Title: Buried

author: Cindy Ryan

notes and summary: See part one

The thought that kept repeating on a loop in Tim's mind as he searched was that Lucy's apartment had been a crime scene; homicide before she'd even moved in. The small apartment was trashed. Someone had tossed it. Furniture overturned, clothes strewn, contents of kitchen cabinets on the floor. Finally Tim cleared the last room and the last closet and his shoulders slumped. His boot wasn't here; neither was her temporary roommate.

Tim updated Grey and called Shear. They were still searching the area. It was an agonizing ten minutes until a team showed up under Grey's orders to watch the scene until the forensics unit got there. This relieved Tim so he could go to meet Shear. As he reached his truck Tim got an update from Grey that he'd be joining him.

Fifteen minutes later Tim got a first look at Lucy's car. Mark was right there wasn't a scratch on the '77 Datsun. It was at an odd angle in the intersection. The red and blue strobe lights of emergency vehicles were casting an odd hue on the orange paint of the car. Techs and officers were swarming the small car. The trunk and doors were open. Tim inched forward and saw the smashed driver's side window. The blood on the driver's seat and center consol. Tim's stomach twisted as he saw the amount of blood that was soaking into the leather. Anger broiled in Tim as he looked once more at the window. It didn't take a genius to see someone had shot it out. Glass covered the floor of the driver's side. What the hell had she been doing out at this time of night?

"Tim."A familiar voice called.

Tim looked up to see Mark Shear coming towards him ducking under the crime scene tape. The grim expression on his friend's face had Tim steeling himself for bad news.

"Mark."Tim responded meeting him part way. "You have anything?"

"Nothing good."Mark said with a sad shake of his head he motioned towards the other side of the intersection. "Got something to show you."

"Okay."Tim replied through the lump in his throat.

"We found another set of tire prints here."Mark explained shining his flashlight at the pavement. "Along with two sets of drag marks and more blood."

Realization slammed into Tim like a fist.

"Chen wasn't alone."Tim stated solemnly as he crouched down.

"No."Shear agreed quietly. "We're pulling traffic cam video from two blocks up but there are no other cameras in the area. "

"Damn."Tim swore.

"She's your rookie."Mark stated softly. "You trained her; because of that she's got a chance."

"If they left her alive."Tim responded grimly his gaze fixed on the forensic tagged blood stains.

"Who do you think was with her? Boyfriend?"Mark inquired.

"Odds; it's her roommate Jackson West."Tim said as he stood. "I tried calling him all I get is voicemail. He's a rookie too; they were in the academy together."

"West?"Shear repeated with a raised eyebrow. "He related to the IA commander?"

"That's his Dad."Tim confirmed.

"Hell."Shear cursed softly. "Think this could tie back to the old man?"

"IA makes a ton of enemies."Tim replied with a shrug. "Still doesn't explain what they were doing here. Did they find their place trashed and interrupted somebody? Did that person give chase before they could call for help? Doesn't track; both of them are smart they would've called it in. I think the apartment was trashed after this."

"Bradford."Grey called as he walked towards them. "What do we have?"

Tim introduced Mark to his commanding officer and then filled Grey in.

"Damn."Grey said sadly as he looked at the car and the blood on the pavement.

"I agree with Officer Bradford's theory."Shear stated grimly as he gestured to the parked cars along the other side. "If this had been a random hit there'd be more damage. Techs haven't found any bullet holes or broke glass."

'I want more information before I tell an IA commander his son's missing."Grey ordered. "There's a twenty-four hour gas station a block over. They may be too far for cameras but pull the video anyway. Our attackers could've taken that direction."

"On it."Tim said as he started to run back to his truck.

Grey caught up to Tim just as he reached the truck.

"Tim, think back to the last few days with Chen."Grey instructed. "Anything she might have said may be more important now than it was at the time. Your theory about West is sound but we have to consider Lucy may have been a target too."

Tim's grip tightened on the door handle of the driver's side door as he flung it open. He looked back at Grey.

"Yes, Sir."Tim acknowledged as he climbed into the driver's seat and closed the door.

Grey placed a hand on the window sill of the open window.

"We'll find them."Grey promised.

Tim nodded and turned the truck around and made his way to the twenty-four hour gas station. He sent off a silent prayer that the lead they needed would be on that video.

Lucy returned to Jackson. She hadn't found anything except for the locked door they'd been tossed through when they'd arrived. There was nothing else in the room except for an old freezer. It was locked and from the smell hadn't been plugged in for a long time.

"Anything?"Jackson asked as Lucy retook her spot.

"No, but it's too dark to see much. When dawn comes I'll take another look."Lucy said with a reassuring smile.

"Okay."Jackson replied softly.

Lucy looked down and in the dim light she could see her friend's eyes were closed. She checked his vitals and found a strong pulse. Releasing a relieved breath Lucy kept pressure on the wound and tried to get into a comfortable position. They still had a few hours till dawn. If they didn't find a way out then; no one would miss them until roll call at eight. Lucy tried not to listen to the panic and fear that were threatening to surface., She concentrated on Jackson's slightly labored breathing and counting the minutes until dawn.