X. Precipice

December 2014 New York, Woodbourne Correctional Facility

Floyd stood in line with the other inmates as they stood chained together waiting for the transport bus to move them back to Rikers. As the vehicle pulled up they were marched single file onto the bus and secured to their seats.

With only eight months left on his sentence he was being transferred back to the island until his sentence was complete. In eight months he'd be free. In eight months his almost fifty two years of waiting would be over. As soon as he was out he would finish what he started. He'd track them all down and take from them what they took from her, even if it cost him his life.

"*There's a man going around taking names and he decides who to free and who to blame. Everybody won't be treated all the same….and I heard a voice in the midst of the four beasts, and I looked and behold: a pale horse, and his name, that sat on him, was Death. And Hell followed with him."

(Present) New York City, New York 6:30PM

Harold frowned as he watched Saffron Milton sitting on a park bench crying profusely into a tissue. He sighed sadly at her appearance, even from his distance he could see her busted lip, bruised cheek, and black eye. The buzzing in his ear brought him out of his thoughts as he answered the call.

"Mr. Reese I hope all is going well?"

"Depends on what you consider well Finch. Floyd hasn't shown and we only managed to obtain a little more information on his and Ronald's past. Fusco and Carter haven't gotten any information on the former step sister yet, probably because of the bar fight Shaw caused."

Harold stiffened "Oh my, she didn't kill anyone did she?"

"No, but she put eight men in the hospital."

Harold sighed and shook his head he was beginning to wonder if Ms. Shaw was a proper fit in their line of work.

"I know what you're thinking Finch,…..she's…improving."

"I suppose hospitalization is a better alternative than murder." Harold replied slightly sarcastic.

"Baby steps Finch…so what have you been up to since we left? No trouble I hope?"

Deciding it was best to not inform John that he might be dealing with a batterer on his own he quickly deflected "It has been quiet, in fact it's almost time for Bears play date…. I'll be letting you go now Mr. Reese. Let me know if you encounter any problems while you're away."

Harold breathed out after he disconnected with John. Bending down and releasing Bear from his leash and gestured towards the crying woman "Go be charming Bear."

Kansas City, Kansas 5:30PM

John looked at his phone confused and slightly offended that Finch hung up on him so abruptly. He raised his eyebrow at the suspicious behavior.

"Is everything good?

"Not sure," John replied as he slid his phone back in his pocket watching as Shaw sat across from him in the hotel lounge eating beef jerkey.

"Hmmm he doesn't want you to know he has another number, probably doesn't want you to worry about it.

John raised his eyebrow in surprise "How'd…"

"Bugged the library."

John narrowed his eyes "that's a very annoying habit of yours isn't it?"

Sameen grinned at John "Whatever do you mean?"

John grinned back "So I suppose the three bugs I found in my home were from someone else?"

"I was wondering when you we're going to bring that up. You removed them only a few hours after I put them up..." Shaw let out a grunt ", How'd you figure it out anyway? Home surveillance system? Pressure plates under the floorboards?"

"Trade secret." John replied smiling at the agitated look on Shaw's face. He'd never tell her about the mixture of flour and DayGlo powder he always sprinkled on his floor to let him know if intruders had been in his home while he was out.

Not liking being one up'd, Shaw changed the subject "Where'd Fusco and Carter run off to?"

"They went to interview the step sister…after your little incident at the bar, they felt it was best that we stay put."

Shaw shrugged, "So what's the story with those two? Carter and Fusco."

"They help us when we need it." John replied.

"Why? Do they owe you two favors or something? Or is Finch paying them too? Do they know how he gets his information?"

"They are assets who know just what they need to." John replied curtly effectively ending the conversation.

Shaw narrowed her eyes and Reese's answer. She had been digging up information on them all since she started her new 'job'. Reese and Finch were akin to ghost but Fusco and Carter were easy to look up on. She was always good at observing and there was a lot to observe within in her new group of associates. Analyzing Reese's posture and unwavering glare she decided to drop the subject until she had more actionable intelligence on her new comrades and their liaisons.

Greenwood, Kansas 5:42PM

Fusco held the door open as he and Carter made their way out of the house of Ronald's former step-sister. "Well that was a waste of time."

"Tell me about it." Joss replied as she thought about the woman's angry demeanor. She smirked remembering the way the woman only spoke to and acknowledged Fusco the entire time they interviewed her.

"So what do you want to do now?" Fusco asked as they slid into the car.

"Well the background we have on Ronald and Floyd is not going to help us. We know that Floyd is on his way here or is already here and his goal is to find Yvonne's body…" Joss trailed off as she pulled out her note pad, "The last lead we have is the original police report and interviews from the night crew that were the last people to see Yvonne alive and then we have the anonymous interview from the eyewitness who claimed to see a group of white kids drive away in a blue truck. Unfortunately, the night crew have all since passed away and the eyewitness to the truck, never gave a name."

Lionel sighed "So we have nothing."

"More or less…"Joss sighed in frustration, "oh, also the sheriff called earlier and said that the evidence from the original case just got dropped off and said we're free to take a look at it."

Lionel turned the car on "I thought there wasn't any evidence."

"Just a purse, an earring, and some crime scene photos. Not much to go off of." Joss stated.

Fusco shook his head "That evidence is probably useless to us now. Everything's changed around here since '63. Wish I had a time machine, so we could go back and see what everything looked like in its original setting."

Joss perked up and Fusco's words and slapped him on the shoulder, "Fusco you're a genius!"

Lionel looked at her in confusion "I am?"

"Yes you are. We've been handling this case all wrong, trying to track Floyd when we should be trying to figure out where Middleton may have went after the murder."

"I don't follow." Fusco asked confused.

"Stopping Floyd means getting to Yvonne's body first. And like you said everything around here has changed. We should be thinking like its 1963 and focus on where Ronald and his friends might think to hide a body given the landscape fifty years ago."

Fusco nodded "Okay how do you suppose we do that. I don't think Google maps has a decade feature."

"No, but I bet the town has city planning records we can look at to find out." Joss rebutted.

"Okay so where do we go first; to the station for the evidence or to town hall."

Joss looked at the dashboard clock, it was almost six "Lets split up. Drop me off at town hall and then go check the evidence out from the sheriff. No need to make him wait around all night while we sift through blueprints."

x-x-x-xx-x-x-x

"Which way?" Floyd demanded as he stood behind Ronald, gun pointed at his head.

Ronald looked around the clearing as they stood in front of the slightly wooded area. He knew which way to go but as soon as they reached their destination, he was a dead man. His only chance at survival was to delay Floyd in hopes that he could run into some help.

"I don't know." Ronald mutter out.

Floyd kicked Ronald in the back of the legs bringing him to his knees and pressing the gun into his skull. "Tell me. Now!"

"I don't know I swear. Everything looks different I don't remember which entrance I used."

Floyd's finger tightened on the trigger as he felt his heart sink at the possibility that he wouldn't be able to find her.

"Look Floyd…" Ronald pleaded "if I had an old map or something it could help me remember better. See what things looked like back then."

Floyd painfully shoved the gun into Ronald's head before yanking him off the ground and shoving him towards the car.

New York City, New York 7:47PM

Finch had been sitting outside Milton's apartment watching as she packed luggage into her car. Within the course of his investigation he had found out that the 22 year old was an exotic dancer and from the conversations she had with one of her fellow dancers she was being harassed by a former client that had followed her all the way from California.

Throughout the day he had watched her drain her bank accounts and cancel the lease on her apartment. He had no doubt in his mind that the she was in the midst of running for her life. Harold grabbed Bears leash as he exited the car, deciding now was as good a time as any to make his presence known.

Saffron held back her tears as she hauled her stuff into her car, wincing in pain at her bruised ribs before she was startled by someone calling to her.

"Ms. Milton are you alright?" Harold asked trying to seem as if he just ran into her again by sheer circumstance.

Saffron tensed when her name was called but as soon as she saw who was approaching her she relaxed. She smiled softly as she the kind older man from earlier, who offered her his handkerchief after his sweet dog bounded up to her in the park.

"You bitch! I thought I told you to stay put!"

Saffron jumped in panic as Tom walked out of the shadows with a knife in his hand.

Harold jumped slightly in surprise as a man came out of the seemingly nowhere with a knife drawn as he stalked angrily towards Ms. Milton. Before the man could get any closer he inserted himself and Bear between Ms. Milton and her would be attacker.

"I don't know who you are sir but I suggest you leave immediately." Harold ordered.

Tom laughed as he sized up the cripple and his dog.

"What are you going to do to stop me!" Tom yelled as he lunged for Saffron.

"This." Harold muttered as he extended his arm jabbing his thumb onto the man's right eye.

"Ahhh you son of a bitch!" Tom held his eye as he raised his knife hand to stab the older man.

"Bear! Stellen!" Harold commanded watching Bear lunge at the man latching onto his arm viciously and taking the prep to the ground.

As Bear subdued the attacker he turned to Saffron "Do you have your car keys?"

Saffron nodded shocked as she held up her keys.

"Good" Harold affirmed taking her keys as he ushered her into the passenger seat of her car before opening the back door and whistling loudly causing Bear to stop his attack and jump into the back seat. He quickly moved around to the car and slid into the driver seat, starting the car and quickly pulling away from the curb before the man could get up off the ground.

"Who are you?" Saffron looked frantically at the dog and man who just saved her.

Greenwood, Kansas 6:57PM

Joss unrevealed another map as she stared down at the layout of town and its surrounding area, giving her a clear vison of the town in 1960. As she compared the older and newer maps she could see how the town expanded. She could pinpoint were farm lands had been taken over by housing complexes. Where old structures where expanded and new structures were erected.

She glanced back at the older map where she had circled Yvonne's last whereabouts and where the local police station had been. If she was a bunch of scared young men transporting a body she would be sure to avoid driving by the police station as well as high populated areas. Based area that Yvonne's father's diner was located, the best possible route was to go either south towards what look like open fields or west towards the heavily wooded area off the highway.

Joss sighed as she looked back at the recent map. The former open fields to the south had been replaced with housing complexes and she doubted that all the construction that went with leveling the land would certainly turn up a body.

"So I guess our best bet would be to assume he hide the body in woods somewhere." Joss contemplated to herself out loud.

"Great observation skills Detective."

Joss moved to reach for her side arm only to stop as she felt the barrel of a gun press into her back as a heavy hand squeezed her shoulder.

"I wouldn't do that if I were you." Floyd stated as he stared down at the woman grabbing the back of her shirt and yanking her up from her chair feeling the stiff material under her shirt.

Joss raised her hands as she turned to around to face her opponent

"Floyd"

x-x-x-xx-x-x-x

John hit end as Joss's phone went to voice-mail for the second time. It wasn't like her not to answer her phone. The only time she ignored his calls was when she was mad at him. He quickly scrolled through his contacts and dialed Fusco, waiting impatiently as the phone rang.

"What did you two do now?"

John smirked at Lionel's accusatory voice "Nothing Lionel, just calling to see how you're doing."

Fusco snorted as he sifted through the evidence box. "I'm just peachy."

"And Joss?" John questioned.

"How am I supposed to know. I'm not with her. Why don't you call her and ask?" Lionel retorted sarcastically.

John narrowed his eyes as he hunched forward in his chair "What do you mean she's not with you?"

New York City, New York 9:22PM

Harold watched Saffron snuggled with Bear on the bed of the safe house. He almost let out a small laugh. Out of himself, John and Sameen, Bear certainly had the best interpersonal skills among them.

After he managed to convince her to trust that he only wanted to help her, she spent almost two hours crying as she recounted how Tom Miller had stalked her from her previous job in California. She had stressed that she had given him a few dances at her old job and then he started becoming obsessive and then violent.

When she had reached out to the police they had only offered her a piece of paper in the form of a restraining order to help. After she had told Miller about the order he became violent and set her apartment on fire and threaten to kill her. Using the first chance she got, she moved away to New York and somehow like magic he tracked her down and when she refused to go with him, he beat her up outside the dance club she worked at.

Harold quietly closed the door as moved back into the dining room sitting down in front of his laptop at the table. Although he was not a trained spy or assassin, it didn't mean he didn't have alternative methods of handling threats, especially cowards like Miller. He brought the browsers up with Tom's personal information. Focusing on the million dollars he just deposited into Millers account on behalf of an offshore account associated with some very unsavory individuals.

He took a deep breath and picked up a burner phone and dialed Miller's number. Listening as Miller answered after three calls.

"Hello."

"Hello Mr. Miller I am contacting on behalf of Ms. Milton to inform you that you will have no further contact with her in any form." Harold replied.

"Who the fuck is this!"

"I'm the man who intervened in your attempt to harm Ms. Milton tonight."

"You crippled son of a bitch I'm going to hunt you down and kill you and your fucking dog."

Harold smirked "Highly unlikely Mr. Miller. As much as I'd love to continue this riveting conversation, I am calling to extend a proverbial olive branch to you and if you are smart you will take it."

"And why the hell would I do that?"

"I'm glad you asked Mr. Miller, are you familiar with the Sinoloa Cartel?"

Greenwood, Kansas 7:27PM

Joss watched her phone vibrated as John called her for the eighth time. She glared at Floyd as he held her gunpoint, as Middleton pull up the maps she had been using to find Yvonne's body. Knowing that John was more than likely already on his way to her, she began to stall for time. "You know how this will end Floyd and frankly I don't want to find you bleeding out or dead. It doesn't have to be this way, just turned yourself in and we can help you find her body and Middleton will be held accountable for what he did."

Floyd smirked "I'll take my chances Detective."

"Here." Ronald replied pointing at the map of the forest "Past mile marker 52."

"You better not be lying." Floyd gritted out as he yanked Ronald in front of himself getting ready to leave.

"Not another move Floyd."

Joss felt a sense of relief as she heard John's voice.

Floyd used Ronald as a human shield as he stared at the annoying man in the suit.

"You came all the way out here just for me. I'm flattered with all the attention." Floyd smiled.

"Don't be." John steadied his gun, more than willing to shot Ronald just to get to Floyd. His eyes glancing over at Joss as she stood with her back to him and her hands up.

Floyd watched as the man's eyes drifted to the Detective. He recognized the look of worry in his eyes.

"Very interesting…." Floyd began as he pulled Ronald closer moving toward the emergency exit. "I use to feel it all the time around her. That sinking feeling. The sense of panic."

Joss looked on in confusion wondering what Floyd was talking about as he stared at John.

"I'm glad you came prepared Detective. It makes this easier for me." Floyd replied in a low voice as he turned his gun from John and fired a round into the woman's chest.

John felt his stomach drop as he heard the shot ring out and Joss crumble to the floor. He didn't even hesitate as he opened fire on Floyd as he ducked behind some book shelves dragging Ronald with him.

As Floyd returned fire he dropped to the floor ducking behind a metal row of filing cabinets as three bullets pierced the cabinet above his head. He tried to keep his breathing under control as his thoughts kept replaying Joss dying before his eyes. He was going to kill Floyd.

He reloaded his clip, moving swiftly as he repeatedly fired where Floyd had been hiding, not caring if he hit Middleton. He felt a familiar sting in his eyes as he made a bee line to the next row of shelves. Ejecting his empty clip and reloading as he kept moving forward.

Before he could fire off again, he felt a something hit him tackling him to the ground as Floyds bullets tore through the air where he had been standing.

"What the hell is wrong with you? Pay attention." Joss grunted in pain as she rolled off John and onto her back, wheezing for air, laying on the floor in pain, as Floyd continued to fire in their direction.

John blinked rapidly as he seeing Joss glaring up at him. Her face contorted in pain as she yanked her back up weapon from her ankle holster. Before he could process her presence, the emergency exit alarm sounded off as he heard the door slam open.

Joss tied to get up as she heard the emergency alarm sound. Failing as she gave in to the pain and laid back down "Go..go after them."

"I'm not going anywhere, he just shot you!" John raised his voice as he moved closer his hand yanking her blouse open. Breathing out a sigh of relief as he saw the brass bullet embedded in the black padding of her Kevlar vest.

Joss shooed his hands away as she opened her hand dug the bullet out of her vest. Breathing out in pain as she felt her body beginning to bruise. "Trust me I've had worst. The vest caught it, I'm fine."

John stared at her as she lay on the ground her eyes squeezed shut trying to cope with the pain. His emotions were going haywire, teetering between relief and guilt. This was the second time she took a bullet under his watch.

"John…John?" Joss opened her eyes looking at him when he didn't respond.

John just stared at her as his heart skipped and his throat became dry 'She could have died. She almost died and he didn't stop it. He could have lost her forever. He couldn't lose her too.'

"John…John are you listening to me?"

"Huh?" He blinked as his eyes refocused on her face as she sat up slowly leaning against the filing cabinet.

Joss looked at him noting his behavior as she repeated herself. "I said you need to go. The police are probably on their way here."

AN: Thanks for reading and reviewing. Next chapter; a subconscious seed is planted in John's mind, things finally come full circle in this cold case and somebody dies.

*The Man Comes Around by Johnny Cash-Recorded 2002