CHAPTER 1
Eli Loker and Ria Torres were receiving their final instructions from Gillian Foster when Anna, the receptionist, sheepishly poked her head inside the lab.
"Dr. Foster?" She waited until Gillian looked over at her.
"Anna? I thought I said to hold my calls?" Gillian questioned nicely but with an air of authority that had the other woman looking worriedly at the floor.
"I tried to relay that information but she said it was an emergency..."
Gillian glanced at the clock on the wall, and frowned. It was 8:25 in the morning and she wondered who would be calling them this early in the morning. She knew it wasn't Anna's fault and nodded before she smiled. "Did she give her name?"
"It's Zoe Landau, Dr. Foster."
Upon hearing the name of her partner's ex-wife, Gillian rolled her eyes and waved her hand dismissively. "Tell Dr. Lightman to speak with her…"
"He's not here yet. Besides…" Anna shrugged and looked at her nervously. "She said that she'd only speak to you."
Gillian took a deep breath as she looked at the file in her hand. She had tried unsuccessfully to hide her reaction but Loker and Torres both saw through her anger and pretended to discuss the case as she took a minute to compose herself.
Gillian cleared her throat to get their attention. "Give me five minutes," she said abruptly with a smile that didn't quite reach her eyes.
She walked quickly towards her office. As her heels tapped out angrily in the quiet halls, her mind conjured up all the nasty things she planned to say to Cal when she told him she had been pulled out of a meeting from a summons by his ex-wife.
The two women were barely civil to one another and Gillian steeled her nerves as she grabbed for the phone. "Dr. Foster speaking, how can I help you?"
Zoe scoffed at the air of superiority in her voice. "Cut the crap, Foster, I know your receptionist told you it was me."
Gillian bit back her angry retort. "I was in a meeting trying to brief my two best people on an important case that they happen to be leaving for in less than two hours! What do you want, Zoe?"
"I need help."
It was Gillian's turn to scoff. "Then you need to speak to Cal. I'll tell him to call you as soon as I see him. Have a great day… "
"Gillian, wait! Please!" Gillian's eyes rose in surprise at the panic evident in Zoe's voice and instead of slamming down the phone, she put it back to her ear. "I need your help!" she heard Zoe beg.
"My help?!" Gillian asked as her voice softened in response to the desperation she heard in Zoe's tone. "With what?"
"I think Emily's been kidnapped!"
In shock, Gillian almost dropped the phone as she sat down heavily in her chair. "What?!"
"I came home and there was a note on the counter."
"What did it say?"
"Only that I was to wait for instructions."
"Who could have done this?!" Gillian asked.
"I don't know, I'm working on a case with some people pretty high up in the mob…it could be related." Zoe began to cry uncontrollably into the phone. "I need Cal's help now!"
"Okay, I understand that part but why did you call me first?"
"He's gonna go out of his mind when he finds out and the only one with any hope of controlling him is you! Will you come with him to Chicago?"
Gillian knew that Zoe was right about Cal's reaction and as since she was worried about Emily as well, she readily agreed. "Of course, we'll be out on the next flight."
"I'll pay…whatever it is, Gillian, I'll pay!"
Gillian frowned as she mentally went over their bank account and sighed into the phone. "To be honest, Zoe, we've been cash strapped since Cal bought your half of the business. I normally wouldn't take you up on the offer but if I don't the trip will have to go on my personal credit card."
"God, Gillian I don't care about the money, I've already called my investment broker and have him liquidating my assets. I promise you I'll help with expenses. Are Loker and that new girl, what's her name…Torres, right? Are they available?"
"Yes, of course…We've got nothing pending right now."
"You just said you were briefing your two best people on an important case…"
"It's a cheating spouse case…it can wait." Gillian lied easily.
"Okay…have your receptionist call my secretary. There's a hotel across the street from my office, that'll be the closest place for you to stay."
"Okay."
"Gillian, thank you."
Gillian heard the sincerity in her voice and knew Zoe had to be crippled with worry. "Zoe, try not to panic. I'm sure it's going to be okay."
"It's Emily we're talking about here!"
"I know…we'll be on the next available flight."
Gillian hung up the phone and wiped the tears from her eyes as she swallowed hard. As she made her way back to the lab, she made a quick stop at the front desk.
"Anna, I need you to book four airline tickets to Chicago for Doctor Lightman, myself, Loker and Torres."
Anna frowned as she started to sign on to her computer. "Should I try to change over the tickets Loker and Torres already have to go to California?"
Gillian sighed as she looked pointedly at the young woman. "I don't care how you get them or what they cost; I just need four tickets to Chicago on the next available flight."
Gillian whirled away from her and rushed into the lab.
Loker and Torres were joking around but stopped as she walked into the room.
Concerned by the look on her face, Torres immediately rushed to her side. "What's up?"
Gillian ignored her and looked at Loker. "Give me your house keys."
Loker blinked in surprise but handed them over to Gillian who handed them along with her own keys to Torres.
"Ria, go to Eli's house and get him some clothes…"
"Uh Foster, we're leaving in less than two hours, I'm already packed." Loker said as he pointed at his suitcase that was leaning against the back desk.
She ignored him and continued to speak to Torres. "…suitable for Chicago then go home and get yourself repacked as well."
Tears had formed in Gillian's eyes as she tried to control her emotions.
Torres cocked her head to the side as she tried to read her. "Chicago? You received a call from Lightman's ex and now instead of California, Loker and I are going to Chicago?"
Gillian looked at her evenly as she ignored the question and continued. "Then swing by my place, there's a suitcase in the back of my closet, throw anything in it you can find. You have one hour." At the questions clearly written on Torres' face, Gillian took a second to explain. "We're ALL going to Chicago!"
Loker's face fell as it dawned on him the only reason something this unusual would happen. "Something's happened to Emily?!"
A tear escaped and slid down her cheek as Gillian nodded and looked at him. "Zoe thinks she was kidnapped. Loker, I need you to stay here and gather any equipment you think we can use while I go to try to find Cal."
Loker touched her elbow in support and squeezed it lightly. "Go! We'll get everything ready."
Gillian nodded then smiled weakly before she turned and left.
Torres looked at Loker worriedly then ran out the door to get her errands done while he raced around the lab gathering anything he thought they could carry.