"Nothing really pops. We are putting together a list of places that all the women had in common. We're hoping that Ms. Carmichael can look at it and tell us if anything sounds familiar," Martin replied wearily.
"Sam and Viv are still interviewing her," Danny volunteered.
"Sam and Viv are talking to her?" Jack asked curiously.
Danny nodded uncomfortably seeing the same questioning stare from Jack that he saw from Samantha and Vivian earlier.
"I just came back from Candace's parents. Needless to say, telling them that their daughter is in the hands of a serial killer was not reassuring news."
"I don't get this guy. Not that I make a habit of trying to understand psychopaths, but he keeps them for a month. He tortures them, and then kills them. There's no sexual assault. I guess I just don't understand why he takes them in the first place," Martin questioned.
"He's trying to cleanse them of their sins. He gets off on humiliating them. Three out of the four women died on accident, essentially. He was torturing them...trying to teach them a lesson, and it got out of control," Danny answered contemplatively. "I wonder what the hell he's been doing for the last three years. I've kept an eye on his MO for the last three years. No cases have come up anywhere in the U.S. It's like he just decided to reappear."
As Danny finished his statement, Vivian approached them. "Danny...Kelly is very upset. She says she'll only talk to you."
Danny grabbed the file that he and Martin were putting together and rose quickly from the chair. He started walking with Vivian without so much as a glance to Jack or Martin. "What happened? What did you ask her?"
"We just started asking her about what happened three years ago. She answered a few questions, and then she just broke down."
They rounded the corner and entered the conference room. Samantha was sitting next to Kelly on the couch, but then rose when Danny entered. Kelly's head was buried in her arms. "Give me a minute with her..." Danny requested quietly. And then Samantha and Vivian walked out of the room.
He took a chair from the table and sat down in front of her. "Kelly...look at me."
She finally looked up and met Danny's eyes. "I can't do this. I can't help you. Now that I know he's still out there...I don't know if I can take it, Danny."
"This isn't about you, Kelly. This is about Candace Reynolds. I promise I will keep you safe. You don't have to worry about that. All you need to focus on is helping us find Candace."
Kelly looked into his eyes and saw the same strength from three years ago. She wasn't sure what it was about Danny that always made her feel at ease. She started to feel stronger the moment he walked into the room. She leaned back against the couch and wiped a few tears from her eyes. "You were always good at calling me on being self-absorbed. Nothing like tough love, right. Why didn't you want to talk to me today? Why did you send in Vivian?"
"You're mother asked me not to. She said you were doing really well, and I didn't want to mess that up. You are doing OK? Right?" Danny asked with a concerned tone.
"You mean am I clean?"
Danny nodded.
"Eighteen months. How about you?" she asked already knowing the answer.
"As a whistle," he replied with a slight smile. "Now that we've gotten that out of the way, let's go over a few things from when you were being held."
Kelly nodded as she ran a hand through her hair and leaned forward to focus on Danny's questions.
Samantha watched through the window as Danny spoke to Kelly. The transformation from the moment he spoke to her was amazing. There was a trust in Kelly's eyes that shone through when she looked at him. Samantha continued to watch as Danny asked tougher questions. She could tell they were tough because Kelly started to cry again. Danny moved from the chair and sat next to her. He put his hand on her back and rubbed small circles and she took hold of his hand. Samantha saw the closeness between them. Kelly leaned into him as if he was her lifeline. And then just as quickly Danny pulled away as if realizing that he shouldn't touch her. Sam struggled to piece together the exact nature of their relationship.
Still watching them, Samantha was startled by a voice from behind. "Sam...Mrs. Carmichael wants to know about her daughter," the agent said as he motioned Mrs. Carmichael toward Samantha.
"Agent Spade? I wanted to check on Kelly. She shouldn't be..." Mrs. Carmichael started, but then stopped when she saw Danny and Kelly in the conference room. "What is he doing in there with her?"
Samantha looked at Mrs.Carmichael curiously. "Uh...I was talking to Kelly, but she got very upset. Danny seems to be the only one who can calm her down."
Mrs. Carmichael shook her head. "She's worked so hard..."
"Worked hard? Worked hard to get past the abduction?" Samantha asked.
"No...I mean...yes...that was part of it. But that's not what I'm not talking about. She's work so hard to get over him...Danny," she replied motioning toward the window.
Samantha sighed as it started to come together. "They were...," she began.
"I don't know what they were...honestly. But I do know that she was and probably still is in love with him. He broke her heart, and then she hit rock bottom. She spent two months in a rehab clinic a year and a half ago. So, you can imagine why I don't think this is healthy for her," she said as she looked through the window. "I thought about reporting him to his boss. She was so vulnerable, and she saw him as this knight in shining armor. But she begged me not, too. She swore it wasn't his fault, but..."
Sam started to feel queasy. She didn't want to believe that Danny would take advantage of someone like Kelly. She knew it didn't seem right. Yet, she couldn't help but see the pattern. Danny was uncomfortable the moment he knew that they would have to involve Kelly. Then he tried to avoid her at every turn. And then Sam just witnessed the moment of intimacy between them before Danny quickly pulled away. She started to feel very sorry for Kelly.
"Mrs. Carmichael...I'm sure that Kelly is fine and, Danny is almost finished. There's a waiting room right down the hall. Why don't you get some coffee, and I'll tell Kelly you're here. I just need to follow up with my boss on something."
Mrs. Carmichael took one last look at her daughter and then turned toward the waiting area. Then Samantha headed straight to Jack's office.
"Jack...I...uh...I have to talk to you about something," Samantha said as she entered his office.
"What's up?" he replied looking up from his desk.
"It's about Danny...and Kelly Carmichael. I think...I think he may have acted inappropriately with her."
"When? Just now while he is interviewing her?"
"No...no...I think there was something between them after we found her and after the case ended. I think they may have had some sort of relationship and..."
"Samantha...they're two consenting adults. I don't see where this is any of our concern."
"I know. I know that Jack, but she was vulnerable. And she saw him as this savior. He should have stayed away from her. He should have known she was off limits. And he definitely shouldn't be talking to her right now."
"She wouldn't talk to anyone else, Sam. You witnessed that yourself. I admire your compassion for this young woman, but I really don't think this is our business."
"Not our business? Jack, he had no right..."
"Hey...sorry to interrupt...I...uh..just finished with Kelly. She is reviewing the list that Martin put together now," Danny said as he walked casually into the office. And then he noticed the palpable tension in the room. "What's up? What's wrong? Did we find Candace?"
"No. That's not it," Samantha replied in an angry tone as she stormed out of the office.
Danny gave Jack a perplexed look. "What's up with her?"
"Why don't you sit down for a second, Danny?"
Danny sat down still looking perplexed.
"Samantha seems to think that something happened between you and Kelly Carmichael. She thinks you took advantage of the feelings Kelly may have developed for you. Obviously, Kelly would feel safe with you...and if you did have some kind of relationship with her..."
"What the hell is this, Jack? How is this any of Sam's business or your's, for that matter?" Danny responded feeling the anger starting to rise.
"If something did happen between the two of you, then you probably should have said something to me. I would have made sure you kept your distance from Kelly. Looking back, that seems to be what you were trying to do by not wanting to pick her up or interview her."
Danny shook his head and stood up. "This...this is ridiculous."
"Danny...look...whatever happened...it's probably best if you just stay away from her," Jack said in an exasperated tone.
"Fine," Danny said as he turned and walked out of office.
Danny was so angry he could barely contain himself. He took a deep breath as he started to walk back to the bullpen. He was hoping to just grab his coat and head outside for a few moments to cool off, but then he saw Samantha sitting at her desk. He couldn't help but say something to her. "What the hell were you thinking...going to Jack about me? Why the hell wouldn't you just come to me?"
Samantha turned around in her chair and stood up to face him. It was times like these she wished she was taller. It was hard not to feel intimidated when she looked up at an obviously livid Danny. "I asked you what was going on between the two of you and you brushed me off. And what the hell were you thinking when you slept with a girl at the most vulnerable time in her life? You could be with whomever you wanted...whenever you wanted. Why would you use Kelly Carmichael like that?" she responded in a restrained but contemptuous voice.
"You don't know what you are talking about, Samantha. You think you can deduce that...because you've made some snap judgement about my personal life and combined that with seeing Kelly and me together?" Danny asked incredulously.
"I just talked to her mother, Danny. She confirmed it. Kelly fell in love with you, and you took advantage of that. We are supposed to protect these people...not hurt them more. We have a certain measure of personal conduct when we deal with victims. You don't just throw that code out the window when you want an easy lay, Danny."
Danny took a step back and silently counted to five. If he didn't, then he literally would've exploded in anger at Samantha. Then he leaned back into her and came within inches of her face. "You're lecturing me on personal conduct in the workplace? That's rich coming from you, Sam. I don't parade my personal life around the office for everyone to see. I didn't break up a family. I'm not screwing my way through half the office. You really want to argue morality and ethics with me, Samantha? Believe me, you don't. You no nothing about me...that's obvious...,"
"Danny...that's enough," Martin said as he came up behind them clearly confused at the heated argument.
Both Samantha and Danny turned around. Tears were forming in Samantha's eyes. She and Danny had never argued like that, and she felt like she was going to be sick.
"Just stay the hell out of my life," Danny said to Samantha as he turned to walk toward the balcony entrance.
Samantha grabbed a tissue from her desk and dabbed at her eyes. Then looked looked at Martin. "How much of that did you hear?"
"I didn't hear any of it. I just saw Danny in attack mode. What happened?"
"It's...it's nothing...I don't want to talk about it now. I'm sorry. Excuse me," Samantha replied as she moved past Martin.