Chapter 21

A/N- Here is the next chapter dealing with NCIS crime solving. Thank you for the reviews and for reading. I don't own NCIS. I loved Episode 21 and Jimmy and Jessica's declaration of love. Hope the writer's strike ends soon.

The Team arrived in the Washington Mall at the top of the steps of the Lincoln Memorial. Jess was given the camera, Jimmy was examining the body and McGee was working on the identity of the victim. Torres started to interview bystanders looking for witnesses.

"What we know about the victim?" Parker asked.

"Ensign Marjorie Taylor, 26, from Augusta, Georgia." Tim responded. "She's on temporary assignment here at the Washington Mall."

"It looks like the body was moved." Jimmy said. "There is a stab wound in her neck but no blood on the ground. I'll need to take her back to autopsy to find the time of death."

Jess noticed some thorns in the victim's pant legs and soft dirt on the soles of her shoes. Her elbows were also stained green. "Are there any rose bushes or a rose garden nearby?"

Parker looked up at her. "Why?

"These thorns and dirt didn't come from the cement steps of the Lincoln Memorial."

Jimmy looked at Taylor's hands. "She either knew her killer or was surprised by him or her. No defensive wounds."

"Get the body back to autopsy. Palmer, Torres, see if you can locate a nearby rose garden. McGee, see if security cameras picked up anything."

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A few hours later back at NCIS, Jess walked into autopsy spotting her husband hard at work examining Ensign Taylor's body. Jimmy looked up spotting his wife bringing a smile to his face.

"Agent Palmer, so nice to see you." Jimmy said with a grin.

Jess chuckled. "Dr. Palmer, so nice to see you too, even though you are paying too much attention to another woman. "

Jimmy laughed and kissed his wife when she arrived at his table.

"Any news on the time of death?" Jess asked.

"She's been dead for 48 hours. Cause of death was a stab wound to the neck with a sharp pointed object like an ice pick."

"That's going to make it more difficult to find the killer. Hopefully there will be something helpful on the security cam footage."

"Did you find anything more about the victim?"

"We're waiting to hear from her previous commanding officer. Her current boss at the National Air and Space Museum wasn't much help."

"I'll finish up my report and send it up to Parker."

"I'll go inform the team." Jess gave Jimmy a kiss then headed back to the Squad room.

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McGee, now knowing a narrower time frame to look through the footage, resumed his search. Torres went back to Mall to talk to the landscaping staff to see if they could help determine the location of the attack. Jess went back to finding out more about her friends and interests.

Jimmy and Kasie waited for the results of the lab tests to see if she was drugged or if it would help determine where she went before she was killed. While covering her up with the cloth, Jimmy spotted a discoloration of her left big toe. He took a closer look. It had spread from underneath her red polished toe nail. Taking some tweezers he pulled a splinter out from underneath the nail. It was from a purple painted piece of wood. The shade was unique and brought back a memory from the International Spy Museum. He picked up the phone and called Nick.

"Hey Jimmy. What's up?"

"I found a splinter underneath the Ensign's toe nail that reminded me of something I saw near the Spy Museum. Are you near there?"

"I just left the Air and Space Museum. It's not far."

"Let me run this by Parker and call you back."

Jimmy went up to the Squad Room and shared what he found with the team. McGee pulled up the cameras across the street from the museum and spotted a large rose garden to the left of the museum.

Parker saw the video and said "That looks like it could be where she was murdered. Palmer – go over there to help Torres." Parker called Nick to let him know Jess was on the way. Jess picked up her bag and headed out the door after Jimmy gave her the splinter in a small evidence bag. Jimmy snuck in a quick kiss during the handoff.

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Jess found Nick talking to one of the gardeners outside the Spy Museum. The gardener was pointing to the rose garden while telling Nick that there was another garden in the back. They were in luck in that the normal day for tending to the gardens there was the next day so potential evidence should not be disturbed.

Nick started at the front garden and Jess went to the back garden. When she got there she noticed a sign that was tilted slightly and had a spot where the paint appeared to be chipped. Taking a closer look, she pulled out the evidence bag and compared the splinter to the sign. "Nick," Jess called out. "Come here. I think I've spotted something."

When Nick arrived, Jess was squatting down next to the sign holding up the splinter to the sign. "Where did you get that?" Nick asked.

"Jimmy found it under the Ensign's toe nail. I think it's a match."

Torres squatted down next to Palmer and took the splinter from her. He studied the evidence. "You're right. It does look like a match."

"It looked like the sign was knocked over and straightened out when I got here. I think we should start searching here for more clues."

Nick and Jess began studying the ground and rose bushes near the sign. Part way down the row of bushes in line with the sign Nick spotted a bush with damaged stems. He looked down and saw a footprint. "Look at this Jess. I think this is where she was killed."

Jess joined Nick at the bush. "This is certainly damaged and not trimmed by a gardener." Jess took out the camera from her bag and snapped some pictures. She then spotted a reflection from the sun on metal out of the corner of her eye. She went to the spot and used her fingers to remove the dirt. "Look here Nick. This might be the murder weapon."

Jess uncovered a very sharp pointed tool used in woodworking for starting holes. "Would a scratch awl fit the bill?"

Nick nodded and placed a call to Parker. Jess photographed where she found it and bagged the tool.

"Good work." Parker said. "Come back in and let Jimmy see if that is the weapon."

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Jimmy and Kasie worked together to lift any fingerprints from the awl. Unfortunately there weren't any. The killer must have been wearing gloves. The wound matched the awl perfectly so they were convinced they had the murder weapon.

"Who would walk around carrying a scratch awl?" Kasie asked.

"Since there were no defensive wounds on our victim's hands or body and the drug test came back negative, she must have known her killer." Jimmy said.

"Did she know any carpenters or woodworking enthusiasts?"

"Let's get the rest of the team to work on that."

Parker sent Jess down for an update.

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"Hi Jimmy." Jess said to her ME husband.

"Hi Jess. Perfect timing. I was going to head up with an update."

Jess smiled and gave him a hug and a kiss. "I'd rather do that down here rather than in the Squad room." Jimmy chuckled and kissed her back.

"Don't forget I'm standing right here you two." Kasie said.

Jimmy and Jess looked at her and smiled.

"Why don't you come up with me?" Jess asked.

"Good idea." Jimmy took Jess' hand and turned to Kasie. "Come with us Kase."

Kasie nodded and the three of them headed upstairs.

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Jess pulled up the photos from the crime scene. "This is the murder weapon. Unfortunately he was wearing gloves so no prints."

"Based on the angle of entry, the killer was under six feet tall. In the five foot ten range. He is also right handed." Jimmy added.

"Who carries around a scratch awl?" Parker asked. "Has there been any repair work going on in the area?"

"Do we know anything more about the Ensign's friends or interests?" Jess asked.

"Since it appears that she knew her attacker, it could be he was just meeting her after work."

"Or it could be a worker wearing a uniform that she trusted."

Parker said "There are too many possibilities. We need more clues and answers."

McGee looked up from his monitor. "It seems Ensign Marjorie Taylor is a bit of a party girl. Looking at her bank records she is a regular at the Colonial Saloon."

Parker looked over at Jimmy and Jess. "How would you newlyweds like to go on a date to the Colonial Saloon on NCIS?"

"Sure." They both answered. "We just need to get a sitter for Victoria."

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Jimmy and Jess walked hand in hand to the Colonial Saloon. Jess looked the part wearing jeans, boots, a plaid shirt with a kerchief tied around her neck and a cowboy hat. Jimmy tried to match his wife but didn't have the hat. They went to the bar and sat on stools with a good vantage point of the room.

"Why are people staring at us?" Jess asked.

Jimmy chuckled. "They're staring at you. You are the most beautiful woman in the world. I'll try not to get jealous."

Jess grinned at her husband then gave him a kiss. "Just so you know. There are quite a number of women staring at you."

Jimmy shook his head. "Really?"

"Really." Jess put her hand behind his neck and pulled him in for a passionate kiss. "Making sure that the ladies out there know that you belong to me."

Jimmy kissed her back. "Making sure all the men out there know you belong to me." Jimmy said with a grin.

The bartender walked over and asked for their order. "Two beers please" Jimmy responded.

A few minutes later after their beers were delivered, a man in a uniform entered the saloon and sat next to Jess at the bar. The shirt was blue with long sleeves and the name Stan Brown was written above his left pocket. On the right side of the shirt was the name of the company, Woodside Cabinets.

Stan caught the attention of the bartender and signaled for a beer. It was immediately delivered. "Here you go Stan. No lady tonight?"

Stan stared at the bartender. "It's still early, Bill." He looked at Jess sitting next to him. "Hi. Can I buy you a beer?"

Jess reached over and squeezed her husband's knee. Jimmy stopped scanning the room looking back at his wife.

"That's very kind of you, but I just got one." Jess responded.

Stan ignored Jess' answer and signaled the bartender. "Another one for the little lady."

Bill brought Jess the beer setting it next to her first one.

"What's your name?" Stan asked Jess.

"Jessica," she responded

"I'm Stan."

Jess pointed to his name on his shirt. "I guess you didn't borrow someone else's shirt after all."

Stan laughed. "A sense of humor. I Like that."

Jess shrugged. "What kind of work do you do for Woodside?

"I build custom cabinets. Order one and I'll be happy to take care of you."

Jimmy resumed looking around the room while inwardly groaning that this man was hitting on his wife. He knew that this was part of the plan to hopefully find a killer but didn't like it one bit.

"I'll keep that in mind if I need any cabinets." Jess responded.

The band started playing some country western music. A young lady sat next to Jimmy asking him if he knew how to line dance. Jimmy shook his head. "C'mon, I'll teach you." She said as she grabbed his hand and led him to the floor.

Jimmy glanced back at Jess in a bit of a panic but Jess gave him a quick smile and blew him a kiss that no one else noticed. Jess turned back to Stan. "You must come here often since the bartender knows you."

Stan nodded. "I come here all the time. It's close to work and on my way home."

Jess smiled. "My first time here. Do you come for the dancing?"

"Sort of. I mainly come for the lovely ladies like you."

Jess inwardly groaned then reminded herself that she was on a mission. "I hope to meet a handsome gentleman myself."

Stan grinned at Jess thinking he just found his latest conquest. "Do I fit the bill?"

Jess looked back at him. "It's too early to tell. Maybe."

"Care to dance?"

Jess nodded. "Sure." She followed Stan to the dance floor.

Jess and Stan joined the second line of dancers putting them right behind Jimmy and his dancing partner, Ann. Jess wanted to go up to her husband and hug him from behind but knew she had to refrain. Jimmy turned his head and looked back at his wife out of the corner of his eye and gave Jess a wink, then turned his attention to Ann.

The music started and Stan turned out to be a pretty good dancer, about on par with Jess. Jimmy stumbled a few times but thanks to Ann's patient instruction caught on eventually and did a passable job. When the music stopped, Jimmy and Ann headed to a table after grabbing their beers from the counter.

Jess and Stan stayed on the floor for another dance then headed to the bar. Passing Jimmy's table which had the only two free seats in the bar, Jess asked, "Do you mind if we join you? There really isn't any place else to sit." Jimmy responded "Sure. We don't mind." He looked over at Ann and hoped she wouldn't. She didn't.

Jess sat down to Jimmy's left at the square table and Stan across from him. Ann looked at Stan and asked "Weren't you here last Thursday?"

Stan answered "Probably. I come here all the time. You look familiar to me too."

"I remember now. My friend Marjorie left with you that night."

"She did? I don't remember leaving with anyone." Stan looked a little alarmed.

"It was you. She called me and told me you were going to the Spy museum."

Jimmy and Jess immediately reached for each other's hands under the table.

Jess looked at Stan with a grin. "You think you're James Bond? If I thought you were the handsome gentleman I was looking for tonight would you take me to the Spy museum?"

Jimmy chuckled, squeezed his wife's hand and let go. He turned to Ann. "Do you like spy stuff Ann?"

Ann looked at Jimmy and smiled back. "I do. But I'm more into Mrs. Peel."

"An Avengers fan. Do you like to wear cat suits?" Jimmy asked.

Jess took Jimmy's hand back in hers, a little surprised at her husband. Remembering that they were on a mission, she relaxed and gave him a gentle squeeze. She decided right then to buy one to wear for her husband.

Ann chuckled. "Do you think I should dress up as Mrs. Peel next Halloween?"

Stan, not wanting to be left out of the conversation spoke up. "Absolutely. With a black wig and a cat suit you would make a great Emma Peel."

Ann smiled at the complement. "I can see why Marjorie decided to go with you. You are quite the charmer."

Stan grinned, letting his ego get the better of him. The thought of two attractive ladies to go with him was almost too good to pass up. He just hoped Ann would stop talking about Marjorie.

Jimmy and Jess knew at that moment Stan was trouble. Jimmy stood and offered his wife his hand. "Care for a dance Jessica? Stan and Ann seem to have plenty to talk about."

Jess smiled at her husband and took his hand letting him lead her to the dance floor. Ann and Stan didn't notice them leave the table.

Jimmy took his wife in his arms thankful it was a slow dance. Jimmy whispered in her ear. "He's the guy."

Jess gave him a small smile. "Did I marry Adrian Monk?"

Jimmy chuckled.

Jess whispered in her husband's ear. "We better contact Parker now. I'm afraid Ann may be his next victim."

Jimmy nodded. "Let's go back and tell them we need some fresh air and go outside. I already paid our tab."

Jess nodded and when the song ended they went back to the table and told Stan and Ann that they were going outside for some air and would be back in a few minutes. Ann said "You owe me another dance Jimmy." Jimmy nodded before Stan stood and offered his hand to Ann. "How about a dance with me?" Ann looked up and took his hand before he lead her to the floor.

Once outside, Jess called Parker. "What's up Palmer."

"We think we found the killer. Stan Brown of Woodside Cabinets."

"What makes you think he's the guy?"

Jimmy answered. "He was at this bar on the night in question and another customer named Ann says she saw Marjorie leave with Stan and that Marjorie called her to tell her that she was going to the Spy museum with Stan. We believe that Ann and Marjorie were friends."

"We're also afraid Ann might be Stan's next victim." Jess added.

"Good work Palmers." Parker said. "I'll call Metro Police to keep an eye out on things at the Spy Museum. You two head on home."

Just then Ann and Stan emerged from the saloon. Ann spotted Jimmy and Jess and came closer. "We're heading to the Spy Museum. Care to join us?"

Jess looked at Stan to see his reaction. He said "That would be great. The more the merrier."

Jimmy and Jess looked at each other thinking the same thing than Ann needed protection. "Sure, we'd love to go."

"Would you like to ride with us?" Stan offered.

"I'll get a ride with Jimmy." Jess said. "We live near each other and he'll give me a ride home."

Stan looked disappointed for a moment then nodded. "Sounds like a plan. Follow me." Stan headed to a Woodside Cabinets pickup truck.

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Jimmy opened the door to Dolly letting his wife slide into the passenger seat. Jimmy got behind the wheel waiting for Stan to pull out of the parking lot. Jess put Parker on speaker. "We're following Stan to the Spy Museum at his and Ann's invitation."

Parker grunted. "I don't like it. You're not a trained agent Jimmy."

Jess spoke up. "That may be true but I won't be in any better hands than my husband. He's saved me and Victoria several times."

"I remember Agent Hannah telling me that Jimmy was a bad ass ME." Parker added. "Ok, but be careful. When you know that Ann is safe, go home. We'll get more evidence and arrest Stan tomorrow."

"OK," Jimmy and Jess responded and disconnected the call.

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