Part 5.
For disclaimers and all that jazz, see part 1.
AUTHOR'S NOTE: Consider this story as a two-part episode: The first four parts were the first part, "Double, Double..." and now we're beginning the second, "...Toil And Trouble."
PREVIOUSLY ON WITHOUT A TRACE
Two twins, Luke Grillows, a doctor, and Donald Grillows, a lawyer, vanish a day bafore a painful recurrence for them - exactly at the same time. Foul play is clearly involved, and things get more mysterious when one of the suspects supplies a piece of evidence that clearly blames some C. As the time keeps ticking out, it is found out that the Grillows were having problems of their own to add to their yearly distress occasion. After meeting Luke's girlfriend, Calleigh, Danny and Martin theorize that she could have been the one who kidnapped the guys, and Martin points out that 'C' could be Calleigh. Danny begins to wonder the what-if? and tries to find out evidence linking her to the kidnappings, and he knows that time is ticking out. After having left the office, though, he vanishes into thin air himself...
NEW YORK.
NYC FBI MISSING PERSONS DEPARTMENT OFFICE.
SEPTEMBER 12.
08:35 AM.
45 HOURS MISSING.
Vivian arrived at the office and was surprised not to see Danny there. He usually was the first to arrive.
Then Martin and Samantha arrived, bickering a little. To her eyes, they looked like a married couple, because they fit so good together.
The last one to arrive was Jack. He too was surprised not to see Danny anywhere.
"Does anybody know where Danny is?" he asked to his team, receiving three shaking heads for a response.
The phone started ringing at the exact moment Jack finished asking his question, bringing the answer to it.
"Malone... WHAT? ... Are you really sure it's... uh-uhm... we'll take care of it. ... We Can! Ok. Thanks." then he hung up.
"A call for a case?" Sam asked, full with curiousity.
"Yes,... in a way." Jack said, his expression and tone somber. "They found Danny's car, not too far from here. There are signs of struggle... and some blood"
The other three members of the team were scared for their colleague and friend, but also confused, one more than the others.
"Martin?" Jack asked the younger man.
"No... nothing. Nothing I can be sure about until we find out who took him." he said, but silently thought 'Why him, and not me'
"OK. But right now, Sam, Vivian, go to see the car. Martin, we'd better begin with the DOD"
Martin nodded, worried sick about his friend, but with a sheer determination.
He couldn't bring himself to put Danny's pic on the second whiteboard they had to take, though, so Jack did it for him.
"I know, it's never easy." Jack said. "Especially when it's someone you know."
Cue to the whiteboard, where there is a big, beautiful photo of a smiling Danny, and under it written,7A-NY 114354, AGENT DANIEL TAYLOR.
Extreme closeup on the eyes in the photo, then...
cue to the opening credits.
TBC