Sorry it took so long, enjoy, I don't own CI, but if I did I wouldn't be able to right completely impossible stories about it all the time so I figure it's a good thing.

Chapter 3: 21 hours

He stood and stared, unmoving, his face as pale as milk.

Why?

The question would not leave him alone, at this moment, it was more important than who or where or even how.

Why didn't I see this coming?

Why would someone want to hurt her?

Why is there no sign of a struggle?

Why she didn't fight back?

Was she hurt?

Was she…?

Dead. He couldn't even think the word. Bobby rested his head in his hands, took a deep breath, and tried again to survey the most horrifying crime scene he'd ever observed. Horrifying, not because of the blood evidence or the apparent violence and senselessness of the crime, but because of the lack of such things. Eames' small apartment was as neat and tidy as he'd ever seen it. The space was perfect, not a thing out of place, except Alex.

Alex where are you?

The morning's events were seared into his brain forever, as surely as if the Devil himself had branded it there with and iron heated by the fires of hell. He had just arrived at the office and taken his first sip of coffee when Captain Ross appeared at his desk.

"Goren…" Ross was carrying a file and trying to sound professional, but his voice quavered slightly, indicating to Bobby's keen senses that everything was not business as usual. "We've got a missing persons case."

Great. Bobby thought, another of his friends has a missing kid…Where the hell is Eames? She should be here by now.

"Bobby, it's Alex."

Goren ran from the squad room in response to a desperate need to get to her apartment and see for himself. He was at the elevator before Ross could fill him in, he only half heard Ross say that her door was found ajar and the neighbors suspected foul play.

When he entered his partner's home; he felt something like a cold hell in the pit of his stomach; an open photo album, a missing picture and a used plate, everything was fine, perfectly normal except... no Alex. The reason he was standing here now, worried and confused. His mind tried to act, to form a plausible solution from the scant clues, as he'd trained it to do. This time, though, nothing came to him. No moment of clarity, where the crime played before his eyes like a movie only he could see, only empty dread and helplessness.

Back at the station Bobby pulled the last of the witness statements toward him. It was the same as the other nine. After seeing Alex go into her apartment none of her neighbors had seen or heard anything until around eight that morning when the young man who lived across the hall noticed the door was open a few inches. He had knocked and called out to Alex. When no one answered, he went inside and, finding it empty, called the police.

"This isn't helping!" Bobby shouted at nobody in particular, slamming the report on top of the stack.

"Maybe this will." Ross said appearing suddenly at his desk. "An elderly lady from the first floor said that for the past couple of days there's been a man hanging around the building but today he was no where in sight. I already have canvassing the area looking for anyone who might have seen him. With any luck, we'll have someone with the sketch artists in a few hours."

"Did she know what his name was, where he worked, where he lived??!!" Bobby asked impatiently.

"No. No address or work. But she did say that she spoke to him two days ago and that he told her his name was Peter."

"Great Peter No-Name has Eames and NOBODY IS DOING ANYTHING!"

"Bobby, calm down. We're doing everything possible. We're going to find her. From the evidence we have, we can't even be certain anything has happened. Even if something has, there was no blood found at the crime scene, she may not be hurt. She is strong and capable if anyone can handle themselves in a situation like this, it's Eames."

Beautiful, we're already reduced spouting clichés, thought Bobby as his cell phone started to ring.

"Goren, Major Case"

"Detective Goren, hello, my name is Peter, of course you probably already know that. You did speak to the lovely old lady in apartment 106, didn't you?" Malicious laughter rang in Bobby's ear, "I love watching you work; it is so interesting. Have you informed the family yet? I can't wait to revel in their distress!"

"You... where...where are you!? Where is she!? Is she hurt?! What do you want!? Don't you dare hurt her! How do you know what I'm doing! Let me talk to her!"

"Oh Detective, you are so like her. Always asking questions… How do I know what you're doing? Why, I am watching you, of course. Don't worry, I won't hurt her...Well, not much, not yet. Now, to the purpose of my call…I am timing you. If you can find her within the next 21 hours she will be safe. Otherwise, well, you'll want to begin making final arrangements for her body."

click the phone went dead.

"He says he's going to kill her in 21 hours…I don't even know where to start…" Bobby couldn't stop his voice from shaking as he shared the news with the silent and attentive squad room.

Ross swung into action and started shouting orders. "Check the phone! Interview all the witnesses again, find out everything you can about this guy! Jones, Wilson get the CSU to bring up everything they found and go over it again. Mcahill, get over to the crime lab and put some pressure on them! Put a hold on all other cases…This is your ONLY priority!" He turned to Bobby and placed a firm hand on his shoulder, "We'll find her, I promise!"

In a basement somewhere, Alex woke to the sound of a muffled laugh. She could hear the man, Peter, talking upstairs. "They'll never find her, I promise. Even she believes this is only the random act of a homicidal madman. No one will ever suspect that this is about so much more…"

The plot thickens, well you have my word that this will be updated soon. The next chapter is already done. Please R&R!