Chapter 30

It was three a.m. and Roy was sitting in his office, waiting. He had been for a few hours, but he wasn't tired. Times like this, he didn't get tired of waiting. There was too much at stake and even after all the years of experience he'd had, there was a rush of adrenaline when he knew that something big was coming.

Finally, there was a knock at his door. He smiled grimly, knowing who it would be.

"Come in," he said.

The door opened quickly, revealing his expected guest.

"Darius," he said.

"Roy," Norton said. Then, he walked to the desk and sat down without another word.

"Well?" Roy asked. "Did you verify?"

"As much as I could. No one is going to outright admit to it. Not even to me. You know that."

"I know. Let's get down to business."

"No record?"

"No record. Feel free to scan my office if you'd like. It's not even dusty."

Norton raised an eyebrow and then nodded.

"It's not Putin if that's what you're thinking. It doesn't go that high."

"Doesn't matter really," Roy said. "If someone else is using the SVR's resources, it might as well be Putin. It's the same resources regardless. He won't say anything against it and he'd be happy to reap the benefits. Plausible deniability, whether he'd call it that or not."

There was a pause.

"Is someone using SVR resources?"

"Yes."

"Do you know who that someone is?"

"No."

"Do you know the exact plan?"

"No."

"What have you found?"

"The abduction of Ahmed Mokrani was a backup plan when the McGees managed to escape. They don't know how it happened, and they're probably going to try to contact Agent McGee."

"That would work, you know," Roy said. "If it comes down to them getting a hold of Agent McGee directly, he would trade himself for his brother-in-law in a heartbeat."

"Then, we'd better not let them make the offer... or at least, not when Agent McGee is alone," Norton said.

"Where is he being held?"

"Don't know, but not in Russia. They're not foolish enough to bring anyone there but Agent McGee himself. Basically, they were given instructions and they're not to go back to Russia until they're successful."

"And if they're not?"

"No one will tell me that," Norton said. "But this is all being done very quietly. They have permission to do whatever it takes to succeed. They reported on the change in plans and then nothing since then. Just giving up isn't a likely option. They have to utterly fail."

"Does that mean dead?"

"Possibly."

Roy sighed. "And if Russia discovers that the U.S. is responsible for the deaths of their citizens?"

"You don't need me to answer that. They'll use every advantage they can and even if we could prove that they were the instigators, this would be bad news for us. Whatever happens to get Agent McGee and his family safe has to be done without any publicity."

"I was afraid of that." Roy sighed again. "Would it be too much to ask for you to keep an ear out for any sign of where they're holding Mokrani?"

"I can do that, but I can't guarantee any results," Norton said. "That goes way beyond what people will trust me with."

"I know."

"We need Agent McGee back. As much as I wish this wasn't the situation, it is and letting Russia get him won't help fix it. It will only make it worse. So I'll help as I can, but I don't want to promise something I can't deliver."

"Understood."

"Good. Anything else?"

"No. Thank you, Darius."

"What I have to do, Roy. If we could go back and make this never have happened in the first place, I'd do it in a heartbeat, but we can't."

Roy nodded and Norton stood and left the office without another word.

Alone again, Roy leaned back and tried to decide if it was worth going home and getting some sleep or if he should just stay here. But no, he'd already had too many nights away from home. He stood and walked out of the office. He paused at Marjean's desk and wrote a note that she needed to reschedule his first meetings to be in the afternoon and that he would be late. Then, he left the building and went home, hoping for more information...but only after he'd got some sleep.

x.x.x.x.x.x.x

The day passed uneventfully for those in Saudi Arabia. It wasn't relaxing, but it was uneventful, and considering the way the previous days had gone, that was a good thing. However, there was still the fear of how they'd get home, and for Tony and Ziva, how they were going to find Tim and then break the news to him and to Zahara that Ahmed had been taken.

As for Tim and Zahara, they were given a tent to stay in while they remained with the bedouins. While he was still tense, Tim did enjoy seeing Salma and Jonathan playing with the bedouin children. They could speak to each other after a fashion and children's play didn't need a lot of words most of the time. Every so often, Salma would get anxious and run to Tim and lean on him for a few minutes before getting her courage back and returning to her play.

Everyone, no matter where they were, felt like they were just waiting for something to happen... figuratively holding their breath and hoping (and fearing) that something would give.

x.x.x.x.x.x.x

Levi was sitting in the backyard, waiting. An answer would come, but would it be the right answer and would it be soon enough?

A hand on his shoulder took him by surprise. He looked up and smiled as Tamara sat down beside him.

"You're not doing anyone any good by sitting here fretting," she said.

"I know. I'm not used to fretting being all I can do."

"Levi, it's been years."

"Yes, it has, and I'm not used to fretting being all I can do."

"I would have thought that you'd just not be used to fretting at all."

Levi smiled a little. "I wouldn't use that word, but I fretted all the time. It's just that I could do something about it so I never felt helpless... like I do now."

"You've done what you can, and that's not nothing."

"It's not enough."

"Yes, it is. No matter what. It's enough."

Suddenly, his phone started ringing and Levi looked at Tamara for only a second before answering. It wasn't Tim.

"What is it, Roy?" Levi asked.

"Can you get over here right away?"

"Yes." Levi hung up without another word and looked at Tamara. "I have to go."

"I know," she said. "Don't do more than you can, Levi."

"I'll try not to." Then, Levi got up and walked into the house. "Jethro!"

Instantly, the door to the spare room opened and Gibbs came out.

"Roy has asked us to go back to the CIA. He must have something."

Gibbs nodded and gestured. They left the house and got into Gibbs' car. The drive to McLean was silent at first. Gibbs wasn't a big talker in the best of circumstances, but even he could get curious.

"Why do you think we're being summoned?" he asked.

"Because they have a location and we're the designated contact at this point simply because no one will think to look at us."

"Tim was on my team for more than a decade," Gibbs said.

"And you've been retired for two years," Levi said in return. "Who would even think about looking for someone else when there are plenty of people on tap already? People who are already actively looking for Tim and his family? If they know where Agent DiNozzo and Agent David are, they'll be looking for ways to follow them. If they don't, they'll be trying to find them. Besides, Tim isn't calling you. He's calling me."

Levi smiled a little as Gibbs suppressed a grimace. Then, he let the silence return again until they got to McLean. They went inside and were admitted to Roy's office.

"You have something," Levi said.

"Yes."

"Can we ask how?" Gibbs asked.

"Yes, but I can only tell you that it was through the NSA," Roy said. "I didn't ask for details, only results."

"How specific?"

"GPS coordinates," Roy said and then he pulled a piece of paper out of his pocket and slid it across the desk.

Levi took it, looked at the numbers and showed it to Gibbs. The latitude and longitude did fit with Saudi Arabia in general terms.

"How sure are you that Director Liu is being honest?" Levi asked.

"As sure as I can be. He's still using Agent McGee's services. It won't do him any good to have him captured."

"True. All right. We'll pass it along."

"I'm not going to be sending it to my people," Roy said.

"Why not?"

"Because I'm sure any call I make to them will be monitored."

Levi looked at Gibbs for a moment and he saw the same surprise he felt.

"By Russians?" Gibbs asked.

"No. By Russia," Roy said very seriously.

The distinction was obvious. It wasn't people who happened to be Russian. It was the government.

"How high?" Gibbs asked.

"High enough, and don't ask how I know, but it's almost certain, and Mokrani is probably still in Egypt, not in Russia. They won't risk being seen holding him."

Levi nodded. Neither of them asked why this wasn't being made public. At this point, there was nothing to be gained and a lot to be lost by making an accusation without unassailable proof, perhaps even with unassailable proof.

"So I won't keep you here, but if you're willing to keep me informed, I'd appreciate it."

"Will do," Levi said.

Then, he stood up, Gibbs following suit, and they left the office. As they walked (slowly) back to Gibbs' car, Levi was thinking about the best way to pass on this information. They'd have to give the coordinates to Tony and Ziva somehow. However, what if someone was already monitoring their phones as well?

Then, his mind hit on a ridiculous idea. He knew it was ridiculous but he couldn't help but think it and share it.

"Jethro, what do you think are the odds that the Russians are familiar with Pig Latin?"

That surprised Gibbs so much that he actually laughed and Levi was glad of it. He liked when he could take people by surprise. It was much more rare nowadays.

"What?"

"Igpay atinLa," Levi said. "What do you think?"

"Why?"

"It's possible that the Russians are monitoring the phones of the people who are looking for Tim and his family. It would be a miracle if they hadn't seen Agent DiNozzo and Agent David. If so, calling them and sharing the coordinates could easily share Tim's exact whereabouts."

"Pig Latin's a bit simplistic, don't you think?"

"It is. Simple things have worked in the past."

"But that's probably too simple if they're listening."

"Perhaps. Any other ideas?"

Levi could see Gibbs thinking about it. The numbers didn't really lend themselves to any other kind of symbol. They weren't significant combinations.

"What about a phone number?" Gibbs asked.

"What do you mean?"

"I get calls from numbers that aren't real. Tim tried to explain it to me. People can fake numbers on the display."

"Oh. Ghosting numbers. We could try it, but what if they don't pick up?"

"They'll look."

"Probably. I don't know how to do that, though. Do you?"

Gibbs just glanced over at him incredulously.

"Of course. That was a foolish question to ask of someone who prides himself on not learning anything new."

"Do you know anyone who might? Besides the CIA?" Gibbs asked, ignoring the jibe. Levi was actually impressed that he managed it.

"Actually, I may know just the person. If you'll trust me."

Gibbs raised an eyebrow.

"Then, head for the Hoover building."

The eyebrow went up again.

"Didn't think you liked the FBI."

"I don't, but there's one person there I do trust."

Gibbs shrugged and headed toward DC. When they got there, Levi led the way, although his pace was slow and he knew that, no matter what came of this, it would have to be the last thing he did for the day.

They walked into the building and to the front desk.

"I'd like to speak to Agent Lewiston if he's available," Levi said.

The guard raised an eyebrow at him, rather reminiscent of Gibbs. Clearly, he knew who Levi was.

"Just ask," Levi said.

The guard nodded and turned away as he called. Then, he turned back.

"He's available," the guard said and handed over the visitor passes.

They took them and Levi led them to the IT area and spied Lewiston.

"Carew, what are you doing here?" he asked.

"Hoping for some help," Levi said.

Lewiston looked sideways at Gibbs.

"Jethro Gibbs. Retired NCIS."

"Okay. Help with what and why me?"

"You know why you, and to hopefully get some information sent without it being obvious."

"You won't be able to do this for too much longer, you know," Lewiston said.

"Why is that?"

"I'm retiring in a couple of years."

Levi shrugged. "I may not be around in a couple of years. It won't matter."

Lewiston looked torn between expressing sympathy and laughing at the statement. Levi took pity on him and moved on quickly.

"Do you know how to ghost a telephone number?"

"Sure. Haven't really done it myself, but I know how it works."

"Will you do it?" Gibbs asked.

"For what purpose? Specifically?"

Levi lowered his voice. "Agent McGee is on the run with his family."

"I know that already."

Levi was genuinely surprised. "How do you know?"

"Director Norton told me. I've been officially unofficially keeping tabs on people talking about Agent McGee. He told me to listen for people talking about the pursuit. I haven't heard anything yet."

"Until now," Levi said.

"Well, I think I'm safe in assuming you're not in pursuit."

"No, but we do know where he is."

"We think," Gibbs added.

Lewiston's eyes widened.

"Seriously?"

"Yes."

"So what's the ghost number for?"

"We need to pass the information on to the people on site, but it's possible that someone could be watching for that.

"Gotcha. Well, I can do it, and I can do it right now... but I should warn you that I'm supposed to pass off any information on Agent McGee to Director Norton. This is pretty big."

"He may know about it already anyway," Levi said, mostly to forestall Gibbs getting irritated without cause.

"Okay. If that doesn't bother you, then, I can do it."

Lewiston turned to his computer and started working. Levi forced himself to sit patiently. After a few minutes, Lewiston turned back and held out his hand.

"I need the coordinates."

Gibbs hesitated and then handed them over. Lewiston took them and quickly entered them in.

"Check me and make sure this is right," he said.

Gibbs leaned over and looked and then nodded.

"Yeah."

"Okay. You want to do this right now?"

"Yes," Levi said, before Gibbs could question.

Lewiston backed out of the way and gestured. "Go for it."

Levi held the phone out for Gibbs.

"You'd better do the talking."

Gibbs smiled very slightly and took the phone. He paused for a moment and then dialed Tony's number.

"DiNozzo, it's Gibbs. Check the number next time. It's what you're looking for."

Then, he hung up.

"He didn't answer?" Levi asked.

"Nope."

"I hope he checks his messages."

"He will."

"Okay." Levi took a breath. "I need to go home now, Jethro."

Gibbs nodded.

"Thanks, Lewiston."

"You're welcome. Good luck."

"Thanks."

Then, they left the FBI and Levi couldn't help but breathe a little more deeply when he got outside, away from the organization whose former director was responsible for his current state.

Gibbs was looking at him and Levi forced himself to smile in his usual way.

"I'll never be able to feel comfortable in that building."

For some reason, Gibbs' expression changed and he just nodded as they reached his car.

Levi leaned back in Gibbs' car and hoped that this would work.