Chapter 2

Chapter 2

Unzipping his windbreaker, Josh took some more pictures of the unfortunate scene. The blood on the floor and wall, along with the broken glass. It looked like five-foot-tall, 105 pound Jody Mulani was picked up over the top of her boyfriend's head and thrown about twenty-two feet, colliding with a wall.

A neighbor had heard the racket and come over to see what was wrong, only to find Jody in a heap, bleeding profusely and unconcious, and Petty Officer Cal Valanse gone.

Josh looked over at Camila, who was carefully swabbing samples of the victim's blood. He smiled as she bent over again, showing off a very nice sight.

"Chinora, if you're done staring at Camila's ass, I'd like you to get the neighbor's statement," Guthren said, taking the camera out of his hand.

"Yeah, boss," he answered, while Camila stared at him, openmouthed. He gave her a charming smile and zipped up his windbreaker, stepping outside.

He could tell which was the neighbor; a short woman with long, red, curly hair, mid-twenties, very cute. She was sitting on the edge of the sidewalk, looking extremely distressed. He put on his most comforting smile and sat down to join her.

"Hi, I'm Special Agent Joshua Chinora, NCIS."
"Hi," she said softly in a very frightened voice. "Do you know how she is?"

"All I know is that she's still in the Intensive Care Unit at Rota Naval Hospital, Mrs...?"
"Spillane. Well, almost Miss. My husband and I...it's not working, him being away. Divorce is almost final," she said with an attempt at a weak smile. "I'm just worried about Jody. She was one of the few women I was able to befriend on the base."

"And why is that, do you think?" he asked curiously. Come on, who couldn't love this girl? he thought to himself.

"The majority of them are much older, with kids, happily married, not wanting to have anything to do with us 'young ones'."

"Shame. So, could you tell me what you heard and saw?"

"Well, I was in the house, in the living room, watching Fried Green Tomatoes, and I heard yelling coming from their house, which was unusual. They're usually so quiet. But by that point I had muted my tv and tried to listen. Then I got up and grabbed my coat when I heard an extremely loud thump. Sp I jogged over to their house, knocked on the front door, then when no one answered, I just went in. I called Jody's name but she didn't answer, so I went into the living room and she was...and there was so much blood!" At this she started to cry. She buried her face in her hands, her whole body shaking.

"Shhh, it's okay," he said, placing an arm on her shoulders. "She's going to be fine."
"She's not the one I'm worried about. If this is what he's capable of, who knows what else he'll do," she sobbed, wiping away tears.

"Well, I've got to go down to the hospital to see what I can get out of Jody. I'll take you down too, if you like," he offered, praying his boss would agree.

"Sure. Yeah, I'd like that," she smiled again, and meant it this time. Boy, did those perfect pearly whites knock the wind out of him. He told her he'd be right back and went to find Guthren.

"All right, Chinora, let's go," Guthren shouted against a sudden burst of wind.

"You need someone to take Jody's statement, yeah?" Josh asked, crossing his fingers behind his back.

"Yeah. Go do that. Take the car, we'll ride in the truck."

Josh let out a breath he wasn't aware he'd been holding. "Right on that."
"And Josh?" he asked, stopping Josh in his tracks. "Make sure you get her number!"

Josh chuckled to himself as he reached...he didn't even know her first name. He held out a hand, helped her up and walked toward the car.

"By the way, Josh, my name's Holly," she said fiercely, climbing into the passenger seat of the Charger, leaving him standing there, his hand outstretched, stunned.

________________________________________________________

Feedback?