A/N More case. If you have ?'s, ask. Disclaimer: The Usual.
After McGee had settled Chelsea in the Director's office, he hurried back into the bullpen.
"Boss!" McGee said, "We got a hit on Lowell's BOLO!"
"Where is he at?" Gibbs asked, grabbing his gear along with the others.
"He is at a bar in Arlington."
"Let's go!" Gibbs barked.
When they arrived at Coolie's Bar, Lowell's beat up Ford was still in the parking lot. Gibbs sent Tony around back in case Lowell tried to bolt that way, and Ziva out front.
"There he is boss." McGee whispered, pointing to a dirty, unshaven middle-aged man at the bar.
Gibbs went on one side, McGee went around to his other side.
"Henry Lowell?"
Lowell looked up drunkenly at Gibbs. Then his eyes widened. He tried to bolt, but McGee grabbed him. He was easy to subdue because he was drunk as a skunk.
"Shouldn't run with a hangover." Gibbs offered as McGee cuffed him.
"So who's interrogating him?" Tony asked McGee in the observation room.
They were waiting for Gibbs and Ziva. Lowell was pacing and muttering to himself. Every so often he would drink some of the black coffee he was given to sober up.
"Ziva is." Gibbs said, entering the darkened room, startling both men.
McGee and Tony glanced at each other, Tony rubbed his hands together in glee.
"Mr. Lowell. Do you know why you are here?"
Lowell looked at her as though she were lunch.
"I imagine that I am on date with an exotic beauty." he slurred with a creepy smile.
"You imagine wrong." Ziva hissed.
"I said imagine." Lowell shrugged.
"Do you know a Petty Officer Camilla Webster?" Ziva asked, pushing her photo in front of him.
"Yeah. I went on a date with her." Lowell said, shrugging some more.
"Did you also say that you wished to impregnate her?"
"So it's against the law to make a suggestion on a first date?" Lowell smirked.
Ziva slammed her fist on the table.
"Why did you want to get her pregnant?" Ziva asked the nervous man, "Did you want children?"
"No!" he said, looking appalled, "I just like pregnant woman."
Behind the glass Tony made a face.
"Never heard of that fetish."
"Have you impregnated any women yet?" Ziva asked.
Lowell bowed his head in embarrassment.
"No, I have yet to find a compliant lady."
"Did you know a Petty Officer Hannah Jones?" Ziva demanded, pushing Jones' picture towards him.
"No." Lowell said staring, "But she'd sure look good pregnant."
With that, Ziva left interrogation and met the others in observation.
"He did not do anything!" she blurted out in frustration, "He is just creepy."
Tony and McGee shuddered in agreement. Gibbs nodded.
"Can we book him for anything?" Ziva asked, officially grossed out.
"No." Gibbs said with a chuckle.
"I'll go see if Abby has found anymore kids, Boss." McGee said.
"I set up an interview with 'The Good Father' at the prison." Tony said.
"Ziva and I will check the rest of Lowell's stuff." Gibbs said.
"Hey Abby!" McGee called over her music, which she only turned down slightly at McGee's appearance.
"What's up Timmy!?" Abby exclaimed, wrapping her arms around his neck.
"I need to know if you located anymore kids." he rasped, still in Abby's headlock hug.
"Not yet." she pouting
"Oh and Abbs?" McGee said, tapping on the keyboard next to her, "Don't be giving Chelsea Calf-POW!'s please."
Abby just guffawed at his insinuation.
"Like I would give a kid-"
"More POW Abby!" Chelsea interrupted Abby entering the lab.
McGee gave Abby a hard glare.
"Kids," Abby giggled nervously, "they say the darndest things!"
"No more POW right now kiddo." McGee told her, "Maybe tomorrow."
Chelsea nodded seriously and handed Abby the cup carefully.
"Maybe tomorrow." Chelsea said.
"Did you run away from Jenny again?" McGee asked, picking her up.
"No." Chelsea said shaking her head, pigtails smacking him in his face, "Jenny says she be wight back."
Before McGee could question her answer his cell rang.
"McGee."
"McGee" Ziva said, "Social services are here for Chelsea."
"What!?" McGee exclaimed, setting Chelsea down, "Where is Gibbs?"
"He is with the Director." Ziva said, "He is trying to get you custody because she is in protective custody."
"I'll be right there."
Snapping his cell shut, he kissed Chelsea on her forehead, and told Abby he'd explain later.
McGee felt like the elevator was purposely going slow. When he arrived on the bullpen floor, Tony, Ziva and Ducky were standing there.
"Where is this social worker!?" McGee asked harshly.
"In the conference room." Gibbs answered entering the bull pen, "McGee, you and Ziva have official custody as of right now so she is protected."
McGee felt as though the weight of the world had been lifted from his shoulders. Ziva felt that way as well.
"Thanks boss." McGee said, completely missing Gibbs' curious look.
"I have us an interview with Joseph Grove in two hours Boss." Tony said, after an awkward moment.
"Good." Gibbs said, "McGee! You and I will interview him. You two, help Abby find those Kids."
"On it Boss!"
Ever since McGee went through the whole hostage situation at the women's prison, he was always very anxious when they had to interview prisoners. And on top of that, this felt personal.
After being searched, stripped of their weapons, and led through what seemed like miles of cell halls, Gibbs and McGee reached the interview cell. Joseph Grove was already seated, with his hands and feet chained.
"Thank you for agreeing to see us." McGee said, sitting across from him.
Grove was a poster boy for inner-city gangs. He had the scars, the piercings, the tattoos, and the demeanor of a hardened criminal.
"Whatever." the horse voice said, "Don't even know what the hell NCIS is."
"Its- uh- Naval Criminal Investigative Services." McGee said.
Grove looked very unimpressed.
"We need to talk to you about how you 'found' Andrew?" Gibbs said.
"What does Andrew gotta do with the Navy?" Grove questioned.
"You gonna answer my question Grove?" Gibbs responded.
"It was like I said, I found him on the streets." Grove said, his face void of any expression.
"Well, I don't believe you." Gibbs said, his face a mirror image.
"If you cooperate," McGee spoke up, "the DA is willing to allow you extra privileges."
This idea peaked Grove's interest, though he tried to hide it.
"This dude hooked me up." Grove said, trying to be difficult.
"Gonna need this 'dude's' name Grove." Gibbs growled.
"I don't know it."
"We're done here McGee." Gibbs said, rising.
"Look." Grove said, desperate, "I only know his street name."
Gibbs stared at him and decided that was probably all the creep knew.
"Name." he said menacingly.
"They call him The Gifter."
Gibbs motioned the guard to let them out.
"You'll talk to the DA right!?" Grove called.
"So what'd you find out boss?" Tony said as Gibbs and McGee returned.
"What did you find DiNozzo?" Gibbs said, putting away his weapons and badge.
"Ziva and Abby and I can't find anymore kids." Tony said, knowing that was not a good answer.
Gibbs' face relayed Tony's guess.
"We only got a street name." McGee said, "The Gifter."
"I haven't heard of that name." Tony said, who usually had the a pretty good idea of the streets.
"Call your contacts in Baltimore." Gibbs said.
Tony nodded, went to his desk and began to dial.
Gibbs had sat down at his desk looking super thoughtful.
"What are you thinking Gibbs?" Ziva asked.
"Child Sales."
McGee audibly gasped. He couldn't possibly think that this Gifter guy was in the business of buying and selling children?
"Where are the children?" Gibbs reiterated the focal question of the case, "They weren't in foster care."
"Maybe our dead women refused to give up their child." Ziva expanded.
"Chelsea was supposed to be gone." McGee said numbly.
"Boss," Tony said, hanging up his phone, "A buddy of mine is faxing some facts over on what they know of The Gifter, which is very little."
"Very little, DiNozzo?" Gibbs raised his eyebrows.
"This Gifter guy is good Boss." Tony said with a sigh, "What little facts they have would never convict the guy of anything except conspiracy to be a bastard. And apparently you only get a slap on the wrist for that."
"We are just gonna have to be better."
"Gibbs! Gibbs! Gibbs!" Abby's voice and platform boots thundered into the bullpen.
"What is it Abs?" Gibbs said with a small smile.
"I have found another kid!" but her excitement was lined with sadness.
"She or he is dead, huh?" Gibbs said, putting his hand on the young girls' shoulder.
"The two year old daughter of Col. Bethany Holton was found dead in a sewer in Georgetown."
"Cause of death?" McGee questioned quietly.
Abby had tears in her eyes and gripped Gibbs tightly.
"Drowned."
Abby's tears fell.
"Daddy?"
"What Chels?" McGee answered.
McGee had grabbed Chelsea and they had gone for a walk around in the Navy Yard. He needed fresh air. That little girl was two just like his little girl. Yes, his little girl.
"Are you sad?" Chelsea asked, gripping McGee's hand.
"A little bit." he told her honestly, she was a brilliant little girl.
"Why?" she asked him, looking up at him.
"It is hard to explain." he said, "Would you like me to carry you for a little bit?"
Chelsea nodded, so McGee scooped her up. His heart sang as she threw her tiny arms around his neck as she tried to comfort him. He held her to him tight.
"Wuv you daddy." she murmured into his neck.
"I love you too Chelsea." he answered, a tear running down his cheek, "I love you so much."
McGee vowed that he would find the bastard or bastards who hurt little girls like his.
PHOOMPH!