Thomas cursed as the truck he was following pulled off on to a dirt road. Thomas pulled over, killing the lights and watching as it drove in to the night. He'd have to give them a few before he tried to follow. After all, how many cars came down this way? Thomas pulled the phone from his pocket and called his boss.

'What is it?' Paddy's voice came through winded, as it usually did these days.

Thomas scratched his head, considering what he said before he said it. Paddy Doyle wasn't the type to mess around with especially when it came to family. 'I was watching Cailin and something strange happened. It gave me the willies.'

'What happened?' Paddy asked, his tone sharp and cutting but Thomas could hear the fear there as well.

'I was waiting for her to finish her last final and walk to her car but she was running late so I went looking for her. She was walking with Russo. Got in his car all calm like.' Thomas said. 'She didn't look forced so I didn't stop her. I know you want me to keep my distance unless absolutely necessary. But Paddy,' Thomas hesitated, 'something was off. So I followed them and now I'm sure of it. We're out in the middle of nowhere.' Paddy was quiet, only the sound of laboured breathing coming through the phone. 'Do ya want me to grab her and get her outta here?' Thomas asked, not sure what his orders were.

'I'm on my way.' Paddy said, his voice thick with emotion, 'send me the location and you keep an eye on her. If he tries anything, you get her out of there. And Thomas, be careful, we don't know enough about this guy.'

'Yeah, yeah,' Thomas said, feeling a sort of fondness for the woman he had spent a decent part of the last few years watching. 'Ya better hurry Paddy, I gotta bad feeling about this.'

'Mmm,' was all Paddy said before hanging up. Thomas sighed, checking to make sure his gun was loaded before turning down the dark dirt road. He'd have to go slow and look for the truck itself since he couldn't follow them directly. He cursed the snow and the darkness for making it hard to see. 'Hang on Cailin,' Thomas said, 'I'm coming for ya.'

It took Thomas longer than he wanted to find the truck parked in front of some crumbling cabin. Thomas shot off a text before checking to make sure his phone was on silent. Thomas parked a ways down the street, tossing the keys on to the front seat in case they needed to make a quick get away. He grabbed his winter jacket, pulling it on over his red shirt. He tugged on his warmest gloves and a wool beanie before setting off back toward the cabin. He edged down the dirt tracks that delineated itself as a driveway, glancing quickly in to the cab of the truck for any sign of Cailin. A phone, shattered in to pieces, sat on the floor of the truck. Thomas cursed under his breath. There was definitely no good reason for a shattered phone. Thomas should know, he was a mob man. Even if Paddy's mob was more civilised than most.

Thomas snuck forward, barely breathing as he searched for a window. He needed to find Cailin and get them out of there. He hugged the front cabin wall, glancing up. Smoke poured from the fire place and where there was smoke, there was usually fire. Thomas just needed to find the light. Every step seemed to echo in his ears, the crunch of snow audible no matter how lightly he tried to step. His heart beat traitorously hard, his breath coming in ragged gasps, puffs of steam billowing from his lungs.

Thomas peaked around the corner. There streaming out over a soggy path was the tell tale light of fire in a window. Thomas creeped around the edge inching forward. He muttered a prayer to the saints before peeking in. Cailin lay on a rough looking cot. Thomas gulped upon seeing her face bruised, a dried cut on her eyebrow. 'Shit,' Thomas said ducking down. He needed to get her out of there. Paddy would kill him if he didn't but how was Thomas supposed to drag an unconscious woman sneakily through the woods with someone pursuing them?!

Thomas pulled his gun from its holster at his waist. He peeked in to the window again, looking for Vince. The cabin was lit dimly by the fire, shadows flickering across the room. The furniture was rough mountain furniture. Thomas saw no sign of Russo. With one hand, Thomas tried the window, pushing up against the frame. It didn't budge in the slightest. Thomas cursed under his breath. Thomas needed to find a door. Thomas crouched, ducking below the window and began inching forward once more. His fingers grazed the cabin wall, searching for any indication of a door. Maybe, if he acted fast and with luck, he could get in and get out before Russo showed up.


'Korsack,' Vince yelled over the din at the Robber as he answered his cell phone without looking. Kiki smiled and shook her head. She always teased him for the old detective's habit.

'Korsack!' Jane's voice came through loud and clear and even more concerning with the same tight strain it always had when the woman was stressed. 'Listen, I need your help!'

'Jane! Isn't this a lovely surprise,' Vince said smiling at Kiki as he slipped from behind the bar and pointed to his office. His wife smiled and waved a dismissive hand. When he had safely gotten out of earshot, he asked, 'what's wrong? Are you okay? Is Maura okay?'

'We're okay but Cailin isn't. She's been kidnapped,' Jane spoke quickly, keeping it short and efficient, just like a case briefing. 'I'm headed to Boston now.'

'Shit,' Vince said. His eyes drifted to the photo of him and Kiki in Hawaii. 'What can I do Jane?'

'You still have your personal gear?' Jane asked, sounding as though she was already regretting asking.

'Of course,' Vince responded, 'you need something?'

'Yeah,' Jane sighed, 'I can't fly with my firearm without wasting time trying to get permission from top brass.'

Vince nodded, sighing as he thought it through, 'what do ya need?'

'Two pistols and any armor you've got,' Jane said sighing.

'Two? Are you planning on storming the compound solo Jane?' Vince asked, worry etched in every wrinkle.

'Nah,' Jane said, 'bringing my partner. Fresh outta the academy.'

'Jesus Jane,' Vince said cursing, 'you're bringing a rookie for an off the books mission?'

'Hey,' Jane said defensively, 'I tried to send her home but she's as stubborn as you are old man. Besides who else would I bring, you're retired and happily married, remember.'

'I might be retired but I'm not useless Janie,' Vince said, the nickname slipping from his lips unnoticed in his own emotions, 'you're family Jane. If you're going out there to stage a rescue, I'll have your back. You know that.'

Jane sighed, soft and apologetic, 'I know. I'm sorry Vince. I just… you just… you deserve more.'

'Hey,' Vince said with a chuckle, 'I got you Jane. That's more than most, okay. When do you land I'll pick you up?'

'Boarding here shortly so maybe two hours?' Jane said, pausing as she listened to an announcement playing through the airport speakers.

'Did you let Frankie know?' Vince asked, his sergeants mind working overtime to fit the pieces together.

'Yeah. He and Nina are working it already. Apparently there was a witness, she saw Cailin get grabbed but she didn't see where. Maura is working it here on the DC side,' Jane sounded tired.

'Wait, did he take her across state borders?' Vince asked feeling confused. The FBI would be able to take over if he had.

'It's complicated but the guys name is Vincent Russo. Maura pissed him off here in DC and he's decided the best way to get even is through Cailin. He called Maura this afternoon from BCU. So we know the who and when, still working on the where. I gotta go Korsack, they're boarding us.'

'Fly safe Jane,' Vince said, 'I'll be here when you get in and we'll figure it all out from there.'

'Thanks Korsack. See ya,' Jane's words were followed with a click and Vince put his phone down. Vince rubbed his temples, willing another solution to come to him. Kiki wasn't going to like what he had to do but Vince would be damned if he would send the woman he considered to be a daughter in to an unknown situation with a rookie. Even if it was a rookie Jane herself had trained. Vince pulled out his wallet and car keys, pocketed his phone and considered what he'd say to Kiki. He figured some amount of the truth was required, she'd spot an outright lie and then he'd be in double trouble.

'Well,' Vince thought, 'in for a penny, in for a pound.' Kiki had shown understanding beyond what he'd expected before. Maybe she'd surprise him this time.

'Hey you,' Kiki said with a smile as she poured a beer from the tap, 'how's Jane?'

Vince smiled back. He'd married the most beautiful woman in the world, 'she's on her way to Boston. I'm picking her up in two hours.'

'Oh?' Kiki asked, passing off the beer before turning to Vince with a concerned look on her face, 'is everything okay?'

'No,' Vince said scratching the back on his neck, 'Maura's little sister Cailin was kidnapped.'

Kiki gasped, 'how awful!'

'Yeah it is. Jane's coming in to work it with Frankie and Nina.' Vince said, still not quite meeting his wife's eyes.

'That's good. I'm sure the FBI will be able to help,' Kiki said her eyes searching her husbands frame.

Vince sighed, deciding to just rip the bandaid off, 'actually she's coming in off the books, with a rookie partner. She asked for my help.'

Kiki's gaze was unreadable, her lips pressed tightly together. After what felt like a lifetime, she finally spoke, 'will you promise to be safe?'

Vince smiled at his wife, the holder of his heart, 'I'm too old to be take any unnecessary risks but you know Jane. She'll go off half cocked if she has so much as a hint of an idea of where Cailin is and I haven't met a rookie yet who could hold Jane Rizzoli back.'

Kiki nodded, her eyes watering, 'I'll handle things here. Just… come home to me?!'

Vince hated the hurt in her voice. He prayed this was the last time he ever had to hurt her like this. That is why he retired, after all. He rounded the bar, pulling his wife in to his arms, holding her close. 'I will,' he whispered in to her hair, placing a kiss on her head. 'Always.'

Kiki pulled away, wiping at her eyes as she did, 'then you better get moving.' She pressed a kiss to his lips, smiling a shaky smile at him. He moved away from her, wanting to offer more than he could, feeling torn between the people he loved and the things they needed of him. He slipped out of the door of The Dirty Robber, holding on to the image of Kiki blowing him a kiss from across the room. He climbed in to his car and took a deep breath, settling back in to his Sergeant Korsack mindset: calm, determined and ready to kick some ass.