Chapter 6 – the real target

Eric Beale and Ira Wells have now been missing for 16 hours. Nell has been working on the decrypted file while Sam and Callen have been looking more in to Zero days' business and Deeks and Kensi have been looking into Iras personal files. Neel comes running down from Ops.

"I found something." Everyone stops working and looks at her. Granger and Hetty comes over to the open office also.

"I think someone used Ira to get to Eric because Ira knows Eric works with the government." Nell informs.

"someone?" Granger asks.

"I'm not sure who it is. There are no names."

"well I looked into the chat you found earlier. I think they are using Eric to get to you." Deeks says.

"could you please stop make jokes now?" Kensi is clearly annoyed with him.

"I'm not." Deeks look very offended at Kensi. Then he continues to explain. "Ira knows Eric. He has known Eric since childhood right?" Nell nods. "We all know Eric. Both us and Ira knows he isn't the toughest guy."

"not the agent type." Granger says. Everyone agrees in silences. Deeks continues. "if Ira want information or someone he is in contact with wanted protected information about something. Who would be an easy target? An Agent like one of us or a softer guy like Eric?"

"Eric." Nell says. Everyone agrees. "especially now that he has quit NCIS. He is home. He is an easier target. He trusts his friend. He probably told Ira that he had quit NCIS so who ever Ira is working with knew when to strike."

"any person who is emotionally effected is more likely to give up quickly." Sam says.

"unless…" everyone looks at Hetty. "unless what?" Callen asks.

"unless they are after one he cares about." Hetty says and look over at Nell.

"then he can take much more." Sam says remembering when he was tortured to give up his wife by Sidorov.

Hetty nods.

"do you guys think they would torture Eric?" Nell says with clear fear in her voice.

"we looked into Iras personal file. Since last time he was involved with NCIS he started dating a woman who has contact to drug trafficking. We investigated her 10 years ago. A big part of the organization she was a part of got arrested by me and Sam. Eric was on that case." Callen says. Sam continues. "we found some emails on Iras computer from her where she asks if he knows anyone in the government and he starts bragging about his friend that works for the government. He tells her a lot about when he 'helped' the government years ago together with… his friends government girlfriend."

Everyone looks at Nell.

"Nell I'm sorry there is a lot that indicates that this is an attempt to get to you through Eric."

Nell nods. "I helped them." Nell says quite. "I pushed him to quite."

Kensi walks over at hugs Nell.

" it's not your fault, Nell."

Unknown location

Eric is still sitting in a metal chair and his legs and hands is still tied to the chair. They choked him for about 5 minutes before they left. Now Eric is sitting in the large room alone. He still doesn't have his glasses on so he can't see clear. He hears footsteps getting closer.

"I don't know what you are after."

"don't worry. It's me Eric." Iras familiar voice says.

"ira. Did they do it to you to?" Eric is clearly scared.

"no. no they didn't." Ira sits down next to Eric. "I didn't know they would do this to you."

Eric is confused. "what do you mean? You know them?"

"yes. They have my girlfriend. They told me they would kill her if didn't gave them what they want."

"what do they want? Who are they? Why are you not tied up?"

Nell have searched Iras computer for any hidden file or code. She has found a video link one the computer. She text the team. Shortly after the entire team comes in to ops.

"I found a videolink on Iras computer. It seems like it is transmitting right now."

"can you open it?"

Nell nods.

"wait." Nate says. "are you sure you want to do this Nell. You don't know what you are going to see."

"I want to find Eric." She sounds very determined. She presses the link and opens the video file. It is from so sort of warehouse. Eric is sitting on a chair. His hands and angles is tied to the chair. He isn't wearing his glasses. Ira is standing in front of him and talking to him.

"can you get some sound on it Nell?" Sam asks.

"I'm not sure I have to make sure that no one knows that we are watching."

Kensi walks closer to the big screen. "it doesn't seem like Ira is seriously untried."

"the second blood pool from the crime scene that belonged to Ira was to mislead us. So we would suspect Ira being involved." Sam says.

Unknown location

"they want information about a case from 10 years ago. I told my girlfriend about you and the hot girl work for the government. I didn't know they would do anything to you." Ira says.

"I don't know anything about a case from 10 years ago." Eric try to get his wrist free.

"I think the hot girl does. All you have to do is tell them where she is and then you can go."

Ops

Everyone is looking at the video of Eric and Ira while Nell is working on getting some audio on.

"I noticed the cellphone. It is Eric's cellphone." Nell explains.

"this is not Eric's cellphone, Miss Jones." Hetty says.

"it is a cellphone he has that he only uses for games and silly stuff. I'm the only one who has the number." Hetty look surprised. She doesn't like when her team breaks protocol.

"anyway I hacked in to the cellphone and activated a call to me so we can listen."

"can you trace the cellphone?"

"not without losing audio. Eric using an app that…" Nell look a little ashamed over at Hetty. "that makes it impossible for the government to trace or interfere with the communication."

"hetty- protected phone" Deeks says with a big grin. Hetty look over at Deeks with a questionable look. Deek look over at Kensi and then Back at Hetty. There is silences for a moment.

"can you do anything with it miss Jones?" Granger Asks.

"I can maybe…" Nell sits down and works with her computer. After a few minutes there is sound from the video. The team follow the conversation between Eric and Ira on the screen.

"I'm not going to tell them." Eric says. Hi doesn't sound scared anymore.

"are your crazy man?" Ira sounds very upset. "just call her. Tell her to meet me and then they will let you go."

"no. I'm not risking her life."

"you really do love her, ha?

Eric doesn't say anything he look op at Ira with a serious look. Nell has stopped typing and looks at the video know.