Federal Pageantry

Chapter Two

The mysterious warning of a bomb being stowed at the Miss. America pageant raised a lot of questions. How did the Petty Officer come about this information? Was it true? Where is the bomb now? The pageant was in two weeks, and the only way to prevent terror in the public was to find it and disarm it quietly.
Tony managed to partially confirm the dead petty officer's warning after checking on some updated chatter, and made comments about how he should really go and interview the pageant participants. He claimed it was only to be thorough, but Ziva wasn't so sure that was the case.
He attempted to leave at one point, but was quickly shot down by an icy stare from Gibbs. It was pretty clear that Tony was not going to be going anywhere near the pageant contestants unless absolutely necessary.
"The pageant doesn't start for another two weeks," McGee said to Tony one day. "We have some time to figure out specifics, but we have no leads."
"We could put someone on the inside," Tony suggested hopefully.
"No!" Ziva and McGee exclaimed together, and Tony frowned.
"Anyway," McGee said, turning away from his partners. "We found out that Petty Officer Quinn knew about the bomb because he was worried about his brother's abnormal behavior, and hacked into his lap top, finding the plans for it."
"He was later killed for knowing too much, and when we found his brother, Carson Quinn, murdered next to a wiped computer." Tony finished just as his phone rang.
"And this is where we are stamped," Ziva said, furrowing her brow. McGee stared at the orange wall opposite the bullpen until his eyes watered, thinking. Tony stood.
"Stumped, like the tree, and no, we are not. Gibbs just called. We got another body."

***

"You got her ID?"
"She's a civilian, her name is Gianna Thakaar, lives in Baltimore with her boyfriend and two cats." Ziva read aloud.
The victim was a slim build, more lean than muscular, her tan skin smooth with no blemishes. Her curly cinnamon hair was spread out on the ground, snaking its way around her arms. Her long eye lashes framed her dark eyes and her bow-shaped lips formed a vacant smile. Her beauty was almost eerily perfect.
"She's pretty," Tony remarked, "you know, in that dark, exotic kind of way....how does she fit into this, boss? We don't investigate civilians."
"You don't recognize her, DiNozzo?" Gibbs looked up from his notepad.
Tony tilted his head. "Well, I am never one to forget a pretty face, but this one, this one I can't place."
"Wait a second," McGee said, pausing his measuring. "This isn't...oh my God."
"Speak up, McMeaningless, you're not making sense."
"She's everywhere on E¡ News,"
"Oh--wait, what? You watch E¡ News?" Tony shook his head and blinked twice. "You know that that news station is geared towards women, right?"
McGee ignored him. "She's in the pageant. She's Maryland." Tony's mouth formed an "o" as he comprehended the victim's significance.
"Um, I thought her name was Gianna," Ziva said, tilting her head.
"Well, yeah, it is. I called her Maryland because she is representing the state of Maryland in the Miss A pageant." McGee explained.
"I think we just found our way in," Gibbs said, turning to give Ziva a pointed look. She immediately understood what was happening.
"No."
A grin spread slowly across Tony's face. "World peace anyone?"