Chapter 7

The address led them to an old ramshackle farmhouse in desperate need of repair. It was apparent no one had live here since Tina's mom had died, but it probably hadn't been taken care of much before then from the looks of it. As Bobby, Jack, and Sue made their way onto the front porch, D made his way around the side of the house searching for anything he could find on the grounds.

Bobby raised his hand to knock on the door only to jump when the door fell inward at an angle like something from a cartoon or comic strip. The doorframe had rotted and weakened from years of neglect.

"Sometimes I forget my own strength," he smirked at his colleagues with cocky tilt of his head. Sue just grinned, shaking her head unbelievably at his arrogance. Jack took the time to roll his eyes at his friend before helping him push the door out of their way, but not before Bobby caught a hint of a smile cross his face.

"Well, at least we can say we didn't break in," Sue retorted comically, raising her hands in mock surrender when Jack and Bobby turned to glare at her, laughter dancing in both men's eyes.

The three entered the house slowly, looking around in disbelief at the torn, tattered condition of the furniture as well as the mess of papers and ceramic figurines scattered across the floor.

"Looks like somebody may have been searching for something in here," Jack pointed out, picking up a sofa cushion at his feet and tossing it onto the sofa beside him. Coughing and waving his hand to clear the billow of dust that emerged from the sofa cushion, "But with all this dust accumulated, that couldn't have been very recent."

"Do you think whoever did this has anything to do with those men from earlier today?" Sue asked, worried for her new friend. Jack saw the concern on Sue's face and he didn't want to contribute to it more. However, he knew he couldn't lie to her.

"It's a possibility. Right now, I'm not ruling anything out," he said, trying to sound convincing. "But if the two are connected, why so much time between the two?"

"He's right, shelia." Bobby placed a comforting hand on her arm causing her to look up at him. "Tina's mum died almost a year ago. Why are they just making a move on the little one if the two were connected?"

Sue didn't look like she fully believed the two men, but she didn't have anything more to add so she just nodded, hoping they'd leave her alone to think. Jack didn't like the tension he saw on her face, but he knew if he persisted she just withdraw more. He hated when she wouldn't talk to him, but he knew she'd seek him out when she was ready. Turning Jack started across the room, looking for anything that might help them find Jordan.

Suddenly, Jack flinched and jumped back as he felt the floor give slightly under his weight. With a quick look of relief toward Bobby, he turned to Sue.

"Maybe you should wait by the car," he told her concerned. "The floors are kind of weak in places. I…"

"If I wanted to just stand around waiting for you all to complete the investigation, I would have stayed back at the office," Sue interrupted him sternly. "I'm a part of this team too and I don't need to be coddled."

Jack was ready to argue when she placed a hand on his forearm. "I need to be here…for Tina," she continued, her eyes pleading and her tone softening. Jack knew he should stick to his guns and order her out to the car, but his resolve melted when he saw the look in her eyes. Glancing at Bobby and seeing the silly smirk on his face, Jack knew he wasn't going to get any help from him.

O-K, he signed with a resolved sigh. CAREFUL-YOU. "Stay close," he ordered aloud. Seeing her nod, he turned away.

"She's got you 'whipped', Sparky, my boy," Bobby joked, his back to Sue so she couldn't see what he was saying.

"Shut up, Bobby," Jack sneered through closed lips, chancing a quick glance in Sue's direction hoping she wouldn't ask what they were saying. Fortunately, she was looking around and didn't see their exchange and he released the breath he didn't know he was holding. Bobby was right, he thought. It's getting harder and harder everyday to tell her NO. Turning back, he started moving around the room, knowing instinctively that she'd follow but subconsciously hoping he didn't make the wrong decision.