"We've got a problem," said Nina, when Ed came into the squad room from a midday coffee run the next day, and he gave her a startled look.
"With the trial, one of the old cases, or one of the new cases?" he asked, slowly, not sure he wanted to hear the answer.
"None of the above," said Nina. "Call just came in from a girl named Tammy Cooper."
"Another murder?" Ed asked, half-tempted to turn and leave again, but he remained where he was, and Nina went on.
"No. Not another murder. According to Ms. Cooper, she was on the phone with McCoy's daughter when the conversation just cut off. Next thing she knows, someone's picked up the cell phone and told her that 'Rebecca can't come to the phone right now, she's busy', and then the line went dead."
"Was the voice male or female?" Ed asked at once, and Nina glanced down at the notes she'd written.
"Female. She didn't recognize it. That's what our problem is. Rebecca McCoy's missing, and it's likely someone related to this case that has her."
"Has anyone bothered to talk to her mother about this?" Ed asked, pulling his coat on again and following Nina out of the squad room. She shook her head.
"Missing Persons told Ms. Cooper when she called this morning that she had to have been missing for at least 24 hours before they could really do anything, so she called over here," she said. "If Monahan still can't see how serious this is getting even now, she's an idiot."
"I'm sure she's going to be able to see how serious this is," said Ed, "You tell the lieutenant about this?"
"Lieutenant's the one who told me," said Nina. "The call came before I got in. She said to take you and go talk to Ms. Cooper as soon as you came in, so that's where we're headed."
"We got an address, or are we going to meet her somewhere like a park or whatever?" Ed asked.
"Address," said Nina. "Lieutenant said she sounded pretty upset. Wouldn't be surprised if she gave Missing Persons an earful after the twenty-four hours thing."
"Almost everyone gives Missing Persons an earful. The only reason the twenty-four hours thing is there is to keep parents from freaking out when their kid's late getting home."
"Well, maybe it should go away. A lot of the times kids are late coming home, they don't come home at all."
"That's the point, Nina. If they've been gone that long, they've either run away or someone's taken them. That's when they're considered missing."
"Let's not argue semantics, we've got enough to worry about. Sooner or later, it's gonna get to McCoy, and then we'll be dealing with him, too."
The phone call came unexpectedly, in the middle of court. Luckily, her phone was on silent, so no one noticed it going off. The prosecution was questioning the current witness; Jack wasn't really paying attention to much of anything, and so Kelly pulled the phone from her pocket and flipped it open. There was a text message on the screen.
"We need to meet. Sometime today, if you can. I need to speak with you." She glanced at the number. It had come from Tara Galinet's cell phone. Kelly felt her heart skip a beat and closed the phone. This was definitely not good.
"The defense has no questions for this witness, your honor," she said, when Holloway finally decided to leave well enough alone, convinced he wasn't going to get any further.
"The witness is dismissed," came Jamie's voice, and then, "Court is in recess until two o'clock this afternoon."
It was noon. This gave Kelly two hours to do what she needed to do. Jack was already being led off. She looked away, not wanting to watch, and flipped her phone open again as she left the courtroom.
"I hope you know the police are looking for you. If you've done anything, I doubt I'll be able to help you, Tara. Where are you?"
She sent the message and waited. Barely two minutes passed before a reply finally came, but it felt like it had been forever.
"Coffee shop near the courthouse. I had the feeling you might be there today. You'll see me; I'm sitting near the window."
Kelly looked at her watch. Two hours suddenly didn't seem like enough. She had the feeling that there was a lot more to this little meeting than she thought. Even so, she tucked the phone back into her pocket, pulled her coat on, and left.
Sure enough, Tara was sitting near the window, newly dark-haired, and with colored contacts in. Sliding into the empty place across from her. Kelly gave her an appraising look and spoke.
"What've you done?" she asked. "Let me warn you now, Tara, that if you lie to me, I won't be able to help you. Technically, I should be telling you to get another lawyer. This is a conflict of interest."
"It's only a conflict of interest if I've actually done something, and as far as you know, I haven't," said Tara flatly. "And for the record, it's Natalie Grant now. Be a dear and try not to slip, will you?"
"Your hair, your eyes, your name," said Kelly, sarcastically, "What changes next, Natalie? Your desire to ruin lives?"
"I was innocent of all those charges then, and I'm innocent now," said Tara, dismissively. "I've come to warn you of something."
"The only thing I need warning about is you, apparently. You disappear for six years, and all of a sudden, you expect me to take up as your lawyer again? If I didn't know better than to assume things, I would think you really had done something."
"The only way anything more is going to happen is if McCoy gets acquitted," said Tara, and Kelly stared at her.
"You're asking me to drop this case," she said, and when Tara looked at her with raised eyebrows, she shook her head. "Forget it. I'm not going to leave him out to dry."
"Rumor has it there are plenty of other lady lawyers perfectly willing to take up for him," said Tara, smirking at her. "Would I be right in assuming that there's more to this than there appears?"
"I divorced the guy, and I might've hated him before, but that doesn't mean I hate him now, Tara. What've you done?"
"That remains for me to know, and you to find out, if the police ever find me. However, I do have someone I'd like you to talk to." Tara had been dialing a number on her cell phone. Now she handed the phone to Kelly. It rang twice before it was picked up.
"Hello?"
The shaking voice on the other side was unmistakable. Kelly's face went pale. "Oh, my…Becky? Is that you?"
"Mom?" Suddenly the panic was more evident. "How did you…I don't…" A muffled sob came. The line went dead. Kelly stared at the woman across from her.
"Where the hell is my daughter, Tara?" she demanded. "What have you done to her?"
"That, too, is for me to know and you to find out." Suddenly Tara's voice turned icy. "You won't be able to reach her again. There's no way for her to recharge the phone. I deliberately left her the one that would die out on us."
"Damn it, Tara…" Kelly trailed off furious. "This is not a game! Do you hear me? This is not a game! What are you trying to accomplish here?"
"I'm sure you're aware of that. You can't have sat here and not figured that out. I lost everything when I was dragged through a trial, and now it's his turn to lose everything."
"I swear on every case I've ever tried and won that if you hurt my child, you will regret it!"
"Do keep your voice down," said Tara, still in the same icy tone as she rose to her feet. "You're playing this game by my rules now, since you've met him. If you don't drop the case, you will make sure he gets convicted. If you contact the police, they'll find a body floating in the river. Understand?"
Kelly nodded, mutely. Tara smirked and walked away. Within seconds, she'd vanished into the crowd outside.
"You what?"
It was the last thing Anna had expected, and yet the first thing she'd wanted, since the beginning. Kelly stood in front of her now, still pale in the face, and her hands shaking as she spoke.
"I need to drop this case," she said, almost inaudibly. "Anna, I…you don't…I wouldn't if I didn't have to, but…"
"But what?" Anna asked, deciding to take her chances. "Kelly, what happened? Did someone threaten you?"
Kelly shook her head. "No," she said. "No, I haven't been threatened, I just…don't think I'd be the best…person to handle this right now."
"Have you spoken to Danielle at all?" Anna asked, slowly, and Kelly shook her head.
"I would have if Judge Ross had given us more time, but your office was closer, and…Anna, please, I know I was a complete bitch before, but I really need you to do this."
There was no mistaking the note of distress in the older woman's voice. No matter what Kelly said, there was definitely something that was being left out. Anna leaned back in her seat. "When are you due back in court?"
"By two," said Kelly, "Are you saying you'll take over for me?"
"You do realize that I haven't spoken to Jack since before the trial, don't you?" Anna asked, and Kelly nodded.
"I know. And I know he's probably going to tell me off when he sees me again, but Anna…you don't understand. If I keep on with this case and he doesn't get convicted…"
"Kelly, what aren't you telling me?" Anna asked, her voice no longer wary, but suspicious. "I've never seen you this nervous in all the time we've known each other."
"It's nothing," Kelly muttered, without looking her in the eye. "Just…please…be there in the courtroom at two, all right?"
And then she was gone. Anna frowned after her and reached for the phone on her desk as it rang. "Hello?"
"Anna, have the police spoken to you at all yet?" Danielle asked in reply, by way of greeting.
"No, they haven't," said Anna, slowly, "Why d'you ask?"
"Because they got a call earlier today. Jack's daughter is missing. They're talking to anyone who's currently involved with this case."
"And they've talked to you."
"Yes, they've talked to me. I didn't know anything until they told me what was happening. They're looking for Kelly now."
"She just left my office."
"What was she doing there?"
Realization suddenly dawned on her. "Oh, no…Danielle…Kelly just asked me to take over the case again…d'you think she already knows?"
"I'm sure she does," said Danielle, "If she came to you to take over the case…she has to know something. When are you due in court?"
"I have to be there in half an hour; I'm leaving now," said Anna, rising to her feet and grabbing her coat. "Have you spoken to her at all?"
"Not since this morning," said Danielle, "I'll meet you at the courthouse, all right?"
"Sounds good," said Anna, even though it didn't. She grabbed her keys. "I'll see you there."
It was dark by the time Tara got back to where she'd left Rebecca. The girl was asleep, tearstains quite obvious on her face. Slamming the door woke her up.
"You know, this entire place is open to you," Tara remarked. "Just don't try to leave. There are cameras. Front door's got a code on it. So does the back door. The only way to get out is through a window, but there's no fire escape."
"Who are you?" There was no denying that her voice was shaking and Rebecca hated it. Tara noticed this and smirked.
"I'm no one you need to worry about for now," she said. "The only thing that matters for the moment is that your dear mother knows you're all right, but believe me when I say that it won't be that way for long if you cross me."
"Why are you doing this?"
"For reasons you don't need to worry your pretty little head with," said Tara. "Believe it or not, I've been watching you, and I've been watching the police, and none of you have ever noticed me."
"You won't get away with this."
"Spoken with such conviction. You truly are your father's daughter."
There was silence. Rebecca was unsure of whether or not to answer this, and Tara knew it, so she smirked.
"He ruined my life before, once, you know," she said, slowly. "Now the tables have turned. Shall we see how he likes it?"