AN: Thank you for the reviews. I would have updated sooner but I had some what of writers block. I knew what I wanted to write it just wasn't coming out on the paper. Well on with the story.

Chapter 7 The Police Station

Friday Morning

Police Investigative Department

11:30am

Harm pulled his car up to the police headquarters. He parked his car in the parking lot and he and Mac walked into the building. They stopped by the front desk and talked to the guy there before he led them to Michael's office.

"Mac, Harm," Michael said, surprised to see them there.

"I remembered something I thought would be useful to your investigation," Mac said.

"Please, take a seat," Michael said, indicating the two chairs on the other side of his desk. Harm and Mac took his offer to sit down and then Mac began to tell Michael about writing down the license plate number of the van. She handed him the scrap of paper with the license number on it.

"The last number looked like it had been deliberately covered over with black paint, but I was able to make out the rest of the numbers."

"This should be helpful, in fact I'll run the license number right now and see what comes up."

"Michael," Jeffery said, walking through his office door. "I wasn't able to find the....." His voice trailed off when he saw Harm and Mac sitting there.

"Mac came to bring us the license plate number from the van," Michael said, smiling at Mac.

She blushed a deep shade of red and looked down, much to Harm's amusement.

Jeffery pulled up a chair to Michael's desk while Michael typed on his key board and immediately pulled up a list of people close to that license number.

"Too bad we don't have that last number," he said, looked at the list of names that was like a mile long.

He turned his computer so that they could see the names. "I'll read you guys the list of names see if there is any that stand out of maybe Athena mentioned." Michael started reading the list and half way down Harm and Mac simultaneously said, "Stop!"

"What was the last name you read?" Harm asked looking at Mac.

Michael clicked the mouse upward. "The Jason Striker?" Jeffery asked.

"Do you recognize the name?" Michael said now looking over at his partner.

"Yeah, he was in the Georgetown Times two weeks ago. It said that he was going to get involved in politics."

"I think I remember reading that article," Harm said. "It was titled Millionaire Striker Might Run for Governor."

"Yeah," Jeffery said. "At least someone besides me reads the paper."

"While this conversation was going on Mac had the guiltiest, yes guiltiest look on her face. Michael looked over at her silent figure knowing that there was something she was hiding.

"How do you know about Striker?"

"Athena mentioned the word Striker just.....before she died."

"This is huge. Why did you hide this from us?" Jeffery asked.

"Why couldn't I help you guys with the investigation?" She shot back defensively.

"She does have a point," Harm said in Mac's defense.

"I'm just glad that this is all out in the open," Michael said. "It'll help us find out who's behind Athena's murder and it gives us a suspect to investigate."

The sound of a cell phone went off in the room. All four of them checked their phones.

"It's mine," Jeffery said. "Hello...... Jamie?" He said his voice and whole appearance taking on a worried tone. "Michael, I need to take this call-

"Go," Michael said, knowing that Jeffery's wife was really important to him. Jeffery silently but swiftly left the room.

"Is everything alright?" Harm asked, knowing a worried look when he saw one.

"It's Jeffery's wife, Jamie. She needs an operation on her heart. I don't know what needs to be done exactly but whatever it is, it's going to cost a lot."

"I'm sorry," Mac said. "That must be hard on them."

Harm looked through the office window at Jeffery who was pacing back and forth a few feet away. Harm could tell just by looking at him that he loved and cared for his wife deeply. Harm could see the helplessness on the young man's face and Harm's heart went out to him. Harm found himself thinking, 'If anything like that every happened to Mac I done know what I'd do.' He was pulled out of his thoughts a second later by Mac's question.

"Michael have you analyzed the disk yet?"

A flash of worry flickered on his face for a second then passed. "Its....uh...still being analyzed." He didn't want to admit that it was missing. He was secretly hoping that it would turn up soon. "Ok," Mac said, she really didn't believe what he had just told them, but there was nothing she could do about it.

"I'm going to take Officer Parkson with me to investigate your lead," Michael said. "If Jason Striker is involved some how I need to know."

A few minutes later Harm and Mac headed back to his car. Mac felt proud that she had given them a lead on the case. Normally, she would have insisted on going with them to interrogate Striker but she had other plans.

"I know that look in your eyes," Harm said unlocking the car and getting in. "Your going to Athena's house. I'm not letting you go by yourself."

"I wouldn't dream of going without you," she said somewhat sarcastically. "Besides I enjoy your company."

"As much as you enjoyed Michael's company in there?" He asked pulling onto the street.

"What are you talking about," She asked.

"I saw your face when Michael smiled at you."

"Now I really think your going crazy," Mac replied. "Make a right at the stop sign," she added.

"Yes, ma'am," Harm said then received a slight shove from Mac, as they continued toward Athena's house.

Athena's house Downtown

Harm and Mac pulled up to a small one-story house. Harm presumed it was Athena's. He turned off the ignition and they headed to the front door.

"How are we going to get inside?" Harm asked.

Mac dug under a flower pot next to the door and pulled out a set of keys. Meanwhile, Harm was looking at the door; it almost appeared to be already open. Harm pushed the door open just as Mac was about to put the key in the lock.

"Ok," she said. "We could do it your way."

They entered the house and gasped at the sight they saw. Books had been dumped onto the floor, drapes slashed, and chairs and tables over turned.

"I can't believe someone would do this," Mac said, disgusted as she surveyed the house.

Duh...Duh...duhnnnn!!!!!!!!

AN: Sorry if this chapter was a little short. Hopefully next chapter will be longer. ï