Ben and Stan were pacing the halls of the hospital when the doctor arrived to tell them of Ray's condition. He informed them that the bullet hadn't hit any vital organs and that Ray was resting.
"Can we see him?" Ben asked. The doctor nodded and led the two men to Ray's room.
Ray's still form lay in the bed. Ben and Stan pulled chairs up to the bedside and sat down. Six hours later, Ray stirred.
"Benny?"
"I'm here, Ray."
"Hey, Vecchio. How are you feeling?"
"I'm in the hospital nursing a gun shot wound and you ask me how I'm feeling?"
"Give me a break, I'm trying to do the 'sensitive' thing here."
"What are you doing here, anyway? Get out of here, guys. Go find Jess." Ben opened his mouth to protest. "I'll be fine." He assured them quickly then motioned for them to leave. Once they were gone, Ray closed his eyes and went back to sleep glad that the two most respectable cops in North America were out there looking for Jess.
Stan and Ben made their way quickly to the GTO and headed to the precinct. Huey saw Stan and approached him.
"Mrs McIntyre, one of the neighbours, said she saw two men take an unconscious woman away in a van. Their faces were covered. She was throwing some large boxes into the dumpster out back when the men came out the door and drove off in a red delivery van. No markings. She gave us a plate number. It's being run as we speak."
"What about the blood?"
"It's all Vecchio's, which means that she probably wasn't injured."
"Can we get a list of partners and associates who work at Jess' firm?" Huey nodded.
"Thanks, Huey. Call me if anything else comes up." He turned to Ben. "So, what do you suggest we do now?"
"Perhaps we should go over Jess' apartment once more?"
"Sounds good to me, Frase. Let's go."
The forensic team had long since finished scouring the apartment for clues. Stan, followed by Ben, crossed the police line and went inside. Ben began examining the boot print on the door. Stan walked around to the sofa and sat down. He couldn't help but notice the bloodstained floor. His thoughts drifted to Ray. He understood how Ray had felt before. He was feeling exactly the same way now. It was times like these that he wished he could listen to his own advice.
"Ray? Ray!" Ben snapped his fingers in front of Stan's face.
"Yeah, Frase?"
"Where were you? It seemed you were a thousand miles away."
"Sorry, I was just thinking. Did you find anything?"
"As a matter of fact, I did. There was a distinct smell of fish on the print."
"Fish? Are you suggesting that they took her to the Lake?"
"Yes, perhaps to a warehouse or abandoned building near a fish market."
Stan rose from the couch and headed towards the door. "Well, pitter-patter, let's get at her. Come on."
Jess raised her head. She was alone again. She looked at the mirror and was hardly surprised to see the dark bruise forming on one side of her face. It was the result of a struggle that she had quite obviously lost. She hung her head. How could this have happened? Why didn't he ever say anything? Why didn't she see it? Questions flooded her mind. Questions that she could not answer.
All she could do now was pray that someone would save her from this physical torment. It wouldn't be long before he forced himself onto her. She could feel it building in him whenever he was near her. Once he had, she would be counting the seconds until he killed her, then himself. He had told her of his plan and she was sure that she had visibly quivered. Was that what he wanted? For me to be scared of him? The thought struck her like a lightning bolt. Would it buy her more time if she did everything in her power to resist him?
The door opened again and Jess decided that she would put her theory to the test. She looked up as confidently as she could when he approached. He stood in front of her and examined the bruise on her face.
"Jessica, darling, I'm sorry for this."
"I'm not."
He gazed into her eyes before grabbing her face and licking the bruise as a cat does her kittens. He pulled away and crouched before her. She could feel his fingers as they brushed her skin from her heel, slowly to her thigh. He was so distracted that he didn't realise that Jess' other leg had moved to strike his chin until he stumbled backwards and hit the ground.
He got to his feet, facing the mirror, an angered expression on his face.
"How dare you?"
"I could ask you the same question, Michael."
He opened his mouth to retaliate but stopped, glaring evilly at Jess through the mirror before leaving the room. He slammed the door behind him.
Ray lay in the bed sleeping. Any passer-by would think that he was sleeping peacefully but they were unaware of the disturbing nature of his dreams.
Ray inserted the key into the lock, turned it and entered the house. He set the briefcase he was carrying down on the kitchen counter. He walked over to the glass doors and slid it open. He then stepped out onto the balcony. He let the wind whip through his hair as he looked out over the large body of water before him. He stood there admiring the view and enjoying the serenity for several minutes.
He then turned and went back inside. He went down the staircase that was in one corner of the house. Upon reaching the bottom of the staircase, there was a corridor with two doors side by side. He entered the first door and found a small room. In it was a single chair and a video camera facing a glass wall. Through the glass he saw Jess. Her wrists bound her and her head hung limply.
She moved slightly, then raised her head revealing a bruise on one side of her face. Her gaze made it seem as if she was looking straight at him. His heart raced. He watched as she lowered her head once more in defeat. He changed the tape in the camera and then left the room.
He then went through the second door. This room was no larger than the first but the wall adjacent to the glass one of the previous room was made up of a mirror. As he approached Jess, she lifted her head and he inspected the bruise on her face. He apologised for hitting her before caressing her damaged cheek with his tongue. Green eyes connected with similar green eyes. He stooped and one second he was stroking her magnificent, muscular leg the next, he was sprawled out on the concrete floor.
Ray got up and looked in the mirror. The reflection that stared back at him was an unfamiliar face. No...wait. It was somewhat familiar. Where had he seen it before?
He suddenly jolted upright in his bed and repeatedly pressed the call button in urgency. A nurse hurried to Ray's bedside.
"I need to speak with my partner...now!"