As Steve walked into the bike shop he noticed several customers just browsing and one talking to an employee. They were involved in a heated discussion. He overheard the employee say "What Cole does on his own time is/was his business; he can ride where ever he wanted to. It's not my fault."

They notice Steve, the customer promptly left. Steve showed his credentials. "It sounds like you knew Cole."

" Yeah, we worked together, why?"

"I'm trying to find out who killed him."

"Probably some drunk, he came across in the alley."

"Humm,maybe. Why don't you tell me about him? What trails did he ride mostly and while we're at it 'what isn't your fault, Chris." Getting the name from his name tag.

"Cole was a dire hard trail rider, he'd ridden probably most of the trails around here. The one leading up Franklin Canyon was one of his favorite' guy that just left claims Cole helped him after he ran off the trail, but after his backpack was missing and he thinks Cole took it. It's not my fault he lost his backpack or if Cole even took it. Which I doubt, Cole wasn't like that."

"What is his name?"

" He said he name is Eddie, but he doesn't shop here, so I don't know his last name or if that's his real name."

"What else can you tell me about Cole?"

"He was usually a relaxed easy going guy, but lately he seemed bothered. He never said what was bothering him, just stuff."

Steve thanked him, gave him his card and left. As he walked to his pick up he was grabbed, knocked on the head, and shoved into a car that sped off. When he awoke several miles down the rode his hands had been tied. There was a driver and someone seated next to him in the back seat, with a ski mask and a gun pointed at him. He smelt pine and sweat.

"Now listen, if you weren't a cop you'd be dead, but you can help us. Close the Cole case as no leads and unsolved. Just so you know we know where your Dad and girlfriend live."

"Don't go near them," Steve snarled.

This earned him a pistol whip across the face. He felt his cheek start to bleed. "I'll do the talking, you listen." Close the case and forget about it. The car pulled to the side of the rode on a remote dirt road. "Don't worry, we know there will be mountain bikers here soon, there always are." He hit Steve in the head again and as Steve fell to the ground punched him the ribs.

Steve swam toward consciousness as he heard voices around him.

"He's hurt, ride to where you can get a signal and call for help." Someone was saying.

Steve moaned and started to sit up, someone pushed him back down, "You're hurt don't try to sit up." Steve asked them to untie him. He slowly got out his ID.

"Oh, man who did this to a cop?"

"Help me up I need to get back."

"Just wait help is on the way."

A few minutes later a pick up drove up. "I had to go to the parking lot to get a signal and figured I'd just drive up, we can get him to the hospital."

Amanda closed her phone and went in search of Mark, finding him in the doctor's lounge. "Have you heard from Steve? I keep calling and he doesn't answer, I was going to invite both of you to dinner tonight?"

"I haven't heard from him, isn't he working on a case?"

"Yes, he was following up on a lead, but I didn't think it would take so long, I'm a little worried."

"Let's go see if Jesse has heard from him."

As they walked into the emergency room entrance in came Steve being supported by two others. They both yelled, "Steve" and rushed to help him before he collapsed into their arms.

Mark yelled for stretcher.

TBC