Chapter 3
The next morning
Jimmy parked his car and made his way to Autopsy. This last days were so so boring that he was wishing for a case, it didn't have to be a murder, just a suicide would do. Of course that he had always things to do, but they did not really need a lot of brain work to get done. And he needed to keep his mind busy. An empty mind leads to wandering, wich leads to remembering, and he did not want that.
He entered the cold room as always, at the same time he did everyday, with the same smile he always had, if Jimmy Palmer was anything, it was a predictable man.
" Good morning Dr. Mallard. "
" Ah. Good morning Mr. Palmer. How was your evening? "
" It was fine Dr. How was yours? "
" It was rather dull, Mr. Palmer. How about you? Did you do something interesting? "
Jimmy looked kind of surprised. Normally when he asked Dr. Mallard a question he would listen for a long story about what his mentor had done, followed by a long history of his past or of someone he once knew. The speech would last at least half an hour. He was not ready for such a short and to the point answer.
" Uhhn... It was a normal night Dr, nothing out of the ordinary. "
Dr. Mallard actually looked kind of disappointed with this answer.
" Well, lest find ourselves some work Mr Palmer? Why don't you organize the supplies? "
" Right away Dr. "
The day only got weirder as the hours went by.
He was bringing some files to Abby. Normally she would grab the files speaking of some interesting fact about some sample and tell to leave her ' domain '. Instead of that, she barely looked at the files pull him a seat, told him to sit and asked him a million questions about his day, what he did the previous night, what he normally did on his time off work. When he gave her his usual vague answers she did not seem happy, but did say anything about it.
On his break, he met Tim and Tony in the break room. They immediately greeted him enthusiastically and began making small talk, asking him questions or speaking about something themselves and asking what he thought or if he liked the same thing etc. He still gave them the same vague answers. Usually they wouldn't mind his vagueness, just like all of his coworkers, but today he had the same weird reaction as Dr. Mallard and Abby, the look of disappointment. Ziva didn't ask him any questions, but he could feel her eyes on him. Gibbs acted as he always did, but his stares were, somehow, even harder.
That much weird behavior in one day, got him on edge. ' What's going on? Why the sudden interest in my private life? Did I do something different or bizarre yesterday? I can't remember anything. It can't be case related when don't have any. ' He was leaning agaist the door of the bathroom, he needed a private place to think. ' The questions were friendly enough. They didn't pressure when I wouldn't give any real information. Maybe it's just something that they talked about? Usually they are pretty oblivious about me. Maybe they finally noticed that they don't realy know me. Oh great! Now they won't stop asking questions. And when DiNozzo gets curious he's like a dog with a bone! And Abby! She's as stubborn as a rock. If I manage to get them distracted from the subject the others won't be a challenge.' He sighed. ' But HOW? The only thing that can get Abby out of it is a case. A REALLY hard case, with no forensics, or too much of it, specially if it makes no sense. A really hard case would also make sure that DiNozzo is tired enough to forget about me. Oh Heavens! I'm praying for a crazy person with murderous intentions.' He sighed again and left the bathroom, washed his hands and his face and made his way back to Autopsy.
Somehow the universe listened to his prayer, the moment he walked into Autopsy, Dr. Mallard received a call. They had a case!