The next day, Charity sat at her desk, lost in thought. Her team along with Tony and dan, were going over everything they'd found. Whichs really wasn't much. Wendy was in Abby's lab. Charity wasn't really worried about her, at least not at the moment. At the moment, all she could think about was why Mike wouldn't help.
How can I figure this out? She thought. Why won't Mike help? What did he find ten years ago? Then it hit her that the only thing she had was the guy that had tried to kill Wendy. He was still in interrogation.
Suddenly she rose and started for the elevator. "Where are you going, boss?" Burley asked.
"Interrogation." Charity answered.
"That guy won't crack." Burley replied.
"You mean he hasn't cracked for you." Charity countered. Then she hopped on the elevator and headed down.
Tony and Burley both headed for the stairs. They raced down the stairs and got down just as Charity walked into interrogation. They walked over to observation. Charity had just walked in and sat down in front of the men.
"Hello." Charity greeted him her voice cold.
"Hello, Charity." He replied, working to throw her off balance by knowing her name.
Charity kept her cool. "You know who I am? Then you know it's better if you just give up the information now."
The man chuckled. He had dark brown hair with a touch of gray at the temple. His lips curled into a cruel smile and wrinkles formed at the corners of his dark brown eyes. "I've been through every interrogation technique ever. Some of them would make the little hairs on the back of your pretty little neck stand up. Nothing that you can do working inside the law can help you."
Charity felt a chill run down her spone, but she controlled herself and kept the shudder inside. She narrowed her eyes at him. "Why? Who are you?" she asked.
"Part of my job training." He answered. "And I am no one."
"Why did you come after the reporter?" She asked.
"My job." He answered again. "She was getting too close to the truth. The truth can't come out. It can't be known to the general public."
"Then what is the truth?" Charity asked.
"If I told you, then I'd have to kill you."
"If you tell me then things would be much easier for you."
The man leaned in across the table. "I know Mike told you to keep your distance. You would be wise to listen to your mentor. He was wise to listen to us ten years ago."
Tony and Burley stayed on the other side of the glass, watching. Tony was having a hard time keeping himself from going in there and getting his wife out. Then, Director Shepard walked in the room interrogation room.
"Agent DiNozzo, this interrogation is over." She said, her tone athoratative. Then she looked at the man. "And you're free to go. Your ride is here."
The man smiled at her. "Thank you, Madame Director."
"Call me that again, and I don't care who is releasing you, you're getting keel hauled." Jenny told the man.
He just smiled at her. "Have a good day ladies." Then he left.
Charity rose from her chair and looked at her director. "What the hell was that about?" She asked.
"I am your director. You will show me your respect." Jenny told her.
"Fine." Charity replied anger in her voice. "What the hell was that about, Director?"
"Sec. Nav. called me and I was told to release that man and we are to drop this case. Miss Miller can leave and won't be threatened as long as she stays away." Jenny answered. "All the Reese family is to know is that their family members died serving their country." Then she turned on her heels and left.
Charity huffed indignantly. Then she walked out of the room and started back for the elevator. Tony and Burley following her. The trio rode the elevator in silence. They stepped off in the squadroom. Abby had brought Wendy up and she was sitting at Charity's desk.
"Boss, is something wrong?" McGee asked.
"Yes, we've been told to end our work on the case." She answered.
"Why?" McGee asked.
"Orders from the Secretary of the Navy." Charity answered. "Also on his orders, our suspect was released."
"You mean the man that tried to kill me?" Wendy asked.
"Yes, that one." Charity answered.
"There's only one explanation for this." Burley spoke up.
"Oh, I know this one." Ziva said. "Ghosts? Right?"
"Spooks." Charity corrected.
"Spooks?" Dan asked.
"Off the books military." Burley explained. "They are usually unofficial and do questionable things."
"Working outside the regular rules and regulations." Charity added. "There's never an official record of them and the things that they do so they can get by with more."
"Our government does that?" Wendy asked.
Charity turned to Wendy. "Yes, they do. There are lots of things that the general public is kept in the dark about. For our own safety."
"But that's wrong." Wendy countered. "The public needs to know about these things."
"That's another thing." Charity told Wendy. "You're free to go and safe as long as you don't pursue this anymore."
"But why?" Wendy asked.
"Because, it's a top secret military organization that will do anything to keep their secrets." came a familiar gruff voice.
Charity turned and saw Mike. "I thought you weren't helping?"
"I know you." Mike replied.
"So, were you ordered to stop by Sec. Nav. ten years ago?" Charity asked.
"Yes, but I didn't stop." Mike answered. "Once I found the truth, they threatened the one thing in this world that I care about."
"What?" Charity asked.
"You Darlin."