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You will get the next chapter on Saturday next week because I'm on vacation for the next few days.
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I don't own anything. The characters belong to CBS.
Chapter 11
This time, Callen drove with Gibbs to the flower store. The experienced agent waited in the car and observed the street, but he saw nothing dangerous. Gibbs needed ten minutes before he returned to the car and he was angry by the look on his face. He threw the flowers in the back and handed Callen the envelope.
"What took you so long? Did you plan on buying the whole store?"
"It seems as if the bastard wants to know how much I'm willing to pay for my team."
"What makes you think that?"
"This bouquet cost me $75."
"Ouch."
"Yes, well, I have what I need. What's the new address?"
"Gina's Flower store. This time he wants a bunch of Anemonies New York."
"Let's go."
The second flower store was a problem. It was a small store so, they closed at noon for a few hours. Gibbs knocked as loud as he could, but he was losing his temper. He would shoot his way free if there wouldn't come… Suddenly, an annoyed old man appeared on the other side of the glass.
"We are on our lunch break. Come back in two hours."
Sighing, Gibbs pulled out his badge. Why did he have to argue with this guy? He had no time for this nonsense.
"I'm a federal agent. Open the door."
"Sure, as if this proves anything. Everybody can buy such a thing on eBay or Amazon."
"What's eBay? No wait, forget it. I don't care. Just open the door and let me in."
"No."
"I'm a federal agent with a badge and…"
"A fake badge."
Gibbs took a deep breath. He was very close to pull out his gun and to take a shot at this window. Did the kidnapper know that this guy was so hard to convince? Or was he working with the bastard?
"This. Isn't. A. Fake. Badge."
"Man, have you looked at it? Just once? The guy, who made this thing, wrote CSI wrong."
"I'm not a CSI. I'm Special Agent Gibbs from NCIS."
"What's NCIS?"
"Naval Criminal Investigative Service. And you, Sir, are interfering with an important investigation."
"Naval? You mean like ships and that stuff?"
"Yes, now, would you please open the door?"
"I'm not sure. What if you're a thief and you just want to steal my money?"
"If I'd want to steal your money I would have shot you with my gun minutes ago."
Gibbs pulled back his jacket to show the guy how serious he was. At least this time, the old man seemed as if he was convinced.
"Fine, give a minute."
"I already gave you more than just a minute," Gibbs mumbled angry, while he put away his badge.
The old man returned and only seconds later, the door opened.
"So, what can I do for you, Special Agent Grumpy?"
"I need a bunch of Anemonies New York."
"You pulled me out of my lunch break for flowers?! I thought you're investigating a big case, and my store is the only lead you have."
"I have to disappoint you."
"Hell, man, come back in two hours."
"I need those flowers and the damn envelope a man gave you. Or you just hand over the envelope, and I'm gone."
"Oh, you mean you're this guy called 'Gibbs'?"
"Yes, I told you my name only seconds ago."
"I wasn't listening. I was concentrated on your badge. However, it wasn't a man, who gave me the envelope. It was a young boy."
The customer walked to his register.
'So, he used a kid again,' Gibbs thought, 'He really knows how to stay out of sight.'
"Alright, give me the envelope, then I'm gone."
"What about the Anemonies?"
"What about them?"
"The boy said you would buy two bunches."
"2?! Is this some kind of joke?"
"Well, it seems as if you don't really need this," the old man said, while he intended to put the brown letter in his pocket.
"Wait, I take the stupid flowers," Gibbs answered with gritted teeth.
This was ridiculous. The team leader paid the overpriced flowers, then he got the letter from the happy customer, who now wore a big smile on his face.
"Thank you for your visit. Please visit us again."
"I don't think so."
Gibbs stormed out of the store and back to his car and the still waiting LA-agent. He shrugged when Gibbs threw the roses on the back seats.
"Not a fan of flowers?"
"Don't!"
"Alright, you don't want to talk about it, but I can tell you that…"
"I said don't!"
"Fine. Address?"
Gibbs handed over the envelope without another word and Callen pulled out the card.
"Our last flower store is the Blue Lily."
At 3 pm, the two agents returned to the Navy Yard. Gibbs was still in a bad mood, so Callen gave him the envelopes and offered to take the three bouquets. The older agent growled as an answer, which was exactly what Callen expected.
In the squad room, Sam tried his best not to laugh when he saw his partner with the flowers. Pride and the other boys watched with big eyes at the amount. Kensi and Brody were the only ones, who rushed to the side of the poor LA-agent and helped him with his load.
"Did you buy the whole flower stores?" asked Pride, and this time Sam couldn't hide his laugh.
"Very funny," Callen said and gave his partner the bouquet.
"Well, you look good with them, G. Maybe I buy a bunch for you too when we are back in LA."
"Don't you dare. If you do this, then I'll ask for a new partner."
"Enough with this nonsense. Who wants to solve the riddles?" Gibbs interrupted the two guys and held up the envelopes.
"I'll do it," Chris answered.
Kensi and Brody put the flowers on Bishop's desk, which disappeared under the number of flowers. Pride noticed the bad mood of his brother immediately.
"What's wrong?"
"Nothing."
"Gibbs, you look as if you want to shoot someone. I don't call that nothing."
"He had a few problems with the owner of the second flower store."
"I need a coffee. Solve the riddle and send the bastard the answer. I'm back in ten minutes."
Cards:
1.
150 + 37 x 3 : 6 – 41 x 7 + 98 – 60,5 : 5 + 76 x 9 – 45 : 6 + 83 x 2 – 28 + 54 : 8 – 22 x 6 + 85 x 2 – 126 : 4 + 12 – 50 : 5 : 6 – 2
2.
36 + 52 x 7 – 21 : 5 + 94 x 3 : 9 – 25 x 9 – 19 + 63 : 2 x 12 + 56 – 23 : 3 – 96 + 7 + 3 – 46 : 5 + 23 x 2 : 6 + 3,5 : 7
3.
5 x 42 + 598 : 8 – 42,5 x 12 + 248 : 5 + 376 x 2 – 321 : 4 + 745,75 – 60,5 : 12 x 20 + 642 – 805 : 6 + 195,5 – 52 : 2 + 381 – 268 : 6 + 11 : 10 : 3
"Daddy? Daddy."
Slowly, Gibbs opened his eyes. He felt a small hand on his arm and after a few seconds, he recognized little Abby, who stood beside the couch with her stuffed bat in her hands.
"Abby? What are you doing here?"
"I can't sleep."
At this moment, he saw a bright light outside followed by a loud crash. A small scream escaped Abby's lips and she pressed her stuffed animal tight against her. Gibbs needed one look to see that a big thunderstorm was outside. In the same moment, he remembered that the grown-up Abby was afraid of them. Quickly, he sat up and pulled the little girl into his arms. Immediately, she put her arms around his neck and squeezed him.
"It's okay, sweetheart. It's just a thunderstorm. You're completely safe in here."
"Dad?"
The team leader turned to his stairs and saw how his two boys were standing there. Only for a second, the thought that those three weren't his kids came to his mind, then it was gone, and he concentrated on the little children again.
"Come here."
They didn't need a second invitation. Tony came to his left side and McGee to his right.
"Are you afraid too?"
"Yes."
"I'm not afraid. Only babies are afraid of thunder," Tony said.
"I'm not a baby," McGee protested.
Gibbs smiled and put one of his arms around the little boy.
"Don't worry, Tim. It is okay to be afraid."
"Daddy! Put your arm back around me."
"Abs, your brothers need me too. You have my other arm."
"But I'm the youngest!"
"Still, your brothers need me, so, I can't ignore them. Do you understand this?"
"Yes, daddy," Abby whispered.
Again, a loud thunder was heard, and Gibbs felt how the three children pressed themselves tighter against him.
"Daddy, make the thunder go away."
"I can't, sweetheart."
"But you can do everything. You're my daddy."
Tony sighed beside Gibbs. He was the oldest, so, he knew that his dad couldn't change the weather.
"Don't be stupid, Abby. Dad is good, but he is not god. He can't make the thunderstorm go away."
"Of course, he can. Daddy is like Superman."
"No, he isn't. Jeez, why do I have to stick with such…"
"Tony! Watch your mouth."
"But dad, she…"
"Your sister is young. You were just like her when you were the same age."
"I was not! Firstly, she is a girl, and I'm not, and secondly, I never thought that you could change the weather!"
Gibbs felt that his youngest wanted to protest, so, he cut her off.
"Listen, what do you think about my suggestion? We go upstairs to my bed. It is way more comfortable than the couch here."
"Will you stay with us?" Abby asked quietly.
"Of course, Abs. My bed is big enough for the four of us."
"I'm in," McGee answered.
Tony didn't say anything, but Gibbs felt how he nodded.
"Alright, then let's go."
Immediately, the two boys stood up and made their way to the first floor. Abby, on the other hand, squeezed Gibbs tighter to show him that she wouldn't let go, but the ex-marine hadn't thought that she would do. He stood up with the little girl in his arms and walked to his front door. He didn't want to leave it open when he was sleeping upstairs. As long as he slept on his couch it wasn't a problem because then he was able to hear an intruder. Although, with this big thunderstorm outside it was hard to distinguish if it was only the storm or a real intruder. However, he was on the safe side when he would lock the door.
"Why do you lock the door, daddy?"
Abby looked at him with questioning eyes. All of his kids knew that he never locked the front door. It was always open for them to come inside. Still, they knew that they were safe. Softly, Gibbs stroke her cheek.
"Because daddy has a bad feeling and he is gonna keep you safe. No one will hurt you or your brothers."
Gibbs gave her a soft kiss on her forehead and again, she put her arms around his neck. Then he walked upstairs with his baby girl in his arms. The tired team leader found his boys in his bedroom. Both were already lying under the blanket, but Gibbs saw that they were still awake. He put his youngest on the blanket just when another lighting appeared outside. Abby screamed when she heard the loud thunder and ran back to him. Desperately, she took hold of his shirt, which made him laugh even also he knew that he shouldn't. Again, he pulled her up but this time, he placed her between her brothers. Immediately, she snuggled closer to Tony, who put his arm around her. Those were his kids. They could fight over and over again, but when someone of them needed help, they were there for each other. Carefully, the team leader crawled over his youngest son to lay between Abby and McGee. Tony was a big boy, so, he wouldn't need the physical contact. Gibbs noticed how the boy pushed his little sister against their dad before he followed, so, he would be close to her. Again, a loud thunder was heard, but this time, no one screamed. It showed Gibbs that all three had been really tired. They only had needed him to feel completely safe. Yawning Gibbs closed his eyes and drifted back to sleep.
Soft cries reached Gibbs' ear and he wondered where they came from. It took him a while to open his tired eyes. A look at the window showed him that it was still in the middle of the night. But why did he have this strange feeling that something was wrong?
"Daddy."
Immediately, Gibbs knew what was wrong. The bed was empty! His children were gone! The scared father sat up and it only took him seconds, to find his kids. Tony and McGee hang lifelessly over the shoulders of a masked man, who stood in the door to Gibbs' bedroom. And in his arms, he held a crying Abby!
"Abby."
"Daddy, help me. Please help me."
"Put my children down."
"How does this feel, Agent Gibbs? How does it feel to lose the one thing that matters the most? The one thing you truly care about?"
"If you hurt them I'll…"
"Play by my rules and you get them back. Very simple, Agent Gibbs."
"You…"
Quickly, Gibbs stood up and ran to his children. Sadly, his nightmare didn't make it easy, because the masked man took a step back, so, that he was standing outside of the bedroom now.
"Goodbye, Agent Gibbs."
The door closed in front of the poor father, and all sounds disappeared. He couldn't even hear Abby's cries anymore. Gibbs tried to open the door again, but it was impossible. The door didn't move an inch. It felt as if someone put glue on the lock, which made it impossible to open.
"Abby! Tony! Tim! Can you hear me? Answer me! Abby! Tony!..."
"Gibbs, wake up! Come on, brother. You need to wake up."
"Tim!"
Gibbs opened his eyes and because he was still caught in the nightmare, he didn't recognize his friend, so, he accidentally punched him in the face.
"Hell, Gibbs! I didn't kidnap your team! Save your punches for the real kidnapper!"
The exhausted team leader saw how his brother held his hurting cheek and he felt guilty. Pride only wanted to help, and he thanked him with a punch to the face. Actually, he should thank the NOLA-team leader for waking him up from his horrible nightmare. Although, not all of it had been bad. At first, it had felt nice, and he would gladly go back there but this time, he wouldn't allow the bastard to take away his children.
"How long was I gone?" Gibbs murmured, while he rubbed his face.
"A few hours. I thought you could use the sleep, and the bastard didn't call, so, I decided not to wake you. But suddenly, you started screaming, and I didn't want you to hurt yourself. Instead, I gave you the opportunity to hurt me."
"He didn't call?"
"Sorry, brother."
"That's not exactly true, Agent Pride."
All heads turned to the stairs. Eric and Nell stood there, side by side.
"He waits for you in MTAC," Nell said and pointed upstairs.
Gibbs waited until everyone was out of the side, then he ordered Eric to take the call. As soon as he saw the dark silhouette, he felt how his anger rose. What would he do to beat this guy up? Afterward, he'd need an ambulance, but Gibbs wouldn't be the one, who would call one.
"Good evening, Agent Gibbs. How do you feel? Are you excited? It seems like you're able to rescue another team member tonight and you still have 65 hours left."
"Who is it?"
"Oh no, I won't ruin the surprise. You will see when you have found the solution to the last riddle. But before I tell you about the third riddle I have something for you. I thought you might want to hear this."
The kidnapper pulled out a small recording device and pressed play. A loud scream was heard, and Gibbs flinched automatically. He needed a few seconds to notice that it was a female voice. Could this be his Abby? If this bastard had hurt her, he would….
"Please, why do you do this?"
'It's not Abby. This voice belongs to Bishop.'
"What have I done to you that you are doing this?"
"Oh, you did nothing."
"Then why…?"
"It's your boss, who hurt me, and now he needs to suffer."
"I don't understand. You hurt me and not him. I'm the one, who suffers."
"Believe me, he suffers more, because you are not the only one, who will be my guest. Your colleagues will join you very soon. And tomorrow, I'll inform your boss. Oh, I can't wait to see his face when he hears the news."
"Who are you?"
"His worst nightmare."
Again, Bishop's scream filled MTAC, then the kidnapper pushed another button.
"You're a psychopath," Gibbs said through gritted teeth "I'll kill you when…"
"I have more, Agent Gibbs. Do you want to hear it?"
He didn't wait for an answer. Instead, he pushed the play button again. Gibbs wanted to shut his ears, but it would have been useless. This time, Bishop's voice sounded different. As if she was in a big metallic… of course! The kidnapper showed him the recording of the video. Gibbs had only the visual version, but the bastard had the audio files too. And now he was torturing the team leader.
"Let me out! I'm a federal agent, and you will get to jail for a very long time!"
The female agent had to hit the container because, for the next seconds, they only heard the sound of metal. Then it stopped, but Bishop's voice had changed.
"Please! I have a husband, and he is hurt! You have to let me go! Please!"
"I love it when they beg. Don't you, Agent Gibbs?"
"Are you done? Will you tell me about the next riddle, or do you have more recordings of my team?"
"Oh, I have so much more, but I'll show you them to another time. No, I think the third riddle should be on your desk, already. I'll see you in the morning. Enjoy the car ride, Agent Gibbs."
/a/ItxYrEa Sudoku 2
This riddle is from "Rätselblock Sudoku Nr. 117", riddle on page 64.
Level of difficulty: moderate