Sam, and Callen vacate their seats. Kensi follows suit. She tosses Deeks the keys.
"I'll be out in a minute," she insists. He nods in agreement, and takes the keys. She manages to catch Callen, and Sam in the hallway.
"I think it would be better if you spoke to the son," Kensi tells Sam.
Sam furrows his brow as he studies her facial expression. He hands Callen his keys. "G, pull the car up front. I'll meet you in a second."
"Okay," he nods in agreement, noting Kensi's peculiar behavior.
"Kensi, what's going on? Why don't you want to interview the son? How well did you know Kevin?"
"I didn't know Kevin that well," she admits.
"His brother is closer to your age," he realizes, "Kensi is there something that you aren't telling me?"
"I would just feel a lot more comfortable if you did it," she tells him.
"I know that you have a reason, and I am going to respect that. I'll talk to him," he agrees.
She exits the car, and her partner follows her onto the playground. Today the playground is empty. She moves towards the tree at the edge of the playground. She spins around, and looks back at the street. Deeks breaks the silence.
"What are you thinking?"
"This would be a good vantage point," she responds, showing no emotion.
"You want a boost?" He quizzes, as she turns to examine the tree.
She furrows her brow in disbelief, "I think I can climb a tree."
"Suit yourself," he takes a step back.
She carefully hoists herself into the tree. She shifts into sniper mode. Approximately twelve feet off the ground she stops. She touches the tree branch, and finds some missing bark. She looks down at her partner.
"This was the sniper nest," she reveals.
"Any casings?"
"All I have is some missing tree bark," she informs him.
As she climbs down the tree Marty glances at his watch. As her feet collide with the ground she hears his stomach growl.
"The kid won't be home until two forty five. We have time to grab some lunch before he gets home."
"Sam is going to interview him."
Deeks furrows his brow, "That doesn't make any sense. We're already here."
She shrugs, "We should really get back to work," she reaches for the car door.
He steps between her and the car. "Why is Sam interviewing the kid? He is a teenager he is going to be far more forthcoming to you, than he will Sam."
"Does it matter?"
"It does if it affects the outcome of the interview. You should be the one to interview the kid."
"The kid has a name!" She growls.
He pulls out his phone to scroll through his notes.
"It's Kane," she answers.
He furrows his brow, "How do you know that? Nell literally just sent us the text. What is going on here? How well did you know this guy?"
Before she can answer her phone rings. She pulls the phone out of her pocket, and presses it to her ear.
That night they are finally able to solve the case. The teenager's interview yields a description matching that of Kevin's former co-worker. In the end they find out that the former sniper was passed up for a promotion, while Kevin was granted one, despite similar credentials. Sam, and Callen have already headed out. Deeks packs up his stuff, and pulls the car keys out of his pocket.
"Kensi, you ready?"
"I'll meet you at home. I need to finish some paperwork."
"Do you want me to order something?"
"Go ahead and eat, I am going to be a while," she admits.
He nods, grabbing his belongings. He heads out of the bullpen. Kensi sits in silence, staring at the surface of her desk. She instinctively looks up, getting the sense that someone is looking at her.
"Miss Blye what are you still doing here?"
"Paperwork," she fibs.
"You already turned in your paperwork. What is on your mind?"
"Nothing," she insists.
"Someone mentioned that you knew the victim."
"I did."
"Were you close?"
"No. I only met him twice."
"And yet you recognized him. Why didn't you want to interview his nephew?"
"Hetty, please."
"You knew the victim's brother?"
"Yes," she nods.
"Why didn't you say anything?"
"I didn't know that Michael lived so close. I definitely didn't know that his son witnessed Kevin's murder."
"He wants to speak to you."
She furrows her brow, "Who, Michael?"
"Michael saw you at the crime scene this morning. He called here."
"Why?"
"He asked me to give you his number."
"Hetty…"
"He said that it was important," she informs Kensi, as she slips the number into her hand.
She nods, and Hetty leaves the room.