NCIS Conference Room.
Tony is trying to build rapport with a witness but Ziva's becoming a little impatient.
"So, I guess that covers the basic background information petty officer Thomas. Now we..."
"Call me Alice" she interrupts smiling at him.
"O.K., Alice. Now we need some more detail. Such as..."
"When exactly it was that you and petty officer Simon James broke in." Ziva interrupts glaring at the young woman.
"I am sorry, Officer David but I don't understand the question."
"Well..." Tony tries to intercede but Ziva is too quick.
"It is a simple question. When did you and petty officer James break in?"
"Huh?"
"She means when did the two of you break up?"
Alice smiles as understanding dawns. "Oh. It was about three, no it would be closer to four weeks ago now."
"Right. That is not the last time you saw him though was it?"
"No. As I'm sure people have told you Officer David I was with a group of friends McMurphy's Bar the night he was killed."
"Ah." Ziva makes a note of this fact.
"But lots of other people were there too." Alice turns to DiNozzo as he is obviously the more sympathetic of the two. "I swear Agent DiNozzo it was just a coincidence. I did not know he was going to be there and I had nothing to do with him ending up dead in the alley behind the bar several hours later. I didn't even speak to him."
"Coincidences happen every day Alice. Just tell me the facts. For instance who arrived first?"
"I did Agent DiNozzo with my friends. We were actually thinking of leaving when he showed up with his buddies."
"And then?" Ziva asks in a tone clearly indicating she does not believe a word of this.
"Then nothing Officer David. They ordered drinks and settled in at a table and we left. A couple of his buddies nodded at me as we walked by but Simon was so off his face I don't think he even noticed me. Then I went home."
"And do you have anyone who can verify this petty officer?"
"I'm sure my flatmate will be happy to."
"That is all for now petty officer Thomas. I am sure we'll speak again soon. If you just wait here I'll call someone to show you out."
"Thank you Agent DiNozzo, Officer David." After an agent shows up to escort her from the room Tony turns to Ziva. "I think she was telling the truth. I've said all along I think this was related to James work not his personal life and I still stand by that."
"I do not agree Tony."
"Why?"
"One thing she said that is puzzling me."
"What's that?"
"If she did not see petty officer James after leaving the bar then how do you explain her knowing that he was missing his head? You know McGee found it in that dumpster further down the alley. She must have known this because she was the one who killed him or at least witnessed it happening." Tony bursts out laughing.
"WHAT?"
"She said that when she saw him he was off his face."
"So?"
"It doesn't mean he was missing his head just that he was very, very drunk."
"Oh. Well I still think she needs to be investigated more. I will take another look at her service record." Ziva leaves and Tony chuckles again abruptly stopping when he remembers McGee standing in the dumpster holding up the head. "This job is never dull" he mutters to himself as he walks back to the squad room and with Ziva's continuing education into vernacular expressions it was not likely to become so any time soon.