Constable Fraser and Detective Kowalski arrived at the address listed for former employee at the research facility—Marcus Burns. It was on the first floor of a small apartment block accessed via open concrete stairwells. The door was answered by a young boy about ten years old who said he'd fetch his dad. They could hear domestic sounds of cooking and children playing from inside the small apartment. The man who met them at the door appeared nervous but confirmed he was indeed Marcus Burns. When they asked to speak to him about his work at the lab he looked alarmed and suddenly shut the door in their faces. Ray and Fraser exchanged a knowing glance—they were on to something. They heard some commotion from inside and Fraser peered around the corner of the stairwell to see Marcus climb out a window and jump to the ground. Without hesitation Fraser vaulted the railing and gave chase with Diefenbaker racing ahead. Ray ran down the stairs to circle around the other side of the building. He ran along the adjacent street hoping to block the man's escape. He had covered several blocks before realising he must have overtaken them—Fraser and Dief must have caught up with Marcus already. He doubled back. As he rounded a corner and looked up an alleyway, he was alarmed to see Fraser on the ground with Marcus crouching over him. He drew his gun as he approached.
"Hands up!" he yelled, pointing the gun at Marcus and demanding, "What'd you do?"
"Nothing dude! He just collapsed," Marcus said, his hands in the air.
Ray looked down at his partner lying motionless on the ground—his face pale and lips distinctly blue. "Oh crap," he swore, kneeling and replacing his weapon in its holster. He slapped Fraser's cheeks, "Fraser! Wake up buddy, come on!"
No response.
"Oh crap," repeated Ray, supressing the sense of panic rising inside as he checked Fraser's vital signs, pulse—yes, breathing…no "Oh, crap," he muttered again then gently tilted Fraser's head back and opened his jaw. Pinching his nostrils shut and sealing his own lips over Fraser's he delivered a couple of strong breaths.
Fraser stirred and inhaled independently, then opened his eyes.
"Oh, thank God," muttered Ray with relief.
Fraser squinted a little and looked from side to side. Grey clouds swirled ominously above, and he felt the gravel and broken pavement through his coat beneath him. "Why am I on the ground?"
"Looks like you um…forgot to breathe again," explained Ray.
"Really? Oh." Fraser looked puzzled. Why was Ray so close? Then, realisation spread across his face. "Wait a minute, did you just...?"
"Uh huh. Just returning the favour," Ray confirmed, trying to make light of it despite the pounding of his own heart.
"Ah," responded Fraser, more than a little embarrassed. "Thanks," he said awkwardly.
"You good?" Ray asked offering his hand.
"Yeah," he said, and Ray pulled him up to his feet.
"That was weird," Marcus commented. It seemed he had given up his escape. Diefenbaker certainly wasn't preventing it—he seemed more concerned with Fraser being down.
"He has a condition," Ray said by way of explanation. "We don't fully understand it."
"On the contrary Ray," Fraser began, "I think Dr. Montour gave us the explanation. It appears that when my blood carbon dioxide rises to a certain level during physical exertion, the bacteria in my system are triggered to remove it consequently preventing the breathing reflex. It's perfectly logical," he concluded with satisfaction. "All I need to do is consciously remember to breathe whenever I exert myself."
"Or there's the other option, Fraser," said Ray with a deadpan stare.
"Which is?"
"Just don't exert yourself."
"Oh right. That probably is the safer option," admitted Fraser replacing his hat.
"Yes. No more running," said Ray firmly. "Either of you," he added addressing Marcus too. He had had enough excitement for one afternoon. He felt quite shaken by what had just happened—more shaken it seemed than Fraser. "We're walking back to your apartment Marcus, and we're going to sit down like civilised people and you're going tell us what you know about Dr. Montour's research."
Over coffee and tea back at the apartment they learned that Marcus had been a research assistant to Dr. Montour but now worked for Jack and Jaqueline Enterprises in a new research lab. He had been approached by Jack Reynolds before the changeover and asked to appropriate whatever he could from Dr. Montour's lab in return for guaranteed employment. He confessed to following through with this, after which Ray arrested him with the promise that his continued cooperation would reduce the charges against him. After making sure Marcus' wife had the information she needed and that she and the children were okay, they drove to the police station to get an official statement. As he drove, Ray worried about how he would keep his partner in check and he determined not to let Fraser out of his sight for a moment. There was no way the Mountie could remain inactive in the event of some unexpected crisis—however insignificant or trivial. He had his work cut out for him, that was for sure.
