Chapter 26

When they arrived at NCIS Tony and Ziva led Palmer to the autopsy room. Gibbs and Ducky were in there, waiting for him.

" Tony and Ziva said that you needed to talk to me Agent Gibbs. Is there anything you need? Or you, Dr. Mallard? " He said.

" I don't know Palmer. Is there anything you want to tell me? " Said Gibbs, giving Palmer his glare, seeing the man shift uncomfortably under it.

" I don't think so, Agent Gibbs. What's going on? "

Gibbs and Ducky looked disappointed in his answer.

" What's going on Palmer is that you entered Abby's lab after she left, entered her computer and listened to the messages left by the killer. Care to tell us why? "

' So they saw the video. But what made they do it? I remember saying things out loud, and Abby can read lips. '

" I...I wanted to listen to message. I was out of the lab when you played it. "

" You could have waited until the morning. Why did you enter the lab? "

Tony, Ziva and Ducky observed the exchange between the two men.

" This case, it's getting hard for me. I wanted to listen to the voice of the woman who did this. "

" Getting hard because you're involved? "

" Wh...What? "

" We saw the video Palmer. We saw what you said. You know her. You know who's behind this and you didn't say anything. " Gibbs walked closer to Palmer, getting in his face, using the best glare he could. " This woman butchered an entire family, three KIDS, and you didn't say anything. Tell me Palmer, why? Was that message for you? Is this the reason that your apartment was shot at? "

Palmer was shaking, opening and closing his mouth, no sound coming out.

Ducky was observing his assistant. His earlier conversation with Gibbs playing in his mind, when he had said that the person to whom the message was for, was in danger and in hiding. The he noticed the cut on Palmer's pants, and the slightly darker color around the cut. He also noticed a small darker spot on his neck, almost covered by the jacket's collar.

" Mr. Palmer, what is that on your neck? And why are your pants cut? "

Gibbs who was staring into the man's eyes looked at the neck, and saw a bruise forming. Taking a step back he saw the cut on the right leg, and the darker wet spot around it.

" That's nothing. I...I fell. Stupid accident. "

" Like your place being shot at? " Said Tony.

Ducky approached Palmer, wanting to take a look at his injuries, only to have the man take a step back.

" Mr. Palmer, I only wish to see your injuries, they may need attention. "

" Jimmy, what happened? " Said Ziva, not looking angry but concerned.

' Alright, this is it! That's the moment you have to turn from suspicious to victim here. Hopefully for enough time to be able to get access to the crime scene, then you can disappear. ' The assistant ME thought, closing his eyes, taking a deep breath. One hand running down his face, his breath breaking a little. His image, for those observing him, the one of a man who has a weight on his shoulders, the one of a man who is in trouble and in need of help.

He opened his eyes, the other occupants of the room showing different levels of concern, no longer anger and betrayal.

" Palmer, what is going on? Who is this woman? Is she after you? " Asked Tony, taking a small step towards him.

He took another step backwards, this one shaky, making him lose a bit of balance. Ducky was immediately by his side guiding him towards a chair and making him sit down.

" Mr. Palmer, talk to us. We wish only to help. "

He leaned forward, his body facing the others in the room. Elbows on his knees, hands holding the sides of his head. He took a deep shaky breath, and spoke in a low defeated tone.

" I don't think you can Dr Mallard. I don't think you can. "