Mike balled up his sandwich wrapper and tossed it into a nearby trash can. He leaned against the fence and scanned the playground again. "What time is it?"

"Just past one," Carolyn replied.

"They're not here," he sighed. He pulled out his cell and called Deakins. "Anything?" He asked the Captain.

"Nothing real. Bradley and Peterson lost the trail after the convenience store they were spotted in and none of the other Amber Alert calls have been concrete," Deakins said.

"We've been watching this park for awhile, asked around. No one's seen him."

"We're working on getting the LUDs on his cell phone, but I don't know what we'll get from it. Depends who he's called."

"So what do you want us to do?" Mike turned as Carolyn's cell rang. He watched her contemplate answering it, then doing so and walking off.

"Come on back. I'll call in the other boys and we can all see what we've got."

"Okay. Hey Capitan...do you know what's going on with Barek?"

"Should I?"

"She's been getting these weird calls all day and she's been really edgy. I just think something's up."

"Weird calls?"

"Yea, like constant calls from someone she doesn't want to talk to," Mike said.

"I'll talk to her. Just get on back here."

Mike hung up and glanced over at his partner. She was standing under a tree, talking calmly on her phone. He kept his eyes on her until she looked up and met his gaze. She nodded and after a moment ended her call and walked over. She gave him a look and he nodded in acknowledgment that he wasn't going to question it.

The ride back to the station was silent. Mike drove. Carolyn sat in deep thought, looking out the window.

When they got back to their desks, Carolyn made a quick call and Mike went over the notes that Bradley had taken from their search. When Carolyn joined them, they all went to Deakins office. They went over the information, trying to find a detail they'd over looked.

"I say we go back to the best friend," Mike said. "What's his name? Vincent? If Ryan does go see his friend, I doubt Vincent will tell us."

"Okay...okay. Logan and Barek go back there. Stress to this kid how important it is we talk to Ryan. Plus we don't have any idea if Ryan or Kelsey is hurt," Deakins said. "Bradley and Peterson, why don't you two go sit at the park some more. Ryan sees that as a safe haven, a place his sister likes to be at." Everyone started to leave Deakins' office, but he called out, "Barek, a moment?" She stopped at the door and glanced at Mike, who wouldn't meet her eyes. She watched him rush out of the office.

Carolyn sat down and looked at Deakins. "Logan talked to you."

"What's going on Carolyn?" Deakins asked gently.

"I can't talk about it," she replied.

"Should we be worried?"

"No. Really. I'm taking care of it."

"Does this have anything to do with what happened before you joined us?" Deakins asked.

"Maybe," she replied.

"Care to fill me in more on that?"

"You know enough."

Deakins nodded. "Okay. I trust you. If you need my help, tell me. Like I promised, I haven't said a word to anyone."

"Thank you," she said.

"Go on, get back to the case," Deakins dismissed her.

Mike had hurried out the door and gone to sit at his desk.

"How's the case?" Eames asked, leaning back in her chair.

"A disaster. We pretty much know what went down, but we can't do anything til we find these kids."

"It hasn't been 24 hours yet, it'll pan out."

"I hope so. I realize this boy is messed up, but he's got his kid sister with him. He killed his dad, he doesn't need to be around the little girl." The conversation was interrupted when Mike got smacked on the shoulder. He looked up and Carolyn was standing over him with her arms crossed and eyes narrowed. "Can I help you?" He asked.

"A word?" She walked off to one of the interview rooms, he reluctantly followed and she shut the door behind them.

"I was worried," he launched into defending himself.

"And I told you there was nothing to worry about. I don't need you running off to the Captain like that."

"Well I don't think you're too clear-headed right now, and your distraction from this case-," his voice was getting louder.

"No," she stopped him. "This has nothing to do with the case. You feel left out and you want to pry into my personal life."

"You know Barek, beyond what you may think, I'm not some jerk who likes to know everyone's business for entertainment! When my partner is getting creepy phone calls, I want to know what's going on. If I need to be worried, I want to know."

"When it comes to the point of you needing to know, I will tell you. Just trust me when I say it's nothing. Okay?" She asked calmly.

He nodded. "Yea, fine. But when this starts to get in the way of us finishing this case, I'm going to butt in." He stalked out of the room. He needed some coffee before they got back on the road.

He stood at the coffee pot, sipping at his cup when a man in an expensive suit walked through the squad room. The man looked around and Mike saw Goren pass the guy and stop. "Can I help you?" Goren asked.

The man nodded. "I'm looking for-," his eyes fell on Barek. "Never mind." He started to walk to the room where Carolyn still stood and Mike stepped in front of him. "Excuse me," the man said.

"Who-" Mike started, but Carolyn popped her head out the door.

"Logan, let him by," she said. Mike stepped aside and let the man pass, but stood guard not far from the door. He watched through the glass windows as the man and Carolyn talked. The conversation got more animated as the two began to argue. The man then stepped closer to Carolyn and started laying into her about something. Mike wanted to butt in, but knew better. Carolyn shook her head and put her hand up to the man's chest and pushed him back a bit. Then she raised her finger and started jabbing it in the air and yelling at the guy. Mike couldn't help but smile, and he wished he could hear what was being said. He also tried to figure out who the guy was. He assumed it was the person who'd been calling all day, but aside from that he had no idea. He watched on as the guy nodded and stepped away from Carolyn. The two then spoke civilized to each other, then shook hands. The man walked out of the room and looked Logan over.

"You the partner?" The guy asked. Mike nodded and the guy walked off. Carolyn walked out of the room.

"Was that the person that's been calling?"

"No. It's someone else." She replied. "Relax. He's on my side...more or less. You ready?"

"Yea...yea I'm ready." He went to get his jacket on.

Carolyn poured herself some coffee to take with her. She closed her eyes briefly and exhaled. She was tired. She'd barely slept the night before and she had a headache behind her eyes that had started the previous morning when this had all started. All the memories were coming back on her, and she didn't want them to. Since starting at Major Case she felt so much better. It was so nice to have no one know, and no one look at her as everyone once had. The only person that knew anything was her Captain and he didn't know much. She squeezed the bridge of her nose. That voice over the phone wasn't anything she thought she'd have to hear again. She thought she was finally away from all of it. But she should have known better. She felt a hand on her arm and she raised her head and opened her eyes. Goren stood beside her and looked down at her. Then he placed a small package of bite-size Oreo's before her and walked away. She smiled. Yea, she liked being at Major Case. She was feeling the comradeship, again, that one is supposed to feel on the job. She picked up the cookies and went to Mike. As they drove to the best friend's house, she opened the cookies and shared them with her partner in hopes of easing the tenseness of the air between them. He smiled and popped one into his mouth.

"Thanks."

"Welcome."