Mitch was driving back to his hotel in Odyssey. It had been a long day of shuttling international criminals to high-security prisons several hours away in Springfield. He sighed tiredly, as he took the exit. Before long, he arrived at the Odyssey Hotel. As he entered the lobby, something caught his eye.

He turned and scanned the dark parking lot.

Strange… there was one car he had seen before, but not here. He saw it when he was still about an hour away from Odyssey.

He could tell it was the same car. He recognized the dented fender and the right headlight that was a slightly different color than the left. The driver was looking out into the parking lot with a scowl on his face.

They accidentally locked eyes.

He glowered at him still.

Mitch's stoic expression did not change, as he waited for the other to break eye contact.

Finally, the driver looked away.

Mitch turned away, walking through the automatic sliding doors. He didn't know why he forced himself to stare at the guy until the other broke contact. Maybe just to say; Don't mess with me. You're watching me, but I'm watching you, too. Well, he didn't know that the man was watching him. But he did know the odds of the same car coming from where he was coming and going to the same hotel were slim. Considering what had happened when he was in Chicago, it made sense.

Mitch walked to the elevator, pressed the button, and waited.

Time will tell.

Jay walked down the sidewalk on his way to school. He rolled his eyes and sighed, humming absently.

School was boring. He wished he could skip out today, but he had already exceeded his limit for excuse days.

There were so many other interesting things to do other than solving for x or writing 1,000-word essays on Ernest Hemingway.

He wanted to go and watch that old building, to see if anything else weird was happening there.

He also wanted to see if he could find more clues to what was going on, mostly to prove to Buck and Cooper that he was right.

He checked his watch and saw time allowed about a half-hour before school.

Why not?

He took a detour and passed by J and J Antiques, down a block over, down the dead-end street, and tramped through the woods for about 300 yards before coming to the clearing. There was a road a block over that went around the woods and led to this place, but this way was quicker, and in Jay's opinion, cooler.

He approached the building quietly, took off his backpack, and set it by an aspen tree. Jay quickly ducked into a bush nearest to the building. He peered through the branches and leaves. No cars or people were there, from what he could see.

He jumped out, and ran toward the building, humming the Mission Impossible theme under his breath. He jerked his head from side to side as he got closer, seeing if anyone was coming, then darted around the corner of the building. Aligned himself with the wall, he started tiptoeing down, when something caught Jay's attention.

There was a metal trash can down at the other end of the wall with a couple of cardboard boxes sticking out of it.

He slinked over to it and opened the top, inspecting the inside.

There were a couple of boxes that had been collapsed, he pulled one out and looked at it. There had been a label on it, but it had been torn off. He pulled it out and studied it closer. Nothing. All labels had been removed. Jay quickly pulled out the other box but the result was the same. No labels, but they were torn off. He looked inside the trash can, and saw a scrap of brown paper, matching the cardboard.

He reached down and picked it up. It was torn in half and had a weird-looking symbol. He squinted and flipped it upside down. What was it? It appeared to be some kind of circle, but it was incomplete. There were strange curves on the inside of this circle and they pointed towards each other.

"Why does this look so familiar?" Jay mumbled out loud.

He'd seen it somewhere before, but he couldn't remember exactly where.

Motors rumbled in the distance, and they were growing louder.

Jay snapped to attention, realizing he'd lost track of time, and that the people who were there yesterday were probably coming back. Panicked, he quickly shoved the scrap of paper and the cardboard boxes back into the garbage can.

Things were getting weird around here.

He darted into the woods, crashed through the brush, snatched his backpack, and ran off.

About ten seconds passed, and if Jay had slowed down and gotten four steps closer, he would have noticed that something was hiding in a small crevice in a rock by the large oak tree, behind several shrubs. If he had paused to look, he would have noticed that something was a person. And if he stayed, he would have seen who this person was, and watched them get out and walk down closer to the building.

At school, Jay was having a harder time than usual concentrating on his work. His mind was spinning. He couldn't place where he had seen that symbol, and it was driving him insane. The day passed by more slowly than usual. Science class came as the last class before school was out. It was a relief to see the home stretch of these seemingly never-ending classes.

Biology was taught by Katrina Meltsner. They were doing lab work watching bacteria grow in petri dishes. It was interesting, but mostly because Zoe was his lab partner.

Ah yes, Zoe, with her honey blonde hair and hazel eyes, and cute giggle.

Jay sighed dreamily. She makes fried chicken taste bland. Surely she would understand.

However, he couldn't just go up and ask her, it was a matter of waiting for the right moment.

"Alright class, please take notes on the growth you see happening in dish one, and contrast it with the growth you see in dish two." Mrs. Meltsner walked by each table, observing the students taking notes.

Now seemed like as good a time as any. Once Mrs. Meltsner was out of earshot, he looked at Zoe with his best smoulder, and said in a low voice. "Zoey, you're the one I can come to at times like this."

Zoe looked up from her notes with an impassive expression. "What happened this time, Jay?"

Jay continued his soliloquy. "When all others have fallen away, you are still there. You stand above the rest, like the Empire State building."

"What are you even talking about?"

"I have something that has been driving me absolutely bonkers."

"Oh, is this the 'is expired poison less poisonous or more poisonous' question again?"

"No, not that again. It's actually something far more deep and mysterious than even that was."

Zoe raised an eyebrow and pursed her lips. "Oh yeah?" She said, not sounding altogether convinced.

"Yeah." He leaned in. "So you know that old building not too far away from J and J antiques? The place that is kinda surrounded by some woods and a couple other places that are abandoned?"

"What about it?" She inquired.

"Well I saw some weird things around it."

"Like what?"

"Well, I did a little looking around, -"

Zoe put down her pen and stared at him with shock. "Jay! You were snooping?"

Jay held his hands up. "Not snooping, just doing some extensive investigating that required me to look up close."

She crossed her arms. "Looking up close at something that was not your property."

"Hey, as far as I know, that place is no one's property. It's condemned and no one owns it. Anywho, when I was looking around I saw some boxes in the trash can and I looked at them, but there was nothing helpful, then I -"

Mrs. Meltsner came back around with a box and was putting the petri dishes inside of it.

"That's all for today, class, tomorrow will be our last day for this experiment."

She passed by Jay and Zoe's corner of the table, and placed their dishes into it.

"Yeah but it's so weird, I saw a scrap of paper and it was one of the labels that had been torn off. There was some picture or symbol on it. I know I've seen it before… but I can't place….. where." Jay's sentence lingered as the box was placed beside him.

"That's it." He whispered.

Zoe leaned in, her interest now peaked. "What's it? What was the thing you saw?"

Jay took no heed of her. "THAT'S IT!" he shouted.

At that moment the school bell went off, making her jump.

He bounced out of his seat, grabbed his book and pencil, and raced out the door.

Zoe jumped out of her seat. "WAIT, JAY? WHAT'S IT??." she yelled after him.

Mrs. Meltsner looked thoroughly confused. "What was that all about?"

"I have no idea." she shrugged, "Well, Jay's Jay." She turned and picked up her supplies. "What was he talking about?"

A few minutes later, Zoe ran up to Jay's locker.

"Just what did you think you were doing in there?"

"I just realized where I had seen it before."

"Seen what??" Zoe was growing increasingly agitated.

"You know that symbol on the side of Mrs. Meltsner's box?"

"The biohazard sign? That's used as a warning to tell people if something could be biologically dangerous to someone's health. Why would you have seen it at the old complex?"

"I don't know, but my batman senses are tingling. It's time -" He dramatically reached into his locker and grabbed out a deerstalker cap. "To switch from my alter ego, ruggedly handsome and gentleman extraordinaire, Jay Smouse," He put the hat, which was a little too big for his head, "To brilliant scientist and one of the greatest minds of our time, Sherlock Holmes," he dramatically held up two fingers, " 2.0"

Zoe squinted at him. "Just don't get into any trouble."

Jay casually leaned against the locker. "Tut tut my dear lady, I shan't do any such thing. Don't worry about me, just get ready to write the biggest story of the year when I blow this case wide open."

She didn't look convinced. "Are you really sure there is anything to this?"

"I told you earlier, my Batman senses are tingling! And when they do, they are never wrong."

Zoe put her hands on her hips. "Batman doesn't have spidey senses like that."

"Well, something's tingling, and I'll get to the bottom of this mystery." He winked at her, "Just you wait."

Zoe rolled her eyes. "I've had enough of this. I'm going to miss my meeting with the Odyssey Owl staff." She turned and walked away.

"Just you wait Zoe." Jay looked in the small mirror in his locker, "Just you wait and see." He said, winking at his reflection.

Buck and Cooper walked into the locker room. The room was nearly empty already, because they had stayed late to help put away the gear.

"I think we have a really good team this year." Buck observed.

"Yeah we do. We have several from the senior class this year too."

"Yeah." Buck agreed. He began unstrapping his shoulder pads. "Are you preparing for the test this friday?"

"Yes. I'm feeling pretty confident about it too. Though I've always had a natural grasp of history."

"Same here." Buck walked up to his locker and opened it. "Master Buck Oliver!" A voice shouted from the inside of his locker.

Buck jumped back and yelled. "What in the-"

"Aye, don't get yourself into a panic, m'lad, 'tis just me." said Jay in an indecipherable accent, as he casually walked out of the locker.

"What are you doing, Jay?" asked Cooper with some annoyance. "And how do you still fit into those lockers?"

"I, my good sir, am not Jay, I am the brilliant scientist and one of the greatest minds of our time, Sherlock Holmes, 2.0. And fitting into the rank smelling storage compartment 'twas not an easy feat, let me tell you that."

"Oh really. And what would Sherlock Holmes 2.0 want with us?"

Jay held up one finger. "One thing, Sirs Calhoun and Oliver. That you give me any information you have on the old building."

Buck slammed his locker shut, and crossed his arms. "Are you serious?"

"Quite."

"That again?" Cooper frowned.

"I have come across some clues that are vital to this case, however, I do not have sufficient information yet. I need your help."

"With what?"

"I'm going to investigate this case further, but I need a Watson 2.0. Or two watsons to my 2.0 or…"

"What does that have to do with us?"

"I needeth your assistance for some extended surveillance and reconnaissance."

"What?"

Jay spoke in his normal voice. "Oh c'mon, You know…. Staking out the place."

Buck and Cooper stopped and looked at each other.

"No." They answered at the same time.

"And why not?"

Buck cocked his head. "I can give you at least ten reasons why not."

"And I can give you plenty more after that." Cooper added.

"And have we also mentioned that you don't even know if this is real, or not?"

"Very well, I shall find someone else. But don't come to me when you realize this is one the biggest cases of our time. Because by then, I will have blown it wide open to smithereens."

"Somehow, I highly doubt we will." Cooper remarked.

Jay held up his hand and started walking backward out of the locker room. "Ta ta." he said, switching back to his strange accent. " I shall find myself someone else to afoot the game with."

"Yeah you do that Jay." Buck called after him.

'Sherlock' waltzed out and dramatically shut the door behind him.

They boys put their gear in their lockers.

Cooper smirked, trying to hold back laughter, then started laughing quietly.

Buck looked at him amusedly. "What are you laughing about?"

"I was just thinking: what if Jay's right?!"

They both burst out laughing.

"That would be crazy!"

The twosome exited the room, and went out into the hall of the school.

"Hey, have a good weekend."

"See you at church on sunday."

Jason and Richard walked into Jason's office at J and J Antiques. They had just come back from lunch break.

"I've made some really good progress on recovering the systems, I should have it back in working order by the end of next week."

"That's awesome. Thanks so much."

Richard shrugged. "No problem." His phone dinged. He pulled it out, looked at the screen, and smiled softly. Blair had replied; That sounds really fun! I wish I could make it, but I have an important meeting that night. Sorry. :(

Connie had invited everyone to her house for a game night, and asked Richard if Blair would want to come.

Jason glanced at him knowingly. "Who texted?"

"Blair." Richard answered.

"Oooh, Blair, huh?"

"Yeah."

"She's a nice girl."

"She is, yes." He replied nonchalantly.

"And you got her number?"

"Yes."

Jason leaned against the desk, and half smiled. "Reeeally?"

Richard looked at him sideways. "It's not like that."

"Yeah, not yet."

"And I don't know if anything will come of it."

"Mm-hm" Jason nodded, looking like he didn't quite believe it.

"Yes, really."

Richard looked at the bookshelf, his eyes fell on an old landline phone on the shelf. "Oh wow, I haven't seen one of these in a long time."

"Yeah, I've had it a long time, back when I was living in D.C. and somehow I couldn't bring myself to get rid of it."

"That's really cool, it's -"

RIIINNNGG!!!

Richard's jaw dropped. "It- It's ringing?"

Jason appeared as shocked as he was. "Uhh yeah, It's a really weird phone."

"I guess."

RIIINNNGG!!!

"Um, Richard, I think I hear Jillian calling you downstairs, would you go see what she wants?"

"Why would I-" he paused, "oh I get it."

"Thanks." Jason mouthed the words. "And don't tell Jillian."

RIIINNNGG!!!

"Not a word." Richard put his finger to his lips as he opened the door and exited the office.

Jason picked up the receiver. "H- Hello?"

"Hello Agent Whitaker." A very familiar voice answered.

"Where are you?"

"Outside the exit of your office. On the fire escape."

"I'll be right out."

Jason quickly pulled on a jacket from his coat closet and opened the door to the fire escape. Where a rush of nippy air greeted him. It was abnormally chilly that day, even though it was mid spring.

The place was pretty secluded, it faced the alley, and couldn't be seen from the street.

"Are you out here?" Jason asked in a low voice.

"Yes." A person came out from behind the opened door. She wore a gray hoodie and blue jeans. It was a generic look, but she knew that. That was the whole idea. "I was kind of surprised that you didn't start searching for me."

"I should know better than that by now. I knew that if you wanted to be seen, you would make it happen in your own time. I just had to wait."

"You've never been too good at waiting. But I'm glad you did." She put the hood back and ran her hand through her auburn hair.

Jason smiled. "Hello again, Tasha."

"Hello Jason."

"You called my phone." He noted.

"It was a long shot, but I decided to give it a try. If it didn't work, then I'd find out what your cell number is."

"Well frankly, I forgot that I still had that phone in commission. I was just as taken aback as my friend."

"Is he suspicious?" Tasha inquired.

"Richard? Nah, he's pretty good about these things. I'd rather have him in there than Jillian. But I'll tell you about them later."

"You may not have time."

"Why?"

"Because I'll have to go soon."

"Will you come back?"

"Don't wait around." She smiled, "But you never know. I might show up where and when you least expect it."

Jason frowned. "Are you on the run?"

"No. I'm not." Tasha said, rapidly blinking.

Jason could read what she was blinking in morse code. Yes.

"Alright." He answered nonchalantly. "I still have some questions though."

"And I will try to answer as many as I can, some other time. But for now, I will ask you one question before I go."

"What is that?"

Tasha leaned in and lowered her voice. "Did you receive the package I sent you?"

Jason matched her tone. "Yes. It's in a secure location, and no one but me knows about it, just as you instructed."

Tasha nodded, impressed. "Have you told Whit?"

"No, not yet. Should I?"

"That would be advisable."

"Okay."

"Alright. I need to go." Tasha turned and started down the stairwell.

"Tasha."

"Yes Jason?"

"Be careful." His voice was a near whisper.

Tasha smiled and there was sentiment in her eyes. "Always." She answered.

She disappeared down the flight and Jason turned to go back inside.

Jason hung up his jacket on the coat rack.. "God, help me stay calm about this. You care for her even more than I do, and you know exactly what is going on. I pray that you would protect her and whoever is involved-"

"Mr. Whitaker?" A voice rang from downstairs.

"The appraisers are here Jason!" Jilllian called up to him.

"You hold us all in your hands, God. If there is something more I need to do, let me see it, and know when to act." He took a deep breath and felt a sense of peace come over him. He started down the stairs. "I'm coming." He called down. He walked down the stairs.

Whatever was happening, God was in control.