The Following:

Peace, Love, and Happiness

Episode 13:

Weak and Powerless

Mike was speechless. He wanted to ask her so many questions, but he was tongue tied. This was unlike him, since he was the talkative type. He always spoke his mind, regardless of the situation. Sometimes it led him to trouble, but that was rare.

Recently though it seemed to get him into trouble. A recent example was how he openly told Jeffrey that he thought it was better to go hunting and find Amable, than stay in headquarters and constantly going over evidence. He told him he was sick of coming in second to the bad guys. Being a loser all the time was not worth a good conscience.

It wasn't the first time he tried take the lead in the case. Before Jeffrey, there was Gina and she wouldn't hear of it. She told him, just like Jeffrey had said, there are rules set up for us to abide. If we abandon them, then is makes us no different than them. As much as he hated to hear that, he knew it was the truth. There was a difference between him and the others. The good guys had a conscience, while the others, didn't seem to. If they did, it was majorly flawed. Yet, even with the no, he would still occasionally ask them why follow the rules so strictly, when it often led to death. They told him that it would be inhumane and too risky to do so.

Max took both his hands into hers. "We have to tell Ryan." She said seriously. "He needs to know."

Mark sighed. "I know," He said aware that they had been pushing it off for far too long. "Should we flip a coin?"

"Flip a coin?" Max asked confused.

"I call heads," He said with a childlike smile. "Loser has to tell Ryan about relationship and the baby."

"I don't know if I am pregnant yet," Max told him. She squeezed his hands affectionately. "So it is too early to tell him about that. " She stepped closer to him. "But we need to tell him about the both of us."

Mike sighed again. "I know and I have been dreading it," He said, "I am not sure how to tell him and how he will take it."

"He will have to understand," Max simply said. "We are both adults here." She paused for a few moments looking deep into his emotional eyes. "But we will have to do it together. No flipping any coins." She added in with a smile.

Mike gave her a quick kiss. "I just hope he doesn't kick my ass," He said with a wink.

"Don't worry about that," Max said letting go of him. She approached the window and peered outside. "Ryan won't do anything and we both know that."

Mike stepped up beside her. "I know that," He said glancing at her briefly before looking out toward the agents out there. "Speaking of which, why isn't he here?"

"I don't know," Max shrugged. "Called him, but he didn't answer." She looked at him. "He could be with Carrie now."

"Yeah he probably is," He said agreeing with her. He stifled a yawn.

"I find it strange how their relationship has enveloped," Max said with a small shrug.

"Yeah I know," Mike said with a small chuckle. "First he sleeps with her and she uses him for her own benefit. Then she comes back into his life when he saved her. From then on she sees him in a different way." He laughed. "Sounds like a crappy episode of Days of Our of Lives."

Max pointed her index finger at him. "Hey I used to watch that show growing up," She warned him with a slight tease."

"For real?" Mike asked surprised. "I had no idea."

"Yeah," She said with a small nod. "I used to watch it every Friday."

Mike looked back outside. The agents began to leave, now that they had finished their work. "Do you trust her?" He asked.

"Carrie?" Max gave him a strange look. "I'll be honest I am not sure about her." She shrugged her shoulders. "Think about it. From the get go she wanted to use him, just for a story." She gave him an unsure look. "I want Ryan to be happy. I really do. But he does have questionable choice in women."

"I second that," Mike said turning away from the window.

"By the way," Max taking a step toward him. "What was your punishment in the end?"

"Who says I got punished?" Mike asked giving her a twisted smile.

"Oh please," Max rolled her eyes. "I saw the look in your eyes when Jeffrey walked away from you. So what happened in the end?"

Mike sighed and ran a hand through his hair. "I have been suspended," He said just as Jeffrey approached. He eyed him not in the mood to deal with him.

"Mike. Max," He said with a nod. "Mike I was going to tell you this alone, but now that Max knows about your suspension and with your relationship with her." He paused and eyed Max who was looking at him curiously. "Everything I am about to tell you is off the records." He gave the both of them a serious look. "Okay?"

Both of them nodded, but didn't say anything.

"I feel that the tide has turned and things need to change around here," He said noting their curious looks. He ignored them. "Mike, on the record you are suspended, but off the record you are still on the case." He took a step toward them. "We need everybody on this case. It has to end. So just like the Ryan has been working on the case, you are now Mike." He took another step toward them. "Welcome to the outsiders club."

Annabelle opened the fridge and took out a beer. She opened it and tossed the cap in the garbage. She took a long drink from it and made her way to the den where she found Amable with a glass of scotch. He was staring at the window with a faraway look, deep in thought.

He turned to her when she approached and smiled. She sat next to him on the couch and took a drink of beer. "I owe you an apology dad," She said emotionally. "My outburst earlier was uncalled for."

"It's okay," He said with a caring smile. He felt slightly buzzed. "We have all been through so much lately. It is no wonder that both of us our on edge." He looked at his nearly empty glass noting that this was his relief.

"Thanks," She said with a smile of relief. "But that really doesn't explain my behavior." She scooted closer to him. "From the way beginning all you have done is cared for us and I haven't always seen that."

"Thanks again," Amable said with a smile. "But don't worry. Water under the bridge." He finished the remainder of the shot and stood up on slightly shaky legs. He sighed loudly and looked out the window again. "Molly has Jacob and Ashley. It is no secret." He made a fist and held it tightly trying to keep his emotion in check. "So we can't abandon our family and I know that you know that."

"That bitch," She cursed her even though she knew that Molly had them.

"God knows what she is doing to them," Amable said turning toward Annabelle. He gave her a pained look. "She is and has always been an animal. So we need to put that animal down."

Annabelle took a step toward him. "What are you going to do?" She asked.

Amable walked up to the minibar and poured himself another shot. "I had the liberty of calling an old friend," He said looking at her determined. "He should be here within the hour."

"An old friend?" She asked giving him a curious look. "Who might that be?"

Amable took a drink and then began to tell her about his friend while they waited. His name was Frank McMann and they met in his first year at college. Frank was a local pot dealer back then and was constantly trying to get Amable to buy. He never did, but over the years, Frank's pot sales weakened until he was forced to look for other ways to make money.

Frank had a knack of getting out of any situation, regardless of what it was or how perilous it was. His life seemed to always come in second, yet never seemed to get close to death. He never got sick and slept very little. His energy level was through the roof even with the lack of sleep.

Over the years, people paid him to do menial jobs, most dealing with his old customers who owed money. Soon his jobs grew more perilous and worth more money. He had the knack now of killing people and making it look like an accident or if he couldn't, pinning it on someone else.

"He sounds like your type of person," Annabelle said to him when he finished telling her about him.

At that moment, Amable saw a car drive up to the house. He saw Frank step out and approach the front porch. He left the den and made his way to the front door with Annabelle following closely behind. "Frank my friend," Amable said as he opened the door. "It has been too long."

"Yes it has," Frank said with a smile. He stepped into the house and gave Amable a firm handshake. He eyed Annabelle briefly with intense brown eyes. They seemed to penetrate her, causing her to shiver. "And this must be Annabelle." He took a step toward and put out his hand. "You really have grown up."

"Yeah," Annabelle said hesitantly as she shook his hand. She eyed him suspiciously.

He was tall, over six feet and thin, yet muscular looking. He had short hair and a trimmed beard. He was wearing army pants and a white t-shirt. Covering that, he wore a leather vest. There was a large tattoo of an alligator with its mouth wide open menacingly on one arm and the other arm had something written in Japanese. On both of his eyebrows were piercings and one on his nose.

Frank let go of her hand and turned to Amable. "So I can't imagine you just called me here for a friendly visit," He said with a small smile. He eyed the glass in his hand. "But I definitely can use one of those."

"Come my friend," Amable motioned for him to the den. He poured him a double shot of bourbon and handed him the glass. "No this is not just a friendly visit." He watched him take a long drink. "I know you heard about what happened with recently with Molly."

"Yes of course I have," Frank said giving him a sympathetic look. "I am sorry."

"Thanks," Amable said setting his empty glass by the minibar. He turned to Frank who was standing a few feet away. Annabelle was sitting on the couch, watching the both of them curiously. "I actually need your help." He took a step toward him. "Molly's attack on me proved that she will do whatever it takes to be in the spotlight."

"Well that is Molly's weakness," Frank said with a slight chuckle.

"Exactly," Amable continued, "I need to know where she is residing now." He took another step toward him. "It can't be too far, since she did attack my family."

"What makes you think I know anything about her?" He asked with a raised eyebrow. He drained the rest of the scotch and then set the glass by the minibar.

Amable laughed. "Come on Frank," He said shaking his head. "I know you too well and know that you don't play for one team."

Frank gave him a wicked smile. "You are making me sound like a dirty player?" He asked with a laugh.

"Of course you are a dirty player," Amable pointed out. "Wherever there is money, you can be found." He took another step toward him. "And whoever pays you the most, well you do whatever they want, no matter what the consequences may be."

Frank continued smiling at him. He licked his lips and then asked. "Well since the topic of money came up. How much are you offering?"

"How does ten-k large sound?" Amable asked with hope, even though he knew that Frank would take the money.

Frank thought about it for only a moment. "Sounds like a good deal on both sides," He said happy to do business. He watched Amable reach into his pocket and pull out an envelope. He tossed it to him. He gave it a quick peek and then placed it in his pocket. "So you want to know where Molly is now." He took a step toward him. "Both of us know Molly is a girl of routine. She has three houses that she pretends she stays at."

Amable saw Annabelle looking confused. He as sort of confused as well. He did have an idea what he was talking about. "You mean a decoy?" He asked.

"Precisely," Frank pointed out wide eyed. It looked as if his eyes would pop right out of its sockets. "In those three houses, she has fake families that she pays for all their needs, but at one cost. If they are caught, they take the fall. Those families, look and act similar to Molly's really family." He paused and glanced at Annabelle. He winked playfully at her and then looked at Amable. "The fourth house is where she really stays at."

Amable crossed his arms over his chest. "And where might that house be?" He asked wondering where he was getting this information.

"She currently lives in Elizabeth, New Jersey," Frank said with a proud smile. "There is a small street off the main highway that leads to another, almost hidden road. That road leads to her house. It is hard to miss." He reached into his pocket and pulled out a pen and paper. "Here is her address." He scribbled it down and then handed it to him.

"Is this for real?" Amable asked seriously. He took a step toward him.

Frank pretended to be hurt. "How could you ask me that?" He asked his ego kicking in. "We have known each other for so long now." He took a step toward him. "Plus you paid me and I am not a liar."

"No you are not," Amable said pocketing the paper. He pulled out a gun that he had hidden under his shirt and pointed it at Frank, who grew wide eyed. "But you are a conniving good for nothing cheat." He shot him in the head, blood squirting out of the wound on the ceiling, wall, and carpet.

"Damn," Annabelle cursed looking at Frank's body with surprise.

"I have been wanting to do that for a long time," Amable said lowering the gun. He looked at Frank who was staring wide eyed at the ceiling. "No loose ends." He took a step toward him and sighed. "Guess it is time to change the carpet." He eyed the blood emotionlessly.

Ryan sat with Gina in his library sipping coffee. In front of them were files of all the suspects they were looking for, but just like before, they had no leads. All these people had one thing in common. If they wanted to be found, they would make themselves found. Since the search was so hard so far, it was obvious that they wanted to remain hidden.

The attack on Amable proved one thing so far. Molly was more dangerous than he had thought, even after she murdered her own brother just to get his attention. Now it seemed she was the powerhouse. Yet, Amable, even though he had lost was not to be counted out. An animal could be most dangerous when it is wounded.

Ryan took a drink off coffee, enjoying its taste. This time he made hazelnut. He was in the mood for it and Gina didn't object. She was twice the coffee drinker he was, so it didn't really matter what kind she was drinking. Although it did have to taste good.

"I don't know how much more of this I can take," Gina said desperately as she pushed her chair away from the table. "All this," She pointed to the open files in front of her. "It is pointless." She noticed he was giving her an amused look. "What?" She asked slightly annoyed.

"I find it funny hearing that come from you," He said with a small smile. He pushed himself away from the table as well.

"I am tired of this Ryan," She said with a small shrug. "I am bored just sitting out here doing nothing, while we keep on loosing." She paused and sighed unhappily. "Did you know that I knew Agent Desmond?"

"No I didn't," Ryan said.

"He and I were quite close over the years," She said with a pained expression. "He actually set me and my ex up." She shook her head and chuckled. "Little did I know that she would be working for Joe."

"I wonder if he knew that all the whole time." He suggested.

"What are you saying?" Gina asked confused. "That Desmond was dirty?"

"Maybe he was," Ryan continued to suggest. "Think about it. Perhaps he purposely set you and your ex up knowing that she could get close to the FBI."

"And she did," Gina bitterly said. "Knowing the extremists that follow Joe and that they would clearly die for him." She paused and threw up her hands. "I guess it all makes sense."

"Yeah," Ryan agreed.

"It sucks," Gina shook her head. "But oh well." She reached for her coffee and took a drink. "She was the first real relationship I had since I first came out." She looked at him emotionally. "Sucks that it was a sham relationship in the end."

"I can relate," Ryan said slightly amused. "Lily? Molly?" He chuckled. "I have had some poor taste in women in the past."

"Yes you have," Gina told him with a slight tease. "But it seems that Carrie is a keeper." She paused and grew serious. "My dad parents weren't too keen of the idea when I first came out."

"I can imagine," Ryan said.

"Both of my parents were very old school," She said looking at him. He had such intense, yet caring eyes which made her feel comfortable enough to tell him this. "I couldn't play with cars growing up. Or sports for that matter. Not that I was a fan of either. But they always bought me dolls, never anything else." She forced a laugh. "At first I loved getting them for every birthday. For ever celebration. But over time, I had so many that I slowly gave away the ones that I didn't want." She paused and set her coffee on the table. "When I first hit puberty and began to realize I was attracted to women, obviously I kept it secret. But while all my friends were bring home their boyfriends, I was the one who didn't. That is when they began to notice. So my mom would constantly bring up boys." She forced another laugh. "Imagine their disappointment when I told them I liked girls."

"I can imagine," Ryan continued to say. He was slightly surprised that she was opening up to him.

"But over time they began to understand that I am who I am and there is no changing it," She said with a sigh. She forced a smile. "Oh well what can you do? I know that there will be another woman who will come and sweep me off my feet. Until then," She paused again and shrugged her shoulders. "We have both made pretty crappy decisions with the people we fall in love with. But I can personally vouch for Carrie. She is truly a special person."

Ryan was smiling when she said that. "Yeah she is," He said happily, "I really like her."

"She is just as crazy about you," Gina said, "As you are about her." She noticed him giving her a curious look. "Besides women's intuition." She smiled. "Everyone can see it."

"I didn't think we were that obvious," Ryan said with a chuckle.

"You were," Gina said her smiling widening. "But it wasn't as obvious as Mike and Max."

Ryan wasn't sure if he heard her currently. "Mike and Max?" He asked giving her a strange look.

"Wait, you didn't know?" She asked wondering if she had just made a mistake. She only mentioned it, because she thought he knew.

Ryan didn't respond to her. He stood up and ran a hand through his thin hair. He had a faraway look in his eyes and an intense expression on his face. He wasn't sure what to think about it. Was he mad? Annoyed? He didn't know. They were both old enough to make their own decisions, he just didn't think that they were compatible.

He looked at Gina who was watching him intently. He gave her a fake smile as he sat down to resume his work, but he couldn't concentrate. For some reason, finding out about their relationship bothered and he didn't know why. It shouldn't. He shouldn't care. But he did and was feeling uncomfortable about it.

Scott stepped into the hospital and showed his badge to two Agents who approached. Even though they knew who he was, it was still a safety precaution. Security was tripled ever since Luke escaped the hospital a while back. There was a vow that nothing like that would ever happen and so far it didn't.

He made his way to the elevator, security present with him the entire time. When he reached the proper floor, he thanked the agent and then made his way to Lily's room. She smiled at him warmly as he entered.

"I didn't think you would be back so soon," She said excited to see him.

He eyed the tray of food on the small table beside her. "Yeah I didn't think I would be either," He said with a small shrug. He placed both his hands in his pockets and took a step toward her.

Lily noticed him glancing at her food. "This place really needs to get a better cafeteria." She chuckled and looked at Scott. "I am so sick of apple sauce and watery jello."

Scott laughed and eyed the tray of food again. There was a half-eaten dried out looking chicken salad sandwich. An empty container of BBQ pringles and a full bowl of watermelon flavored jello. He could see what she was saying. It looked worse than public school lunch.

"Do you watch the show Chopped?" Scott asked.

Lily gave him a weird look. "Chopped?" She asked him confused. "I was actually watching it last night." She pushed a strand of her away from her face. "Why do you ask?"

"Well I saw the episode last night with my wife," He said clasping his hands together. "The Chef Robert Dubreau, who lost in the final round in last week's episode, I was thinking of hiring him just to cook for you."

This made Lily laugh loudly. She reached for her cup of water that was beside the tray of half eaten food. She took a long drink and then returned it to its spot. She looked at Scott amused.

"Are you for real?" She asked knowing that he was kidding.

"No," Scott seriously said. "But you should know that there is nothing you can do about that." He took a step toward her. "And you already know that."

"Of course," She said with a faint smile. "I know that I will be stuck here for some reason." She gave him a questioning look. "Why is that? My wounds have healed."

"Because you are you," Scott simply said.

"Oh right," Lily said with an exasperated sigh. "I am Lily Grey. The infamous psychopath." She laugh loudly. "Anyways, do you remember what we spoke about last time? Our deal?"

"Yes I have," Scott simply responded.

"And?" She asked desperately.

Scott sighed loudly. "I am sorry to tell you that he is dead," He said taking a step away from her.

Lily's eyes grew tearful. She swallowed loudly and shook her head. "No," She said trying to hold back a cry. "No I won't believe it." She began to cry in her hands after failing to hold back. After a few moments she stopped crying. "What happened?" She asked wiping away the tears.

Scott knew that since he was dead and she was not going anywhere, there was no harm in telling her. He told her everything. From him running around with his dead brother. To him joining Amable for a while. Then escaping and returning home, just to have a fight with Mark, who then brutally killed him.

Lily looked at him with emotional eyes. "Mark killed him?" She asked shaking her head in disbelief. "That bastard." She began to cry again. She grabbed the table and flipped it over furiously. "No." She shouted. "No."

Two Agents came running in the room, guns drawn, but Scott waved hem away. They lowered their guns and then walked out of the room giving Lily a quick glance.

"I want him dead," Lily muttered to herself angrily. "I want him to suffer."

Once again, Ryan knew he was making a bad decision. A real regret. But it had to be done. Now more than ever. He was pushed into a wall. A wall that he didn't think he could climb over and with every passing day, the wall grew larger.

He was now on his way to prison, to visit Joe again. Something he was regretting. His first visit was bad enough, now he was going for a second visit. Why? Joe had to know more about Amable. They were roommates. They were so close, that they knew practically everything about the other person. So he had to know something that could lead him to where Amable would be right now.

Would Joe tell him? He thinks he would. What would he have to lose? The only thing would be Claire. So if he held back any information, it could lead to her death. He knew that Joe still loved her. It was no secret. He mentioned it many times, to many different people. The only other person he had any feelings to was Emma. He loved her. Held a special place in his heart for her. But nothing like Claire. Claire was on a whole new level.

Before his drive here, Ryan had a small brunch with Carrie. She was telling him about how her boss was thinking about giving her a promotion. Also that the late night news wanted to hire her, so maybe her boss had gotten wind of that.

After she told him about her work, Ryan asked her for advice with Mike and Max. He told her about how he met Mike. He told her about how at first Mike and Max disliked each other, then how he found out about their relationship. She told him that she could see he was annoyed about it and that part of him wanted to break Mike's face in. But that he shouldn't.

She said that they were both adults and they were more than old enough to make their own decisions. She mentioned that as much as he wanted to hurt Mike, he should hold back and just talk to them about it. They would tell him how hard it was to come out and bring up the relationship. That at some point they would and that he gave them his blessings. He didn't like it, but knew that it was the best decision.

Ryan pulled up to the visitor's part of the prison and parked his car. He entered building and security already knew who he was and who he was visiting, so he went through the checkpoints pretty quickly. They told him good luck, knowing that he was in for a challenge with Joe.

He made his way to the same room he last spoke to him in feeling regretful. There had to be another way to find Amable. There had to be. Maybe outside of the law, which he was aiming for, but it was for an important reason. It was for Claire. He didn't want her to die. He didn't want to know that he could have done more to prevent her death.

Ryan saw the door to the room open and in walk Joe looking at him humorously as he was handcuffed to the chair and floor. He placed both his arms on the table and for a few moments looked at him pleased to see him.

"Here we are again," Joe said his smile widening. He licked his dry lips. "You and me. It is like destiny."

"Humph," Ryan shook his head. "Pretty messed up destiny."

"For what it's worth," Joe said with a shrug, "I think everyone's destiny is messed up." He paused and laughed. "You want to know what is messed up."

"What?" Ryan asked clearly not interested.

"There is a man down the hall from me who is being transferred to facility in Texas where the death penalty is allowed," He said amused, "Well he picked the strangest last meal." He gave him a confused look. "Chili, cheese fries topped with fried onions, fried mushrooms, and a lot of jalapenos as well as a large milk shake." He shook his head and laughed. "If he thought prison was painful, man he is really going to regret that his last meal decision."

Ryan had to laugh. That was pretty funny actually. "I see that they loosened the restraints a bit more this time," He pointed out.

"Good behavior," Joe said raising his arms as much as they could go. "Oh don't worry, I am not planning to escape. I am done with this whole debacle. Yes, our book is done. Finished. I am not writing anything new."

"I guess that is a good thing," Ryan said looking at him intently.

"It is good to see you though," Joe said with a pleased look. "I am so sick of listening to the guy in the cell across from me. His constant talking is insufferable." He threw up his hands slightly. "But what could I do. This is prison. Not a hotel."

"You're right about that," Ryan agreed with him.

Joe shifted in his seat a bit. "So I am wondering. As flattering as it is to see you," He asked, "I highly doubt you are visiting me, just because you missed me."

Ryan faked a smile. "You are right," He said with a sigh. "I need your help. Again."

"You need my help?" Joe asked pretending to be surprised. "FBI stuck again?" He shook his head. "You see what the problem is. You are choosing the wrong type of friends."

"Am I?" Ryan asked.

"Yes." He continued, "You see a friend can only be a friend if he is tested in three occasions. In time of need." He used his fingers counting each one. "Two, behind your back and third after your death."

"I see," Ryan gave him an odd look. "And you think you and I are friends."

Joe laughed. "Don't flatter yourself," He said shaking his head amused. "You and I are far more than friends. Our existence is much more than that. It is deeper. I don't know what it is, except that it can't be described in such simple and such colorless words."

"If you say so," Ryan said with a shrug. "Anyways, I need your help with Amable."

"What about him?" Joe gave him a curious look.

"He has Claire," Ryan said giving him a serious and desperate look. "I need to why he wanted her so badly and what he has planned for her."

"Amable has Claire?" Joe asked swallowing nervously. He shook his head when Ryan said yes. "That is not good."

"Why is that?" Ryan asked.

"Ryan you know Amable was the reason Claire and I were married," Joe began, "But you don't know that he loved her. He wanted to date her. But she wasn't interested in him. He was able to accept the rejection, except for the fact that she loved you as well." He shook his head. "He hated you for getting me arrested twice. He wants you dead. More than I did." He looked at him emotionally. "I wasn't the only one writing a book. Amable was as well. He wasn't a good writer though, but had more of an imagination then I did."

Ryan gave him another odd look. "What's with all the literary need?" He asked confused.

Joe gave him a small smile. "It was something Dr. Straus told us would prove useful," He answered with a small shrug. "And it really did. As morbid as it sounds, people seemed to like my book."

"Only the sick and disturbed ones," Ryan grimly responded.

"Any fan base will really do," Joe smirked.

Ryan wasn't amused by him. In fact he was even more disgusted. He narrowed his eyes and said coolly. "You know what one of the main problems is that I know somewhere inside you, you loved being in the spotlight." He leaned forward in his seat. "And that given the chance, you would go back to it without a blink of an eye."

"Of course I would," Joe quickly responded. He knew how truthful that was. "And that is why I belong in here."

"That is one thing I know we can both agree on," Ryan said seriously.

Joe laughed loudly. "Oh how I miss these one and one conversations," He said really meaning it. "Whether in person or on the phone." He leaned forward in his spot. "I really enjoyed them."

Ryan knew Joe too well to know that he was telling him the truth. It sickened him. As much as Joe wanted him dead, whether by his own hands or not, he still considered him a friend. It was twisted and bothersome.

"I'm flattered," Ryan lied. "Anyways, back to Claire." He crossed his hands on top of the table. "The both of us don't want her to die, so I need to know more about Amable."

Joe sighed and immediately grew serious. "Since Amable is on the run," He said, "There is only one place he is going to go to." He suddenly looked extremely tired. "This place is very secluded and his safety zone." He paused for a few moments. "This was where Dr. Straus first took him when he had his first kill."

"I see," Ryan asked, "Where is this place exactly?"

Joe gave him the address.

"What if he isn't there?" Ryan asked hoping that he would catch him when he wasn't expecting it.

If Ryan caught him off guard, it would give him the edge. He knew that Amable was smarter and more cunning than Joe. This made him more dangerous. So trying to get to him would be no walk in the park. But he needed to get Claire back alive, whatever the stakes.

"That's good question," Joe said as he shifted in his seat. "There is a good chance that he would go after Molly."

"If so," Ryan asked, "What's her address?"

Joe gave him the address as well.

"Thanks Joe," Ryan stood up to leave.

"Ryan save her," Joe said watching him leave. "Don't let her become another casualty."

"I promise," Ryan said to him right before he left the room.

Hope you liked it! Amable now has revenge in his grasp! Or does he?

More to come!

shaw 18