The house on Morse Court stood high on a hill that overlooked the ocean, commanding the high ground and therefore making it nearly impossible to approach with any degree of secrecy—a perfect hideout. In addition to this there was the fact that Morse Court was an upscale housing development that had just opened its gates. What few neighbors there were kept to themselves, mostly, which was key to anyone trying to lay low for a good long time.

"Whoever picked this place was pretty smart." Colby remarked reluctantly. He and David were parked at the bottom of a hill, peering up at the house through binoculars. The black SUV was hidden under a tree in some shade—virtually undetectable.

"You bet they were. I'm starting to think that maybe Don's right." David said vaguely, rolling down the window and focusing his binoculars. David left his statement at that, leaving a silence in the vehicle as he directed all his attention into scoping out the house.

Colby snorted, "I'm starting to think Don is getting way to deep in this case."

"You've only just picked up on that vibe?"

"Ha, ha." David rolled his eyes, "But seriously thought. He knew the victim. He went to school with the victim's kids. I can't understand why he hasn't been pulled from the case already, it goes against everything we've done before."

"I dunno about it…" David shrugged, "But I guess the higher ups have a good reason."

"Yeah…" Colby rubbed his temples. It had been a long day of driving, "You think Don was right in saying that maybe this was all a kidnapping stint?"

"I sure do." David muttered from behind the binoculars, still mostly engrossed in what he was doing, "I'm starting to think that maybe this is bigger than just a murder. If it is a kidnapping like Don says, then that would of course explain why Jon, Jack, and Katlyn are missing."

"So you think the kids have been taken hostage?" Colby asked rather skeptically, "We have no evidence to support that. All we know is that the husband and the kids are AWOL—one of those three a potential witness. Katlyn supposedly got of the bus from her high school a few minutes after it happened."

"We've got a timeframe already? Whose Medical Examiner are we using?"

"San Francisco 's." Colby answered back smartly, "And she says that Emily was killed some time around three thirty."

"Awful convenient, that's right when Kat comes home. Could she be a suspect instead of a material witness?"

"It doesn't matter if she is or not, either way no one can find her."

"Have they talked to her friends at school?"

"Don said the San Francisco detectives would get on that." Colby said, "But knowing Don he won't be satisfied with their results and will tramp over there to get an answer himself."

"What do you think of all this? I mean Santa Barbra and San Francisco putting their oars in?"

"We don't have much of a choice, it's almost like whoever killed Emily and possibly took the kids captive is trying to involve as many people as possible so that we all go for each others throats in the ensuing chaos." Colby sighed, "I know Don is sick of the way the Captain is treating him."

"From what I gather, the guy doesn't appreciate the Feds all that much." David said dryly, "Anyways, if jack and Katlyn were taken, then it would also explain why Jon hasn't been trying to contact Emily's F.B.I buddies or any other authorities—the kidnappers could easily tell him that if he goes to the police or tries to get help, that they'll kill the kids."

"You're assuming that its Jack and Katlyn that have been taken hostage" Colby mused, tapping his chin thoughtfully, "Could it be the other way around?"

David snorted, "Maybe, but I doubt it. Jon probably has more exclusive confidential information that his wife brought home from work than any man alive. He's the one you'd want out of the three of them, I don't know what those kids would have."

"No Federal Agent is going to come home after an assignment, and then tell the rest of the family all about it over dinner." Colby said, once more his tone skeptical, "So if the kids have been taken captive, what else could they want from Jon?"

"They were pretty well to do, or so I hear." David lowered his binoculars and glanced over at his partner, "Money?"

"If it was just money I don't think they'd be dragging us all across the state." Colby leaned forward, "Do you see anything up there?"

"Yeah, I do." David suddenly threw his binoculars into Colby's lap. He slammed the vehicle into reverse, and floored it—sending the black SUV shooting backwards out of sight, "A dude with binoculars staring straight back at me."

Colby swore, "They might run, what do ya think we should do?"

"Call in all units, we don't have a choice. Whoever is in there was smart enough to pick that house, I'm pretty sure they'll be smart enough to put together that we're not just out bird watching." David said, "Radio Don and tell him we gotta go in."

"Done." Colby unclipped the two-way from his belt and depressed the, 'talk' button, "This is Granger, mobile, to station house and all units. Hard and fast to that house, people. They've spotted us and we've gotta move now or loose them for good."

"Copy." Dons voice came over the channel, sounding haggard and stressed "On our way."

"The object was not to be seen." Now the voice belonged to police Captain leeland Stottelmeyer, "Can you Feds not do anything right?"

"Save it, Captain." Don's voice crackled over the channel again, "Granger and Sinclair—"

"We know." Colby said as David pulled the SUV