The next morning, Tess watched from her desk as Catherine stormed from the filing cabinet to her desk seven times in a five minute period. She knew from tradition there was a guy involved. Which was good, because Cat needed a guy in her life besides Jamie. Not that Tess had a problem with the boy, no. She was the cool Aunt. Cooler than Heather by far. But Catherine needed…a man. Now the filing was a problem because whoever the guy was had obviously caused problems, and serious ones by the way she was filing. Cat stormed back to her desk and shoved the last of her files away into her drawer.

"Who's the guy?" Tess asked.

"What guy?" Cat answered.

"Don't insult my detective skills, Cat. You only file when there's a problem with a guy." Tess reminded.

Cat looked up at Tess. "I thought we agreed not to investigate each other?"

Tess chuckled. "We did, but I think that pact goes out the window when you're wearing a hole in the floor. Now who's the guy?"

Cat debated lying to Tess. She had done it for so long when Vincent was around all the time. But she hadn't lied to Tess in five years. She sighed and sat down in her chair. "Jamie's dad stopped by last night." Not a lie, but omitting certain truths.

Tess' eyes widened bigger than Cat had ever seen them. She sat up quickly and leaned over her desk. "Did he see Jamie?"

"No, Jamie was already in bed."

"Wait. Does he know Jamie s his kid?"

Catherine shook her head. "No and I didn't tell him."

"What did he want?" Tess demanded.

"He…" Catherine paused. "he wanted to see me."

"After five years?" Tess asked.

Catherine shrugged and sighed.

"So what'd you do?"

"I yelled at him to leave us alone." She answered.

"Good, teach him to leave you." Tess said, leaning back into her chair. She watched Cat for a moment. Her partner stared at her computer with a solemn look in her eye. "Oh come on, Cat."

Cat turned. "What?"

"You still have a thing for him." She accused.

"What?"

"You do! You spent five years raving about him leaving and the second you let him have it, you realize you still have a thing for him." Tess explained.

"Tess-"

"Admit it!"

Catherine sighed. "I don't know, Tess. It's complicated."

"Chandler, Vargas, DB call in. You two take in." Joe called.

Cat stood quickly and pulled on her coat.

Tess stood and followed after Cat. "Don't let him bully his way, back, Cat."

The call had brought the two detectives two a small house on the far edge of the city. The neighborhood was nice, cleaned. The houses and lawns were well tended, even in the winter seasons. Their victim was an older man, possibly ten to twenty years older than either woman. His dark hair was well overtaken by gray. He wore a black tee shirt and grey sweats. He lay on the sofa. His eyes were closed, giving the illusion the man was merely sleeping. But the blue tint to his nails and lips said otherwise. The man's appearance led to the assumption that he didn't belong there and was there to rob the place.

"Walter Griffin, fifty-seven. Neighbor saw him enter, didn't recognize him and called the cops." Tess said. "Patrol bumped it to us when they found him dead inside."

Catherine knelt by the man. "No wounds on his hands or body. Doesn't look like he fought with anyone. Nothing appears to be missing. Do we know who lives here?"

"Yeah, his wife."

"Divorce dispute?" Evan asked.

Tess snorted. "That would make this easier. Get this; Walter here's been missing for the past twenty years."

Catherine looked up. "What?"

Tess nodded. She passed Cat the pad. "Just pulled his name. Wife, Brandy, reported him missing back in April of '97. No signs of struggle, no evidence was ever recovered, case went cold."

Cat stood up. "So what's he doing back?"

Tess shrugged.

"Where's his wife now?"

"Out front, talking with the responding officers. She pulled up about ten minutes ago." Tess said.

"Let's go talk with her." Catherine suggested.

The women walked down the hall toward the front door. The front of the yard was tapped off. A crowd of curious neighbors had gathered around. Several officers watched the line, keeping back the spectators.

"Mrs. Griffin?" Catherine called.

"Yes?" A woman matching the age of their victim stepped forward. Her blond hair was tinted gray and cut to her ears. She wore a dark brown coat over her small body. She held her purse in her hands tightly.

"Mrs. Griffin, I'm Detective Chandler, this is my partner Detective Vargas." Cat explained.

"Did someone break into my house?" she asked.

Cat glanced to Tess. "Not exactly, ma'am."

"Judy said she saw someone enter my home."

"Someone did enter your house, ma'am. Walter Griffin." Tess explained.

"Your husband."

Brandy Griffin's hazy green eyes cleared. "Walter's been missing for twenty years."

"Yes ma'am, we know."

She looked to her house. Her voice peaked with excitement and disbelief. "He's inside?"

"Mrs. Griffin, I'm afraid that he's dead." Tess explained.

Brandy's eyes began wide and tearful. She shook her head from his to side. "No. No."

"We're very sorry for your loss, ma'am." Cat whispered.

Brandy covered her mouth with her hand.

"Mom!" a young man weaved his way through crowd toward Brandy. "I'm Kevin, I'm her son. What happened?"

Brandy turned to her son. "They found your father inside the house."

Kevin turned to Cat and Tess. "You found my father?"

"He's dead." Brandy broke into tears in her son's arms.

This was the part Catherine hated most about her job, telling people their loved ones were never coming back. "Mrs. Griffin, were you aware that your husband was back in town?"

Brandy shook her head. "No. I haven't seen Walter in twenty years. I had no idea."

"The man abandons his family, who do think he's gonna tell?" Kevin replied.

"Thank you for your time." Tess said. They turned from the grieving widow. "Kinda makes your reunion look like a party."

"No joke." Cat replied.

"Twenty years away from his family." Tess said. "What do you think brought him back?"

"I dunno. Did you catch the contempt in the son?" Catherine asked.

"I think the whole crowd caught it. I mean, if your dad left for twenty years without a word, wouldn't you be a little mad?" Tess asked, glancing at Catherine. Catherine gave her partner a look. "Okay forget I said that. How do you want to work this?"

Catherine turned her eyes from the front door as Evan and his assistant moved the body from the house. She caught a glimpse of Vincent across the street. Her heart rate increased. What was he doing here? She started walking toward the crowd. "See if you can find any place he was staying. The guy's been gone for twenty years; he doesn't come back without some kind of reason."

"Where are you going?" Tess asked.

"To call my complex, I need to check in on Jamie." Catherine answered.

"Okay." Tess called.

Catherine ducked beneath the tape and weaved her way through the crowd. She crossed the street as Vincent ducked into a back fence between two houses. Catherine looked around before following him. The passage was a little over six feet wide, enough for trafficking kids after school. It was partially sheltered by the trees in the yards, thought the leaves had all fallen months earlier. Except for herself, there was no one else in the alley.

"Before you assume anything, I wasn't following you."

Catherine turned quickly. Vincent walked out of the shadows. "Just on a walk?"

"Something like that." He answered. His dark hair had been cut just above his ears. He tossed a glance over his shoulder back out at the house. "I noticed something different about your victim as they brought out."

Catherine frowned. "What?"

"His scent." Vincent answered. "And I'm not talking BO; there is something in his system that he's excreting through his skin."

Catherine folded her arms. "In your experience, what's been known to alter a person's scent?"

Vincent shifted his gaze to Catherine. "Poison."

"Recognize the scent?"

Vincent shook his head. "I'm not a bloodhound, Catherine."

"Okay. I'll be sure to have Evan run tox of his blood." Catherine said. "You should go before someone see's you."

Vincent snorted and turned. "Business as usual."

"Count yourself lucky, Vincent." Catherine reminded.

"Oh I do, Catherine. You could've easily found me dead in your apartment last night." Vincent replied, causing Catherine's stomach to churn at the thought. "But if cases are the only way I get to talk to you, I'll take it."

"That excuse may be gone sooner than you think." Catherine called.

"Guess I better make the most of them." Vincent said.

Catherine turned and walked back toward the crime scene. She glanced back down the alley. It was empty. She turned and kept walking toward her car.

Tess walked around the front. "I think I got something. Credit card receipt for a hotel over in Queen's. Description matches Mr. Griffin."

Catherine nodded. "Nice."

"Oh wait for it." Tess said. "Something came up on Walter's file. I'm heading back to the precinct to check it out."

"Okay. I'll go check out the room." Catherine said. She opened her door. "And call Evan. Have him rush the tox results on our victim."

Tess cocked a brow. "Gotta hunch?"

Catherine sighed. "I'm not sure yet. Let's just be thorough with this one."

Tess nodded. "You got it, Cat."

When Cat arrived at the hotel, she showed the photo of Walter Griffin's to the man at the desk. The man had further searched through the system and confirmed Walter's reservation for the room. However his reservation ended that day. Catherine had asked them to keep out, as it has possible evidence within the room. The clerk gave her the key and let her go. As she rode the elevator to the fourth floor, Catherine couldn't help but notice how the hotel was more expensive than she would believe a missing man could afford. The doors opened to the floor and Cat stepped out. She walked down the dark green carpeted halls to the room. She slipped the key inside and slowly entered. She her gun in hand, Cat moved through the room until it was clear.

The room had a single king size bed just a few feet from the window. The emerald curtains were closed off. Two cases of luggage were set on the sofa, zipped up. Catherine walked over to the cases and opened them up. Inside the first case were clothes. Socks, shirts, shoes, everything Catherine expected to find. But the second one was filled with books and papers. She picked up the first book and read the cover.

Julia 2016-2017

Catherine frowned and picked up the next one.

Kevin 2016-2017

From her pocket, her phone began ringing. Catherine set down the books and pulled out her phone. "Chandler."

"You ever gonna tell me what's your secret?" Evan asked.

"Um…eight hours of sleep and the right food." Catherine answered.

Evan chuckled on the line. "Not that. The tox results came in front Mr. Griffin. He had lethal levels of benzoylmethylecgonine in his system."

"Care to elaborate further?" Cat asked.

"More commonly known as Cocaine. Mr. Griffin's stomach contents produced an alarming about. There's no doubt that's the cause of death." Evan explained.

"How did he ingest it?" she asked.

"Your guess is as good as mine." Evan replied.

Catherine looked back at the suitcases. "Guess that rules out accidental death."

"Got another theory already?" Evan asked.

"Possibly." Catherine answered. "You tell Tess this?"

"Yes, he did. I just pretended to know what he was talking about." Tess said. "Any luck at the hotel?"

"Don't we all." Catherine chuckled. "Desk clerk said the reservation was only for two days. It expires today. All his clothes were packed and ready to go. It doesn't look like anyone else was here."

"Any sign of a syringe?"

Catherine looked back into the first case, but there was nothing. No sign of any medications in fact. "Nothing. No syringe, no bottle, not even eye drops. Nothing to carry cocaine with."

"It's not too difficult to carry cocaine on a body." Evan said.

"Could mean the perp took them when he left?" Tess replied.

"There's something else. He kept a lot of books with him. I mean an entire suitcase full of them. They look like journals." Catherine explained. "One of them has his son's name and the year on it. I think he was keeping tabs on his kids."

"That's odd. Bring 'em in and we'll sift through them." Tess said.

"That's a lot of reading." Catherine said. She zipped up both suitcases. "I'm heading out right now."

"Okay, see you in a few." Tess said.

"Bye." Catherine hung up her phone and slid it back into her pocket. She picked up both suitcases and rolled them with her out the door. She stepped into the elevator and rode it down to the first floor. She dropped off the key at the front desk and walked out. She walked down to the parking garage toward her car. She pulled her keys out and popped the truck. Catherine heaved the suitcases up into the trunk and slammed it shut. She stood at the trunk for a moment, feeling suddenly…exposed. Catherine turned slowly and surveyed the parking lot. It was completely empty of people. That wasn't unusual, but it just felt…strange suddenly.

Catherine turned toward the driver's door and found herself face to face with a dark haired man. He struck fast, jamming a taser into her neck. The seven point five million volts shook through her entire body for five long seconds. Every muscle in her body seized upon trigger. She collapsed to the concrete hard. Catherine lay on the ground, completely immobilized. Her fingers trembled long after the shock had stopped. Her chest heaved as she tried to move. Her fingers, legs, arms were tingling. Her muscles twitched uncontrollably.

The man stepped over her and looked down. His foot slammed into her stomach, knocking the wind from her lung. Catherine coughed violently and tried to recover her breath. The man kicked her again and again. Catherine could only lie on the ground and endure the pain. She gritted her teeth tightly and tried to move her body. He grabbed her by the hair and neck. He dragged her up onto her shaky feet and threw her into the car parked a space from hers. Her head slammed onto the roof of the car. The sheer moment had thrown her backwards, back onto the ground. The alarm instantly started shrieking throughout the garage. She lay still, breathing heavily. Blood rolled down the side of her face.

The man grabbed her again, this time by her throat. He hauled her up onto her feet again and pressed her against the wall. His hands wrapped around her throat, cutting off her air. Catherine grabbed his hands. She fought against his grasp, trying to free herself. She shoved her leg into the man's stomach. He grunted and doubled over. Catherine slammed her leg into his stomach again and kicked him into the hood of the car. She stumbled to her knees, still shaken from the taser and car. She fumbled with her gun, but the man was already ready. He kicked at her head. Catherine raised her arms to block, but was still weak. He kicked her to the side, sending her back onto the ground. Catherine shoved her foot into his knee. A distinct cracking sound echoed through the lot. The man screamed in agony and dropped to his knee. Catherine sat up and grabbed his jacket. Using her momentum, she rolled backwards and launched the man over her body and slammed him onto the ground behind her.

Catherine lay on the ground, recovering. Her chest heaved as she tried to catch her breath. She was lightheaded, dizzy, and aching all over. She rolled onto her stomach and pushed herself up to her knees. The lot danced in her vision, forcing her to pause a moment. She grabbed the hood of her car and used it as support. Catherine slowly rose to her feet, bracing herself against her car. She turned toward the driver's door and stopped. Another man stood not ten feet from her, gun drawn. Her image of him blurred with her vision. She closed her eyes and forced herself to stay standing. She refused to die on her knees.

Suddenly an animalistic roar ripped through the lot, startling Cat. She opened her eyes and watched as a dark blur stood in front of the gunman. He threw the man into the stone wall. Catherine heard the sound of his skull meeting wall. She watched his blurred form collapse on the ground. Her chin was gently turned from the man's figure. Catherine found herself momentarily looking into Vincent's yellow eyes, before everything went black.

i should warn you...there will be pain for everyone. no ne is safe from my twisted storyline. you have been warned.