I've come to a decision. I began this story in 'the present' and then decided to do a "flashback" to Sam and Jack. The flashbacks became a regular thing and I thought I did a fairly good job of keeping them from being confusing but as this story continues into the eleventh chapter I've decided to put a heading at the beginning of each giving an approxomite time of day. I won't give dates and exact times because I perfer to keep it vague, fitting the imagination and mystery of the story. But I will give day of the week and general time of day or night as the chapters weaving in and out from present to past may become a bit confusing. I'm doing this for my past chapters to so you'll be able to form an overall timeline. Thank you for reading. Lindy-lace

Saturday-Early Evening

"So" Daniel said as they stood on the sidewalk in front of Pete's door.

"You first" Janet suggested.

"I think I just forgot everything I was going to say." Daniel rubbed his forehead.

"So that tenth cup of coffee you insisted on drinking..." Janet had rarely seen him so nervous.

"It'll kick in." Daniel promised.

"Daniel" Janet knew she was being tough on him. She didn't want this job either, but they had no choice. One of them had to do it and it was going to be Daniel.

"Right" Daniel said. Seeming to agree with her unspoken thoughtsmore than whatshe'd said out loud. He squared his shoulders and headed up the steps, taking comfort in the faint clicking of Janets sensible heeled shoes beind him, and knocked.

Pete opened the door. "Hello, Pete Shanahan? I don't know if you'll remember me since we met only once and very briefly but my name's Daniel Jacksoon and I work with Sam" Daniel rambled on like a vacumn cleaner salesman trying to get one foot in the door before he was thrown out.

At the mention of Sam's name Pete was instantly on guard. "I remember. What can I do for you?"

"We haven't been able to locate Sam andwe thought you might have some idea where she is." Daniel inquired. "We're starting to worry"

"I'm sorry." Pete apologized. "Sam and had a dissagreement.We haven't spoken."

"I see" Daniel searched his mind for the most delicate way of putting what he was about to say next. "Were you at her house last night?"

Pete's face was impassive. "Yeah, we had a date. We had an arguement soI left and came back here."

"So Sam was there last night?" Daniel's words were more doubtful than inquisitive.

"Yes" Pete lied.

"Mr.Shanahan" Janet felt the need to intercede in the conversation. "We're looking for Sam because we're worried about her. If there is anything at all you can tell us it might help us find her."

"Please." Daniel urged. "We're her friends we just want to make sure she's safe."

Pete hesitated and sighed before stepping outside, partiallyclosing the door to his house behind him. "Look, Sam never made it last night. I was waiting for her when the phone rang. I thought maybe it was Sam calling to tell me why she was late. That she had to work or the car broke down, something like that."

"But it wasn't" Daniel said in a knowing tone.

"It was a man I didn't know. He told me Sam was in danger. Where to find her and warn her."

Daniel was instantly concerned. "Did you find her?" Daniel asked.

"Yes" Pete admitted."I gaveher the message and left. I have no idea where she's gone."

"What kind of danger is she in?" Janet asked, voicing Daniel's next question.

"Someone's coming for her." Pete told them. "I don't know who" he anticipated thier thoughts. "All he told me was that his name was Barrett, Sam was in danger and 'they' were coming for her. I gave Sam the message and got out. Look Jackson, if there's anything I can do to help Sam let me know. I'll call the office, start a search, whatever I have to do. But otherwise I'm asking you to do me me a favor and please leave me out of this okay?"

"Sure" Daniel said mechanically. "Thanks for your help."

Pete went back inside.

"He knows doesn't he" Janet said after the door had closed.

"Yeah I would say so." Daniel looked at her. "Janet" His eyes and voice conveyed all the thoughts and worries running through his mind.

"What about Agent Barrett?" Janet suggested as a last resort.

Daniel shook his head in frustration. "I just, if I only had some idea what the hell was going on around here... How can I call him when I have no idea what we could be dealing with? We don't know what kind of danger we could be putting any or all of us into. One wrong move and instead of helping Sam and Jack we're risking thier lives. We don't know anything."

"I know" Janet said softly.

Daniel looked at her searchingly. "What are we going to do?"

Janet touched his arm gently. "Let's go".