TOML chp. 15

"What do you mean, 'a traitor?' Who is it!?" Abby yelled, jumping to her feet.

"Relax, Abs. We're working on it." Gibbs said, sipping his coffee.

"Who could it be?"

"I might have an idea. But you aren't going to like it." Terry said.

"Why?" Gibbs asked.

"Take a look." Terry said, holding up a PDA. He had searched Muhannad and Nazeem and both men were carrying PDA's at the time of their deaths.

"Which one of the goons had this?"

"Hasmiri. Check the last message."

Gibbs squinted at the screen. "It's blank."

Terry sighed and rolled his eyes. "Give me." Gibbs handed him the device.

He punched a couple of buttons and handed it back. "Look."

Gibbs looked at the screen again.

M: Job complete?

H: Not yet

M: When?

H: Soon. Money?

M: Maryland Savings and Loan. Acnt. # 324-4497831

H: Name?

M: Harold Jacobs

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"So, what's your plan?" Gibbs asked. Abby, Mike and Ducky were outside, leaving McGee and the two Gibbs men.

"Find this M person and kill 'em."

"And you think it's that simple."

"Sure. Tim, could you…" Terry started to asked.

"Already on it." McGee said, pulling out his laptop.

000

"What's he saying?" Abby asked. Terry had been on the phone for the last hour and appeared agitated. But then again, that was his mood in generally.

"I believe he is purchasing a weapon." Ziva said, not turning from watching Collin and Samuel on the beach with Jenny.

Abby ruled her eyes. "Why does he need another one? He's got enough to kill the world twice over."

"I need something untraceable." Terry said, coming up behind them. He took the only patio check, a beer in his hand.

"What're you gonna do?" Abby asked. Even though she had a sinking feeling that she already knew the answer.

"When your husband finds out who was helping Hasmiri, and he will, I'll go to D.C. and…" He let his statement hang, unfinished.

Before either of the women could McGee and Gibbs appeared on the porch. "What's up?"

"I found the mole." McGee said. The statement hung in the air for a long minute.

"Well, spill already."

McGee opened his mouth to speak, but Gibbs cut him off. "No."

"What'd you mean, 'no'?"

"I'm not going to let you do this."

Terry didn't respond. Instead, he turned and went back into the house. Five minutes later, he came out carrying a duffel bag. Gibbs moved to block his path. "Get out of the way, dad." Terry said, never breaking stride. The two men collided. Gibbs attempted to restrain his son. Terry pushed his father off with one hand and pulled his .45 with the other. At the sight of the weapon, everyone stopped. Jenny picked up Sam and Mike moved to the two men and Ziva went to Collin.

"Now, I told you to get out of my way." Terry said, cocking the hammer on his weapon.

"I can not let you do this." Gibbs said firmly.

Terry shook his head. "You know the code. The same as every fighting man since this country was founded. The penalty for treason is death!" He pushed past his father and continued walking to the Jeep. But a small voice stopped him.

"Daddy?" Collin's voice had a small, pleading tone.

Terry stopped but didn't turn around. Then, he resumed walking to the Jeep. Collin tried to run after him, but Ziva held on, gently but firmly. Tears streamed down her face as she whispered over and over to her son that everything would be alright. Terry ignored his son's pleas and drove away. All the time, forcing himself not to look at the rearview mirror.