He entered the unusually dark and silent lab. Someone must have shut down Abby's equipment overnight; he didn't bother to turn on most of it, just the computer banks, plasma screen and her stereo. He put on her favourite CD; the music reminded him of her, and hopefully that would help keep him awake. Time was when he would swear Abby's music would wake the dead, but he was used to it now.
It felt weird, tapping into Abby's computer. He'd used it hundreds of times, but always just the public things; databases, acoustical analysis programs and the like. This time he'd have to enter her personal files. Despite her permission, it felt like a massive invasion of privacy. He did this all the time with suspects and victims computers, but this was different. This wasn't some stranger, this was his best friend.
As he expected, Abby's hard drive was well organised. It was a massive relief for someone like him. Untidy hard drives irked him, and they made it so hard to find what he needed. He skimmed through the ordinary, everyday programs and files without looking too deeply, still feeling somewhat squeamish about what he was doing. He honestly didn't want to examine every aspect of her personal life, it wasn't his business. He just wanted to find what she wanted him to know, and then get back to the hospital. He knew he needed to sleep, but the need to be with Abby was stronger. He'd rest when she was out of danger.
He dug past what he thought of as surface files, still finding nothing obvious. Of course, that was to be expected; Abby would have buried the files he was looking for somehow. He settled in for a long search. She did nothing by halves.
...
3 hours, two levels of encryption and a hidden hard drive partition later, he finally opened her cache of active folders. They were labelled with names. He needed to know the names of the suspects that Gibbs was chasing. Picking up the lab phone, he hit the speed dial for Tony's cell. He didn't want to admit to Gibbs that he'd forgotten to ask for vital information before beginning his search
"DiNozzo"
"Tony, it's McGee. I need the names of the suspects"
"Edward Christianson, Wayne Townell and Peter Jacobi." Tony answered quickly. Dimly, he was grateful for Tony not giving him a hard time about forgetting information as he thanked him and hung up.
He looked at the folders in the partition he had opened before him. One was labelled 'Jacobi'. He double clicked it and was soon absorbed in the information it contained.
It was an audacious theft. Jacobi worked in the finance department, and he'd been systematically transferring money left over when an op came in under budget to his own private account
"I gotta call Gibbs" he thought out loud
"No need, McGee" came the Boss' voice from over his shoulder "What've you got?"
"Boss, its Jacobi. He's been milking Agency accounts for what looks like years"
"How much?"
"I haven't been right through the files yet -"
"How much, McGee?" Gibbs cut him off
"Looks like at least $2 million, Boss"
"Find out how this bastard knew Abby had this information" he put a Caf-Pow down on the desk, then turned and left the lab. McGee hadn't even noticed he was holding it. He picked it up and drank deeply. The caffeine was going to have to be enough for now.
...
Gibbs exited the elevator at a trot, barking the usual "Gear up!" as he got within earshot. He paused by his desk long enough to grab his badge and sidearm. He slammed the ammunition clip home into the gun with unnecessary force. Part of him hoped that Jacobi would give him an excuse to use the weapon. He felt Tony's eyes on him as he holstered the SIG and knew he shared the same thought. He'd only ever seen his team this angry once before; when Ari had murdered Kate.
"Where are we going, Boss?" Tony asked, his voice level
"It's Jacobi. He's been stealing millions from the Agency; Abby had the information on her computer" he threw over his shoulder as he headed back to the elevator. He knew that DiNozzo and David were right behind him
He drove to Jacobi's address on the fringes of Georgetown as if his life depended on it. The bastard had a day's head start on them. He hoped that he wasn't smart enough to flee as soon as he'd left the Navy Yard yesterday.
He waved his team into position and then kicked the door in. No silent raid, this one. The calls of 'clear' just pissed him off even more than he already was. Judging by the pot of water boiling on the stove and the open laptop on the kitchen table, they'd just missed him.
...
McGee checked the 'date modified' column on the Jacobi file and was surprised to see that the timestamp was a bare 45 minutes before he'd found Abby on the side of the road yesterday afternoon. Jacobi must have been planning to flee. But how had he known that Abby had the information? And if she'd only gotten the information a few minutes before she'd been hit, how had Jacobi found out so quickly?
He sat back, puzzled. He knew he wasn't thinking as clearly as he usually did- the lack of sleep was having its effect on him- but he was still disgusted with himself when it occurred to him. It had taken him way too long to see the answer. Trojan horse. Somehow Jacobi had planted a Trojan on Abby's computer, tracing her searches. It must have alerted him when she'd accessed some of the incriminating information
Horror struck, he realised that the Trojan must still be active on her system. If Jacobi was watching his computer, McGee had just tipped him off.
He grabbed the lab phone, hitting the speed dial for Gibbs' cell
"Yeah, Gibbs" he sounded even more curt than usual
"Boss, its McGee. Jacobi had a Trojan on Abby's computer. I didn't see it til it was too late. I think he saw me access Abby's files"
"I'd say so, McGee. He's gone"