NCIS | The Night's Agents: Book 1: Strangers in the Night

Chapter Nineteen

The next morning was November 1st, better known as All Souls' Day. NCIS Director Jenny Shepard was in her office reading over the file on the Phoebe Madison case. She was pleased that the case had been closed, but there were some parts of it that she felt were missing from Gibbs, Tony, and Ziva's reports. It was almost as if the three of them were hiding something. But what?

            Pondering over the question, Jenny punched the intercom button that connected her to her secretary. "Cynthia, bring up Special Agents Gibbs and DiNozzo and Officer David."

            "Yes ma'm," Cynthia replied.

            Seconds later, her door slammed against the wall, announcing the presence of her former lover and two of his agents. "Hello. Have a seat, you three."

            The look on DiNozzo's face was priceless. He looked like he was back in high school, facing the principal as he waited for his verdict.

            Ziva spoke first, voicing the question that no doubt was on all three agents' minds. "What's this about, Director?"

            Jenny took a few moments to formulate her thoughts. Then she began, "About your reports—"

            "What about them?" Gibbs interrupted shortly.

            "Something's off. Is there something you deliberately kept out of them?"

            "You could say that," Tony muttered.

            Ziva shot him a warning glare and kicked him in the shin.

            Gibbs slapped both of them on the back of the head.

            The redheaded director said nothing. She raised an eyebrow, waiting until the three of them were settled. Then she remarked, "Enlighten me."

            Tony and Ziva looked at Gibbs, who shook his head and stepped back. "I'm staying out of this. It's your problem."

            Jenny noticed the two briefly exchange glances. Some unspoken message passed between them, something along the lines of:

            Ziva: You tell her.

            Tony: Why me? I'm the one who told Gibbs. Remember?

            Ziva: Fine. I'll do it.

            Amazing how she could tell all that just from studying the looks on their faces.

            Finally the Mossad liaison officer said carefully, "Director, do you believe in the supernatural?"

            Wondering where this was going, Jen replied, "Not exactly, but I like to think I have an open mind."

            Something close to relief flashed across Ziva's face. "Good. Director, Tony and I are Shifters."

            It took her a few moments to comprehend that. "What?"

            Ziva shifted her weight. "The general public would call us werewolves, but the technical term is lycanthrope."

            Jen's mind whirled; she gave a half laugh. "You're not just saying that because yesterday was Halloween, are you?"

            Again, the three of them exchanged glances. Jenny noticed and latched her gaze on her ex-lover. "You're not a werewolf as well, right?"

            Thankfully, he shook his head. "No, I'm human."

            Agent DiNozzo said, "We're not lying, Director. And for future reference, we call ourselves Shifters."

            This is ridiculous. Everyone knows werewolves don't exist! This must be from the stress of the case—yes, that's it. I mean, really, werewolves! Some counseling would be good for them.

            Pleased with the decision, the redhead said, "Agent DiNozzo, Officer David, I'm ordering you two to attend therapy for two weeks."

            "Director!" Ziva protested.

            Tony sputtered, "You're not seriously going to make us see a shrink when we're perfectly fine!"

            "Watch me," she retorted.

            Growling, the senior field agent turned and stalked out of the office. Ziva gave the director an apologetic look before following him out.

            Leroy Jethro Gibbs's lips twitched as he fought back a smile. Jen leaned back in her chair and studied him. "How long do you think they're going to last?"

            "Not even a week," he said with a chuckle. "See you, Jen." Still laughing, the former Marine walked out of her office, slamming the door shut behind him.

            Director Shepard closed her eyes. A ghost of a smile flitted across her face as she pictured Tony and Ziva making their dramatic escape out of the shrink's office, not having lasted even an hour.

The brunette stood in the doorway of the crowded restaurant, searching for the person she'd agreed to meet. She found him near the back at a table for two and weaved her way through the maze. Sitting down across from him, she said, "You wanted to see me."

            Hazel eyes topped by shaggy blond hair peered over the menu, looking her over. The twenty-five-year-old man set the menu down and slid it to the side. "You're late."

            "Maybe you're early," she retorted.

            He checked his black wristwatch and feigned surprise. "So I am. Now, let's get down to business. I'm Chris. Your name is Jeanne, right?"

            "Yes."

            Chris leaned forward, his hands clasped together and resting on the table in front of him. He was about to say more when the waitress who had just materialized asked, "What would you like to drink?"

            "Water," he answered.

            "Iced tea," said Jeanne when the woman turned to her.

            The waitress made a note and left.

            When they were alone again, Chris picked up where he'd left off. "Look, I know your friend Tony—"

            "He's no friend of mine," Jeanne spat.

            Chris inclined his head. "I can see why you think that, after finding out that he's a werewolf. But just think of the medical ramifications!" His eyes lit up. "In wolf form, they heal even faster than we do. If we could isolate that gene, replicate it . . . and there are the recreational uses, too. Wouldn't you want to be able to shift into a wolf?"

            Jeanne hesitated, thinking back to the night Tony had been in her apartment. She envied him for what he was, yet scared of him too. Beneath that was longing. . . . The brunette took a deep breath. "What are you proposing?"

            The waitress came by, set down their drinks, and went on to other customers. Chris took a sip of water before answering her question. "A partnership. I want to capture a lycanthrope and study it, but I need your help. You in?"

            She swallowed. "I'm in."