Mike and Nola spent the rest of the morning and into the early afternoon interviewing potential witnesses and collecting video footage from the security cameras in and around the Rousseau Gallery.

Meeting up at their vehicle Mike said, "I'm starving."

"Yeah, so am I. I think we have as much evidence as we're going to get from here."

"I know a deli about 4 blocks away, unless you'd rather eat someplace else."

"Nope, sounds good." Nola replied, and got into the car.

Lunch was a quiet meal as they ate, absorbed in their own thoughts. Nola caught Mike watching her a few times and could tell he wanted to ask her about her 'sick days.' She didn't really want to discuss it; feeling all talked out after her conversation with Alex, but decided it would be best to get it over with. "Go ahead and ask, Mike." She said at last.

He studied her a moment, then sat back and said, "Ok, how are things at home, Nola?"

"Fine."

"And the kids, how are they?" He continued.

"The kids are fine too."

"And Jake, he's fine too?"

"Yes Mike, everyone is just fine." Nola insisted.

"Good then there'll be no more mysterious absences?"

"What mysterious absence? I called Hannah."

"Yeah, you called Hannah."

"I knew he'd tell you."

"Gee, thanks." Mike said sardonically. "I thought we were more than just co-workers Nola, I thought we were partners; maybe even friends!"

"We are friends Mike!"

"And Alex, and Bobby, are they your friends too?"

"Of course they are."

"So, that's how you treat friends, cut them out of your life? I don't know about Bobby and Alex, but I don't need a friend like that." Mike knew his words were harsh, but he had been through so many partners over the years, he must hold some kind of record. And if cornered, he would have to admit he was still feeling the heartache of Clarissa's departure. He simply could not invest any more of his emotions on uncertain or one-sided relationships. He cared too much about Nola already; the effect her actions had, had on him made that clear.

Nola made a futile effort to mask the hurt in her eyes, the fear that she'd lost Mike's friendship for good. "I didn't want to stress you guys," She explained lamely, "And if I had shown up for work with a black eye, you would have thought the worst." He didn't look convinced. "I'm sorry, Mike, okay?"

"For now. But honestly Nola, if I ever have to go to your house again to find out if you are alright it'll take more than Jake to keep me from coming inside." Mike proceeded then to tell Nola about his partner on Staten Island just as he had related the story to Bobby.

"I really am sorry Mike, I had no idea." Nola said, sickened by the horrific tale of Slim and his ill-fated family. "I promise I will not cut you out of my life again. It's just that…" she took a steadying breath, "Just knowing that I have your friendship, and that Alex and Bobby are there for me too, gives me the strength to deal with my problems at home."

Mike could tell that Nola was not used to relying on others, and it was a major compromise for her to open up to him. He sensed that if they dwelled any further on this topic, things might get awkward between them. "Okay, lets get back to work then." He said and got up from the table."

They paid their bill and this time as Mike drove back to 1PP, Nola seemed her normal talkative self, and they discussed the information they had gleaned from their witness interviews. They were still talking when they entered Rogers' office.

"Four went in, three came out?" She repeated Nola's words. "Then this is probably number four." She indicated the cadaver on her exam table.

"Is that the body from our crime scene?" Mike asked.

"The gallery? Yes." Rogers said. "Electrocution. The current entered here through his hand." She showed them the electric burn. "Did you notice any damaged power panels, breaker boxes, or bare wiring within the gallery?"

"In the back, in the store room." Nola said. "The alarm panel looked like it had shorted out."

"Well, it would take some time to die from electric shock at a panel like that. His accomplices would have had to watch him die and offer no assistance." Rogers commented.

"More for everyone with one less share to split." Mike said. "Did you get prints?"

"Forensics is doing facial recognition. Like a real pro his fingerprints were obscured. Anyway, tox screens are negative and all injuries are consistent with the electrocution. I'll have my final report before you leave today. Anything else?"

"Nothing. We'll head for Forensics and see if they have an I.D. yet. Thanks Rogers." Mike said and he and Nola left.

Finally getting to spend time with the twins turned out to be a mixed blessing for Alex. At last being with her babies, after all they had been through, gave her immense joy and contentment. But the hours apart from them were long and lonesome. It always helped to have company, though she did not get visitors as often now that she was thoroughly on the mend. Her father was with her most days, arriving after lunch and staying until Bobby arrived in the evenings. That was Alex's favorite time of day; the twins had graduated to something called 'Kangaroo care' where she and Bobby were actually permitted to hold them, skin to skin. This stage promoted a deeper bonding and, some believed, faster development. At these sessions each could tend to only one infant, switching at the next session. This allowed for Timothy and Claire to get to know both their parents separately and prevent detrimental overstimulation of their newly developing sensory systems that their underdeveloped brains could not process.

This evening Mike and Nola arrived with Bobby. "We're actually still waiting on an I.D. for the body found at the crime scene." Nola told Alex as they discussed this latest case.

"They're checking Interpol, thinking maybe he was a newly arrived international criminal." Mike added.

"So you have no leads whatsoever?" Alex asked.

"Aside from the body," Mike explained, "It was a very clean crime scene. But I'm going back to 1PP tonight to look over some of the security camera footage. Maybe I'll find us a lead we can follow in the morning."

"Enough shop talk, I'm hungry." Nola said, "When's dinner around this place Alex?"

"Mine should arrive any minute. But the cafeteria won't be serving much longer, so you should get down there now."

"Mike and I will go. What do you want Nola?" Bobby asked.

"Anything that doesn't include brown gravy."

"Ok, well that makes it simple. Come on Mike." Bobby said and they left the room.

Nola sat in a visitor's chair, "So how are you doing Alex, when are they going to let you go home?"

"I'm doing well, not up and running around yet, but feeling much better. I might be able to go home next week. Though… I'm really going to miss being here with the twins. It will be several more weeks before the Doctor lets them come home. They have to be able to eat and breathe without the machines first. Still, I'll be with Bobby, and I am looking forward to that. It seems like forever since I was home."

Just then the nurse came in with Alex's dinner tray and set it down. "Chicken and rice today Alex, and a fruit cup for desert!"

"Thanks Janie." Alex said as Janie left to deliver dinner to her other patients.

"So are you and Jake getting along better now?" Alex left her food tray covered, waiting to eat when Bobby and Mike returned.

"Well, seemed kind of like a stalemate when I left for work this morning. No more arguing at least. By the way, I wanted to ask you before Mike gets back, what exactly did you tell him about my 'sick days?'"

"As little as possible, like you said, and only that you had an unsightly bruise that you did not want to be misconstrued. Also, that he should not pester you about it."

"So you didn't tell him anything about Jakes affair, the arguments, or his jealousy of Mike?" Nola was surprised.

"Not my place to tell, Nola. I do think he has a right to know more, but he should hear it from you, not me or Bobby."

"What'd you tell Bobby?"

"Nothing. He's pretty good at figuring things out for himself though."

"Speaking of which, what's going on with the situation concerning Dylan Howe?"

"That's all behind us now. The criminal charges were dismissed and Bobby convinced Howe to drop the civil suit. He's back on the job but somewhat bored. Even though he's finally off probationary status, his first solo task is reviewing the adjudications of offenses investigated by officer supervisors."

"How droll! Definitely less stress, and he has to start somewhere. Probably the others have seniority until another new guy shows up." Nola reasoned.

When Bobby and Mike returned from the cafeteria with dinner the four friends ate together and kept the conversation light, talking about anything but work. Including arranging the twins Christening ceremony that would officially designate Mike and Nola as their Godparents. By the time they finished their dinners it was time for Alex and Bobby to visit Claire and Timothy. Mike and Nola watched briefly through the observation window, marveling at how much the twins had grown, then left the hospital. Mike headed back to MCS and Nola went home to her family.

Mike had been staring at the video monitors for hours. His eyes burned, his neck and back ached from the wheeled stool he'd been sitting on and his mind felt numb from the tedious task of fast forwarding, rewinding, and slow motioning of the scenes in and around the Rousseau Gallery. He hadn't even realized he had begun to doze off when his cell phone rang and startled him awake.

"Logan." He said flipping his phone open as he glanced at the clock over his shoulder and saw just how long he'd been at it.

Clarissa's voice came to him across the miles, "Hi Mike, I hope I didn't wake you but Shasta and I just got back from our first search and rescue assignment. I'm sorry I haven't called but we've been out of cell phone range."

"It's ok, I understand. It's just so good to hear your voice. Was the rescue successful?"

"Yes. The campers were lost but did a remarkable job of surviving. They're being treated for exposure and minor injuries but they're fine."

"So much has gone on since we last spoke…." Mike told Clarissa everything that had happened with Alex, Bobby, and Nola. "I just wish you were here." He ended, feeling intensely lonely.

"Wow, I wish I were there too. I can't imagine the particular kind of hell Alex and Bobby went through. And I am very sorry to hear things at home have not improved for Nola. I feel like I've abandoned my friends."

"No. Don't think that. We don't think it. We just miss you… I miss you." She was quiet and he didn't want her to feel bad so he continued, "And Shasta." He heard her giggle.

"Do you think you'll be able to visit us out here this summer?" He could tell she missed him as much, and that gave him some comfort.

"Yes, I still plan to visit. Probably after the Christening." He assured her. To Mike's surprise a call waiting tone interrupted their call. "Are you getting another call?" He asked.

"No that's your phone." She told him.

Mike moved the phone away from his ear and looked at the display, then put it back to his ear. "Hey, it's Nola. Can I call you back?" He asked. Knowing how late it was, it worried him that Nola should be calling him now.

"Sure." Clarissa replied.

Mike selected the 'accept' option on his phone and said, "Nola?"

"Mike! Mike! He took them! He did it, he took the kids!" Nola sobbed hysterically into the phone, "He left a note…."

"Where are you Nola? Are you at home? I'll be right over!"

"Yes, I'm at home. Hurry up… I don't know what I'm going to do, I thought I could handle this, Mike, that I could just get a flight to Erie…I can't get a flight, Mike, I have to drive to Erie and he took the car too! Jake's not answering his phone, his parents aren't answering their phone…."

"Don't do anything Nola, until I get there, I'm on my way. Tell me you won't do anything until I get there!"

"Okay, okay." She began to calm down. "I'll wait for you, but hurry!"