A/N: Thank you for the reviews!

Kenny frowned as he slammed the phone down. He'd talked to five different people and all of them told him the same thing.

No one had been to the Kingsley's residence from Parks and Conservation in the last three years.

"Damn," he growled.

"What is it?" Aiden asked as he turned to look at Kenny.

"That was the fifth person I've talked to at the P and C office."

"And?"

"They've all said the same thing. No one has been to the Kingsley's in the last three years."

"Did they tell you who was there three years ago?"

"They did." Kenny sighed and shook his head. "He died last year in a boating accident while on vacation."

Aiden rolled his eyes. "Well there went that lead. If this man that's calling himself Michael wasn't with P and C, then who was he? Maybe the son was mistaken? Maybe the man working around his parent's place really was a handyman."

Kenny shrugged. "I don't know. I do know that the boss lady isn't going to be happy. We're getting nowhere with this case."

Aiden nodded. "I haven't had any luck finding Leon Gregory, either. It's like he disappeared off the face of the earth."

"It doesn't help that she's not telling us everything." Kenny grumbled and jerked his head in the direction of Vera's office. "Where is she anyway?"

"She went to talk to the Kingsley's son again."

"She isn't making sense lately. And she looks like hell."

"Well what would you do if you suddenly found yourself looking at the body of someone that looks like you? From what the family has said, Vera even sounds like Mrs. Kingsley. That's enough to make any one of us look like hell." Aiden huffed. "I'd be worse than she is if I'd found my look alike murdered."

"Yeah, I'd be a bit messed up over it, but I wouldn't keep the truth from all of you. How are we supposed to work this case if we don't know everything?"

"Like she told me, she knows everything."

Kenny rolled his eyes. "And I suppose she also told you she could do this without all of us."

"She did." Aiden nodded. "And, she could. You know it as well as any of us."

"The only reason she works with a team is because a team gets things done faster so the families don't have to wait so long." Kenny finished what he'd heard Vera say several times over the years in her frustration with her team.

"Exactly."

"So what have you and Shep been up to? I've seen you watching the boss."

"While you've been going on about how much the boss looks like the victim and saying things she'd have your head for, we've been trying to get the stubborn woman to let us provide protection."

Kenny frowned. "Just because the press said she looks like the victim?"

"Kenny, the nutter is still out there."

"And he knows Vera isn't the woman he killed. She'll have your head if she catches you following her about."

"She's already caught me and Shep." Aiden rolled his eyes. "You really don't think he'll come after her?"

"No. I don't."

"And if he does? Do you think she can take care of herself?"

Kenny chuckled at that. "You really are new around here. Does Shep think the same way?"

"She thinks Vera needs protection, so I guess so."

"Well, believe me, the bloody woman can take care of herself."

"You've seen her?"

"I've heard the stories."

"But Kenny, this man…" Aiden started and stopped when Kenny laughed.

"Oh please tell me you didn't tell her you think she's too short." Kenny snorted as he laughed harder at the look on Aiden's face. "Oh you are green. It's a wonder you still have your head."

Aiden frowned and had the sudden urge to stick his tongue out like a child. "Well, damn it! There wasn't much struggle from the victims so the man that murdered them must be a brute. And Shep knows just exactly how the couple were found, if she thinks Vera needs protection…" he shrugged.

"Why did Vera let Shep see? Has she said anything?"

"You're asking that with the comments you've been making? And no, Shep hasn't said anything. She's following orders."

Kenny shrugged and turned back to his desk. "Don't you worry about the boss. She isn't joking when she says she can take care of herself. Even if it is with nothing more than her sharp tongue."

VS

"Sorry for bothering you again, but I have a few questions." Vera smiled at John.

"Anything I can do to help."

"Did your parents ever say anything to you about your mother receiving flowers from the P and C man?" she asked then frowned when her mobile rang. "Sorry, pet," she told the man then answered. "Kenny." Listening to what he had to say, she frowned. "Well thanks for that."

"Bad news?"

Vera nodded. "You could say that. Are you sure the man that was working here was from P and C?"

"Yes." John nodded. "I saw his truck. It said Parks and Conservation on the doors."

"The thing is, Pet…P and C said that no one from their office has been at your parents' home. The last time someone was there was three years ago."

John blinked in surprise. "But it wasn't just the truck. That's who Mum and Dad said he told them he was. Why would he help Dad the day he fell if he was just going to kill him?"

"I don't know." Vera tugged at her hair. "I'm struggling, Pet. The neighbors have been of no help. And now our P and C lead is gone. Can you think of anything that might help?"

"You asked if Mum and Dad had said anything about Mum receiving flowers. She didn't say, but I saw her pick up a note that had been left in the garden by the…" he stopped to think what the flowers were.

Vera remembered back to an earlier dream. "Forget-me-nots?"

"Yes. That's what Mum called the flowers. She was upset by whatever she read but I couldn't get her to tell me what it was."

"Did she keep the paper?"

"She put it in her pocket, but I don't know what happened to it after that."

"What was she wearing? Do you remember?" Vera listened as the young man described what his mother had been wearing. "Thank you. Now, do you remember anything else?"

"Just finding Mum crying in Dad's arms one day out in the garden. He was holding her on his lap. I've never seen them like that before. I asked Dad later if Mum was okay and all I got was a mumbled reply. He had tears in his eyes." John's own eyes teared and he looked down at his hands. Looking back up at Vera with tears on his cheeks, he took a breath to calm himself. "I don't understand why anyone would hurt them. I miss me mum."

"Mama's boy?" Vera asked gently.

John nodded. "Both of us were closer to Mum. We loved Dad, but he was gone a lot when we were growing up, and he was of the mind that it was the woman's job to raise the kids."

"Well it seems like your mum did a good job."

"More with me sister."

"Oh now, Pet. I see a good, upstanding young man sitting across from me. I think your mum must have been very proud of you."

"I hope so."

"Ask your grandmother. I bet she could tell you." Vera winked at the young man. "She seems to know a lot about your parents that you and your sister don't."

"I don't want to upset her. She misses Dad."

"I don't believe talking to her grandchildren about their father and mother will upset her. You're all she has left of her son, John. Don't stay away for fear of upsetting her because that will upset her."

John nodded. "That's what Mum would have said."

Vera felt her heart ache for the young man. "I'm sorry, Love. I'll be going now. I need to go see if I can find that note."

"Oh…" John murmured when Vera started to leave.

"Yes?" Vera paused in the door.

"If she gave the note to Dad, and they were worried about it, Dad would have put it in his desk. Probably in the middle drawer under the tray. You have to push down on the lock to get the tray to come up."

"Thank you, Pet." Vera smiled then turned and left, hoping that this time she'd catch a break. Pulling her mobile out, she dialed Aiden. "Meet me at the Kingsley's. We have some searching to do."