Chapter 15
The week passed. Theresa spent in her eyes far too much time with Juan. She looked forward to the day when Ari came back. Of course, she was still angry with him but she wanted someone in her business who made her feel stronger. She could meet with her boyfriend Paul again, although it was still risky. They could not see that often, just twice this week. Week has passed and Ari's flight has landed. As a 'friend', Theresa caught him from airport. Any stupid Intelligence officer had got the idea that they two should play boy- and girlfriend so that they now lived at Theresa's house for the mission. It was not like they would never have shared bed but she was really angry with him and thought that she could never forgive him for killing her brother. It was a thing that could never be forgiven. It was night when he arrived. Throughout the drive home none of them spoke a single word. They arrived at home, got in and Theresa helped Ari to unpack things. He already knew the house, of course. 'Do you want to eat something?', she asked. 'No, I'm not hungry', he said and put a couple of his shorts into the armoire. Theresa had made space for his things. They should act like a loving couple. Like a few months ago. She was never told to love him, just to betray him. It was not like her to fall for her target. He just was so sweet.
The next night they went to see Juan. It went all well and they made an appointment for the following day again, to watch the men bringing the arms on the ship which Ari had prepared. It was his part to watch the transport to Israel.
For the team it was just another crime scene. It was at the harbor and it was around three pm. Valentina and Tony took photos while Ziva and McGee searched for evidences. 'Time of death?', Gibbs asked. There were no witnesses. 'I estimate…around eleven this morning', Mr. Palmer said. Ducky smiled at him. 'Now, would you also tell me a first guess on the cause of death?', Ducky asked. 'Err', Palmer started examining the body. 'A knife was stabbed into his belly, causing serious bleedings but the final cause was the cut in his neck, which was made by the same knife', he said and looked up to Ducky. 'You should pay attention, Duck', Gibbs said. 'One day he's taking your job away.' 'Now, Mr. Palmer, would you please help me putting our dear sergeant into the body bag so that you can perform an autopsy back in the yard?' 'Me? The autopsy?', Palmer was surprised, but Ducky just smiled at him. Gibbs went over to Ziva and McGee. 'Anything unusual?' 'No evidences, no knife, no fingerprints', Ziva said. 'No cameras and no witnesses', Tony added. They were very fast finished with photographing and examining the crime scene. 'Jethro?', Ducky suddenly asked. He held up a piece of paper. 'This one here might interest you', he gave it to Gibbs. 'What's on it boss?', Tony asked and held up a plastic bag for evidences. 'Eleven pm', Gibbs said. 'A time when something is supposed to happen?', Ziva asked. 'But why should he carry it on a piece of paper or write it even down?', she asked. 'I know the handwriting', Gibbs just said. 'It means that we have to be here at eleven tonight.' That was funny. He had to call Fornell.
This was a message by Theresa. She wanted them to stop Juan and end this mission with Ari very soon.
It was half past ten in the evening and Juan, Theresa and Ari watched them men packing the guns and rifles to the containers. Theresa looked on her watch. They should not be finished before eleven or they would be away before FBI and NCIS arrived. Time passed slowly. Juan walked the along the dock. He seemed nervous, too. Ari watched the men storing the freight. He saw Theresa looking at her watch. You're dead before FBI arrives, he thought and walked over to Juan.