Title: Gone Chapter: 3 Author: Evidence

Rating: PG-13

Author's Notes: Kudos go to Sweatergirl who has the huge task of editing this, thanks again! Thanks also to all the wonderful writers that live on Maple Street- your reviews mean a lot.

The clouds floated by the airplane window on a journey of their own.  Samantha watched them transfixed by the motion.  She popped a pain pill; her leg was aching from sitting in one position for too long.  She was close though, close to Yellowstone and hopefully Jack.  His image appeared on every cloud: a smile, a glance, a wink.  I'm coming, Jack, she thought.

Logic had been thrown out of the window.  She felt the need, the compulsion to head to Yellowstone and find Jack even though she knew the odds were stacked against her.  Yellowstone National Park was huge, the largest park in the United States.  It was located in three states, Wyoming, Idaho and Montana.  She had taken a plane to Billings, Montana because it was the only one headed in her direction.  Was Jack staying near the Montana border?  She had no clue.

The plane ride was uneventful and grabbing her one bag of luggage Sam limped to a shuttle van.

"Do you need a ride?" the friendly driver asked.

"Yes…what can you tell me about Yellowstone National Park?"

"Oh, let's see it was set aside as a National Park back in 1872.  Do you know who was President at the time?"

Sam shook her head, "No, who?'

"Ulysses S. Grant.  It is quite wild there.  I saw a mountain lion once."

This was not helping Samantha.  "Thank you for the information."

"Hey, no problem. Here let me grab your bag." He picked it and put it into the back of the van.  "My name's Richie."

"Samantha."

"If I can be nosy, what happened to your leg?"

"Oh, I was shot."

Richie's face dropped.  "Shot?  How…um, never mind.  Where are you heading-Yellowstone?"

"Yes, thank you for the information on it."

He smiled.  "No problem the little girl that was here a couple of days ago wanted to know all about it."

Sam's heart raced.  "Little girl.  What little girl?"

"Oh, she was here with her mom and dad and sister.  I think her name was Kay."

"Kate?"

Richie snapped his fingers.  "That's it!"

"Where were they headed?  Do you know?"

Richie gave her a questioning look, 'Why do you want to know?"

"I'm here to find them." She whipped out her badge.  "I'm Special Agent Samantha Spade, from the Missing Person's Unit."

"Oh," Richie looked impressed, "Well the guy said they were staying in the water slide zone."

"Water slide zone?"

"That's what I call it because you can camp near this huge waterfall."  He opened the passenger door and produced a map from the glove department.  "It's right here." Richie pointed with his index finger.

Samantha smiled for the first time in a long while.  "Thank you Richie!  I need your help to get there."

Richie scratched at his black curls.  "Well, the shuttle doesn't go there…"

"I'll pay you but please- this is a matter of life and death."

Richie sighed deeply.  "Okay, anything for my country."

Sam got into the passenger seat.  "Let's get going."

"Whatever you say Ma'am."

Sam pondered asking the question that was nagging at her.  "Richie, did the man and woman look happy, like they were in love?"

Richie chuckled.  "I've never seen a more distant couple.  Why?"

Smiling to herself, Sam answered, "No reason."

To be continued…