One Police Plaza

"Thank you for your time, Detectives but we are done with Kathy's case." Captain Ross announces as the two detectives sit side by side on a desk table reviewing footage.

Both detectives looked confused of him pulling them off the case, after having found a new clue to the case.

"Oh, we are done." Eames repeated dramatically giving a glance to Goren who rubbed his beard then clicked the remote for video surveillance.

"Captain, this footage of Avery at the ATM," the girl Woody had been theorized to have run away with, "the night she went missing. Something seems off. She's rubbing her mala beads. It's like a Buddist rosary. I think she's praying."

"Yeah, like please God, don't let us get caught."

"She does seem nervous." Eames agreed running her hand through her hair. They were both being careful to push their theory but tread lightly with the Captain, who was undoubtedly personally involved.

"Maybe because she's a homewrecker looting her husband's bank account while pretending to be carjacked."

Wow! okay, this is going to be tougher than I thought. He is clearly biased into Kathy's account. Drama is in full force today. Sometimes, I think guys are worse than women.

"It's a ruse."

Eames just shook her head letting it fall to the floor when a coworker brought her the missing persons report she requested.

"Captain," She shouts and then barely taps Goren's chest with her hand to get his attention. He was already close looking over her shoulder.

Goren felt his heart quicken just a bit at the soft barely there contact. "Filed by Avery's parents. Woody and Avery were expected in Maine, on Friday. They never made it."

He leaned in slightly to manage an "accidental touch" but she rose from her seated position so he did too. He just missed the contact. He was tempted to place his hand on the small of her back but resisted the urge knowing she would not be receptive to it.

"Romeo and Juliet didn't tell their parents where they were going either."

"Why didn't haven't we heard from Avery's husband yet?"

Eames nodded a firm aggreement to Goren's statement and they get the okay to ask her husband about the missing person's report.

They were at arm's left barely communicating but this they agree on, Ross mused.

Roy's home

"She's not missing, she's visiting her parents."

"Without you...in-laws I get it," Goren tried to commisserate with him.

Eames continued questioning the husband but Goren noticed something as he watched his nonverbals. He was clutching a bag but the hand he was clutching with was bandaged. Suspects inadvertantly draw attention to something they want to hide by trying to hard to hide it. If watched close enough, they'll give themselves away and that hand was giving him away.

"Her parents filed a missing persons report. She never made it to Maine."

"But you know that. Right, Roy?" Goren stood up, and although it may appear, it was just because he was going to be confrontational with a potential subject. In reality, he was preparing to protect against a potential hostile suspect.

"I hate to say it but you know what my partner's thinking, Roy."

"Roy doesn't care what your partner's thinking."

Ugh one of those people who refer to themselves in third person. Wonderful.

"What I am thinking is you know Avery never made home because you did something to her."

Roy walks over to them and Eames moves her hand to her gun. "Look pal, I lied. Avery ran away with her trainer. You can check the message."

"Wow, she dumped you over the answering machine. That would make me mad. That would make me furious. What did you do to your hand there?" He was dealing with being dumped himself but right now he was more concerned with Roy and what he did or could still do.

"I did that, punching her mirror."

"Where were you Thursday night?" Eames barked out firmly.

"Work and I'm due back there."

They let him go realizing they needed more evidence then just a bandage to bring him in. They had to shake the alibi. So they walked out letting him go his own way.

"I mean if his story is true, she broke up with him."

"So now, you sympathize with him because he was dumped like you."

"That's not what I said," He was agitated. He spread his arms out and released a frustrated huff.

"You know the dumpee isn't always the victim and especially not here," Eames didn't let up. Goren placed his hand on her wrist gently while maintaining eye contact.

"Eames. I'm not saying he's innocent. He's a wifebeater, I know that aggression, anywhere. I was saying there may be more to this story. I mean, he wasn't the only one that was left."

"Okay, so lets look at his albi and keep Kathy in our minds, too. But you know the Captain..."

"Yeah, he's clouded." They both entered the SUV. Eames on the driver side and Goren on the passenger side.

"Goren?" Eames stole a look at him. His head was down and he was in his thoughts.

"Yeah?" He looked up at her. There was a softness in her eyes bit also professional concern.

"Your step-father? She said softly.

"Yeah," he confirmed.

"Are you gonna be able to do this?"

"You," he fiddled with his hands.

"Excuse me?"

Goren shifted his body to face her, "You will. He's especially embarassed when a woman puts him in his place. It's his trigger."

She nodded in understanding, "I can handle that lowlife." She returned her eyes to the road in front of her.

"I'm counting on it but first lets shake his alibi," Goren responded before turning his gaze outside the leftside window. The view of passing traffic and sounds of them whooshing in and out of the wind was the perfect white noise for his thoughts.

He saw softness in her but he wasn't mistaking that to believe the worse was behind him. She was still angry. She still called him Goren. She still wanted him to quit. He didn't think he could do it. Yeah, he loved major case but he could do almost any department if the puzzle was there. He couldn't think of a scenario where she wasn't by his side. She was his anchor. She always would be. He needed her more than she ever needed him, that was the problem wasn't it. I needed her but I am never fair to her.