"How is it that you've been tracking this guy for years, but managed to miss this?" Burley asked Fornell.
"Hey, you guys are the ones working the case and didn't even notice that the murder was the same MO." Fornell replied.
"Hey, Charity isn't here and she is the only one who would have known that because she is the one that worked on the case before." Burley countered.
"Maybe we should call her then." Fornell suggested. "She could give us some useful information on this guy."
"Maybe." Burley agreed. He pulled out his cell as they stepped off the elevator and dialed Charity's cell number. He hung up a few seconds later as they walked into Abby's lab. "Straight to voice mail."
"Whose phone went straight to voice mail?" Abby asked.
"Charity's." Burley answered. "I guess she has her cell turned off while she is on leave."
"No, she is just in Stillwater." Abby replied. "There's no cell phone reception there."
"Why is she there?" Fornell asked.
"She and Tony took AJ to visit her grandfather." Abby answered.
"And how is it you know this and the rest of us, don't?" Burley inquired.
"She told me when I went to visit the other day on my lunch." Abby replied simply.
"You have anything from that flash drive yet?" Burley asked.
"Not yet. I am working on it." Abby replied. "I will let you know as soon as I have something."
Burley and Fornell left the lab then and went back to the squad room. "Ziva, McGee, what do ya got?" Burley asked.
"Well, from the old file, Edward Hunter Smith, was a complete crazy job." Ziva answered.
"Nut job." McGee corrected.
"Whatever, he was a serial killer. He stalked, captured, tortured, and then killed thirty women before he was captured." Ziva answered.
"Then he faked his death three years ago." McGee added. "I've already been to the prison and spoken with the guards and then went and got their evidence from the incident. It is being taken to Abby's lab."
"Good." Burley replied.
It was a couple of hours later, when Abby was letting them know what she had found on the flash drive. On the flash drive, were locations of three warehouses. A plan was formed and teams were formed between NCIS and the FBI. Burley and Fornell were in charge of one team, while Ziva led another team, and Agent Sacks led the third.
They were prepared for anything other than what they found. In each warehouse, there were large freezers which contained the mutilated remains of several women. "My…what in the hell?" Fornell breathed as he opened one of the freezers.
"This guy is seriously twisted." Burley said, having a hard time keeping from throwing up.
They went further into the warehouse, hoping to find their killer or any sign of where he might be. They made their way into a makeshift office at the back of the warehouse. "Have you guys made it back to the office yet?" Sacks asked over to the link. "I see where he has stalked several of the victims."
"Me as well." Ziva answered over the link as well.
"We know who the next victim is." Fornell replied as he and Burley looked at the news articles and photos that were taped, glued, and tacked to the wall in a strange web formation.
"Well, we need to get the information to Abby so she can identify who it is." Ziva replied.
"There's no need for that." Burley replied. "We just have to get to find a way to contact Charity and then get to Stillwater."
Tony and Charity…
Tony was standing, cradling AJ in his arms. Charity was standing at the stove working on dinner and Jackson was just walking in the door. "Short stack, are you cooking?" Jackson asked as he entered the room.
"Of course." Charity answered. "Since we did just show up and not call ahead of time to tell you we were coming, I thought I'd cook."
"This is a good surprise, though." Jackson replied. "And I have plenty of room for my family."
"I'm still cooking." Charity replied.
"Okay, but I'm making you guys chili tomorrow." Jackson replied.
"And pancakes for breakfast?" Charity asked, hopefully.
Jackson chuckled. "Of course, a short stack for my short stack."
"Pancakes and chili, tomorrow." Tony mused. "Sounds like we're going to get spoiled here, AJ."
"I have to give you guys a reason to keep visiting." Jackson replied, his tone teasing.
Charity finished cooking the chicken and moved it off of the burner. She then finished up the gravy, mashed potatoes, and green beans. They were all sitting down at the table eating and talking, AJ laying in a bassinet not far from Charity, when the phone rang. "I'll get that." Jackson said, starting to get up.
"No, you sit down, Pappy." Charity replied. "I'll get it."
"This is my house, I'll get it." Jackson countered, getting up and heading for the phone. He picked it up. "Hello?"
"Is this Jackson Gibbs?" asked a somewhat familiar male voice.
"Yes." Jackson answered.
"Is Charity there?"
"Yes, whom may I say is calling?"
"Burley."
"Okay, hold on a second." Jackson then held the phone away from his mouth and turned to Charity. "It's for you. Some guy named Burley. Isn't that one of your coworkers?"
"Yeah." Charity replied, getting up and walking over to take the phone. She held it to her ear. "I have a baby and go away for a few weeks and you already can't handle it Burley? And how did you get this number?"
"Good to talk to you, too Boss." Burley replied. "I'm actually on my way to Stillwater."
"What? Why?" Charity asked.
"Do you remember Edward Hunter Smith?"
Hearing that name made Charity's blood run cold. "Yes…he killed himself in prison."
"He faked his death, Boss." Burley replied. "And he's been killing again."
"So, you need me to tell you how to catch him like I did last time?" Charity replied, though she knew that wouldn't be why Burley was calling and on his way.
"I think you know better than that, Boss."
"Thank for the warning." Charity replied. She spoke with Burley a few more moments before hanging up the phone. She felt like ice was running through her veins. If it had just been her, she'd be fine, she wouldn't have this overwhelming sense of dread. But it wasn't just her anymore. She had Tony and AJ now and they were in her grandfather's house. She had so much more to lose now.