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Debrief
It was a little over a half an hour later when Annie strolled into NCIS: OSP headquarters with her best friend and ex-coworker Travis Johnston in tow. She was wearing a loose, sleeveless, pastel orange blouse with a ruffle bib on the front paired with charcoal trousers that fitted her legs like a glove. Annie also gained some height with violet satin peep-toe pumps that gave her 3 inches, at least. It was a power outfit that was for sure and the serious look on her face supported the down-to-business aurora that surrounded her. Annie approached the NCIS team and gave them a nod before heading up to ops center where Eric and Nell were probably waiting for them.
When they walked into the ops center with all the computer screens a light, Travis let out a low whistle in appreciation. Annie could see the awe on his face and she couldn't help but grin a little. Travis might not be as good as Eric and Nell when it came to hacking, but he was a computer geek to the core and knew the code well enough. So, for him to walk into a room probably even more powerful than MTAC and rival that of the Pentagon, made his jaw drop.
"I knew I made the right decision in getting these guys involved if this is their toys." Travis commented as he trailed a finger across the edge of the computerized table lovingly. Annie was about to retort when Hetty walked in.
"We agree that you made a good decision in getting NCIS involved, it would have been better for you two when we caught up to you both in the investigation." Hetty responded.
"I highly doubt you would have caught up to us, Hetty, but now that you are here can I make some official and long overdue introductions before we start this debriefing." Annie stated and Hetty raised her eyebrow at this.
"Sorry, I'm just a little cranky about getting ganged up on still." She apologized and Hetty nodded her head in ascent and then motioned for Annie to proceed.
"Everyone, you all know who TJ is. TJ, Mr. Broody is Special Agent G Callen, his partner who is standing right next to him is Special Agent Sam Hanna, and then there is Special Agent Kensi Blye and her partner LAPD liaison Detective Marty Deeks, a.k.a Tramp. The guy who looks he just got back from surfing is Eric Beale and the red-haired pixie is Nell Jones, both are tech analysts. Now I'm going to ask you to use their real names unless told otherwise." Annie added at the end knowing that Travis was going to call them said nicknames freely unless told so otherwise. Travis gave her a wink after he shook hands with everyone.
"But my dear Annie, you didn't introduce us properly as well as give them the disclaimer." He replied mysteriously and she chuckled knowing that Travis put it that way to annoy the others by obviously withholding certain information.
"I was getting there, sweetie," She quipped saucily before turning to the group of federal agents who were watching them closely.
"What TJ here is alluding to is why we were running a little late other than the fact that he takes forever eating," Travis started to scoff but Annie hipped checked him to shut him up. "Continuing on, while we were having dinner I made a few calls and got a hold of our old director and got TJ and I reinstated as NSA agents so we can work this case with you all as well as get you access to classified files legally." She explained.
"As of right now you are talking to temporary NSA Special Agent Anne Marie Smith and moi, NSA Special Agent Travis Johnston." He finished as walked back to his spot right next to her standing on the other side of the table.
"I see… Congratulations on being reinstated temporarily Agent Johnston and Agent Smith. Proceed with the debriefing as to who our number one suspect is so we can get this case solved." Hetty stated but there was a smile of amusement on her face at the two's antics. Annie held out her hand and Eric reluctantly handed over the portable keyboard he hardly ever relinquished. She mouthed 'thank you' to him and started opening up some highly classified files.
"The man behind all of this was an old colleague of ours, Damien Stryker." Annie began as a better quality picture of the man appeared on the screen behind her. She didn't need to see his picture to know what he looked like after spending many years, unfortunately, working alongside him. The man was around the same height as Travis, perhaps an inch or two shorter, and well built. He had sandy brown hair with mud brown eyes and classic masculine features. Pretty much plain was the main adjective to describe the man which was good for their line of work.
"From what we were able to access from Johnston's work file Stryker is dead." Nell piped up as the two NSA agents quirked their own eyebrows at this.
"Stryker was declared MIA and after 3 years with no signs of life, or anything really, he was declared dead because they didn't want to keep his file opening any longer than necessary." Travis explained and everyone nodded in understanding.
"Stryker was recruited before he graduated from high school through one of their summer programs. From personal experience, he was mostly an interrogation specialist. But also from personal experience he wasn't much of a people's person. Mostly everyone who worked in our department of the NSA did not like him and few, if any, requested him for his assistance and he knew it too." Annie said and stopped to allow Travis to add his input.
"She isn't kidding; he was a creepy son-of-a-bitch. The type who slit your throat just because he wanted to and with no guilt, which is probably why he stuck around in the NSA for as long as he did. There are moments that happen or positions we are put in at the NSA to get the job done that can destroy a person's consciousness, but Stryker doesn't have a conscious. I know that even now I have nightmares about my stint in the NSA every now and then, what about you Annie?" He asked and all eyes landed on her.
"Same, but then again who doesn't have nightmares about that type of job?" When she got a unanimous nod of agreement from every one she continued with the debriefing.
"As stated previously, Stryker was known for being an interrogation specialist. You all have seen his signature technique when investigating the Ryans' murder. But Stryker was also getting more undercover jobs towards the end of his career; these jobs would help fund his illegal activities and create underworld connections with really bad men." Annie stated and got an odd assortment of looks from the NCIS team.
"It was our last job as a team before Annie would get married and it was supposed to be a simple mission. During said mission we found out about Stryker's illegal activities and when we reported this to the higher ups we were given the orders to capture Stryker and bring him back. Somehow Stryker found out and decided to surrender. We were stupid enough to believe him and came to the spot he told us to come to with such naïve intentions. Safe to say we were walking into a trap, when we got there we were ambushed by Stryker and his team. Whilst fighting, Annie and I made it to Stryker but he blew up the room we were in." Travis said and the team gaped.
"How did you guys survive?" Deeks asked the obvious question that was in every agent's mind. That was when Travis turned to Annie and gave her a sly smile.
"Stryker thankfully picked an apartment complex to launch his last stand, for we were close to a walk in closet when the bomb went off so I pushed TJ and myself into the closet which took most of the damage." Annie replied.
"Then what's with the look?" Sam asked as Travis kept giving the Cheshire grin.
"Said apartment complex used to be owned by a well-known magician. So there happened to be an unknown trap door in the walk-in closet that came out into a male strip club next door. They were in the middle of their performance when TJ and I so happened to burst right into the middle of it. We were quite the hit." Annie chuckled and saw smiles grace everyone's faces with their own imagining of the situation.
"What happened to Stryker?" Hetty asked bringing them back to the present.
"Well, there was no evidence of Stryker anywhere so the NSA assumed that he died in the blast but TJ and I don't believe it; neither does our branch division of the NSA. But no one wanted to investigate it further so he was considered MIA and then dead. This would give him the best opportunity to start up his business, gather more underground connections, and money. But we don't have any evidence to support this. I had the unfortunate luck of working with Stryker the most out of everyone in our branch of the NSA so I know for sure that this is the most likely scenario." Annie muttered and crossed her arms.
"Why is that?" Callen asked her but Travis answered.
"Because our boss hated her."
"Oh, what did Annie do to get on the wrong side of the boss?" Deeks questioned in a sing-song voice.
"I was born a Smith. My boss, Agent Forrest, wanted to demonstrate that just because I am considered CIA royalty does not mean that it extends to the NSA. So I had to work for my keep, which I didn't mind doing. But whenever I requested an interrogator I got Stryker so I put up with him. Which I think just infuriated Forrest even more than anything else." Travis chuckled at that. "Either way, I was probably the closest person to Stryker at our workplace and even I don't like the guy. That says something."
"Why do you think he is behind all of this? Just because it was his signature technique does not mean he is the culprit, it could be someone who has experience with the guy." Kensi said making a valid point. Finally it was Annie's turn to look at Travis pointedly.
"Because, when the group of burglars broke into my home and I was running through my house with Aisha in my arms I heard Stryker's voice. I put Aisha in a closet and doubled back to get a glimpse of him. Which I did and then I ran with Aisha knowing that I had to get in contact with Annie. The rest I already told you. Stryker was behind the attack on my home and the murder of my love, Gabriel. When you all told us about the Ryans murders and how they were killed it was obvious that was Stryker too, especially with the killing of the hit man once he was caught. The hit man was most likely part of his crew of mercenaries. What we don't know is why he is coming after us now after all of these years." Travis summed up for them. To the rest of the NCIS agents the two were making a good case against Damien Stryker. But there were still some inconsistencies.
"I know that we need more evidence tying Stryker to all of this, but he is our best suspect. Now that we have someone to look for and NSA clearance, we can start actually working this case." Annie stated and she had everyone's attention and approval.
"Ms. Smith is right, let's get to work people." Hetty commanded and the troops began to mobilize.