It's 2 am and he's wide awake again. Thunder and lightning roared and cracked and rain poured down outside, but that's not what's keeping him up. Sleep doesn't come easy for him anymore. He got up and sat on the side of his bed and ran his fingers through his beard and thought, "Maybe I should just shave the damn thing off, but then who really cares." He walked to the fridge, took a swig of milk and spat it out in the sink. He looked at the date, expired a week ago. The phone rang; he reached across the counter for it.

"Yeah," he answered. He scratched the back of his neck as he waited for the person to reply.

"Bobby, its Alex. Ross called; the Deputy Commissioner's wife has been attacked at her home. She is refusing to go to the hospital and he wants us at the house. Do you need the address," asked Eames.

"No, I know where they live. Saw it in the paper. Meet you there," Goren hung up the phone and got dressed.

When they arrived at the Reynolds home, it seemed every police officer in town was at the house. Reynolds was yelling and barking orders at the CSU and the uniformed officers. Even Captain Ross was there.

"Glad you two showed up. As you can see from his reaction, this won't be easy," said Ross as he shook his head.

Goren was tired and wasn't in the mood for a politician with an attitude. But he knew if he wanted to keep his job he better hold on to his temper.

"Evan, these are Detectives Eames and Goren; they will be working this case," Ross informed him.

"Well it's about time we get someone here who knows their job," yelled Reynolds.

"Mr. Reynolds, can you tell us what happened," Eames asked the man calmly.

Goren started looking around the room. Reynolds looked uneasy at Goren.

"I came home, the front door was open, and my wife was on the floor. She was all beaten up. I called 911," he responded. He was still watching Goren.

"This door here," asked Goren as he looked at the front door. He was checking the door for forced entry.

"Yes, that door," Reynolds said sarcastically.

"Was anything taken," Goren asked.

"No, not that I can tell," Reynolds was getting frustrated.

"Mr. Reynolds, your wife refused to go to the hospital. Where is she," asked Goren.

"She's upstairs; let me show you," he started to walk upstairs.

"No, that's ok; we'll find our way," said Goren, as he put his hand up to stop Reynolds from going any further.

Goren and Eames went upstairs to Mrs. Reynolds' room. Goren knocked softly on the door.

"Come in," he heard a faint voice.

They walked in. A petite woman was lying on the bed; she was about 5'2", barely 110 lbs. and had long brown hair. She had been badly beaten on the face and bore red marks on her arms; Goren figured they would be black and blue by morning. She was roughed up pretty bad, but you could still see her green eyes. She appeared sad, but still beautiful. How did she end up with an old goat like Reynolds, he wondered. Mrs. Reynolds was about 35-38; Mr. Reynolds was 55, 5'10", maybe about 250 pounds and not what Goren would consider attractive for an older man.

"Mrs. Reynolds, we hate to bother you. I'm Detective Goren and this is Detective Eames," he sat in the chair by her bed so he could look at her when he talked. "We need to know what happened."

"Didn't my husband tell you," she asked. She sat up in bed.

"Well he didn't come home until after it was over. We need to hear from you how it happened," Bobby explained. He leaned in to make eye contact. He wanted her to feel comfortable. He already had his suspicions, but didn't want to jump to conclusions.

"Well I finished work at the homeless shelter, and then I came home. I started supper, and then I heard someone in the living room. I thought Evan had come home, so I went to check and..." she broke down and started to cry.

Bobby noticed she couldn't look at him when she talked. A sign that she wasn't being truthful.

"Mrs. Reynolds, did you set the alarm when you came home," asked Bobby.

"I don't remember," she replied, as she looked down at her feet.

"I noticed your front door automatically locks when you close it. You wouldn't have left it wide open," he explained to her, using his hands as he talked.

"No, I wouldn't," she said looking up into his eyes.

"Mrs. Reynolds, nobody broke in. Whoever came into the house had a key. There was no sign of forced entry. Besides you and your husband, who else has a key," Bobby looked into her eyes again. "Don't be afraid, we can help you."

She broke down crying again. "How…how can you help me? You know who he is, he is the Deputy Commissioner. Are they going to put him away for spousal abuse and rape? I don't think so. Please just go," she lied back down and cried.

Bobby put his hand over his mouth and looked at Eames.

"At least let us take you to the hospital and get you out of the house tonight," begged Eames. "We can get the evidence and have it on file in case you change your mind."

"You can't do anything unless I press charges. If I do that he will kill me," she cried. "That's what he told me."

"Will you at least go to the hospital, we won't tell him anything. We promise," said Goren.

She looked into Goren's eyes, "I'm trusting you. I'll go."

Evan Reynolds came busting through the door. "Jasmine are you alright? I heard you crying." He ran to his wife's side.

Goren balled up his hand into fist. Eames went next to Goren and grabbed his hand; she didn't want him to start anything, even though she would have liked to belt the man, too. But they had to get Jasmine out of the house.

"I'm ok Evan, they just convinced me it's for the best that I go get checked out at the hospital," said Jasmine as she tried to smile.

"Let me get my coat, I'll come with you," he replied. He looked uneasy and worried. He kept looking at Goren and Eames.

"No, that's ok, you finish up here with the police; they will bring me back after the doctor checks me out," she patted his hand. He bent down and kissed her on the forehead.

Goren helped Jasmine with her coat. As he slipped it on her shoulders she reached up and touched his hand and lightly squeezed it. She didn't say anything, just headed out the door. Bobby looked at his hand; why did suddenly he have this strange feeling in his gut?