Something isn't right

Nicole stood frozen by her desk. Something panged her head. Why wasn't Jess at work yet? It was 10 A.M., far past the time she normally arrived.

"Any sign of her yet?" Antonio asked, walking up behind her.

"No, and I still get the voicemail when I call her cell" Nicole replied frightfully. She couldn't help but think back to the night before. Jess had seemed a little off balance. When confronted, Jess had finally confessed that she felt something just wasn't right.

"Jess, calm down, I'm sure it's just your nerves. This whole case has us all a little jumpy. Go home and take a nice warm bath" Nicole had reassured her.

"Its more than that" Jess had retorted. "It's much more than that. It's not the case at all. Yeah, my visions are little… creepy… but Nick it's not the case, I just feel like something really isn't right. I have to figure this out; I have way too much to lose"

"I have way too much to lose" Nicole replayed that out loud, thinking it had been in her head. She had no clue what Jess had meant by that. She'd known Jess a little over 2 years and thought she was pretty easy to figure out, but later realized that Jess could be just as mysterious as anyone else at times.

"What?" Antonio said.

Nicole snapped back to reality. "Last night before we went home, Jess said that she felt like something was wrong. I told her it was probably the case we were working on, but she said it was something more than that. Then she said she had to figure out whatever it was because she had too much to lose" Nicole told him, turning around and staring in his brown eyes.

"What do you think she meant by that?" Antonio asked.

"I'm not sure. I asked but she wouldn't tell me any more"

"And she didn't have any visions about whatever it was that felt wrong?" Antonio asked.

"None that I know of, I mean, she didn't come and talk to me about any." Nicole said. "I wonder if this has anything to do with our case" she said, puzzled.

"Well whatever it is, I'm sure we'll figure it out sooner or later, right?" Antonio said, standing up. "We gotta get back to work before Pollock comes out"

"What was that agent?" Pollock said. "I believe I heard my name being praised."

"Sir, hi. Yeah, we were just talking about why Jess isn't here" Antonio quickly answered

"Yes, Agent Mastriani. Where is Da Vinci Jr., anyways?"

"No clue sir, we've tried her cell phone but no answer, we keep getting her voicemail" Nicole said. "Sir, I think something's wrong. Last night before we left she said she felt-" She was interrupted.

"Agent Mastriani is a capable, well trained agent. She can take care of herself" Pollock said. "However Billy Madison can't, and he's out there for the grabs. Get back to your case agents, times running out" He commanded.

"But sir-" Nicole said.

"Agents this is the work place of no buts. If you feel the need to but somebody maybe you should try McDonalds or Burger King, perhaps" he retorted, walking back to his cozy office, sitting sternly in his well padded leather chair.

"Antonio, cover for me" Something just isn't right. You and I both know that" She said.

"Nick, what are you going to do" Antonio questioned in a concerned manner. He knew her impulsive, sometimes irresponsible ways, all too well and wasn't about to possibly walk straight into danger.

"I'm going to go find Jess" She said as if it were as simple as making a peanut butter sandwich.

"You know that's dangerous Nick. Walking right into danger like that. If something is wrong, I'm sure we'll be notified of it soon anyways. At least then we'll know more about the situation and we'll be more prepared for whatever it is that's waiting for us" He tried to reason with her.

"Antonio, I walk into danger every morning when I wake up, get dressed and put my badge on and walk through these doors. This is just the easy stuff. Come on, its Jess, how much danger could she possibly get herself into? I just want to make sure she didn't set her apartment on fire or something" Nicole said with a sly smile.

Antonio sighed. He knew there wasn't much he could do to stop her, besides tell Pollock which would cost her, her job, so he nodded. "Just be careful, okay?" He said.

"Careful's my middle name" She said with a wink. She gathered up her things and walked out.