All characters and all rights at 'NCIS: Los Angeles' belong to CBS and Shane Brennan Productions. The following story does not serve any commercial purposes, but was written only for the pleasure of fans. An injury of Copyright is not intended. All further persons belong to the authoress.

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Chapter 4 - First Clues

"Okay, we have taken Fisher off the street, but nevertheless we still are not further with the murders. What do we do now?" Burning for action Ray looked at his colleagues the next morning.

"What do we have up to now?" Sam answered his own question. "Nine dead, all former Navy members, who didn't know each other and had no things in common. All of the victims were tortured before their death and mutilated. The bodies were placed in remote locations. The selection of the places became more precise from murder to murder: the access became more difficult and as of the fourth murder every deposit location has a point from which one could overlook the whole area. The mutilations indicate that the victims are not innocent. We have a dead man with cut-off hands, who is known to have beaten his wife. And a victim with gouged eyes, who was possibly a voyeur." Sam looked questioningly at his colleagues.

"The similarity, which we are looking for, could be the actions of the victims. Domestic violence and voyeurism, both were not reported. Probably we will find something like that at the other victims." Kensi frowned. "If the other victims also once had been offenders during their lives, we may find out who also knew about it."

Deeks nodded slowly. "Our victims were tortured before their death. The offenders wanted to let them suffer, just as the dead have let suffer their victims. This was a punishment."

"Vigilantism." Callen looked thoughtfully to himself. "That sounds like a good explanation. And how are we going to prove that?"

"Nell and I will drill down the past of the victims once more. If your assumptions are right, all of them have become noticeable to the authorities at some time, even though it may never have come to a complain to the police."

Callen nodded his assent. "Don't take their youth files into consideration, Eric. Three of the victims were younger than twenty-five."

"Juvenile records are sealed, Callen." Nell interjected.

"Has something like that ever stopped you?" Callen looked at her with a slightly raised eyebrow, whereupon Nell, a little sheepishly, lowered her eyes.

"We should question the women once again who have seen the voyeur. Fisher has said that she couldn't find a connection with the Navy, but I would like to check that."

"She has worked quite thoroughly, Joann, do you think that does really help us?" Ray looked doubtfully at his partner.

"Fisher may not have asked the right questions. We have information that she didn't have." Joann frowned. "This is not the first case of vigilante justice I am working on. Always something has connected victims and offenders with each other. It is striking that all victims were in the Navy. I think..." Joann hesitated. "I think that this will probably shrink the pool of suspects."

"In what way?" Sam looked questioningly at Joann.

"The offenders are civilian or military employees of the Navy with access to files or information from the military police. From outside the Navy, the access to this information is limited and difficult."

Sam nodded in agreement. But Joann was not finished.

"Also, I'm pretty sure we probably are dealing with three or more offenders."

"One who watches over the vicinity from the vantage point, two who dispose the corpse."

"Exactly, Marty. But there is something else. The first three sites of finding were without observation opportunity. Possibly because there were only two offenders and later added a third."

"Or they have been disturbed while depositing the third victim, Joann. Then they have chosen the locations from other aspects and taken the third offender along."

"Yeah, that's also possible, Marty." Joann shrugged her shoulders. "That was just an attempt by me, to find a possible explanation for the change in their deposit places."

"Okay, we don't go further at the moment. Jo and Ray, you will again interview the women. Deeks and Kensi, you speak with the investigators of the other murder cases. Maybe they come up with something new based on the information available now. Sam and I are going to Camp Pendleton. One of the victims was used there, his last place of action before his retirement from the Navy. Maybe we will get there a bit more information."

Puzzled Kensi looked at Callen. "Hetty has permitted only inside service to me, Callen."

"I know, but I see no risk to your health if you ride with Deeks from precinct to precinct and ask a couple of detectives some questions."

"Oh, and you don't see a risk for my health in it?" With large, faithful dog eyes Deeks looked at Callen.

"Get lost before I change my mind and I'll put you at the desk for the whole day again." With a broad smile on his face Callen looked after his colleague, who left the headquarters nearly at the speed of light.

…

Joann groaned softly to herself. This was the eleventh woman on their list and they came no further. They had to question twenty-four more. Canvassing from door to door was an essential part of investigative work, but also a very laborious. It should be added that in this case the majority of interviewed women was apparently enthusiastic about the interruption of their daily routine. Ray and Joann were offered coffee and home-baked cookies or cakes in hopes of getting information that could be used to gossip with the neighbors.

"I'm full. If I get another cup of coffee and cookies, I'm bursting." Ray groaned as well. "I actually thought that this kind of woman has died out."

"What kind of woman?" Joann stretched her aching back.

„The kind which is the whole day at home, cooks and bakes for her family herself. And bored about her monotonous everyday life she constantly gossips with her neighbors." Ray shook the head in pretended desperation. „I thought that in our modern times all women are working, serve ready-to-serve meals and bought biscuits to their families and have no time for their neighbors."

Joann had to laugh. "Here we are in a typical suburb. Certainly, there is also the working woman here, whom you described, but they are too busy to notice a voyeur. This can manage only by the bored housewives."

Ray grinned. "I think there is a third kind of woman."

"Oh yeah, and what kind?"

"The working woman who comes home, sees the voyeur and kicks his ass so long until he arrives at the nearest police station!" Ray's eyes were full of waggishness.

Joann snorted with laughter. The allusion to her and Kensi was obvious, but also quite accurate. The picture that emerged in her minds' eye, was just too funny. Finally, Joann calmed down. "C'mon, let's move on, otherwise we have to come back again tomorrow."

…

"It doesn't work worth a damn." Deeks was disappointed. None of the detectives, with whom they had spoken so far, could help them. Most, because they did not want, the rest, because they could not.

"Did you expect a miracle? They're all glad that we take over the cases. So they have less work and an unresolved case less on their balance." Kensi sounded embittered. She had not necessarily expected that a detective would serve them the solution on a silver platter. But Kensi had not expected that they were confronted with such a massive rejection. "How did you actually managed to make all of them an enemy?" Kensi stopped him with a wave of her hand when Deeks tried to answer. "That was a rhetorical question. I know exactly how you did it." Sullenly she got into the car and ignored Deeks' flippant reply. "Where next?"

…

Callen left the conversation with the military policeman to Sam.

"No, Agent Hanna, we were never called to his home. We are dealing with domestic violence again and again, but not with Patty Officer Loomer. He has never become suspicious." The man hesitated.

"Then what, Sergeant?" As usual Sam kept his straight face, but the man refused to be intimidated by this.

"There were rumors. Nothing more." The sergeant did not want to say any more.

Sam was flashing impatience. "Sergeant, we investigate in a murder case. To be precise, in a series of murders. Patty Officer Charles Loomer was tortured, mutilated, killed and thrown away like a sack of garbage. Therefore I will not accept a 'nothing more'."

The man sighed and yielded. "Patty Officer Loomer had a stepdaughter. His wife has brought her into the marriage. For a while everything seemed to be in order, then the rumors started. Loomer should have abused the girl. All family members were interviewed, as well as teachers, coaches and friends. There was a medical examination and nothing confirmed the rumors. At that time we have assumed that this was slander. Unfortunately, we could never find the origin."

"That's not all." Callen did not ask a question.

"No, sir." The sergeant sighed again. "A few years after this incident, the girl tried to commit suicide. As soon as she was out of the hospital, she and her mother disappeared. The rumors of the past came up again. Not long after, Loomer has submitted his resignation."

Callen and Sam exchanged a quick glance. "Sergeant, why didn't you tell that the detective who originally handled the murder case?"

"Because he has not asked for it, sir. He has called only to get the confirmation that there is no criminal file on Patty Officer Loomer."

"Thank you, Sergeant, you've really helped us."

…

"I'm really sorry I couldn't help you." Sadly, the woman looked at Joann. "As I've heard the voyeur has appeared no more since then. You know, I've seen him just this once." The woman paused. "Well, actually my girlfriend has seen him. She made me aware of him."

Joann took a quick look in the files on her smart phone. "You have indicated during the interrogation by Detective Fisher that you have discovered the voyeur. You haven't mentioned a friend, Mrs. Powell."

Confused, the woman furrowed her brow. "No? I was sure that I have mentioned that." She shook her head. "I don't remember. Maybe it has slipped my mind. Anyway, it was so. You know, Agent MacKenzie, my friend Natty was here. She had been drinking too much while eating and couldn't drive home. Because my husband was on a business trip, I offered her to sleep here." Lost in thought, Mrs. Powell smiled to herself. "You know, Agent MacKenzie, Natty and I know each other since school. That evening it was like back then, we have organized a small slumber party in the bedroom. I had just gone in the bathroom when she called me." Now Mrs. Powell had to laugh. "You know, Agent MacKenzie, Natty is, unlike me, very brave. She has brought her pepper spray from her purse, opened the patio door, started screaming and ran at the man. I don't think she hit him with pepper spray, but he has disappeared very quickly." She shook her head, still laughing. "You know, Agent MacKenzie, we have considered a little adventure and not reported it. The man was still young. We thought maybe he wanted to visit his girlfriend and had been mistaken in the garden. I only remembered that evening when Detective Fisher asked for it. I believe she was gone door to door in the neighborhood." Mrs. Powell still shook her head. "And I really didn't tell Detective Fisher about Natty?"

"No, Mrs. Powell, you really didn't. Would you please tell me the full name, address and telephone number of your friend?"

"But of course, her name is Natalia Melnikow. But I always call her Natty. You know, Agent MacKenzie, only her really good friends are allowed to do so." Then she named the rest of the desired data.

"Thank you, Mrs. Powell. You really have helped us." The smile on Joann's face was a little cramped.

Outside on the street both breathed deeply. Joann looked at Ray and shook her head. "This woman really failed to stop talking."

With a deeply serious face Ray returned the look. "You know, Agent MacKenzie, Mrs. Powell has probably not much variety in her live. Whew!" He was gasping for air after Joann had given him a purposeful but light hit against his solar plexus.

Joann grinned. "You know, Agent Wingate, small sins are punished immediately!"

Together laughing they set off to the next house.

…

"Detective Peterson?" Kensi looked at the older, corpulent policeman and groaned inwardly. He did not give the impression of a man who could or wanted help them. This would certainly be a dead end, too.

"Yes." The detective scrutinized Kensi and Deeks from tired eyes. "You are from the NCIS?"

Kensi shook his hand. "Agent Blye." Then she pointed to Deeks. "Our liaison officer with the L.A.P.D., Detective Deeks."

Detective Peterson smirked. "From you I've heard quiet a few things, young man. A superb cop who lacks the social skills to get along with his colleagues." Then he looked back and forth between Deeks and Kensi. His eyes no longer appeared tired but very clever, almost wise. "What do you say, that's that." Then he cleared his throat. "What can I do for you both?"

"It's about the still unsolved case Reginald Roberts." Kensi revised her first impression a little. There was more in this police officer than met the eyes.

Peterson nodded. "An ugly story. Tortured, mutilated alive and then murdered. No traces at the finding site of the corpse, which was not the crime scene. No evidence of the crime scene, of the offenders or the reason for the murder. Roberts seems to be a respectable citizen who has served his country. "

"You seem not to be really convinced, Detective Peterson." Kensi became more curious. Behind this tired old man was more than she had originally anticipated.

"No, Agent Blye. This was a murder for very personal reasons. The kind of torture, the mutilation. You don't cut off a man's private parts, if you don't harbor a personal grudge against him."

"You said 'the offenders', Detective."

Peterson laughed. "You are a good observer, Agent Blye. Yes, I assume multiple offenders, at least three. Where the body was found, one can't go with a car. The dead had to be carried. Roberts was big and heavy. To carry him you have to be even stronger or two by two. And there was something that made me wary." Peterson briefly frowned before he spoke again. "Near the finding place was this empty warehouse. From the roof you have a good view over the whole area. The forensics could not find anything, but I'm sure there stood a guardsman. Therefore my guess that there are multiple offenders."

"Our investigations have come to the same conclusion, Detective Peterson. There are a total of nine victims, all tortured and mutilated. We had hoped that you learned anything during your investigation that can help us, what is not in your reports."

"Nine victims?" Peterson shook his head. "I have asked a nationwide request for similar murders, but received only negative responses."

Now Kensi was really surprised. "I don't understand that. We were brought in because another detective has received answers to this same request. All the victims were killed in the greater Los Angeles and all were former Navy members. So we have come into play."

Up to now Deeks had kept a low profile. The experience from the previous discussions had shown him that it was better to stay in the background. Towards Kensi the detectives had been much friendlier and more cooperative. "What has given you the idea to ask this question?"

Peterson smiled. "I'm game for a long time, young man, almost forty years. See that you learn a lot. In eight months I'll retire, but I wanted to leave no unsolved case. That's why I've pulled out all the stops. Nevertheless, I don't understand why a colleague from another precinct has received a different answer on the same request."

"I have a clue about what might have happened." Deeks looked at Kensi. "I think Fisher has seen the request and found a way that all answers have been redirected, while only refusals came here. Then we came into play."

Kensi nodded. "That sounds like a pretty good explanation. We should bring Eric to it. No matter how good Fisher may be Eric is better. He will find traces."

Detective Peterson had carefully followed the cross-talk. "Then the rumors are right. The NCIS has arrested an L.A.P.D. detective, because he has snooped into forbidden realms."

"She." Kensi corrected him.

"What?" Peterson did not understand immediately.

"She has 'snooped in forbidden realms', not him."

"Oh, I see." Peterson frowned again, thinking. "But not about this whippersnapper who allegedly came to the top by sex and blackmail? For quite some time it is rumored about her in all precincts." He shook his head. "If only half of the rumor is true, this woman definitely suffers from too much ambition and too little willingness to learn."

Kensi smirked. This man became more and more sympathetic to her. He was a sly, old fox, able to see behind things. It was clearly a loss for the L.A.P.D., when Peterson retired. However, it was time to return to the reason for her visit.

"I don't know the rumors, but I would agree with you anyway." Kensi grinned as she thought of Joann's judgment of Tamy Fisher. "But that's not why we are here."

"Of course not, Agent Blye." Peterson opened his desk and rummaged around in it. "Ah, here it is." He had found a notebook and began to peruse it. "Hmm, maybe this is something for you. To find a motive for murder, I've dug pretty deep. I went all the way back to his school days. Roberts was quarterback at school, and probably a fairly successful one. His male classmates put him there as a womanizer, while his female classmates have expressed themselves extremely cautious about him. One of them told me that Roberts had problems with a 'no'. She wasn't willing to say more. Then he went to college on the East Coast. I spoke with someone from the campus security. The man was only unofficially willing to respond. Accordingly, Roberts attracted negative attention when it came to his interpersonal dealings with women. But there was never a complain to the police. Then he joined the Navy and in this time he seemed to have done nothing wrong. His personal file was clean. After serving in the Navy he has not become conspicuous. Now and then a parking ticket, that's all." Peterson looked up. "I couldn't include the statements of the female classmates and the campus security in my official report, as I got them only unofficially. You're probably aware of the rest."

Kensi nodded slowly. "I don't think he suddenly has ceased treating women badly. I guess he just became better at hiding it."

"What do you think, Agent Blye?"

"We could have to deal with a rapist."

Peterson nodded. "I also came to this conclusion. But because there has never been an objection or complaint against Roberts, I was quite alone in this opinion."

"Thank you, Detective Peterson, you really have helped us." Kensi arose. "If I have more questions, may I call you then?"

"Of course, any time." Peterson smiled at her. "Detective Deeks?"

Stunned he turned around. "Yes, sir?"

"I think you're a damn good cop, otherwise the NCIS wouldn't have requested you. And as for your lack of social skills..." Peterson stood up and walked up to Deeks. "You need colleagues who demand maximum capacity from you and who can deal with..." Peterson could not resist a grin at this point. "...certain characteristics of you casual and relaxed." Peterson looked at Kensi. "I believe that you have found them, Detective Deeks. So forget everything else and still be a damn good cop." He held out his hand at Deeks, who puzzled shook it.

"Thank you, sir." Unusually silent Deeks followed Kensi out.

…

With a relieved sigh Ray fell on his chair. "I think I will never eat cookies again!"

Joann laughed. "Fortunately we have reached all women. Tomorrow you have to eat no home-baked."

"What about Natalia Melnikow?"

Joann grabbed her cell phone. "I have no desire to go all the way across Los Angeles tomorrow for nothing." She listened. "Hello, this is Agent MacKenzie from the NCIS. Do I speak with Mrs. Melnikow?...Mrs. Powell has given us your telephone number. I would like to talk with you about the voyeur. Can we meet tomorrow?...Yes, sure, I know where that is. I'll see you tomorrow at ten. Have a good one."

"And where do we have to go tomorrow?" Ray feared the worst.

Joann alternated between a grin and a frown. "To the JAG. Mrs. Melnikow is civilian employee there."

Meanwhile, Callen and Sam had arrived.

"Sounds like you were successful?" Curious Callen looked at the two of them.

Joann nodded. "We have found another witness. As I have just learned the JAG employs her. We'll meet with her there tomorrow. Let's see if she can help us. And what about you?"

Callen repeated the conversation with the Marine sergeant. "Obviously we've found something. Meanwhile, we can connect three victims with crimes that were not complained to the police or investigated."

"Take four of it. One of the detectives has also found relevant information, but he could not prove them." Kensi dropped into her chair and unwrapped a burrito.

Ray got big eyes. After all the sweet baked goods, this sight made his mouth watering. "Do you have one for me?"

Kensi froze, the burrito just before her mouth. "What?"

"The whole day we were fed with homemade cakes and cookies. I desperately need something hearty."

"You had homemade cakes and cookies and now want my burrito?" Kensi's eyes sparkled.

"Okay, okay, forget that I asked." Precautionally, Ray backed off a bit.

Everyone else laughed.

"You'd have to know better, Ray. Never try to take away food from Kensi. This is dangerous!" Deeks grinned at his colleague.

"Well, tell me, what did the detectives tell you." Callen brought his colleagues back on track.

Because Kensi was chewing vigorously, Deeks took over the talking. When he got to Detective Peterson, Deeks omitted his personal remark. Thoughtfully Kensi looked over her burrito to her partner. Eric and Nell joined them.

"What did you two find out about our victims?" Callen turned to the two of them.

"We succeeded with two of the victims. Allan Spinotti, one of the victims with cut-out eyes." Nell let appear a photo on the monitor. "In his school record is listed that he was caught multiple times, as he watched the girls taking a shower. During his time in the Navy, he either has pulled himself together or has not been caught. I bet on the latter. The same is true for the period after the Navy. He didn't attract attention any more." Nell finished her lecture.

Eric continued, another photo appeared on the monitor. "Bill Meddick, one of the victims with a torn out tongue. I have found him under a pseudonym in a social network. Meddick shellacs the people by having a go at them and telling a lot of ugly lies about them." Eric hesitated a moment, then the photos of the men disappeared, instead the photo of a teenager appeared on the monitor. "After a suicide attempt she is in a coma. Meddick has bullied her until she has swallowed pills."

Silently, the team looked at the photo.

"Certainly she was not his first victim." Joann's voice was cold and hard. "I bet he has already started at school time." She looked at Eric and Nell. "That was good work."

"We're not done yet." Sam got up. "We still have four more victims of whom we lack the appropriate background. In addition, we still don't know who can obtain these information apart of us. And what has caused him or her to kill these men."

For a moment they all looked silently to themselves.

Ray spoke up first. "You see the pattern? All the victims had been offenders themselves. They have committed crimes against women and never have been punished." He hesitated. "I know, according to statistics, women very rarely are serial killers. But here it seems pretty likely. In my opinion we are dealing with three or more women who punish men for crimes against women. It is certainly not unreasonable to suspect that these women once have been victims of men. Or that they have women in their immediate surroundings, whom has happened something appropriate."

Callen looked at him. "You have a point there. Maybe tomorrow you'll get the missing clues from Natalia Melnikow. For now we call it a day."

…

"What are you thinking about, Jo?" Callen looked questioningly at his girlfriend. She sat on the sofa with a book in her hand, a cup of tea before her, but she did not read a word. Joann just stared ahead.

"The theory of Ray. G, I think he has hit the nail on the head. We seek women who practice revenge."

"They do this quite well professionally. Too professional. They are not controlled by their revenge. Their approach is highly structured and well planned." Now Callen became thoughtfully. "Quite militarily. At least one of them is a soldier. Or was."

"Something terrible must have happened to them, otherwise they would not torture the men..."

"Jo, that's no reason for murder." Callen hesitated a moment. There were subjects Joann did not like to speak about. "To you also bad things happened, but you have committed no murder."

"But I've also took revenge, G." Joann remembered how Davenport knelt before her, with wet pants, trembling in fear.

Callen knew exactly at which moment she was thinking. "For that you have been punished."

"Yes, with a four-week suspension." Joann smiled at him weakly. "With a different superior than Hetty that certainly would have turned out more badly."

"Probably. Nevertheless, you shouldn't compare yourself with these women. To threaten someone and to terrify him isn't tantamount to torture and murder."

Now Joann's smile became deep and convincing. "I don't do that. Don't worry. This case just makes me a little thoughtful, that's all."

Callen returned the smile. "Okay."

…

"The boy has placed an interesting theory. What do you think?" Kensi looked over at Deeks. He was unusually silent. "Marty? Are you okay?"

"Hm?" Deeks looked up. "Excuse me, what's going on?"

"Where have you been with your thoughts, Marty?"

"Nowhere. What did you want with me?" Deeks cut himself off from her.

Usually Kensi respected that, but her instinct told her that this was not a good idea today. "Do you think about what Peterson said?" Kensi waited a moment, but she received no response from Deeks. "He's right with what he has said, Marty. You're a damn good cop. And you don't make it easy for nobody to work with you. Your big mouth can be a real pain."

"Oh yeah? And why are you working with me when I'm so obnoxious?" Deeks did not want to show that he felt hurt. But unfortunately this time no really flippant answer came to his mind.

Kensi flashed at him. "Because you're not obnoxious, just annoying. We have learned to live with it because you're really good. We all have our idiosyncrasies, and you accept ours as well as we do with yours. That is why we are a good team, and especially a successful one." Kensi sighed. "Marty, the L.A.P.D. hasn't detected your special abilities, but Hetty did. And that's what Peterson meant." Kensi looked at him thoughtfully. "For me, it sounded as if he would speak from personal experience." Unusually gentle she continued. "You should be proud of what you have achieved: You have been very successful as a cop, you work just as successfully with the best unit of the NCIS and you have won our friendship." Then Kensi grinned at Deeks. "And you've made me your girlfriend!"

This remark put Deeks out of his bad mood. He grinned back. "It was probably more that I've deigned to be your boyfriend! Ouch!" He laughed as he rubbed his arm.