"You don't think maybe he just took off without telling us?"

Chris stared in disbelief at Josiah. "How could you say that about him after all this time? You're usually the first one to defend him."

"Relax Chris – I didn't mean it that way. Just meant, they be something came up. Some kind of emergency or something and notifying us just slipped his mind."

"That might make sense for a day or two Josiah, but it's been five days since anybody's heard anything."

"And JD hasn't been able to trace him?"

There was a blending of anger, concern and frustration in the response. "No leads. Anywhere."

"We need to let Travis know."

"I did that this morning. He wasn't happy that we – I – kept it from him."

Josiah smiled wryly. "Well, I can't say as that surprises me."

They were interrupted by noise from the outer office. "I'm gonna kill her." Buck's shout came through Chris's closed door.

"I think they may have found something."

"Did you know Maude was getting married – again?" JD asked as the two senior agents entered the bullpen.

If that was the reason for all this, Chris was going to be killing someone too. He just had to figure out who. "He's missing because of wedding plans?"

"No."

"Okay, I think I know the answer here, but just confirm for me who Buck is going to kill. And why?"

"Maude gave an interview to something called The Right Thing." JD began.

"It's an ultra conservative rag." Nathan explained.

"Anyway, the article is supposedly about her engagement to some Republican State congressman, or something. In the middle of it, he asks her about her views on law and order –"

"- and she says she is a strong supporter of the enforcement community, especially since, to quote her 'I am so proud to have a son who has heroically and honorably worked for the FBI and currently is doing invaluable service in the ATF'." Buck read barely keeping the furor from his voice.

Chris cursed softly. "Well, I suppose it could be worse. Even if she named him –" his tone implied the question, and JD nodded to confirm the fact "- it's not like Ezra goes in using his own identity. It could be awkward, but it's not like she gave them a picture or anything."

Buck turned the page on the article with enough force to tear the page. Chris's cursing was not nearly as quiet when he saw the photo of Ezra standing next to Maude. He would guess it had to be at least 5 years old, maybe more, but Ezra hadn't changed much in that time.

"We sent notice to the magazine. They've issued a retraction – you know – misidentified the gentlemen in the photo. Don't think anyone will believe it, but I don't know what else we can do about it.

"It's a start JD." Vin spoke up. "You figure this is why Ez is missing? Someone saw this?"

"How well read is this piece of crap?" Chris asked JD, "And how did you find it?"

"I have a computer flag for when any of our names, or a few others, come up in anything on-line. Went down to the corner shop and picked up a copy."

"It's got a pretty loyal following, from what I can find out." Nathan added. "Not huge numbers, but well read. And, on-line, anything can go viral in a hurry, and if this photo catches the interest of the wrong people…"

JD perked up as an idea struck him. "How much do you wanna bet that he saw it himself? Yeah, he saw it and went underground until it all blows over."

Vin doubted that would happen. "Without telling us?"

"He didn't have time." JD defended his idea. "And he dumped his phone so nobody could find him that way either."

Buck hated to be the one to destroy the hope. "He'd have found a way to let us know JD."

"No." He wasn't about to give up. "Because if you're right and someone saw this and took him –"

"I know kid. They'd have no reason to keep him alive. Someone's going to be out for blood – his blood."

The young man was resolute in his determination to find an acceptable explanation. "So, he's in hiding. Until someone proves otherwise."

"I hope you're right JD, but we need to keep looking. Vin, Josiah, put together a list of anyone Ezra might've pissed off enough to make him disappear. I know it's gonna be a long one but –"

"Hang on Chris. Maybe not as long as you're thinking." Nathan interrupted. "Anybody going after him now, because of this, has to be someone who never found out he was undercover. Has to be from a job where he stayed under wraps."

"Good point. So nothing he testified in or cases where he was IDed. That should shorten the list. Buck, you help JD review all the footage for the cameras within a mile of Ezra's place."

"We've checked them. Can't see him."

"Run them against anybody we have in the files might have a reason to go after him."

Vin didn't want to throw anything else into the mix, but they couldn't afford to overlook any possibilities. "Chris, this could go back further. To his days at the Bureau."

"I know. I'll put in a request, but I doubt they'll be in a rush to help."

"Travis can probably pull a few strings." Chris nodded at Buck's suggestion.

"There could be another problem." Vin added quietly.

"I thought of that." Chris acknowledged.

"What?"

"Could be somebody we don't know JD. Someone who wants information about ATF and they get handed an inside man on a platter." Vin explained.

"Let's not borrow trouble. We have enough leads to follow without throwing in random chance. Everybody get going.

"What are you going to do?"

Chris stared down at the magazine. "Going to go have a little chat with Maude."

"You think that's a good idea?" Josiah asked.

"Something's off about all of this. Woman is a lot of things, but stupid isn't one of them. I need to know how this happened. It might lead us somewhere."

"Chris?" He turned when Buck spoke. "If she did screw up, if this is her fault, you don't get to kill her."

"I know Buck."

"Yeah. I called it first. I get to do that."

7-7-7-7-7-7-7

"Mrs. Devereaux has an appointment right now and you will have to – Sir, you cannot go in there. You cannot just barge in. I'm calling security." Chris showed his badge as he stormed past the personal assistant's desk. "I am security."

"Mr. Larabee. What do you think you are doing?" Maude hung up the phone after issuing a quick apology. "I could have you arrested for this."

"Most parents would be more worried about their child, not rudeness, when someone barges into a room like this."

"In the first place, he is not a child. He is an adult who repeatedly chooses not to listen to me and expects me to accept that behaviour. In the second place, as you have pointed out on numerous occasions, I am not most parents. And last, but far from least, if Ezra had been hurt you would not be here. You would be with him, and simply calling me when you got around to it."

"So, you don't accept his behaviour, but you are…" he read from the magazine he'd brought. "'…proud to have a son who has heroically and honorably worked for the FBI and currently is doing invaluable service in the ATF'."

"What on earth are you rambling about?"

"The interview Maude. How could you do this to him?"

"What interview? Do what?" She was getting increasingly frustrated.

So was Chris, as he threw the magazine on her desk. She picked it up, confusion evident on her face. "I have no idea what this is about. I never spoke to anyone from this rag." He was stopped in his tracks by her evidently sincere disclaimer.

"You never heard of this writer?"

"Oh yes, I've heard of him. He's a hack. And while I might lean to the conservative side, this trash is about as right-wing crazy as it gets. I would never give them any credibility by even talking to them, let alone give this kind of interview. And I certainly wouldn't talk about Ezra like this. It would be a foolish risk."

"Then you didn't give them this?" He turned the page to show her the picture.

"Oh, dear God!" she gasped out.

"Yeah, and it's on the stands. Who would do this Maude? Who would blow Ezra's cover like this?"

"I have no idea. It's crazy. I can't imagine."

"Okay, calm down."

"I will not calm down. And you thought I did this?"

"No. Not really. I may not be your biggest fan, but I can't see you being this –"

"Careless." she provided.

"Stupid." he replied.

"Ezra must be furious." Chris didn't answer. "Okay, more than furious. But he should know I wouldn't take such a foolish risk –" she paused as the realization hit her.

"Something's happened, hasn't it. Oh dear Lord. Is he-?"

"I don't know Maude. He's missing. Nobody's heard from in a couple of days. Well, five days actually."

Maude sat heavily back down in the chair. "You believe he is still alive?"

"I have to."

"I believe I can find out who was responsible for this article. Will that help?"

"It might, but how are you gonna do that?"

"My fiancé's name has considerable importance. I can find out what I need to know."

"Don't put yourself in danger Maude. You get hurt, Ezra will never forgive me."

"I think you overestimate my importance in his life and underestimate your own."

"Don't think so."

"Find my son Mr. Larabee. One way or another, find my Ezra."

M7-M7-M7-M7-M7-M7-M7

TBC