Undercovers

Chapter 6

"Keep a solid on the visuals, Tony" Gibbs reprimands.

"See anyone you know, sweet cheeks?" Tony asks to Ziva.

"Not yet. But the night is just getting started, my little hairy butt." Ziva answers.

"I broke down the contents of Mister Ranier's stomach. If he would have lived, I would have recommended a more fiber rich diet. His colon was impacted with fecal material." Ducky's voice cut in as Tony was about to put a shrimp to his mouth then dropped it.

"Is it too late to order a salad?" Tony asks the chuckling Ziva.

"I believe our food is here now." Ziva cuts as the waiter places decadent plates of food in front of them.

"Bon appetite, mon petit bout." Ziva lures.

Ziva looks at Tony's plate in disgust.

"I'm a meat and potatoes kinda guy." He replies.

"Tony, the calluses on Mister Ranier's hand suggest he was left handed." Ducky says.

"Switch hands, DiNozzo." Gibbs commands.

Ziva reaches over and takes Tony's struggling right hand.

"This is nice isn't it?" She says quietly.

"Yeah, a quiet little dinner… just the six of us." He replies

Ziva's Bible phone rings and she holds it to Tony's view so Abby can start a trace on the number. "Our friend is calling"

"I'm glad you called. We were beginning to get bored." Ziva says into the phone.

"I thought it would help to see your target in person tonight." The mystery voice says.

"He's here?" Ziva inquires.

"You don't see him?" The mystery man asks with equal surprise.

"Relax… I've been flying for over 20 hours and the restaurant's packed. We will." Ziva calmly says. "You didn't mention anything about being surrounded by U.S. Marines. It's too dangerous for the sum you're paying us." Ziva adds.

"Accomplish you mission. Then we'll discuss more."

"But you won't pay us more." Ziva vies.

Suddenly Abby's voice reaches Tony's ear calling out that the mystery man is calling from a payphone near the hotel kitchen.

"I have to go to the little boy's room." Tony says to Ziva as he jolts down the hallway.

"I have to talk to my boss" Mystery man says to Ziva.

"You do that. We'll wait for you to—he hung up." Ziva growls.

McGee turns the corner and yells "Don't Move! Federal Agent!"

"It's me, Probie." Tony says while turning around and placing latex on his hand.

Tony removes the gloves and hands them to McGee and walks casually back down the hallway and seats himself beside Ziva once again.

"Must've slipped through the kitchen. I didn't even get a look. You want us back in the squad room, boss?" Tony asks.

"No, I want you and Ziva in your room, maintaining your cover." Gibbs replies.

"Oh, all night?" Tony quirks back.

"Do I stutter or something DiNozzo?" Gibbs says as he pulls off his headset and walks away.

"Afraid I'll bite, Tony?" Ziva probes.

"It's Jean Paul, Sophie." Tony remarks.

"Jean Paul."