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Kate and McGee looked up when the elevator dinged and saw Gibbs come barreling through.
"What do we have?"
McGee hopped from his desk and hit a button, bringing the flat screen to life.
"Henderson was the perfect Marine boss. No complaints, did everything on game, has several commendations by his superiors. He had no family, with the exception of a cousin or two back in California. Friends say he hadn't had a steady girlfriend in years, the military was his life."
Kate took the remote from his hands.
"And this brings us to Veronica Williams. She is the former Miss Georgia and has just ended a marriage with Anthony DiNozzo. Other than what Abby and Ducky found, there is no evidence that they ever had contact, or even knew each other. However, McGee looked into the divorce records between her and DiNozzo."
McGee stepped back up.
"Apparently he caught her with the pool boy, and it in the divorce proceedings it came out that she had been having multiple affairs for the entirety of their eight month marriage. It is plausible that Henderson could have been one of them."
"We don't know where Williams is yet, she disappeared after the divorce was finalized but we have an address on DiNozzo."
Gibbs nodded.
"McGee, stay here and find Williams, Todd, you're with me."
"We're talking to DiNozzo, Gibbs?"
He nodded as she grabbed her things.
"You don't think Williams has anything to do with it Boss?"
Gibbs looked over at McGee.
"I don't know yet, agent McGee, how about you find her and we all find out?"
He paled and began typing.
Kate stifled a smile and waited until they entered the elevator.
"I think you scared him boss."
Gibbs glared at her, but remained silent. Kate grinned but didn't let it phase her.
"You think DiNozzo had something to do with it?"
"A woman scorned may be a dangerous thing, but a jealous man will take desperate measures."
Kate blinked and let the elevator lapse into silence, mulling that thought over.
...
Pulling up the mansion Kate's eyes widened.
"Wow, if I married a guy with a house like this, I would not be cheating, what about you?"
"I don't know Agent Todd, it would depend on if I really loved him." He replied dryly.
Kate blushed as she realized what she had just asked him.
"I'm not saying you would cheat...or marry a man… I mean not that there is anything wrong with..."
Gibbs turned the ignition off and left the car, shutting the door on her scrambling explanation.
Face-palming, she chased after the man as he marched to the front door.
Holding the doorbell down for a long second the two agent waited.
A stuffy looking man opened the door and looked at them with open curiosity and mild impatience.
"I'm sorry but there is no soliciting allowed."
He began to shut the door on them but Gibbs shot out his foot and narrowed his eyes at the man.
Kate quickly stepped in.
"We're not selling anything. We're with NCIS, Special Agents Gibbs and Todd, we need to ask Mr. DiNozzo some questions."
The man raised an eyebrow but opened the door to welcome them in.
"Master Anthony is in his study, but he can meet you in library, may I show you the way?"
Gibbs gave a brief nod and let his eyes wander the richly furnished hall.
Following the butler up the stairs they entered a room filled with more books than the shelves could hold.
"Please make yourselves comfortable, Master DiNozzo will be with you shortly."
"Thank you...What was your name?"
"Mayer M'am."
"Mayer, thank you."
He nodded and left the room, closing the door behind him.
Kate looked over at Gibbs who was studying some of the books stacked on a table next to a tall wingback chair.
"Someone enjoys books."
Gibbs grunted.
"Someone young."
"What?"
He pointed to one of the books in the stack. She came closer and her eyes widened. Hidden in the stacks of history and science texts was a Hardy Boys mystery.
She looked up at Gibbs who had moved over the shelves.
Glancing around the room, she sighed.
Gibbs paced back and forth, his eyes darting past all the book shelves, thoughts racing.
Did the woman kill her lover? Did DiNozzo take out his rage on the man screwing his wife? Is there a third option none of us are aware of? Where did that kid go?
He shook off the last one and tried to make himself focus on the case, but before he could center his thoughts, a movement caught his eye.
The door was opening, slowly.
But not by who they were expecting.
A small boy with sandy brown hair was facing the hallway, and slowly backing into the room, his head leaning out down the hall as if watching for someone.
When whoever he was looking for didn't appear, he let out a sigh and backed further in the room, carefully closing the door so that it didn't make a sound.
Kate looked over at Gibbs who kept a finger on his lips, signaling for her to stay quiet.
The boy hadn't turned yet, instead he lay his head on the thick oak door and let out a quiet whimper, wrapping his arms around his middle.
Gibbs took a half step forward without thinking, and the boy caught the movement out of the corner of his eye.
Panicked, he turned, bracing himself against the door, to see who was in the room.
Gibbs stared in shock at the greenest eyes he had ever seen. A painful looking dark purple bruise went from his hair line down his jaw, causing his right eye to be a partially swollen.
The fear and alarm on the boys face faded into confusion and worry as his eyes darted around the room before settling on Gibbs again.
"Tony?"
"Mr. Gi-Gibbs?"
XxxX
Tony was leaning on Orso reading when the doorbell rang.
His attention was pulled from the story in a jolt of surprise.
Who would be here in the middle of the afternoon?
Pulling himself off the window seat, he winced, and carefully moved towards his door, listening. He heard voices coming up the stairs and the sound of a door opening. A few seconds later he heard the sound of his Father's study door being shut.
He blinked, Father didn't usually have business meetings in the middle of the afternoon, but since Veronica left, things had been pretty strained around here. He glanced around his room and went back to the seat, grabbing Orso the teddy bear and the book he had been reading and carried them to his bed, stuffing the book under his pillow and the bear under the bed, pulling the blankets to hide him. He took a couple steps back and nodded. Not perfect, but it would keep his father from seeing it.
And really that's what matters.
Tony turned away from his hidden treasures and gently eased his door open. If his Father was in a meeting he would be occupied for a few hours and wouldn't come looking for him until later that evening. It also meant there was no chance he would be in the library.
Tony loved the library, the smell of old books, the hours he could spend lost in their pages. The only problem was his father was always stopping in there to find some business plan or work book he had misplaced, and he was never happy finding Tony curled up in one of the chairs, a novel open in his lap.
But if he was busy, Tony could slip in, get a pile of books and bring them back to his room. If he hid them under his bed, his father would be none the wiser.
Smiling to himself he carefully slipped from his room, moving carefully, not wanting to jar his throbbing back or aching ribs. Taking a deep breath, he braced himself and stole down the hallway, tiptoeing past his father's study.
He reached the library and opened the door quietly, turning so his back was to the open room and his face stayed in the hall, watching for the staff or worse…
Seeing no one, he sighed in relief and inched the door shut, careful to keep a hold of the latch so it didn't make a sound.
When it was shut firmly he could feel the wave of pain coming down his back from holding himself so stiffly. He put his head against the door and let it take his weight as he wrapped his arms around himself, trying to will the pain away. Unable to stop the sound, a whimper escaped his lips. Wincing at the sound he drew a deep breath trying to regain control of himself. He opened his eyes and the instant he did, he noticed something move in his peripheral vision.
Horror washed over him.
Someone is in my library.
He turned so fast the room tilted, grabbing at the door to hold himself up, he looked at the library in fear.
The people standing in the room staring at him were not who he expected.
The nice man from the night before was in his library.
Have I finally gone round the bend?
He forced his eyes off Gibbs to make sure there was no other threat in the room. Nothing except a concerned looking dark haired woman standing behind Mr. Gibbs. Relieved that his at least his father wasn't in the room, he brought his eyes back to Gibbs.
"Tony?"
"Mr. Gi-Gibbs?"
Kate stared at Gibbs incredulously but he ignored her.
"Tony...You live here? What happened to your eye?"
He nodded and ignored the second question.
"Yes s-sir, I-I li-li-live here."
Gibbs blinked.
"Tony…what's your name? Your full name?"
Unconsciously Tony straightened, pulling his shoulders back. Gibbs saw the flicker of pain on his face felt anger begin burn. He didn't know the story, but this child was hurt, and if someone was responsible, they were going to pay.
"My name is An-Anthony D-Darin Di-Di-DiNozzo Jr. S-sir."
"Anthony DiNozzo Jr?"
He nodded solemnly, confusion still evident on his face.
"Are...are you h-h-here to get your co-coat back? I'm so-sorry, I didn't m-m-ean to take it, I didn't r-r-realize I still h-h-had it on, I wasn't t-trying to s-s-steal it, I promise."
Gibbs could see the panic begin to rise on the kids face and moved forward without thinking, a fatherly instinct propelling him forward. He dropped to his knees in front of the boy, ignoring the ache of protest from his bad knee.
"Tony, it's alright, it was an accident. I gave you the coat, I wanted you to be warm. It's not your fault. Do you understand?"
Come on kid, deep breaths, you're okay. Everything's alright. And you're our suspect's son. At least I finally placed your accent. You're Italian.
Tony nodded and crossed his arms in front of him, looking at the two of them with guarded curiosity.
Gibbs took a deep breath, trying to steady himself.
"Tony, what happened to your eye?"
Tony took a sharp intake of breath, his eyes darting from Gibbs to Kate and back to Gibbs.
"An a-a-accident."
Liar.
"Tony..."
"I p-p-promise Mr. G-G-Gibbs, it w-w-was an a-a-accident."
His head ducked down as he whispered.
"I'm-I'm h-h-happy to see y-y-you again Mr. Gi-Gibbs."
A shot of warmth startled Gibbs when he heard that. Seeing the vulnerability in the boys wide eyes, he felt piece of the heart people thought he didn't have melt. Slowly reaching out he put a gentle hand on the boys shoulder and felt a slight flinch.
"I'm happy to see you too Tony."
A slight smile crossed his face when he looked up to meet Gibbs eyes.
Gibbs opened his mouth to say something else, when the door was suddenly flung open, knocking Tony into Gibbs with cry of pain.
Before Gibbs could realize what was happening, Tony was off of him and standing a few feet away, his shoulders drawn back, and his face clear of any and all emotion. Gibbs stood and faced the man standing in the door way.
The man stood just a hair over six feet tall, with dark brown hair and narrow grey eyes.
Eyes filled with barely contained anger.
Eyes focused on the boy clenching his hands that were obviously shaking and staring at the ground.
"Anthony."
The word was both a command and an insult and the tone sent Gibbs on edge, his jaw clenched immediately as Tony turned to face them, with face expressionless.
The boy didn't look up but whispered to the floor.
"I am ver-ver-very so-so-sorry to have bothered you Mr. Gi-Gi-Gibbs."
"Anthony!"
The man all but yelled and the boy jumped, raising his volume, just barely.
"Please f-f-forgive my in-in-intrusion Mr. Gi-Gi-Gibbs, M'am, Fa-Fa-Father."
The man nodded and glared at his son.
"Wait for me in your room Anthony, and we will talk about this."
Tony raised his head slightly and nodded, his face still blank, but Gibbs could see a flash of fear in the boys eyes.
He opened his mouth to speak, but as if Tony could read his mind, he shook his head slightly, and Gibbs could see the look of almost desperation. He closed his mouth back and watched as the boy slowly made his way out of the room.
He waited until Tony was out of sight and turned his attention back to DiNozzo Sr. who was now smiling charmingly at Kate. Kate seemed to be barely holding in her disgust at the man, and Gibbs took a deep breath, trying not to release his anger as Kate spoke to the him.
"He wasn't being a bother, in fact he was very respectful."
The man snorted.
"I appreciate your candor m'am, but my son has yet to grasp the concept of respect for his elders, and the idea of being seen and not heard. We are still working on those lessons. Now what can I do for NSIC?"
Gibbs narrowed his eyes at the word lessons and let the bite he was feeling carry over to his word.
"NCIS. We're investigating the murder of a marine named Terry Henderson, the name sound familiar to you?"
"Henderson? I'm afraid not, no."
"Really, that's surprising."
DiNozzo walked to a cabinet next to a book shelf and began fixing himself a glass of brandy.
"Surprising?"
"Yes, since you're wife was having an affair with her."
"Ex-wife."
Gibbs narrowed his eyes at the man. DiNozzo sighed and sat in one of the tall wingback chairs.
"Veronica was a very vivacious woman, she had many affairs during our short time together, I cannot keep track of them all."
Kate looked at him with revulsion.
"It doesn't seem to bother you much, that your wife was stepping out."
He turned and looked at Kate, his eyes wandering her up and down.
"There is a reason she is an ex-wife."
She rolled her eyes and looked at Gibbs who took back over questioning.
"Mr. DiNozzo can you tell us your whereabouts Thursday afternoon between three and five in the afternoon?"
DiNozzo took a slow sip of his brandy before answering.
"I was here."
"Anyone who can verify that?"
DiNozzo nodded with a self satisfied expression.
"My son."
There was a cruel glint in his eyes when he spoke of his son that set Gibbs on edge.
Kate, seeing the anger building in Gibbs quickly took the questioning back.
"Do you have any idea the whereabouts of your ex-wife?"
DiNozzo smirked.
"No. I haven't seen her since the divorce was finalized. Anything else I can do for you agents?"
Hearing the mocking inflection at the question Gibbs narrowed his eyes.
"Yes, that bruise on your son, any idea where it may have came from?"
DiNozzo grinned, harsh, hard.
"I have a very clumsy son Agent Gibbs. I can hardly be expected to keep track of his every scratch and bruise. I think we have covered everything we need to correct Agents?"
Kate nodded and turned to go, when Gibbs suddenly paused.
"Actually, there is one more thing, I need to speak with your son."
DiNozzo's voice went cold.
"Excuse me?"
"To verify your statement, he is your witness after all."
Kate stifled her smile as the man's face flushed.
"Fine...I will go retrieve him."
"I don't think so. I need to speak to him alone. Surely you don't mind."
DiNozzo smiled, bitter and cold, and answered,
"Of course not."
He pulled a cord next to the cabinet and the three waited until the library door opened and Mayer stepped back in.
"Yes Master DiNozzo?"
"Show Agent Gibbs to Anthony's room please."
"Of course sir. This way please."
Gibbs went to follow the man, waving Kate behind him.
"Gibbs?"
"Call McGee, update him and see if he's found anything on Williams, I'll be right out."
"On it."
She disappeared down the steps as Gibbs followed Mayer down the hall. Stopping outside a plain oak door, the butler hesitated.
"Something you want to say Mayer?"
The man paused and glanced back down the hallway.
"I...It may not be my place sir, but that is very good child in that room, please be easy on him."
Gibbs softened.
"He's not in trouble."
Mayer nodded relieved.
"He really is a sweet boy, we're all just hoping his father will find out before it's too late."
"Too late?"
Mayer glanced back down the hall and straightened when he heard DiNozzo bellow his name out.
"Is there anything else you need sir?"
Seeing the moment was gone, Gibbs shook his head.
"No, thank you."
Mayer nodded once and went back down the hall, slipping back into the library.
Gibbs took a deep breath and stepped into the boys room.
His eyes scanned the room instinctively, taking in the large canopy bed, desk without a single piece of paper and wardrobe with the door firmly shut. The room was cold, empty, looked nothing like the room of a young boy. His gaze drifted back to the bed again, noting where the blankets didn't quite touch the floor. Narrowing his eyes he noticed books stacked where they wouldn't be seen, and what looked like a stuffed bear.
Gibbs puzzled over that.
Why would he be hiding his toys and books?
Gibbs shook the thoughts off and turned his attention back to finding Tony. The boy stood facing the window, his hands clasped behind him. Gibbs could see him shaking, a dark silhouette against the sunlight streaming in his window. Gibbs was ready to speak, but was cut off by the soft, trembling voice of the child.
"I'm so-so-sorry fa-fa-father. I didn't know y-y-y-you had co-co-company in the li-li-library."
"Tony?"
The boy turned, surprise evident on his face, a slight gasp of pain at the quick movement.
"Mr. Gi-Gi-Gibbs? Wh-what are you d-doing in here?"
Gibbs took slow, careful steps towards Tony until he was only a couple feet in front of the nervous boy. Kneeling down so that he was on the same level as Tony, he spoke quietly.
"Tony, I need you tell me the truth. How did you get hurt?"
Tony's eyes widened slightly and he looked away from Gibbs.
"I'm fi-fi-fine Mr. Gi-Gi-Gibbs. I'm okay."
The lie was obvious.
"Tony, I'm with the police, if someone is hurting you, if anyone is hurting you, I can help you. I promise."
Tony looked up at Gibbs for a long moment, his eyes meeting Gibbs before they looked past him, fear flashing through them.
"I was running d-d-d-down the h-h-hallway the other d-day and slipped, I rolled down the st-st-stairs and got b-b-banged up. No one is h-h-hurting me, I'm fi-fi-fine."
Gibbs narrowed his eyes at the stiffness of the reply and felt a presence behind him. Turning, he saw Anthony DiNozzo Sr. standing at the door, glaring at his son.
"I trust you have finished with my son?"
"One more question. Tony, do you remember where your dad was on Thursday afternoon?"
Tony looked at him, confusion bright on his face, but he answered anyway.
"Y-yes. He was h-h-here on Thursday."
Tony winced at the memory. His father had spent most of Thursday in a drunken rage, and Tony had spent it outside hiding, without his coat. He was going to have to find some indoor hiding places before winter got here, either that or find a substitute for his jacket...
Gibbs gave a brief nod and pulled a card out of his wallet. Bending back down, he pressed the card into the young boys hand and murmured too quietly for his father to hear.
"If you ever need anything, and I mean anything, you call me. Understand?"
Tony nodded as his eyes skittered back to his father, gripping the card tightly.
Gibbs straightened and walked back to Sr.
"We'll be in touch."
Sr. responded smoothly, his cold eyes still on his son.
"Of course."
…
Gibbs slammed the car door, letting all the anger he felt out in the action. It didn't help.
Kate regarded him silently.
"McGee found Williams, local police pulled her over for speeding and she resisted, McGee had the name flagged so they brought her back to us. She's waiting in interrogation for you."
Gibbs grunted and started the car, jerking it into gear.
Kate looked over at him, noting the tension coming off him, the barely contained anger.
"Did he verify the alibi?"
"Yup."
"Think he was telling the truth?"
"About his dad being here? Yes, Agent Todd. I think it was one of the few things he was honest about."
Kate nodded. She had started profiling the boy since he first backed into the library and one thing was obvious.
"He's scared to death Gibbs."
His grip tightened on the steering wheel as they tore of out the driveway.
"I know."
Kate looked out the review mirror and saw a pale face staring out the window, watching them drive away. She waved at the boy, not seeing how he was pulled away from the window mere seconds after they turned the bend in the driveway.
Leaving him behind.