Disclaimer: I don't own Without a Trace, any of the characters, storylines, or actors. However I do own my ideas.
Zai: I appreciate the reviews. I hope you guys read and enjoy the update.
12 hours missing
Vivian stared at the time line, keeping her focus off the file photo of Sam and the case number beside her name. It seemed rather sparse compared to what they usually had. There were only three lines extended from the main one. The first read: 10 days BD - Mystery car's first visit. Followed by: 3 days BD - Mystery car's second visit. The final line reading: 12:30 DOD - Leaves Martin's apartment. Not much to go on.
A second white board stood nearby. It was completely empty, save for the word 'suspects' written in bold along the top. Danny replaced his receiver on the hook and removing a photo from a case file headed over to the empty bored. "I've got a possible."
His simple announcement caught the attention of everyone in the bullpen. They all watched closely as Danny added the picture and a name to the white bored.
"His name is Anthony Richards. He was arrested in a case we had a while ago. He had a personal motivation against Sam though. She was the one who convinced a witness to testify against him. Richards was released about two weeks ago on parole, and I just got off the phone with his parole officer, who informs me he missed a check in Friday. He has no idea where Richards might be."
"Of course he doesn't," Martin grumbled.
"Do we have any idea where to find him?" Vivian asked.
"No listed address, but we got the address of a sister here in the city, I was going to call her next see if she knows anything."
"Right, make the call," Jack said returning to the cases before him.
0-0-0-0
"Okay, I think I've got an address," Danny said after countless phone calls. Not only had it taken him awhile to track down the sister, but once he had her, she didn't exactly know where Richards was. It was only after phoning several places he used to go had the got a possible current address.
"Take Martin with you and bring him in," Jack said absently, still checking out possible leads in the files.
Danny paused a moment, but remembering Jack's earlier words decided not to voice his concerns. He knew Martin was a good agent; he was just worried Martin's control might be affected by the possibility that this guy had hurt Sam. Danny shrugged he would just have to keep an eye on his friend.
Together the two agents left the building and with Danny driving they headed to the address in silence. Danny, not sure what to say, and Martin's mind was elsewhere.
Martin tried to remember the case, but it had been a long time ago. He remembered Sam had gotten rather upset about it. The guy would have walked too; if she hadn't managed to convince some poor girl to take the stand.
They pulled up in front of an unkempt, low-rent apartment complex and Danny brought the car to a halt at the side of the road. "Nice neighbourhood," he commented darkly.
Martin grunted a reply as he got out the passenger side door, double checking the lock. Not surprisingly the front door of the building was unlocked. Off to one side was the building's only stairwell. Danny and Martin began their ascent of the grimy stairs, relieved that the address was only one floor up and not five, as the stairs made ominous creaking noises the entire way up.
Martin slammed his fist loudly on the door. "FBI open up!" He called. No response. Both he and Danny drew their guns. Then Martin kicked the door and it swung back. He saw a flash of movement as the apartment's occupant disappeared through a door at far side of the room. Martin took off after him.
The man was halfway out the bedroom window leading onto the fire escape when Martin caught up with him. He hauled the man back into the room pinning him against the floor.
Danny came and stood in the doorway. "Rest of the place is clear."
After snapping cuffs on Richards, Martin hauled him to his feet, ignoring the curses and protests thrown his way. Danny lead the way out of the apartment, Martin followed behind keeping a firm grip on Richards.
0-0-0-0
13 hours missing
Martin paced the small interview room. Danny was seated across from Richards who leaned back smugly in his chair on the far side of the table. "I haven't seen Spade since the trial, you guys are barking up the wrong tree."
"You sure about that?" Martin growled. This guy was really rubbing him the wrong way. He had no alibi to offer, no excuse of why he missed checking in with his parole officer. Nothing. Yet he sat there looking like he owned the world. Martin tried to control his breathing. He needed to keep calm.
"Yeah."
"Well we think maybe you did," Danny replied from where he sat, trying to gauging Richards' responses.
"Well like I said before, you guys got nothing. I haven't seen her since the trial and frankly I don't want to."
"Must have made you pretty upset, her convincing that girl to testify," Danny said coldly.
Richards shrugged. Martin couldn't take it. If this guy had hurt Samantha and they were sitting here playing games with the guy...
Anger flowed through Martin. Before he knew what he was doing, Martin had hauled a shocked Richards out of his seat and slammed him into the wall knocking over his chair in the process. "Where the hell is she."
Danny was on his feet a split second later. It took some effort but he managed to forcibly remove his partner from the interview room. Slamming the door behind him Danny glared at Martin and took a second to regain his composure before snapping, "What the hell was that?"
"Sorry," Martin mumbled more to himself then Danny.
Danny sighed. He could not even try to understand how Martin must be feeling. Danny wanted to find Sam too but he knew, now for certain, just how deep Martin's feelings for her had become. He was probably blaming himself, especially since Sam had gone missing from his apartment. However, that still did not excuse knocking a suspect around. They could not ruin their chance at finding her. "I'll finish this up myself," Danny said before turning his back to Martin and re-entering the small room.
Martin stood blankly in the hall for a moment. He could barely believe he'd just done that. He had never let his emotions take over him before. Sure he got upset over cases, but nothing like this... but then, the case had never meant so much to him. If they could not find her... Martin suppressed the thought. They would find her. They had to. Slowly he headed off to the bullpen.
0-0-0-0
Danny stood in the doorway of Jack's office. He had just finished questioning Richards and while he had not gotten anything useful from the guy, he still needed to talk to his boss about what had happened.
Jack looked up as Danny entered. "What did Richards say?"
"Not much, claims he hasn't seen Sam since his trial and he doesn't own a station wagon."
Jack nodded. They had all hoped this would prove a useful lead since it had been over half a day and they seemed no closer to finding her. "Alright, I suppose we can't hold him?" Danny shook his head and Jack glanced back down at the files on his desk. "We'll just have to keep looking."
"Jack," Danny started slowly, "I know what you said about Martin earlier, but he lost it in there. He shouldn't be here."
"Lost it?"
Danny sombrely explained how Martin had snapped and how he'd finished the interview alone.
Jack listened quietly, "Okay, you get back to the files. I'll go talk with Martin." He said as he pushed his chair back and got up. He followed Danny out to the bullpen. Vivian and Martin where both there still searching the files.
Martin glared at the files frustrated. There was nothing else to go on but the files. Everything pointed to a planned grab. The short span in which she had disappeared - between the lobby and her car - the possibility someone had been watching them...them.
A sudden thought occurred to him. He flipped through the files, quickly scanning the names on each case till he found the one he was looking for. He pulled it out and quickly read over the all-too-well remembered details. He was so focussed on the file he did not notice Jack behind him until he felt a heavy hand on his shoulder.
Martin looked up at Jack blankly. "Let's talk in my office," Jack said simply. Slowly Martin got up and followed Jack back to the office. Danny and Vivian both watched them pass but said nothing. Neither of them needed to, they both knew what had to happen. As it was none of them should even be on the case. However, they were not about to pass it over.
The glass door fell shut behind them and Jack remained standing beside his desk. "Look, Martin, I can't have you working this case. I'm sorry."
"Jack-" Martin started to protest but was cut off.
"I should have sent you home from the start. You can't work this case objectively Martin"
"And you can?" Martin retorted his voice unsteady.
"I didn't toss a suspect around the interview room Martin," Jack sighed. "You know we're all worried about Sam. But I can't let you stay, not now."
Martin ran his hand through his hair. He could not just give up. He needed to help find her. He had to, especially if... He shook his head and walked out of the office without another word.
Danny watched Martin gather his things to leave. He felt for his friend, knowing it was going to kill him to sit at home unable to help. But it was for the best. He could not work this case.