"Where to?" Monk asked getting behind the wheel.

Lin debated, he wanted to track down the person who kidnapped Mai but he didn't want to leave the hospital. He didn't want to leave her. His mind was conflicted. He wondered what he had done with that spell.

"Do you have the contact for the officer in charge of the case?"

"Yeah," he pulled out his phone and pulled up the number and gave it to Lin.

He put it on speaker and hit the call button, it rang twice and was picked up, "Officer Iyagi"

"Officer this is Lin a friend of Taniyama-san who was kidnapped on the 30th of August."

"Lin-san good to hear from you, are you released from the hospital then?"

"Yes, just this morning."

"I was wondering how you got injured, you seemed ok at the accident scene."

"Just a little anemic. I just got in from England around 18 hours before and hadn't eaten or slept for a couple days in search for Taniyama-san."

"I see. Sadly, I have no leads on the case so far. Most of the evidence had been worn away from where Taniyama was found. Without a plate or any other information, we are stalled."

"Have you looked into the accidents that happened on that curve?" Lin asked.

"Yes, there were several. No injuries reported at any of them. Nothing suspicious enough I could get a warrant for a search of the vehicles."

"I see," Lin hesitated, "are all the vehicles at repair shops?"

"What are you planning?"

"I was just wondering if the repair shop found something…" he paused for effect, "odd and they called you would you be able to look into the vehicle?"

"If blood or something suspicious was found and reported to the police we could look into the vehicle. If it was linked to Taniyama-san we might be able to search their residence but we can't call or look for evidence just because there was an accident in the same vicinity."

"Thank you, officer. Do you know any good repair shops in that area?"

"You don't intend to interfere with an investigation Lin-san?"

"Of course not," Lin spoke smoothly, "with so many accidents in that area I was concerned of other possible spirits that may have moved on to the repair shop a spirit can become attached to objects and places. Car accidents tend to leave behind nasty ghosts. I wasn't sure if there were any places that may need a cleansing."

The officer paused. Lin was subtle. He wasn't fooling anyone but was not treating the officer like an idiot either. Somehow the Officer respected Lin's blatant technique.

"I think there are two in that area. One called Ristu Retail and Repair, well known and does high end work. The other Nachimara Nock and fender, cheap fix it and ship it type place. Nothing much good goes in or out of there if you get my drift."

"I understand, thank you officer."

"I don't want to hear you went and broke and entered any place to find evidence. It would all be inadmissible in court. If you want justice this has to be done right."

"I understand officer. I was thinking of going back to my hotel and taking a nap. Hard to get sleep in a hospital then maybe some real food."

"That is a smart plan. I will let you know if we find anything."

"Thank you, officer." Lin turned off the phone and handed it back to the monk.

"You think there are clues in one of those vehicles." The monk said.

"We should go investigate." John agreed.

"I think I should get some real sleep," Lin stated closing his eyes, "and a shower."

"Now that you mention it you are kind of rank."

"We can't investigate any car repair place. You heard to officer." Lin said calmly eyes still closed. "We can't interfere with any legal investigation."

"But!" Monk cried.

"The most we could hope for is that they will be struck with guilty conscious and call the police with anything suspicious they find. If a kind face reminded them of their need to do good, to report anything suspicious like blood in the trunk of a car accident with no injuries. Then maybe the police can search and find what we need."

"A kind face?" John asked.

"Yes, a cool head that just tries to do good. Not a heated debate or discussion, just a reminder to do good and report if you think something is suspicious."

"Do you think you can do it John?" Monk asked catching Lin's drift.

"Yeah, I think I can." He grinned.

"I think I will go to my hotel. Shower and nap. Maybe I will see you guys back at the hospital before visiting hours are over."


Lin's POV

Lin needed a shower. Badly. He could smell himself as he got out of monk's car and was wondering how the guys could handle it although there were plenty of cases when showers were in short supply. Not only that he could feel the grime and dirt sinking into his skin he could feel the negative energy, illness, and death clinging to him from the hospital. His shiki and meditation cleared most of it but he felt saturated and soiled.

He worried how Mai felt. She had less defenses and longer exposure. He could feel Ayako's wards in the room. He noticed Takigawa reach up and strengthen it almost on habit or instinct. It helped. He was sure the room would have been much more, 'cluttered' with spiritual residue if they hadn't. Maybe he should suggest John bless the room before visiting hours closed for the night. He didn't like the idea of Mai staying there alone tonight but wasn't sure how much pull Matsuzaki-san had. She should be able to sleep in the girl's room for the night, right?

He let the water cleanse his body and meditated to clear his mind and came out of the shower refreshed. He laid across the bed and slept for a few hours waiting for word from the others he sent on a mission. He wanted to hunt down the car and people responsible but knew to stay as far away as possible to let the police investigation bring about justice. Oliver had been under scrutiny for finding his brothers body and although Noll had taken point the officers would notice him if he got involved again. Lin was willing to risk a police investigation but he would rather not wave a red flag at them. He just hoped he had used the right tactic. He thought he had.


Monk and John...

The monk decided to head to Nachimara Nock and fender first, less reputable is where he would go if he was trying to hide something. He figured they would be more likely to turn a blind eye to something suspicious than a well-known reputable place.

Monk waited in the car as John walked into the office. No one seemed to notice his entrance or when he rang the bell. He looked around and noticed noise coming from inside the large garage. He supposed most of their clientele called ahead so they didn't pay too much attention to the office. John wandered out to the garage and saw a couple men banging a dent out of a fender with a sledge and laughing.

"Nailed it," one laughed even though there was a bulge on one side and large scrape down the paint.

"It'll buff right out." The other one agreed.

"Good afternoon gentlemen." John greeted the men who stood surprised by his presence.

"You are not supposed to be back here." One growled.

"I was just passing through. Something drew me in here." He looked at the cars around the garage, ten laid in various states of repair. Some missing a bumper or a mirror, others dented on the side or smashed almost in half. He wandered through not sure what he was looking for. In truth he had no clue what car it might have been that had taken Mai. One drew his attention though. The only one with the trunk popped open.

"Somethings in life need balance." He told the two men who followed him suspicious, "A piece of metal dented in needs dented back out, right?" they nodded. "A debt that is owed needs paid." Again, the men nodded. "If no one gets hurt, what is a little money between friends." He shrugged, his white collar bouncing just above the edges of his coat. "But there are debts that one can't pay with money. Ones that need the scales of a higher authority to balance." He met the bigger man's eyes, "If a car is in an accident that is no business of mine," he looked at the car trunk the stood open, "but if an innocent was hurt. If there is blood on the car it becomes your burden to carry. Are you willing to carry that burden?" he looked down at the smaller one who was still a few inches taller than himself. "Will you carry the burden of blood or let to police handle such a matter." He motioned to the car trunk both men looked inside a saw questionable pool of darkness and hanging from the trunk latch a silver bracelet.

"We know nothing about this." The taller man shook his head backing up.

"I won't cover up any blood. The other man shook his head.

"Call the proper authorities. Maybe it isn't blood?" the priest shrugged all innocence, "but I wouldn't count on it."


Lin

Lin had slept for a few hours, bought a couple extra sets of clothes and headed back to the hospital. He wondered how the monk and priest were doing but figured they would let him know. He'd picked up a few snacks for Mai. He wasn't sure what she was allowed but he knew anything was better than hospital food and green jello. He also picked up an electric kettle and some tea that he knew she had kept at the office. It wasn't just something that Naru enjoyed but, somehow, he knew the girl seemed to meditate when she made tea. It was as calming for her as it was those, she made tea for. It might make her comfortable having some before she slept.

It was only a matter of hours before he was back at the hospital. He wondered if he was being protective or just keeping himself busy and not wanting to interfere with the police. He wanted to be there and find the vehicle, to search it and find the person responsible but he held himself back. Like he'd taught Naru, control your mind, your body. There was also the question of police. The reason he didn't want Naru anywhere near Japan. The police were not happy with him finding Gene's body. Dredging a lake with his own funding and finding his twin's location. There was ample evidence to Noll being in England during Gene's disappearance but very little evidence of foul play until they found Gene's body.

When he approached Mai's hospital room he could hear giggles inside. Mai's giggles were among them but there were two or three other girls. He smiled, Yasuhara had called Mai's high school friends. He took up residence in a chair in the hallway and let the girls relax and enjoy their time together. After a half an hour he heard Mai get quiet, the girls also quieted down and started whispering. A few moments later they silently emerged from her room.

"Lin-san," Michiru greeted him, "you came back to help find Mai?"

The three girls bowed as one, "Thank you!"

"We know she wouldn't be here without you." A girl he didn't recognize told him.

"She's strong but she needs help." Michiru explained. "She goes places we can't help her but you have. Thank you." She bowed again before the group of them left.

Lin waited in the hall before heading into the room. Mai was alone, his bed had been cleaned and remade ready for someone else. He hoped it wouldn't be filled before Mai was released. Lin wondered what had happened to Yasuhara, wondered if he had classes he had to attend and left Mai in the care of his friends. He took up a spot in the corner and reviewed his emails. Madoka had sent 5 more since he checked this morning. Martin had sent one and Naru had sent three. He opened them first.

The first alerted the office that Lin was on vacation and unable to attend to their needs please funnel requests through Miss Mori who would reallocate information as needed. Lin smirked he was sure the boy had really aggravated Madoka with that one.

The second was his approval for an extended leave of Lin and he would take any requests from his team and information regarding cases Lin was attending to. The third was a notice to Martin about a case he was interested in. All were just copied to Lin for information but were nothing he needed to reply to.

While he was reading he listened to the heart monitor as it quickened, Mai slept but it was far from peaceful. He looked over at the girl as she tossed in bed. He would have hoped her friends visit would have had a more positive affect on her sleep but it seems it didn't. He moved closer to the bed and took the girls hand in his and softly rubbed it.

Carefully he rubbed her hand finding pressure points and hoping to relax the girl and give her more sleep. She calmed slightly at his touch and he set her hand aside again and returned to his laptop. It only took a few minutes before her heart rate increases again. From his position he could see her brow crease and her eyes pinch. She turned in her sleep again. Her hands clenched the sheets on her bed, her mouth opened in a silent scream.

Lin stood and shook the girl awake. Her eyes went wide and filled with tears. She grabbed his arm and he set on the bed next to her. Gently he patted her back and waited for her to calm down. It only took a few minutes before she released his arm and settled back down.

"Do you want to talk about it?"

Mai shook her head and settled back onto the bed. He set his laptop aside and moved toward the window where the electric kettle set. He knew his tea wasn't as good as Mai's but he steeped two cups and handed the girl one. She smiled her thanks and blew on it to cool it.

"It wasn't anything important." She mumbled.

Lin nodded his head and took a sip of tea. "There is just a lot of clutter here."

"I'll ask John to bless the room when he gets back. It will help relieve the spiritual clutter that collects in places like this."

"Thanks," she said but he could almost hear her say 'but it won't help.'

"You've tried that before?"

"Mmhmm," Mai confirmed. "I'll bet he blessed the room before I was wheeled in here. Hospitals are hard to cleanse like that. At my apartment it helps but a place with so much transition and open paths it barely effects. The next person wheeled by the door will leave clutter. Within a few hours nurses and doctors will drag enough clutter in here you wouldn't notice the blessing," then she mumbled, "or at least, I won't."

"Matsuzaki-san will get you out of here as soon as she can." Lin told her.

"I know," she sighed, "I'll be patient."

Lin knew Mai was a much better patient than Noll ever was. He would be requesting immediate release and badgering every nurse or doctor who approached. He thought about the barrier already set up and debated on if he could help or if it was something best left alone. She seemed to be better when he was close so he figured his wards and his shiki's affect was actually helping her. He took out a spell paper from his bag and wrote a character for peace on it infusing just a little spiritual power into it and handed it to the girl. She took it and he could see her relax.

"Thank you," she tucked it into a band around her arm hidden under the sleeve of her hospital gown and he knew she'd done this before. How much had she been in the hospital? He wondered. At the thought is fingers itched to see her medical file he had downloaded but never looked at. She curled to her side and tried to drift off to sleep again. He watched her breathing even out again and pulled up her file on his laptop.