Chapter Six
"The Secretary of Defense is happy to hear that an attack on Boston was stopped, but he is wondering if security conditions at bases and stations need to be maintained at the level they are at right now," said Joe Stanton. "We are talking difficult economic times. Keeping a high security level is expensive and the money could be better used somewhere else."
Tony looked at the well groomed and good man and wondered what Ziva saw in him. The idiot was enquiring about economic issues when they had terrorist attacks to worry about. His priorities were wrong. If he thought a high security level was expensive then wait until he saw an attack on a base or naval station. Tony sighed a little too loudly.
"I'm sorry, Agent DiNozzo, does my enquiry annoy you?" he asked.
"Yes, it does, Mr. Stanton," said Tony.
Fornell, who was seated next to Tony at Vance's conference table, looked down into his lap. He didn't know whether he wanted to laugh or tell his associate to shut up. Vance rolled his eyes, while Evan Mercer from the SecNav and Ellen Torres from the White House sat and watched.
"Explain yourself?" asked Stanton sounding as if was personally offended. "I want to hear how an agent can understand the importance of budget problems during a crisis."
"If on New Year's Eve one army base or naval Station is hit and the press finds out that the security levels were not at their highest, even though we had warning, the Secretary of Defense will find himself explaining that it was too expensive as images of dead soldier and family are shown on TV," explained Tony. "His career will be dead and the president will be accepting new resumes for his job and your job, too."
Joe Stanton didn't make a follow up remark. He stared at Tony for a few moments then looked over at Evan Mercer, who seemed amused.
"The SecNav sends his congratulations on stopping one terrorist act, but he is worried that Ulman is still out there and there is more to come," said Mercer.
"We are going over evidence from the Boston op in hopes of finding some leads. The more leads we get the more chances we get at stopping more of Ulman's plans," said Fornell.
"The President wants constant updates," said Torres then she looked at Vance. "I would prefer it was from you, Director."
"Then it will be from me or if I am unable to give him an update, it will be SAC DiNozzo," said Vance. "He is running this task force not me."
"I heard that Tom Morrow is having IAD look his Homeland Security people now with a fine toothcomb. I'm glad we found that mole," said Mercer.
"SAC DiNozzo was the bait that caught the mole," said Fornell. "It appears that Saleem Ulman wants him dead."
"I wonder why," said Stanton sarcastically.
Tony looked at the man and smiled. It was one of his 'I'm not intimidated by you' smiles. Vance looked from Stanton to DiNozzo. He saw a suit and a Gibbs' trained Alpha male. It made him smile.
"Because I'm a pain in the ass," said Tony.
"What are the chances of another mole?" asked Mercer.
"Hard to tell," said Fornell. "The FBI is investigating the possibility."
Tony's smartphone rang.
"DiNozzo," he pulled it of his pants and answered it.
"Tony, I need you in the labby," Abby said.
"I'll be right down," he said.
He put his smartphone back in his pocket then stood up.
"I'm needed, sir," he said to Vance.
Vance nodded in the affirmative. He was glad DiNozzo was getting out of there since Stanton and Torres had it in for him. Tony patted Fornell on the back. He stood up and followed Tony out of the office. Once he was gone Stanton spoke up.
"Is he the right man for the job?" he asked.
Vance stared at Stanton for several long moments then he smiled.
"He is the best man for the job," said Vance. "He proved that when he saved your ass from embarrassing the SecDef because a high level of SecCon is too expensive. We have a major terrorist on US soil planning not one but several operations. Everyone will can stop is a miracle. So far we have one miracle. I hope we understand each other, Mr. Stanton."
"We do, Director, Vance."
"Good then you should appreciate SAC DiNozzo," said Vance.
"I like him," smiled Mercer.
NCISNCIS
Tony entered Abby's lab along with Fornell. Waiting for them was Gibbs, Morse, and Borin. Abby and Moss were standing in front of one of the retrieved laptops. Tony could see that she was excited, as she was standing in placed bouncing up and down with her pigtails bouncing. The sight of her made him forget Stanton and smile.
"Wha'cha got, Abs?" asked Tony.
Gibbs looked over his shoulder at Tony, as if he had stolen his line.
"I have a date," Abby said.
"Good for you, Abs," said Tony, "but what do you have for me that involves Saleem?"
Gibbs head slapped him much to Tony's surprise. He looked at Gibbs, who merely said, "Listen."
Abby smiled at Gibbs and stuck her tongue out at Tony then she continued.
"I have a date, the name of a hotel, and city," she said. "In four days Kalif is supposed to meet someone in Chicago."
"Do we know if there is a reservation under his name?" asked Tony.
"There isn't. So, we must assume the reservation was made by another," said Moss.
"I want ever one who is to check in on that day checked by us," said Tony.
"We'll need to ask the hotel for its reservation list," said Borin.
Tony smiled and looked at Gibbs. Gibbs nodded.
"Abby, call up to MTAC and get McGee down here. Tell him he has a job to do and we'll give him the particulars when he gets here," said Gibbs.
"Yes, Captain," she saluted.
"What is McGee going to do?" asked Borin.
"Hack in the hotel's reservation computer," said Gibbs.
"But that's illegal," said Borin.
Gibbs looked at her as if she had two heads. Borin stared back at Gibbs as if she was willing to argue.
Ton grinned, "It may be illegal, but it is also efficient. McGee will have their list in a couple of hours, so Abby and Moss can work on checking out everyone checking in that day. If we went the legal route it would take days to get permission, fi we even got permission from a judge."
"I'll sign off on it, so someone is culpable if it blows up in our face," said Gibbs.
"No, I'll sign off on it."
Gibbs looked at Tony with his ice cold stare, "I'm closer to retirement than you, DiNozzo. Anyway, you put me in charge of the hub."
NCISNCIS
Joe Stanton stood beside Ziva's desk. He was furious. Ziva looked up at him and waited for him to vent, but she already had a good idea who made him so angry. Of course, Ziva knew who caused this. Gibbs always said that Tony had a way under people's skin.
"Damned DiNozzo, when this is over I'm going to make sure he gets buried somewhere. It'll have to wait a few months but once things die down, he's mine," said Stanton.
"Why would you want to do that to Tony, Joe?" she asked him.
"Because he is an arrogant, son of a bitch," he said. "I don't know how anyone can deal with him."
"Is he doing his job well?" she asked him.
Joe looked at her as if he was starting transfer some of his anger for Tony to her.
"I don't think so," he said.
"Joe, trust me he is doing his job very well. I am surprised at how well he is going it. I knew he was good, but not this good," Ziva said.
"You know what, Ziva; you are my girlfriend, so I expect you to agree with me. We are supposed to be a team, a power couple," he said.
"Even though you are wrong, I should support you," she said with some venom entering her tone. "What are you Mossad? I should just take my orders and that is all, even though you are wrong."
"I'm not wrong. He's an arrogant asshole, who needs to be taken down a peg or two," he said.
"Taking him down a peg or two doesn't make him change. It has been tried," she said.
"You know him that well," he said sounding surprised.
"He was my partner for three years, Joe. He saved my life more than once. I know Tony fairly well," she said.
"Well, I'm more than your partner and I expect some loyalty from you, or do I have to save your life to get that," he demanded.
Ziva stood up and stared into his eyes. He knew immediately he had gone too far because the eyes of an assassin stared at him.
"I am loyal to those who earn it and they earn it with more than being allowed into my bed," said Ziva.
He started to open his mouth and Ziva shut him up with a glance.
"Don't say a word because I do not want to hear it now," she said. "Go. Go to some meeting and shine someone's shoes for them."
She stood up and stormed away. Joe was left staring at her and feeling defeated.
NCISNCIS
It took McGee less than an hour to hack into the reservation computer and download their reservations for the day before and the day of the meeting then Abby, Jardine, Moss, and McGee went to working checking out the names. They needed to compile as small a list as possible of potential targets. While they worked on that end Tony called together Borin, Morse, Ziva, Callen, Hanna, and Fornell. They met in the conference room on the mezzanine level.
"Okay, once we have some names we are going to Chicago. I want to trail whoever Kalif was supposed to meet. So far, we have kept out of the media the names of the people brought down in Boston. The chances are the Chicago meet is cancelled but just in case it isn't I want to be there," he said.
"How many will go?" asked Fornell.
"Not sure. It depends on how many names they give us."
"If it is cancelled then we should check on cancellations," said Ziva. "We may be able to track them via them canceling their hotel room and plane reservation."
Tony grinned, "Excellent idea, Agent David. Why don't you tell McGee work up a list of cancellations and have him check them out."
Ziva nodded. She didn't like him calling her Agent David, but she knew things were a little tense between them at the moment. After talking to Stanton, she felt less inclined to suppress her feelings towards Tony now. She missed him and he was a great partner. On those grounds alone, she needed to talk to him.
"Okay, one way or another we are squeezing a lead or two out of this situation," said Tony.
"Considering Saleem wants you dead, I think you should stay at home from now on, DiNutso," said Fornell.
"I don't think so, Tobias. I work better in the field than on my ass. No one is keeping out of the field on this one," said Tony.
"Then I recommend Morse and David go with you in the field at all times. They have the most developed skills of a certain deadly kind, other than Hanna, and Hanna and Callen are a team you don't want to break up," said Fornell.
"We're not married," said Hanna.
"No, but we are dating steady," joked Callen.
"My wife wouldn't like hearing that, G," said Hanna.
"You know your wife likes me," smiled Callen.
"Not that much."
"Come on, Sam, you know that your wife and kids love me. I'm Uncle G," said Callen.
Hanne glowered at his friend and partner.
"So, David and Morse will be your bodyguards in the field," said Fornell trying to get back to the point.
"I don't like it," said Tony.
"He has a point SAC DiNozzo. You are a target. If nothing else, it may give us chance to get to Ulman if they try to kill you. We should be able to keep you in one piece while taking them out," said Ziva.
Tony looked at her with an expression that said you think of me only as bait. Ziva smiled at him, which confused him even further. He wanted to ask her why the change in attitude, but he knew this wasn't the time or place.
"Boss, she's right. You need added protection and the more bad guys she and I take out the better. I only hope Saleem tries to off you personally. I wouldn't mind killing that son of bitch," said Morse.
"Eloquent as always, Jimmy," said Tony.
Morse smirked.
"Alright, David and Morse will go where I go, even though I don't need a bodyguard," said Tony.
"Good," said Fornell. "At least, I don't have to worry about your ass now."
Fornell had promised Gibbs that he'd make sure that DiNozzo's six was covered. He felt now that he had actually kept that promise. Plus, he kind of liked the fact that DiNozzo was uncomfortable with Ziva.
"You should worry because I will kick it, if he doesn't listen to us," said Ziva.
Tony was surprised that Ziva was acting like she used to with him. She was teasing and there was even a hint of flirting. He decided to ignore it for now. His attention had to be on finding and stopping Saleem. Ziva could come later, if there was a later.
"David, go get McGee working on cancellations."
She stood up and nodded then headed out of the conference room.
"Everyone, stay loose. We should have something to work on soon," said Tony.
NCISNCIS
Although Abby, Jardine, and Moss came up with one potential name of people who didn't cancel their reservation, it was McGee who appeared to hit pay dirt. Everyone gathered in the bullpen as he brought up a photograph of Daria Malouf. She was a highly attractive Middle Eastern woman from Lebanon. She cancelled her reservation the day after Kalif was brought down and she cancelled her fight from New York, where she was staying. Tony wasn't sure if they should stalk her or scoop her up and interrogate her. Either way, she was their main target for now.
"The more I dug deep on her the more than I found that she acts as a go between for Charles Lapine. He is a wealthy importer and exporter out of Lebanon, who also acts as a bank to terrorists. The CIA believes that Lapine is also an arms dealer with terrorists being his best customers. He raises money for Ulman because they went to school together at Yale. Lapine only stayed for one year before he was thrown out for a combination of grades and behavior," explained McGee.
"Where is she staying in New York?" asked Tony.
"The Waldorf Astoria. It appears that Lapine lets her travel in style," said McGee.
"Okay, we need hotel reservations and one of the Gulfstreams made ready for a flight to New York," said Tony. "Morse, David, and I will be going to New York. I need to get hold of the mayor and the police commissioner."
"I'll arrange that," said Fornell.
"As for the lead that Abby, Jardine, and Moss came up with, I want Callen and Hanna to check out Michael Saeed. He appears to be a Chicago local with ties to some radical imans. He made a reservation and hasn't cancelled it yet. Even if he does, I want you to check him out. He may be part of an operation taking place in Chicago," said Tony.
"We'll be ready to leave in three hours," said Callen.
"Good," sighed Tony. "They'll need reservations and the other Gulfstream ready."
"It will be handled," said Gibbs.
"Okay, the flight to New York is little over an hour, so if we can get out of here in three, we should have tonight to settle in before we start stalking Miss Malouf," said Tony.
"Maybe you can drop in on your father?" smiled Morse.
"Very funny," said Tony.
NCISNCIS
The flight was quick and quiet. When they got to LaGuardia, a New York City office field agent picked them in a car and drove them into the city and their hotel, the Sheraton on 6th Avenue. They had to take two rooms, so Tony decided that Ziva would get to sleep on her own. Morse and Tony checked into the room with two double beds.
"I bet Ziva got a king size bed all to herself," said Morse.
"I like small beds," said Tony, as he dropped his bag beside the bed and sat down.
"I told Ziva that the three of us would go to dinner together. I hope I didn't overextend any boundaries, Boss," said Morse.
"I don't care," mumbled Tony.
Morse knew him well enough that he knew that Tony not only cared but was pushing down how he really felt about Agent David. Morse grinned to himself, as he started to unpack. There was a knock on the door. Morse opened the door. It was Ziva.
"I am ready for dinner," she said.
Even though, all she did was wash up a bit, Tony thought she looked like the most beautiful woman in the city.
"We are not," said Morse.
"I need to shower and change and being a Marine, Morse needs to change his personality," smiled Tony.
"Hey, I resemble that remark, Boss," Morse said.
Tony grabbed his suit bag and headed off to the shower, leaving Morse and Ziva alone. Once he heard the shower go on, Morse decided to ask her a question.
"Agent David, do you mind if I asked a personal question?" he asked.
"It is Ziva and I don't mind," she said.
"You and the Boss, did you ever get it on? You know did you have an affair or something because I've never seen him so act around a woman like he acts around you," said Morse.
"And how does he act around me?" she asked him.
"Like he wants to talk to you but he's afraid to. I mean I've been with him in Kuwait and he's charmed women. In Israel he had the women eating out of his hand, but you he's afraid to talk to," said Morse.
"Really," she smiled.
"So, did you have a thing?" asked Morse.
Ziva walked over to Morse with a smile on her face. She gently patted his face, like a mother to a child, then she said, "It is none of your business."
Tony opened the bathroom room dressed in jeans and lavender dress shirt with still wet hair. He looked at Morse then Ziva.
"What is it?" he asked.
"I have decided we are going to a movie and Italian food tonight. Is that okay with you?" she asked.
A thousand watt smile broke out across Tony's face.
"I know just the places to go," he said.