Chapter 6

"What have you found?" Ryland asked as he walked into Homeland Security to see Tom at the computer.

"Lets see, so far I've checked the FBI, CDC, NSA, and even the state records and no record has come up for a Warren Lytell," Tom said.

"Did you check the CIA?"

"Nothing, nada, zilch, zero, nunca…"

"I get it!" Ryland said. "So if his isn't from the government then where did he come from?"

"Not anywhere in law enforcement or criminal justice, at least not in Washington."

"Maybe we can get DNA and have the lab guys run it through CODIS, just in case he's using an alias."

"Or he's a really great con-artist," Tom sighed. "So where can we get DNA from."

"His coffee mug?" Ryland suspected as he looked over at Lytell's desk.

"I'll bag it and run it by the crime lab on my way to the hospital."

"Tom, you're a good agent. But I saw the way you were looking at Dana and trust me, don't get involved with your partner's sister. It will make you life a living hell if you do."

"I have no," Tom began as he took an evidence bag out of his desk. "I have no intention of getting involved with Dana. I'm just trying to be kind…"

FLASHBACK

Tom and Diana head out to the car on their way to the police station to see Orson Bailey. Tom has just called Linda for the umpteenth time and has gotten the machine.

"Linda it's me again. You said we needed to talk, so pick up the phone. Linda, come on. Alright, call me."

"Everything alright?" Diana asked.

"Same old, same old. Call me, don't call me. I wish that she would make up her mind."

"You know I had this boyfriend once and every time…" Diana began.

"Boyfriend?"

"Well don't act so surprised. God! Well the thing about this guy was…" Diana began.

"You can stop."

"I barely got started."

"All I am saying is, you don't have to try and make me feel better," Tom said.

"Well it was more of an attempt at bonding via a shared similar experience," Diana said as she glanced down briefly and tried to open the handle of the door. "Can you open the door?"

"How long did you say you went out with this guy?"

"Nine months."

"Nine months?" Tom asked. Diana nodded. "So you're equating you nine months of dating with my nineteen YEARS of marriage?"

"You're right, forget it," Diana said. "Do you want me to drive?"

"What for?

"I don't know so you can brood?"

"Just get in," Tom ordered as he climbed into the car. Diana taps on the glass indicating that she is still standing. He unlocks the door and lets her in.

END FLASHBACK

"…it's more of an attempt at bonding via a shared similar experience," Tom defended.

"Your son was in a coma for three years Tom, Diana has been in a coma for less than a day."

"That doesn't make it any easier for her family."

"Your right," Ryland said. "But still don't get involved with Dana."

"Alright," Tom said. "I promise not to get involved with Dana.

Tom walked into the hospitals ICU. A ward that he was all too familiar with. He walked down the hall past the nurse's station and into Diana's room.

He was shocked by what he saw. Dana was sitting in the chair by the bed weeping, her face read and distorted. Diana wasn't in the bed. The covers were pulled back, like when the doctors come to take a patient to surgery or a corpse to the morgue.

"Dana what's wrong? Where's Diana," Tom asked.

TBC