interagency cooperation

two

(morning)

"Time of death, Duck?"

Gibbs leaned down towards the two bodies, narrowing his eyes as the older man spoke up.

"Jethro-"

"Approximate, Doctor."

Ducky sighed, and continued on. Gibbs wasn't exactly known for his patience, but sometimes that man could stand to wait a bit.

"Full rigor, so at least 48 hours. The other is the same."

"Cause?"

"Most likely from shock. Note the slight circular burn around the wound on her head, Jethro."

He bent down and used a gloved hand to motion to it. It was a distinct circle, with slight powder burns sprinkled around the area.

"Silencer. Two to the heart, one to the head."

The agent motioned to his heart and head, keeping his hand in the shape of a gun. That type of execution style was pretty commonplace.

"I'll know more when they get back to the lab. Mr. Palmer? Would you mind getting the gurney to take these poor souls back so we can examine them?"

Ducky moved away, calling out to Palmer and leaving Gibbs to ponder.

"Boss? We've got a problem."

McGee called out, waving him over.

"This one's an agent."

Gibbs raised an eyebrow. Plainclothes agents either meant vacation, or undercover. He hoped for the former.

"NCIS?"

"Not one of ours, Boss. FBI. Badge says this is an Agent Anderson."

The older agent sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose. FBI meant Fornell, and Fornell meant a whole mess of secrets he didn't need right now.

"Finish up here, McGee."

"Got it, Boss."

Gibbs walked outside, reluctantly dialing Fornell's number. He watched a couple leaves fall from a nearby tree as his phone rang.

"Fornell."

"Got an agent here, with an FBI badge. You ever heard of an Agent Anderson?"

The other line was suspiciously silent.

"Yes, but he's not under my jurisdiction."

"Tobias..."

"He's not my agent, Gibbs. You do realize that we have a system over here? A system that works because we follow it?"

Gibbs raised his voice slightly, attracting the attention of the three agents still inside the house.

"Then whose damn agent is he, Tobias?!"

The man on the other line hesitated to respond.

"Last I heard, he was Hotchner's. Behavioral Analysis Unit."

"Great. Make your inquiries before I get over there and ask Agent Hotchner myself."

He shut his phone and tucked it away before Fornell could respond.

Gibbs walked back into the house, narrowly avoiding Tony and Ziva scrambling back to their places. He gave them all a stern look before talking.

"Sitrep."

"Lieutenant Commander Eris Conrad, 35, on shore leave from the USS Delaware. The other is Special Agent Grant Anderson, 37, Behavioral Analysis Unit. According to her fiancé Thomas, Agent Anderson was her childhood friend, and was picking her up from the ship to go home. They were supposed to meet at a local bar to catch up with Anderson's girlfriend. When they didn't show up, he decided to check her house and..."

Ziva trailed off, flipped her notepad closed as Tony picked up where she left off.

"Looks like she was getting ready to shower, Boss. Plus she'd been home for at least a day earlier, probably to surprise her fiancé. Clothes are set out and looks like Anderson was sitting here, on his phone, which is...here."

He held up the evidence bag, silver phone inside.

"I'll see if I can get anything off it back at the lab."

McGee added, taking the bag from him. Gibbs gave the scene another glance, shaking his head.

"Something about this just doesn't sit right."

He left without another word, leaving the three agents inside the house yet again. They each shared a concerned look.

"What do you think it is this time?"

Ziva sighed, fixing her hair before fixing her NCIS hat.

"If it involves the FBI, it's definitely not good."
————————-
(present time)

"The FBI is sending their Interagency Liaison Officer and the unit chief of the Behavioral Analysis Unit to assist you in this case."

"Okay."

"Now I know you're- Wait."

Vance did a double take, narrowing his eyes at the agent. Gibbs was never amenable to case decisions being made without him unless he had a separate plan.

"You're alright with this?"

Gibbs shrugged, scratching the back of his neck.

"I mean, we do have one of their agents down in the morgue, Leon. It makes sense."

Before Vance could respond, his office intercom buzzed with a call.

"Director? The Liaison Officer and Agent Hotchner are here."

He pressed the button, keeping his eyes on the agent in front of him.

"Send them in."