Drowning

Chapter 12

When Gibbs pulled up outside Tony's building early the next morning, the younger agent was already waiting out front. Anything to prove he's recovered and fit for active duty, thought Gibbs.

'Hey Boss,' was Tony's chirpy greeting as he got into the passenger seat. 'Remind me why we're headed to the Partingtons.'

'They got a note,' said Gibbs. 'Apparently from their daughter, saying she's fine.'

'So we're just gonna check out the note,' said Tony as he hung on while Gibbs turned a corner in his usual vigorous manner.

'Doesn't exactly sound like something that needs both of us, but then I guess I should be grateful that I'm back in the field.'

Tony's last three words were sarcastically accompanied by quotation mark gestures, which was unfortunate because it meant he wasn't hanging on when Gibbs brought the car to an abrupt halt in the emergency lane.

'Dinozzo, surely you're not that stupid that you'd think I'd send you out into the field straight from the hospital. You cannot expect to go from a near drowning to the hospital to the bullpen to the field.'

Tony met Gibbs' angry eyes for a moment before turning away. Gibbs was about to give him another serve when he remembered Vay's words about Gibbs being what Tony didn't have as a child. He softened his approach and his tone just a little.

'I just don't want to see you get really sick again, Tony. If you don't give a damn about yourself, spare a thought for those who give a damn about you.'

Tony nodded to show that he had heard him, but continued to look out of the side window. Mercifully, the car began moving again and the conversation moved on too…eventually.

'So, Abby fed you last night,' said Gibbs.

Oh my God! Gibbs is doing small talk thought Tony.

'Ah, yeah,' he replied. 'It was a pretty freaky evening.'

'Define freaky,' said Gibbs, the corners of his mouth turning up. In his experience, the words 'freaky' and 'Abby' usually went together.

'Vay was there,' explained Tony. 'Abby got her to read tarot cards for us. There was no traffic accident in mine, which, incidentally, is the only reason why I'm not concerned by our current speed.'

'What do you think of our visiting psychic?' Gibbs asked, knowing that being asked his opinion would please Tony.

'Creepy,' said Tony. 'I mean, she makes pretty vague, general statements that could easily be educated guesses, but a couple of things she said put chills right through me.'

'Mmm,' was Gibbs' reply. He had come to a similar conclusion.

……………………………………..

At the home of Veronica and Andrew Partington, Gibbs and Tony were shown into a beautifully furnished sun room and offered tea or coffee. Declining both, Gibbs cut to the chase and asked to see the letter from their daughter. Andrew Partington removed a folded piece of paper from his pocket and handed it over. Gibbs put on his glasses to read it, holding it so that Tony could also.

Dear Mother and Father,

I write to tell you that I am safe and well. I have decided to change my life and myself. I no longer want to go down the path you chose for me. Please do not concern yourself about my welfare. I ask that you do not try to contact me.

Regards, Dianne.

'You're sure it's her handwriting?' asked Gibbs.

'Absolutely,' said Andrew, without hesitation. 'We were so relieved to receive word from her last night, weren't we Veronica?'

'Yes, agreed his wife. Now we can stop worrying and NCIS can move on to more important matters.'

'You were originally adamant that Dianne's disappearance was totally out of character,' said Gibbs, scanning the couple's face. 'What's changed?'

'This,' said Andrew, taking back the letter and holding it up. 'It's just a shame that Dianne didn't come to us about her unhappiness instead of taking such desperate measures.'

'We really do thank you and apologise for the inconvenience,' said Veronica as she stood up. Gibbs saw her words and actions for what they were – a polite dismissal.

Once in the car, Tony exhaled loudly.

'Your thoughts?' asked Gibbs. While Tony had remained mostly silent during the visit, Gibbs knew his senior field agent had taken in every detail.

'Well,' began Tony, 'besides thinking that my father would have regarded a letter like that from me as a god-send, those people were too eager to have us leave. They're old money. Worth an absolute fortune. All the items of furniture in that room were collector's pieces. There was an original Monet on the wall. Their responses to our questions were slick – rehearsed. Yes, they would be relieved to hear from their daughter but they'd also be anger and the desire to know more. It smells all wrong, Boss. Maybe they're going to pay some private investigator to find her.'

'Vay,' said Gibbs, 'says that Partington is in no danger. Ties in with the note.'

'Your point?' Tony said, using a well-worn Gibbsism. 'She has no evidence to back up what she says. All we really have is a missing naval officer, a note and parents who have suddenly started singing a different tune.'

Gibbs gave a rare laugh and clapped Tony on the shoulder.

'Now that's why you're my senior field agent!' he told him.

Tony only had the briefest of moments to bask in the compliment from Gibbs before a bullet shattered the car windscreen and lodged itself into Gibbs, causing their car to veer wildly out of control.