Hi, guys :) I'm back with new chapter. I'm sorry it's shorter than the last few chapters I recently posted, but I'll try to write a longer next time :)

Policemen were divided and tripled at the station after superintendent's call, running down the corridors with their dogs on the tight leashes or giving information about the progress in investigation. There wasn't no one brought to the own feet, no one standing indifferently to what happened.

'It's a crisis situation. One of the copper from our station has been kidnapped, while the other one is fighting for a life in the hospital. We need to do everything to caught the guy responsible for that as quickly it's possible.' Superintendent announced as he finally got at the station and immediately has been circled with coppers and journalists, eager to get information about what's going on around. 'We already asked other commissariats for help and sent them the pictures of missing copper and the car which kidnapper probably used to run away.'

'Can you give us more information about the copper who has been kidnapped?' One of the journalists asked.

'I can't reveal more information for the sake of investigation.'

'There's no more about investigation, but our colleague's life.' Charlie who was standing just behind his back, chimed in, resentful. 'Maybe if we show his picture or publish his personal data, we'd find him quicker. Maybe someone saw something.' He added quietly, anger seeping through his voice.

'Better if you bite himself on the tongue before you say something more, Charlie, otherwise you'd have to pay for consequences of your big mouth.' Superintendent warned him as for moment he put the hand on the microphone, so any journalists could hear their conversation. 'I'm here in charge, if you forget.'

'Well, now I know why Fred is fighting for his life, then.' He snapped back, boldly. 'At least give them information about the car. Do something, before Spike loses his life.' He could see how superintendent's temple was pulsating right now and how his lips made a thin line as he barely could stop himself from not showing his anger and frustration in front of journalists.

From further oppression saved him Chief Inspector who arrived in the last moment and decided to join the conference, and fight for a good name their commissariat. Charlie's blood boiled in his veins as he was watching both men smiling kindly to the cameras and speaking calmly, like they were just talking about bloody weather.

'I can't stand watching their ugly faces.' He snarled to Bridget standing unmoved next to him and by mobile phone informing John Paul about what's going on the conference. 'How they can be so calm?' He almost yelled at the whole corridor, pacing nervously.

'It's our job, Charlie. If they start panic on the conference, it won't bring anything good for Spike.' She said calmly. 'I know Fred is your friend, but we need to stay with clear minds and don't mix journalists into this, if we don't want Spike to join him….' She put the hand on his shoulder and gently squeezed it. 'I'm sure, Fred is going to recover soon. He's a strong guy.'

'If I only could be such optimistic as you.' He replied with hollow voice and after quick glance at her, he marched out off the room.

'Is it truth that the kidnapped policeman working on Red Roses killer's case? It'd explain today's events.' The journalist asked, for one moment baffling the superintendent.

'From where you get such information?' He asked sharply. 'There are two different cases, and I've never said that kidnapped policeman was working on Red Roses case, either.'

'So why someone would kidnap the copper? And why his flat was watching by colleagues from his department for 24 hours? Was he taking a part in some dangerous case? Or the killer who killed his long term partner was chasing after him?' The next questions almost gave him a heart palpitations and the longer conference was carrying on, the more he wanted to cut it off and find out why the journalists were so well informed about both cases, that they could see the connection between them.

'It doesn't has nothing to do with today's conference.' Chief Inspector replied, giving the journalist heavy glare. 'I want you to stick up with the facts, not basing your questions on some gossips.' He added sharply.

'So what are you going to do with today's events?'

'We're going to catch the person responsible for kidnapping. It shouldn't take us too much time, to reach it. The stations in all country are working with us, and there's no way that this person is going to hide anywhere.' He replied and smiled softly to the crowd. 'The most important thing is, that everything is under control.' He assured them, although Bridget wasn't sure if they had at least one thing under control right now. The truth was, there is a total chaos, and no one knows what exactly happened that afternoon in Spike's flat.

'If anyone in this room knows how's Fred?' Craig asked loudly, trying to outshout the coppers who were making such a noise, he thought he's standing in the beehive full of bees, not in the common room, in their department.

'His operation just ended with successful, and he has been carried to ICU. He's still in coma.' Constable Moore informed as for moment he took away the handset from his ear.

'Thanks God, he's alive.' He sighed and glanced at John Paul, who with stiff face was observing pacing around people. 'John Paul, you talked with Bridget?'

'She's still on the conference, and since what I heard we didn't lose anything, not coming there.' He replied quietly. 'I saw Darren and Megan downstairs. They took few constables with dogs to check once more Spike's place. They hope, they're gonna find something, or at least dogs take a clue.' He added while Craig sat next to him. 'You can't sitting here, Craig. It's your department and your people. They need you down.'

'I don't know what to do.' He suddenly replied in a whisper, his body shook uncontrollably. 'I've never before been in situation like that. I need your help.' John Paul's eyes widened up a little as he fixed his eyes at him, couldn't believe that Craig just admit that situation overgrow him, and he even asked him for a help. Today he did two things, he'd never expect to hear from him.

'Firstly we need to check his apartment and find out how much he knows.' John Paul stated, glancing at man unsurely. 'There's no doubts why he has been kidnapped. He has to know something, and that's why killer came after him…I think we all know he was trying to solve the case on his own.'

'Yea, and now we're seeing the results of his decision.' He snapped, suddenly feeling angry. 'I don't believe how stupid he is. He knew how dangerous it is, but he stubbornly keep going with it. If he dies, it's only his fault.' He added colder, couldn't calm himself down.

'He didn't want us to be involved in it. He wanted us to be save.' John Paul tried to explain Spike's motives, but Craig only silenced him with a lifted hand and gave him warning glance.

'I didn't suspend him without reasons, John Paul. He didn't has rights to work on the case anymore, and if he even did it, he should informed me about the progress. Maybe then we won't be in a fucking black hole and searching for him!' He yelled, outraged. 'Jesus! I don't understand why he didn't tell me about his suspicions? I'd help him. Hell! I'd be in this bloody car today!'

'It wouldn't change anything, Craig. The killer was enough clever to called off Megan and Charlie from the building, so I believe he'd do something to send you back at the station, too.' John Paul said calmly.

'Megan and Charlie are like fucking kids! It's really hard for me to understand, how they could believed in such bullshit. It's insane!' He yelled almost at the same time as Bridget and some technician guy came in, and moved toward them. 'You supposed to be on the conference, right now.' He noted drily.

'I can't stand his lies anymore.' She replied moodily and sat down at her desk. 'Besides I didn't learn nothing interesting.'

'So maybe you'd learn something interesting from me.' The technician said and put down on the desk some kind of radio. 'You wanted to know who borrow your identity to call of your people? So now, you can have your answer.' He pushed one of the buttons and few cracks came from the machine, before woman's clear voice broke the noises.

'Central…'

'This is inspector Craig Dean from twenty one station. I want you to inform…' Craig didn't has to listen more, to know who was it.

'Spike?' Bridget asked with disbelief as with hang opened mouth she listened up his all conversation with woman from the central. 'But why? Does superintendent know about it?'

'I don't bother to inform your superiority about my work. He asked me for a favor and I did it. It's your choice what you're gonna to do with it.' He shrugged his arms and picked up the radio back into his hands.

'They're two options I think.' John Paul said carefully. 'Spike knew the killer was chasing him and found out where he lives. Or somehow he knew the killer is going to visit him today and decided to call off his colleagues to not risk their life.'

'Or maybe he just tried to play a hero and caught the killer on his own?' Craig snapped irate. 'It's more like him.'

'Then you don't know him.' Bridget immediately argued. 'I don't believe he'd be so stupid. He had to has more serious reasons to not inform us.'

'He was enough stupid to be kidnapped and not said me about his own investigation. So forgive me, but I think everything's possible. The drugs ate his brain completely.'

'We need to see his flat, and then we can speculating what's happened that Fred landed in hospital half dead, and Spike disappeared.' John Paul said firmly and gently pushed Craig's back. 'Come on. We need you there.'

'You need dog not me.' Craig snapped, but he let his partner grabbed him for the arm and pulled him toward the door. 'It's the first and the last time.' He added as he noticed John Paul's badly hide grin.

Black eyes of the beast staring at him in silence, before it stick out its tongue and big paw traced man's leg. Craig frowned his eyebrows and looked with disgusted at animal, before he moved his eyes at the man who was holding tightly the leash of the beast.

'You took him from the kennel?' Craig asked and growled when a few droplets of saliva landed on his clean shoe.

'It's Spike's dog, so I thought he'd take a clue quicker than our dogs.' Darren replied and stroked the beast behind its ear. 'He's well trained.' He added with a small smile.

'Surely not in your hands.' Craig stated with a slanting smile. 'Give a dog to someone who knows how to use his nose.' He ordered and nodded toward living room. 'We need you here.' Darren reluctantly agreed and gave Loony some constable, before he followed his stepbrother and briefly watched room, who was already turned upside down.

'We didn't find nothing interesting, yet.' Bridget informed them and handed Darren plastic gloves. 'Maybe you two will have more luck. I'm going to check a bedroom once again and John Paul can take a look at bathroom. I saw a little blood on the broken mirror and on the floor.'

'It's Spike's.' Darren said quickly and scratched his head as colleagues glanced at him suspiciously. 'Last night he didn't feel well and by accident broke the mirror.' He explained, half truly. 'I took care about his cuts and wrap bandages around them, but I guess a little blood has to leave on the tiles. That's all.'

'Is there anything more you want to tell us, Darren?' Craig suddenly asked him, staring at him serious, and Darren felt as his body start sweating and tensing. Did he know what happened between him and Spike last night?...Was he behaving so obvious, they already know about him and Spike?

'Like what?' He asked with a nervous chuckle.

'Well, you didn't tell us about last night accident, so I wonder if you didn't inform me about something else.' He replied sharply, eyeing him up. 'So? There's something you want to tell me?'

'We went to bed.' He shrugged, didn't know at what focus his eyes. He didn't like the way Craig was looking right now at him. Like he was just suspecting something… 'Spike was very sleepy last night.'

'You slept together?' He felt as for a second his heart stopped beating and he frozen to the bone. He knows…

'For God's Sake, Craig, leave him alone. He and Spike are friends, so they don't mind to share one bed for a night. If I have to watch you or Bridget for all night, I'd lay in yours beds too.' John Paul chimed in, shaking his head.

'Maybe not everyone like to sleep in someone's bed.' Craig retorted with a half grin. 'But since I saw what you're keeping in clipboard, I'm not even surprised.'

'Bastard.' John Paul stick out a tongue toward him, making Bridget giggle. Darren breathed with relief, knowing he's safe now, and Craig doesn't has any clue what's going on. Neither rest of them.

'So you went to bed…What's happened later, when you get up? Was he acting strangely today?' Craig returned to his stepbrother, again overwhelming him with questions, while John Paul decided to check the corner, with shelf and windowsill.

'He was normal.' He shrugged, in mind repeating the every second from the morning. Did he miss something? Maybe Spike was signalizing something to him, but he read it wrong? 'I took a shower and ate breakfast with him. Then my shift ended.'

'Was he nervous or afraid of something? Maybe he told you something strange?'

'No, he wasn't. I already told you, he was behaving normal.' He repeated, irate. 'Instead of giving me stupid questions, you'd better make sure, your people working enough hard, to find Spike.'

'You think that what I'm doing here, eh?' He asked sharply, feeling like a blood boiled in his veins.

'Guys, relax.' John Paul glanced at them briefly. 'We're already nervous, and we don't need to have a fight with each other. I think everyone knows why we're here. Instead of wasting oxygen for quarrels, do something useful and check other rooms.' He snapped.

'I need technicians here. I find a small stain of blood under the bed.' Bridget called from the bedroom.

'Under bed? Was he trying to hide there, or what?' Craig frowned his eyebrows puzzled.

'I think I have something better here.' John Paul announced as he removed a small, creased card, which he smoothed only to see the red letters on it. 'Called off your people from your flat at 5 p.m. if you don't want me to help your boyfriend to fall into troubles. Be alone, otherwise the game just let begin.' He read it on a one breath.

'The message from the killer…' Craig frowned his eyebrows.

'It'd explain, why Spike called off Megan and Charlie.' John Paul stated and shook his head. 'But I wonder how's that happened that this letter didn't strike home to our hands. We always were checking the post before we gave it to Spike.' He noticed.

'But it wouldn't explain why the murderer recalled in the list Randall…He should knew he's already dead, so his blackmail shouldn't has any impact on Spike.' He said puzzled. 'And the other question is how we missed the letter?' His eyes suddenly moved at Darren. 'It's saying, at 5 p.m., but murderer didn't say which day…It means the letter has to come with today's post…Are you sure, Darren, you didn't miss any letter today?'

'There was no postman today, I…' Then something hit him. 'But I remember, when I was going to bathroom, Spike's neighbour came to give me a letter for him. In yellow envelope.'

'I didn't find envelope, but I think the letter would match to it.' John Paul shrugged.

'Did she tell from who she got the letter? Or at least you thought about ask her how the man who gave it to her, looked like?' Craig asked irate, gritting his teeth.

'It was a boy. He said it's letter for Spike from his brother…So I didn't want to read it. I thought it's very personal.' He replied, blushing slightly.

'Well, if you read it or at least fucking phone to me, you'd know Spike doesn't has brother.' Craig snapped, wanting to smash his head on the wall.

'Are you sure? Spike didn't disagree…'

'Maybe because he had a feeling from who he got it. Not many persons introduced themselves as someone's brother.' He said coldly. 'And seriously Darren, I start doubting in your intelligence! Everyone knows he grew up in his grandma's house, ALONE. No one ever said, he had any siblings.'

'Well, you didn't open your letter from Spike, either.' John Paul recalled him coldly. 'You just put it down somewhere and let it cover with a dust…What if he gave you some hint too, but you'll too busy to read it.' He noticed how Craig's eyes darkened with anger, but man didn't dare to speak up to him. He knew that although he didn't want to admit it loudly, John Paul was right. He didn't has rights to fight with it.

'At least we have confirmation that Spike knew something.' Bridget said quietly as she returned to them and in silence observing their conversation.

'Yea, we know, he knew too much and needed to pay for it.' Craig glanced at them. 'Take the samples of blood in the bedroom and take the letter. I need to go back at station and check if something move on.'

'It's everything you're going to do for Spike and Fred?' Darren asked him in disbelieve.

'It's everything I can do for them, right now.' He corrected him quietly, before he walked out and headed toward staircase. He didn't know John Paul quickly followed him, only in his jumper, didn't bother about cold.

'You think he's alive?' Bridget suddenly asked quietly as she focused eyes at her fingers.

'If Craig keeps holding him in a tight leash, he's gonna be fine.' Darren replied with a half smile.

'I meant Spike…You think he is…'

'If he was dead, why killer would be bother to take him with himself? There isn't too much blood here, so it's a good sign.'

'He could killed him later.' She noted, couldn't stop her mind from creating the bad scenarios.

'He's fine, Bridget. There's no point in killing Spike, right now. I guess he's gonna demand ransom or he'd leave Spike with himself to feel save. He knows we can't kill him, if we don't find out where he's keeping him.' He explained his view of point and smiled gently to her. 'It's gonna be okay. Fred and Spike soon come back to us.'

'I'm scared.' She admitted in a whisper, eyes shone with tears. She let Darren wrapped his arms around her and be pushed into tight embrace.

'We find this bastard and he won't hurt anyone else. For Fred's and Spike's Sake.' He said quietly and with a big knob in the throat he looked at the card. Has he has me on his mind? If I listened him, he'd be now with us?

'Something doesn't match. Why he'd use Randall to force Spike to do something? He killed him few days ago, and now he's behaving like a bloody schizophrenic.' Craig snapped as he came to his office, feeling behind his back John Paul's presence. 'Maybe that's the key to the case? Normal people wouldn't try to kill off without reasons all band.'

'We don't know the reasons which pushing him to killing, and that's a difference.' John Paul noted with a half smile and leaned against the wall as he closed the door and watched how Craig was checking his all drawers in searching for letter from Spike.

'He has to be some kind of sociopath.' He continued his thought. 'Why I didn't think earlier about check mental hospitals? I bet some patients has been released recently.'

'It's not an evidence. Beside he's too clever to be a schizophrenic.' He stated. 'But I was thinking about the boyfriend's part in the letter, too.'

'And do you have any conclusions?' He asked him interested, while he still couldn't navigate the yellow envelope.

'Yes, I have, but I don't think you'd like them, so I decide to keep it for myself.' He replied carefully.

'Oh, come on. I just shared with you my thoughts, now it's time for yours.' He glanced at him above the desk. 'It's everything what we have, John Paul. Our theories and faith.'

'Fine.' He agreed reluctantly and smiled slightly as he noticed grin at Craig's face. 'Like you said it's strange he was mentioning Randall in the letter…So I thought, maybe he really doesn't know Randall is dead.' He licked his lips. 'So I thought it'd means that Spike could…' Craig's hand shoot in the air in a second.

'Yea, you were right. It's a bullshit theory which you should keep for yourself.' He said, but strangely he didn't sound mad at him, more sad and resigned. 'I'm sure who killed Randall and that's the end of the story…Maybe the killer just forgot about him. Things like that sometimes happens.'

'Yea, I killed a guy, and forget about it.' John Paul stared at him with disbelief. 'He doesn't has to has any feelings then…And still, Spike's case isn't solve, yet.'

'It's only matter of time.' He said firmly and with gloat smile removed creased envelope from the second drawer. 'I got it!'

'So maybe you open it up?' John Paul suggested with a smirk and decided to move closer to the man, to see the contain of the envelope.

'I'm in a half way to reach it.' He replied with a small grin and tear the envelope, before he removed a card from it. 'Happy?'

'No, until you tell me what is it.' He said and laid a chin on his shoulder to might take a look at the paper too. He noticed how Craig's eyebrows frowned and his mouth moved like he was a fish dragged out from water. 'You're okay?'

'It's a letter Spike got in Ibiza. The one Randall has been told us about.' He replied quietly.

'What?' John Paul looked at the letter with disbelief. 'But why he'd give it to you? Did Randall tell him we were asking him about it?'

'Don't know…Shh. I'm trying to read it.' He put the finger on his lips and focused at the treasure he got from Spike.

Dear Spike,

You probably don't know me, but I know you pretty well. I spent almost half year searching for you, and you can't imagine how happy I was, when one day I saw you here, on the beach. I guess you're working now in the nearest station, seeing you have been in police uniform? I think Ibiza serves you very much. You look healthy and very happy (maybe that's a merit of this young man with piercings who is hanging around you from some time?), almost like you forgot about your burden…I know you've met with a Death in very young age. You lost someone very important to you, a person who was your link to outer world you didn't know. Do you still remember the pain, you were feeling that night? How many tears poured down your eyes, until you make up with yourself and decide to move on? You probably don't know, but it left a mark on you. Yes, Spike. But not a visible one, it's hidden under your skin, deep in your broken soul. And whatever you do, you can't get rid of it. It's just a part of you, like an extra heart. Getting rid of it, you'd kill yourself.

I know that pain, Spike. I have the same mark. I met the same Devil on my track…Luis Brain. I bet you remember that name, it has grown into your skin, appearing in your dreams…Do you still seeing his face and everything what happened to you, in nights? Is your boy calming you and whispering soothe words to your ear, every time you wake up with scream and face all wet of tears? Did you tell him about your burden?

I hunted him down, Spike. He needs to pay for his sins. You know, he needs. Boulward Street 5, England. He's living just above the jewelry shop he's owning. He leads a happy life, Spike. Like he doesn't remember what he has done. When every night the nightmares tormenting you, he's sleeping peacefully in his bed with his wife. How fair is that? Why you have to live in pain, when he doesn't feel guilty even a little? It's a time to change it, Spike. Time for us, brother of blood. Just think about it. He needs to pay for our pain, and we can help each other.

If you decide to join me, get back to England. I'll contact with you, when you'd be on the place. Don't worry, I'm not going to leave you on your own.

Take care about yourself and make a good decision,

Your Brother Xx

'Vendetta toward Luis Brain. But why Spike would want his death? I don't understand…' John Paul said quietly, rereading the letter.

'Don't know… But why the killer would want to kill Michael Luthie? It doesn't make sense! Maybe it's not the same killer we're searching for.' Craig mumbled, feeling more confused than earlier.

'You think someone else killed Luis Brain? Someone who knows Spike and his secret, and it doesn't has any connection with Red Roses case?' John Paul glanced at him shortly, wondering about something. 'What do you know about Spike?' He finally asked.

'Not much. Only everything what he said to us.' He shrugged.

'So maybe he has a brother? Just look Craig. In this letter and also in this one from Spike's flat, the person calls himself brother. It doesn't sound as a coincidence.'

'I'm sure he doesn't has any siblings. He only had a grandmother, but she died few years ago.' He said firmly and handed the envelope John Paul. 'Whoever is a killer, he has to know Spike pretty good…That's why he kidnapped him…But from where they know each other? Was Spike know him? That's why he was working on the case by his own? He wanted to make sure his brother is guilty, before he sell him off to us?' He start thinking loudly.

'Craig, there is something else in envelope.' John Paul suddenly said as something slipped down. 'Old school ID card.' He added as he looked closer at it. Craig picked it up and slowly opened the document. His eyes wandered over a photograph of young boy with a dark messy hair and hazel eyes, wore in a white plane shirt with a blue tie around neck.

'Spike Hunter.' Craig read quietly, his finger gently touched the picture. 'Fuck.'

'You didn't know his surname?' John Paul glanced at him unsurely, couldn't believe they didn't know such an important thing about their colleague.

'No…It wasn't the same name he has in his ID card, or in acts…He has to changed it, later.' He replied, still in a big shock. 'I don't believe…'

'So…he has to be…'

'Laura's Hunter son.' He finished and covered face with hands. 'Shit.'

'What are we gonna do know, Craig?' He asked softly and gently stroked his arm, before he again laid a chin on his shoulder, to give him a support he needs right now.

'Don't know…I really don't know.'

'We need to call superintendent and Chief Inspector.'

'You know what that might means for Spike? It's not only about Luthie's case anymore, John Paul. It's about us.'