Chapter 1

It was breakfast time at the hotel. Cho, Lisbon and Jane were all sitting down to cereal, toast and juice.

"Where's Rigsby? He's usually he first one down for food in the morning" Jane commented noticing their large companion's absence.

"Probably spent last night with Van Pelt. You know the rules on that don't you Jane?"

Jane chortled into his cereal. He was the one who suggested the rule. Their relationship had been common knowledge for months now, but Lisbon still couldn't justify them sharing a hotel room while on a case. However when the case was solved they may sleep where they want, seen as though they were, technically, no longer working.

Grace walked silently up to the table with her breakfast. The three people looked at her expecting her boyfriend to be right behind her. He was nowhere to be seen. They turned to her and looked at her as if she was a mutant.

"What?" she asked defensively

"Seen Rigsby?"

"No. I assumed he stayed in his own room last night."

"Why?"

"I saw him sneak out. He probably drank too much and didn't want to wake me."

"Better go wake him before breakfast is over"

"Grace can go" Jane interrupted. He was sure she would be able to rouse him without suffering mild violence. As much as he liked to eat, he also liked to sleep.

Grace unlocked the door. The first thing that hit her was the noise. Or the lack of it. He eyes quickly scanned the room and fell on the bed. She grabbed her phone and hit #1 on her speed dial.

"Boss. You better get up here" Van Pelt's voice quivered as she said those words. Her hands shook as she snapped her phone shut.

Lisbon came into the room to find Van Pelt staring at the crumpled t-shirt on the still made bed, looking as white as a sheet. Being the boss meant that she has a pretty good eye when something isn't right. And this wasn't. Rigsby was missing. Trying not to panic (he never went out without telling someone where he was going or when he'd be back – it's the way its done on a case out of Sacramento) she said in a calm reassuring voice:

"Has anyone tried calling him?"

They all tried. They got nothing. This time it was Lisbon who went white. Cho stood in the doorway, his usual stoic self. But in his eyes gleamed a hint of concern. Jane however did not notice this. He had taken it upon himself to nosey through Rigsby's possessions. He held up the crumpled t-shirt, front facing him. It said Stanford on it. He was confused. Rigsby was a UCLA guy.

"Where do we start to look for him?" Lisbon asked. It suddenly occurred to them all (with the exception of Van Pelt) that they barely know Rigsby. He was such a private person when he wanted to be and barely let anything slip to anyone about his personal life. Lisbon, Cho and Jane all turned to Van Pelt in unison. Sure she would have the answer.

"I think I remember telling me something about someone called Laura. She works at a restaurant here in La. I don't know which one, but I think it's by the beach."

Lisbon took command. They had to find Rigsby. If he was alive and well at this Laura's place then she would skin him alive for scaring her half to death. If not… she didn't want to think about the if not.