The bullpen at NCIS HQ was slightly subdued. There was some furious typing going on from Tim's desk whilst a less than animated conversation from Kate's desk. Gibbs' desk was empty, nothing but an empty Starbucks cup filling the space. The suspicion was that he was in MTAC, as was so many times the case. Madisyn had reluctantly taken Tony's desk, looking through the internet searches on the Impaloan Scotland Yard, whatever it happened to be.
"I have it!" A triumphant voice sounded through the quiet. Kate and Madisyn looked up.
"Are you waiting for us to guess, McGee?" Gibbs soft voice startled them.
"Um, no boss." Tim replied, swallowing his surprise. "The Impaloan Scotland Yard describes itself as a 'ring of actors and actresses that never stop playing their roles.'." Tim read off the screen. Madisyn crossed to join him.
"Stationed about thirty miles from here in the big mansion house Ilean Hall."
"They have a volunteers section." Tim muttered, double clicking on it as Kate brought it up on the plasma screen.
"So...what? They kidnap the permanent 'actors' as they call them, and then ask for volunteers to do what exactly?" Madisyn pondered out loud.
"To act with them. They're trying to 'Take back the past.'" Tim quoted off the page. Tim clicked on the 'Permanent Actors' section and scrolled down through each portfolio and picture before stopping at the second to last one.
ANTONY DE GREGORIO
The newest male member of Imaloan. This handsome chap plays the always entertaining and fun to be around guy who's just looking for love. He needs a girl, but doesn't show it. He's just a nice guy, especially with that smile.
Underneath was an unmistakable picture of Tony with a tall brunette, his signature sunshine smile in place. Gibbs eyes never left his agent as he spoke.
"Find out about the volunteers and report back. You have one hour." And with that, Gibbs left for the lift, leaving the three agents alone in the bullpen.
"Back to work then." Madisyn muttered, crossing to Tony's desk.
Fifty-two minutes later the team had exhausted any possibility of finding anything else about the volunteers. Tim had tried hacking into the server, but otherwise they couldn't find anything else. Gibbs came back on the dot of fifty-six minutes after he'd left.
"Volunteers have to be under thirty-five, fit and they're only looking for female volunteers at the moment. There are six volunteers at the moment, four male two female. They need four of each sex to complete their 'cast'." Kate reported, closing her file.
"You join by phone and there's no interview, you just turn up the next day and they 'sort you out' was the phrase they used." Madisyn joined the conversation from behind Tony's desk.
"Call them, on speakerphone." Gibbs ordered Tim. Tim nodded and dialed the number on his desk phone. Gibbs crossed and leant over the desk, obviously signing that he was the one to talk. The line picked up at the end.
"Good Afternoon, Impaloan Scotland Yard, how may I help you."
"Hello, I was inquiring about volunteers." Gibbs replied with unusual politeness.
"Of course sir, but we are only taking female volunteers. And there is a slight problem, we only have one place left and it had to be a very specific part."
"Tell me."
"Sadly the part must be played by a British girl."
All eyes turned to Madisyn who just raised her eyebrows.
"Excuse me, sir? I'm sorry, that's the only place we have. If you know of a young British girl, it would be much appreciated."
"Yeah, I know of one. What would she be doing?"
"Nothing much, not a very large plot I'm afraid, she is just a house guest who gets to interact with the other characters, she is the daughter of Lord Ickenham. What is her name?"
"Meredith."
"Brilliant, Meredith Ickenham, may I speak with her? And can she attend the Yard?"
"She's not here, but she would like the part, when can I bring her around?"
"As soon as possible. Say tomorrow morning, nine thirty?"
"Great." The line at the other end was hung up. Madisyn sighed.
"Meredith, get some sleep." Gibbs replied before walking passed her towards the stairs and up into MTAC. Madisyn looked after him before sitting down in Tony's chair, sliding into thought.
Author's Chapter Notes:
"Eggs, bacon, hash browns, baked beans, toast, butter, ketchup, a good blueberry muffin...wait, there's more?!"