Disclaimer: Own nothing relating to UC, I can wish al I want though....

Author's note: I got it up tonight!!! * is proud of self*



Jake Alex and Donovan pulled up to the apartment complex. It was situated in a low scale area, which it seemed to happily reflect. Spray painted designs and various forms of art work could be seen everywhere, including on the walls of this building. Paint was peeling from the buildings once fortunate enough to have it; for the people 'looking' around tattered blue jeans were standard issue.



The team was here to do their own search of Karl's apartment, just in case anything had been missed. As the saying goes 'if you want something done right, do it yourself.' They had been over the evidence that had already been gathered from this place but had felt that something was missing. They hoped that they would find that something here.



Opening the door with the key the landlord had given them Jake, Alex and Donovan stepped into Karl's apartment. They took a moment to observe their surroundings and get their bearings.

The light yellow paint on the walls was severely water stained and chipping. It was a small apartment with only three real rooms, the living/dining room, kitchen and bedroom. Windows with frayed red curtains faced the front door. The 'living room' consisted of a worn blue couch, the springs looking ready to make an appearance through the fabric, greeting any unfortunate soul meeting it; the couch was accompanied by an equally wrecked wooden table. The apartment looked dull and smelled stale; if the maintenance was left for much longer mold would surely develop, if it hadn't already.

"So, guess this kinda narrows down our options. This apartment is too small to hide much." Frank and Alex looked at Jake "what?"

"Look for anything hidden under the carpet, couch, bottom of the wall. You know what to do." Alex and Jake dispersed at Donovan's order. Frank left to search the only other real room in the apartment. Karl's bedroom.



Frank opened the door, Karl's bedroom was just as sparsely furnished as the rest of his apartment. It housed only a bed and tall dresser. He walked around the room, trying to see any cracks in the wall or floor that might be used as hiding spots. Finding none he went through the dresser, Karl's clothes as well as clothes for a small boy were all that he found there. Sighing, he went over to the bed.

He looked through the sheets and even slit open the pillow, still there was nothing. It was a need to be thorough that caused him to lift up the mattress, which was where he spotted it. Karl's laptop. It was still connected to a cell phone, meaning Internet was still possible but Frank wasn't going to chance it. Karl could have had it set to destruct if passwords were not used. Frank picked up the laptop and left the room.



"Oooo, nice find Donovan."

"Thank you Jake. I'm sure Cody will be pleased to add yet another task to his long list of things to do." Donovan smiled as they made their way downstairs to the car. He was finally feeling hopeful about the case.



"What would you guys...and gals, do without me?"

"Cody." Alex warned.

"Alright, alright. But you have to admit, I am essential."

"Cody!"

"Okay. Geez Alex you're so uptight." Alex glared at him.

The team was now at their 'office', patiently gathered and waiting for Cody to finish hacking into Karl's laptop. It hadn't taken Cody long to get past the first set of passwords and now he was working on the second and final set.

"Ha ha, done like dinner!" Cody exclaimed "feel free to browse Karl's domain as much as you want." Frank walked over and watched as Cody brought up and searched various files. A list of numerical accounts, where Karl had stored his money, a list of supplies needed to complete the job as well as personal to do list was just some of what Cody pulled up. What got Frank's interest, however, was some of Karl's emails. They were from an unknown party and outlined exactly what Karl was supposed to do. On email in particular got his attention.

BG4@easy.com

K4@AOL.com

Subject: Action

The boy will be at Thompson memorial Park. June 24. 2 pm. Store him as DST 34. It's yours from there, do what you will.



"Cody trace this email" Frank ordered "the rest of you try to figure out what DST 34 is."

"Or where." Frank nodded at Alex's statement.

The first line of the email let him know that the Ryan's had been watched for sometime. Long enough for whoever to figure out their routine. The last line brought him very little comfort "do what you will." For all intent and purposes Joey could've been killed within hours of his abduction. Karl had certainly seemed desperate enough the day Frank killed him.



"I don't see the money." Karl quickly glanced around the room, already suspecting a setup. They had arranged to meet at an office building that was still under construction. Donovan had come in on his own but his team was waiting outside, should he need them.

"It's here, but I'm not giving it to you until you bring Joey out." Frank appeared relaxed but inside he couldn't push the feeling of dread aside when he didn't see Joey.

"I've got him at another location. Give me the money and I'll give you the address." Karl started to fidget.

"No. That's not the deal. You call me when you're ready to bring Joey." Frank turned and started to walk towards the exit.

"You're not leaving."

Frank was going to continue on to the exit but heard clothes rustling and turned around to see Karl pull out a knife.

"I want..I need my money and I'm gonna get it. I'll send Joey with you don't worry." Karl laughed as he approached Frank. Frank, meanwhile, proceeded to take out his gun.

"Karl think about what you're doing. If you come after me then you don't get your money today. If you kill Joey you never get your money."

"No, I just don't get my money from you."

It all happened so fast. Karl lunged at Frank, who shot Karl in the knee. Frank thought that that would be it but Karl got up and lunged at him again. Frank shot him in his other knee and prepared to tell the team to radio for help when Karl pulled out a gun and aimed . Frank shot him first and hit him in the chest, Karl dropped his gun and smiled.

Calling help was unnecessary as Alex and Jake were well on their way by the time the first shot was heard. They entered the room and took in the situation, including the knife and gun by Karl's body, and called an ambulance. Donovan was at Karl's side, trying to stop the flow of blood from his chest.

Blood dripping from his mouth, Karl looked at Frank and whispered. "Nothing is as it seems."