Chapter 5
The next morning, the group were now sitting or standing round the bullpen, Sima was sharing Ellie's desk but staring at Tony. Tobias had turned up again.
"How many people did you see in the car Sima?" Gibbs asked.
"At NSA, and in the car that you were going to follow?" Steve added.
"Two and two," she replied
"Doesn't mean the body wasn't already dumped or in fact in the back of the car," Ellie added.
"Would say, dumped on way to NSA," Tony added.
"Think we should get the brotha' in for a backroom waltz?" Sima ventured.
"Sima, I am not running a coffee morning here," Gibbs replied.
"Jethro, what Sima is saying, is interrogation, and was thinking put her and Tony in there, just for fun."
"That wise Steve?" Gibbs queried looking at the pair.
"Steve, g'arn, with that dingbat?" his junior officer shouted now standing.
"To right, mate, can hear the earbashing from here," Owen replied.
"McGee, put a BOLO out for the brother?" Gibbs ordered, suddenly realising he didn't actually know the brothers name.
"Tyler Lee," Steve replied.
"Putting BOLO out for Tyler Lee, Boss, but he does work as a chef at the Hunan Dynasty, Pennsylvania Avenue," as Tim brought something up on the screen.
"Well get him in, chop chop," Gibbs ordered.
"Your Boss just make a funny?" Sima asked of Ellie.
"Fornell, you want to stick around or you going to dig something up for us?" Jethro now enquired looking at Tobias.
"I had enough excitement yesterday. I'll go and see what my friends in the FBI task force in LA have got," as Fornell said goodbye and headed for the elevator.
"Ok what are you pair waiting for, go get us a Chinese," looking at Tim and Ellie and smiling.
"What about us Boss?" Tony questioned.
"Interview room one."
-oOo-
Tyler Lee sat looking round the room; he was fidgeting with his fingers and looking at the two way mirror.
"You ready?" Tony asked Sima.
"Yep," as she opened the door, and headed for the room.
"G'day, bit nervous a' we. Want a smoko?" Sima asked throwing her notes on the table and sitting down.
"Why am I here? I haven't done anything wrong," Tyler replied.
"Lost your Australian accent, by the sounds of it," Tony smiled at Tyler, standing with his back to the wall.
"Yep, but that your offsider," he smiled looking at Sima, but pointing to Tony.
"Ya reckon, nah he's the local NCIS agent, Special Agent DiNozzo. Your brotha', heard from him in awhile?" she continued to ask.
"Thought you'd speak more like an Australian, how long have you been in the States?" Tony enquired.
"10yrs, I got citizenship," Tyler answered.
"No ties back home?" Tony continued to question.
"Why should I, my parents divorced, my younger brother stayed with mom, I came here with dad."
"Talking of your brotha', when did you last see him?" Sima asked.
"Couple of days ago, why" Tyler replied shrugging.
"Can you be moar precise, I mean, he was staying with ya right? Sima again questioned.
"Is, just not seen him. I work shifts, he's on vacation but why say was?"
"Because Tyler, he's dead. Lyin' in NCIS autopsy, but we need a formal ID," Sima added.
"No," Tyler cried, "What happened?"
"Bad move Sima, yes, your brother Bruce, I'm afraid has met with an accident, yesterday morning, so when did you last see your brother?" Tony now questioned folding his arms.
"2ish two days ago in the afternoon, he was going to meet a friend. I worked until 2am then went gambling then home about 6ish. I assumed Bruce was there or if not, out with some "Sheila"."
Sima smiled at the answer "Name of Sheila?"
"I don't know, he is a sailor, had a girl in every port."
"When did you get back in touch with your brother?" Tony now asked moving over to the other side of the mirror.
"Didn't, he contacted me, through mom. Said life too short, needed to see family. I knew he was in the Navy, but he said that he was on leave in L.A."
"So what made Bruce come to D.C. apart, from seeing you?" Tony again asked.
"Said, he had a little business, with some Mexican."
"Now when you say Mexican, ya mean an Australian or a Mexican." Sima queried.
"I mean someone called Perdo, from Reynosa," Tyler replied, as Tony turned to look at the mirror.
Behind the screen Gibbs stiffened.
Tyler continued to speak, "Look, Bruce left a note saying he was going on a mission to Edinburg and meeting Pedro and a Donna McAllen, she had a Mercedes, and a sister called Elsa."
"Sounds cryptic to me," Sima replied smiling.
"Not to me," Gibbs whispered.
"Oh, goin' back here Tyler, how did Bruce meet Pedro?" Sima now questioned.
"As far as I know….through some group in LA. Look I'm American now, he's Australian. I know nothing about him. He, was just wanting to meet up, be friends."
"What you not telling us about your family, Tyler," Tony asked quietly seeing fear in the guy's eyes.
As Tyler looked at Sima and then Tony, he had tears in his eyes, "Mum has cancer…six months max, wants to see me before she dies. I don't have much money, I gamble, Bruce said he could get me the money to visit."
"Where's your dad now?"
"He moved back to LA," as the tears now flowed down Tyler's cheeks.
"You believe him?" Steve asked looking at the man, through the two way mirror.
"Oh yes," Gibbs answered.
"I did some checking, the father is back in L.A. and is a successful business man, importing clothing," Tim added.
"And the cryptic note?" Ellie asked shaking her head.
"Hidalgo County, Texas, all names are there," Gibbs just replied looking straight ahead.
"So really a Mexican?" Steve asked shaking his head.
"Steve, I think we need to take a little visit, to see a Alejandro Rivera, I'll brief you on the way," Gibbs concluded as they left the control room.
-oOo-
"Well, well, well, and what do I owe the pleasure of Agent Gibbs today, and this a new friend," Rivera smiled from his seat.
"If I said Chinese Mafia, the Triads that mean anything," a seated Gibbs asked.
"Nope, should it," Alejandro smiled slyly.
"Try the Black Dragons," Steve ventured.
"Prefer Red myself," Rivera replied looking at the pair.
"I don't know what you are talking about? But Red Dragons," Steve ventured.
"South American," Rivera smiled, "Yes those Red Dragons, they are a little misunderstood group."
"You involved?" Gibbs asked.
"From here?" as Alejandro laughed, "Pedro, Paloma's godson, was always the brightest, he reminded her, of our father. I trust you have a pleasant day Agent Gibbs, as I have nothing more to say."