Can I get you anything?"
"No… thank you…" Kirsty replied coyly, staring down at the steel table
"Alright…" He said sitting across from her "Why did you leave your house before the police arrived?"
"I… I was scared… I didn't know what to do. I haven't been here in the States long and… after what happened in…" She stopped abruptly and covered her mouth as her widened, watery eyes looked at Gibbs
"After what happened where, Miss Randall?"
"No… that's not what I meant… I…"
"There's no use to hide it, Kirsty… we know about your past in England… so, I'm gonna ask this just once: what happened today… does it have anything to do with England?"
Kirsty couldn't hold Gibbs intense stare and she returned her attention to the smooth silver surface of the table.
It wasn't pity was Gibbs felt for her; at least not anymore. Her blonde hair was a little messy; the small amount of mascara she had been wearing had smudged under her eyes, which blue irises were surrounded by small red veins revealing the emotional pain she had been under for the past hours.
"What do you want from me?"
"The truth, Kirsty. Just the truth"
"I already told you the truth: I didn't kill Andrew! I'm not a murderer!" She cried
"Help us prove you're not… why did you returned to the house?"
"I… I needed some stuff…"
"Don't lie to me… one of my agents found your passport inside your bag" Kirsty looked back down
"Yes… I went to look for my passport… but I didn't mean to leave the country… I'm about to get my permanent residence… it would be stupid"
"You didn't answer my question about the crime… did it have anything to do with the events that took place in England 2 years ago?"
"I… I don't know! I didn't see anyone! I… he came to see me… to talk to me and… everything happened so fast…" Kirsty blurted out covering her face with her hands
"Ok… calm down… tell me everything, from the beginning"
Behind the 2 way mirror, Tim looked at Ziva who raised her eyebrows at the scene inside the interrogation room.
"What do you think?" McGee asked
"I do not believe she's lying but we've met people just like that and later we discover they've been lying to us from the beginning… there's no way to tell" Ziva replied without taking her eyes off Gibbs and Kirsty
Meanwhile, inside the elevator on their way to the 7th floor, Tony and Liz waited in silence but looked at each other with small wicked smiles plastered on their faces.
"What are you thinking about?" Liz asked
"The Blues Alley" Tony simply replied
"Ah, yes… that was a good night"
"We should do it again… sometime… since you're here…"
"Did you just ask me out on a date, DiNozzo?" Liz questioned smiling wider
"Would that be so bad?" Tony said leaning against the elevator wall
"Rule #12, Tony…"
"You don't work here… at least not officially…"
"Apparently I'm gonna be working here for the next few days… or weeks… or… who knows…"
"Why does it feel like you're just trying to find an excuse not to go out with me?"
Suddenly, Liz went completely serious. He was probably right but she wasn't about to accept it.
"You're imagining things, Tony…" Was the only answer she could think of
Thankfully, the elevator halted and the doors opened, revealing the NCIS' bullpen. Without waiting for Tony's reply, Liz walked out of the elevator and towards the set of 4 desks already known to her.
McGee and Gibbs were there and as the latter noticed Liz's presence, he stood up from his chair, approached to her and greeted her with a light hug.
"Welcome back, Liz" He said
"Thank you, Gibbs… how have you been?"
"Busy… and I'm guessing so have you"
"That, I have" She smiled
"Come, I'll take you where our suspect is" Gibbs said and Liz nodded "Good job, DiNozzo"
"Thanks, boss" Tony replied with pride as Liz and Gibbs walked away
"Who's that?" McGee asked
"Oh, yes, I forgot you weren't here yet when I first met her…" Tony said still smiling "Her name is Elizabeth… Special SAS Agent Elizabeth M. Hadley, to be precise"
"SAS Agent?" Tim questioned
"Special Air force Service Agent" Ziva answered McGee's question
"And that's… big?" McGee continued, confused
"Big? Oh, Probie, you're so lucky Gibbs took her away… being an SAS agent is not big… is HUGE!" Tony mocked
"But why? Isn't the SAS like any other agency?"
"Not really…" Ziva interfered
"So, it is like Mossad, then" McGee said
"Mmm, no… actually, the SAS has served as reference point to practically all of Mossad's techniques and strategies" Ziva explained
"Wow… so she's… worse than Ziva?" McGee asked in shock
"Probably… but Liz has a better temper" Tony said
Ziva didn't say anything. She just walked closer to Tony and slapped him in the back of the head.
"Ouch… see, Probie? Better temper" Tony laughed as Ziva returned to her desk and McGee just shook his head
Liz and Gibbs stood behind the 2 way mirror analyzing Kirsty.
"What do you see?" Gibbs asked
"Well, she hasn't changed a bit, I can assure you that… but… I don't know… I don't think she's lying"
"Why do you sound so doubtful?"
"Mmm… you see, when we started the investigation in London, we found some inconsistencies in her statement… well, actually, statementS"
"She had to declare more than once?"
"She never went to the trial. Let me explain this… We were investigating a Russian entrepreneur Dmitri Vasiliev, as I assume you know" Gibbs nodded "It says in the report that she was related to him. The truth is that she was romantically involved with him. They were engaged. This man, Vasiliev was charged with 2 accounts of murder and at first we thought Kirsty, here had had something to do with those murders but she didn't and like I told Tony, she wasn't even booked" She made a pause to look at Kirsty "The problem with Vasiliev was that he was a very wealthy man and after bribing the judge, he was exonerated from every charged made against him"
"What happened with him?"
"Well, no one knows for sure. We tried to keep track of him but, being the terrorist he is; we were never able to find him. My superiors insisted on the theory that he returned to Russia but I never believed that… I think he came to the States… looking for her"
"So he is a terrorist…"
"Yes… after the case was closed, Kirsty moved to the States fearing Vasiliev would try to kill her if she stayed in London and I continued investigating"
"I was hoping you'd say that… what did you discover?"
"Dmitri Vasiliev is not his real name. I found out about this because after the trial, when he disappeared, his identity, his bank accounts, drivers licence, even passport disappeared… as if Dmitri Vasiliev had never existed"
"And why were you so sure about Kirsty's innocence back then?"
"I never said I were…" She smiled at Gibbs and he smiled back "But other apart her romantic relationship with Vasiliev, there was nothing else that linked her to any of his crimes. She knew nothing about the murders"
"Who did he kill?" Gibbs inquired
"Directly? No one…"
"But you just said…"
"I know… but he was just the intellectual author of both of the crimes we were investigating…" Liz said and closed her eyes trying to remember "If my memory isn't all that bad, I think the names of the men he killed were Matthew Jackson and Paul Morris… they were MI5 agents who had infiltrated in Vasiliev's circle"
"He discovered who they were and had them killed" Gibbs deduced
"Exactly…"
"So, what do you think of her?"
"I was reading Ducky's report in the car and I surprised when I saw the COD. Punctured heart… that is something one of Vasiliev's men used to do"
"With a copper weapon?"
"It's a cylindrical copper dagger and that's definitely your murder weapon"
"So, you're saying Vasiliev sent one of his men to kill her"
"That's my theory, yes…"
"What do you think we should do?"
"Agent Gibbs is asking ME what to do?" Liz repeated in shock
"Very funny, Liz… yes, I am…"
Liz returned her look to Kirsty.
"Let me talk to her…"
Gibbs didn't say anything else. He nodded and Liz exited the observation room. Outside, she found Tony, Ziva and McGee, practically eavesdropping.
"If you want to hear anything, go in there" She simply said walking past them and entering the interrogation room.
The other 3 agents exchanged quizzical looks and walked into the observation room.
"Boss, Liz said…" Tony started
"Silence" Gibbs ordered, his full attention on Liz and Kirsty
"Hello, Kirsty…" Liz greeted
Kirsty knew that voice. She looked up and widened her eyes with surprise and she recognized Liz.
"Agent Hadley" She gasped
"Good, you remember me" Liz said leaning against the wall "How have you been?"
"I've been both worse and better… what are you doing here?"
"I came to help…"
"Me?"
"I don't know yet… if you want me to help you, you're gonna have to help me first"
"Please, agent Hadley, I already told agent Gibbs I didn't do anything wrong! I didn't kill Andrew"
"Strangely enough I believe you, Kirsty…" Liz said and sat in front of Kirsty "But I want to know everything… and everything I mean everything you didn't tell agent Gibbs"
"Like what?"
"You know who killed Cpl. Collins, don't you?"
"No…" Kirsty shook her head but didn't look at Liz in the eye
"Now, you see, Kirsty? I can tell when you're lying and you're lying to me right now…" Liz said standing up maintaining her calm demeanour "Who killed Cpl. Collins?"
"I don't know…"
"Cpl. Collins was killed with a cylindrical copper dagger and I believe you know who uses that weapon…" Liz stopped for a moment "You know me, Kirsty. I did everything in my power to help you in England but we are not in England anymore and this time they are coming after you. I you don't help me, I can't help you"
"But… I can't say anything… he'll find me!"
"He won't if we find him first!" Liz exclaimed and slammed her fist on the table "Tell me, who killed Cpl. Collins?!"
"I… his name is Ilya Smirnov… he used to be one of Dmitri's assassins… I didn't see him but… I'm sure it was him" Kirsty said almost in a whisper
"Thank you, Kirsty" Liz said and rushed out of the interrogation room
Inside the observation room, McGee turned to look at Tony and Gibbs "She's good"
"Oh, yes" Both senior agents replied in unison and Liz entered the room
"That wasn't so hard, was it?" She joked
"Now what?" Ziva asked
"Now we go looking for Ilya Smirnov" Gibbs said
"And what if she's lying?" McGee said
"We'll soon find out, won't we?" Liz said "I'm going to see Abby… I need to ask her a favour, of course, that is if you don't mind, Gibbs"
"No… go ahead… take McGee with you"
Liz nodded "C'mon, Probie" She said and after rolling his eyes, McGee followed her out of the room
"What are we going to do about her, Gibbs?" Ziva asked nodding in Kirsty's direction
"We'll keep her here… at least until we've found Smirnov and we can confirm her statement…" Gibbs replied and walked to the door "Keep an eye on here, I'm going out" And with that he left
"He's usually tougher with the suspects, isn't he?" Ziva pointed out
"Yeah… well, she isn't a red head, I don't believe he fancies her"
"Are you always thinking about… that, Tony?" Ziva asked waving her arms in the air
"About what?"
"Never mind… by the way… if agent Hadley works for the SAS, why was she here in D.C.?"
"She's hardly ever in the UK… she travels a lot and she happened to be here… why do you ask?"
"Mmm… for nothing… pay no attention to me… I'm going upstairs to make a report. Don't let her out of your sight" Ziva said and left Tony alone
Meanwhile, inside the elevator…
"I do not believe we've been properly introduced" Liz said to McGee as soon as the doors had closed "I'm Elizabeth… Elizabeth Hadley" She introduced herself stretching her hand out to him
"Timothy McGee… McGee or… Tim…" He replied nervously shaking her hand
"It's nice to meet you, Tim… please, call me Liz" She smiled at him and he smiled back "You were working with Gibbs when I helped him with a case 2 years ago, weren't you?"
"I… I suppose so but you didn't come to the office, did you?"
"No… I had come before but not the last time I came… you are the computer genius, aren't you?" McGee looked at her confused "Gibbs has told me about you… and sorry about the Probie thing a moment ago… I've heard Tony call you like that… I promise I won't do it again"
"It's ok… I'm kinda used to it…"
"I tell you what: I'll slap Tony in the head each time he calls you like that… deal?"
McGee chuckled but agreed "Deal…"
"McGee! I've been waiting for someone to come and…" Abby yelled as the elevator doors opened but stopped as she noticed Liz "Liz!" She shouted and ran to hug her
"Hey, Abs" Liz replied hugging her back
"Oh my God! Why hadn't anyone told me you were here?"
"I just arrived and I went straight to interrogation so…"
"Oh well, in that case, I forgive you… are you here just to visit or…?"
"No… I wish I could say that because I know I've neglected you guys a lot lately but I came because Gibbs, well… Tony called" Liz explained as they walked into the lab
"Because of the case we're working on?" Liz nodded "Ok, well, then I suppose I can tell you what I've found… I've indentified another of the 3 sets of fingerprints…"
"Ilya Smirnov?" McGee asked
"Yes! How did you know? McGee, you just pulled a Gibbs!" Abby exclaimed and McGee wiggled his eyebrows proudly
"What else have you got?" Liz asked
"Well, this is very interesting… I found some blood in the copper traces Ducky sent me, apart from our dead corporal blood… I ran them and I discovered the blood belongs to another man… I'm running the test right now…"
"But the weapon was used to kill a man, the corporal…" McGee mentioned the obvious as his cell phone rang and he walked out of the lab
"It was probably used to kill someone else" Liz said
"Sounds sloppy" Abby remarked
"I don't believe our killer is the sloppy kind…" She said and checked if McGee was still out "Abby… can I ask you to run a search on someone?" Liz asked
"Yeah, of course"
"I need you to investigate someone by the name Natalya Tereshchenko"
"Ok, what do you need?"
"Anything you can find… it's very important… and… I'd appreciate it if you didn't tell Gibbs or anyone else about this" Abby nodded with hesitation "Thanks Abs. Keep me informed" Liz said and rushed out of the lab, leaving McGee behind
"What was that?" Tim asked as he walked back into the lab
"Uhmm… nothing… who called you?"
"Ziva. She wants me to take our suspect to the conference room"
"Well, then, don't keep her waiting… go, go!"
"Ok, ok, I'm going!" He said and left
Upstairs, Ziva made a few phone calls and got some of the information she was looking for and she wasn't going to reveal it to anyone until she had everything.
"Hey… Ziva, right?" Liz asked walking into the bullpen
"Yes… Liaison Officer Ziva David"
"Mossad" Liz said
"That is correct"
"I'm Agent Elizabeth Hadley"
"I know. What can I do for you?" Ziva asked glaring at Liz
"Do you know where I can find Gibbs?"
"He went out" Ziva dryly replied
"I see… well… in case he asks, I went out too" Liz said and walked away
"Hey, Liz! Wait up!" Tony called catching up with her
"Tony, what about Kirsty?" Ziva asked as Tony got into the elevator along with Liz
"Take care of her, ok?" He said and the doors closed
"Sure… why not?" Ziva said to herself as she rolled her eyes
"Where are we going?" Tony asked once the elevator started moving
"We?"
"Yes, we…"
"I am going to talk to a source and you?"
"I am coming with you"
"No, you're not"
"What? You're gonna stop me?"
"You know I could"
"And you know I'm not gonna let you go by yourself"
Liz sighed and rolled her eyes "Am I gonna get away with mine?" Tony shook his head "Alright… but you do exactly what I say, ok?"
"Yes, ma'am!" He said saluting her and making her laugh.
Well, my darling, that was it for today... or wasn't it?
This time I'm probably posting more later because I might be left without internet for a few days in the next few day so I'm gonna try to post as much as I can before the tragedy occurs.
Anyways, I want to thank margerinebutterfly and gloworm41 for their reviews and the many people who have added me or my story to their favorites. MWAH!!!
So, please, keep reading, it's gonna get a lot more interesting, I promise. Oh, and keep R&Ring!
Koo Koo Kah Choo, my dears!!!
xoxo