Martin took a record of the checks and the note as evidence and drove around to clear his head. It is not like he was the only one who had that name, with that first initial.
Deep breath, do your job. He chided himself. He put his worries out if his mind and decided to check with the other homes Janey had lived and see if they received payments as well.
He headed back to the Parkers' first, they told him that Janey's caseworker would bring extra money sometimes, but the caseworker never said why, just that the money should be used for things she needed.
Martin followed up with all the other known places that Janey had lived, sometimes driving to the home, sometimes making calls on his cell phone. It seemed that this mystery money followed her were ever she went, but most the time it was cash not checks, so no one else had any records. It took him some time to run down all the places, and he knew that Jack and the others would be wondering where he was, so he knew he had to get back to the office. He just was not sure how to tell his colleagues about what he would found.
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FBI HQ, Manhattan Nine Hours Missing 4:12 PM
Martin walked into the bullpen to find Danny and Samantha working hard at their desks.
"Wherehave you been?" Danny asked looking up at him.
Martin threw his overcoat on the back of his chair and ignored Danny's question.
"Where's Jack?"
"In his office, why?" Danny answered, confused.
"Thanks," was all Martin said as he headed to Jack's office, not seeing the funny looks Samantha and Danny were giving him.
He rapped lightly on the door; Jack looked up as Martin walked into the room.
"Where the hell have you been? I've been trying to call you," Jack said, annoyed.
"I was following up on a lead," Martin answered simply.
"For two and a half hours?"
Martin sighed as he sat down across from Jack and told him about the money that seemed to be following Janey around.
After listening to Martin's explanation Jack got the feeling that he was holding something back.
"So, what aren't you telling me?" the supervising agent asked.
Martin sighed again, softly, and handed him the records and the note.
Jack looked them over and then looked up sharply at Martin.
"I've called him three times and he hasn't gotten back to me," Martin said quietly.
"And you don't know anything about this?"
"No, nothing," Martin was a little hurt that he even asked.
"Well, let's not go jumping to conclusions; we'll keep this between the two of us, for now."
"I'd appreciate that."
"But you know that if this turned out to be relevant, I'll need to tell the others," Jack warned.
"Yeah, okay."
"Do you think that you can handle this on your own?"
"Of course."
Jack looked at the eager young agent for a moment and sighed. "Don't make me regret it, Martin."
Martin stood and shrugged, "You won't."
"Okay, get on it."
Martin left the office and headed back to the bullpen just his cell phone rang, seeing who it was he decided to take on the balcony; Danny and Sam watched him from inside.
"What is up with him today?" Danny asked, of no one in particular.
"I don't know," Sam, answered as they watched Martin having a heated decision on his cell, walking up and down the balcony.
"Is every thing okay with you two?" Danny asked softly.
Samantha gave him a sharp look.
"Okay, just asking!" he threw his hands up, grinning.
Martin walked back inside with an odd look on his face and headed strait for Jack's office again.
"He doesn't know anything," Martin said simply standing in front of Jack's desk.
Jack just stared at Martin for a long moment, trying to read him, Martin stood fast. Jack knew he was keeping something from him, but believed that if it were important to the case he would not hide it.
"Okay," Jack said finally, rising. "Come on," he summoned walking passed Martin and out towards the bullpen.
"Okay, guys let's talk theories," Jack said, walking up to the small table in the middle of the desks, Martin following. They all sat down. "I got the forensics back…" he paused as he looked over the file in his hand. "All the fingerprints in the room were hers and so was the blood, so no help. So, what do you guys think?"
"Well," Samantha began, "I've talked to the two employees who quit, but I'm still trying to track down the one who was lay off, but I'm thinking that maybe he was doing something besides just coming in late."
"I think she ran away," Martin stated, staring at the notebook of Janey's that he'd found in her room. "Listen to this: 'I don't know who these people think they are, but I don't need their help. I don't need anybody's help!' Sounds to me like she was planning on running away."
"If that true then why was her room torn apart?" Jack inquired.
"She was angry," Martin replied, looking up at his boss.
"Those bars on her window did they look like they'd been loosened with some kind of tool?" Danny asked.
"No," Martin answered shifting his gaze to Danny. "They looked fine until I tried to move them."
"Then maybe she hadn't been planning it, maybe she was just angry like Martin said and she broke the window by accident and found that the bars were loose."
"And then just decided to run? I guess I can see that, but that doesn't really help us," Jack commented. "If she did just run away we have to find out where she might go. She has no family, no friends, so where would she go?"
"A teen shelter maybe," Danny suggested.
"That's a good idea," Jack said. "Danny check it out, Sam keep looking for that other employee, Martin, take a break." Jack stood and headed back to his office.
Martin got up and headed to the break room, annoyed, Sam watched him go and decided to go talk to him, and Danny looked at her, smiling his encouragement.
When Samantha reached the break room Martin was sitting at the table with a cup of coffee in front of him, he was staring at his cup, he had loosened his tie and looked thoroughly harassed.
"Martin?" she said softly, sitting down beside him.
He looked up at her, his blue eyes showing the stress he was obviously feeling, his hair standing on end as if he'd run his hands through it several times.
"Are you okay?" Sam asked, knowing he wasn't.
He shook his head slowly. Sam placed her hand on his arm, he looked up and gave her a weak smile knowing she was trying to make him feel better, though it wasn't working he did appreciate it.
"We've got to find her, Sam."
"We'll find her."
"I know, but…"
"I know, I understand, Martin," she tried to look him in the eye.
He looked up, his gaze locking with hers, she put her other hand on his arm and rubbed gently, he smiled as he took her hand in his. Samantha was suddenly filled the urge to hug him, he looked so sad. Looking behind her towards the doorway first to make sure no one was around, she then leaned over and wrapped her arms around Martin's neck and held him tight. He hugged her back rubbing her back softly as she turned her head to kiss his cheek, he sighed very softly. Samantha rubbed the back of Martin's head gently, he closed his eyes enjoying the affection, then she broke the embrace, he sighed again feeling her absence.
"We should get back to work," Sam said standing up.
"Yeah," he agreed rising also.
"Martin," she laughed slightly.
He looked at her funny.
"You're a mess!" she laughed again as she walked up to him. She fix his tie first and then tried to straiten his hair. He stood quietly letting her fuss over him, a slight grin on his face.
Martin looked up suddenly as Danny came noisily into the room, Sam pulled away from Martin but not before he saw them, Danny, of course, gave them a big grin.
"Hey guys, we've got a lead," Danny told them.
Martin looked at him eagerly.
"A teen shelter?" Sam asked.
"Nah, that didn't pan out. An old foster dad, Janey accused him and hitting and trying to rape her, and get this," the Latin American agent paused.
"What?" Sam and Martin asked together.
"He visited her in the group home last week."
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FBI HQ, Manhattan Ten Hours Missing 5:02 PM
Martin convinced Jack to let him sat in on the interrogation.
"Where were you at six this morning, Mr. Lori?" Jack asked the suspect.
"I was at home in bed!" Mr. Lori replied defensively.
"Can anyone vouch for you?"
"My wife!"
"How about last night?" Jack continued.
"The same, at home, in bed, with my wife! What's this about?"
"It's about the fact that a little girl's gone missing and it just happens that you have good reason to want to get rid of her."
"Hey, I don't even know who you're talking about."
"Janey Doe," Martin spoke up from the corner of the interrogation room. "You remember her?" he asked angrily. "She told her caseworker that you hit her and that you tried to rape her."
"Hey, that kid was crazy, I never touched her!"
"She said you did, she said you tried to rape her," Martin rebuked.
"She is a liar," the man glared at Martin. "Besides for I wanted to rape that brat I would have!"
Jack knew without looking that Martin did not take that well, he stood up just in time to stop Martin from jumping the guy. Jack held Martin back as he tried to get passed him.
"Martin!" Jack led him to the door. "Get!" Jack yelled pushing him out the door.
Martin stormed back to the bullpen, loosing his tie as he walked. When he reached his desk, he threw the file he had been holding letting it fly all over and sat down angrily at his desk, rubbing his face with his hands.
Samantha and Danny had watched the scene and were too shocked to do or say anything.
"Martin!" Jack sounded livid as he walked up to Martin's desk. "What the hell is wrong with you?" he demanded.
"Nothing!" Martin returned just as angry.
"You told me you could handle this!"
"I can!"
"That was not handling it!" Jack yelled then took a breath. "I want you to go home," he said calmer.
"Jack, I-"
"It's not a decision, Martin! Either you go home now or I'll take you off this case! Now which is it?"
"I'll go," Martin said softly.
"Good, get some rest," Jack turned and left the bullpen.
Martin sat quietly rubbing his forehead as Danny walked slowly over to his friend.
"You okay, brother?" he asked softly, sitting down on the edge of his desk.
Martin might very well have snapped at him too if he hadn't said that word: Brother. Martin did not have brothers of his own; Danny was the closest thing he had to one.
Instead of answering, Martin just shook his head. Danny put his hand on Martin's shoulder.
"Hang in there, Little Brother," Danny teased.
Little brother, that made Martin grin. That is what Danny was going for. Sam smiled at the exchange as well.
"Funny," Martin said, still grinning slightly.
"You want to grab a beer or something?"
"No, thanks, I think I'll just go home."
"Okay," Danny patted him on the back before getting up and sending Samantha a look, if anyone could make him feel better it would be her. Danny left the bullpen saying he needed something to eat purposely leaving Sam alone with Martin.
Samantha walked slowly over to Martin's desk and sat down on the same corner Danny had just occupied, he looked up at her.
"Do you want me to come over when I'm done here?" she asked quietly.
He shrugged.
"If you want to be alone, that's okay, too."
"No, I…" he really did not know what he wanted.
"You want me to?" she asked again, when he did not continue.
He just nodded.
"Okay," she smiled slightly. "You better get going."
"Yeah," he stood up, picked up his things and headed out of the bullpen, but stopped and turned around.
"Sam?"
"Yeah," she turned to face him.
"Thanks," he gave her a tiny smile.
"You're welcome," she smiled back.
Martin walked towards the elevator as Danny was walking back in.
"Hey, thanks, man," Martin said without stopping.
"Sure thing, bro," Danny continued walking, too.
Jack watched Martin leave, just to make sure.
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Martin's Apartment, Uptown Manhattan 10:30 PM (Seventeen and a Half Hours Missing)
There was a soft knock at the door and Martin get up to answer it knowing that it was going to be Sam, it was.
"Hey," she greeted him. He had changed his clothes; he was now wearing flannel pajama pants and a red t-shirt.
"Hey," he returned. "Can I help you with that?" He offered, holding a hand out to take one of the bags she was carrying.
"Sure," she handed him one that smelled good. "I brought you something to eat, you hardly ate anything today."
"Thanks," he walked back to his couch and sat down, Sam followed, noticing several empty beer bottles on the coffee table. They both started eating in silence.
After they'd eaten most of the food she brought Martin inquired about the case.
"Did you found out anything new on the case?"
"Martin…" she hesitated.
"What?"
"I don't think we should talk about work, you're supposed to take a break."
He sighed.
Samantha put her half-eaten cheeseburger down and moved closer to him and put her arm around his shoulders.
"You really scared me today, Martin. I hate to see you so angry," she rubbed his head. "I wish you'd talk to me."
"It's all just so confusing right now."
"Do you want to talk about it?"
"No," he slipped his arm around behind her, pulling her closer to him. Sam climbed into his lap just before putting her lips to his and kissing him long and hard, chasing all other thoughts from his mind. She shifted until she was straddling him, never letting her mouth leave his. His hands moved up from her hips until his thumbs were under her blouse rubbing her bare skin, she moaned slightly as he continued up her sides, rubbing tenderly all the while.
Samantha took one last taste of him before moving her mouth to run kisses up his jaw line and then up and down his neck, finally coming to a stop on the tender skin just behind his left ear and lingering there. It was his turn to moan as he tipped his head to the side to grant her better access.
"Martin?" Sam said between kisses.
"Hmm?" he responded, lost in the pleasure of the moment.
"Let's go to bed," she whispered seductively in his ear.
He didn't have to be told twice; he stood up still holding her and carried her to his room.
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Martin's Apartment, Uptown Manhattan 6:37 AM (Twenty-Four Hours and Thirty-Seven Minutes Missing)
Martin woke with a start the next morning and couldn't quite remember the night before, not until he felt her move closer to him. Samantha was sleeping soundly beside him, her blonde head rested on his shoulder; he smiled at the sight of her and placed a kiss on her forehead. He sighed then, remembering the day before, somehow he just had to find that girl.
He didn't know how long he laid there staring at the ceiling lost in thought, he didn't know how many times he sighed in frustration, and he didn't know that Sam was now awake. He didn't feel her kiss his shoulder after he sighed yet again, he didn't noticed her drape her leg over his or her hand rubbing his bare chest. He felt nothing and saw only the missing girl's face in his head. They had to find her. She was so alone in this world and had been for too long, but he could fix that, if they could only find her in time.
"Martin?" Samantha's gentle voice broke his thoughts, he jumped slightly.
He looked down at her, surprised to see her worried eyes looking back at him. Then he felt it, all of it, her leg across him, her hand on his chest, the kisses she was now place on his jaw line and her whole beautiful, naked body pressed tightly against his. Martin wrapped his arm around her and placed his other hand on her thigh that was resting on him.
"Are you okay?" she asked softly.
"I'll be fine."
"You sure?"
"Yeah, Sam, I'll be fine," he repeated, reaching for her hand on his chest and lacing their fingers together and rubbing her thigh with his other hand.
Sam rolled on top of him and kissed him passionately for a moment before his alarm clock started buzzing. They both turned to look at it, seven o'clock, and time to get ready for work.
"Want to take a shower with me?" she asked, grinning.
He smiled back and allowed her to pull him out of bed and into the bathroom. They bathed quickly and then Sam sent Martin out after their clothes, Martin finished dressing first and headed into the kitchen to make some coffee. By time Samantha came out Martin had the coffee made and was sitting on a stool at the counter reading the paper, she grabbed a cup and sat down beside him.
"There an article in here about Janey," he told her.
"Yeah, I know," she sipped her coffee as he gave her a funny look. "Jack said he was going to talk to the Press last night."
"Oh. Good."
"Jack doesn't think that Mr. Lori had anything to do was Janey's disappearance," Samantha stated softly.
Martin turned quickly and gave her a puzzled look.
"We talked to his wife and she said that he was with her all night and that they were both in bed till nine."
"But he went to visit her."
"Yeah, the wife said that it was her and not the husband," Sam held up a hand to keep Martin quiet as he was about to protest. "The group home's records support her…and she was there was with their lawyer, because Janey had admitted that she'd lied about Mr. Lori hitting her and trying to rape her. Not to mention that she's lied about that kind of thing in the past."
Martin sighed as he checked his watch, fifteen till eight. "We'd better get going."
"Yeah, I'll go in ahead of you," she offered.
"Okay," he agreed. She was surprised he didn't put up a fight.
They both stood up and Sam couldn't help it but fix Martin's crooked tie.
"Be in a few minutes?" she asked kissing him.
"Yeah," he kissed back.
Samantha turned and took a few steps just to turn back to him. "I'll see you soon," she blew him a kiss having no idea had wrong she was.
To Be Continued…