Chapter Seven
Tony was there to pick up Abby at the airport. True to form, she was dressed all in black with a parasol. When she saw Tony, her pale face broke into a huge smile and she came running over to him. Before he could prepare himself, she jumped into his arms and started squeezing. Between the public display of affection and the fact Abby was stronger than he remembered, Tony started to grunt and gasp for air.
"Can't breathe, Abby," he mumbled.
She let go of him then stepped back.
"Tony, you are looking really good," she said.
"Thanks, Ab," he said.
"No, I mean it. You are tanned, lost weight, and healthy. You look good," she said.
"Okay, Abs, kind of feeling uncomfortable now," he said.
She punched him on the shoulder for him comment.
"Let's my bags," she said.
After collecting her bags, they loaded into his MG and headed off to his cousin's estate. When they arrived at the estate, Abby was knocked out by Tony's living conditions.
"You're forgiven for running away," she said. "No wonder you didn't contact us. You must be living the life."
"Not really, Abby," he said as he parked the car.
They got out and Tony got her luggage. As he did this, his smartphone rang. It was Okika. He put the luggage down.
"Hold I have to take this," he said then he answered. "Okeedokey, do you have news?"
"Our unsub has become a suspect," she said.
"We sure about that?" he asked.
"Positive, Tony. McGarrett and his Five-O people want to bring him in and break him. What should we do?" she asked.
"Do we have enough evidence to go to trial?" he asked.
"No."
"Stakeout, 24/seven. We catch him in the act and nail his ass," said Tony.
"I'll call Five-O," she said.
"If you have trouble with them then call me," he said.
"Yes, sir," Okika hung up.
"Problem?" asked Abby.
"Maybe," he said. "Let's show you to my room."
Letting her into the bungalow, Abby looked around with her mouth open. She went from the living to the kitchen then she checked out the den and finally the bedrooms.
"Tony this place is great," she said, "and you live here for free."
"Cousin's estate," said Tony.
"I wish he were my cousin," she said.
"Trust me, Abby, you really don't want to be part of my family," he said.
She turned and looked at him with big green open eyes and a smile on her face.
"Tony, we are family. You really have to remember that," she said.
Tony chuckled. Maybe that surrogate family in DC was really his family. Most of his life he'd been disappointed by family to the point that he ran from it. Eventually, he came to accept his family as a flawed man who'd never be the father he wanted, yet he still hoped for that father, a man he could honor and trust. He looked at Abby and realized that she was his sister. It just wasn't words, but it was true. He didn't have to run from them.
"Thank you, Abby," he said.
"For what?" she looked at him confused.
"For being my sister," he said.
"Oh, Tony," she cooed, as her eyes filled with tears and she ran over and gave him another hug. "It's a about time you get it."
"What can I say, Abs; I'm slow but I eventually get it."
NCIS
He got Abby settled into the bungalow then he headed to NCIS. When he arrived, he was told Deputy Director Craig was waiting for him in MTAC. He put his sidearm away then headed to MTAC. Entering the secure room, he saw Jerome talking to Director Vance.
"Agent Gibbs Team is making progress, Leon," Craig said. "They believe that have identified one of the navy personnel involved and will follow him to the identify more until they dismantle this smuggling ring."
Tony walked up beside Craig.
"Glad to hear it, Jerome. The SecNav has been up my ass about this one," said Vance.
Vance shifted his attention to Tony.
"The serial murderer case, DiNozzo?" he asked.
"We have a suspect, sir," said Tony.
Tony saw Vance's body language shift. He relaxed even more, as he was getting even more good news.
"Tell me about it," he said.
"We are setting up a 24/7 surveillance on him because we don't have enough hard evidence. I want to catch him in the act. He is used the same knife, so if we catch him in the act, we will have irrefutable evidence," he explained.
"How about the police?" he asked.
"I'm convincing them to join us on the stakeout, they want to take the suspect in and sweat it out of him, but I think we need to let this bastard put his head in a noose then grab him," he said.
"Good job, DiNozzo," smiled Vance. "I'm starting to be glad you moved to Hawaii."
"Thank you, sir," said Tony.
"Jerome, we'll talk again," said Vance then he made the cut screen sign and he disappeared.
Craig turned and looked at Tony.
"I know that I'm glad you came to Hawaii. You are doing a great job so far as Operations Manager," said Craig.
"Thanks, Jerome," said Tony.
"So, how is working with the old team?" he asked.
"Not really working with them," Tony replied.
"Oh," Craig said.
"Yeah, Gibbs has never been one to play well with others," smiled Tony.
"I… um… I know from experience," said Craig.
Tony's smile broadened. The thought of Jerome and Gibbs together made him want to laugh.
"Well, I should talk to Five-O. Okika and I are heading over to the Palace," Tony told him.
NCIS
Tony parked his car and they headed into the offices of Hawaii Five-O. When they entered, Dano was the first to greet them.
"Hey, Tony, Okika, what brings you here?" he asked.
"Chief Myron Hurst, retired. You want to bring him and sweat him to a confession," said Tony.
McGarrett came out of his office, followed by Kono and Chin. Tony offered them a friendly smile.
"Why are you here, DiNozzo?" asked McGarrett.
"Commander McGarrett, we are setting up a surveillance of Hurst in order to catch him in the act. There is even the possibility of enticing him with some bait. I want you involved," said Tony.
"You mean that you want to stop us from bringing him in for questioning," said McGarrett.
"I want him caught and put in prison and I want to avoid a pissing contest with you," said Tony.
McGarrett smirked, "Afraid of losing."
"I was a cop a lot longer than you have been, Commander. I can piss with the best of them," said Tony.
"Before you two start sniffing each other and fight for the role of alpha male, I'd like to put my opinion in," said Dano.
McGarrett looked over at Dano and nodded.
"We don't have enough to hold Hurst, only have that he fits the profile and a few other things. I think around the clock surveillance and baiting a hook would be a good idea," said Dano.
McGarrett looked at his friend and second in command. He nodded his head.
"Okay," he said then turned and looked at Tony, "we are in."
"Okika, this is your show. You are the team leader; I'm just the Operation Manager," he smiled.
Tony stepped back and let Okika take the lead. He stood off to the side and listened, while they set up an op. His work was done. He wasn't going to be part of the operation, especially since he wasn't a field agent. No, his job was in training and supervising now and no longer being out in the field. He listened to Okika stand toe to toe with McGarrett and smiled. His number one MCRT was in good hands and headed in the right direction.
NCIS
The sun was sinking into the Pacific Ocean. After using the pool at Pearl, he headed home. He knew that Oliver said he'd entertain Abby. He drove onto the estate and parked his car. Two other cars were already there. As he looked over at the main, he saw that Alanna Cathcart was still there. He had to give her high grades for persistence.
From the back of his bungalow, he could hear conversation and laughter. He walked around the house to find Abby, Gibbs, Ziva, McGee, and their Probie Andrew MacDonald hanging around his patio.
"Tony," called out Abby, as he approached. "Gibbs and the team cut their day short for me. Isn't it great?"
"Yeah, Abs. Did you order food for everyone?" he asked.
"We ordered some pizza to be delivered," said Gibbs.
"Great," smiled Tony.
"I heard you have a break in the serial murderer case," said Gibbs.
"I turned it all over to Okika and Hawaii Five-O. I have to remember that I'm an Operations Manager and not a field agent," he said.
"You'll get used to it, DiNozzo," Gibbs reassured him.
"Now I get to worry about them like a mother hen," he said.
He noticed photographs on the table. They must be surveillance photos. What drew his attention was that he recognized one of men in the photo lying on top of the table.
"Why is Simon Brandt in that photo?" he asked.
"Simon Brandt?" said Gibbs.
"Yeah, the guy in the photo with the quartermaster, his name is Simon Brandt," he told him. "His fiancé is staying in the main house. She came to Hawaii looking for him. It seems he owes the Yakuza money and disappeared. My assumption was that he was hiding out somewhere in the islands and trying to raise the money to pay them off. Owing the Yakuza isn't a good idea."
"Well, it seems he is making his money by being part of this drug smuggling ring," said Gibbs. "We need to talk to the fiancé."
"Alanna Cathcart," Tony said then pointed at the main house. "She's staying there."
Gibbs grinned, "You may have just helped our case, DiNozzo. McGee, MacDonald, go talk to her. Get an initial interview tonight and we'll have here in tomorrow for a more."
McGee and MacDonald got up and headed over to the main house. Gibbs stared at Tony.
"Tell me what you know," Gibbs said to him.
From favor from his cousin to his meeting with the Yakuza, Tony recounted everything with him. When he was finished, he waited for Gibbs to comment.
"Do you think your cousin is involved at all?" he asked.
"No," said Tony.
"Why?"
"Too much money and care too much for his reputation. If I called him and told him that Simon Brandt was involved with smuggling drugs, he had Ms. Cathcart escorted from the estate. Yakuza and gambling is exotic and a personal vice, which is acceptable, but what Brandt is involved in is a different story. An association with Brandy would hurt him in his strata of society played in," Tony explained.
Abby noticed a car driving past the gate.
"Our pizzas are here," she said excitedly.
Ziva stood up and said, "Come, Abby, I will get the pizzas with you."
Ziva walked past Tony without even a link or look in his direction. Abby and Ziva walked off to the food.
"She's still pissed at you," said Gibbs.
"I hadn't noticed," joked Tony.
"Fix it. We will be leaving soon then it will be too late," said Gibbs.
"It may already be too late, Gibbs," said Tony.
"There is beer in your refrigerator if you want one," Gibbs said.
"I could use one," said Tony.
He walked over to the glass doors that led into the kitchen and then he slid one open and entered. Tony got himself a beer and opened it. He brought it up to his mouth and drained half the bottle in his first taste. His smartphone buzzed in his pocket. He took it out and looked at it. It was Deputy Director Craig.
"DiNozzo," he answered.
"Sorry to bother you, but one of our offices in the Philippines has a problem. They discovered that one of the civilian workers murdered on US soil. The Philippine government is very sensitive, so I have to fly out and deal with this. Leon thinks you would be a big help. He says we work well together," said Craig.
"Not really my job, Jerome," said Tony.
"Your job may evolve, Tony," said Craig.
Evolve. He wasn't sure how it was going to evolve, but he didn't mind the idea.
"I'll grab a go bag and meet you at Pearl."
"Glad to hear it," said Craig then he hung up.
Tony finished his beer then he went and grabbed his go bag. He exited to see everyone eating pizza. Gibbs noticed the bag.
"Problem?" he asked.
"Need to go with the deputy director to the Philippines for a few days," he said.
Finally, Ziva looked over at him. He saw the anger was still in her eyes, but also there was sadness. He felt like some day of ass for doing this, but in some ways, this was his new life. He wanted to work for NCIS, even if it was in this role. However, he also wanted to fix the problem between him and Ziva. He looked over at McGee.
"McReplacement, why don't you drive me, so Abby can have my car while I'm gone?" Tony said.
"Why not?" said McGee.
Abby walked over to Tony and gave him a hug. She whispered in his ear, "We need to talk when you get back."
"I know, Abs," he said.
"Gibbs, I hope you break the case, but you don't have to leave before I come back."
"We'll see, DiNozzo," said Gibbs.
McGee and Tony headed over to the MG and got into it. Tony let Tim drive.
"You've landed on your feet here, Tony," he said.
"I know, Tim," he said.
"Still, you fucked up pretty good when you left," said McGee.
"I'm aware of the McObvious," said Tony.
"You hurt Ziva."
"I know."
"She's still hurting and you know Ziva when she gets to a certain point stubbornness kicks in and she can't help herself even if she wants to," said McGee.
"Tim, I know all this."
"You know that she loves you, too," he said.
Tony didn't answer. He wasn't sure if Ziva loved him or not, at least, if she loved him the way he loved her. They always had a difficult and complicate relationship.
"I don't know that, Tim," Tony said.
"Well, she does. The depression she went into when you left was love, Tony. I know. Be honest with her and you might get her to be honest with you," McGee said.
"When did you get so damned wise, Probie?" he asked him.
"Years working with our team was bound to have some effect on me," smiled McGee.
"Gibbs must be proud of you," said Tony.
"Not as proud as he is of you," said McGee.
"Thanks, Tim," said Tony.
"No problem, Tony."
NCIS
The Craig handled the Philippine Government and Tony made sure that the crime was investigated thoroughly but we respect. It took four days, but the case was closed. She was having an affair with a marine sergeant who was going home. The murdered woman wanted to go home with him, but the marine had a wife child. She started to make a stink of it and the marine snapped her neck.
Case closed. Vance was thrilled with both their work. He thought they worked together so well that he started to formulate a plan. Craig had his strengths and they were bureaucratic and diplomatic. DiNozzo complimented him. As a troubleshooting team, they worked excellently together.
As for Craig and Tony, they got on a Gulfstream and headed back to Pearl. They were exhausted, but satisfied with a job well done.
"I've heard from Okika and they have Hurst in custody," Tony said checking his email. "They used Kono from Five-O as bait for him. They got him and the murder weapon in the arrest. It's over."
"Congratulations," said Craig. "Does Leon know?"
"Okika informed the Director," said Tony.
"She turned into a good team leader, hasn't she?" said Craig.
"Yeah, she has," smiled Tony. "I think that team is going to be fine now with her leading them."
"You did a great job, Tony," said Craig.
"Thanks."
"Do you like working in Pearl?" he asked.
"I'm still getting used to it."
"How did you like our trip to the Philippines?" asked Craig.
"At first I was afraid was going to be the teacher brought in to make sure every behaves well. It was more than that. I'm getting to use some of my old skills and developing new ones. I liked it," said Tony.
"Not a field agent but it more than just sitting behind a desk, right?" asked Craig.
"Yeah, it not just acting as Operations Manager," said Tony.
"Good."
"What are you up to, Jerome?" asked Tony.
"What do you mean, Tony?" replied Craig.
"You can't fool me. You are up to something, Jerome," said Tony.
"Just think this as an early debriefing," said Craig.
"Okay, we'll call it an early debriefing," said Tony. "You hear anything about the drug smuggling ring."
"Yeah, according to Leon, it done. It seems Simon Brandt was a conduit to Asian heroin. He was arrested by the local police, while all naval personnel were brought into custody. Case closed. Gibbs team is flying out as we speak. They also did a great job," said Craig.
"Oh," was Tony's response.
Gibbs team was gone. He missed his chance with Ziva. A chill of regret passed through Tony. Well, at least, Abby was probably still there when he returned. Maybe he could send Ziva a personal message or a letter. He needed to do something. Gibbs said to fix. He needed to listen to his boss one last time.