Disclaimers see chapter 1.

Again massive thank you to my beta, anmodo. Also thanks to Loozy and EloiseTwo for reviewing.

Chapter 3

Undisclosed location

Monday 1900 – 20 hours missing

"53459, what are the government's responses to a biological attack on New York City?" asked Dropshot.

"What?" asked Danny. Now he was really confused, he thought, what the hell had Raphi got himself into? He knew Raphi ran with the wrong crowd, but bio attacks? No, that wasn't Raphi; Danny just hoped that he was ok.

"You heard what I said," yelled Dropshot as he picked up a knife that was lying on the floor. "What are the government's responses to a biological attack on New York City?"

"I work missing persons, not counterterrorism."

Dropshot lashed out a harsh kick at Danny's chest, causing the chair to smash on the floor. Danny bit back a cry as pain shot through his arms. Dropshot wrapped one hand around Danny's neck while, with his right hand, he ran the knife down Danny's chest causing small droplets of blood to run down his chest as it nicked the skin. "You little shit. You will tell me the responses"

Danny made the mistake of looking into Dropshot's eyes, because of this he was now terrified. The look in his eyes could not be described as human; it was animal. Since this hell had begun, he had never thought that he would welcome Molotov's 'chats', but now that he had met this animal, Danny did. Dropshot continued to punch Danny in the chest and head. As Danny's hands were still bond, there was nothing he could do to defend himself, but he wasn't going to give Dropshot the pleasure of winning this battle. He just refused to lose conscious. Eventually Molotov pulled Dropshot off Danny, "Stop it man, you're going to kill him and what use will he be if he's dead?"

Dropshot turned to look at Molotov. "We wouldn't be in this position if your crew hadn't fucked up. Now we have to clean up and get them off our tails, or Operation Rhino will not succeed." Dropshot turned and kicked Danny in the head rendering him unconscious. He then pulled Danny's chair up and roughly untied his arms. "Molotov you may have done things differently at the KGB, but during my Operations, you will do things my way." Dropshot stood up and crossed the room. After selecting a needle from the table, he walked back towards Danny and Molotov. "This is how you do things my way." With that, he thrust the needle into Danny's arm.

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FBI HQ NY City

Tuesday 0900 – 34 hours missing

The team had worked feverishly throughout the night but to no avail. They had hit wall after wall, dead end after dead end, but none of them could bring themselves to leave the office and go home.

"What about the van? Surely we have something on the van," asked Martin. He was now desperate. Danny had become a good friend. Sure they had teething problems at the beginning, but they had ironed them out.

"No hits on the van. According to the DMV, the van does not exist!" Vivian said as she read the report.

"What! How can it not exist? It was there outside Danny's apartment."

"There are no vans' registered in the USA, in fact the whole of North America with that wheel base." Vivian said as she continued to read the data.

"It could have been driven from South America". .

"Jack we need to talk," Van Doran said as she approached the team. Jack signed. He knew his was going to happen sooner or later; he just hadn't expected it to happen so soon. He rose from his chair and followed Van Doran to her office. "How long has Taylor been missing?"

"We are still trying to establish a timeline," Jack lied.

"Jack- Kate Cole, 26, was reported missing; she is a system analyst at Hypo Technologies. I want your team on it."

"What? We already have a case."

"So, Taylor is officially missing then," Van Doran replied

"No- Yes, yes he is," Jack sighed in defeat

"I have assigned Richard Freedman's team on the case. Pass on all of your information on to him." She looked up at Jack. "Jack, I am really sorry. I am just following protocol."

Jack turned and left what now felt like the smallest room he had ever been in. "Yeah, of course you're sorry…of course you're sorry," Jack replied sarcastically as he walked back towards the team.

Sam looked up. "She's taken us off the case, hasn't she?"

"Rick Freedman's team is now handling it, so let's get all the information together." He looked at the team. "I didn't have a choice, but I will make sure Rick gives us regular updates."

"I guess so. It wasn't like we could work on it for ever." Martin said.

Jack looked around his hand-picked team minus one; it was an honour to work with them everyday. Jack just hoped that he would be working with his complete team again, but they all knew as the hours ticked by, it was less likely they would find Danny alive.

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Undisclosed Location

Tuesday 1500 – 40 hours missing

Danny curled up into the fetal position shivering; he was so cold. He had tried to sit up unsuccessfully. What the hell was wrong with him, he thought. He tried to open his eyes but they felt too heavy. He was just about to slip back into oblivion when the cell was flooded with a harsh white light, quickly followed by a 'white sound'. There was a voice to right of him, but Danny was just too tired to listen. "53459, I advise you not to sleep. You should know shock and sleep can be lethal."

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Downtown New York City

Wednesday 1200 – 61 hours missing

Dropshot looked across at one his goons. "Have you planted the evidence?" he asked as he smiled and took another photo of the target.

"Yes, and placed the fingerprints. It will be perfect. The FBI will turn on one of their own."

"Good. Oh and Curtis, try and fit in," replied Dropshot. He looked like your typical tourist, taking holiday snaps; little did anyone know the ornerier motive behind the photos. He smiled. Yes, Molotov's crew screwed up, but now it would just add to his pleasure. Alvarez and Taylor were innocent victims of his game.

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FBI HQ NY

Wednesday 1600 – 65 hours missing

Rick Freedman ran his hands through his hair. This was undoubtedly the hardest case he had ever had to investigate, made harder by the fact that the missing person was one of them. There were no leads and no witnesses. It was as if Danny Taylor had disappeared into thin air. Rick was open to give everyone a second chance. Taylor had taken his second chance with both hands, but there was only so much time before your past caught up with you. He liked the kid, and he just hoped Taylor's past had not caught up with him. He was so caught up in his own thoughts that he didn't hear Abby Webster, his second in command, approach.

"Rick?"

"Yeah" Rick replied, then he looked at Abby's grim expression. "Oh, god no."

TBC……