NCIS

The Protection Of Emily Palmer

Chapter # 3

Tony and Tim stood on the porch of a large two story Victorian house. It was the home of Vinny Hanson.

A young and very pretty blond-haired woman answered the door.

"May I help you?" she asked.

"I sure hope so." Tony said, flashing a smile. "Very Special Agent Anthony DiNozzo."

"We need to speak with Vinny Hanson." McGee said, earning him a glare from Tony.

"All in good time, Probie."

"Who is it, Nancy?" A voice called form inside.

"FBI, I believe." The woman called back.

"Actually we're NCIS." Tony said.

"And what do you want?" the door was opened wider and a middle aged man with a balding head and a pot belly appeared. The man was wearing an expensive looking suite.

"Are you Vinny Hanson?" Tony asked.

"Yeah, now what do you want?"

Tony showed him a picture of Henry Greene, "Know him?"

"No."

"How about Harold Greene?"

"No."

"Funny, my sources say that Harold is into you for a hundred thousand dollars. Now re-answer the question."

"Okay, I know Harold Greene." Hanson said, "But I do not know his brother."

"Agent McGee." Tony said. "Did I mention the fact that the dead man and Harold were brothers?"

"No you did not Agent DiNozzo."

Hanson got the deer in the headlights look, then shoved the young woman into Tony and ran into the house.

Tim chased after the man, with Tony following. It didn't take long for Tim to catch and cuff him.

"I didn't kill him." Hanson insisted. "I didn't."

"Then why did you run?" Tony asked.

"I want my lawyer. Nancy, call Mike Devon. Tell him I'm at NCIS."

An hour later, Vinny Hanson was sitting in an integration room. Tony and Tim were in the observation room watching.

Hanson looked up when Gibbs walked into the room and sat down across from him, tossing a file folder on the table.

"Where's my lawyer?"

"He'll be let in, eventually. That file has enough information to send you away for a long time. It's illegal to laundry loan shark and gambling money through fake businesses. And it's pretty stupid to leave all that information in your house"

"You can't use that in court, you didn't have a search warrant."

"They had probable cause, you assaulted a NCIS Agent. And ran."

"What do you want?" Hanson asked. Gibbs said nothing, just looked at him. Hanson squirmed in his seat.

"I didn't kill Henry Greene." He said, looking more and more nervous. Still Gibbs said nothing, just stared at him. "Why would I?" Hanson continued. "He paid me what his brother owned me, and helped me make an extra hundred thousand."

"How?" Gibbs asked, without shifting his gaze.

"He had an inside lead in the horse races, he said that he knew a nag named Golden Boy would win. He was an underdog, anyone bet on him made a lot of money."

"You place a bet for Henry Greene?"

"Sure did, he walked away with three hundred grand, after paying me my hundred thousand."

"Where's Harold?"

"I don't know. I haven't seen that bum in over a month, only his brother."

Gibbs stood and started to leave the room.

"Hey, wait a minute!" Hanson yelled. But Gibbs didn't slow his pace as he left the room and shut the door behind him.

Tony and Tim meet their boss in the hallway.

"Think he's telling the truth Boss?" Tony asked. Gibbs didn't respond, just looked at him. "Right." Tony said. "I'll check and see if Golden Boy won and what the odds were."

Gibbs then switched his gaze to Tim. "I'll pull the racetrack's camera's and see if Henry or Harold were at the race." Tim said, hurrying off.

Several hours later, Gibbs walked into his house and smelled something that made his stomach rumble. It smelled delicious. Jimmy and Ziva were sitting in the living room, playing cards.

"Gibbs." Ziva greeted. "How is the case progressing?"

"It isn't solved yet." Was the answer. "Petty Officer Greene paid off his brother's debt to Hanson and picked up three hundred thousand to boot."

About that time, Emily came out of the kitchen with a bottle of beer. "Agent Gibbs." She greeted with a smile.

"It's Jethro."

"Jethro." She smiled. "That is a nice strong name." she handed him the beer. "After a long day at work, you may need this."

"Gibbs smiled as he took it, "I do."

"Supper will be ready in thirty minutes, enough time for you to unwind and rest a little. I hope you like lemon baked chicken, homemade mashed potatoes, fresh asparagus, and made from scratch biscuits."

"That sound great, smells great too. But you don't have to go to any trouble, you are a guest here."

"I am not about to sit on the couch and watch soap operas." Emily said. "Now sit down, enjoy your beer, and relax. I will call you when it's time to wash up."

"Yes Ma'am." Gibbs said with a salute and a smile.

Emily returned the smile, then disappeared back into the kitchen.

"How did Petty Officer Greene help Hanson make an extra hundred thousand dollars?" Ziva wanted to know.

"Hose racing. Hanson said he claimed to have an inside tip as to who would win."

"A trigged race?"

"Rigged race." Gibbs corrected. "An that's what it looks like, but that would mean that most if not all of the jockeys are in on it."

Gibbs phone rung and he answered it. After a few moments, he hung up.

"Abby has identified the two shooters. Ziva, stay here." He stood up.

"Where do you think you are going?" Emily asked as she entered the living room.

"Work, Abby knows who the shooters are."

"It is after six pm, and you look tired. Now sit back down and have Abby bring the information here, I have made plenty."

"Emily." Gibbs started, but the woman cut him off.

"You need a decent meal, and I am sure Abby could use one too. Now do as I said and invite Tony and Tom also. They are nice boys."

Without waiting for Gibb's reaction, she re-entered the kitchen.

Ziva smirked and Jimmy paled when the older man glared at him.

"S…she's always like that." Jimmy said, as Gibb's glare intensified.

"Supper will be done is twenty minutes, Jethro." Emily's voice floated form the kitchen. "Hurry up and make those phone calls."

Continuing to glare at Jimmy, Gibbs pulled made the calls. He also invited Ducky.