The Caribbean Carnivalé wasn't due to dock in its first port in Haiti until the following day, so Tony and Ziva had a full day of cruising and hopefully investigating their suspects ahead of them. After a slow and casual breakfast during which Tony tried not to gorge on pancakes, waffles, bacon and eggs, and Ziva tried not to be too annoyed by how slow and casual the meal was when there was work to be done, they split up and went in search of their new cruise buddies. Ziva had a feeling that she would have a lot more success getting information from her marks than Tony would. While her usual methods of extracting information from people was unlikely to go over well in polite company and in broad daylight in front of thousands of witnesses, Sacha and Julie had proven themselves the night before to be prolific talkers. Not even Tony talked as much as they did. Ziva doubted that she would have to do much at all to get them to say something useful. And if she did have to work at it, chances were good that the Paulsons and Roses were not actually involved in anything illegal at all, and Will and Alicia Crawford had been completely mistaken about what they'd seen.

The pool deck was predictably crowded when Ziva arrived. The day was already hot under a cloudless sky, and cruisers were laid out on sun lounges, soaking up the heat like strips of bacon on a grill. Most of the few hundred people in Ziva's view were dressed in swimwear or resort wear showing off bodies of all colors and shapes with abandon. Upbeat music was being pumped through hidden speakers, drinks were being served by the dozen, and there was so much activity, from swimming to rock climbing, zip lines and water slides, limbo competitions and dance classes that Ziva initially found it hard to focus on anything.

She forged ahead, side-stepping wet and giggling kids running around and small groups of people in their 20s roaming around with drinks in their hands until she finally caught sight of Sacha and Julie sitting at a table under an umbrella and within about five paces of a bar. Sacha was wearing large tortoiseshell sunglasses and a big white hat. Trés cruise-y.

Ziva approached the women with a put-on meek smile until Sacha looked up and saw her. Ziva gave her a little wave, and Sacha gave her a wide, welcoming smile.

"Zara!" she called. "Come join us!"

"Am I interrupting?" she asked.

"Of course not, have a seat," Julie said.

"Great to see you again," Sacha said with a seemingly genuine smile.

"Thank you," Ziva said as she took a seat. Once again she was struck by how welcoming these alleged drug smugglers and murderers were. It made her anxious.

"How was your first night?" Sacha asked her as she played with the straw sticking out of her cocktail. Ziva had no idea how long they'd been there already, but each had an empty glass and a full one in front of them.

"Good," Ziva replied. "I slept very well."

Sacha's face fell. "Oh. You slept? That's a shame."

Ziva stared at her for a moment as Sacha and Julie laughed, and she tried to understand what she was talking about. When she caught on, she was disappointed in herself when she felt her cheeks warm. "Oh! Well, we did that too. I was just trying to be polite."

"No need," Julie told her. "It's nice to see you two enjoy each other's company." She put her hand on Ziva's.

"How do you like it so far?" Sacha asked her.

"We are amazed by the size of the ship, and how much there is to do," Ziva said. "I was worried we would get bored."

"No, they make sure there's always something on for everyone," Julie said.

"So it seems." Ziva looked between them. "Do you have other plans for the day?"

Sacha and Julie laughed together.

"We're doing it, honey," Sacha said, and tipped her drink at her. "A day by the pool with some drinks and good company. I do have a massage looked for later, though." She looked at Julie. "Penny's back on this cruise."

"That's good news," Julie said. "I've got a crick in my neck after last night. Martin passed out as soon as we got in last night and took up most of the bed. I couldn't move him."

"I would have loved for John to pass out," Sacha said. "He was tossing and turning, and when he wasn't doing that he was snoring in my ear."

"If I ever go on another cruise, I'm getting a room to myself," Julie told them.

Sacha pointed at her with her drink. "That's a good idea."

"If you ever go on another cruise?" Ziva repeated. "I thought that would be likely for a cruise veteran like you. Are you planning to take another trip this year?"

Although they didn't sigh, Ziva felt the weight of both women exhaling with exhaustion.

"I don't know," Julie replied. "We love cruising, honestly. Me and Sacha have been talking about going somewhere else next time."

"Oh?"

"Maybe somewhere on land this time," Julie chuckled. "Europe?"

"That is quite the change," Ziva said. "Are you sick of sunshine and palm trees?"

"No," Sacha said, and picked up her drink. "Just sick of our husbands' adventures." She shot Ziva a quick smile and downed the rest of her drink in one go.

Ziva kept her pleasant smile in place as her mind started racing. "Do they enjoy themselves a little too much?" she asked with a light laugh.

"No," Julie said as she tried to work out how to phrase her answer. "They just seem to forget that it's supposed to be a vacation with us."

Ziva tried to smile knowingly. "Tom can get a little caught up with his friends when he is with them, too," she said, trying to lead them to share a little more about them men's relationship.

Sacha put her hand out. "Oh, Zara. Honey. You might have your problems, all couples do. But it's been years since John looked at me the way you and Tom were looking at each other last night." She held up her finger. "Now, we've been together a long time, so I don't expect to be drunk with passion every night. But a little attention wouldn't go astray."

"Yeah, it would be great if Marty listened to me when I talked these days," Julie said. "Or looked at me when he talked to me."

"I just want John to remember what fun is," Sacha added. "He's focused on work all the time. It's so boring." She leaned in to Ziva and whispered, "We haven't had sex in years."

"I'm sorry," Ziva said, at a loss for what else to say in response. "Does he work even when you are cruising?"

Sacha shot her a quick smile. "Trust me. He'll do business on this trip."

Before Ziva could enquire about the kind of business a toy maker would do on a cruise through the Caribbean, Julie piped up again.

"It'll be good to see Nadine," she said. "I need the special kind of Zen she brings to things."

"I'm tempted to stay with her for a few days and then meet the ship in Key West," Sacha said, and then muttered, "If only John wouldn't kill me."

"Who is Nadine?" Ziva asked.

"A friend of ours," Sacha said. "She and her husband live in Samaná."

"Oh, you mentioned them last night," Ziva recalled. "You said they moved there from the States?"

Sacha finished her drink. "Yeah, but they've moved around a lot. A bit like you. They met in the Peace Corps, if you can believe it." She chuckled, and frankly, Ziva didn't believe it. But Sacha continued. "They were building a village in Africa and fell in love there."

Ziva raised her eyebrows. "I did not know that the Peace Corps still existed."

Sacha shrugged. "This was back in the 80s."

"Then they sold out," Julie threw in with a smile, and Ziva got the feeling that was something the friends teased each other about a lot. "Well, Rodney did. He spent about 15 years at this big corporate law firm in D.C. before they moved out here."

"He is a lawyer?"

"Yeah, they both are," Julie said. "Or were, before they moved out here. But Nadine was never in a courtroom. She used to work for the EPA. Still trying to save the world."

"Right, and that's why they moved to the Dominican Republic," Sacha told her. "They spend their days working on protecting the natural habitat."

"Really?" Ziva said, holding back her frown. Building villages in Africa and protecting the environment in the Dominican Republic wasn't exactly behavior that aligned with dealing cocaine and killing people. Unless the environmental work they did involved harvesting coca leaves.

"They're living their dream," Sacha said. "They're so happy I could puke."

"You're just jealous," Julie accused, and Sacha nodded easily.

"Yes, completely." Sacha looked at Ziva. "I dream about running away to join the circus. Or moving to Fiji. Whichever is easier."

"So, why don't you?" Ziva asked.

Sacha shared a look with her friend before smiling at Ziva. "Business," she said.

Again, before Ziva could ask more questions, Julie piped up. She seemed to be good at that.

"I think we should definitely try to get to Europe for Christmas, though," she said, and then looked at Ziva. "You said you had lived in Paris, Zara?"

"Yes, for a while," she said. "It is a beautiful city."

"Is it true that they're rude if you don't speak French?" Julie asked.

Ziva shook her head, but Sacha and Julie's attention had already wandered. They broke into smiles at almost the exact same moment as they looked behind her, and Julie waved.

"Hey, Herschelle!"

Ziva twisted to look over her shoulder at a very tall man, thin but muscular and dressed in crew uniform approach them.

"Finally, my favorite ladies are back on board," Herschelle said as he joined them, flashing a wide, white smile. He had a slight South African accent.

"Couldn't stay away," Julie said. "Not when the company and the view is so good."

Herschelle looked at Ziva. "And you have made a new friend," he said. "Welcome aboard the Caribbean Carnivalé, ma'am. My name is Herschelle, I am part of the entertainment crew, and I'm here to make sure you have the time of your life on board."

"No easy feat," Ziva said with a smile. "I am Zara De Luca."

"Are you enjoying your trip so far?" he asked.

"Very much. Thank you."

He gestured at Ziva's companions. "You have found the right friends to share your trip with," he said. "You will not need me for suggestions for activities. These two know it all, although we do try to change things up so that members of our cruise family who visit us regularly will always have something fresh to enjoy."

"You've got a belly dancing class this time around," Sacha commented.

Herschelle winked at her. "I know you like to keep your core tight, Mrs Paulson."

Ziva swore Sacha blushed slightly at the comment, and it left her wondering whether they were just flirting innocently with each other or if there was something more there.

"Are you taking any shore excursions this time, ladies?" Herschelle asked. "We have added a zip line adventure in Haiti."

"That sounds fun!" Julie said.

"And what about Samaná?" Herschelle asked. "You have not taken a tour of the city for a while."

"We'll be visiting our friends again," Sacha told him.

Ziva watched as Herschelle's eyes flicked between Sacha and Julie, but he smiled and nodded casually. "Of course. You have good friends. Let me know if you change your mind, though." He looked off to the pool area. "Excuse me, ladies. I must help organize the belly flop competition. But I will come by again later and check in." He left them with another dazzling smile.

Sacha fanned herself as soon as Herschelle's back was turned. "That man just gets better and better," she said. "And he sure knows what fun is."

"Off limits," Julie reminded her.

"Of course," Sacha said. "But a girl can look. Right, Zara?"

"Of course," Ziva said with a smile. And look, she would. Into Herschelle's past, his relationship with Sacha, and any involvement he might have with the group's friends in Samaná. Because although Ziva didn't have a clue what was really happening on shore, she had a feeling in her gut that Herschelle knew something about it.

…

After three hours of cocktails (mocktails for Ziva, sadly) and conversation with 'the girls', Ziva was pleased to return to the empty silence of their stateroom. She had gathered plenty of information that she hoped would be useful to the investigation, so the morning had not been a total waste of time. And she did enjoy getting back into undercover work. She just wished that it involved a little less fake smiling and fake laughing.

She got the laptop out of the safe and moved to the couch to begin typing up her notes. She had half a page of intel and questions down when she heard the door click open. She looked up to see Tony drag himself through the door with a grimace, and she was torn between laughing and offering sympathy.

"Did you have a nice time playing with your new friends?" she asked.

Tony glanced at her with the ghost of a smile, suggesting that he wasn't bothered by her ribbing of him, but then continued on through to the bedroom. He disappeared out of sight just before she heard him hit the bed and let out a groan. Ziva leaned sideways over the arm of the couch to try to see if he was okay, but she couldn't see him. She stood up, laptop in hand, and went after him.

"Are you all right?" she asked, flipping to sympathy when she saw him sprawled out face-first on the mattress. His feet were hanging over the end of the bed, his eyes were closed, and she wondered if he had fallen asleep already. But he managed to nod.

"Uh-huh," he grunted at her, the sound muffled slightly by the mattress. "It was a hard-fought victory. But still a victory."

Ziva sat on the corner of the bed and swung around so she was facing him. She put the laptop down in front of her crossed legs. "Well. Congratulations," she offered.

Tony managed a thumbs up. Ziva smiled to herself.

"Do you need water, or…muscle relaxants?"

"Massage?" he suggested, lifting one eyebrow hopefully.

"I seem to recall that you did not appreciate my last attempt at that," she reminded him.

His eye popped open but it took a moment for him to find her. "That wasn't a massage," he pointed out. "That was a Vulcan Nerve Grip."

"Well, you did imply that you could do better than me," she said.

Tony closed his eye again. "I'd only known you a few weeks," he said with far more honesty than Ziva had been expecting during what had been a fairly light conversation to that point. She didn't quite know what to say to that, so she didn't address it at all.

"Did you find out anything useful?" she asked.

"They didn't want to talk about much but the game," Tony said. "But I think John and Martin are in really unhappy marriages. They were sort of complaining about having to go and check in with their wives after the game, but I also got the feeling that they didn't like being at odds with them. And I don't mean that they're afraid of their wives being angry with them. I mean I think they genuinely wish things were better."

"Their wives may be interested to hear that," Ziva commented. "I spent the whole morning listening to Sacha and Julie complain that their husbands are no longer interested in anything they do or pay them any attention, and just keep them around for the business." She paused. "That is how they referred to it. The business. The conversation was moving quickly so I did not get a chance to ask them to clarify what they meant."

"It wouldn't be the first time couples stayed together because it was financially advantageous," Tony said.

"It is certainly not for the sex and companionship," Ziva told him, and then couldn't help from adding, "The Paulsons have not had sex in years, apparently."

Tony lifted his head off the mattress to look at her with a frown. "How do you know that?"

"Sacha told me."

Tony looked skeptical. "She just told you?"

Ziva shrugged. "She was complaining about her marriage at the time. Talking about running away to Fiji." She shook her head. "I cannot imagine being in a relationship with someone I did not want to sleep with."

Tony tilted his head to the side just a fraction, enough to tell her that he had a question he really wanted to ask, but which he thought better about asking. He lay down again.

"Hunh," he grunted. "Did you find out anything about the friend in Samaná?"

"Yes. Rodney and Nadine," Ziva told him. "I do not know their surnames. They have apparently lived in Samaná for several years, and officially they do conservation work on the island. They met in the Peace Corps whilst building villages in Africa. Then Rodney became a corporate lawyer and Nadine worked for the EPA before they moved to the Dominican Republic."

Tony slowly pushed himself up and turned over so that he was reclining back against the pillows. "First of all, why didn't you lead with that when I came in?" He didn't leave time for her to answer. "And second, what the hell would land conservation hippies with a background in aid work be doing as part of a drug smuggling ring?"

Ziva raised her eyebrows in agreement. "That is an excellent question, Agent DiNozzo."

Tony rubbed his face and then looked around before grabbing a bottle of water from the bedside table. "I feel faint," he said suddenly. "I'm either about to pass out or I'm just really confused."

"It is probably both," Ziva said, and then got up to go into the bathroom. She ran the faucet and soaked a face washer, and squeezed out the excess water before heading back into the bedroom. "Here," she said, offering it to Tony. "Put it over the back of your neck."

Tony took it with thanks and did as instructed. "This may come as a shock to you, but I'm not 25 anymore."

Ziva let her raised eyebrow make her comment for her, but squeezed his shoulder comfortingly.

"Okay," Tony said, gathering his thoughts. "There can't be too many American conservationists named Rodney and Nadine living in Samaná," he said. "McGee can probably do something with that."

Ziva went back to her position on the bed. "I was in the middle of writing it up when you came in. Do you have anything to add?"

"Just that I've still got it," Tony said with a grin, and mimed shooting a basket.

Ziva nodded and smiled, and then finished up her notes without making any reference to Tony's basketball prowess. "There was something else," she said. "One of the entertainment crew members stopped by. He seemed to know them very well. Especially Sacha." She raised her eyebrows at him, communicating the rest of her thought. Tony cocked his head to the side as he received the message.

"Really?" he drawled. "That's very interesting. And may be part of the reason the Paulsons aren't feeling the passion anymore."

"Maybe," Ziva nodded. "But more importantly, Herschelle may also be the crew member assisting our new friends in smuggling drugs aboard the ship."

"Herschelle?"

"I think he is South African."

Tony nodded, and looked a little sheepish. "I'm going to blame the fact that I didn't immediately make the connection between the friendly crew member and the drug smuggling on my clear exhaustion."

"Of course," Ziva said generously. She finished her email and sent it off, then closed the laptop and looked up to see Tony rotating his right shoulder with a wince. "You know, they do have a spa on board," she told him. "You could get a massage from a professional. It would be a bad look for a physiotherapist such as Tom to be in ongoing pain from a basketball game."

"Yeah," he said, but didn't sound convinced. "I was thinking of hitting the other spa. The water kind. I think we've got to be careful about crowding our new friends."

Ziva nodded. "Good idea. We can try to run into them again tonight. I might go for a run."

Tony tilted his head. "Yeah. Or, you could join me. Honey."

Ziva stared at him for a moment before she caught on. "We need to be seen together," she stated.

"That would be a good idea."

"And you do not want to go for a run," she guessed.

Tony shook his head. "No, I do not."

She sighed as she got off the bed. "All right. Pool deck today. But you are coming for a run with me tomorrow."

…

As it turned out, their time in the shaded spa on the pool deck was semi-useful. Ziva had always had her doubts about getting into heated, communal water like this—she was sure she had heard stories about people picking up diseases from hot tubs—and when Tony nudged her as soon as she sat down next to him, she assumed he was going to say something to her along the same lines. But when he leaned over to speak in her ear, he instead said something case-related.

"Paulsons and Roses at 10 o'clock," he said, and the brushed a kiss to her cheek in his role as smitten husband.

Ziva ignored the tingles that exploded down the side of her face under his mouth and scanned the area to her left from behind her sunglasses. She eventually found the foursome—surprise, surprise—sitting at one of the outdoor bars. The four of them were laughing, and their body language suggested they were all getting along.

She turned her head towards Tony to murmur back to him. "Are they putting on an unhappy act for us, or a happy act for each other?"

"Both?" Tony suggested. "Human beings are complex creatures, Zi-ara," he corrected himself, and then discreetly looked around to make sure no one had heard his slip up.

"I suppose," she said. She looked around the spa with mild distaste and then looked up at him. "You are not disgusted by this spa situation?"

Tony looked at her and then around at the water as if expecting to see a severed finger bob past them. "Pretty sure they're required to keep it clean," he said. "Or are you suggesting that I should be worried about sharing water with you?"

"I do not believe I am personally carrying any diseases that can be transmitted through water." He looked concerned enough by the comment for Ziva to reassure him. "I am joking. I am not carrying any diseases."

"Hmm," he grunted as he looked out over the deck. "I forget that you do that sometimes."

"I am very funny," she told him without any inflection in her voice. "You just do not understand my dry humor."

"Good thing you're so pretty, then," he fired back.

Ziva knew he was joking with her, but she let him see her roll her eyes anyway. It was what he wanted.

"We had a hot tub when I was growing up," he told her. "I was never allowed in it."

"Why not?"

Tony pursed his lips as he thought about it. "My parents always said it was for grown ups. And I'm just now this second realizing that the hot tub was probably where they got drunk and had sex." He paused and shuddered. "Oh, dear God."

Ziva chuckled as Tony looked around them.

"I'm not convinced it'd be that comfortable," he mused. "Maybe that's why I'm an only child."

"At least they were adventurous," Ziva said, knowing the comment would probably make him squirm. And it did. She grinned at him, but the grin slid off her face when two more people, a man and a woman who frankly could have been aged anywhere from 55 to 70, stepped down into the tub with them. Ziva had to bite her tongue to ask them to get out. It just seemed so…gross to be in a hot tub with strangers. But the couple clearly didn't have the same hang up. They immediately smiled and engaged in conversation.

"Is this your first time?" the woman asked. She had white-gold hair pulled back into a stylish chignon, a gold necklace with an oval pendant around her neck, and impressively sculpted arms and shoulders for not just a woman of her age, but for a woman of Ziva's age.

"Yes," Tony said, taking the lead. "First cruise." It seemed to be the first question that people asked each other on board.

Ziva slid into a smile that hid her discomfort, even if she inched a little closer to Tony. "He is very excited about the shuffleboard," she said.

The couple laughed, and the man, fit and healthy with a flat stomach and a thick, corded neck put his arm around his (presumed) wife's shoulders.

"This really is your first cruise," he said. "Haven't seen shuffleboard since the 80s."

"There's a lot more to do now," the woman said, and then made introductions. "I'm Jolene Derrie. This is my husband, Sterling."

"Tom and Zara De Luca," Tony offered.

"Are you on your honeymoon?" Sterling asked, and it was clear from both their faces that they desperately wanted them to say yes.

"Anniversary," Tony told them. "Our first."

It wasn't exactly the answer they wanted, but it was close enough. "Oh, congratulations!" Jolene said. "Is it a babymoon?"

"No," Ziva said bluntly. If one more person asked her that, she would dislocate their kneecaps.

"Not yet," Tony softened, and then kissed her neck beneath her ear.

Jolene and Sterling hadn't seemed to pick up on Ziva's irritation.

"We went on a cruise for our first anniversary too," Jolene told them.

"It's where our love of cruising began," Sterling continued. "Be careful, or you might catch the bug!"

They'd only been on board for a day, but Ziva was fairly confident that wouldn't happen. "How many cruises have you been on?" she asked.

"This is number 35," Sterling said.

Ziva's mouth fell open. "Excuse me?" she said, just as Tony said, "Are you serious?" It didn't seem possible.

"Twice a year for the last ten years," Jolene said. "And semi-regularly for the 33 years before that."

"Still not nearly enough," Sterling said. "We're thinking of going on one of those ones that take your around the world over six months next year."

There was so much in those statements that Ziva couldn't fathom. She looked at Tony for his take on it, and he seemed as dumbstruck as her.

"Is my math correct?" she began. "Does that mean you have been married for 43 years?"

Jolene and Sterling nodded.

"It'll be 44 years in November," Jolene said, then turned to give her husband a beaming smile. Sterling kissed her cheek.

"Time of my life," he said.

"I think we owe you congratulations," Ziva said.

"Thank you, honey," Jolene said.

"Wow, 44 years, sweetcheeks," Tony said, and took her hand even though they were underwater. "That's something to aim for."

Ziva frowned at him. "We will be dead in 44 years," she pointed out. "Well, perhaps not me. But you probably will be."

Tony gave her an insincere smile, and Ziva regretted her words. "I love your bluntness," he said, and gave her a quick peck on the lips.

"Sorry," she muttered, and turned back to Jolene and Sterling. "I am very impressed that you've managed to cruise so much. Do you work remotely?"

"I had a medical practice," Sterling told her. "Retired now, but was able to leave it in the hands of my associates when we traveled. Jo's an artist."

Ziva's interest rose a little. "Oh? What kind?"

"Portraiture," Jolene said. "Mostly oils, but the occasional pencil or charcoal."

"How lovely," Ziva said sincerely. "I tried to teach myself to draw as a child, but I am afraid I was never very good at it."

"Really?" Tony asked, genuinely surprised. Whether that was over the fact that she'd tried to draw, or that she wasn't good at it, Ziva wasn't sure.

"Yes," she told him. "My mother was very artistic, but I got caught up in my father's, um, sport."

Tony nodded knowingly.

"You should try again," Jolene said. "I find it very calming. Almost meditative."

"You could use that," Tony told her.

"What do you do, Zara?" Sterling asked.

"Languages tutor," Ziva said. She had a feeling she would be repeating that ad nauseum until the end of the trip. First anniversary, not a babymoon, languages tutor.

As the conversation moved to Tony, Ziva glanced over at the Paulsons and Roses. They were all still talking like they were on good terms, and now Herschelle had rejoined them. Her phone was just arm's reach away, but taking a photo now would be slightly odd. She would have to ask McGee to hack into crew records for his full name, and then see if he had a criminal record that they could access.

She watched the interplay between Herschelle, Sacha and John with interest. Herschelle's hand was on the back of Sacha's chair as he leaned over her shoulder, and Sacha was laughing easily at the conversation. John, however, seemed quietly annoyed. Did he know there was something going on between the two of them? And was it something he was just putting up with as long as Herschelle helped them?

Of course, this was all conjecture at this point. They needed evidence. Solid evidence.

"Zara?"

Ziva turned back at Tony's voice. "I'm so sorry," she said with an apologetic smile. "I was distracted by the wave surfing machine…thing over there."

"I haven't tried that," Jolene laughed. "Part of staying healthy at my age is not putting yourself in danger."

"You know, I don't think we've met anyone on the ship yet who hasn't already been on a few cruises, have we, honey?" Ziva said to Tony.

He shook his head, going along with her. "No, not yet. Certainly the group we had dinner with last night were all on their sixth or seventh."

"And they have done this particular cruise a few times already," Ziva continued. She looked at Sterling and Jolene. "Have you done this one before?"

"A few times," Jolene said. "Who did you have dinner with?"

Ziva smiled at them walking into the conversation she needed from them, but it was Tony who answered.

"The Paulsons. John and…" He paused and looked at Ziva with a frown, pretending to forget. "What was her name?"

"Sacha."

"Right. Sacha."

"And the Roses," Ziva added. "Martin and Julie."

"You're so much better at remembering names," Tony threw in, and wrapped a wet arm around her shoulders.

"Have you met them?" Ziva asked Jolene.

Jolene's smile stayed in place, and so did Sterling's. But they were frozen smiles. Not the natural ones they've been tossing around until now. Ziva felt a shiver go down her spine.

"Yes," Jolene said. "Several times."

"They were very welcoming towards us, weren't they?" Ziva said to Tony.

"Yeah, especially since we felt like we were gatecrashing a dinner between friends," Tony said.

"But they were kind enough to ask us to join them today."

"They're very gregarious," Sterling said. "Always friendly. But I would warn you that John in particular—"

"And Martin," Jolene added.

"And Martin. They have a bit of a…" He trailed off and looked at his wife. "How would you put it?"

"Not mean, exactly," Jolene said. "But if you bother them, you'll know about it."

"Yes," Sterling said with a nod. "Stay on their good side."

The shiver down Ziva's spine turned and ended up as a knot in her stomach. They were on to something here, and they had to fine out what. "Oh?" she said, sounding worried and a bit clueless. "What would put us on his bad side?"

"I'm not sure, really," Jolene said. "Whatever it was, it was probably just a misunderstanding."

Ziva felt Tony squeeze her shoulder.

"What was?" he asked.

Jolene waved her hand. "Oh, there was just a…ruckus a few months back. Another cruiser was attacked—which is very unusual, I assure you—and he seemed to think it was John."

Ziva touched her hand to her chest. "My God!"

"That's terrible," Tony said. "When was that?"

"End of June," Jolene said, making the knot in Ziva's stomach tighten even more. "But I think he was very drunk. It's possible he said something he shouldn't have."

"Right," Ziva said, and glanced at Tony. Ken Klein, the cruiser Ziva and Borin had interviewed a few days ago about his assault—allegedly at the hands of John Paulson—had been on the Caribbean Carnivalé at the end of June. Borin had said his was the most recent assault on board, so it was likely that was the event Jolene was talking about.

"We're not big drinkers," Tony said. "Getting drunk and mouthy probably won't be an issue."

"That's probably smart for a few reasons," Sterling offered, and then changed the subject. "Hey, either of you play golf?"

Ziva let Tony take that conversation, and looked over at the Paulsons and Roses again. Herschelle was gone, and so were Julie and Sacha. But John and Martin remained, and they both looked stressed and slightly angry. Yep, there was definitely something going on with those two. And she was definitely going to get to the bottom of it.

[shrugs] Thanks for reading.