Chapter 5

Tony was sitting at his desk when Gibbs returned from visiting Ducky, and smiled "No fillings…but how's your morning been? Any word from Timmy," now getting a glare from Gibbs.

"Good on the dentistry front, so get your teeth into the fact that the Captain was poisoned, inky caps, he ate an omelette made with them. Seems the odd one is fine, but more than one when drunk with alcohol is lethal," he answered.

"Poisoned…so intentionally or accidentally?" Tony pondered tapping his pen on the desk, "Murder or suicide?"

"You're the investigator, go investigate," was all Gibbs could say as the phone on his desk rang, "Gibbs…McGee what's up?" as he listened to what Tim had to say. Tony watched as his Boss's face began to pale.

"Boss?"

Gibbs started to tell Tony what Tim had related to him. When he had finished he told Tony to investigate the Captain, he was going to speak to Abby.

-oOo-

Back in Durant, Tim's original clothing hadn't appeared to have been contaminate, just the pocket where he had put his pen back. So he asked if the hospital could get it cleaned, but had gone back to the hotel and changed into some fresh gear and then gone on a shopping trip to buy a new jacket. Now in the Sheriff's Office, Walt wanted to know what the boys had in mind. Jimmy had finished the autopsy and wanted to join Tim in the investigation.

"I would still like to talk to Avon's grandparents and see if he had said anything to them or them to him," Tim replied.

"Henry spoke to Chief Mathias, as I said, he's chief of the Cheyenne reservation's tribal police. He's willing to give you permission to visit, but Henry and I need to be there with you."

"Just tell me what the tribal police actually do please," Tim continued.

"The tribal police are the primary law enforcement agencies on Native American Indian reservations. The powers of modern tribal police are also codified in two ways. Firstly, tribal codes authorise the police to perform certain duties within the boundaries of the reservation. Such duties include responding to calls for service, enforcement of tribal laws and ordinances, and maintaining order on the reservation. The powers given to the tribal police exist only within the boundaries of the reservation unless they have been cross-deputised, a practice that is gradually becoming common. State or local police are expected to respond to issues occurring within the boundaries of a specific Indian reservation and are empowered by the local Tribal Council to enforce state laws on the reservation," Walt replied.

"Thank you, so can we go now?" Tim asked.

"Sure," Walt replied.

-oOo-

Gibbs entered the lab and saw Abby still looking at tyre prints.

"Got anything yet?" he questioned.

"Oh yes, I got the Dodge Charger, which I assume is the Sheriff's car, we also have a Chevrolet Silverado, and a Jeep Wrangler," she replied.

"Not much to go on then, but what you know about yellowcake?" he now asked.

"Yellowcake…a natural uranium concentrate that takes its name from its colour and texture…typically contains 70 to 90 percent U3O8 by weight. It is used as feedstock for uranium fuel enrichment and fuel pellet fabrication," as she turned and looked at him.

"U3O8?" Gibbs questioned looking puzzled.

"Triuranium octoxide… it's a compound of uranium, it can take many chemical forms, but in nature it is generally found as an oxide, and is a yellow powdery substance and it is the most stable form of uranium oxide and the most commonly found in nature. Why do you ask?" she answered looking worried.

"Jimmy found some under the fingernails of Vipond, and Tim, managed to get a scrapping off the walls of the gorge. Find out if there are any companies mining there or looking to mine…if there are, then maybe the vehicles could tally," as he turned to leave he heard Abby shout.

"Gibbs, are they alright?"

"Yes," he replied.

-oOo-

Walt drove the boys out to the reservation. Henry had said he would meet them there with Chief Mathias. Walt had assured Vic that her presence would not be necessary and that she'd be better off writing up her report of the day, than coming with them. Vic had stormed about. Tim and Jimmy were glad they were going out for the afternoon away from her.

-oOo-

Back in D.C. Tony was having no problem finding out about the Captain. It turned out he was heterosexual, single…no make that married…to his career. He was a career Officer. He had had many affairs or should that be relationships but nothing lasting as he was a Submariner and away from home for long periods. He had recently considered a desk job but decided against it, but having seen many of his friends die young from early retirement, had gone into a healthy eating routine. Tony had found out that a neighbour grew herbs and vegetables, and had said that the Captain could just help himself anytime. What the Captain hadn't realised was that the mushrooms were not what they seemed. The Captain thinking they were edible had helped himself, as he thought they were part of the vegetable patch; so death by misadventure, an accidental death.

-oOo-

The reservation was not what Jimmy had imagined…in fact he wasn't sure what he had imagined. Instead of teepees or tipis, as Dr Mallard would have told him, which were more often seasonal structures, and consisted of buffalo hides sown together and wrapped around a tripod or cone of poles, and which were mostly used by plains Indians such as the Cheyenne. The wigwam on the other hand, applied to more rounded and conical structures and was generally a cabin, with a frame of bent poles covered with pieces of bark or skins, this type of shelter being semi-permanent, and not transportable, unlike the tipi which was easy to disassemble and transport, using the poles to make a travois to drag behind horses or dogs, while following the buffalo. But as Jimmy looked about, there were not many tipis, what he was looking at, was run down housing, and what looked like single trailers; he was looking at a trailer park.

"Surprised?" Henry asked looking at Jimmy, "What were you expecting?"
"I…I don't know, maybe…I really don't know," was all Jimmy could stammer.

"You have to remember these people have been, over the years, no centuries driven off their tribal lands and into reservations. Today the Native American struggles with poverty, as well as a variety of health issues," Henry continued.

"I'm sorry," was all Jim could say.

"Enough," Walt replied, "You wanted to speak to Avonaco's grandparents, I'm sure Ishaynishus and Chameli Vipponah are ready to answer your questions."

They walked in silence to a building which had a tipi behind it, Tim and Jim saw a guy, aged about Tony's age, in a police uniform; his arms folded, standing by the house.

"Chief Mathias,…Agent Tim McGee, and Jimmy Palmer both NCIS Washington D.C." Walt said waving his hand at the pair.

"Pleased to meet you Sir," Tim spluttered. Mathias just glared but stood aside when he saw Henry. "I assure you Sir we will not stay long and we will not ask any inappropriate questions." Mathias just nodded, turned and walked to the door of the trailer, and knocked before entering. Tim followed, but Jimmy allowed Walt to go before him, Henry turned and walked towards the tipi.

As the boys eyes became accustomed to the darkness of the room, they saw an old couple dressed, as Jimmy had imagined, in traditional Native Indian dress.