A/N: Thanks to everyone who reviewed, you were really kind. Once more, this chapter had the precious help of my boyfriend. Thanks again, love.
- Great, cotton swab duty… - Ziva took a fibre from the floor near the settee, packing it into an evidence bag.
- You don't like desk duty, you don't like… what did you call it? Cotton swab duty. So what do you like? – McGee while browsing through the desktop – Don't answer. Trigger duty.
- McGee, remind me not to let you in when I throw my next dinner party for the team. And I didn't say I don't like to process a place, but Tony and Gibbs are certainly going to find much more than us…
- Since when do you throw dinner parties? You simply cook for everyone, instead of letting Gibbs bring the usual take-away.
- Complaints, McGee?
- No, far from it. By the time I retire, I'm bound to have severe stomach problems from the years I've spent eating take-away in the agency.
- Learn to cook.
- I did. I practice on those rare weekends we don't have work to do.
- McGee, I'm truly impressed - Ziva ended the search around the floor, grabbing the ultraviolet from her forensic case – Well, the nanny or the housekeeper are not extremely zealous but I haven't found anything worse than dust rabbits.
- It's dust bunnies.
- Whatever. So let's see beyond the naked eye… - she examined the same area carefully with the UV light – Nothing. All I have so far are some discouraging fingerprints. This case is really making me edgy.
- At least you are just edgy. Gibbs is going insane.
- Do you think so? – Ziva continued to flash the UV light around the living room.
- Don't you?
- Well… yeah, he is more involved than usual, I suppose… and more impatient with everybody…
- He yelled at Abby.
- Did he? To his favourite?
- Yes, she told me. And he broke some stuff in her lab.
- Expensive stuff?
- No, some vials.
- Everyone has cases that get on their nerves. We had ours too, McGee – she ducked, trying to see under the furniture.
- I know, I know… But we weren't in charge and we didn't piss off the entire country… well, you did when you were sitting on your desk making all those phone calls during the Dempsey case.
- Very funny. I'd like to see you in my place.
- No, thanks. I can't find anything relevant here, it's a typical kid's computer, lots of Winnie the Poo and other Disney games. I don't think the nanny ever laid hands on this desktop – McGee opened the internet browser – But she has MySpace. Account name "Princessarah". Hand me that laptop you've found upstairs.
- Are you sure it's her?
He opened a copy of the file the Director had given to Gibbs – Twenty two years old, living in D.C, occupation last year's student at Waverly University/ nanny, brown eyes, dark hair, fair complexion and the photos match the one in the file. Yes, I'm sure it's her.
- You could have said that in the first place. More dust under the furniture – she rose from the floor.
- Ziva, the laptop please.
- Since that you asked politely, I'll give it to you – she went over her forensic case – Take it, I don't know why you didn't start with this one anyway. All pink and fluffy. Practically screams teenage girl all around.
- Are you in a hurry? We won't go anywhere until we process the entire house. And Sarah Johnson is not a teenager anymore.
- She looks like one, judging by her laptop. It even has stickers.
McGee switched on the laptop, his eyes never leaving the MySpace website – Do you notice something about these photos?
- Let me see. Yeah, that guy over there appears in most of them. Looks like her boyfriend
- I was thinking the same thing – McGee pointed the cursor at the person in the photos. – No, she isn't fond of putting people's names in the photos. Let's see if she has the same ones in the laptop… damn, it's password-protected. Ziva, pass me my equipment, it's in my case.
- What am I today, your maid?
- Alright, please then. Is Gibbs' bad temper contagious?
- Good boy. Here you go.
McGee connected the laptop to his own. It didn't take him long to be able to break into the pink laptop's OS. Soon, they were looking at the desktop wallpaper - a photo of Sarah Johnson and the mysterious "other guy"
- Yeah, definitely her boyfriend – muttered Ziva.
- Let's see if he has a name – McGee opened the My Images folder, immediately finding what he wanted – "Dan and me during Spring Break".
- Dan who?
- "Me, Dan, Alicia and Russell at Miami beach…" and the list goes on. No surname.
- That's helpful…
- Are you finished there?
- Yes, the living room was the last one to process. I'm done.
- Let's return to headquarters, I'd rather take the laptop and work there. Besides so we should give Abby what we found.
- Ok, just let me pack my things.
- I'll help you.
_
In the car, three or four streets away from the house, Tony was carefully watching the road. Alright, probably not as carefully as Gibbs wanted, but they had passed that street five times since they arrived and everything was looking pretty much the same.
- I hope Ziva and McGee find something because we're not having much luck here, Boss.
- More work, less talk, DiNozzo.
- Ok then, Special Agent DiNozzo reporting to his supervisor; the convenience store now has two less customers than it had seven minutes ago, the fat guy still hasn't decided whether he wants to take the sports magazine or the newspaper, that woman still hasn't managed to quiet her three kids down, the clerk... Boss, that one hurt more than usual! – he whined, rubbing his stinging neck where, seconds ago, Gibbs had headslapped him.
Gibbs ignored his complaints, driving on through the neighbourhood. His mobile phone rang – Yes, Abby?
- Gibbs, McGee and Ziva returned less than an hour ago and I ran the tests on what they found…
- I hope they found something useful…
- Well, to be honest, just a couple of fingerprints…
- Abby! – interrupted a voice Gibbs recognized as McGee's, echoing from some other part of the lab.
- Alright, they also found the first name of the nanny's boyfriend, but I was the one who did the rest of the work.
- Abby…
- Fine, I won't waste your time. They found three different sets of fingerprints: the small ones belonged to little Elizabeth, no surprise there. I got no match on the other set, but I'm pretty sure it's Sarah Johnson's. Finally, there's a partial, blurry thumb. First I thought it was Chief Petty Officer McMillian's, because of the bad shape it was in, but when I ran it through AFIS, wham! Daniel Tyson. That "Dan" guy McGee and Ziva found in Sarah's laptop.
- What do we know about him?
- Twenty four years old, arrested in 2003 for small theft. Looks like he and his buddies decided to rob some booze from a gas station in Virginia. How clever…
- What's the genius doing now?
- Driver's licence from D.C., studies in the Waverly University, works as a clerk in a convenience store. I'll send his address and photo to your phone.
- Thanks Abbs. I owe you a Caf Pow. - Said Gibbs, hanging up.
_
- And some vials too… He hung up on my face! – Abby exclaimed to McGee, who was finishing up the examination of Sarah Johnson's laptop.
- Welcome to the Gibbs' Club of Non-Favourites, Abby.
- At least he promised me a Caf Pow. See, he is getting nicer as the case goes on.
- If you said so.
_
- Boss, it would be really nice to get there in one piece, you know? – Tony said, firmly gripping his seat.
- DiNozzo, you really are talking too much today.
- Have you been taking driving lessons from Ziva?
- DiNozzo, I'm warning you!
- Sorry Boss, but I love my life too much to be inside a car at almost 120 mph in the middle of the city! Gibbs stopped the car abruptly – We're here.
Tony gazed into the little store – What if this isn't his shift?
- We go to the University.
- Yeah well, he's probably here anyway. – The last thing he wanted now what another round in a car with Gibbs.
They entered the convenience store, which was pretty much the same as all the others neighbourhood stores - small and narrow. A woman passed by them carrying grocery bags and the young man behind the counter was staring at them. Tony immediately recognized him from the photo Abby had sent.
- Daniel Tyson? – Gibbs asked.
- Yeah…
- N.C.I.S – both men showed their badges.
- And what's that?
- You're not very friendly for someone who has to deal with costumers most of the day – Tony intervened.
- If you earned what I do, you wouldn't be, either. So are you guys cops or…
- Federal Agents.
- Really? Fancy that...
- That's enough! Where's your girlfriend? – Gibbs took a step further, making the young man lean back.
- What?
- Sarah Johnson – he took the photo from his pocket – Or do you have more than one?
- I don't where she is right now. Probably studying, it's like the only thing she does in her life…
- Wouldn't hurt you to do the same – Tony said. The man was getting on his nerves, too. – Didn't you notice she's been missing since last night?
- She has? – for the first time, Daniel Tyson looked sincerely worried.
- Yes, and that's not the whole story. Elizabeth McMillian was found dead this morning. Didn't you know her as well?
- Yes, she's the little brat Sarah babysits on, bu…
Gibbs grabbed him by the collar –You know, I'm really loosing my patience with you. Why don't you just tell us everything you know.
- Hey man, I told you, I don't know a thing! - He looked over at DiNozzo – Look, isn't this police brutality, or something?
- Well, not really…
- Where were you last night?
- In my room, in the university!
- Got anyone to corroborate that?
- No, I was alone, my roommate was out in some party.
Gibbs mobile phone rang again. Irritated, he pulled it out of his pocket without letting go of Daniel – Yes, Director?
- Jethro, the Virginia Police has found Sarah Johnson. Alive. She was wandering outside Richmond and is shocked and injured. They will bring her to us the moment she leaves the hospital here in D.C. The hospital also sent some samples of DNA that were found under her fingernails. Abby's just finished analysing them. They're Daniel Tyson's.
- Right – he switched off the phone – Looks like we are going to have a meeting. Your girlfriend was found.
- How is she?
- That's what you're going to see when we get there. Tony, get him in the car.
_
Ziva, McGee and Tony were all looking at the new suspect from behind the window. He was looking as arrogant as before but much more nervous, sitting up very straight, his eyes darting around the interrogation room.
- Where's Gibbs? – Ziva asked.
- I don't know, but he must be arriving soon – Tony answered.
- Who's going to interrogate him?
- I'm not sure, but it won't be you, Ziva. We like to keep you for the muslins and foreigners.
- Don't forget the thugs – McGee added.
- Very funny, you two. Look, Gibbs is comings.
- And he's not alone… - Tony noted.
Gibbs and Jenny appeared in the corridor. The team could see from their faces that the conversation wasn't going well.
- I need that girl here now!
- She will be, as soon as the doctors say she can face an interrogation, I told you! She's suffering from severe trauma and hasn't said a word to the doctors, she won't speak to you either!
The team waited for them to finish. Gibbs entered the room with Jenny still behind him – You just stay here and listen. I'll be the one interrogating him.
- Not alone.
- Excuse me, Director?
- Jethro, you are not going to interrogate him alone. For all I know, you'll jump on him and strangle him dead.
- And may I know who is coming with me?
- I am.
Gibbs gazed exasperated at her, but said nothing. He went to the door and the team heard him mutter while passing near the Director – Missing the field, Jenny?
She followed him, not bothering to answer.
Inside the room, Tony grabbed an empty chair from the technicians' table and put it in front of the window.
- Mind if we ask what the hell you're doing? – Ziva asked as he sat down.
- Watching the performance. So, we are going to have a little taste of that famous partnership, Leroy Jethro Gibbs and Jennifer Sheppard. Here, McGee, grab a chair. Sit down and learn, Probie.
- All you want is a better angle to stare at the Director's legs.
- No, Ziva. As you might have noticed, her skirt today is too long for that.
- I'd like to listen, if you don't mind. – McGee cut in.
Gibbs was now entering the room, closely followed by Jenny. Tyson looked up at the sound of the doorknob, suddenly very alert.
- Did you bring reinforcements? – he said, looking at her.
- Good manners, boy. They are going to be very useful in prison.
- And why should I go to prison?
- For aggravated assault on Sarah Marie Johnson – Jenny intervened – At least. We still have the murder of Elizabeth McMillian…
- What the hell are you saying?
- Don't play the innocent. Yes, Special Agent Gibbs, he definitely needs some good manners.
- I want a lawyer.
- That can be arranged. But you still have to answer some questions. For instance, where were you last night? – Jenny approached his desk.
- I told him, I was in my room, it's not my fault no one can back me up!
- Is that a scratch on your neck?
He pulled up his collar but Gibbs was quicker, pushing it down until it revealed some scratches in his lower neck.
- Save us all some time – Gibbs said, doing his best to stay calm – We have your DNA under your beat up girlfriend's nails and you have what looks like defensive wounds, so stop lying.
He was not as arrogant as before. His eyes had lost their swagger and were now fixed meekly on a point in the middle of the desk.
Seeing as the suspect remained silent even under Gibbs' deadliest glare, Jenny made a sign to the window and Ziva appeared at the door in a few seconds.
- Yes, Director?
- Bring me the case photos.
- Sure, madam - she returned with them even quicker.
Jenny opened the file and spread some photos in front of Daniel, forcing him to look at it – It looks like you need something to refresh your memory. This is your girlfriend after the police found her. Three broken ribs and a deep cut in her forehead. Of course that I'm not counting all the bruises and slashes – he tried to move away from the photos – And here is little Elizabeth after we found her…
- Take it away!
- Are the memories coming back now? - Gibbs asked.
Daniel tossed the photos away from himself – It was just an accident! Alright? Just a fucking accident!
- An accident perhaps, but it cost a little child her life – Jenny grabbed a chair and sat across him. Gibbs came closer, staying behind her chair – A confession now might attenuate the sentence.
He was still trying to avoid their gaze, staring at the naked wall next to him. Jenny felt Gibbs' fingers closing too tightly on the back of her chair and she reclined a bit, pressing her shoulders against his hand, telling him not to make any moves.
- That marine didn't like me in his house – he finally said, still not looking at them – He told Sarah she couldn't have friends in his house while he was out.
- But you where there, we have your fingerprint.
- I was! Yes, I was. I work all day and try to study every minute of my free time. And Sarah is even worse, studying every hour when she was not taking care of the kid. I went to the McMillian's place, there were things we had to sort out. She didn't want to let me in and we argued. I forced my way in. We kept arguing. She tried to get to the phone and I hit her. She fell onto the floor. The noise must have woken up the kid, she appeared in the stairs, crying for Sarah. Sarah didn't get up, she'd passed out. The kid's cries were really freaking me out, and the neighbours were bound to hear her, so… I don't know what I did, I just put my hand on her mouth. I was just trying to make her shut up.
- You asphyxiated her – Jenny said, trying to control herself, trying not to react like Gibbs.
- I didn't want to!
- What did you do then?
- I… I panicked when the girl fell to the floor, lifeless. I put her and Sarah in my car and drove to Richmond. I grew up there, I know it very well… I left the car just outside the woods, took my bike from the luggage and rode deep into the woods with the girl's body. I left her there and I returned to the car. When I arrived, Sarah was waking up. I tried to grab her, we fought but she managed to escape.
- And then?
- Then, I... I returned to my room, changed my clothes and went work.
- What a responsible attitude. I'm sorry that your boss is going to lose such a good worker. You'll get your lawyer now. You'll really need it. - Jenny rose from the chair, looking at Gibbs, indicating that they should leave now.
- What a despicable... - she began to say the moment the door closed but he cut her words.
- You've gone soft with the years.
- What did you want me to do? Torture him?
- No. But he didn't deserve all that sympathy.
- Sympathy? Jethro, you must be kidding… - she looked at him – Oh, I see… someone is getting territorial just because I took part in his interrogation.
- I don't need a babysitter.
- Jethro, you…
The door from the little room opened next to her. Tony, Ziva and McGee all stood at the doorframe.
- Nice work, Bosses… oh, you were arguing. Sorry about that – Tony pushed Ziva and McGee back into the room.
- Agent DiNozzo.
- Yes, madam?
- There's no need for a retreat.
- Well, if you say so… - his eyes were now flashing from his Boss to his Boss' Boss and, overpowered by Ziva's not-so-gentle shoves, he moved aside – Congratulations madam, I haven't seen anyone pull out a confession that fast in a long time.
- Thank you. You all did a good job today – Jenny turned, heading towards the lift and her office.
- Ziva, DiNozzo, take that scum downstairs to the cell until someone comes here and takes him. I'm not in the mood to see his face again – Gibbs said – McGee, go with them if you want.
- Right – Ziva looked down at her watch – See you at the bar afterwards?
- Is there a meeting already?
- Well, why not? After we're done with our beloved reports, of course.
- I might show up – Gibbs nodded, heading towards the bullpen.
- Ok, we are going to tell Ducky and Abby – Ziva took her place next to Tony and both entered the interrogation room while McGee waited outside.