Rule 39: There Is No Such Thing As Coincidence (Tony DiNozzo Love Story)

Ghost Hunting

Tony's POV

    As the elevator dings I feel angry at myself and I'm not sure why.

    "Alright what do we know?"

    "We know that Erin was a member of the Thirteen Ghosts, founded by First Sergeant Joe Claxton," McGee starts.

    "She met Claxton in '99 in Afghanistan and most likely recruited to join the Ghosts between that time. She returned back to the US in September of 1999 and returned to work at NCIS. She left in October of 2000 with no notice of where she was going before she showed back up 2002 for the Hackery case. As we all know Erin faked her death with the help of Claxton and another Ghost that goes by the callsign 'Egypt'." McGee says.

    "Also known as Gunnery Sergeant Nile Watson. He lives in Anacostia where his wife Sarah takes care of their twin 4 year old boys and a 9 month old girl, John, Michael and Abigail," Ziva finishes.

    "Gunnery Sergeant Watson recently retired about 18 months ago, he volunteers at the VA Hospital and is a sponsor at some support groups. Watson as far as we know is out of the Ghost program from what Erin told us, he retired out shortly after he assisted her in faking her death. Watson was a sniper while in the Marines, his expertise while with the Ghosts was long range assassinations," McGee adds.

    "How any of the Ghosts got their call signs is unknown at this time. Watson hasn't ever been to Egypt as far as we can tell with his military career and there are no signs that he's ever been recreationally either," Ziva says as she looks up from the file in her hand.

    "Which brings us to the next two Ghosts Erin remembered and these two she knew their names and call signs, Staff Sergeant Winnie Attah out of the Army and Lieutenant Julien Drehten out of the Navy."

    Ziva turns, "Attah has been deployed to Afghanistan on two year mission and Drehten works intel at the Pentagon."

    "Next we have Lieutenant Commander Michael Daniels, aka "The Baron" and he works in the JAG office. He's a licensed pilot, owns three air hangars. One in upper state New York, one in California and another just outside the city. He's a resident of D.C., widowed no children. Honestly he could have helped Erin get to Cuba earlier this year and Watson could have joined," Ziva speculates.

    Honestly the thought had crossed my mind before she even mentioned it.

    "What do we know?" Gibbs asks as he hurries off the elevator and moves towards his desk.

    "We're still reviewing the info Erin gave but without names on some of these its gonna be hard figuring out who they really are?" McGee says.

    "Well, I might have a lead on another one of those Ghosts that Erin named on that list. Deandra Fuller aka Dee Dee, she's a Lieutenant in the Navy, married and pregnant and lives just outside D.C. We could make a visit." Ziva replies.

    "No, I want all the Ghosts located before we do anything," Gibbs says.

    "Where's Erin?" I ask.

    "She's at home. Seeing if she can reach out to some of her old contacts, ones that she still trusts to get a fix on some of the Ghosts."

    "Do you think it was wise to leave her alone?" Ziva asks.

    "I'm not sure of anything anymore," Gibbs replies as he leaves the bullpen and makes his way to the stairs and up to the director's office.

    "Who else do we have a fix on?" I ask.

    "Well, a lot of these Erin only gave us nicknames for the Ghosts, we don't know their names. She remembered Watson, Fuller, Attah and Drehten." McGee says as he looks at the list and pulls up their photos.

    "AKA, Pooh Bear and Romeo. Odd names to choose." Ziva replies.

    "From what Erin says Attah got her name for her name being Winnie and Drehten was apparently a ladies man, he'd use a ploy to assassinate influential women in Europe that made some sort of impact to the trading and smuggling in the middle east." McGee says.

    I lean against my desk. "So where are they right now?"

    "Attah is currently in Afghanistan, would have to reach out to her superiors to determine where exactly. Drehten, works for the Pentagon. He does intelligence, which means he probably knows that we're looking into them. No doubt he has himself and possibly the other Ghosts flagged in the system if they ever get looked into." McGee says.

    "Is there a way to find that out?" Ziva asks and Tim shakes his head.