Hawke followed Rowan back into her apartment. He'd gotten her there after he suggested they return to base and regroup, rethink their strategy since the few hours they'd spent that morning trawling the campus had been unsuccessful. Rowan had acquiesced to the plan quickly enough. Hawke had felt his anger building with every mile and every minute they traversed back across the city. He felt the curl of resentment settle across his shoulders and tense the muscles there every time he thought about Rowan's deception.

'You want some lunch?' Rowan yelled over her shoulder as he closed the front door.

He glanced at the packing boxes with a new understanding and made his way to the kitchenette. She was standing with her back to him reviewing the contents of her small refrigerator.

'I have eggs.' Rowan said. 'I could make us my world famous omelette.'

'How about the truth?' Hawke asked. He propped one shoulder against the doorframe and crossed his arms and legs, blocking the exit.

Rowan straightened and turned to look at him. 'What's that supposed to mean?'

'It means you haven't been straight with me, Rowan.' His tone was edged with residual anger. 'My call with Caitlin? She told me some of it from what they managed to find out; your resignation from GlideAir, the embezzlement? Any of this ringing any bells?' His tone was scathing and her gaze dropped to the floor between their feet before it returned to his defiantly.

'Caitlin's just telling you this because she's jealous…' Rowan insisted.

Hawke flushed partially in remembrance of how close he'd been to accusing Caitlin of the same thing. 'Don't you dare put this on her.' He snapped and stabbed a finger at her. 'Now either I start hearing some truth or I'm out of here.'

Rowan held his gaze for another moment before she whirled to the counter, her back to him.

He sighed. 'Rowan,' he softened his tone, 'what's really going on?'

'I am in trouble.' She insisted.

'I'm listening.'

'I guess you found out that when I was at GlideAir I got involved with a guy called Mack Jones?' Rowan didn't turn around; she found it easier to tell him when she didn't have to look at his accusatory blue eyes.

'I guess you're right.' Hawke confirmed.

Rowan crossed her arms tightly over the thin shirt she wore. 'Mack pursued me from the day I started at GlideAir and I was flattered. He was charming and a little quirky. A real honest kinda guy.' She rubbed her eyes. 'I think he reminded me a little of you.'

Hawke shifted uncomfortably.

She sighed when he didn't say anything. 'Two weeks ago I was waiting for Mack at his apartment but he never showed. I figured I'd gotten stood up but the next day when I went into work the place was filled with the news about how he and Howard Gough had disappeared with ten million dollars.' She turned to face him. His eyes were still on her but she couldn't read the guarded blue gaze; her own green eyes met his. 'I swear I didn't know anything about it.'

Hawke nodded and gestured for her to continue.

'Then last Friday, I received a package from Mack. It was a small black book. It had all kinds of account numbers, access codes, passwords that kind of thing. I figure it details where the embezzled money is.' Rowan rubbed her arms. 'There was a letter. He said that if I'd gotten the package but he wasn't around then he was dead and Howard Gough had killed him. He'd suspected Gough for a while of embezzling and had been investigating him. That night he'd tracked him down and managed to take Gough's book as evidence. He was on his way back to the apartment to meet me when he realised he was being followed. He figured they had discovered the book was missing and who'd taken it. He decided to get rid of the book by posting it to me but by way of his lawyer. He went into a crowded post office, put the package together with an instruction to his lawyer that he was to send this onto me and dropped it in the mail.'

'So anyone who might have deduced what he'd done and been watching your mail would have been confused that first week when nothing showed.'

Rowan nodded. 'I don't know why I didn't go to the police with the book and the letter straight away…' She shoved a hand through her long hair. 'I guess I was in shock; Mack was dead, there was this book and his letter was warning me that whilst I had the book, I was in danger.'

'What did you do?' Hawke asked bluntly. 'Do you have it here?'

'No. I mailed it.' Rowan met his eyes again. 'To you.'

'At Santini Air?'

'Well I didn't have the address for the mountain.' Rowan snapped. She sighed and shoved her hair back out of her face. 'I put in a letter asking you to keep it safe for me. When I arrived yesterday I almost hoped you'd have received it and would know already why I was there.'

'Why didn't you just tell me this yesterday?' Hawke asked perplexed.

Rowan hugged her stomach. 'Some guy caught up with me as I was packing up the apartment on Friday just after I posted the letter to you. He gave me this.' She reached into the back pocket of her jeans and took out a photo. She handed it to Hawke.

It looked like an instant photo. A young blonde girl of about eighteen was sat tied to a chair. She was gagged and looked terrified.

'Is this your sister?'

Rowan nodded and stared at the floor, feeling helplessly guilty. 'I don't know how they got to her.'

'He wants the book in exchange for her.' Hawke said as the pieces fell into place.

'Yeah.' Rowan looked up and swiped at the tears that leaked from the corners of her eyes. 'I told him I'd sent the book out of state. He gave me until the end of the air show tomorrow to get it or he'll kill her.' She looked at him, her eyes shimmering with unshed tears and Hawke's compassion stirred. He straightened and took a couple of steps into the small space to stand next to her. He sighed and pulled her gently into his arms. She leaned into him, sobbing; the tears soaked through his jacket. 'This is just such a mess.' She said. 'I came to the airfield to get the book and ask you to help me get Allie back safely but when I started to tell you what happened I just screwed it all up especially since…'

'What?'

Rowan loosed her hold and took a step back. She swiped at her face and Hawke handed her a piece of kitchen paper. 'It was embarrassing. You're with someone, engaged and my life is just a mess. Again.'

'I don't understand.' Hawke said truthfully. 'Isn't the most important thing here saving your sister?'

'I thought what I'd told you would be enough for you to help me track down where she is and stop him from hurting her.' Rowan sighed. 'And I didn't want to tell you of all people about Mack. Besides Mack and I were discreet…'

'Your relationship is common knowledge, Rowan.' Hawke interrupted. 'No doubt that's how this other guy got to you. And if I had tracked your sister down and blundered in not knowing all the facts, she could have been killed.'

Rowan flinched and whirled away to the tiny window.

Hawke sighed. He picked up the phone and dialled the Lair. 'Caitlin?' He brought her up to date with his conversation with Rowan.

'How is she?' Caitlin asked after he'd finished.

Hawke closed his eyes; it was typical of Caitlin's generous spirit to that she still had the compassion to care how Rowan was holding up even after everything she had omitted to tell them. 'She's OK. But look, forget about Mack Jones and concentrate on Howard Gough and associates.'

'Got it.'

'And go through the post at the airfield. That book should have turned up by now. It's maybe sitting a stack Dom hasn't got round to opening.'

'I'm going to head back to the airfield later so I'll check then.'

'OK.'

'Is there anything else Rowan can tell us? Like the description of the guy who approached her?'

Hawke turned to Rowan and repeated the question.

'A big guy about six foot, a real hard man.'

Hawke relayed the description to Caitlin. 'It sounds like he's the muscle.'

'And if you factor in that Gough has to have at least one other person staying and guarding Allie, we could be looking at three to four people involved.' Caitlin bit her lip. 'I guess bringing the police into this isn't an option.'

Hawke almost smiled. Caitlin was still at heart very much a cop. 'We'll do this ourselves.' He confirmed. 'You might want to stay with Marella tonight though. If these guys tracked down Rowan's sister, they might be able to track that book to us.'

'Actually, I agreed…I kinda…' Caitlin swallowed hard. 'I'm meeting Tom later for some dinner. He's in town just for the night.'

'Tom?' Hawke's eyebrows rose and he scowled.

'Yeah.' Caitlin swallowed the urge to defend herself. 'I'd better get started on these checks. I'll call you later. Take care.' She put the phone down before Hawke could reply.

Hawke stared at the phone in his hand for a moment before he returned it to its usual place.

'Everything OK?' Rowan asked.

'Yeah.' Hawke shoved his hands in his pockets. 'Dom's on his way. We might as well stay here until he arrives.'

Rowan nodded. 'Why don't I make us that omelette?'

'Sure.' Hawke made to move back into the den.

'Hawke?'

He turned back to her.

'I'm sorry I wasn't completely upfront with you, Hawke.'

'We'll save your sister, Rowan, I promise.'

Rowan nodded and he made his way back to the sofa. He rubbed his chin. His fiancée was going out to dinner with her childhood sweetheart and the knowledge burned a gut in his stomach. The worst thing, he realised with a grim amusement, was that he only had himself to blame; he'd set the precedent taking off for Vegas to help Rowan, an ex-lover. In comparison having dinner with a boy Caitlin had once dated in high school was quite tame; he was making too much of it. Hawke sighed and rubbed his hands over his face. He knew Caitlin loved him and he trusted her; the deep-down-in-his-gut kind of trust that had been with them from the moment they'd met; she wouldn't risk their relationship…the way, he realised with sudden clarity, he had.

His stomach clenched on a rush of guilt. He'd messed up, he thought grimly; he'd messed up big time. The realisation and the wondering how he would even begin to make it up to Caitlin had him silent throughout the lunch and when the doorbell rang, Rowan sprang up with a speed that spoke of her relief of having a buffer between them.

'Dom.' Rowan ushered him inside.

Hawke gave the older man a brief hug. 'Hey. Thanks for coming.'

'No problem.' Dom dumped his bag by the chair. 'Has Cait called?'

'We spoke earlier. I'm just waiting on her giving me a call back with some more information on Gough.' Hawke checked his watch. 'Hopefully, sometime soon.'

The phone rang as if in response to his comment.

Hawke snagged the receiver. 'Hi.' He gestured for Dom to pick up the extension.

'Hi.' Caitlin said. 'OK. I managed to dig up quite a bit of information on Gough. I ran a search on his bank accounts and came up with several cheques going to a private security operation called SecOp. They are a two man band, ex-cons supposedly made good.'

'Gough's muscle.' Hawke said.

'Looks like it. Harold Gayling and Tucker Binn.'

'Any leads on where the girl might be being held?' Hawke asked.

'Gough has no property in Las Vegas.' Caitlin said. 'But I ran a check on Gayling, Binn and SecOp. SecOp rents several properties in Vegas; it could be any one of them.' She listed off the details of the buildings and Hawke scribbled them down.

'We can check each building out today.' Hawke said. 'If we can get Allie out, we will.'

'Be careful.' Caitlin said.

'I will. Cait…' He hesitated.

'What?' She prompted.

He sighed; he couldn't say what he wanted to with an audience. 'Just…you be careful too.'

'OK. Bye.'

'Bye.'

Hawke hung up the phone and picked up the list of properties. 'Come on.' He said to Dom. 'It's going to take us the better part of the day to check these out.'

'I'm coming with you.' Rowan insisted.

'No.' Hawke shook his head. 'You should stay here in case they contact you again or in case Caitlin calls with more information.'

'I'm going.'

'Rowan.' Hawke snapped. 'If they see you within a mile of any of these properties, how long do you think your sister's life would be?'

Rowan blanched and staggered into a chair. Dom gave Hawke an admonishing look.

'Look, String's right.' Dom said patting her arm. 'We'll go check these places out and if we find her you'll be the first person we contact.'

Rowan nodded slowly. 'I'm sorry. I just feel…I just want to do something.'

'You'll get your chance.' Hawke promised before he gestured at Dom and the two of them left the apartment.

They spent a few minutes plotting out the various locations on a map and agreeing a strategy of how to tackle the search before they moved out. The first couple of locations were abandoned and they made their way to the third, an office building across town, slightly dispirited.

Dom offered Hawke a slurp of the coffee they'd picked up and Hawke shook his head.

'I'm fine.'

'Huh, could have fooled me.' Dom grumbled.

Hawke shot him a look and came to a halt at a red light. 'Did you see Tom before you left LA?' He asked casually.

'Tom?'

'Yeah. The guy who almost married Caitlin's sister.'

'No.'

'He must have arrived after you left.' Hawke said moving the car forward with the light change. 'Apparently he's taking Caitlin to dinner tonight.'

'Oh.' Dom took a gulp of coffee. 'How'd you feel about that?'

Hawke shrugged. 'I trust her.' He sighed. 'I'm not sure I trust him.' He told Dom about his conversation with Tom after the wedding was cancelled.

'Maybe you're right,' Dom allowed, 'but Caitlin's mad about you, she wouldn't look twice at him now.'

'I've haven't exactly treated her right the last few days.' Hawke said in a rush.

Dom raised a bushy eyebrow at the younger man. 'So you've noticed?'

Hawke flushed. He deserved Dom's censure; hell, he deserved a lot more.

'She'll forgive, String.' Dom assured him. 'She loves you.'

'Yeah.' Hawke took a breath. 'I know.'

'Why have you been acting…' Dom searched for a diplomatic term.

'Like a jerk?' Hawke supplied. He shifted in his seat. 'I've been trying to get my head around the accident.'

'The stunt?' Dom asked surprised.

'She could have died, Dom.' There was a lump in his throat at the very idea and he could feel the fear chilling his gut.

'But she didn't.' Dom said forcefully. 'You have to get past this, String. You can't let a fear of losing her drive you apart.'

'I know that Dom, but…' Hawke pulled the car to a stop and shifted to face the older man.

'No buts.' Dom insisted. 'I've watched you the last few months since the two of you got together and I've never seen you so happy. Don't ruin that because of something that might not even happen.' He gestured. 'Lord knows, that girl seems to have as much of a talent for surviving as you do.'

Hawke almost smiled but sobered. 'I don't think I could survive losing her, not now, Dom.' He confessed quietly.

'Listen, kid, deal with the future when it happens,' Dom advised, 'just enjoy and be thankful for what you have now.'

Hawke patted Dom's arm and turned back round in his seat. He pointed at the building in front of them. 'That's the next one. I'll do a quick check. Keep the motor running.'

'Right.'

Hawke climbed out and made his way to the unmanned reception such as it was. He checked the list of names against the floor plan and headed up the stairs to the SecOp floor. He peered around the door and ducked back at the sound of voices and footsteps. They stopped a little way down the corridor for him and he kept the door ajar to listen to the conversation.

'…we can't hold the kid much longer.' One man said.

'Gough wants her alive, she's alive.' The other one answered. 'You heard him we're not to kill her until he confirms he has the book. Then we can kill them both.'

'Andy and Pete are getting sick of the babysitting duty.'

'It should be over by tomorrow night. That's when Gough told her to bring the book to the air races.'

'Good because…' Their voices disappeared down the corridor.

Hawke did a quick sweep of the corridor and checked out the layout. He hesitated by the door to the SecOp offices. It was locked but the murmur of voices was clearly audible. He considered his options; four against one with Gough's whereabouts still unaccounted for…a plan started to formulate and he hurried back out of the building to the car.

'Well?' demanded Dom when he closed his door.

Hawke nodded. 'It's the right building but the wrong time.' He turned to Dom. 'I have a plan.'

'I was afraid you were going to say that.' Dom said.