The next day Maria was called into her precinct first thing in the morning. Upon arrival, she's sent to Captain Stephen Pollard's office.

"Sergeant Baez reporting as ordered, sir." She was standing at attention in front of his desk.

"I have no idea what is going on, but you are to report to 1PP forthwith. There's a car outside ready to take you. Your work here has been excellent; do you have any idea why you're being summoned?"

"It could be a few different reasons, sir but I'll take care of it and return ASAP."

"I'm afraid that isn't going to happen. You're temporarily transferred to 1PP, some case that has a bug up the commissioner's butt. They need the detectives with the best solve rate and you are tied with the guy who's number one. And he's out on leave right now so you're up. Solve this case as quickly as you can and get back here. Dismissed."

Maria saluted her boss and did an about turn, then exited the office looking for whoever was going to be driving her to her destination. She spotted the commissioner's detail and headed for Jim. He saw Maria coming and opened the door for her then opened the car door so she could enter. They took off with lights and sirens and made record time. She exited the vehicle and took the elevator to the fourteenth floor and stood at Abigail's desk at attention. Abigail looked at her and jumped out of her chair. "Excuse me, sergeant. I was unaware of your promotion. Congratulations, ma'am. And, unless I'm out of line, congratulations on the new arrival. How soon?"

"Thank you, Detective, not quite the halfway point. Do you have any idea why I'm here? My captain said something about a case…"

"I thought he would have told you directly, ma'am."

"First, drop the ma'am. I'm sure you could have stripes if you wanted them. Second, we're not exactly on speaking terms at present. And I don't see that changing any time soon, so I'm bewildered as to why I've been summoned."

"That, I can help you with, if you'll follow me, please?" Abigail walked down the hall and stopped in front of a door. As it was opened, she could hear the low noise of people discussing details about…

Someone saw the ladies enter and called, "'Ten-hut!" Everyone stood and snapped to, surprising Maria. Abigail started walking to the front of the room and motioned for Maria to follow." She stood at the front of the room and began to speak. "Officers, thank you for coming down here today. My name is Detective Abigail Baker, and I will be the coordinator of this operation. The OIC is Sergeant Baez, the former record holder for solved cases three years running. You were all given packets upon arrival this morning. Please open them," she then handed a packet to Maria, "we're going to work on a case that at first seemed like an accident, then was called a murder and now is a kidnapping. Before you try to figure that out, I'd like to introduce you to a Texas Ranger, Major Waylon Gates."

The meeting was obviously starting, and Maria was shown to her chair. She quickly skimmed the information and then listened to the Ranger about how he found the kidnapped woman and his theory about how she ended up in Texas.

Frank's dilemma, the next day

When Danny was admitted to the psych unit, Frank took possession of his cell phone. It now sat on his desk at 1PP, and he wondered what to do with it. Danny had mumbled something about a message he left on his phone but not how to access the message. He asked Jim to get Sid up to his office forthwith. He paced back and forth waiting for Danny's former boss.

"Reporting as ordered, sir, what can I do for you and where is Abigail?"

"Detective Baker is temporarily working on a task force; she'll be back in a bit but will be in and out for the next week or so. I have a need for TARU help but I need someone who can walk me through what needs to be done without them seeing what I'm looking for. Set it up, please. And I needed this yesterday."

"Yes, boss, I'm on it. I know just who to call. It may mean you going down there as I'm not sure they can bring what they need to you."

"Just get it done, Sid, I don't care where or how." Sid left the office and returned to his desk. He called the boss of TARU and explained what he needed as well as the urgency involved. In a matter of moments, a process had been identified and the technician would come to his office with the required equipment. The work would be performed in Frank's private office, and no one would be permitted to enter other than the technician.

Thomas O'Rourke (aka Shadow) was terrified as well as excited to be called to the 'Puzzle Palace' forthwith. He had been a member of TARU for less than a year and the other members of his team were jealous. Tommy packed up everything he needed to crack a cell phone including a few 'special' items of his own design. An RMP had been sent to pick him up and deliver him to the office of Lieutenant Sid Gormley. Tommy had never been sent to a scene or been requested by name and wondered if his past was catching up to him. The officer in the passenger seat opened the back door for Thomas and escorted him inside the building and into an elevator. They walked down a hall and stopped in front of a door that had the lieutenant's name on it. The officer knocked and waited to be told to enter. He opened the door and introduced the technician to the lieutenant. "Sir, just call us and a car will be sent to bring him back to his building." He exited the room and closed the door behind him.

"Sir, my name is Tom, and I was told that there's a cell phone someone needs to access. Where is this?"

"Hi, Tom, you can call me Sid. Come with me and I'll show you the phone. You come highly recommended by a couple of cops I know." Sid and Tom walked out into the hall and walked up a flight of stairs. He removed a key ring from his pocket and walked over to a door that had no markings on it. Sid unlocked the door and ushered Tom inside.

"Who were the cops who recommended me, sir, if I may ask?"

"Do you remember back in high school you got picked up by Jamie and Eddie?"

"Yeah, they're the ones who convinced me to work for the NYPD as a civilian analyst. They helped me get into college and get an internship in TARU where the bosses couldn't wait for me to graduate. I spent every summer working there, learned so much and really love what I do. If you ever see them, please tell them thanks. Now, where's that phone?

Sid opened a desk drawer and pulled the cell phone out. "I'm going to stay here with you. Once you've done your magic and we can access the apps, your job will be almost done. You'll need to reset the phone so one person can open it. Sit wherever you like, Tom."

He sat at the desk and looked at the phone. He opened his bag and pulled out a few items and within moments, the phone was unlocked. Next, he accessed the settings for the phone and requested a number combination that would be used to relock the phone. Sid thought, for a moment, then pulled out his phone and gave him a series of numbers. Tom reset the phone and locked it. He handed the phone to Sid who used the combination to open the phone thereby verifying that he could lock and unlock the phone.

"Is there anything else, sir?" asked Tom.

"Yeah, give me a moment." Sid picked up the phone on the desk. "It's Sid. Please ask the commissioner to come to his private office ASAP. We're ready with the phone." He hung up and turned to Tom. "Now, we wait, it shouldn't be long." Sid moved from the desk as did Tom and waited for Frank.

The door opened and Frank stepped inside. He sat at the desk looking at the phone. "Okay, now what?"

Sid gave him a hint about the new number combination to use and the phone was unlocked. Frank had a few questions for Tom, and he answered them as well as gave him instructions for what he needed to do. "Thank you, and you are?"

"Sir, my name is Thomas O'Rourke but your son Jamie and his partner, Eddie, knew me as Shadow back when I was in high school. They convinced me I should use my talents with electronics and come work for the NYPD. I get paid for doing what I love! I should be thanking you." Tom reached into his bag and pulled out a card. "Sir, if you ever need help with anything electronic just give me a call."

Frank looked at the card and put it into his pocket. "And how long is it going to take you to become the Director of TARU?"

"Well, admin isn't really my thing, but I might consider it in a few years. Things change so fast in my world that we have to work hard to keep up. But I love what I do and how many people can say that and mean it. Like I said, call me anytime. My cell is on the back if you can't get me at my desk."

"I'll pass your message onto my son and his partner, thank you. And thanks for not trying to explain things to me. Now, Sid, get him a ride back to TARU, maybe Jim can take him. Abigail is back for the next hour, and I know how much he loves answering my phone. And lock the door on your way out, please."

Sid and Tom left the office leaving Frank to find the messages Danny had recorded. He listened to the messages three times and knew at least two people needed to hear what he had to say. He picked up his phone and left a message for Abigail. If anyone could arrange this meeting, it was her.