It's an hour later when they gather for a briefing. Aidan is pacing around his work desk, Sunday morning in full suit and tie. So much for a day off. Outside City Hall there are already news vans. Just two, or three - but soon a horde for sure.

Their presence makes Aidan visibly nervous.

The others just watch as he talks, then paces, then continues to talk, pausing only long enough to answer their mounting questions. Leah and Elijah stand to one side commenting and not-commenting and nodding in unison. Between them Faith sits on the corner of Aidan's desk, eyeing the yellow sticky notes which decorate his monitor.

Across the table Hope is worrying her lip. Her husband's agitation is infectious.

"Aidan, please. Just relax. Take a breath," she assures him. "We'll find Abby."

"I won't breathe easy until we do."

"Then we need a plan. And fast," Leah says. "Has anyone thought about going to the police?"

"The police?"

"Yes, Aidan, the police. You know, the people whose job it is the solve cases just like this."

"Cases like what exactly? Leah, you have to remember, this isn't just any ordinary kidnapping, and Abby isn't some ordinary kid. I'd have better luck getting the Faction involved than a bunch of trigger-happy humans. The police aren't exactly sensitive to cases involving supernaturals."

"He's right," Hope nods. "This could be bigger than the humans can handle. And if we go to the police then the media will grab the story and make our job that much harder."

"Not to mention I'll have the entire Crescent clan jumping down my throat wanting answers," Aidan adds.

"Then if we're going in alone let's at least not go in blind," Leah thinks. "Do we have a timetable of events? I imagine the kidnapper probably waited a few hours before grabbing Abby to guarantee that everyone was sleeping."

"Agreed," Hope nods, starting to take notes. She has Faith pass her a blank yellow sticky. "Even the most exhausted parents may not fall asleep right away, so we should say the actual abduction occurred at 12:00 midnight, 1:00 A.M. at the earliest. That takes us down to a five or six hour window, which is better, but still gives our kidnapper a significant head start."

Aidan moves to the window and pulls back the blinds. There are more vans parked outside now. Staked out. Waiting.

"How long have the DeFleurs been staying in the Ninth?" his wife asks.

"Uh, 12 days," he calculates. He steps away from the blinds. "Owen's been pooling all his sick leave."

"That's long enough to establish a pattern," Elijah speaks. "And a Crescent family in witch territory would raise some suspicion in the Ninth."

Aidan seems to breathe easier at the thought.

"Then maybe that's our first lead - the witches. Let's check if any of the hotel staff are members of the local coven."

"And Leah and I will head directly to the hotel and question them," Hope volunteers. Leah goes pale. Leah hates witches.

"Or I can be useful in some other way," she hopes.

"What do I do?" Faith steps in. "Please don't make me stay in the car."

"She can come with us," Hope advocates. "The DeFleurs have another daughter. Faith can watch her while we investigate."

"Then if you ladies are certain of your tasks," Elijah says, "I'll remain here if that is alright. See what I can do about the press outside."

Aidan nods, grateful. The reporters are already pitching cameras on the lawn.


There is someone waiting to welcome them when they arrive in the Ninth Ward. Aidan has to drag Leah from the car when she realizes who it is.

"Now I know the two of you have some history..."

"Understatement," Leah frowns. She is glaring daggers at Marcel Gerard.

"Okay, understatement acknowledged," Aidan relents, "but get over it, Leah, please. There's a little girl missing and her life may depend on you two playing nice."

"If it makes a difference," Marcel says, "Elijah called me in himself. No one knows this part of the city better than me."

Leah bites her tongue, and agrees to cooperate. She does, however, make a mental note to have a strong word with Elijah.

"I see you've assembled the A-team," Marcel quips to Aidan, looking smugly between Hope and Leah. "Who's the kid though?"

"This is Faith," Leah frowns. "And no sudden moves, Marcel. Don't think I've forgotten you have a record of kidnapping yourself."

"Bygones," Aidan reminds them. "At least for today. Now Marcel, what have you learned from the parents?"

"Not much, they'll only talk to you. Come on, the DeFleurs are inside."

Marcel leads the group up the path. The hotel is quaint; a bed and breakfast type place. Instead of glass windows there are only shudders, Aidan notes. Few staff. Low-security. Posted all around the lobby are photocopied flyers: Abigail DeFleur, 4. Please - Have you see this girl?

Hope tears one down, her heart in her throat.

"Wait, did the DeFleurs make these?"

"Yeah," Marcel nods. "They haven't wasted much time since she's been gone. They keep mentioning a case about a Madeline? Ring any bells?"

"Madeline Paxon," Aidan sighs. "Werewolf girl. Almost the same age when she was abducted by poachers."

"When was this?"

"Nearly a year to the day."

"And what happened to her?"

"No one knows. She was never found. Then again the Paxon wolves aren't even close to having the resources that we do. The question then again is why risk taking a child from the most powerful werewolf pack in America?"

"Maybe because you're also the largest," Marcel explains. "In-fighting and intrigue is nothing new among packs that grow too big, I should know. I've seen enough nastiness among the Crescents to last a lifetime. Assassination attempts on rival alphas, putting hits on entire families, leaving kids orphans left and right..."

"But kidnapping?"

"Sure, it happens. Just think: two bloodlines in the same pack. Both have kids with claims to the crown. But one bloodline is willing to do anything so their kid comes out on top. So they wipe out the competition."

"That's horrific," Hope gasps.

"It's the truth," Marcel insists. "The wolf kids, the ones who get taken, they're called paper orphans. Their kidnappers sell them to collectors or worse after forging documents saying that they got no living relatives. Sometimes they even get passed off as regular human kids and adopted by unknowing families. If you don't believe me, Hope, ask your mother - she is one."

"Hayley Marshall is a paper orphan?" Aidan frowns.

"Well, I certainly didn't rescue her from a Crescent civil war to let her grow up the way she did," he says. "I tried to protect her knowing there was a target on her back, but the same wolves that killed her parents got their hands on her again. For two decades I thought Andrea Labonair was dead until she walked into my town as Hayley Marshall."

Marcel sounds frustrated as he finishes the story. He tears down another flyer and stares at the photograph of Abby. Hope watches in silence, still shocked.

"Maybe we're looking at this wrong," she starts. "Maybe someone is trying to send the DeFleurs a message. Maybe some Crescent is still upset over the kidnapping of the Labonair heir."

"Or maybe one of the Crescents kidnapped that girl Madeline from the Paxons," Leah frowns. "And now it's an eye for an eye, a kid for a kid."

"That seems like a huge risk for a personal vendetta," Aidan adds. "Any wolf found guilty of a crime like that would be expelled from the pack - at best."

"Then do you have any other suggestions where we should be looking instead?"

"Well, Abby was taken from her room...which was locked," he reasons. "So do you think the kidnapper is somebody who had access to a room key?"

"Hope's right on this," Marcel concludes. "We are looking at this wrong. We should be looking for suspects closer to home. A lot closer in fact."

"You mean the parents," Aidan pauses. "You think the DeFleurs are hiding something?"

"There's only one way to find out."


Someone has given poor Owen DeFleur a cup of coffee but he just stares at it and waits. When the door at last opens he stands, relieved to see his alpha.

"Thompson. Finally."

"Sorry for the delay," Aidan apologizes profusely. He shakes all the hands their are to shake in the room. "How you are, Emily?"

"How do you think I am?" she sobs.

"Right. I'm sorry. I cannot even imagine… "

Hope and Leah join them and Aidan quickly takes charge of introductions.

"Owen, you know my wife, but have you met my sister, Leah?"

"Hi," Leah takes his hand, "I'm here to help any way I can."

"Me too," Faith steps forward. She is drawn to the little girl clutching Owen's leg. "What is your name, princess?"

"My name is Grace. I'm looking for my sister..."

Grace hands Faith one of the flyers with Abby's face on it.

"When was that photo taken?" Leah asks.

"Just yesterday," says Owen. "We passed them out to everyone. We couldn't just sit still and do nothing."

"No one can. But look, we've got good people on your side and they'll search. My husband's commandeered half the Faction to comb the Ninth. He's probably compelled the whole police force too."

"Your husband?" Emily gasps. "Oh, God, you're the other hybrid, aren't you? And you're telling me you've got the Elijah Mikaelson looking for my little girl?"

"He'll find her," Leah nods, slightly uncomfortable. Now she's making grand promises too.

"And all of us here won't rest until we have a lead," adds Aidan. "But we're going to need to work some magic of our own. This is a hotel right? What about security footage?"

"I'll get on that," Marcel volunteers.

"And where are we with employee interviews and background checks? Has someone contacted the witch Regent and the coven here in the Ninth?"

Hope is on it double speed. She zooms from the room just as Owen's wife starts crying.

"I can't believe that Abby's gone, and... and no one saw anything?" she sobs.

"It has to be someone who works here," Owen growls.

"We don't want to jump to any conclusions, but I can assure you we'll leave no stone unturned," Aidan promises.

He waves Leah in closer for a sidebar.

"Is it okay if I ask you to put your nose to the ground, see what you can sniff out?"

"Oh, you mean literally," she realizes, flashing her hybrid eyes. She turns to the parents sheepishly. It's a bit of an awkward request. "I'm, uh... I'm gonna need something of Abby's. Something with her scent."

Emily DeFleur moves around the room, searching through her little girl's things.

"Odd. Her, um, blanket and stuffed wolf must be with her because I can't find them..."

"Okay, then what about what she was wearing yesterday instead?"

"Uh, her sweatshirt," Owen recalls. "I'll get it."

"I'll go with you," Aidan trails after. He shares a concerned look with Leah on his way out.


Faith stands beside Leah in the lobby as they wait for Abby's sweatshirt.

"Are you really gonna try to sniff out the girl? Like a dog?"

"What? Think I'm half werewolf just for show?" Leah smiles. It's an uneasy moment, an unsure time. She caves and pulls Faith in for a hug. "If it was you, instead of that little girl who's gone missing, I'd like to think I'd be strong. I'd like to think I could still be standing on my own two feet just like Emily."

"In times like this you have family to be strong for you," says Faith.

"You sound just like your Dad," Leah notes proudly. "You really are growing up."

"You know, despite what Dad thinks, I'm already old enough to know the world isn't always a good place. When these kinds of things happen to other people... I know the kids usually aren't found."

"We aren't just other people though. This time will be different."

"I just can't believe Hope's mom was a paper orphan," Faith thinks.

"It honestly explains so much," Leah realizes. "And I feel like I've misjudged her all this time, not knowing what she went through. But she's tough as nails, that one. I just hope that little girl is too. The more I think Owen and Emily's nightmare can't get worse, the more I think..."

"Trafficking?" Faith guesses. She guesses right.

"I wish you never had to learn that word," Leah sighs. She suddenly feels very old.

There's a commotion by the door as Owen appears with Abby's sweatshirt.

"I'd like to join in your search. Please."

He's begging to tag along but Leah knows she'll be quicker alone.

"You know, actually, uh, I was hoping that you could stay here and help Faith retrace your family's steps from the orphanage to the hotel last night."

"Okay. I can do that," he agrees.

"I can do that too," Faith nods. She suddenly feels very old.


Some answers...many more questions. Who are you starting to suspect in all this? Join us next week for more clues and leave a review with your thoughts!