Chapter 3 - The daughter's first and the father's last

Sharon was waiting for Ziva to explain more, but the woman was lost in her thoughts.

"Earth to the moon… Ziva?"

"Earth to hell would better describe my situation at this moment!"

"Read me in."

"I heard Eyal use the word 'sakana' once. It was when he called to express his concern about Ilan being in America at the same time my father was incognito in Washington … and you must know the result of that situation."

"Yes, Eli David and Director Vance's wife, Jackie were killed by Ilan Bodnar, Eyal's brother. Our spy grapevine was buzzing for a couple of weeks on that one. Sorry for your father. It must have been a horrible scene to witness!"

"I've made my peace with my father's death. Sharon, Eyal is …, how can I say this; he has a high threshold for 'danger'. The man doesn't have strong family ties, is a capable high-profile agent and likes to live on the edge."

"Are you telling me he has a death wish?"

"No, but the fear of dying, for the man, is not a reason not to enter the lion's den!"

"That is sad, can't imagine living that way!"

"At the Mossad, it's the only way for many…"

"OK, we can then conclude that he didn't say that word casually. Something big is going down. Where do we go with this tidbit? Tony? We could try finding out more, trace Eyal or just keep observing till it hits us."

"Sharon, as Tony said, 'we work as a team. The old Ziva would have gone after Eyal."

"Your agency, your call. Ziva, do you trust Eyal?"

"With my life."

"Why don't we retrace Eyal and my last steps, we could maybe see or hear something, a clue of sort."

"Yes, good thinking!"

As they were walking towards the entry gate, Sharon read in Ziva to Eyal's actions and her impressions of his conduct. They spent an hour observing and looking for clues, but found nothing.

"Sharon, we go to Tony with what we have."

"I'll follow your lead, but personally, I'm tempted to go after the man."

As they entered, Tony greeted them, "You girls have a nice run?"

Ziva went right to the point, "Tony, Eyal is missing!"

Tony looked at Ziva, rolled his eyes and upped his shoulder as he said,

"Typical of Mossad. I should have known not to trust him!"

Sharon explained in detail the situation.

"Damn, when I said I preferred we work as a team, it included him, especially him! Ziva, you have any idea of what's going on?"

"No. Tony, I trust him. He's not your typical Mossad."

"That coming from the girl who struck out three out of three on previous Mossad colleagues!"

Sharon sprung up and warned, "Tony, jealousy doesn't suit you well."

Tony laughed and replied, "Ziva and I are not dating. Frenemies would more describe our relationship. In her favor; to this day, she is still the only Mossad agent I trust."

Sharon replied, "If you say so!"

Tony came close to her face and whispered, "I do, discussion closed!"

Taking both by the shoulders, he pointed them towards his office,

"Now ladies, it's campfire time … again."

"Tony, no, not another one!"

"Well, Ziva, unless you can explain the absence of your trusted Mossad friend, it's our only course of action!"

Tony called the others. Sharon and Ziva explained the situation.

Abby, as usual, had a question. "Tony, we should maybe call Gibbs."

Ziva answered, "Abby, this is Tony's lead, plus we aren't even sure there is a problem."

Sharon added, "Look, I'm with Ziva, I trust the guy. If he wanted out, he wouldn't have returned to his room this morning. Nobody told us we were on lockdown. Last night, he went out, I went out … our separate ways … he caught me sneaking back in."

As Ziva and Tony were shooting Sharon a killer look, Tim spoke, "Ziva, does Mossad track their agents when oversees?"

"Sometimes, but with Eyal, not likely. I can check with Director …"

Tony pointed at Ziva, "No, we call Mossad, they call NCIS and the cavalry will come running. Not the best way for this team to prove itself. Sharon, this morning did he tell you where he had gone? By the way, we were/are on lockdown, if you still needed to hear it verbally! You want out, we discuss it, are we clear?"

Sharon pinched her lips and answered, "We are clear! As for Eyal, I can only guess by what I saw … well more smelled; he went clubbing."

Tony asked, "Clubbing?"

"Yes, he had drinks, Sazerac to be more precise, at the Parchment and there was a girl that got up close and personal with him."

Tony asked, "And how did our MI-6 forensic specialist come up with that story?"

"Easy, my sense of smell–no forensics needed. For the place: The Parchment has a unique table disinfectant/cleaner and it leaves a discreet residue (smell) on absorbent material. Eyal was wearing a very expensive wool coat, it picked up that smell. For the drink, Sazerac is an easy 'smell-off'. The Parchment is one of the only Clubs in Washington that puts a touch of Absinthe, a formerly banned spirit drink, in their mix. Coupled with rye whisky, I can smell it miles away. It's my kind of drink. For the perfume, well, I should not have to explain to you, men, what happens when you're intimate with a person wearing heavy or expensive perfume, Clive Christian No. 1 for women."

Ziva whistled, "Eyal doesn't come cheap… at 2 150$ for 30 ml… Ouf!"

Abby specified, "What makes it expensive is the bottle. It's made out of crystal and has a neck made out of 24-karat gold-plated sterling silver. The perfume itself is combination of bergamot, orris, sandalwood, natural gum resin, vanilla, and ylang ylang extract. But since these ingredients are not available year-round, it is not so easy to come up with this that fragrance. It is really neat! I have the eau de parfum, not the real perfume or bottle!"

Tony lifted his index finger to his lips and seemed to be searching his 'memories', he finally said,

"I don't like the road this is taking us on; Perfume: The story of a murdered, a 2006 film…"

Sharon reacted, "Tony, not the same thing! That film was about a guy who kills women as he searches for his ultimate scent."

"Still, I don't like where my mind just went! OK, back to Eyal; for all we know the lady could have been his sister or a friend."

Sharon gave him a sly smile which Tony had to respond to,

In a fake English accent, he asked, "OK Bond girl, how did you conclude the woman wasn't his sister?"

Sharon's eyes grew wide, "You're kidding, you are really asking me that question?"

"Well, your father said you needed investigator's training… I'm realizing Daddy lied or you're Director Vance's and/or Gibb's proxy. I'm thinking the later! You, girl, do not need any training in observation skills."

"Tony, if my mission was to play you guys, believe me I would not have been caught! Sorry, this is the real me. As for my needs, it's more my delivery of the facts that need work. My best quality is sometimes my worst enemy. I 'get' things when most are lost for clues and I'm prone to 'too much blabbering', giving away the punch line or the Ace in hand leaving my colleagues scrambling to find another card or hold on the targets. Seems you guys are expert at having the last word on a target in very imaginative ways. You create a web and back them up into it. You get them to admit without them realizing they've been had! I do the opposite and my father wants to fly me to Siberia when that happens!"

Tony replied, "That's another thing you and Ziva have in common, the mouth! You'll learn from each other … well, I hope!"

That got him a knee hit from the back, making him hit the floor with a bang.

Ziva added, "Sorry think my delivery was a bit 'over the top', but it felt damn good! You sure you want to pair me with Sharon. We could learn from each other, but it might not be in the direction you expected!"

Tony got up and the two had an eye to eye moment. They were interrupted by Ducky, as he entered the office.

Looking at Ziva/Tony and the rest, Ducky said,

"Tony, see you've already put a leader's hat on. Best way for people to learn; role playing."

Sharon laughed, "Sir, they are not role-playing. We're all waiting to see which one will land the other the final blow. Here, grab a seat!"

Ducky looked at Sharon then at Tony and he cleared his throat. That seemed to defuse the intense stare-off

Tony whispered, "Ziva, we'll talk later."

Then he turned towards Ducky as the man said,

"Reporting for training, Boss!"

Tony replied, "Well it's not the planned training, but I have a feeling we are going to learn a lot today! Ducky, our trusted and beloved Mossad officer, Eyal Lavin, is missing."

Ducky looked up at Tony and said very slowly,

"One day on the job and you misplaced a member of your team. That's…."

Abby filled in, That's the Tonyisht way and we are going to work at putting it right! Remember, if Tony looks bad … we all will look bad. We are a team, a family!"

That refocused the group.

Tony asked Ducky, "Know this is short notice, but did you have time to profile Office Lavin?"

"Not in person, but read his files (NCIS's, Mossad's, CIA's and MI-6's). Impressive, very impressive. He is not like any Mossad Officer I've met. Well, Officer David excluded. I'd risk saying, he is a lot like our Ziva. The man can be trusted ... on paper. How did he disappear?"

Sharon explained the situation and some of her observations.

Ducky gave Tony his views,

"Tony, know your previous experiences with Mossad Officers were not the best, but I side with Ziva and Sharon. Eyal Lavin is not a team player, but he is not one to leave a/his team stranded. His code of honor is a Gibbs's level. He gave Ziva a hint, we need to drill down on it. That word is a clue, that I'm sure of. Ziva, this might not be pleasant for you, but you need to explore the possible meanings or conclusions. I can help you, but only if you ask."

With those words, Tony took the lead of the discussion,

"OK, people what do we know, except that the guy got lucky last night."

They were exchanging ideas when Ziva, out of the blues, stood up,

"Tim, can you check out the threat matrix, not the official ones! When my father came to Washington, had we checked with Mossad's matric, we would have … well, I would have known something was up and would have drilled down on it. Eyal had warned me and I failed to pick up on his hint. He knew I would not repeat that same mistake. Ducky you were right, Eyal gave me a lead, a clue of some sort."

Tim replied, "Ziva, CIA's and FBI's matric I can get in… Mossad's … sorry, I'm not even going to try. The security they have would take too long to untangle and they will ID the hacker; me! Not good when they'll call Vance!"

Sharon lifted her hand and was jumping up and down.

Tony said, "Sharon, Ziva is supposed to rub onto you, not Abby.

That got him a shoulder slap from dear Abby.

"OK girls, enough Gibbs's manhandling of me! Sharon, put your hand down, talk!"

"Tim, you can't hack Mossad's security, but you can make it crash then enter it from the back door. They won't know what hit them, they'll be too busy searching what made their network crash!"

Tim's eyes grew wide, "How…"

Ziva took that question, "That is how spies work; they hack, steal, threaten, hurt, blackmail and sometimes kill to get a job done. They don't have the luxury or time to find the motives and culprits. Immediate results are a must to stay alive. In investigations, we better analyse situations."

Tony looked at Ziva, "Well, that explains Eyal's actions. If you're right Officer David … we don't have much time on our hands. Abby, Tim get cracking. You're our designated tech ops!"

"Tony there is not much I can do with this computer, we are on FBI's territory. I'll be stopped by FBI's safe walls before being able to crash Mossad's web."

Sharon winced, "Hey, Timothy, can you piggy back on the NSA satellite? MI-6 does it all the time when in the United States."

Tony's smile was to die for,

"Now I understand why your father wants to send you to Timbuctoo…. Girl, you just told NCIS Special Agents how MI-6spies secure their communications…"

"Oops, now do you believe I'm not Vance's proxy!"

"Oh yes, I believe you! It's hitting me that between Womanizer and Snitcher, I've going to have my hands full in these next five days! Sharon, Abby wears doglike collars. What would you say if I got you a special one, that will give you electric shots when you start debriefing a story line? A gentle reminder from your team leader to keep certain facts to yourself! Gibbs finds out about that shortcoming and you'll be his favorite tool to play with! He has a way with people, especially red heads!"

Abby wasn't a happy camper! "Tony, that was … "

Sharon completed, "Brilliant, maybe not a collar, not my style, but I'm willing to try, let's say, a bracelet. Look, it can't kill me and if it can stop that mouth of mine, I could get back where I'd prefer to be; in the field! No pun intended Abby, love forensic science, but would go out in the field any day!"

"None taken, you are more action than a scientist and it shows."

Ziva pointed her finger at her new friend, "Ha! I was right; you are a sidelined spy!"

"Yes, I was benched as a spy and because of my imaginative mind (and a bit of my father being head of MI-6), they stuck me in extreme extractions and now another fault of mine got me benched from that work. There are no more garage lanes to put me on. This assignment is my last hope of 'growing up' as my father told me!"

Ducky closed his eyes, "And what may I ask, if that other fault?"

Tony answered, "Extreme anxiety attacks when she has a living thing to take down. She can hit a target as well as any snipper, but put a live person, animal or a fly and she loses it big times! Sharon, you sure a spy or investigator career is what you really want?"

Abby, who had gone to go to the lady's room, came in, "Tony, have you seen Alex?"

Sharon shot up, "Damn, Tony … our 'training' was supposed to start 15 minutes ago. Eyal was first up. I don't have a clue of what he had prepared. For me, it was …. "

Tony squeezed her shoulder, "Sharon, take that squeeze as a gentle electric shock, you get my drift … these simulations are supposed to be surprises…"

Sharon, lipped, "Thanks!"

Tony refocused, "OK, Ziva, Ducky, you're with me. We look in Alex's whereabouts. You kids, play with the computers and get the wanted threat matrixes…. Any Which Way You Can, my little ones!

Ziva smiled, "Isn't that the film with a pet orangutan that has a series of misadventures involving the mob, corrupt cops, motorcycle gangs and pretty dames."

"Good, you're learning well my little grasshopper! Now come and try to get into the head of that Mossad I can be trusted friend of yours. If he's hiding Quinn, where would he put her?"

Insulted Ziva spat back, "Eyal would never kidnap Quinn."

"No, but from what you and Ducky said, he would 'pull her out of harm's way', if and when needed."

Sharon's head shot up, "Tony, Quinn has our cells. What if someone was tracking one of those cells… We all have a secret or two on those phones….They are secured, but one never knows!"

"OK, people, let's not get ahead of ourselves. Sharon, keep that though, we will explore it, but for now, you have your work cut out for you and this trio has theirs. I was assured Quinn put them in a safe location. She's one of us, she knows very well what can be on those phones. For now, Pulling Every Which Way But Loose can only make matters worse, trust me on this!"

Ziva asked, "Tony what's with you and orangutan movie titles!"

"Don't know, coincidence!"

And, as he had thought, as soon as he said the word coincidence, he heard,

"There is no such thing as coincidences."

Sharon smiled, "Another rule of Mr. Gibbs … how many are there?"

Tim, who was settling down at the computer, said,

"A lot, we still don't know all of them but I'll teach you the ones I know. If you stick around, Gibbs will surely share some with you. From what I'm seeing, you are the kind of girl that will get to Gibbs at times."

Abby asked, "Sharon, how did you know about hacking the Mossad grid? Did MI-6 stick you with the tech nerds … to stop you from shooting your mouth! Oh, sorry that was rude… Sharon… I ….

"Abby don't fret, it's OK. I can only joke about my shortcomings. If I could control them, I know for a fact, MI-6 would be a safer place. I'm not benched for nothing. As for how I know about hacking and grids, I was practically married to a tech nerd for some 8 years … he was killed on a mission they could not extract him from. It implicated Russians. I have FSB on my permanent To Kill Bill list. Boys, Tony has me quoting films, it's catchy! Abby, Tim, I learned a lot by observing, assisting (by long distance) my boyfriend and me having photographic memory helped him sometimes complete a mission. I can't really hack but remember the 'how' to do it."

Tim said, "Tony is right, you and Ziva have many things in common. She also has a photographic memory."

Abby pulled them back to the task at hand, "Hey, we need to get cracking or Tony is going to crack us!"

Tim agreed, "You're right Abby. I can piggy back on the next NSA satellite pass, but that won't give us much time to crash the Mossad's grid. Abby, Sharon, take the portables on Tony's desk and as you said Abby, 'let's get cracking'!"

Sharon asked, "How do we overload Mossad primary server for you to enter the 'back door'?"

"We redirect all of NCIS's, CIA's, and FBI's every day and publicly available podcasts to their news feeds (chatter). They scan 24/24 (Sharon added, all agencies do.) Mossad's people will see those three acronyms and alarms bells will be ringing in all directions, making it possible for me to, as you said Sharon, 'enter by the back door' … unnoticed by taking prudent evasive actions while you girls continue force feeding geese to counter efforts of detection by podcasting away."

Sharon hugged Tim as she said, "That is brilliant!"

Abby shot Sharon a jealous look and Tim noticed. He lipped to Abby, "Be nice!"

As they were actively making their fingers do some heavy talking and damage when Abby yelled, "We crashed it, it just crashed, yes, yes, yes!"

"Abby, Sharon stay with it. The satellite's pass is over, we are on our own … in the open. Meaning they, if we fail, can detect us. Keep pushing everything you've got at Mossad's communication lines!"

Tim shouted, "OK shut down all lines of communications, cover your tracks, don't leave any traces. Sharon, do you need help in that area. (She signaled that she was OK.)"

Tim was looking at the file he had downloaded and his face whitened,

"Girls, I have Mossad's complete threat matrix. Ziva's hunch paid off. Abby, we have a MOAS!"

Sharon, as she was closing all doors to the maze she had just put up, looked at Abby.

Abby replied, "MOAS–The Mother of all secrets…."

Tim agreed and said, "When Eyal said 'SAKANA', he was right in more ways than one. Abby, get Tony, NOW! He can stop looking for Quinn, he won't find her!"

Abby's face fell, "Tim, should we call the cavalry?"

"Not my call, but I would. Abby, get Tony, please."

Sharon approached Tim, "Timothy, you're scaring me. Are we in danger?"

"Sharon, what do you know of how Director David died."

"Only what I heard from the chatter; all hell broke loose and it was, like Tony would say, a Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid moment!"

"Even worse. I'm guessing Eyal put up that threat on his agency's grid knowing full well Ziva would come through at some point and I'd go in hacking. He read up on all of us and Ziva fed him tidbits of her time with us. Nothing confidential, but her day-to-day work and odd cases we sometimes stumble upon. He used that information to give us a clue of what we are facing. The guy is good! To the Mossad and their snoopers, it will not trigger any alarms …. But for NCIS … it's like reliving a Nightmare on Elm Street!

Sharon looked at Tim's screen, "It's just an old map…. What can be so bad about that kid like drawing? Why did Eyal have to go to such extreme, why not just tell us. Why go off grid?"

Tim closed his eyes, "Don't know for Eyal. Sharon, it's not the drawing, but what it represents. Wait till Tony and Ziva arrive. Sharon, your idea about our cell phones, we will be drilling down on it fasted than Tony though!

Sharon was not following Tim's line of thoughts but his actions and manners were enough to put her on edges.

To be continued.

Thanks for the review and please keep them coming!

English is not my mother tongue, if some of you realize I'm repeating the same mistake over and over, please advise me. It's how I'll learn!

Oh, I can't leave you without saying that the title of this chapter is a big spoiler on what is my story line! (well part of it).

Have a nice weekend!