Chapter Nine
Monday morning Ziva woke to an amorous Tony who didn't want her to go to work. As he kissed her neck he gently rubbed her taut stomach slowly moving his hand lower and lower.
"Ahuvi, I need to go to work," she said as she fought the urge to give into his desires.
"I want to stay in bed all day and make love to you, Zi," he growled in a low soft voice that sent a chill through her spine.
He nibbled on her ear and Ziva moaned. Tony was beginning to win the battle and she knew. With all the discipline she could muster, she pulled away from him and got out of bed.
"You wouldn't deny a blind man a wish," he teased her.
"You are not being fair," she said as she tried to get her breathing under control.
"Stay home," he said. "You can call in and say there is an emergency. Tell Gibbs I walked into repeatedly with an erection," he joked.
"I don't think he'd believe that's an emergency," she laughed.
"I don't know about that, Zi, the man has been married four times," he chuckled.
"I need to get ready," she then looked at the clock. "It is five-forty. Because of you I'll have run only three miles today."
"Well, because of you I'll have to masturbate in the shower," he said leaving her laughing as she hurried into the bathroom.
Ziva dressed in her running gear and took off for morning run. When she got back from doing a fast three miles, she showered and Tony made her toast and orange marmalade with a hot cup of tea.
"You are getting better in the kitchen," she commented as she sat at the breakfast nook and ate.
"I love the braille label maker you bought. It helps," he said.
"Ahuvi, should we get a bigger place?" she asked.
"Like a house?" he said.
"Yes, like a house," she replied.
"Are you in a nesting mood?" he asked.
"I do not know. I want to make a permanent home with you. Some place where we can live for the rest of our lives," she said.
"Let me think about it," he offered.
"You need to think about it?" she asked.
"I don't know what I am going to do with the rest of my life yet, so I'm not sure about a house," he said.
"You see Vance on Wednesday, right?" she asked.
"Yup," he replied.
"Hopefully, he has something interesting to offer you," she said.
"Let me spend a day or two thinking about buying a house. I'm not against the idea," he said.
She smiled: "Good."
Ziva finished up her breakfast and rushed off to work, leaving Tony to contemplate what he wanted to do for the day. He had arranged with Buck to take classes twice a week and he had his braille classes, this still left him with too much time on his hands. He was never good when he had too much time on his hands.
As he played an unabridged book on tape, someone buzzed the apartment. He walked over and pressed the comm: "Hello."
"Tony, it's me Billy Simms. Can I come in?" he asked.
"Sure, Billy," he said.
He buzzed Billy in then he opened the door and walked to the sofa and sat down. He heard Billy come in and close the door.
"Hey, you're looking good," Billy said.
"You look the same to me as always," smiled Tony.
"Very funny," laughed Billy.
"Come and sit down," Tony said.
He listened and heard the difference between Billy's real leg and prosthetic. It sounded like he was handling the leg much better now.
"You finally got used to the new leg," Tony said.
"Yeah, I did," said Billy.
"What time is it, Billy?" he asked.
"Nine fifteen, Tony," he answered.
"So what brings you here?" Tony asked.
"Well, I remembered that you were a cop before you lost your sight," said Billy.
"I didn't lose it, Billy, it was taken from me," smiled Tony.
He had the term lost his sight, as if he carelessly misplaced it along with his wallet and the morning newspaper. A murderous bastard took it from him.
"Good one," he said.
Tony could hear the discomfort in his guest's voice. Whatever brought Billy here he was uncomfortable about it. It had been awhile but Tony could feel himself slipping into cop mode.
"Alright, Billy, tell me what's wrong and how I can help you?" he asked.
"Yeah, well, a buddy of mine, a fellow marine, you see, I'm worried about him," said Billy.
"Tell me everything about this friend," said Tony.
"His name is Staff Sergeant Daniel Barton. He was a real good egg, though he got into some trouble, a dishonorable discharge for beating an Afghan insurgent half to death. You see the insurgent had sold information to the Taliban on our patrol and five of us were killed because of their sneak attack. Barton went ape shit and beat him to an inch of his life when he found out what happened. I think it made the news and they crucified him," said Billy.
"So you wanted to check up on this Barton?" asked Tony.
"I told you he was a good egg and I owed my life to him. You see I had the wind knocked out of me when a round hit me in the chest. My body armor stopped the bullet but it was like getting kicked by a mule and I was down and vulnerable and he dragged me behind a Humvee," he told Tony.
"I've been hit in the chest with a vest on. It can't take it out of you for a few minutes," said Tony.
"So, you understand. I was a sitting duck and he saved me from taking any more fire. I heard he was having a tough time of it when he got home. It seems because of his record he couldn't get any good jobs, so he started to take, you know, not so good jobs," Billy explained.
"Where?" asked Tony. "And what kind of jobs?"
"Some in DC and some in Baltimore. It seems he was taking security jobs for guys with, you know, reputations. He worked for a guy named Manny Esteban in DC and Mike Macaluso, Jr. in Baltimore," said Billy.
Tony had to grin, as he was responsible for Mike Macaluso, Snr. stay in a Supermax for the rest of his life. He'd heard that the younger Macaluso was trying to bring the family back and was a nasty piece of work.
"Not good people, Billy. If these were the types he was working for then he has gotten more than a little lost," said Tony.
"I know," said Billy. "But I'm not kidding when I tell you he couldn't buy a job when they learned about his record. He needed the money. He's got an ex-wife and a six year old daughter, who he is crazy about. Sometimes you get involved with bad shit but for a good reason, Tony."
"Okay, Billy, tell me more," said Tony.
"Well, I found out when I went and looked him up a few days ago that he's been missing for two weeks. No one has heard or seen him. I'm afraid that, you know, something might have happened to him and no one cares. He was living above a bar in the U Corridor of DC, so I talked to Metro and they aren't looking for him. No one seems to care that he is gone. I was hoping you could help me find out what happened to him," said Billy.
Tony leaned back in the sofa. How much good was an investigator without eyes? He still had his instincts and he still had his brains. He even still had contacts. The only thing he was missing was eyes.
"What are you doing now, Billy?" he asked.
"Nothing," Billy said.
"Well, if I help you then you have to be my driver and my eyes. What do you say to that?" asked Tony.
"Tony, I'm twenty-six years old and I'm driving my parents crazy in Reston because I've got nothing to do and I don't want to work in an office. I'd love to help you," said Billy.
"Okay," smiled Tony.
"Where do we start?" he asked.
"We start tomorrow," said Tony. "Pick me here tomorrow at eight AM sharp."
"Ooorah," said Billy.
NCIS
He ordered Chinese food for dinner knowing she preferred Chinese to his preferred pizza. His father didn't teach him very much, but he did teach him that it was best to bribe people before you gave them news that they might not like. It set the playing field to your advantage.
The buzzer rang and he reached into his back pocket and got his wallet out. He buzzed the delivery boy in then opened the door.
"$35.25," the delivery boy said.
Tony reached into his wallet. The twenty dollar bills were folded completely in half. He took two twenties out and handed them to the delivery boy.
"Keep the change," he said.
He took the bag of Chinese food, shut the door, and put the food on the breakfast nook. Going into the kitchen he grabbed two plates and knives and forks and also placed them on the breakfast nook.
"Hello, ninja," he said with a smile.
"You heard me come in and sneak up on you," she said.
"Yes," he replied.
"I no longer can sneak up on you," she said with some disappointment.
"You can blame Buck for that," he chuckled.
"Chinese food. What is the special occasion?" she asked.
"It is a day of the week that ends in y," he said then found her lips and kissed her.
"Are you trying to spoil me?" she asked.
"Maybe," he answered.
They ate the Chinese food at the nook and then retreated to the living room sofa where Ziva played one of Tony's favorite Sinatra albums Nice 'N Easy. He poured then a Glenlivet 18. Ziva was developing a taste for scotch like Tony and Ducky. He walked over to the sofa and held out her glass and she took it from him.
"I had a visitor today," he said.
It was time to let her know that he was going to do some detective work. He knew this would worry her, but he had been so excited at the thought of it that he hoped she understood.
"Who?" she asked apprehensively.
"Lance Corporal Billy Simms," he said.
"Okay, that must have been a surprised," she said.
"Well, he has a little problem and I've agreed to help him," Tony told her.
"What sort of problem?" she asked.
"A friend is missing, been gone for two weeks, so he'll act as my driver and eyes and I thought he could do a little detective work," he said.
"Ahuvi, you are no longer a field agent or a cop," she said.
"Zi, all I'm doing is helping someone look for a missing person," he said.
"That is all?" she asked.
"Yes," he smiled knowing that he failed to explain that this person was an ex-marine, dishonorably discharged, and doing security work for scumbags.
"Is he capable of backing you up?" she asked.
"He is a twenty-six year old man, who was a fine marine. He is in excellent physical condition except for missing part of one leg, and that has been replaced by a prosthetic leg," he told her.
"Okay, just be careful," she said then she paused. "I have not seen you this excited in a long time."
"Didn't you notice me this morning? I was pretty excited then," he said.
"I don't mean sexually," she laughed. "You love investigative work, don't you?"
"It's part of who I am," he said.
"Okay, I will trust you to be careful," she said.
"And because of your beneficence I am willing to start looking at houses. How does that sound?" he asked.
"I love you," she said excitedly. "I thought we could pool our savings and she what we can afford. I have saved twenty-five thousand in my savings."
"I have two thousand," he said.
"I am surprised you have that much," she sighed. "You do spend money like it is water."
"Zi, I also have an account with nine and half million pounds in an Isle of Mann account that was left to me by my mother," he said.
"I thought you had a trust fund with fifty or sixty thousand in it," she said.
"I do. That was spending money that my mother set up for me to have when I turned twenty-one," Tony said.
"If you could see me now, Tony, my mouth is open in surprise," she said.
"That reminds me, I have to have my lawyer put you on the Isle of Mann account," he said.
"Did this account not draw attention when you became a federal agent?" she asked.
"It is an inheritance from a woman who was a member of a prominent English family, Zi. The Paddingtons are aristocrats," he smiled.
"You do not have to put my name on the account," she said softly.
"Zi, you are the love of my life. I am willing to buy a house with or for you, if you like, and in time we will be married and have a child. I think you should be on the account," he said.
"Married? Child?" she said with a big smile.
"I hope that is permanent enough for you," he said.
"Yes, it is," she replied.
NCIS
It was almost December in DC. Since it was a brisk 43 degrees out, Tony dressed in jeans, a wool shawl sweater and his leather bomber's jacket, which he had since being a Baltimore cop. Billy picked Tony up and escorted him to his car.
"Okay, what model car am I sitting in?' he asked.
"A Hyundai Genesis Coupe," he said.
"Really, a Hyundai?" sighed Tony.
"My brother has a Hyundai dealership. He gave me a deal I couldn't say no to," said Billy.
"Alright, drive us to the U Corridor. We'll start with Billy's apartment," said Tony.
"You're the boss, Tony," said Billy.
The U Street Corridor was known for restaurants, bars, and clubs. Billy parked on the corner of Ben Ali Way. Tony had instructed Billy that when he requested it that Billy should lead him about by taking his right elbow. Instead of using his cane, he wanted Billy to get used to doing this early on. Tony thought of it as a partner building exercise.
"He lived above a dive that is beside Ben's Chili Bowl," said Billy.
"Hey, I know where we are going to have lunch," smiled Tony.
The bar was called Smitty's and when they entered Tony immediately picked up the smell of whiskey, beer, cigarettes, some marijuana and human sweat. He wished that they could open a window and leave the door open, as his sense of smell was becoming more and more sensitive to odors. They walked up to the bar which was open and serving even though it was even close to eleven in the morning.
"Is the owner available?" Tony asked.
"Yeah, he's in the back," the bartender said. "I'll get him."
Tony took out his wallet. He had a fifty dollar bill which was folded at the corner. Taking it out, he waited for the bartender.
"You want me," the owner, a balding fifty year old man who a good fifty pounds overweight.
Tony could tell from his breathing that he was overweight.
"You are renting to a Daniel Barton," said Tony.
"Is he a friend?" asked the owner.
"He was a marine with my friend here," said Tony.
"Oh, yeah, he paid for three months in advance. He still has a month on the apartment," said the owner.
"He's missing. Do you mind if we see his apartment?" asked Tony.
"You ain't police. I know that because he's a gimp and you're blinds," said the owner.
"Here's a fifty," Tony put it on the bar top. "Will another get us into his room?"
"I'll give you the key for another fifty," said the owner.
Tony got his wallet out and took another fifty out and placed it on the bar. The owner took out a key ring and took one key off of it and handed it to Billy.
"Don't take anything just in case he comes back," he warned them.
"Don't worry," said Tony.
Tony instructed Billy how he wanted him to search the apartment. When they entered Billy started to describe the place.
"It looks undisturbed. Everything is neat and orderly," he said.
"Check the bedroom and bathroom. I'll wait here," said Tony.
Billy went off and started a search of the bedroom and then the bathroom. Under Tony's orders he was supposed to make sure not to leave any fingerprints behind, just in case a CSI team came in later. Once he was done with the bedroom, he went into the bathroom then he returned to Tony.
"Okay, his duffle and bags are still there. It doesn't look like any clothes are missing. In the bathroom his toothbrush, razor and hairbrush are still there, as well as toothpaste and cologne," Billy told Tony.
"Alright, let's check the kitchen," he said then offered his elbow to Billy.
Billy escorted him into the kitchen.
"Check the freezer first. Tell me what's in it," he said to Billy.
"There are two steaks, a bag of frozen corn, a bag of frozen peas and a bag of French fries," he said.
"Are any of them zip lock bags?" Tony asked.
"The French fries," he said.
"Open them," Tony told him.
Billy opened up the bag of French fries to see that it was actually stuffed with Fed packs of hundred dollar bills.
"Tony, there is like hundred thousand dollars in hundreds in this bag. What should I do?" he asked.
"We take it. You said he has a six year old daughter he loves, right?" said Tony.
"Good idea," said Billy.
There were five packs of twenty dollar dollars. He put forty thousand in his coats inside pocket then forty in the front right pocket and finally twenty in the front left pocket.
"Okay, does he have canisters with sugar, flour, coffee?" Tony asked.
"One sugar and one flour," Billy answered.
"Put your hand in the flour one and check to see if there is anything in it," Tony instructed.
Billy stuck his hand in and came out with a clear plastic bag with two flash drives in it.
"Tony, I got a bag with two flash drives in it," Billy said.
"Put them in your pocket," said Tony.
"Tony, Dan is in trouble, isn't he?" asked Billy.
"I think so," said Tony. "He's probably dead."
"Okay, we are going to find out, are we?" he asked Tony.
"Yes," he said.
"One more question, why did you have me stick my hand in the flour?" Billy asked.
"Sugar you use and unless your buddy bakes, he wouldn't use the flour," Tony told him.
"You know what you are doing, don't you, Tony?" asked Billy.
"Yeah, I know what I am doing," he smiled. "Now let's get out of her and go back to my place to check out the flash drives."