Chapter 20
Ducky was sitting, working on some paperwork when he heard the autopsy door open, followed by a very familiar energetic voice.
" Jimmy?! "
" Abigail. If you are looking for Mr. Palmer, I sent him home not long ago. "
When he looked at her, he saw that she was upset. Biting her lower lip, picking on her nails.
" Did something happened my dear? Does it have to do with the attack to Mr. Palmer's house? "
" No, it's about the Manning case. I just need to talk to Jimmy. He'll explain everything and it will all be fine. "
" What happened my dear? " He walked over to her placing his hands on her shoulders.
" I just don't understand Ducky! "
" Abigail, I wish to help, but I need to know what you are talking about. "
" Come to my lab I'll show you. " And she left.
When Ducky arrived in the lab Abby was not there, he was about to turn to leave when she arrived, Gibbs and the team following.
" Alright guys, I'm going to show you this and you are going to say that there is nothing suspicious about any of it. Go it? "
" Abigail, if you calm down and tell us what is going on, we could be of better help. " Said Ducky, still not understanding what she was talking about.
She took a deep breath, walked to her computer and turned to the rest of them.
" When I arrived today, I noticed that my mouse was out-of-place. It kept bugging me, because I know that I didn't leave it like that. So when I just couldn't take it anymore, I looked on the computer to see what was the last thing it ran. I saw that it had been used after I had left last night. "
" What does this have to do with Mr. Palmer, dear? "
" Well, I looked at the security cameras, and... " She turned and pressed a few keys. A video from the lab started playing.
It showed Abby leaving her lab, Palmer arriving they spoke for a moment then left. Lights out, door closed. A while after the door opened and closed, a figure walked to the computer and turned on the light on it. It was Palmer.
The rest of the team had confused expressions on their faces, except Gibbs that remained expressionless.
They watched as Palmer turned the computer on, and opened the program and played the messages. He lowered his head, closed his eyes, clearly upset.
" Does it have audio? " Asked Gibbs.
" No, I can play the messages so that we know to what he's reacting. " Said Abby, her usual energy gone. She set the messages to start at the same moment they started on the video. Then hit play on the video.
As soon as the message started, video-Jimmy lowered his head, eyes closed, hands gripping the table. As it played on he looked intrigued, then he gave a small smile while saying something, eyes looking at something that wasn't there. His reactions changed through the video, he looked down, up, leaning on the table. Closer to the end of the messages, he started rubbing his left shoulder, a sad expression on his face. Then he spoke one last time as the message ended, sighing. He closed his eyes, took a breath, when he opened them again, all emotion was gone. He played the messages again, turn off the computer and lights and left the lab.
The team stood looking at the screen. What was happening? Why was Palmer going in Abby's lab to play the messages? And why was he so disturbed by them?
" Abigail, I believe that you were able to read his lips to know what he was saying? " Said Ducky, speaking in his usual way, years of working as medical examiner helping him hide his shock.
" Yes Ducky. " She played the part where he spoke the first time. " Here he's saying ' You can't resist the dramatics can you? '. " She played the other time. " Here, he's saying ' I love you, always. ', he sighs, then says, ' I'm sorry about all this love. But it was not enough. I love myself more. '. " She turned from the computer to Gibbs, who was standing next to her. " I'm over reacting right? He's just to shook up about this case. That's it. Isn't it Gibbs? "
He looked at the screen, Palmer's face. All the implications of what they just saw running through his mind.
" He spoke along with the video. " Said Tim, a thoughtful expression on his face.
" I guess we all saw that McObvious. " Shot back Tony, looking down, trying to make sense of the whole situation.
" I'm saying Tony, that in the end of the video, he said, ' Love you, always' at the same time as the woman. He had no way of knowing she would say that, unless he knows who she is. And well enough to be able to predict what she would say. "
" I believe it is safe to assume he was the intended recipient of the message. " Said Ziva, face expressionless.
" But why wouldn't he say anything? How does he know this woman? " Said Abby. " Do you think this is why his apartment was shot at yesterday? That she tried to kill him? "
" It would seem that way. " Said Ducky. " He has acted strange since he got here today, or should I say, ever since we arrived from the crime scene. "
" You think he knew about her involvement from the beginning. "
" I don't know what to think. But this video indicates that he is aware of what is going on. "
" Where is Palmer, Ducky? " Said Gibbs.
" I sent him home for the day. Given the fact that his place is a crime scene, I don't know where he went. "
" DiNozzo, talk to Wagner, see if he knows where Palmer is staying. Then get Ziva and got him here. "
" What do we say? "
" That I would like to have a word with him. "