There was something wrong. Nate wasn't sure what it was but something was a bit off. Maybe it was the con going so well, everything they had planed out was going off with out a hitch, something that very rarely happened. Maybe he was being overly paranoid, but usually when something felt wrong something was wrong. Sophie smiled at him from next to him. She looked stunning in a black evening gown accompanied by a string of simple black pearls. Her smile made him feel a little more at ease, but he wouldn't be completely comfortable until the con was closed.

He sighed and put his game face on as the mark walked over to them.

________________________________________________________________________

"What do you mean you've lost them?"

Hardison shrunk a little as Eliot yelled. He didn't blame the hitter for being upset, Nate and Sophie were supposed to have checked in two hours earlier. It just wasn't like them to miss a check in, especially Nate.

"They checked in when they left the party and were supposed to call when they got back to the hotel. The GPS in Nate's car shows them still at the party." Hardison pointed to his computer screen. "I've tried them on the comms and no response, I've tried Nate's cell, goes right into voice mail and Sophie's is laying on the counter in the kitchen because it wouldn't fit into her purse."

"Maybe they wanted to be alone." Parker suggested.

"Not before they checked in." Eliot stated firmly.

"What's going on?" Layla asked as she came in. She had gone into the back to change and had missed the conversation.

"Nate and Sophie are missing." Parker told her quietly.

"What?" Layla looked from Hardison to Eliot.

Eliot looked up meeting the car thief's eyes, sending her a silent message. She nodded and disappeared toward the back of the suite again.

"They're not missing. I just can't find them." Hardison spoke up. He didn't want Eliot and Layla both on his case. The pair was scary enough when they were mad at each other he didn't want that anger turned on him.

"Maybe we missed something." Eliot said bending slightly to look at the computer screen.

"Like what?" Hardison asked.

"I dunno, something. Go over the guest list, see if anyone jumps out." Eliot growled out. "Layla and I'll go check out Nate's car."

"What about me?" Parker asked.

"Keep Hardison focused and keep trying to call Nate's phone." Eliot told her as he walked into the back.

He found Layla sitting on their bed note pad sitting on her lap and phone pressed to her ear. He also noticed that she had put on her boots and a hooded sweatshirt.

"I really appreciate this. Yeah I'll give you a call as soon as I know when we'll be able to confirm the new reservations. Thanks again." She slid her phone shut and looked over at Eliot. "Everything's on hold till we call."

Eliot nodded tossing the dress shirt on the bed and pulling on a flannel. He traded his dress slacks for a pair of jeans. He was so focused in what he was doing that he almost jumped when Layla touched him. He closed his eyes briefly and took a deep breath.

"We'll find them." She whispered talking his hand in hers.

"I know." He squeezed her hand. "We were there, Layla. We spent the whole night watching them make nice with the mark. We should have waited for them. Then maybe.."

"What, Eliot? We'd have gotten taken as well?" She squeezed his hand tighter. "There was nothing we could do. Nate told us to leave they had the mark where they needed him."

"I know." Eliot replied quietly, still feeling like there was something he should have been able to do.

"I'll wait for you out there." She kissed his rough cheek and turned to leave only to have him stop her before she was out the door.

"Do you still want to," He paused causing her to raise an eyebrow.

"Of course I do." She told him, concern seeping into her voice.

"That's not what I meant." He took a deep breath. "When we find Nate and Sophie we tell them, ok. Parker and Hardison too."

Layla nodded suddenly understanding what he was trying to tell her. She had never seem him so unnerved. Moving quickly she kissed him soundly and deeply this time before they both returned to the front room.

"I think I got something." Hardison told them as they entered the room.

"Someone off the guest list?" Eliot asked.

Hardison shook his head. "Not exactly. Someone just checked them out of their hotel room."

"How'd you find that out?" Layla asked.

"I called the hotel. It was the only other thing I could think of doing. The night receptionist said we just missed them." Hardison told them.

"I told Nate it was a bad idea to stay in separate hotels." Eliot growled.

"I hacked the hotel's security feed and got a picture. I'm running it through the facial recognition software then I'll cross check the name with the guest list and the mark's employee list." Hardison informed them.

"Where's Parker?" Layla asked.

"Oh I sent her to look through Nate and Sophie's room at the other hotel. My thought is if they checked them out they probably tossed their room first."

"Parker you be careful." Eliot told the blond thief.

Always. Was the response that came back over the comm.

________________________________________________________________________

"I've got a bad feeling about this." Layla told Eliot as they pulled to the top of the parking garage.

Nate's rental car sat alone at the top, which caused the car thief more unease. She had never seen a parking garage so empty before. Eliot parked their rental off in the shadows and was about to get out when Layla stopped him.

"Hardison, can you make sure the security cameras on the parking garage don't see us."

Sure. You think someone is watching?

"Dunno, just a feeling."

You're good to go.

"Thanks Hardison." Layla said breathing a bit easier.

She slid out of the car followed shortly by Eliot. She walked over slowly to the car. She didn't care for new cars, they just didn't have the care or love put into them that a classic did. But just because she didn't care for them didn't mean she couldn't get into them or steal them.

She had the lock on the driver's side door popped in seconds flat. She slid into the seat and smiled a little. Nothing looked out of the ordinary, that is until Layla went to adjust the seat. Her finger tips brushed against something small. She shifted in the seat until she was upside down looking under the seat. Pulling a pen light from her sweatshirt pocket she pushed it on looking steadily under the dark seat. What she saw made her holler for Eliot.

"What?" He asked coming to skidding stop next to the open door.

"Look." She told him shifting so he could look under the seat with her.

What's going on guys? Hardison's voice came over the comms.

"We know why we couldn't get them on the comms." Eliot told the hacker as Layla's smaller hand reached under the seat and pulled the two ear pieces out as well as Nate's cell.

Well get back here. I'll take care of the car through the rental office computers.

Eliot helped Layla out of the car, before making sure the car was shut tight.

________________________________________________________________________

"Nate must have known someone was following them." Layla sighed as she tossed the items on the table next to Hardison.

"And didn't want them to know about us." Parker finished.

"What did you find at the hotel?" Eliot asked shoving a hand through his hair.

"Nothing." Parker shrugged. "And I mean nothing. Whoever did this is a pro. All their clothes were gone as well as the bed made and furniture wiped clean."

"What about your search Hardison?" Layla asked.

"Nothing from the guest list, but I'm expanding my search." He sighed. "Why don't you guys try to get some rest. I'll let you know as soon as something turns up."

The three of them sighed, they all knew they weren't going to get any sleep.