FREEZE FRAME 4: Dead Man Talking
DISCLAIMERS: I do not own NCIS.
Previously:
The team had flushed out more of the case. Gibbs, Tony, Ducky and Vance interviewed Patrick Devlin's parents. Lilith Devlin produced a photograph towards the end of the interview…
"About a year after Patrick went missing his friend Daniel visited before he left to go on tour. He returned a box of his things, just little things, like his poker chips and letters that he had received. Some of them were sent well after he disappeared. This was in one of them. No letter, no details, just the photograph and 'MR' written on the back. It's a picture of my grandchild, Agent Gibbs. I'm certain of it. The child has Patrick's eyes."
FREEZE FRAME: Extreme close-up of Gibbs's fingers holding the edges of a photograph. The image depicts long slender feminie arms holding a baby of approximately six months old. Convert black and white. Cut.
Chapter 8: JTF – Joint Task Force.
Mata Hari Marley and Tokyo Rose Abby put their heads together.
FREEZE FRAME: CUT to mid shot of Gibbs with Marley tucked under his arm. He is in mid-stride as he heads towards the door. Marley's legs are captured; frozen in the process of several desperate kicks, while her facial expression is frozen in surprise. Convert black and white. CUT.
Fade In to long shot of Gibbs closing the conference room door.
Gibbs left the conference room and walked towards the bullpen, where Tim and Ziva are at their workstations. He rounded the bull pen and handed Tim a photograph and an envelope.
"McGee, scan the picture. Get it and the envelope down to Abby's lab."
Tim placed the photograph flat on his desk and ran the hand held scanner over it. "Boss, is this who I think it is?"
"Who do you think it is, Tim?"
Ziva stood up and watched an image appear on the larger screen. "It is Marley. You can tell by her eyes; there…" she said, pointing at the screen, "dark brown speckles at the bottom of both her irises."
"Yes, it is. Mrs Devlin had it. That's the original, McGee… Ziva take it back to Mrs Devlin, then go with Di Nozzo when he takes them home."
"So they know about Marley?" asked McGee.
"No they don't. The picture was among Patrick's belongings. Daniel Fitzgerald delivered them to her about a year after his disappearance. The Devlins hired a private detective to try and trace the source and find Marley. But, after two years he found nothing, and they dropped the search."
"Can't have been a very good detective," said Tim.
"No, and Lilith doesn't seem the type to give up all that easily…" Gibbs chewed on a thought while looking at the picture. Basing his opinion on gut feeling, he stated, "but if she has continued the search, her husband doesn't know."
Tim placed the well worn envelope in a clear bag. "It's addressed to Patrick's DC apartment, Boss. He shared that apartment with Daniel."
"Whoever sent it to Patrick knew he was her father. It could have been any one of the poker buddies or one of Rose's family."
"But, they knew that he was missing, or even perhaps dead. Do we know who sent it?" asked Ziva.
"No, Abby can do a handwriting analysis."
"It could have been Rose. Perhaps she wanted to make contact. She may not have remembered that Patrick was missing, given her condition at the time. Nic implied that she was off her medication during the pregnancy. How would one ever know, though?"
Gibbs nodded. "Have Marley and Gill arrived yet?"
"Yes, Gill took Marley down to Abby's lab."
Gibbs turned to head in that direction, but stopped when he spotted Vance heading up the stairs. He watched as the director disappeared into his office.
Ziva came up to stand beside Gibbs, ready to return the photograph to the Devlins. "Why is the director here?" she asked looking at Gibbs.
"That's what I want to know… Get that photograph to the Devlins, then take them back to the Belvedere. I don't want them running into Marley or Gill." Gibbs went to follow Vance then stopped once again. "Oh, and Ziva, while you're at the Belvedere check their records. Anything from '99."
"Get a look at one of their rooms, too," suggested Tim. "See if those carpet fibers or wood samples match any of their furnishings."
"Surely they would have changed their decor in the last thirteen years," Ziva logically surmised.
"I haven't," quipped Gibbs.
"Maybe, but it's a heritage listing hotel. They'll have antiques," explained Tim.
"But, if Patrick was murdered there, surely the killer would have gotten rid of the evidence.
"Not necessarily. Expensive antiques, minor damage is easily repaired. Got your thinking, McGee, well done," said Gibbs as he climbed the stairs.
Ziva and Tim stepped forward and watched him ascend. "Thanks Boss," smiled Tim.
"Welcome, then call it a night, you two. Meeting first thing tomorrow, 0600," he barked from the mezzanine.
Tim and Ziva looked at each other… then mouthed "0600," in unison, before grimacing and heading their separate ways.
Cut away to interior and close up of Vance's office door.
Gibbs burst through Vance's' door. "What the ..." He stopped short on seeing SecNav Clayton Jarvis sitting at the conference table and turning to face him. Above the wall a flat screen revealed the image of the conference room, silently playing images of the Devlins seated and holding each other's hands.
Gibbs snapped his gaze at Vance. With a silent challenge of his eyes he demanded, "what the hell is going on?"
Jarvis spoke up, recognizing their silent exchange and the conventional communication tactics these two men used. "Wife thinks I'm playing golf."
"Improving your handicap?" quipped Gibbs.
Vance gave Gibbs a brusque glare, though a tiny smirk pulled at his lip.
"Okay, let's get to the point, Gibbs," said Jarvis.
Gibbs, his instincts a tuned to the sudden appearance and interest of Vance, and now SecNav, placed his hands firmly on the table and bent down closing the space between the Secretary and himself. "You want close the investigation, just like you did thirteen years ago. You gonna tell me why?"
"Sit down, Gibbs," offered Vance.
Jarvis was unfazed. "We're not closing it down. And yes, we were the ones that closed it down thirteen years ago," he smugly admitted. "But it hasn't been a completely dormant case, Special Agent Gibbs."
"This has to do with the transmissions and the bug found in Patrick's cell phone."
"Yes, and the investigation pertaining to the leak in Linguistics. We were pretty sure they were coming through Linguistics somehow. Our suspicions were confirmed after we traced the intel to a Chinese nationalist."
"Let me guess, Henry Lau Quing," retorted Gibbs.
"We think so, though he has an alias- Ling Pau Ling.
We came close to linking this identity to Lau Quing thirteen years ago, but didn't have proof. Fact was, he had immunity here as the business man and Devlin's partner. We were also pretty sure his activities were sanctioned by the Chinese military."
"Why? Because he was using information to secure business ties?" asked Gibbs, knowing there was much more to all this.
"No, that was merely a fringe benefit for Devlin's and Lau Quing's export business. We believe he was using the information and his export company to arms deal through Asian connections to the Middle East."
Gibbs nodded. "The Chinese need oil. They'll need allies or access to it in times of conflict."
Jarvis and Vance both paused and glanced at each other.
Clayton Jarvis picked at the corners of a manila folder lying on the table in front of him before choosing his words carefully. "Things went quiet in 2001. The Chinese sympathized with the US over the September bombings. Though, Henry Lau Quinn didn't. He quietened down a bit, he didn't have his intel. Plus, the Chinese pulled all sanctioned trading with the Middle East. But he kept a private little trade going with some of the smaller private militias and terrorist groups."
"And you haven't got him yet. Why?" As usual Gibbs answered his own question. "Because, you're not sure about his political ties. All his dealings are kept from the Peoples Republic of China's eye," he surmised.
"Perhaps," said Jarvis, still a little candid. "The point is, we've been on this guy. We have enough to pull him in -and convict him with the Chinese government blessings, but only on our soil. They won't give him immunity if he's detained here."
"Okay, we have to get him here. So why haven't you picked him up? He's visited DC and the Devlins several times since 1999."
"Besides not having enough proof, I don't think Angus Devlin is involved, and we were pretty sure at the time Patrick was not aware that he had been bugged. He showed no activity of espionage or receiving the amount of remuneration that one would have been paid for such intel. Henry Lau Quinn also has his own private jet. While he was reported as arriving on Singapore Airlines that night, we believe he came earlier via his own means. He is getting in and out of this country. We don't have flight plans or airline details. He's coming here, though."
"The pretence of Patrick's investigation is the draw card. He may well come to support the Devlins. He wouldn't want to lose that cover if he can help it," said Vance.
"He's a suspect, Leon. I hardly think he's going to walk through that door and offer his condolences," quipped Gibbs.
"He's not the only suspect. You need to get that across. Let us handle him. If we get him, then you can interview him over the Devlin case. But I don't want him being scared off," ordered Jarvis. He then uncharacteristically gave his reasons. "He will accompany his daughter, but he will go for cover if he thinks he is a suspect and we know of his dealings. It will be thirteen years down the drain. My people have worked hard on this. It's not the big guys, but pruning all the branches is just as effective. He can lead us to the individual groups, those that support Al-Qaida. Groups and cells that helped not only supply guns, but infiltrate our society, sleepers like the pilots of 9/11."
Gibbs dry scrubbed his face. "Okay, there are the other leads including Rose Hanson and Jonathan Hanson. But my gut tells me they are innocent."
"Well, for the time being chase those leads. Prove that they are innocent. Just don't give Devlin or Lau Quing reason to believe they are suspects also."
"We won't bury this, Gibbs. But, if Quing is guilty of Patrick's murder, and things do look that way, we will be convicting him as a terrorist, only adding the charge of murder. "
"Patrick still gets justice that way," offered Vance, knowing what Gibbs's reaction may well be.
Gibbs wasn't so sure. "Only if it's made clear in the report that Devlin was unaware of the espionage. He was an innocent and loyal marine."
"Done!" agreed Jarvis.
"What about Lilith Devlin, they know about Marley?" asked Vance.
Gibbs frowned, not happy that Vance had bought up that fact. He wanted her kept out of this. He felt sorry for the woman. He would have searched high and low if he had been in her shoes.
Jarvis's response quickly gained his attention.
"Yes, we think it would be a good idea to let them meet her," suggested Jarvis.
"I don't think Marley wants that!" clearly stated Gibbs.
Vance knew this was going to be a delicate, conflict of interest. "I can imagine that. But, this woman isn't going to give up, Gibbs. You saw that in her eyes. Marley's in witness protection with us. She is safe. But, if this woman continues to dig, she may compromise the child's safety as well as Nic Hanson. Fill them in on the basics and allow a meeting. They can't apply for custody because of the protection order, but they are entitled to know that the child exists and is safe."
"Well, that's my call and Gill's. But in the end, I'll let Marley decide."
"It would be in our best interest to appease these people," Jarvis clinically stated.
Vance saw the fire in Gibbs's eyes and interjected. "Child Services will want their monthly update on Marley. They could easily create problems if they feel Marley being in our custody is superfluous or dangerous when there is another safe option. The Devlins need to understand that Marley is safer and in good hands with the program, perhaps the possibility of visiting rights in the future, may appease them and stop them from searching any deeper."
"Again, we don't want these people to make waves, not until we've got Lau Quing," said Jarvis, reinstating his main objective.
Gibbs nodded and stood up as if pondering the situation. "It will be Marley's call," he barked, before leaving the room without any formal salutations or protocols.
Cut away to long shot of Abby's lab.
Gibbs rounded the door to find Marley and Abby talking in front of the monitor.
"They look kinda nice," said Abby.
"Yeah kinda... Suppose… I don't look like them, though."
"Na, you're pretty like your mom."
"Ya think so, Abbs?
"Me, too," said Gibbs as he came up behind them and planted a kiss on Marley's head.
Both girls jumped. "Gibbbsss!"
"You scared us," laughed Marley.
"Not me, Marley, he always does that," nudged Abby with a giggle.
"You jumped, Abbs," mocked Marley.
"Yeah, well…"
"You hack into the conference room video, Abby?" frowned Gibbs, then gave both girls one of his famous glares.
Abby blushed, "Just visuals, Gibbs; no sound."
"You don't need it, Abbs," he cocked his head and raised his eyebrow. "How much did you lip read?"
"A little…"Abby indicated with her thumb and finger.
Marley's eyes widened. "What, Abbs? You understood them…What were they were saying... What'd they say? What did the lady give Gibbs, it looked like a... "
Gibbs stoped the rapid fire of questions. "It was a photograph. I believe you have your mom's journals and some personal effects that were in the evidence box, where..."
Marley jumped and backed up from Gibbs. "I didn't take them, Gibbs, honest. Uncle Nic signed them out for me when he was here working out the trust fund and stuff, the protection orders and his permission and all. Abby said it was okay, because mom's case was over, it had been solved and that her personal belongings were mine. I didn't sneak them out. Gosh, I really haven't even had a chance to read them. Mom always kept journals, it helped jog her memory sometimes... And..."
"Marls!" yelled Gibbs and crooked his finger at her to come closer.
Marley slumped, figuring she was in trouble; she shuffled slowly towards Gibbs then turned sideways expecting her surrogate father to swat her backside.
Gibbs chuckled and grabbed her shoulders then turned her around. "I swear you're sounding more like Abby every day. You are not in trouble. You are entitled to them, though I need to have a look at them and any photographs you might have."
"Why?" Marley frowned and put her hands on her hips.
Just then the ping of the elevator sounded, and Gill walked in with a tray of drinks, including a strong coffee for Gibbs.
"Hey," she said handing over the drinks. "What's happening?"
"Marley has Rose's journals. I want to go over them to see if she makes any statements regarding Patrick or his parents."
"Oh, okay. Marley have you read your mothers journals?" Gill casually asked while she handed out the drinks on the tray.
Marley fumbled with the straw of a juice box. "No; not really. I think I want to make some time to go through them. I can help you go through them if you want me too, I will be able to…"
Gill held up her hand and interrupted before Marley could finish her sentence. "No, I think we will read them first, there may be something inappropriate in them," she said.
Marley flicked her head up and glared at Gill. "Why? They are mine, I don't even have to give them to you; not without a warrant," she turned to Gibbs. "Do I?" Marley snapped on the defensive.
"Hey, cut the attitude," chastised Gibbs, as he nudged Marley's shoulder.
Marley's lip quivered and tears threatened to spill. "Rose couldn't help it that she was inappropriate... I don't like that word, don't say it."
Gill put the now empty tray on the bench and dropped on one knee in front of Marley. "Oh, Marley, I'm sorry, I didn't mean it that way. It's just that some of the content may be very personal and very adult. You are only twelve."
"You will get them back, Marley, when Gill thinks they're okay."
"I will hold them until you're ready, but they are yours; always will be."
Marley sucked noisily on her drink while she nodded. Then she took a huge breath. "Sorry… Guess I 'm a little defensive. Besides, you forget that I was alone with Rose for a long time. I cared for her and she cared for me, but there were times I had to pull her out of some sticky situations. You forget…"
Gill smiled and stood up, but kept her hands on Marley's shoulders and gently squeezed them. "I didn't forget, Marley. I just got used to you being a kid. It's been very good for you. It's been great for me. I still think I should go through the journals with you, but only if you want me to. I understand they are very personal."
"I'll think about it. I don't want to find out any bad stuff, anyway, I love Rose, every part of her."
Gibbs ruffled her hair. "The journals may be able to help with our investigation, Marley. Where are they?"
"At home."
"Home?" queried Gill.
"Yeah; Gibbs's place."
Gibbs smiled. "Good, we'll bring them in to Abby tomorrow."
"I'll look after them, Marley," promised Abby.
"You find anything else in the archived files, Abs?" Gibbs asked.
"No, no reference to Patrick."
"Marley, can you remember if your mom ever spoke about Patrick or his family?"
"Yes, but hardly ever. I would ask her a lot about who he was when I was little, but she often said she couldn't remember. Then sometimes she'd say stuff just out of the blue. Little things, like I had his eyes, then she clam up again. I heard Uncle Nic and her fighting once about how I should know more. Mom said she would when I was ready. I stopped asking after a while, because she'd get all anxious. It unsettled her. Besides, I really didn't care. We were happy."
"Anything come up in her counseling sessions, Gill?"
"Not with me, but then my sessions were with Marley and Rose. Alistair might have something. I will check his files."
Again Marley became anxious. "Are you allowed to do that? I mean, you weren't Mom's counsellor, you were mine."
"Still am yours, but Rose's welfare and your welfare are interrelated. Therefore, I don't think Alistair will be too worried about me viewing them. Why are you so worried, Marley?"
Just then Abby's computer chimed an incoming e-mail. Abby clicked on the attachment, and an enlarged image of Marley as a baby came up."
"Hey, that's me. Where did you get that photo?"
Gibbs went up to Marley. "The Devlins had it. Mrs. Devlin was given it a long time ago. It was in with Patrick's belongings, along with some letters. They don't know who sent it. How did you know it was you?"
Marley remained silent and looked to both Gill and Gibbs.
"Marley, have you seen this photograph before?" Gibbs asked agin, this time a little slower.
"Do they know about me? What does this mean? They aren't going to take me away? I …"
"Marley, stop…" Gibbs paused, "Nothing like that is going to happen. Your files are sealed. They don't know your name. They aren't even sure that you exist. Mrs Devlin hired a private detective years ago, but never found out anything. Though she is sure that baby is her grandchild and someone wanted her to know that, or rather wanted Patrick to know that. He was sent the photograph."
"But how? He was long missing before Marley was born." asked Gill, now also feeling a little on edge.
"Whoever sent it obviously didn't know he was officially missing or dead," surmised Abby.
"It was Mom," whispered Marley.
"How do you know that?" asked Gibbs.
"Because, there are heaps of those photos. Grandpa John had one, Uncle Nic had one, and we had one on our mantelpiece. Mom took it with her first digital camera. She was a film maker and photographer, Gibbs. She had lots of photos of me as a baby. I think she sent it. I just don't know why. "
"Maybe it was your Uncle Nic," suggested Gill.
Gibbs shook his head. "No, he would have told us. He knew about Patrick being missing. He was interviewed at the time by Franks. He may have sent it to Lilith, but not to Patrick; the envelop was addressed to Patrick Devlin, and posted six months after the investigation."
Marley chewed on her bottom lip. "Maybe it was Grandpa John. I guess he could have sent it. But then, he probably knew about Patrick Devlin being missing. Uncle Nic would have told him. He also would have told him that Patrick was my… the father of Rose's baby."
"I think you are a clever kid, I ever tell you that?" smiled Gibbs.
"Yep."
Gibbs laughed. "You would make a good investigator, Marley, and I think you are right. I think your Mom sent it."
"She may have wanted Patrick to know what you looked like, know about you. I think that's kind a nice," added Abby.
"Maybe… She may not have known he was missing, or would not have remembered he was missing…"
"Or didn't want to believe he didn't care," suggested Gill.
"I think Patrick would have cared, Marley. His mother, your grandmother, does. She is desperate to find you," Gibbs said sincerely.
"So what's gonna happen? I don't want them to know about me. They might want to take me. Do you want me to go with them, Gibbs, Gill,? Please I…"
"No, we don't want you to go with them," quickly interrupted Gill.
"You sure, you still want me?"
"Of course, who wouldn't want you," affirmed Gill with a firm hug.
Abby, ran to the pair and wrapped her tall body around them. "Awwwww… Marls, we all want you. You're a great kid."
"Phew! Still, I don't have to meet them do I? We don't have to tell them you know where I am. My files are sealed right. They can't find out?" Marley almost pleaded.
"That's right," confirmed Gill. "Right, Gibbs?"
Gibbs didn't answer straight away. "Well…"
"Gibbsssss?" All three females in the room aimed their sternest glare at Gibbs.
"No, you don't have to meet them, Marley, but this investigation is complex. And I promised I would fill you in on anything that related to you or Rose or your family. But there are some things that have to do with Patrick's work that need further investigation. SecNav wants Marley to meet the Devlins. He doesn't want them finding out about Marley or digging things up through unofficial means. He wants NCIS and me, as Marley's guardians to oversee that. He also wants me to fill the Devlins in on some of Marley's details; the basics only, as she is under protection. We can arrange a supervised meeting, just to appease them, so we can freely investigate. We don't want them to think we are hiding anything from them. They can help us with this investigation and another."
"That doesn't make sense," said Marley.
"There's a lot more to it, Marley, but that's classified and doesn't concern you. I told them I would only agree to it if I was there…"
"I want to be there, too," said Gill.
"You can be, as Marley's counsellor. We won't be giving them Marley's full name or any background information on her. We won't be relinquishing any information pertaining to her protective orders, including who her guardians are."
"So that's that!...Well, I don't want to," Marley firmly stated.
Gill relaxed. Gibbs, on the other hand, didn't. He'd had rather none of this had come up. But the fact that the Devlins knew of Marley's existence and with NCIS investigating their son's murder, any information that connected them to it, could be viewed as biased or a conflict of interest. The best way was to be up front with the Devlins. He really wasn't happy about it. His gut told him that Henry Lau Quing was indeed involved, but he wasn't sure about Angus Devlin. The one thing he was sure of was Lilith Devlin's need. He bent down in front of Marley. "That's your choice, Marley. I can understand you not wanting to know them. I understand that. But If I ever lost a child…" Gibbs paused… "If I ever found out that I had a child somewhere, kept from me, I would do everything in my power to find her or him. I would not rest. I would not find peace until I had found them safe."
Gill tingled with emotion. That should have been her speech, her counsel, but she had been too concerned about her own fears at losing Marley. Gibbs was, indeed, a strong man, brave beyond measure. She swallowed the lump in her throat. "Gibbs… Your Dad is right, Marley. That mother deserves to find some peace in the midst of her loss."
"Like me… sort of; I found you guys," whispered Marley.
"Did I ever tell you, you're a smart kid," Gibbs nudged Marley on her shoulder once more.
"Yep, but not enough," quipped Marley, then squealed when Gibbs tickled her. Both Abby and Gill looked, on laughing at the scene.
Catching her breath some moments later, Marley conceded. "Okay, so when am I supposed to meet them?"
"I'm going to organize it for first thing tomorrow morning. Then Gill can take you out to the National Park to do your community service. We will all be here. Di Nozzo and Ziva are interviewing Patrick's friends, and we need to follow up on Rose's Journals. I'm pretty sure what we find there will take her off the suspect list. "
"Yes, I hardly think Rose is going to send Patrick a photo if she knew he was dead," said Gill.
"Though they might say because of the Bi Polar she just forgot, blocked it out," added Marley.
"Marley, I've worked with Bi Polar people for a long time. I don't believe Rose had anything to do with Patrick's death. If she did send Patrick the picture, it means she didn't totally suppress the fact that he was your father. She had feelings for him. If she did hurt Patrick or argue with him, she would have either suppressed that, too, or she would have revealed it in the many counselling sessions we had. I'm sure it would have come out."
"But she had black outs, Gill. Not all the time, usually when they tried her on new medications. She needed to get used to it. She had a lot more in the beginning before she had me, then when grandma died. Uncle Nic told me."
"We can figure all that out, Marley," said Abbs. "Even if she did argue with him and hit him, she would have had to hit him pretty hard. I suspect a wooden statue with a big…"
"Abby!" snapped Gibbs.
"Anyway, we can pretty much rule out that she shot him. She didn't own a gun, and she couldn't have taken him to the National Forest, especially if she was having an episode. That…"
"Yes, that would have been impossible, Marley," added a confident Gill.
"She couldn't have lifted him, though she could have tied…" Abby started to a hypothesis.
"Enough!" said Gibbs. "Marley, trust me. My gut tells me Rose did not hurt Patrick, and my team will be able to prove that."
"I will be able to prove that, oh God Of Natural Instincts versus Science Master Extraordinaire."
Gibbs gave Abby a stern look. "Abbsss," he warned.
"Oh wise and wonderful grey one," corrected Abby.
"Yep, meanwhile you can meet the Devlins, Marley. Let my team follow up on all the leads, all the suspects. Okay."
"Our Team…Okay."
"Good girl." Gibbs kissed Marley on the top of her head then leaned over and pecked Gill on her cheek. "I'm heading upstairs, see where we're at with the case and the other interviews. Then I'm sending everyone home."
Gill returned Gibbs's peck with a slower kiss to his lips, then smiled. "We're eating out tonight. I've booked Italian."
"You two! Boy do you mind… Hey! Why don't you guys get married and officially adopt me. Then the Devlins couldn't do anything."
"Hey, knucklehead, they won't take you away. Stop worrying. We will be there with you," affirmed Gibbs, once again.
"Okay, but I don't wanna go out to dinner. You two go, I'll just stay home and watch a little television."
"Not on your own," said Gibbs.
"I've stayed alone before… I can…"
"I'll stay with you, Marley." Abby smiled. "Yep we can organize stuff for tomorrow, watch a good movie. How about I pick up some pizza?'
Marley looked up hopefully at Gill and Gibbs. "Good idea, you two can have some alone time."
Gibbs smiled and raised one eyebrow.
Gill giggled, "Okay, Marley, good idea. It's been a big weekend, so early to bed."
"Sure thing. You two go out, have a romantic dinner for two and stay out late as you like. I'll be fast asleep when you get home. I mean like nothing will wake me up. I'll be dead to the world." Marley winked.
"You better be," Gibbs winked back, then took Gill by the arm and headed for the elevator. "Meet us in the bullpen in five minutes, Marley."
"I will, Dad." Marley giggled, and as soon as the door closed she turned to Abby. "I could have gone with them now, guess they want some alone time in the elevator, too… "
"Oh, Marley…. Yep, maybe," Abby and Marley burst out laughing together.
"So, what movie do you want to see?" asked Abby.
"Oh, I don't care. Nothing 'mushy'; something to take my mind off having to meet the Devlins."
"Don't worry, Marley, you heard Gibbs and Gill."
"Yeah, but what if they don't like me, Abby?"
"How could they not."
"Damn… What if they do? You heard Gibbs. That Lilith Devlin, she probably won't give up. She'll probably want custody."
"Marley, they would have to go through a lot of red tape to get it. You're in a witness protection program, which not easily overturned."
"But they could still try. Like you said, who wouldn't want me."
Abby and Marley locked eyes; taking in each other's forlorn and concerned expression. Marley then spotted a sudden glint in Abby's eyes. Then a smile came to her lips. Marley brightened, almost reading Abby's mind.
"Hmmmm, I've got an idea!" They said in unison.
Cut away to NCIS headquarters. The conference room, 0900. Gill and Gibbs are standing just outside the conference door. Lilith and Angus Devlin are inside, anxiously waiting to meet Marley.
"Where's Marley?" asked Gibbs.
"She's a little nervous, Jethro. She wanted to see Abby before she met the Devlins. I gave her five minutes."
"Fair enough. What about you, Gill?"
"I'm a total professional, Gibbs. Actually. I think it is a good idea that Marley knows she has more relatives that care. Though, the new mom in me is as nervous as hell. I was kind of hoping they were rotten uncaring people, and we get Marley all to ourselves without any of the hassle, if they should want more contact."
"They seem like good people, Gill.
Gill scowled. "Yes, so far….Hmm well, the professional in me would probably encourage more contact, and…"
"And the mom… Might not like it, but she loves the kid so much she would want what's best."
Gill sighed. "How did you know I was going to say that?"
Gibbs kissed her softly on the lips. "I'm clever, too."
"You are," she said and returned the kiss with a smile.
"As long as they see Marley is well cared for, happy and safe, I don't think they will make a move for any changes. At least, not until the investigation is over and then perhaps NCIS may grant more visits if they seek it. But, Marley and Nic will have a choice." Gibbs assured Gill, before turning the doorknob.
Gill placed her hand on his just before he could open the door. "Good, I want what Marley wants."
Lilith Devlin heard the click of the doorknob and quickly turned to see Gill and Gibbs enter. She excitedly looked past the agent and the young woman she had met last night, hoping to see the grandchild that she had searched for years ago. Lilith had had a sleepless night. She couldn't believe it when Agent Gibbs had called to tell them that they had found Patricks biological child, and that a meeting could be arranged at headquarters with him and the little girl's counselor. She was curious as to why the child was under their protection and her identity hidden, but conceded when it was explained that it was in the child's best interest and safety that she remain so. Lilith and Angus agreed that the meeting should take place here and be supervised. To be honest, Lilith really couldn't have cared less where they were or who would be in the room, she just wanted to meet Marley. Marley; a nice name for a little girl… Patrick's little girl; her grandchild.
Her smile faded when the couple closed the door behind them. "Where is she, Agent Gibbs? Is something wrong? We've told no one we are meeting with her, no one."
Lilith's sincere and desperate questions made Gill feel guilty. "Everything is fine, Mrs Devlin."
"She will here in a moment," added Gibbs as he took a seat at the head of the long table.
"A case of nerves, "explained Gill, taking a seat opposite the couple.
Lilith Devlin gave a relaxed smile. "Oh, thank you, Miss Riggs."
"You're welcome. Thank you for agreeing to meet with us here. Marley's protection orders are very complicated. Her appointed guardians were specifically selected and are happy to have the meeting, but her safety and unanimity is of the utmost priority."
Gibbs hid the smirk that tugged at his lips at Gill's over-protectiveness and the clinical professional she was presenting.
"We understand," nodded Angus.
The room remained uncomfortably silent for a moment, until Lilith grabbed her handbag and started rummaging through it. "I bought something…" she mumbled, "of Patrick's I thought Marley might like to have." She drew out a chain with a ring attached to it. "I'm sorry; I should have thought to ask you first, though. Perhaps it needs to be scanned."
Gibbs leaned over and took the pendant. "If it was in your handbag, it was scanned at the security checkpoint downstairs." Gibbs examined the chain with a toy ring dangling from it. He rolled the ring around in his hand, looking at the insignia. "A genuine, GI Joe; I think Marley will be impressed."
"I imagine you think I'm a silly old woman, keeping something like that," blushed Lilith.
"No more silly than a Polly Pocket doll," slipped Gibbs.
"She's kept just about everything that belonged to Patrick. I really don't think it's been all that healthy," stated Angus.
"It's very normal and very healthy," commented Gill. "I think passing on the ring is a very good idea, Mrs. Devlin. Marley has had no knowledge of Patrick and has only recently learned about him. It may give her the human connection she needs."
"Please call me Lilith," smiled Mrs Devlin. Gibbs handed back the keepsake. Lilith took it and started turning it around in her fingers as she spoke. "It was very special to Patrick when he was Marley's age. He'd decided then that he wanted to join the military. It took some convincing to get this off his finger. I remember his finger had started to turn green. He finally agreed when I bought the chain, sterling silver, so he could wear it around his neck," she laughed.
"Memories are very precious, Lilith, and yours are delightful," encouraged Gill. She couldn't help warming to the woman.
Suddenly there came a light knock to the door.
"Come in, Marley," invited Gibbs.
The door slowly opened as Marley poked her head through. Gill put her hand to her mouth in order to stifle a gasp at Marley's appearance, while Gibbs subtly shook his head. Marley's short black hair had been assailed with enough product to re-enforce the Eifel Tower. The top spikes had been colored with her signature purple streaks. Her small petite face had been smothered in foundation of paler skin tones with thick eyeliner on both the bottom and top lids. Her naturally long lashes were even more accentuated with heavy mascara. The smoky dark eye shadow made her look like a miniature Goth. The nose, eyebrow, and lip piercings along with the studded dog collar completed the typecast image.
Gibbs dry rubbed his face, wondering what other details Abby had added. He was in no doubt that the two of them had planned this last night while he and Gill were at dinner.
Angus Devlin looked a little taken back, but Lilith did not flinch an inch. Her smile grew broad and her eyes danced with a silent invite for Marley to enter. She stood ready to pounce and embrace the child. Angus grabbed her hand and gently squeezed to temper her enthusiasm. She sat down, but her eyes followed as Marley entered the room.
Marley stood at the end of the table. At first her stance was timid, with her hands clasped in front of her demurely. She then suddenly slouched, put her hands in her pockets and chewed a wad of gum she must have had stored in the side of her mouth.
Gibbs coughed as he perused the rest of her outfit. Abby didn't surprise. Rather, she surpassed her previous skill of transformation that she had used weeks ago on Ziva. Marley was dressed in a long sleeve black T-shirt with chains, short, ripped denim shorts, black tights and a pair of purple Doc Martins with orange shoelaces and chunky built up soles.
Gibbs called her over and pointed to the seat next to Gill, who watched speechless as the twelve year old unsteadily clomped her way over and sat down.
Lilith Devlin could contain her excitement no longer. "Hello, Marley, I am so very happy to meet you."
Marley continued to chew on her gum, offering no response.
"Marley, Mrs Devlin offered you a greeting," said Gibbs tersely.
Marley rolled her eyes, "Oh hi, happy you're happy," she stated dryly, then looked down and started picking at her black painted nails.
"Marley, GUM!" Gibbs tore a page from his note book and held it out, expecting her to take it and wrap the gum up, before throwing it in the waste basket.
"What's the problem with it," she blurted out, all the while staring defiantly at the Devlins. She blew a bubble, popped it, then scooped back into her mouth with her tongue.
"It's rude, Marley. Do as Agent Gibbs asked," ordered Gill, though secretly seeing the funny side of it all. It didn't take a genius to see what Marley was up to, but Gill was confident that the true Marley would not be able to sustain the persona of the rebellious teenager she attempting to portray.
Marley took it out of mouth and slapped the sticky glob onto the piece of paper in Gibbs's outstretched hand. Marley nearly slunk back into her chair at the glare Gibbs gave her. But she remained in character, not with any help from Gill, as a slight giggle escaped from her surrogate mother's lips.
Gill was well aware that Marley was determined to have the Devlins dislike her or not want to be involved with a troubled teen with a bad attitude. She should have stepped in, but Gibbs's expression was just too much. Subconsciously, she also hoped that Marley's little game worked. It was unprofessional of her, but Gill was fighting that internal battle also. Hidden there was the fear of losing Marley. Gibbs's reassurances were valid and strong, but her emotions were driven by the slightest doubt and the knowledge that some things in life were never a certainty. Gill quickly dropped her eyes from Gibbs, and looked at the Devlins. Angus Devlin was definitely frowning, and Gill suspected he was keeping his reactions in check, suppressing the urge to scold the child in front of him. Lilith again smiled, unperturbed. Gill wondered for a moment whether she was on sedatives and oblivious to the misbehaviour. Gill changed her mind, when the woman's eyes sparkled as they took in the sight of Marley. Gill perceived a genuine and sincere expression on Patrick's mother's face. Marley could be just about doing or saying anything and the woman would have just continued to revel in the thought of her grandchild; found and in front of her. Gill recognized and couldn't help but empathize with the tears of recognition and joy that ran down the woman's face.
"You have your father's eyes, Marley," said Lilith. "He had those little speckles at the bottom of his irises, just like you."
Marley looked away. She found it hard to stay hardnosed and in character in front of the lady with the kind face and tears in her eyes. "Yeah, I hate them. They look like a fly shit in my eyes. Guess it's better than a bird poopin' on your head, though. That happened to a friend of mine. He looked like an old douche bag with grey sideburns."
"The Chinese say that's a lucky sign," said Angus.
"What a bird poopin' on your head? Hmmft, suppose so. Guess lucky it wasn't a cow friggin dumpin a shit on your head instead."
Gill and Lilith both laughed, though both Angus and Gibbs stuck with their sobering scowls.
"Enough with the bad language, Marley," Gibbs growled low. "Your grandfather means the speckles in your eyes are a sign of luck."
"Yeah? Oh okay, we'll see how that turns out, won't we?"
"Yes, we will, young lady. I'd appreciate you using appropriate language, also. Your grandmother is being friendly. Your terminology is unacceptable."
"My terminology… Jeesh, it's not like I said fuck."
"Marley! Enough."
"Well, I didn't, Agent Gibbs, I didn't say fuck or…"
Gibbs leaned in real close and whispered through clenched teeth. "Marley, one more outburst, and we are going to be having a short recess, with a long discussion. "
Marley snapped her head back at the Devlins, trying to shake Gibbs's threat from her mind. "You're my grandfather? What's your name?"
"You know their names, Marley."
"You can call me Lilith, if you like, Marley. I understand that all this may be a little uncomfortable and unsettling for you. We just wanted to meet you. Your father, Patrick…"
Marley cut the woman off. "He wasn't my father, just the sperm donor, Lilith," she responded sarcastically.
Lilith's smiled dropped. She looked away, trying to hide her discomfort and sadness.
Gibbs growled again, quickly losing his patience with Marley and her cold hearted and rude responses.
Marley got the non verbal cue and looked down at her hands. "Sorry for your loss, Ma'am."
"That's better," whispered Gill and grabbed Marley's hand and gave it a little squeeze.
"Thank you, Marley. I appreciate your sincerity," smiled Lilith, a little happier.
Marley looked at Gibbs's nod of approval. She chewed on her bottom lip and faced the Devlins again, pasting a wide smile on her face. "Not to worry, though. NCIS agents are the best. They're sure to catch the cocksuckers that killed your boy by the end of the week. Then you can get the hell out of here."
Gibbs jumped to his feet and hauled Marley up by her T-shirt collar and tucked her under his arm. "Excuse us."
FREEZE FRAME: CUT to mid shot of Gibbs with Marley tucked under his arm. He is in mid stride as he heads towards the door. Marley's legs are captured; frozen in the process of several desperate kicks, while her facial expression is frozen in surprise. Convert black and white. CUT.
TBC
Chapter 9 : SNAFU – Situation Normal, All Fouled Up.
A.N. Sorry for the wait, but real life is unbelievably busy at the moment. I haven't worked on this as much as I probably should, so all mistakes are my own. Just the same please feel free to point them out, I'd like to fix them. Big thank you to Harliquinn, for the quick turn around on the edits.
You might like to add to your clues:
Photograph sent to Patrick, twelve months after Patrick's disappearance. Most likely sent by Rose, and delivered by Daniel Fitzgerald Patrick's flat mate. Her motivations seem plausible and indicate that she is a less likely candidate as Patrick's murderer, though her Journals and medical files may shed more light.
Angus and Henry Lau Quing export business in Shanghais appears to have been a cover for Henry Lau Quing arms dealing. It is uncertain whether Angus Devlin had knowledge of Lau Quing's dealings. Henry Lau Quing is now the major suspect.
The Devlin's and Henry lau Quing both frequent the Belvedere when in DC. Gibbs gut tells him this is where Patrick may have been killed.
Henry Lau Quing, alias Ling Pau Ling, wanted for arms dealing, has eluded SecNav for thirteen years.
The Delivins have known of Marley's existence, but not the details.