Very special agent Tony DiNozzo leaned back in his chair at his desk and rubbed his eyes. He had been out at the scene interviewing witnesses and canvassing the area for anyone who had seen a man matching the description of the man known as Michael Delaney.
When McGee had called to tell him that Abby had gotten a match on the fingerprints from the Interpol database. It turned out the mans real name was Martin Delaney. Other than his name, picture, and he fact that apparently the man was a wanted criminal, the London authorities refused to release any more information.
Tony heard the elevator ding and looked up to see his Boss Special Agent Leroy Jethro Gibbs walk into the bullpen sipping a large cup of coffee. " What do you got DiNozzo?" Gibbs asked as he turned to face the big screen on the wall. Tony quickly stood up.
" Martin Delaney a.k.a. Michael Delaney arrived in DC last night on a flight from London. After arriving he almost immediately sought out a prostitute. Her name is Hannah Evans a.k.a. Angel. After 'transacting business' with her he paid her, and was leaving when one of her regular clients showed up."
Special Agent Ziva David spoke up. "The clients name was Petty Officer Bryan Jones. Jones CO said that he had been reprimanded twice in the last year for not controlling his temper. Jones had apparently been seeing Hannah Evans regularly for the past two years."
"Bank accounts show regular withdraws twice a week for the past twenty-two months." special agent McGee interjected.
Glaring at the other two Tony said " Going back to Delaney, it would seem that this was simply a random act of violence. By all accounts Petty Officer Jones started the fight. Delaney simply finished it, according to Ducky, by beating the man to death with his bare fists." he smiled as he remembered the monologue the medical examiner had gone into on fisticuffs. A slap to the back of the head brought him out of his thoughts and back into the present.
"What else do we have on Delaney?" Gibbs questioned raising an eyebrow at Tony.
" The Brits seem to be keeping this one close to the vest. However," he hurried on as Gibbs glowered. " The man I talked to said that they were flying two officers over to bring the file and assist with the investigation." Gibbs nodded the scowl replaced by a thoughtful look.
Tony wondered at the lack of tension in the air, it was a well known fact that Gibbs did not usually play nice with other agencies. He hated sharing his cases, and normally he would be storming into Vance's office about now.
Then as if on cue the elevator dinged again. An older, heavy set, balding man, and a smaller, blond, scruffy looking younger man stepped out of the elevator. The older man stopped the first person he saw and was obviously asking them or directions. Tony watched as the two men walked toward them.
The older man walked up to Gibbs "Bonjour Jethro."
Gibbs gave a small grin "Bonjour Jack"
"It has been a while Agent Gibbs."
"That it has, haven't seen you since Paris. Who's your young friend here?" he motioned to the second man.
"This is DC Michael Webb."
"Mickey." The younger man corrected with a knowing smile at Jack.
"Boss you know these guys?" Gibbs just looked at Tony then turned his attention back to Meadows. "You said on the phone you would explain when you arrived?"
"Of course if you can provide somewhere private, I can tell you the whole story as to why I asked to assist with the Delaney case." Meadows assured hurriedly.
"Boss? You already knew they were coming, and you didn't tell me?" Tony whined.
Gibbs sighed and focused his attention on his Senior Field Agent "I don't tell you everything DiNozzo."
" Of course not Boss, that's why you're the Boss." Tony backpedaled quickly, hoping to avoid a headslap.
"Show them to the conference room Agent DiNozzo." Gibbs instructed rolling his eyes at the inquisitiveness of his senior agent.
"Yes Boss. On it Boss." He turned to the two Detectives. " Follow me please."
As they walked toward the conference room Tony tried to strike up a conversation "So you said you're a DCI and he is a DC, what does that mean?" he asked, looking curiously at the DCI.
"They are ranks of detectives. DC, Detective Constable, is the lowest rank then DS, Detective Sergeant, DI, Detective Inspector, and DCI Detective Chief Inspector, etcetera."
The younger of the pair gave a self-deprecating smile. "I used to be a DS but I failed to inform my DCI at the time that I was working a case with Jack. After I was demoted , Jack offered me back my old job at Sun Hill as a DC." Jack smiled.
"Mickey you' re a good copper, and I was glad to have you back."
Tony was confused "Back? Old Job?" They had reached the conference room, and he motioned for them to sit at the large table in the center of the room.
"I worked at Sun Hill as DC before. I started there in 2000 then in 2003 I transferred to another agency, where I became a DS. About 18 months later, Jack asked me for help on a case, the one I failed to tell my DCI about."
"Why would your DCI care if you were assisting in an investigation?" Tony questioned curiously.
"I was supposed to be on leave at the time." Something in the DC's eye told Tony not to pry any further. The two detectives seemed reluctant to share very much more without the whole group present, so Tony made small talk discussing movies with Mickey until the others got there.
Soon enough everyone had joined them including Ducky who Gibbs seemed to think might offer some insights into the way Delaney's mind worked. Mickey's only comment to that was that inside Delaney's mind was a very scary place to be.
As soon as everyone was gathered Mickey stood up. The DC looked a little bit pale, and slightly shaky, but at an encouraging look from Jack, he took a deep breath. "We first made contact with Delaney in 2003. He was using the alias Edward "Eddy" McGowan. He was brought to our attention by a Tom who said a client had been robbing some of her friends."
"Tom who? Do you know his last name?" Ziva asked. Mickey looked at him confused then realized the misunderstanding.
"A Tom, a prostitute, or 'escort' in this case." A tense look passed between Mickey and the DCI. Mickey shook his head almost imperceptibly. He wasn't going to reveal the nature of Jacks relationship to Rachel. That really was a separate issue other than the fact it had created the rift between them that Mickey had been trying to heal when he had gone after Delaney alone.
"Wonderful" Ziva complained "it's not enough to keep track of American idioms, now I have to try to comprehend British ones too." Tony grinned and she sighed. Mickey smiled. "Her name is Rachel Heath, she was concerned because he had threatened one of the girls. He had said that he would remember her and come back and rape her." Mickey swallowed hard remembering the warning signs he had been given, but had ignored, never believing it could happen to him.
"Everyone crosses me DC Webb leaves a debt"
Gibbs watched the DC carefully, he seemed to be remembering something, then he paled even more. Gibbs placed a hand on the mans shoulder. "You alright?" Mickey jerked violently, then seemed to shake himself out of whatever memory he was fighting with.
"What? Yeah, Yeah, I'm fine." He lowered his eyes to the case file, not that he needed to look at it he already knew it by heart. "Anyway, Rachel volunteered to help set up a sting. We hoped to catch 'McGowan' in the act of stealing. Unfortunately he didn't take the bait, however Rachel lifted his wallet, and we discovered that he was using a stolen identity, he was in possession of the Real Eddie McGowan's drivers license and credit cards. Later that day, Delaney was involved in a traffic accident, at which time he was arrested for pulling a knife on police officers."
"So you arrested him for pulling a knife, I still don't get why this case is such a big deal you couldn't have told us that on the phone. Did you really have to fly all the way here for that?" Tony was skeptical. Gibbs reached over and head slapped Tony.
"Pay attention DiNozzo, he's obviously not done yet." Tony flinched and then smiled at Gibbs. "Yes Boss."
"After Delaney's arrest I interviewed him. I was trying to find out what had happened to the real Eddy McGowan. During the interview Delaney said some things. He said that McGowan had owed him, and he had collected. Later we discovered that McGowan had stood by and watched while Delaney was raped in prison, by one Trevor Macon."
Jack broke in here, "Our psychologists phrased it as Delaney has a 'pathological need to exact revenge on those he feels have wronged him.'" Mickey remembered hearing that phrase, only two days after he had been raped. He wasn't sure he was going to be able to do this. "Guv" he whispered. Alarmed Jack got up from his seat and took Mickey gently by the arm leading him to a chair. The NCIS team watched as DCI Meadows poured a glass of water from the pitcher on the table and handed it to Mickey. "Just sip it Mickey. Are you going to be alright?"
Slowly Mickey regained his composure "Yeah Guv, I'll be ok, I can do this."
"Are you certain?" Jack looked at him with worry. Mickey merely nodded.
" Due to an error, Delaney was released from the booking area by mistake. When this was discovered a search was started. After he escaped, Delaney assaulted Rachel Heath, the escort who had set him up.' Mickey avoided Jacks eyes during this part, as he remembered how angry Jack had been at him for allowing Delaney to escape custody, and hurt Rachel. "He also broke into the home of Fiona McGowan, the wife of Eddy McGowan, and beat her. Both Rachel Heath and Fiona McGowan ended up in the hospital due to the severity of their injuries." Jack knew that the hard part was coming soon. He just hoped Mickey could get through it. "I tracked Deaney to the train station, I called DCI Meadows, and he was coming to meet me, but things went south. Delaney showed up early. I thought I could handle him. I chased him into an abandoned warehouse but he hit me over the head with something." He took a deep breath, "When I came to I was tied up. My mobile started to ring, but Delaney took it out of my pocket and smashed it." Mickey rubbed his wrists where the rope burns had been for days afterwards. Tears sprung into his eyes clouding his vision as memories assaulted him.
That's what your good at though, isn't it? Fantasies. Mickey had taunted
I got a nice one about you Mickey. Delaney smirked.
Finally Delaney telling him "First it was Rachel, then the lovely Jane, now it's your turn."
"I tried so hard to get away." he whispered. "Then he raped me." Mickey was sobbing now. Jack drew him into an embrace as he had the first time he had heard those words. "You're alright." he held the younger man close and rocked him just like the last time. Mickey buried his face in the older man's chest and clung to him like a small child. Gibbs silently motioned for the rest of the shocked team to clear the room. Once they got outside he barked orders "Abby's lab now. McGee make sure the security cameras are disabled."
"Yes Boss." McGee hurried to do as he was told.
When everyone was gathered in the lab, Gibbs addressed them.
"Everything you just heard about DC Webb is to be kept confidential." he looked pointedly at McGee "This story had better not end up in one of your books. I don't care if you change the name. I will find out. Understood?" he looked around the group meeting each person's eyes. Each agent nodded seriously. McGee blushed because story ideas had already been running through his head, but he met his bosses eyes and nodded his promise as well.
"Good, now I am going to go check on our guests, you stay here I'll call when they're ready."